Psalms Ch.1-10

The book of Psalms is songs and prayers that express the unveiled hearts and souls of humanity. Human experience is expressed across a vast range. David, Solomon and other authors of these writings pour their hearts and their truth to God reflecting their dynamic friendship, love and faith in God. Whether in rejoice or despair, these writers openly express their honest feelings with God. In these writings we see God’s everlasting love and forgiveness and are encouraged to have a deep and intimate relationship with God. In creating time and space to allow for such meditation with God, we begin to truly know Him, ourselves and others. Notice the freedom children express in their joy and trust; without doubt or reservation that comes with age and living in the world. Ask God to give you childlike faith, removing any barriers to having a closer walk with him; getting in touch with your childlike qualities can make you more expressive and open in your relationship with God and others.

Psalm 1 is one to memorize; it speaks of life’s two roads. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”(Psalm1:1-6) Even in subtle ways, our friends, family and associates can have profound influence on us. If any of these relationships mock what God considers important, we may sin in our indifference to what God wants. Do your friends encourage your faith in God or do they ridicule, judge and tear it down? True friends help, not hinder, your spiritual growth and draw you closer to God. The two life roads are God’s way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction; there is no grey area for the people that like to float through life. No one gets around commitment no matter how hard they may try; if you don’t commit to one; you commit to the other. We all inevitably serve something or someone; whether a human king, an organization, or even our own selfish desires.

With the stress, depression, anxiety and confusion that plague so many people; many sleepless nights result. Tossing and turning with constant analysis of problems and worry. Sleep does not come easily during a crisis. The assurance of answered prayer brings peace. We can fall into a restful sleep when we have full assurance that God is in control of circumstances. If you are lying awake at night, worrying about circumstances you can’t change, pour your heart to God, thank him that He is in control, and then sleep will follow.

Some people have a misconception of what true happiness means. Psalm 4 clears up questions regarding the transient nature of happiness. Two kinds of joy are discussed here: inward joy that results from knowing and trusting God and happiness that results from pleasant circumstance. Inward joy is steady as long as we trust God; happiness in unpredictable. This makes perfect sense when we think about it; our circumstances always change, for the only constant of the world is change. However, God is beyond this world and not subject to its laws; He is the only non-changing stable rock for whom to truly trust in. Inward joy then defeats discouragement; happiness covers it up. Inward joy is lasting; happiness is temporary. I think the important here is to seek the Lord to govern your heart and life to gain steady joy instead of chasing happiness. To surrender your control to God’s will and have an intimate relationship with him lies in your earnest prayer each morning. Commit your whole day to God and watch what He does. Regular communication helps any friendship and the same goes for having a strong relationship with God; we need constant and honest communication with Him.

Psalm 6 is near to my own heart. One night as I cried in emotional pain of a broken relationship, I was on the couch pouring my heart to God and opened to this very verse. “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long? I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer, All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.”(Psalms 6:1-10) David was the author of this song. He poured his heart openly and honestly as I was doing as well; admitting to my wrongdoing and asking God how much longer to endure the pain. God knows us thoroughly, better than we could ever know ourselves, and in anger or despair, being honest about our feelings gives God the open invitation to rescue and teach us. We are not victims and it is because we trust in our all-powerful and all-knowing God that we don’t have to be weighed down by the guilt of sin; whether it be our own or another’s. In my own honesty with God, he helped me turn my own attention from myself to him and his mercy; getting out of yourself and your circumstances and focusing on God is a sure way to help relieve pain and suffering. The moment I surrendered my circumstance to God and got out of my own way; victory followed internally and within the relationship.

Psalm 7 gives us insight into justice against those who make slanderous comments. Have you ever been wrongly accused or so badly hurt that you sought revenge? Instead of taking matters into your own hands and striking back at your offenders, crying out for God’s justice is encouraged here. The proper response to slander is prayer, not revenge, because God says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Romans 12:19) God will stand by the righteous and rebuke those who do evil in his sight; you need not worry about what you cannot control. We may face many injustices; 1) we may be falsely accused and misunderstood by friends and enemies, 2) we may not be truly appreciated by others for the love we show, 3) the true value of our work and service may not be duly rewarded, 4) our ideas may be ignored. God sees and remembers all the good we do and it is up to him to decide the timing and appropriate rewards. We are free from the worry of how others perceive us and treat us when we trust in God and experience his peace.

Psalm 10 has many truths. “He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble’. His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats.”(Psalm10:6) Some people succeed in all they do and brag that no one can keep them down. Why would we get upset at the success of these kinds of people and why wicked prosper? Are we angry about the damage they cause or are we secretly jealous of their success? Wickedness and wealth should be placed in their proper perspectives to answer this question. God hates evil deeds and wickedness; they will surely be punished according to God. Wealth is temporary. Wealth is not a sign of God’s approval on a person’s life. It is important that we not allow wealth or lack thereof to become our obsession.