11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 21 1.. In your strength the king rejoices, O LORD, and in your help how greatly he exults! 2.. You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. 3.. For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold on his head. 4.. He asked you for life; you gave it to him - length of days forever and ever. 5.. His glory is great through your help; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. 6.. You bestow on him blessings forever; you make him glad with the joy presence. 7.. For the king trust in the LORD. and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. 8.. Your hand will find out all you enemies; your right hand will find out all that hate you. 9.. You will make them like a fiery furnace when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and for will consume them. 10.. You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their children from among humankind. 11.. If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed. 12.. For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows. 13.. Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power. Thinking As I come to this Psalm, the challenge is to see through the imagery and events of David's day, and to discern the Lord's word for me today. Praying David (the King) says he rejoices in your strength (V.1.). Lord, today I thank you that today you have given your Spirit to all men irrespective of their standing. And our focus must go past national and military victories - I pray that there will not be any need for these - to personal and spiritual victories. Thank you, Lord, that every day, I can come to you knowing your presence and the power to make significant strides in your name. When I align my purposes with yours, you grant me the desires of my heart (V.2.). And now I sense that you welcome each one of us with a crown of gold (V.3.). The scriptures speak of reigning with you, Lord, but just to be in your presence will be sufficient. I thank you that this speaks of activity in your name. Others have concentrated on eternal rest. Listening We have discussed this before, my son. It is better to see "rest" as "rest from strife". "Eternal peace" shows my purpose better, rather than "eternal sleep". It is into this eternal peace that I will welcome you with rich blessings (V.3.). This is life (V.4.), not sleep, that will go on forever and ever. Thinking Parts of this Psalm refer to Jesus, the son of David, and the splendour and majesty that the Father has already bestowed on him (V.5.). God wants to share this joy (V.6.) with us, to experience the unfailing love of the Father, which can never be shaken (V.7.). Praying Lord, I praise you and worship you confident of the day when you will be known as the victor (V.8.) and when you will appear in glory (V.9.) so that every eye will see you - and tremble. It is an unimaginably scary think to think about your wrath and the way it will swallow the evil (Vv.9-12.). Rather, I just want to exalt you, to stand in your strength, and to sing and praise your might (V.13.). And I do that just now - in the quiet worship of my soul. Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD 11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 22: 1 - 8 1.. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? 2.. O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night I find no rest. 3.. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4.. In you, our ancestors trusted; they trusted and you delivered them. 5.. To you they cried and were saved; in you they trusted, and were no put to shame. 6.. But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people. 7.. All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; 8.. "Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver - let him rescue the one in whom he delights!" Thinking We now come to this very special Psalm that David wrote with prophetic insight - identifying with the suffering of Christ. How did he do this? Did he stand outside of time so that his spirit stood next to Christ - the Son of David? Listening No, my son. This was just the leading by the Spirit. You don't need to know the details of how this happens. Just believe that it did, and can again in you today. Praying I do, Lord, and ask you now to lead my thoughts as I use this Psalm to identify with your suffering. Other parts of the church do this with more discipline than some of us. Today, I want to be serious about trying to understand how you suffered for me. You sensed that God had forsaken you (V.1.). Impaled with the nails of sin, God had no choice but to turn his back on you. This can never happen to me, because you have done this, and stood, rather, hung there alone - with nobody to respond to your groaning (V.1.). When I cry out today, you answer me - because of the day when you were alone - unanswered (V.2.). Here I see the miracle, that you, the one who is enthroned with and as the Holy One (V.3.), washed away my sin with your love. Our fathers put their trust in you and praised you (V.4.), and so I do today. You have delivered us - delivered me. You heard my cry and saved me. I can never be disappointed (V.6.). Rather, my soul is growing daily in this most marvellous wonder and awareness of who you are. The Psalm also reminds me how you were scorned and despised (V.6.), mocked and insulted (V.7.), and taunted (V.8.). Yet you suffered all these things. Lord, I praise you that you did this as an act of absolute humility as my king. But most of all, I love you as my God and Saviour. This too is the response to your incredible love. Accept my worship just now as I bow before you and give you my soul. Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD 11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 22: 9 - 31 1.. Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast. 2.. On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me, you have been my God. 3.. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 4.. Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 5.. they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening lion. 6.. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 7.. my mouth is fried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 8.. For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled; 9.. I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat at me; 10.. they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots. 11.. But you, O LORD, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid! 12.. Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog! 13.. Save me from the mouth of the lion! From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me. 14.. I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 15.. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him: stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 16.. For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not his face from me, but heard when I cried to him. 17.. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. 18.. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! 19.. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. 20.. For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 21.. To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. 22.. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the LORD, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. Thinking These are pictures of the humanity of Jesus - born of human flesh and suckled at a human breast (V.9.). The picture of dependence - as we are on him. "Do not be far from me" (V.11.). And the pictures of suffering - spiritual suffering - surrounded by roaring lions (Vv.12,13.). Physical suffering - bones out of joint, heart turned to wax (V.14.), strength gone, mouth dry (V.14.), hands and feet pierced (V.16.). Then the social suffering - men gloating (V.17.), bidding for his clothes (V.18.). Praying These are serious things to be reminded of, Lord, and I tremble to read and think over these things - that you did for me. Thank you for showing yourself to me again in these words. Now, I know that you are not far off (V.19), that you deliver us from the sword (V.20.), and rescue us from men who act like mouthing lions and horned oxen (V.21.). So I come to proclaim your name - here in worship on my own, and on Sunday in the congregation with my brothers and sisters (V.22.). I will encourage all to join me in this praise (V.23.). You have not hidden your face from us. Rather you took my place and heard my cry (V.24.). Lord, just now I pause to think about praising you in "the great assembly" (V.25.) when at the end of time, and beyond time, I will join with the unnumbered throng from the ends of the earth (V.27.). We will have new bodies then and hearts that will live forever (V.26.). Dominion belongs to you, Lord (V.28.). I also marvel that as you rule over all the nations (V.28.) and all kneel before you (V.29.), you also know each one of individually. So I proclaim your righteousness (V.31.), your majesty and power, but most of all your incredible love. Thank you Lord, for leading my thoughts today. Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD 11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 23 1.. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2.. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3.. he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths fore his name's sake. 4.. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me. 5.. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6.. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. Praying Today, I come to the most famous Psalm of all. It has been studied and paraphrased so many times, yet I sense the need to ask you today for new insights about its meaning. So I come to you, my Lord and my shepherd (V.1.). I know that in you, I lack nothing. Today may this mean that I lack no insight. Listening My son, the most important thought for you today is that this Psalm is still absolutely relevant to you and your friends - in all its detail. For some people, it is a nice set of words that they learned as a child. I want you to pause and ponder over every phrase and see how this speaks to you today. Praying Thank you Lord. I now read on in expectation. If you are my shepherd, Lord, I guess that makes me a sheep! At risk on my own, but best in a flock. Practically dumb, but useful when nurtured, dipped, fed, yes, and shorn in your pasture. Lord, I confess to you now that I am headstrong. I ask you for the grace to understand your purposes and accept these without questioning. Then surely, I will lie down in green pastures - beside still waters (V.2.). That's where you restore my soul (V.3.). You set in place again this walking, resting, and talking relationship with you. Listening This doesn't mean doing nothing in a life of opulence. Notice how the next verses speak about walking paths and valleys in the shadow of death (V.4.). Praying Yes, Lord, but I reach out to you, and rest in you, because your guidance is wrapped in righteousness (V.3) and your presence is always supporting (V.4.). And Lord, I sense that this next verse has deeper meaning. What are you saying to me in verse 5? Listening Mealtime is a time of peace, fellowship, and goodwill between family members. I am the one who prepares the table. You are invited, and no external threat or enemy presence can interfere with the rich fellowship that we will enjoy together (V.5.). Praying Lord, I bless you, and humbly say, "Thank you for inviting me." Listening And I want to anoint your head with oil (V.5.). For you this is a symbol of the way you as a believer are to be a priest for me. Even writing these prayers can help people turn to me. This word also comes to each of your readers. Reach out to me in this conversational style of prayer and listen to my voice deep within your soul. Feed on me at the table I have prepared for you. Praying Lord, today I lift my soul to you in worship, and thank you again for the incredible goodness and love that has followed me, and goes ahead of me (V.6.). Accept my worship, adoration and love today. Listening I do my son. And know that in due time, I will bring you to my house - forever (V.6.). Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD 11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 24 1.. The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; 2.. for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. 3.. Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4.. Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, 5.. who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. 6.. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. 7.. Lift up your head, O gates! and be lifted up O ancient doors! that the King of Glory may come in. 8.. Who is the King of Glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. 9.. Lift up your head, O gates! and be lifted up O ancient doors! that the King of Glory may come in. 10.. Who is the King of Glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory. Thinking This beautiful psalm is a reminder to us that everything belongs to the Lord (V.1.). That includes every person, whether or not they are doing God's will, and whether they are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, well or sick. It also includes every plant, animal, and mineral. Our God has provided many of these for us to enjoy, and others to use. Still others have a purpose known to him alone. Oh that men would understand these simple facts and not try and wrap them up in unachievable mystery. The Lord founded it - that means us - upon the seas (V.2.) I guess that's why my body has a high salt content. So we climbed out of the water onto the land. But I want to take the next stage and ascend your holy hill (V.3.). Praying Lord, I reach out to you now and ask you to wash me again, so that I may have clean hands and a pure heart (V.4.). If I am beginning to treat anything as an idol, grant me the early discernment to recognise this and put it behind me. It is a special thing to receive your blessing, Lord. It began when you my Saviour, reached out to draw me to your side (V.5.). Now you reach down from heaven itself and invite me to climb the mountain. Lord, I respond with a longing to see your face (V.6.). Thinking So I now I come to these famous words in the second half of the Psalm and need to understand how they fit with the first half. The link would be easier for people of David's day. The ascent of the hill is the road to the city of God. You come to the gates first. Praying Lord, I praise you that the gates open with rejoicing as you the King of Glory enter (Vv.7-9.). Not now on a humble donkey, but as the Lord - Mighty in Battle. And Lord, I invite you now through the gates of my own heart. I confess that sometimes the hinges are old and rusty and the doors creak, but may they open with joy so I can behold you - knocking on my door to sup with me. For you are the King of Glory. I am amazed that you come to visit with me, but you are very welcome. Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD 11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 25: 1 - 11 1.. To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2.. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. 3.. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4.. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. 5.. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6.. Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from old. 7.. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD! 8.. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. 9.. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10.. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 11.. For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Praying Lord, I need to come close to you tonight, and lift my soul up to you. For you are the only person in whom I can put total trust (V.1.). I'm not so worried about me being put to shame, Lord (V.2.), but I don't want any of it to rub off on to you. So I put my total hope in you - confident in your track record (V.3.). Tonight, I ask you to teach me your paths, to guide me in truth and to teach me (V.4.). I'm listening, Lord, for when you are ready to speak to me. Listening My son, note the next verse. Your hope must be in me all day long (V.5.). Praying Lord, I tremble to realise the truth of this word. It's easier to trust you and hope in you when I'm at prayer or in bed. Help me to keep trusting in the heat of the day, in the midst of the action, and when human logic wants to take over. Lord, I remember your great mercy and love (V.6.). Our fathers knew it in days of old, but by your grace, I too know this from personal experience and I thank you for the way in which you have forgiven me, and forgotten the sins of my youth (V.7.). Again I marvel, that you are not only good, but also good to me. I need to be instructed as a sinner and in humility (Vv.8,9.). Lead me on into righteousness - into a righteousness that can only come from you. Show me your way. Listening The mark of my ways is love and faith. Look for these fruits as the sign that you are walking with me, and expect that they will grow in people around you as together, you keep my words and trust me (V.10.). Praying I will, Lord, for the sake of your glorious name, but at the same time, I come to you in confession and ask you to forgive my goofs and gaffs (V.11.). Lord, I understand deeply the meaning of the scripture about willing spirit and weak flesh. So just now, I bow before you, make my confession, and seek to worship you. Experience has shown me that as I do this daily, there grows within me the ability to discern your will and hear your voice. This is awesome Lord, and I love you very much. Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact WALKING AND TALKING WITH GOD 11. Thirty Psalms s.. Psalm 25: 12 - 22 1.. Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way they should choose. 2.. They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land. 3.. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. 4.. My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 5.. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 6.. Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. 7.. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 8.. Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 9.. O guards my life, and delivers me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 10.. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on you? 11.. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles. Praying Lord, I live in holy fear of you, not being afraid, but exhilarated by the proximity of your presence, and I invite you to instruct me in the manner of your choice (V.12.). Lord, I do this because I love you, but at the same time, I know that you care for me, and already are looking after my family (V.13.). Teach me, Lord, to pass on to them this faith that you have graced me with. And I bless you Lord, that already they are making it their own - not second hand. This next verse needs some thought, Lord. You confide in those who fear you, and make your covenant known. I need to seek your words in understanding this one. Listening My son, faith is a matter of the spirit, not just the intellect. Remember the words I gave to Paul; "I chose the foolish things to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1: 27.). My Spirit needs to touch a man's soul so that he can understand and know my covenant. Praying Lord, I bless you that you touched my soul, so that I can begin to understand this. May my eyes be ever on you so that my feet do not become ensnared (V.15.). Sometimes walking your way is a lonely life, Lord (V.16.). And I sense that people are suspicious of this conversation that you and I maintain. "Just literary style", I suspect they say. Listening Don't worry about what others may think. I want you to put to me first. I will Lord, but I need to confess that the time of affliction is when I take my eyes off you. Forgive this sin, please Lord (Vv.17,18.). I want to find total refuge in you because my hope is in you alone. Only in this way can I promote your ways of integrity and righteousness, and put to flight any enemies - your enemies (Vv.19-21.). But my troubles are trivial and those of only one, when around me there are thousands of people handicapped by not knowing you. Come quickly, Lord, and teach us how to share your word so that these too may know your glory (V.22.). Copyright Howard Smith 2002. All Rights reserved. For comments or responses, please contact
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