Psalm 29

1Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of his ^a holiness.

3The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

4The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is majestic.

5The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,

Sirion ^b like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the Lord strikes

with flashes of lightning.

8The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;

the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

9The voice of the Lord twists the oaks ^c

and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord is enthroned as King forever.

11The Lord gives strength to his people;

the Lord blesses his people with peace.

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Thoughts: This Psalm speaks of how the thunder and lightning point to God- as if the loud and roaring thunder was God’s voice.  They shake the ground, twist the oaks, and people see this as part of the glory of God,  It is this powerful god who made the thunder who gives strength to His people.  

Prayer: Lord, you are great and louder than any thunderclap.  You are great and powerful- and thank you for pouring just a little bit of that strength on to me.  Help me to point others to your strength! 

Psalm 28

 1To you, Lord, I call;

you are my Rock,

do not turn a deaf ear to me.

For if you remain silent,

I will be like those who go down to the pit.

2Hear my cry for mercy

as I call to you for help,

as I lift up my hands

toward your Most Holy Place.

3Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with those who do evil,

who speak cordially with their neighbors

but harbor malice in their hearts.

4Repay them for their deeds

and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have done

and bring back on them what they deserve.

5Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord

and what his hands have done,

he will tear them down

and never build them up again.

6Praise be to the Lord,

for he has heard my cry for mercy.

7The Lord is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy,

and with my song I praise him.

8The Lord is the strength of his people,

a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

9Save your people and bless your inheritance;

be their shepherd and carry them forever.

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Thoughts: When you are going down, do you have a foundation- a rock to bounce off of?  The writer is clearly in trouble.  He us crying out for mercy-and awaiting the Lord’s answer.  If God remains silent, he will die.  But in verse 6 everything changes- he praises God for hearing his cry for mercy.  He praises God as his strength and shield.  He says, “Be their shepherd and carry them forever.”  A shepherd puts a wounded sheep on his shoulders and carries them.  Do you have anyone to carry you?  We are called to invite other people to believe in the shepherd and come to Him to be carried and helped.  

Prayer: Lord, you can hear my cry for help,  Thank you.  Help me to tell others about your help.  

Psalm 27

 1The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

2When the wicked advance against me

to devour ^a me,

it is my enemies and my foes

who will stumble and fall.

3Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then I will be confident.

4One thing I ask from the Lord,

this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

5For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent

and set me high upon a rock.

6Then my head will be exalted

above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

7Hear my voice when I call, Lord;

be merciful to me and answer me.

8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, I will seek.

9Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.

Do not reject me or forsake me,

God my Savior.

10Though my father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.

11Teach me your way, Lord;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.

12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

spouting malicious accusations.

13I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

14Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.
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Thoughts: Do you have a light in the darkness of life?  A few months ago, I decided to walk about a half mile right at dusk.  I couldn't see really well and almost stepped on a snake.  If I had a light and was looking where I was going, I would
n't have come close and startle both snake and me!  The Lord is my light and my salvation.  He shows me the snakes on the pavement and the potholes to avoid.  Because God shows us how we should go in life, and we trust in Him, we do not need to be afraid?  The Psalmist (maybe David- the postscript is added later) trusts in God even in times of war or trouble.  It is not all up to defense plans and weapons, it is ultimately up to God.  This does not mean that just being good makes you win wars.  But this is for the individual who can find strength in God.  
Then he says "one thing he asks"- that is that he may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life.  His hearts love- is to worship God.  He talks about the sacred tent (the tabernacle- for the Temple had not yet been built) as the "house of the Lord."  Today, our bodies are the Temple or dwelling place of God.  Yet, there is something special about going to a place where other believers are singing, praying, and listening for God.  
People will forsake us.  They may forsake us on purpose- to save their own skin or better themselves.  They may forsake us by death.  Certainly parents usually die before children, and even the adult child may feel forsaken.  Yet God is eternal, and is an eternal help to us while we are alive.  Loneliness is an epidemic (according to the US Surgeon General).  The UK has a cabinet post appointed- "the minister of loneliness" to combat it.  We may be alone, but God is always there.  Part of our loneliness is turning away from God and turning toward a fake or half relationship of social media- to which we can become addicted.  
I remain confident of this- that God will help me-right now in this life- in the land of the living.  God's help is not just in the life to come- though the help of heaven means God will always win in the end.  
Because of this confidence, we can wait on the Lord, even when things are bad and trials come.  David had multiple enemies in this life and overcame them all.  It was not that he didn't have a hard time.  He was exiled; his own son betrayed him; he was accused falsely; he risked his life against a giant; he fought when he was a boy against wolves and bears who were trying to kill his sheep.  Yet David did not give up his trust in God. We too can have confidence and wait on the Lord.  He is our light and our salvation. 

Prayer: Lord, when things get dark and I feel alone, help me to put my trust in you.   

Psalm 26

 1Vindicate me, Lord,

for I have led a blameless life;

I have trusted in the Lord

and have not faltered.

2Test me, Lord, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;

3for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love

and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

4I do not sit with the deceitful,

nor do I associate with hypocrites.

5I abhor the assembly of evildoers

and refuse to sit with the wicked.

6I wash my hands in innocence,

and go about your altar, Lord,

7proclaiming aloud your praise

and telling of all your wonderful deeds.

8Lord, I love the house where you live,

the place where your glory dwells.

9Do not take away my soul along with sinners,

my life with those who are bloodthirsty,

10in whose hands are wicked schemes,

whose right hands are full of bribes.

11I lead a blameless life;

deliver me and be merciful to me.

12My feet stand on level ground;

in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.
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Thoughts: Here is a good man who is asking God for help.  He deems himself good because: 
1) He has led a blameless life (meaning avoiding major sins)
2) He trusts in the Lord.  This trust is faith and reliance on God.  
3) He has been mindful- mindful of God's love- he doesn't forget God. 
4) He doesn't sit with the evil- meaning deceitful or hypocrites. 
5) He loves God's house and God's worship

6) He has hope- that he is on level ground and will again praise God in worship. 

In Western thinking, we begin to criticize this belief. We might say, "Good people do not always avoid trouble.  Good people die- just like the evil. So why try to be good?  Why claim the promise of goodness to get God's help?"   Such thinking goes to extremes.  First, no one is absolutely good- all sin and fall short of the glory of God.  No one absolutely trusts in the Lord and totally avoids evil and always comes to church.  That is not what this writer is saying.  He is pointing to general principles.  He is living in the middle doing his best with his heart set on God.  There are people, though not perfect, who try to do good and generally succeed.  As the writer points out- not everybody is like this.  
But it is also a general principle that people who do good live longer.  So avoid drugs and alcohol abuse and generally you live longer. According to some studies using hard drugs takes 10-50 years off your life. ( If you have altruism and benevolence in your heart instead of selfishness, generally (not always- you will occasionally find the hundred year old selfish person) you will feel better about yourself and be stronger inside yourself- effecting life expectancy.  Belief in (and worship of) God motivates us to do good for others, be compassionate, be forgiving, be more loving.  So, you are alive.  If you love life- which God wants you to do, then don't waste it, but use it for good.  
But also, this person has hope.  He has hope that he will overcome the trial he is facing and praise the Lord.  Being in a right relationship with the Lord, not letting sin and selfishness and corrupt company mar that relationship- gives us a basis for hope in life.   In some ways, this is the missionary's call.  We bring real hope.  While we all may face sickness and die- God can heal our sickness now and can raise us up.  Jesus' healing of others, raising others (Lazarus), and his own resurrection- give us hope that the good will win- and that it pays to have trust, do worship, and have hope in God. 

Prayer: Lord, keep me form giving up.  Help me to have hope in you and tell others of the hope I have.  You are the One who sees my life and you are able to lift me up when I cannot lift myself up.  

  

Psalm 25

 1To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2in You, my God, I trust.

Do not let me be put to shame;

do not let my enemies exult over me.

3Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame;

but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.

4Show me Your ways, O LORD;

teach me Your paths.

5Guide me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation;

all day long I wait for You.

6Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion,

for they are from age to age.

7Remember not the sins of my youth,

nor my rebellious acts;

remember me according to Your loving devotion,

because of Your goodness, O LORD.

8Good and upright is the LORD;

therefore He shows sinners the way.

9He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them His way.

10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful

to those who keep His covenant and His decrees.

11For the sake of Your name, O LORD,

forgive my iniquity, for it is great.

12Who is the man who fears the LORD?

He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.

13His soul will dwell in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land.

14The LORD confides in those who fear Him,

and reveals His covenant to them.

15My eyes are always on the LORD,

for He will free my feet from the mesh.

16Turn to me and be gracious,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

17The troubles of my heart increase;

free me from my distress.

18Consider my affliction and trouble,

and take away all my sins.

19Consider my enemies, for they are many,

and they hate me with vicious hatred.

20Guard my soul and deliver me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in You.

21May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

because I wait for You.b

22Redeem Israel, O God,

from all its distress.
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Thoughts: This is an honest song.  It contradicts itself with trust and worry.  This is the way life is.  We walk by faith, but we are not on the perfect side of heaven yet.  So we also worry when we are afflicted or in trouble.  
There are amazing - and true promises to claim here.  Here is a list:
1) None who wait for you will be put to shame.  
2) He shows sinners the way
3) He guides the humble
4) His ways are loving and right to those who keep His covenant and decrees

There are also many prayers: Show me your ways; guide me in your truth; remember not my sins but remember me; forgive me; free me from my distress; guard my soul; May integrity and uprightness preserve me; redeem Israel from all their troubles. 
This Psalm is a hopeful Psalm of someone in trouble.  He wrestles with the dissonance of promises, prayers, and the trouble he is currently facing.   In the end, he does not give up on hoping in God.  
Missionaries do not paint a picture that when we begin to believe all our troubles disappear.  Instead, missionaries struggle in their call as an example of Christ who was on the cross.  The sadness, inequities and hurts of life are great.  Yet, we believe because in Christ we do not have to give into despair.  God can help us and lift us up in the midst of our crosses and afflictions in life.  

Prayer: Lord, to you I lift up my soul.  I trust and wait in you.  When I face afflictions and crosses, help me to find hope in you.  

Psalm 24

 1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

2for he founded it on the seas

and established it on the waters.

3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not trust in an idol

or swear by a false god. ^a

5They will receive blessing from the Lord

and vindication from God their Savior.

6Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek your face, God of Jacob. ^b c

7Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

8Who is this King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

the Lord mighty in battle.

9Lift up your heads, you gates;

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

10Who is he, this King of glory?

The Lord Almighty—

he is the King of glory.
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Thoughts:  It is a simple thought, but one we forget often- we are not in control of God, God is in control.  The whole earth is His.  There are many especially in the West who (post-enlightenment) think it is our job to pick or design God.  It is a bit like Harry Potter picking heaven- or heaven as whatever you want it to be (and God as whatever you want God to be).  This appeals to us because we think we are in control.  When humans have designed gods (think Greek, Roman, Norse, or Hindu pantheon), they are just a bit above Marvel super heroes.  The gods we design are often fickle and weak showing human qualities and the limits of human imagination.  The same with our choosing our own heaven. I can't imagine heaven being limited to a train station.  The whole earth is the Lord's.  Therefore He has the right to choose who may come into His presence (ascend His holy hill= heaven). 
     Protestants immediately go into justification mode here- we don't ascend because we have clean hands and a pure heart- but because God gives us clean hands and a pure heart.   Yes, God is the One who makes us complete in the end, but that is not the point here.  The emphasis here is  seeking God.  Not a god we make up (an idol), but a God we can listen to.  Not a talisman for magic or good luck, but a God we can rely on and trust in (vs. 4).  Verse 3 and 4 are tied together.  Those receive a blessing who seek (and trust) in Him.  God will confirm their action of seeking and trust by blessing them (both now and later) and vindicating them in the end.  
     So in many ways this Psalm is about our coming to God and also God's coming to us.  We seek Him who comes to us.  He comes to us through the ancient doors, the ancient gates, the ancient ways.  God has come before, and He comes again to us.  When the Holy Spirit comes to us- we should lift up our heads and seek Him.  He is the King of glory.  He is the king of glory over all the earth He has made.  So part of our job, is to glorify and worship Him who made the whole earth.  Part of our duty is to point to people to ask them to seek Him.  

Prayer:  Lord help me to seek you and find you when I search for you with all my heart.  Help me to not seek after an idol,  or to find solace in just the seeking.  Thank you that you, the King of glory, cares about me.  Help me to be an instrument of yours spreading your glory to the whole earth.  

Psalm 23

 1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4Even though I walk

through the darkest valley, ^a

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

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Thoughts: If this is not your favorite Psalm, it is one that you are familiar with.  It is the most familiar and quoted Psalm.  While Jesus did not quote this Psalm, he livedThe i it.  He pointed out the lilies of the field in the green pastures.  He often preached beside the still waters of Galilee.  He may have thought about being in the valley of the shadow of death in Gethsemane (the Kidron Valley), or on the cross itself.  He may have thought about preparing a table in the presence of his enemies when he ate at the Pharisees' house or when he ate and drank with "sinners."  His title "Messiah" (meaning "anointed one") refers to being anointed.  Jesus basked in the goodness of the Lord, and He always had hope and even prophesied that the Father would raise Him from the dead.  
But this Psalm rings true to all of our souls.  God gives us the peace, poetically described as green pastures and still waters.  God sees us through the valley of death on to the other side.  God delivers us from our enemies, and we have hope in the goodness of the Lord in this life and that we will dwell/live with Him where He is forever.  

For the missionary, this Psalm is a well worn passage.  Many missionaries quote this Psalm in their memoirs.  But in terms of telling others, this passage talks about the peace God can give, the assurance (even in trouble) God gives, the hope of God.  The peace and contentment found here is vapid without God.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are my shepherd.  Help me to tell others to join the flock and to experience your peace and guidance and hope.  

Psalm 22

 1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish?

2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

by night, but I find no rest. ^b

3Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

you are the one Israel praises. ^c

4In you our ancestors put their trust;

they trusted and you delivered them.

5To you they cried out and were saved;

in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

6But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

7All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

8“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,

“let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

since he delights in him.”

9Yet you brought me out of the womb;

you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

10From birth I was cast on you;

from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11Do not be far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

12Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13Roaring lions that tear their prey

open their mouths wide against me.

14I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

it has melted within me.

15My mouth ^d is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

you lay me in the dust of death.

16Dogs surround me,

a pack of villains encircles me;

they pierce ^e my hands and my feet.

17All my bones are on display;

people stare and gloat over me.

18They divide my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.

19But you, Lord, do not be far from me.

You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

20Deliver me from the sword,

my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22I will declare your name to my people;

in the assembly I will praise you.

23You who fear the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24For he has not despised or scorned

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

25From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

before those who fear you ^f I will fulfill my vows.

26The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the Lord will praise him—

may your hearts live forever!

27All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

28for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations.

29All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30Posterity will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

31They will proclaim his righteousness,

declaring to a people yet unborn:

He has done it!
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Thoughts: I want us to concentrate today on this line, "Those who cannot keep themselves alive."  Who is that?  That is everyone!  None of us can keep ourselves alive.  Christians often point out this Psalm describes what Jesus was going through on the cross: the feeling of forsakenness, the mocking, the bones out of joint the heart like wax.  But in other ways- this is a reminder of our own death.  None of us can keep ourselves alive.  God rules over all the nations in at least this sense- all nations, all tribes, all families, all individuals will die.  This points out that all who go down to death will kneel before him- even the wealthiest, even the most powerful, even the poor, everyone.  No one can thwart God's purposes.  If we are with God, we will win with God.  
But this Psalm also is a praise of God for lifting us up when we are down.  Verse 24 says he does not despise the suffering of the afflicted.  Our suffering is not ignored by God. He is able and can heal us.  He is sometimes our only help.  I think about our run in with Covid from 2020-2022.  For at least one year, there were no real known meds and no vaccines and lots of guesses of what can hurt or help.  Issolation, masks and fear seemed to rule.  It hurt the world economy and for the first time since the 1940s things were missing from the common grocery shelf.  In such a time, God was and still is our only refuge. In the end, the immune system that God gave us worked well enough- to see us through- triggered in part by the vaccine.  But God is our strength.  
The Psalmist is also concerned about the missionary work.  The concern is that the future generations will be told about the Lord.  The concern is that in the future, the next generation will proclaim his goodness/righteousness.  That is that, God is right, and He is worthy of worship- and He has done it!  What did He do?  He accomplished His purposes.  He created all things.  Nothing that has been done could be done without Him.  Not "we have done it" but "He" has done it.  He is worthy of our praise- and that praise is worthy of being passed on- not being silenced or muffled out.  

Prayer: Lord, you have done it!  I face many crosses.  But your purposes are achieved.  Give me strength, O God, to be faithful to you in the crosses of life, and to proclaim to others your righteousness.