Psalm 33 - Sing joyfully to the Lord

Psalm 33

This is a psalm of praise, urging everyone to praise the Lord, and saying why we should do so. First we are urged to sing joyfully to the Lord, to praise the Lord is not a chore, but a joy, “it is fitting for the upright to praise Him” praising the Lord is what we were created to do. We are to use instruments to praise the Lord, to play skillfully and  to shout for joy.

Then we get more reasons to praise Him, His word is right and true, and He is always faithful. The Lord is completely trustworthy. The Lord loves righteousness and justice, and the earth is full of His unfailing love.

The heavens, and everything else, were made by His word. In Genesis 1 we read that the Lord said and it was so. No man can do that, but the Lord can. “He spoke and it came to be”. His word is true, reliable and powerful.

The nations have many plans, but the Lord foils them. The Nazis spoke about a thousand year reich, but it soon ended in utter destruction. “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever”, THe Lord’s plans will be fulfilled. To be chosen by the Lord is a great blessing, and The Lord watches over all of us.

Human strength may look impressive, but compared to the Lord it is nothing So we wait upon the Lord, He is our help and shield, we trust in Him.

Psalm 32 - Blessed is the one whose sins are covered

Psalm 32

This is one of David’s reflective psalms. Who is the one who is blessed? The one whose transgressions have been forgiven and his sins covered. That means the one who believes in Jesus, for it is only his death on the cross that covers our sins. Because of Christ the Lord will not count our sins against us. “And in whose spirit is no deceit”. The Pharisees had convinced themselves that they were righteous, the one who has no deceit in them knows full well their true state.

When we confess our sins there is a release, when we deny our true state our bones waste away, there is no peace, the hand of the lord is against us. BUt when we confess our sins to the Lord and put our trust in Christ we receive forgiveness. 

So David urges all to pray to the Lord. Then we are truly secure. And the Lord will instruct us and direct us.  Trusting in the Lord and being devoted to Him is by far the best, the only way to live.

Psalm 31 - Be strong and take heart

Psalm 31

David takes refuge in the Lord, seeking to never be put to shame. There are many references to  not being put to shame in the psalms.. Being put to shame is something we fear, it is only by sticking with the Lord that we are secure in every way.

David wants the Lord to turn to him quickly, to be his “rock of refuge”. David knows there are traps set for him. “Into your hands I commit my spirit. Jesus uttered these words on the cross just before he died (Lk 23:46).

We have a choice, either cling to worthless idol, or trust in the Lord. Note the word “cling” we can clink with increasing vigour to idols, with a vain hope that it will help us, but it will not, trusting in the Lord is the only effective thing to do.

I am in distress. David often prayed out of distress, and he felt very weak and in anguish. The situation seemed hopeless but he put his trust in the Lord. “My times are in your hands”, our lives are in the Lord’s hands. The Lord has good things in store for those who fear Him.The psalm ends with praise for the Lord and urges all His faithful people to love the Lord. 

“Be strong and take heart” trusting in the Lord is the most effective thing we can do.

Psalm 30 - I will exalt you, Lord

Psalm 30

The preamble tells us that this psalm was for the dedication of the temple.

David exalts the Lord because He lifted him out of the depths and did not let his enemies gloat over him. We praise the Lord for a reason. David called on the Lord for help and the Lord healed him.\he saved his life. David then calls on the people to praise the Lord. The favour of the Lord outweighs the anger of the Lord.

\david’s well being and security depends upon the Lord. With the Lord we are strong and secure, without Him we are weak and vulnerable.

The Lord turned his wailing into dancing, God can transform our lives.

Psalm 29 - Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength

Psalm 29

Another of what seem to me to be David’s reflective psalms The start of the psalm is addressed to “heavenly beings”. Heavenly beings can include angels ans demons. Whatever the case they are to ascribe glory and strength to the Lord. And we should do the same. We can feel overwhelmed or threatened, but the Lord has all glory and strength, he is able.

Nor is the Lord silent, His voice is over the waters, His voice reaches all parts of the world. And His voice is powerful. The cedars of Lebanon were a strong wood, but the voice of the Lord could break them. Sirion is Mount Hermon. The Lord is might in power, and He gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace. We should never forget this, which Israel often did.

Psalm 28 - I call upon the Lord

Psalm 28

It seems to me that in some of the psalms, such as this one, David is reflecting on how life with God works. We should maybe do the same some times. The start is that David call upon the Lord, for the Lord is his rock. The Lord is our only sure foundation. If God does not help him he is done for, we are utterly dependent upon him. David calls on the Lord for mercy, he does not want to be treated along with the wicked.The wicked are described as those who do evil, and speak deceitfully. David wants the wicked to be judged by the Lord, to receive what they deserve. These people have no regard for the Lord, the Lord is against such people. Part of the truth of the Bible is that the Lord will bring justice. Righteousness is part of His nature. He has heard David’s cry for mercy. Remember that Jesus commended the tax collector who asked God to have mercy upon him. (Luke 18:9-13). We are dependent upon the Lord’s mercy, this is a surer foundation than relying on our righteousness. The psalm finishes with David calling on God to save His people. And to be their shepher

Psalm 27 - The Lord is the stronghold of my life!

Psalm 27

In this psalm David reflects on how God influences his life. The Lord is his light and his salvation. He shows him the way to live, and He rescues him from his foes. He is the stronghold of his life, so David has no need to be afraid of anyone or anything. We can say the same. God is our source of strength and security. We may encounter difficult times, but nothing can completely overwhelm us, for the Lord is our stronghold.

Enemies did come against David, seeking to devour him. Even so David would not fear, for it was his enemy who would stumble and fall.

The one thing that David sought was to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and to gaze on the beauty of the Lord. The Lord was his strength and his delight. God said to Abraham “I am your shield, your very great reward” (Gen 15:1). The Lord will help us in our day of trouble. As with the parable of building on the rock, the promise is not that trouble will never come, but when it does it will not defeat us, for the Lord will keep us safe in His dwelling. More than that the Lord will exalt our head above the enemies who oppose us. We will sacrifice with shouts of joy.

David’s heart called upon him to seek the face of the Lord.

David was confident that he would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.