Psalms 105:25

Psalms 105:25 says, He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtily with his servants.  This seems to imply that the people of Egypt had no choice but to deal badly with the people of Israel, but I believe that God always gives people a choice, otherwise they could not be held accountable for their actions.  Verse twenty-six states, He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.  God sent Moses and Aaron then to free His people physically from Egypt, but the good news is that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to free all people from sin spiritually for all time if they accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-seven adds, They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.  Moses and Aaron showed the signs of God to the people of Egypt. We are to show the sign of the cross to the people of the world today.  Verse twenty-eight says, He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.  The next few verses simply tell of the plagues that God brought on Egypt. Verse twenty-nine adds, He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.  Verse thirty continues, Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings. Verse thirty-one continues still, He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.  Again, this is just a recounting of the plagues God sent against Egypt, which continued to get more devastating.  Verse thirty-two states, He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.  Verse thirty-three adds, He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.  Verse thirty-four continues, He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,  God did not need an army or even the angels to accomplish His will, but did so with simply His word, which brought forth locusts and caterpillers, and He can still do so today.  Of course, God's ultimate will is not the destruction of people, but their redemption, and He made this possible by the Word that became flesh, Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-five says, And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.  Verse thirty-six declares, He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.  This was the ultimate plague that finally caused Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go.  The sacrifice of the first born, only begotten Son of God gives us freedom from sin and its power today if we only accept it.  Just as God worked miracles to free the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt, He has worked the ultimate miracle through His Son Jesus Christ to free anyone who accepts Him as their personal Savior and Lord from the bondage of sin today.

Psalms 105:37

Psalms 105:37 says, He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.  God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt wealthy and healthy.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are brought out of the world of bondage to sin spiritually wealthy and healthy.  Verse thirty-eight adds, Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.  The people of Egypt not only let the people of Isreal go, but they were glad they left,  because they feared God.  The Pharoah might not have wanted them to leave, but the people did, because they were afraid.  Verse thirty-nine states, He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.  God didn't just get the people of Israel out of Egypt and the absndon them, but He proved guidance for them as well.  Got not only delivers us from the power of sin, but He provides guidance for us each day.  Verse forty adds, The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.  God provided for the needs of the people of Isreal, had delivered them with riches out of Egypt, and  still they complained.  God has delivered us to the riches of everlasting life, yet we often complain.  Verse forty-one continues, He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.  God also provided them with plenty of water, and for Christians today, He provides us with the Bread of Life and the Living Water, Jesus Christ.  Verse forty-two declares, For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.  Just as God remembered His promises to Abraham then, He remembers His promises today.  God never forgot His part of the covenant with Abraham, and He never will forget His covenant relationship with us if we are followers of Christ today.  Verse forty-three adds, And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:  We are a part of God's chosen people as Christians, and we should go forth with joy.  Verse forty-four continues, And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;  Even if God never gives us a land in this world,  He has given us much greater, and that is a heavenly home.  Verse forty five concludes, That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws.  Praise ye the LORD.  God gave the people of Israel a land where His laws would be put first, and so He does with us today.  Like them, we should give all our praise to God.

Psalms 105:13

Psalms 105:13 says, When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;  The people of Israel at times found themselves in another land.. Verse fourteen adds, He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;  Even if they were in another land, whether by choice as Egypt or in defeat militarily as by the Philistines, God was still their protector.  No matter where we find ourselves today, even if we are in a land where we are persecuted, God will not allow us to come to any harm spiritually.  Verse fifteen continues, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.  God warned those in power over the people of Israel not to harm them, and He gives the same warning to everyaone today.  Though we may not live to see it, those who harm Christians will one day be held accountable by God when His final judgment comes.  Verse sixteen declares, Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.  God caused a famine to come on the world, even the land of Canaan.  Those who are supposed to be God's people are not exempt from His judgment if they stray away from Him in this lifetime.  Verse seventeen adds, He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:  Still, even during the famine God had provided a away for the people of Israel to be fed by Joseph's work in Egypt.  God will always provide a way for His people.  Verse eighteen continues,Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:  At one time it would not have looked as though Joseph would have been in a position to save the people of Isreal, since he was imprisoned himself.  We cannot allow our situation to keep us from serving God, even when we may feel that there is no hope.  Verse nineteen states, Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.  When God's timing was right, His word came to Joseph.  We need to be ready when God's timing is right to do whatever He leads us to do as followers of Christ, no matter our circumstances at the time.  Joseph could have simply given up on God when he was imprisoned, but he didn't.  Verse twenty adds, The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.  After Joseph had almost given up hope, the king of Egypt sent for him, and after Joseph interpreted his dreams by the power of God, he was set free and made a ruler over the people of Egypt.  We may never be a ruler over people today as Christians, but God has set us free from the power of sin.  Verse twenty-one continues, He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:  Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. When God sets us free by accepting salvation provided by Jesus Christ, He alone is the authority in our life.  Verse twenty-two concludes, To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.  Joseph not only had authority over the princes, but he was to teach them wisdom, which can only come from God.  Verse twenty-three says, Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.  The people of Israel, upon learning who Joseph was, came to Egypt.  Likewise, if we are to find salvation today we must come to Jesus Christ by faith upon learning Who He is.  Otherwise, we will remain in a spiritual famine, doomed to one day go away  to everlasting punishment.   Verse twenty-four adds, And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their  enemies. Though we could read this as Joseph increasing the people of Israel, it was God working through Joseph Who did it.  We as followers of Christ do not increase the kingdom of God, but God working through us does.

Psalms 105:1

 Psalms 105:1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.  Giving thanks to God and making His works known to people is what we as followers of Christ should be doing today as well.  Verse two adds, Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.  We do this in worship services in the church building, but we should do this out in the world as well.  Verse three continues, Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. David called on the people of Isreal to glory in the holy name of God and to let the hearts of those who sought Him rejoice.  This is what we need in America today.  Christians should glory in the name of God and those that seek and find God through faith in Jesus Christ should rejoice.  Verse four states, Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.  As David said, we need to seek God's strength as we live life everyday.  Verse five adds, Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;  As we remember the marvelous works that God has done, the most important one I believe is the work of redemption when Jesus Christ came to die for our sins.  Verse six says, O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.  Israel was God's chosen people then, and we as followers of Christ are His chosen people today.  It was not because the people of Isreal were better than other people because of who they were physically, but because of their relationship to God spiritually that they were His chosen people, and so it is with Christians today.  Verse seven adds, He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.  David said that God was their God and His judgments applied not only to Isreal but to all the world.  This is still true today.  Verse eight continues, He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.  God's word is everlasting and we fall somewhere within that thousand generations.  Verse nine states, Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;  God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham and continued it with Isaac, and it has never ceased to exist for those who put their faith in Him.  As followers of Christ, that covenant relationship is just as true today as it was then.  Verse ten adds, And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:  Again, David tells us that God's covenant relationship with His people is an everlasting covenant.  Verse eleven continues, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:  God promised the people of Israel the lord of Canaan, and He promises us a much better place today, and that is our heavenly home. Verse twelve concludes, When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.  When God promised the people of Israel the land of Canaan, they were a very small group of people, but they served an all powerful God.  No matter how small we may be in numbers today as Christians, we serve an all powerful God so we should sing His praises to the world no matter what. 

Psalms 104:24

Psalms 104:24 says, O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.  The works of God are certainly manifold and made in the riches of His wisdom.  Nothing was created by accident, in spite of what many people would have us believe.  Verse twenty-five adds, So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.  The seas are a part of God's creation, separated from the land by His word.  Verse twenty-six continues, There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.  The ships, made by man, sail on the seas God created, and the seas are full of the sea creatures which God created.  Verse twenty-seven continues, These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.  All the creatures of the sea are dependent upon God for their food, and so are we really.  We may believe that we provide for ourselves, but God can take it all away were He to choose to do so.  Verse twenty-eight states, That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.  Just as God provides for the sea animals out of His gracious hand, so does He provide for us as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.  As David said about fish, if God takes away their breath, they die, and so do we.  God is the Giver and Sustainer of all life.  Verse thirty continues, Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.  Once more, we are reminded that God is the Creator of everything, and it is by His power that the earth is renewed, or fruitful.  Verse thirty-one declares, The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.  We may look around us and think the world is a terrible place and doomed to destruction, but we are reminded that God's glory will endure forever and that the LORD will rejoice in His work.  When God created the heavens and earth and all that live in them He pronounced them to be good, and one day He will restore everything to its original status, except for mankind, which will only be restored by faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  All others will go away to the place of suffering that God has prepared for them.  Verse thirty-two adds, He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.  Just as the psalmist said then, God has complete power over His creation.  Only people are the exception, because God gave them self will.  Verse thirty-four says, I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  As followers of Christ, this should be our goal as well.  We should sing praises to God for as long as we live.  Verse thirty-four adds, My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.  David said that his mediation on the LORD would be sweet and that he would be glad in Him.  No matter what is going on in life, we should be glad when we think about God and all that He has done for us.  Verse thirty-five continues, Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.  Though this will not happen until Chist returns, one day the sinners who do not accept Him as Savior and Lord will be consumed out of the earth.  We as Christians in the meantime need to simply praise the Lord. 

Psalms 104:10

Psalms 104:10 says, He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.  Verse eleven adds, They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.  God causes the springs to water the valleys, which then quech the thirst of the wild beasts.  God created everything to work in an orderly fashion, but people corrupted His creation because God gives them free will.  Verse fourteen continues, By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.  Not only do the streams provide water to drink, they also allow the grass and trees to grow, which provide food for the animals and a home for the birds.  Verse thirteen states, He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.  The water of the springs come from within the earth.  It satisfies the needs of the fruit of the earth.  Verse fourteen adds, He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;  God not only provides water, but He provides food for people and animals.  Some might claim that God isn't doing a very good job of providing these things, but the problems exist because of the sinful corruption of mankind.  Verse fifteen continues, And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.  We are told that God made the wine that makes the heart glad, which would indicate to me that it is just regular wine and not more like grape juice, and the oil and bread.  God provides for all our needs and even gives us things to bring pleasure into our life.  Verse sixteen says, The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;  Verse seventeen adds, Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.  Once again it is stated that God gives us trees which are the home of the birds among other things.  Verse eighteen states, The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.  The high hills serve as a home for the goats and the rocks for the conies.  Matthew Henry says the high hills and rocks are a refuge for those animals that are not as swift as others.  God provided a place of refuge for all of the animals He created, even people, before people through sin corrupted God's design.  Verse nineteen declares, He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.  God also created the moon to declare the seasons and the sun to rise and set.  Verse twenty adds, Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.  David said God created the darkness, and that during the darkness of night the beasts of the forest creep forth.  Verse twenty-one continues, The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.  During the night,the lions hunt their prey, which is said to provide meat from God.  Verse twenty-two states, The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.  After the sun rises, the lions go to their dens to rest.  Verse twenty-three adds, Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.  I believe this is saying that because the beasts prowl at night, people did their work during the daytime.  With the invention of electric lights, this may no longer be true, but we still would be reluctant to go out into the dark without a light, especially in some parts of the world.  God created the world in perfection, and one day He will restore it to perfection. 

LUK2:08 says, And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  That first Christmas night there was a group of lowly shepherds going about their normal night.  There was nothing that said it was anything special.  Verse nine adds, And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  Suddenly, the night was no longer normal as an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were very afraid.  We may not have an angel appear to us on Christmas day, but as followers of Christ, Christmas should always be a day that reminds us of the good news that the angel was going to share with the shepherds, and we have no reason to be afraid.  Verse ten adds, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  The good tidings of great joy that the angel shared with the shepherds was for all people.  We may not have been there that night, but this good news was for us as well.  Verse eleven declares, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  This is the true and only meaning of Christmas.  A Savior was born that day Who is Christ the Lord.  He is the One and only Savior, so let's not forget the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Verse twelve adds, And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  The angel said that the shepherds would find the Savior not as a king in power but as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Jesus was born as any other baby was born, but He was the only begotten Son of God.  Verse thirteen continues, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Verse fourteen adds, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  For the shepherds, this became anything but a normal night, and if we have met Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, this day should be a celebration of His birth, a Savior Who is Christ the Lord.  

Today, on Christmas eve, we will pause a little to think about that first Christmas eve.  There were no Christmas trees or light displays, just people gathering to be taxed and counted.  For Mary and Joseph, there was no on-line booking, nor even a room when they did finally get to Bethlehem the next day.  For Mary especially it was a very hard journey, but she had no choice but to go.  So, as we look at the lights and the decorated trees today from the comfort of our room or car, let's remember that first Christmas eve and how little people had to celebrate then, before the Savior, the Redeemer of mankind, was born the next day.  

Psalms 104:1

Psalms 104:1 says, Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.  David says that his soul should bless the LORD.  It is our soul, the everlasting part of us, that needs to bless God for His greatness.  Verse two adds, Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:  God does cloth Himself in the light of truth and the heavens are His home.  Verse three continues, Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:  God is above all creation and is in control of it.  I don't believe this means that everything that happens is caused by God, because He has allowed Satan to have temporary power in the world, but God was, is and always will be the ultimate authority.  Verse four states, Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:  The angels are a part of God's creation, and are His ministers, except I believe for those who followed Lucifer in his rebellion against God.  Still, they are limited in power compared to God.  Verse five adds, Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.  God laid the foundations of, or created, the earth by His own design and it will not be destroyed by anything unless God Himself destroys it.  Verse six declares, Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.  David said that the earth was covered with water.  The waters were above the mountains.  We read occasionally that certain places in the world that are now very dry were once under water, and this tells us that this is true.  I don't profess to understand how God created as He did, but I believe that He is the Creator of all.  Verse seven adds, At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.  God set the seas in their boundaries so that they no longer cover the dry land.  Verse eight continues, They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.  God placed the seas in valleys that He created for them.  Verse nine concludes, Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.  God has set boundaries for the seas so that they will never again cover the earth.  God set His creation in order and continues to be in control of it.

Psalms 103:12

Psalms 103:12 says, As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  David said when we put our faith in God that we are completely separated from our sins.  Verse thirteen adds, Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  Though this says a father pitieth his children, I believe at means has compassion for his children.  Like earthly fathers, God has a great compassion for His children.  Verse fourteen continues, For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.  God knows the weak state of mankind.  We were created out of dust and we will return to dust.  Verse fifteen states, As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. David continues to speak about the brief physical nature of the life of people, though our soul will live forever.  Verse sixteen adds, For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.  I believe this is saying that when our brief life here on earth is gone that it is gone forever.  We are not coming back in some other form or as someone else. Verse seventeen declares, But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; As opposed to our temporary physical body, God's mercy is everlasting to those who put their faith in Him through accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse eighteen adds, To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.  As followers of Christ, we certainly should remember and obey God's commandments, even though salvation comes through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse nineteen continues, The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.  God's kingdom is in the heavens, and one day we as Christians will gather around His throne.  Verse twenty says, Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  This tells us that even the angels are to bless God.  Though some people seem to think so, we will never be angels.  Verse twenty-one adds, Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.  All of creation is called on to worship God, but in this case refers to the angels in particular, as they are ministers of God's will.  Verse twenty-two continues, Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.  We are to bless the LORD for all His works in all places that He has dominion, which is everywhere. 

Psalms 103:1

Psalms 103:1 aays, A Psalm of David.  This is called a psalm of David, then verse one says, Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Like David, as Christians we should bless God with all that is within us.  We should hold nothing back. Verse two adds, Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  David said he would bless the LORD and not forget all His benefits, but we serve God for spiritual and not material things.  Verse three continues, Who forgiveth all mine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  As David said, God forgives all our sins, if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  David said God not only redeems us from destruction, but also crowns us with His lovingkindness and tender mercies.  Verse five adds, Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  David said that God renews our strength, and our faith should renew our strength, even as we get older.  Verse six declares, The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.  Once more, I don't believe that this means all who are oppressed for any reason, but all who are oppressed for their faith in God.  God's righteousness and judgment will set us free from the oppression of sin, if we will only put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seven adds, He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.  God made His ways known to Moses and the people of Israel, and His ways have not changed.  Verse eight continues, The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  God's mercy is available to all, and He is slow to anger and quick to show mercy.  Verse nine says, He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.  Though slow to anger, God will not chide us forever and keep His anger from us if we refuse His gift of salvation. Verse ten adds, He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  God doesn't deal with us based on our sins if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but otherwise one day He will.  Verse eleven continues,  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  David said God's mercy toward those who feared, or put their faith in God, was even greater than the heavens. 

Psalms 102:13

Psalms 102:13 says, Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.  Zion was in distress, but David said God would have mercy on Zion again, when His timing was right.  We can be certain that God always has mercy on His people, even in times of distress.  Verse fourteen adds, For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.  The people of Israel still took pleasure in the house of God, even if it was reduced to stones.  There was still hope in the things of God, just as there is today even if they seem to be trampled down by the world.  Verse fifteen continues, So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.  David said that the heathen would come to fear the name of God, and when God comes in judgment if not before they certainly will, and even the most powerful people in the world will do so.  Verse sixteen declares, When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.  God would be the One to rebuild Zion. The people of God are established by His actions and kept by His power.  Verse seventeen adds, He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.  God will always hear the prayer of the destitute if they are His people.  Our earthly status does not determine our relationship with God, and even the poorest may come to Him.  Verse eighteen states, This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.  We today read of what David said and if we believe in God's word, beginning by believing in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will praise the Lord.  Verse nineteen adds, For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;  God has always looked down from above on the earth and always will.  Verse twenty continues, To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;  Simply being a prisoner does not save one,but being a prisoner because of our faith in God, and maybe even being sentenced to death for the same, causes God to hear our mornings.  Of course, we are all prisoners of sin and under its death sentence until we accept the salvation of Christ.  Verse twenty-one says, To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;  God will save His people so that His name will be praised.  Verse twenty-two adds, When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.  We may not be able to gather together all kingdoms to worship God, but we as Christians can certainly gather together to worship Him.  Verse twenty-three states, He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.  The people of Israel were in a weakened state in the world, but God was still the source of their strength and victory.  We may find ourselves in a weakened physical state today, but if our faith in Christ remains strong, that is all that matters.  Verse twenty-four adds, I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. David asked that God not allow him to die while he should still have a lot of years of life remaining.  Whatever age we physically die at, if we are saved by God's grace, our life is everlasting.  Verse twenty-five declares, Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.  God created the universe a long time ago, and His power will never diminish.  Verse twenty-six adds, They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:  Whether we are followers of Christ or His enemies, this is the fate of us all if Christ does not return first.  Verse twenty-seven continues, But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.  God never changes.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.  God's servants, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, will live with God forever. 

Psalms 102:1

Psalms 102:1 says, A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.  This is identified as a prayer of the afflicted who are overcome by the world, then verse one says, Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.  First there is a call for God to hear the prayer, and we can be certain that as followers of Christ God always hears our prayers, especially when we pray for others who are afflicted.  Verse two adds, Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.  When we are in trouble because of our relationship to God, we can be certain that He does not hide from us and that He answers our prayers in the best way at the best time.  Verse three continues, For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.  The psalmist, whom I assume to be David, asks that God answer his prayers quickly because his life is so brief.  Our lifetime on earth may be brief, but we have everlasting life spiritually, so we have all the time in the world for God to answer our prayers as Christians.  Verse four states, My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.  When David said his heart was smitten, he didn't mean that he was in love as we often us the term, but that his heart was failing physically.  His memory also seemed to be going.  As we get older, even if we don't have other afflictions, we may find ourselves to be the same way.  Verse five adds, By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.  David said he was now groaning and basically skin and bones.  Still, the physical life is not what he or we should be focused on, but the spiritual life is.  Verse six says, I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.  David said he felt as out of place as a pelican would be in the wilderness.  As followers of Christ, we really are out of place in this world, whether we are old and afflicted or young and prosperous.  Verse seven adds, I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.  David seemed to be feeling that he was totally alone in life, and at times we may almost feel the same way in our spiritual life.  Verse eight declares, Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.  We like David may feel that our enemies, and I believe this would be those who oppose God, are against us all day long, but as long as God is for us, that is all that matters.   Verse nine adds, For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,  This is a reference to mourning, and even if life seems to be totally against us as Christians we should rejoice in the Lord instead of mourning about our situation.  Verse ten continues, Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.  David then seems to blame God for his situation, and we should never do that.  Verse eleven states, My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.  David again spoke of the shortness of his life, and no matter how long we live on this earth, our life will always be very brief from an everlasting perspective.  Verse twelve adds, But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.  As stated, God will endure forever to be remembered, or known, to all generations. 

Psalms 101:1

Psalms 101:1 says, A Psalm of David.  This is identified as a psalm of David, then verse one says, I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.  David said he would sing of the mercy and judgment of God, and if we don't accept the mercy of God by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then one day we will face the judgment of God.  Verse two adds, I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.  David said he would behave perfectly when God came to him and that he would walk with a perfect heart.  We should strive to behave perfectly when we come to God through faith in Christ and to walk with a perfect heart, but we still too often fail to do so.  We are only made perfect before God through our faith in Jesus Christ and not by our own actions.  Verse three continues, I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.  David said he would set nothing wicked before his eyes and that he hated the work of those who turned aside from God.  As followers of Christ, we should not allow anything other than God's will to become our focus, and we certainly should never turn aside from our faith.  Verse four states, A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.  David said his heart would not stray away from God and that he would not know any wicked person.  Though our heart should never stray away from God, we are called on to reach out to the wicked people of the world with the gospel.  Verse five adds, Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.  David continued to say that he would cut off all those who acted in self satisfying ways instead of following God's leadership, but he was often the same way. I don't believe that we are to claim that we are perfect and above everyone else as Christians.  We are still but sinners saved by grace.  Verse six declares, Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.  David said that he would look to the faithful of the land and that they would serve him.  We should look to other Christians for fellowship, but we should not expect them to serve us.  Verse seven adds, He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.  David said that those who dealt deceitfully would not live in his house.  We often cannot remove all deceitful people from our house or circle of friends, but we can make sure that we are not deceitful ourselves.  Verse eight continues, I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.  Though David said he would quickly destroy all the wicked of the land so that they might be cut off from the city of the LORD, this is not what we are called on to do.  We are to reach out to them with the love of God so that they might put their faith in Christ and become a part of the family of God. 

Psalms 100:1

 Psalms 100:1 says, A Psalm of praise.  This is called a psalm of praise, then verse one says, Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  All nations were called on to make a joyful noise unto the LORD.   Matthew Henry says that the Jewish people say this psalm was written to be sung with their thanks offerings, but it has a universal call that is not a part of their belief.  It is the gospel church that reaches all nations, and we as followers of Christ are the ones who are to sing praises to Him.  Verse two adds, Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Serving God should bring us gladness, and we should sing His praises everywhere, because wherever we are as Christians should be His court.  Verse three states, Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  In order to sing praises to God, we must first know Who He is and who we are in relationship to Him.  He is the Creator of all things, including us, and if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are the sheep of His pasture.  Like sheep, we are to depend on God as the Good Shepherd, Who provides for our needs and protection.  We are to recognize and follow His voice.  Verse four declares, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  We are to enter into God's presence with thanksgiving and praise.  There should never be a reason for us to be complaining to or about God and His work in our life as Christians.  Verse five adds, For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  As followers of Christ, we are to sing praises to God because of His everlasting mercy and the fact that His truth never changes. 

Psalms 99:1

Psalms 99:1 says, The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.  Matthew Henry says this psalm was written to remind the Jewish people that they were not to forget God's laws as the awaited the coming Messiah, and we should not forget God's laws as we await the return of the Messiah.  God still reigned then and He still reigns now.  Verse two adds, The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.  As God reigned in Zion then and was high above the people, He still reigns today.  Verse three continues, Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.  The people of Israel were not to forget to praise the name of God because it was holy.  We as followers of Christ are not to forget to praise God for the same reason.  We should praise God because of Who He is and not for what He has done for us materially.   Verse four states, The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.  The people of Israel, from the king on down, were called on to execute righteousness and judgment.  We as individual Christians and as Christians collectively need to do the same thing.  Verse five adds, Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.  We today as the people of Israel then are to worship at the footstool of God.  We will never be God's equal, but are to come to Him in humility.  Verse six continues, Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.  The people of Israel were reminded that those who came before them had called on God and He had answered them.  We have the Bible, and the testimony of others, to remind us that God always hears His people and answers their prayers, even if the answer is no.  Verse seven declares, He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.  God spoke to the people of Israel in pillar of cloud, and they kept His testimonies and ordances.  God speaks to us today as followers of Christ through the Bible and the Holy Spirit, and we need to keep His ordances.  Being a Christian does not make us free to do anything and everything that we want to do.  Verse eight adds, Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.  God was and still is the God Who forgives us if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but He still will hold us accountable if we stray away from His laws.  Verse nine continues,  Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.  We should exalt God in all that we do, because the LORD our God is holy. 

Psalms 98:1

Psalms 98:1 says, A Psalm  This simply says it is a psalm, then verse one says, O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.  The people of Israel were called on to sing a new song to God because of the marvelous things He had done.  This psalm is a prophesy of the coming Messiah, and His coming is the marvelous thing that God has done that means the most.  Verse two adds, The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.  When Jesus came, He made known the salvation plan of God and showed God's righteousness openly to the heathen, which everyone is until they accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse three continues, He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  Though God made His covenant with the people of Israel, it was to call all people to Him through faith.  As Christians, we have entered into a covenant relationship with God that separates in us from the rest of the world, but part of that covenant relationship calls on us to witness to the lost people of the world.  Verse four states, Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.  The whole world is called on to make a joyful noise unto the LORD and to rejoice and sing loudly to Him.  Verse five adds, Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.  People are called on to play music and sing to the LORD.  Verse six adds, With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.  This just continues to tell the people that they are to worship God using musical instruments, and this still applies to the church today.  Verse seven declares, Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein,  There is the beginning of a call for all of  God's creation to call out to Him, from the seas and hills to all the animals that live in them.  Verse eight adds, Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.  Though mankind is the only part of creation with an everlasting soul, when God is truly in charge, all of creation works together for our good.  Verse nine continues, Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.  God is one day coming in righteousness judgment, and the only way that we can be declared righteous is by faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 97:1

Psalms 97:1 says, The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.  This psalm says much the same as the last one, and that is that God reigns.  Since God reigns, and reigns in particular over those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, we are to rejoice.  Verse two adds, Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.  Though the world without about God may be full of darkness, righteousness and judgment come through God and a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse three states, A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.  Though we may not see it, a fire does await those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ.  Verse four adds, His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.  God's power is compared to lightning, there for all the world to see.  I don't believe that anyone can honestly deny the evidence of the existence and power of God, though many, many claim to.  Verse five continues,  The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.  God has the power to melt the hills, or the whole earth for that matter, with His word.  We either accept that or reject it.  Verse six declares, The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.  Even the heavens declare the righteousness of God and show His glory to all the world.  Verse seven adds, Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.  When Jesus Christ returns in glory, all those who put their faith in idols will be confounded, so there is a call by David for everyone to put their faith in Jesus Christ and to worship Him alone.  We cannot worship Jesus Christ and still worship any idol.  Verse eight says, Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.  Those who are truly God's people hear and rejoice because of God's judgments, which bring them into an everlasting relationship with God as a part of His kingdom.  Verse nine adds, For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.  We, like the people then, worship God because He is above everything else.  Verse ten states, Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.  We who love God, His people through our faith in Jesus Christ, are called on to hate evil because God has preserved our souls.  We should have no fear of the evil of the world, because as followers of Christ we have everlasting victory.  Verse eleven adds, Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.  The Light of God shines for those who are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.  As Christians, we are made upright in our heart and should live in gladness.  Verse twelve continues, Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.  We, those who are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, which is the only way to be made righteous,  need to give thanks to God in remembrance of what He has done for us.  We have everlasting life through our relationship with Jesus Christ, and for this we should daily rejoice. 

Psalms 96:1

Psalms 96:1 says, O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.  David calls on the people of Israel especially, and all the people of the earth in general, to worship God with a new song.  We as Christians need to worship God with songs today.  Verse two adds, Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.  Not only were they to sing unto God, but they were to show His salvation to those around them everyday.  Today, as followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to share the gospel with those around us, not just on Sunday in church, but everyday wherever we are.  Verse three continues, Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.  Like the people of Israel, we are to declare the glory of God to the heathen, those who do not believe in Him.  Verse four declares, For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.  We are to share the gospel because of the greatness and goodness of God.  He is to be praised and feared above all gods.  Verse five adds, For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  As David stated then, so it is today, that all other gods are idols, and God alone is the Creator of everything.  Verse six continues, Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.  We need to acknowledge the honor and majesty of God and to live protected by His strength.  Verse seven states, Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  David called on all people of the earth to give God glory and acknowledge His power.  We as Christians are called to do the same thing today.  Verse eight adds, Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.  God is still and always will be due our giving Him all the glory and worshipping Him with our tithes and offerings.  Verse nine continues, O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. As David said then, we are to worship God for the beauty of His holiness.  Verse ten says, Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.  David called on the people of Israel to tell the world that God reigns and that His world will not be moved by them and also, that He will judge the world righteously.  God is still in control, and we will one day be judged by His righteousness, and the only way to avoid being condemned is to accept Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven adds, Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.  David calls on the whole of creation to rejoice at the righteousness of God.  Verse twelve continues, Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.  This is a continuation of the call for all of God's creation to worship Him, and one day everyone will acknowledge the righteous of God, but for too many it will be too late.  Verse thirteen concludes, Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.  As David stated, one day God is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and truth.  The only way we can be found not guilty is by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. 

Psalms 95: 1

Psalms 95:1 says, O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  As the psalmist called on the people of Israel to do then, to sing and make a joyful noise to the rock of their salvation, so should we as followers of Christ do today.  Verse two adds, Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  As the people of Israel were asked to do then, we today as Christians should come into God's presence with thanksgiving, because He is the only One Who can provide us with salvation.  We do not worship Him for material reasons, but for spiritual ones.  Verse three declares, For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  This always has been and always will be true.  God is above all else, even the things that we might attempt to make a god in our life.  Verse four adds, In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.  God is the God of everything and every place.  Verse five continues, The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  As stated already, everything belongs to God, both the sea and the land of the world, and everything else in the universe itself.  Verse six states, O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.  We as followers of Christ must humble ourselves before God and worship Him alone.  Verse seven adds, For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.  If we will hear his voice, even though to be a sheep is today used as a term of derision, we are called on to be the sheep of God.  Like sheep with a shepherd, we are to be obedient to His voice and dependant on Him to guide us and keep us safe.  Verse eight says, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  The people of Isreal were called on to not harden their hearts against God, and if we are Christians then we should never harden our hearts to the will of God, as the people of Israel did in the wilderness, and we should call on the lost of the world to not do so.  Verse nine adds, When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.  When the people of Israel refused to follow God's will and tempted Him, He proved that He was God by His work.  Today, even though we can see the work of God throughout the universe, we see His redemptive power through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Verse ten continues, Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:  God was grieved by the people of Israel, whom He had delivered from Egypt, and for forty years in the wilderness as a generation who didn't put their faith in God they were never allowed into the promised land.  It is not enough to claim to be a part of God's kingdom without putting our faith totally in Him, beginning by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven concludes, Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.  God did not let the people of Israel who did not truly believe in Him into the promised land.  Likewise, He will not let anyone into the kingdom of heaven if they do not truly put their faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 94:12

Psalms 94:12 says, Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;  The psalmist says that we are blessed if God does chastise us to teach us His law.  Still, we seldom feel blessed if God does chastise us.  Verse thirteen adds, That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.  Adversity sent from God to teach His people His law results in rest in the end, and avoids the pit dug for the wicked.  Verse fourteen states, For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.  The psalmist says that God will not cast off His people nor forget their inheritance.  Verse fifteen adds, But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.  Even if the people of Israel were suffering at this time, and much of the suffering coming from their enemies, the righteous would be restored in God's time.  It may seem that the world is defeating us today as followers of Christ, but we will be victorious in the end.  Verse sixteen asks, Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?  This is the question that God asks today, and as Christians we must answer we will stand for Him.  Verse seventeen adds, Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.  The psalmist said he had almost remained silent instead of speaking up for the LORD, but the LORD was his help, and He is ours today.  Verse eighteen continues, When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.  The psalmist said when he slipped in his walk for God, then God held him up.  If we begin to falter in our faith, God stands ready to hold us up.  Verse nineteen declares, In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.  The psalmist said that in the multitude of thoughts about what was going on in the world that thoughts of God brought Him comfort.  This should be true for us today as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty asks, Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?  Those who live in iniquity, even if they are in positions of power, will never have fellowship with God.  Verse twenty-one adds, They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.  Those in power often seem to gather together against the righteous, or those who have put their faith in God.  Verse twenty-two states, But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.  As Christians,  God is our defence and our Rock of refuge today.  The world will never defeat us in the end as long a we remain faithful to God.  Verse twenty-three adds, And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.  When Christ returns and God's judgment comes, those who have refused to acknowledge their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will be cut off from God forever. 

Psalms 94:1

Psalms 94:1 says, O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.  The people of Israel were being oppressed, and they appealed to God as the only One to whom vengeance belongs.  Even if we are wronged in the world, we are not to act out of vengeance.  Verse two adds, Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.  Of course, God never has to lift Himself up, as He is always above His creation.  Verse three states, LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?  We today are not the first to feel as though the wicked seem to be triumphing, though they really aren't.  Verse four adds, How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?  Again, it may seem that this is the situation again today, when the wicked seem to boast about themselves.  Verse five continues,  They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.  There is a movement today throughout the world it seems, as there was then, to deny the authority of God and to tear down His traditions, which are built on His laws.  Verse six concludes, They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.  The weaker have always been exploited by the stronger, and this is still true today.  We as followers of Christ must do everything we can to help them instead.  Verse seven declares, Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.  The psalmist said that those who were treating others unfairly claimed that God would never react against those who deny His authority.  Verse eight adds, Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?  The question was asked then and still applies today as to when the brutish and the fools would become wise, which can only happen through acknowledging God.  Verse nine asks, He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?  The answer to the question of whether or not the God Who created everything would hear and see what was going on in the world, and the answer is yes.  God is not a distant and uninvolved God, but He is active in the world today.  Verse ten continues, He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?  God does stand ready to correct people and teach them real knowledge, which comes by first accepting the knowledge that salvation is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eleven states, The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.  The thoughts of people, those that are not founded on faith in God, are indeed vanity, or worth nothing. 

Psalms 93:1

Psalms 93:1 says, The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.  The psalmist tells us that God is clothed in majesty and strength.  No matter how majestically and powerfully the rulers of the world may be clothed today, they pale in comparison to God.  Verse two adds, Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.  God's throne, unlike the thrones of people, is of old, or from before the beginning of time and it is everlasting, just as God Himself is.  No matter how long a person may reign in the world, their reign has a beginning and will have an end if it hasn't already.  Verse three states, The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.  Matthew Henry says this is a reference to the opposition that is thrown at the church.  The heathen, or those who do not believe in God or reject His power, may rage against God and us as followers of Christ, but they will never be victorious.  Verse four adds, The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.  As just stated, God will always be victorious, as will those who put their faith in Jesus Christ spiritually.  We may be defeated physically, but as long as we live by faith in Jesus Christ we will never be defeated spiritually.  Through faith in Christ, we have everlasting life with Him, and this is assured by God Himself.  Verse five declares, Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.  We can be certain of God's victory over all the evil in the world because what He says is always true.  Of course, we have to first accept the fact that He is indeed God and come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ to believe and understand this.  Whether we do or not though does not change the fact that it is true. 

Psalms 92:1

Psalms 92:1 says, A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day.  This is called a psalm or song for the Sabbath day, then verse one says, It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:  As then, today it is good to give thanks and sing praises to God, Who is the Most High.  Verse two adds, To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,  The people of Israel were called on to worship God day and night, or at all times, and so should we.  Verse three continues, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.  Once more, they were instructed to use musical instruments in worship, so we should not believe that it is wrong to do so today.  Verse four declares, For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.  As Christians, we should be glad at the work of God Who triumphed over sin and death through the works of His hands, which was sending His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place.  Verse five adds, O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.  God's works are indeed very great and His thoughts very deep.  We can never really understand the thoughts of God, but fortunately we don't have to.  All we have to understand is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, that is all that really matters.  Verse six says, A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.  Those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ are the brutish or stubborn ones, and are also fools because they have denied God.  Verse seven adds, When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:  Though the wicked may flourish in this lifetime, it is still their fate to be doomed forever, separated from God and His love.  Verse eight declares, But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.  God is the Most High forevermore.  We either believe this or we have not truly come to accept God as our heavenly Father.  Verse nine adds, For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.  If we have not accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, then we are enemies of God and workers of iniquity.  Verse ten says, But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.  Those who do put their faith faith in God will be anointed with fresh oil.  Verse eleven adds, Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.  I believe this is saying that we as followers of Christ will see those who are our spiritual enemies destroyed one day, but I don't believe it should be our desire.  Verse twelve states, The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  As Christians, made righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, we should flourish spiritually.  Verse thirteen adds, Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.  If we would flourish in life spiritually, then we must be planted in the house of God.  Verse fourteen continues, They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;  As the psalmist stated, we as followers of Christ should still be bringing forth fruit for God, even in our old age.  Verse fifteen concludes, To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.  We worship God because He is upright and there is no unrighteousness in Him.  

Psalms 91:9

Psalms 91:9 says, Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;  Those who make the LORD their refuge, the place where they put their faith and trust, will always be safe.  As followers of Christ, we must live by faith each moment, and not periodically during the week.  Verse ten adds, There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  Matthew Henry says that even though trouble and affliction may befall those who put their trust in God, no real evil will.  We are freed from the power of sin and Satan spiritually by the love and mercy of God.  Verse eleven states, For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  The psalmist says that we have God's angels to protect us, so all we have to do is keep our faith in God.  We are told that the angels will keep us in all our ways, or be with us in good times as well as bad.  Verse twelve adds, They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  The angels will keep us from any spiritual harm I believe, even if we do suffer physically at times.  Verse thirteen continues, Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.  Matthew Henry says these are all references to Satan, and by our faith in Jesus Christ he has been trampled underfoot.  Nothing in this world can separate us from God as long as we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fourteen declares, Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  We are told that we are set on high and protected by God and His angels if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Once more, I don't believe that this means that nothing bad can ever happen to us physically or materially, but that nothing can harm us spiritually as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse fifteen adds, He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.  As this states, if we are Christians and remain faithful to God, He will always hear us always hear us and deliver us in times of trouble.  As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ has already delivered us from the power of sin and given us everlasting life with God if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, so the trouble we have in this lifetime will always be temporary.  Verse sixteen continues, With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  We as followers of Christ have been given everlasting life, through the salvation provided by Jesus Christ, no matter how long or short our life here on earth may be. 

Psalms 91:1

Psalms 91:1 says, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  The psalmist, who was most likely David, says that those who are in close communion with God are safely under His protection.  I believe it is called a secret place because those who do not put their faith in God cannot see or understand what God's place is.  Verse two adds, I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  David said that God was His refuge and fortress, and most importantly, He was David's God in Whom he would trust.  For us to understand God and have Him be our refuge and fortress, we must accept Him as our God and put our faith in Him by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse three states, Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  God will indeed deliver us from all the things in the world that would destroy us spiritually, as long as we put our faith in Him.  Verse four adds, He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  I believe that as long as we accept the truth of God, which we can only do by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are safely under His protection forever, as long as we live by faith in Him.  Verse five declares, Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;  As David said, we have no reason to be afraid at any time, because God is the source of our protection.  Verse six adds, Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  This is just a continuation of stating the fact that we as Christians have nothing to fear in this world, but we too often do not live as though we believe that.  Verse seven continues, A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.  David  basically was saying that no matter how large the force against us, they will always fail as long as we are putting our faith in God.  Verse eight concludes, Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.  Matthew Henry says this might refer to the destruction of the first born children of Egypt which the people of Israel had seen, but regardless, we as followers of Christ will witness the destruction of those who do not follow Christ one day, even if we never see it in this lifetime. 

Psalms 90:10

Psalms 90:10 says, The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  We often hear this giving as the life expectancy of people, seventy years, and it also says maybe eighty if you are strong, and the average life expectancy is still under eighty years.  As stated, even if we defy the odds and live past a hundred, we will soon pass out of this life.  Verse eleven adds, Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.  The question is then asked who knew the anger of God, and even if no one truly understands the angel of God, we never really want to.  Those who do not accept God's gracious and merciful salvation certainly do not understand His wrath against sin.  Verse twelve continues, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  Since we realize that our lifetime is limited, we are called on to use our time wisely.  As followers of Christ, we have a purpose each day that we live, and that is to share the gospel with those around us and to help those in need if we have the ability.  Verse thirteen states, Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.  There is a call for God to return to the people of Isreal,  but it was really up to the people to return to God.  We are not to just sit around today waiting for the return of Christ, but we are to be drawn closer to Him each day.  I don't believe that we are to try to determine how long it will be until His return, but simply live each day as if it were our last.  Verse fourteen adds, O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  I believe this is a call for people to come to God early in life so that their days may be filled with purpose.  Only the things that we do for God have any true purpose.  Verse fifteen declares, Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.  Moses asked that the days of gladness be as long as the days of affliction when the people did not follow God's will.  Though our days of gladness may not balance out our days of affliction in this lifetime if we accept Christ later in life, they certainly will in the lifetime to come.  Verse sixteen adds, Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.  God's work appears to all people, but until we become a servant of God, we will not acknowledge it.  Verse seventeen continues, And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.  The beauty of God's salvation of people will be revealed when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and then He will give us work to do as His followers. 

Psalms 90:1

Psalms 90:1 says, A Prayer of Moses the man of God.  This psalm is identified as a prayer of Moses the man of God, then verse one says, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.  Matthew Henry says this was likely written during the wilderness wanderings.  Moses remembered God's care for His people in the past.  We should never forget that as Christians God is our resting place.  Verse two adds, Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.  Moses said that before there was anything else, there was God.  God is the Creator of everything, and I believe we either believe this by faith or reject God.  Verse three continues,  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.  As Moses said, though God could simply destroy mankind for their sin and rebellion against Him, He calls them to salvation instead, if they will but heed His call.  Verse four states, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.  Moses said a thousand years passed as a day with God, but even that is not an ample description, because it still sets limits, and with God time is without limits.  Verse five adds, Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which  groweth up.  Mankind is said to be of a very limited lifetime.  Moses said they were carried away continually on the stream of time.  Verse six continues, In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.  Moses said people were like grass that sprouted up in the morning but at night was cut down.  This lifetime that we have here on earth is very limited when compared to the everlasting life of the soul.  Verse seven concludes, For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.  Moses said that people were consumed by the wrath of God.  It was by the sin of mankind that death entered into the world, and even for those who continue to live in sin rejecting the salvation of Christ, it is not God that is responsible for this.  Verse eight adds, Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.  As Moses said, God knows even our secret sins.  Verse nine continues, For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.  The time that the people of Israel spent wandering in the wilderness were of little value, and neither are the years that we spend wandering in the wilderness of sin.

Psalms 89:38

Psalms 89:38 says, But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.  God is accused of casting off the descendants of David and abandoning His covenant with them, but it was the people who had abandoned the covenant.  Once we are in a covenant relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, God will never break His covenant with us.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.  Again, if the covenant had been broken and the crown of David profaned, it was not because of the failure of God, but of the people of Israel.  We may lose the joy of our salvation, but if we do, it is because of our actions and not God's.  Verse forty continues, Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.  Now God may remove His protection from His people if they stray away from Him, but anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord is saved forever.  Verse forty-one states, All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.  The people of Israel were said to be at the mercy of anyone passing by and a reproach to her neighbors.  If we are feeling helpless as Christians, we need to examine our relationship with God so that we never become a reproach to others because of our lack of obedience.  Verse forty-two adds, Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.  Though God may allow our enemies to defeat us in this lifetime because we have broken our covenant relationship with Him, we still have everlasting salvation if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse forty-three continues, Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.  Though the people of Israel may have lost God's protection, again it was because of their lack of obedience to Him.  Verse forty-four declares, Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.  Once more, it was stated that God had caused His glory to cease and cast the crown of David down.  God's glory will never cease, though we may cease to reflect it if we allow sin back into our life.  Verse forty-five adds, The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.  The days of youth were cut short, either by death or by being forced to accept adult responsibility too quickly.  Verse forty-six asks, How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?  The psalmist asked how long God would hide Himself,  but He never does.  If we as followers of Christ feel that God has hidden Himself from us, it is because of our lack of faith.  Verse forty-seven says, Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?  Our time on earth is indeed short, but if we have put our faith in Christ and have followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit, our life will never be lived in vain.  Verse forty-eight asks, What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.  Everyone will die physically, but our spirit will live on.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ will determine where we will spend our everlasting life.  Verse forty-nine adds, Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?  God's lovingkindness is always where it always is, no matter how bad things may get in this world.  Verse fifty says, Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;  Even if we feel the reproach of the mightest of men, God has not forgotten us if we are Christians.  Verse fifty-two adds, Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.  The question was asked how the enemies of God and His people could be reproached by the world.  Even if we feel that way today, we need to simply keep our faith in God without questioning His love and mercy.  Verse fifty-two declares, Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.  This should be our response today, no matter how bad things get in life.  Blessed be the LORD forevermore. Amen.

Psalms 89:28

Psalms 89:28 says, My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.  Jesus Christ is the source of salvation.  God's mercy is extended to sinners through Jesus Christ forevermore and God's covenant stands fast with Him.  Verse twenty-nine adds, His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.  Matthew Henry says this could be seen as applying to David and his descendants until Jesus came, or to Jesus Himself.  If it is applied to Jesus, His seed would be those who put their faith in Him and not direct physical seed or descendants.  Verse thirty states, If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;  There is a warning to those who claim to be God's children but who do not obey His law, and even to those who are but fail to do so.  Being a Christian does not free us from following God's laws.  Verse thirty-one adds, If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;  Verse thirty-two continues, Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.  If we, as followers of Christ, fail to keep God's laws, either by omission or commission, God will chastise us.  We cannot expect God to simply let us do whatever we want to do as Christians, even though we have everlasting salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-three declares, Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.  God said that even if those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ fail to keep His laws, He will not take His lovingkindness from them.  We have everlasting salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and nothing can take that from us, because it is secured by God's mercy and righteousness and not ours.  Verse thirty-four adds, My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.  We may break out covenant with God by failing to keep His laws, but He will never break His covenant with us, which promises us everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ.   We cannot have salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone and then lose it by our actions.  Verse thirty-five continues, Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.  This speaks of the covenant relationship between David and God, which culminated with Jesus Christ, a physical descendant of David.  God's covenant is secured by His holiness, and not by David's then nor ours now.  Verse thirty-six says, His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.  David's descendant, Jesus Christ, is the One through Whom this promise is fulfilled.  It does not mean that we must be a physical descendant of David to have a covenant relationship with Him, but that we must be a spiritual descendant through our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-seven adds, It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.  God's relationship with those who enter into a covenant relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ is everlasting.  

Psalms 89:15

Psalms 89:15 says, Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.  The joyful sound would be the voice of God calling the people to walk in His light I believe.  Verse sixteen adds, In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.  Those who hear and respond to God's call to salvation should rejoice all day so that God's name will be exalted.  Since we have everlasting life through our faith in Jesus Christ, there should be nothing in the world that keeps us from rejoicing.  Verse seventeen continues, For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.  God is said to be the source of the strength of Isreal, and He is still the source of our strength as Christians today.  Verse eighteen concludes, For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.  Just like the people of Israel then, God is still our defence as followers of Christ today and He is our eternal King.  Verse nineteen states, Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.  This could have applied to David and the promises that God made to him, but in the overall view apply to Jesus Christ, Who is the true and only exalted One.  Verse twenty adds, I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:  David was indeed anointed as the king of Israel, God's chosen people, for a time, but Jesus Christ was anointed as the King of God's people for all time.  Verse twenty-one continues, With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.  God was the source of David's power,  and He is the source of power for the followers of Christ today.  Verse twenty-two says, The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.  David at times did suffer defeat, but Jesus Christ never will, nor will we as Christians in the everlasting view.  Nothing can separate those who put their faith in Jesus Christ from everlasting victory over any enemy in the world.  Verse twenty-three continues, And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.  The enemies of Christ have already been beaten down by His death on the cross and resurrection to everlasting life, and so have ours from a spiritual point of view if we have put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-four states, But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.  God's faithfulness will always be with His Son Jesus Christ, and with us if we have accepted Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-five adds, I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.  God the Father gave Jesus Christ the Son power over everything.  I do not totally understand the Trinity, but I know that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God, not three.  Verse twenty-six continues, He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.  As Christians, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father, is our rock and salvation in the world today, and nothing can ever separate us from Him.