Luke 1:5

Luke 1:5 says, There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.  We are given a pretty good description of who Zacharias and Elizabeth were.  He was a priest and she was descended from Aaron, a priest himself. They were a religious couple.  Verse six adds, And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. Not only were they religious by their birth line, they lived up to God's calling.  They were both righteous before God.  We may be from the right family and righteous in our own eyes, but what masters is if we are righteous before God.  This can only happen by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse seven continues, And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.  They were old and without children.  We might think that God would have blessed them with children since they were righteous in His sight, but children are a gift of God.  We do not determine what God blesses us with simply by naming and claiming it.  Verse eight states, And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,  Zacharias was going about his duties as a priest.  He was not focusing on his own disappointments or desires, but was doing what God had called him to do.  We cannot allow our disappointments or desires to keep us from doing what God has called us to do.  Verse nine adds, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.  His duty this day as a priest was to burn incense in the temple of the LORD.  Whatever God calls us to do each day, and as followers of Christ whatever we do should be under His calling or guidance, we must do it for His glory. Verse ten continues, And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.  The temple was filled with people who were praying.  When we are in God's house, before anything else, we should be praying for His guidance and to give Him thanks for all that He has done for us.  Verse eleven declares, And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  While doing what he normally did as a priest,  Zacharias saw an angel of the LORD standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  We may never see an angel during a worship service, but we as Christians will always have the Holy Spirit, not standing by the altar, but living in our heart. Verse twelve adds, And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.  Zacharias was a priest and a righteous man in the eyes of God, but when he saw the angel he was troubled and became afraid.  I am not sure what our reaction today would be as followers of Christ, but I have a feeling that we would react the same way.  

Luke 1:1

Luke 1:1 says, Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,  Luke said many people had written about what Jesus did while in the world as a Man and the things that He did.  Luke said that these were things believed by us, or those who recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  When we read the accounts today, preserved for us in the New Testament, we must believe them to be a part of the family of God.  Verse two adds, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;  Luke said these other writings were delivered to those who believed in Jesus Christ, and were eyewitness accounts of what He had done.  They became the ministers of the Word, as we are to be today.  Verse three states, It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,  Though Luke said it seemed good to him to write about what he had seen in the life of Jesus, I believe this was because the Holy Spirit was inspiring him to write his account.  Luke also said he had a perfect understanding of all the things that occurred in the life of Jesus from the beginning.  As followers of Christ today, we need that same understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what He did for us by His birth, life, death and resurrection.  Verse four adds, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.  Luke had said in verse three that it seemed good to write these things to Theophilus, which means friend of God, and now he gives him the reason, and that was so that Theophilus would know the certainty of what he had been taught.  We have Luke's letter today so that we might know the same the facts about Jesus with a certainty. 

Review of Psalms continued

Psalms also tells us quite often that God is the Crator of everything.  There was no Big Bang or slow evolution of animals into people, but there was simply God's word calling everything into existence.  Having created everything, God is still at work sustaining His creation.  God is so knowledgeable of the universe that He knows the stars by name.  We may look around us and be impressed or maybe even intimidated by the armies of some countries, but armies don't impress God.  There is no power that can stand against God.  God protects His people, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, spiritually, and He expects us to give Him the praise and credit throughout this lifetime and our everlasting life as well.  No force in the world can ever separate us from God's love, but our own rejection of His gift of salvation can.  Psalms tells us that we are to praise God for Who He is, what He has done for us, what He continues to do for us, and what He will do for us in the future.  God chose the people of Israel to be His people, as He chooses everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ today.  God chose, delivered, and protected the people Israel,  but not all of them put their faith in Him.  God calls everyone to salvation, but not all accept His free gift of salvation.  If we have accepted God's gift of salvation, we should praise Him everyday.  Next we will look at the book of Luke.

Review Of Psalms

The first thing that we learn from Psalms is that we are to praise God for Who He is and for what He has done for us as His followers.  It is not dependent on who we are or how powerful we may be in the world.  David's was a king, who was also at times surrounded by enemies.  He praised God and gave Him the credit for protecting him in either case.  We need to praise God no matter where we stand in the in the eyes of the world.   We also learned that we are to joyously praise God when we gather together in His name, which we should do often.  I believe that we also see that we are to praise God continually, and not just when we are gathered together to worship Him.  David said we are to praise or worship God when we get up in the morning and when we go to bed at night.  As Christians, we need to seriously consider how much of our time each day is spent actually even thinking about God, much less praising and worshipping Him.  We learned that God uplifts the meek and seemingly powerless. We must all come to Jesus in meekness, recognizing our inability to save ourselves spiritually.   God has already provided salvation even for those who are considered the lowest by the world if the come to Him by faith.  Being poor or powerless does not gain salvation for anyone though, but only accepting the salvation of Christ does.

Psalms 150:1

Psalms 150:1 says, Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.  We come to the last psalm, and it is definitely a psalm calling on us to  praise God.  The people of Isreal were called on to praise God in His sanctuary because He is the Creator by His power which is displayed in the sky.  Matthew Henry says this was mainly written for the Levites, the priests, and as followers of Christ we are the priests of God today.  Verse two adds, Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.  We are to praise God for Who He is, the Creator by His mighty acts, and according to His excellence and not our own.  God alone is worthy of our praise.  Verse three states, Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.  Once more, there is a call to praise God through the use of many musical instruments.  I believe that God expects us to be a joyous, praising church, or fellowship of believers, today as well.  Verse four adds, Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.  Then verse five continues, Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.  Many instruments are named to be used in praising God, as well as a call for dancing.  I don't believe that we should make what we call worshipping God just entertainment, but I do believe that there is nothing wrong with praising God with the use of many musical instruments and even with some movement as we worship Him, though I myself might not be inclined to move very much.  Verse five declares, Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.  Since we as human beings have the breath of God in us, this verse would especially apply to us.  As followers of Christ, we are to always praise God.

Psalms 149:1

Psalms 149:1 says, Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.  The people of Israel were called on to sing a new song to God and to praise Him in the congregation of the saints.  Matthew Henry says the previous song was a song to the Creator, and this is a song to the Redeemer.  We sing praises to both, since they are One.  Verse two adds, Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.  This verse speaks of Israel rejoicing in Him that made them.  As Creator He made them, but as Redeemer He made them His people.  We must acknowledge God not just as the Creator, but we must acknowledge Him as our Redeemer through faith in Jesus Christ if we are to be a part of His kingdom.  Verse three states, Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.  This calls on the people of Israel to worship God with musical instruments and dance.  Sometimes, we may have gotten too somber in our worship of God.  Verse four adds, For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.  The people of Israel were told that they needed to joyously worship God because He took pleasure in His people and would beautify the meek with salvation.  Those who humbly come to God by faith for forgiveness and salvation will find it if they put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five says, Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.  We are saints of God as Christians, and we should be joyful and sing new songs to God.  This verse tells us that we are to sing aloud unto God even when we are in our beds.  Verse six adds, Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;  We are to sing high praises to God based on His word, which is referred to as a twoedged sword.  We are to wield the truth of God as we sing a new song.  Verse seven continues, To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;  Vengeance and punishment are God's to execute, but I believe that how we praise God should lead lost people to Him.  Verse eight states  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;  God's judgment will one day bind all those, even those in power, if they do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse nine adds, To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.  God's judgment will come to all those who reject the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  As followers of Christ, we should always give God the praise for redeeming us.

Psalms 148:1

Psalms 148:1 says, Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.  This psalm, like all the last few, calls for us to praise God.  It starts with a call for the angels to praise God.  Verse two adds, Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.  The host of angels who did not rebel against God are called on to praise Him, and they do.  Verse three states, Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.  Then, there is a call for the  sun ,moon, and stars to praise God.  Though they cannot voice praises to God, the very existence and function of the sun, moon, and stars should bring praise to God.  Verse four adds, Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.  This is a continuation of a call for the heavens, even the water in the clouds, to bring praise to God.  Verse five continues, Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.  The heavens should bring praise to God because He created them.  Too many people who do not believe in God want to praise some cosmic accident for the creation of the universe, but as followers of Christ, we must always give God the praise for it.  Verse six concludes, He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.  Again, scientists attempt to determine when the sun will burn out and earth as we know it will cease to exist, but God said it will not pass.  Verse seven says, Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:  This begins the call on all of creation in the earth to praise God.  We may not have dragons, but ever creature that God created is called on to praise Him. Verse eight adds, Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:  The elements are all a part of God's creation and fulfill His word.  Verse nine states, Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:  God shaped the earth and placed all the trees on it, and for this we as Christians should praise Him.  Verse ten adds, Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:  Likewise,  God created all the animals of the world, and gave mankind dominion over them.  Every though some people claim otherwise, God also gave us animals to provide food for us.  Verse eleven continues, Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:  God created all the people of the world, from the most powerful to the weakest.  Even those who deny God and attempt to remove any reference to Him from society are still a part of His creation, as they will one day find out.  Verse twelve says, Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:  Verse thirteen adds, Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.  There is not an age when we should not praise God.  We should start praising God from the time we are old enough to understand Who He is and continue to do so until we die.  Of course, until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we cannot truly do this.  Verse fourteen declares, He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.  We are to praise God because He provides all that we need.  We as Christians are God's people, as were the people of Israel who put their faith in Him, and because He has forgiven our sins and given us everlasting life with Him, we should continually praise Him. 

Psalms 147:12

Psalms 147:12 says, Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.  David calls on all the leaders of Jerusalem and Zion to praise the LORD.  This was the Holy City and the Holy Hill of God, so it would be natural for the people there to praise God, just as it should be natural for the people of the Church to praise God today.  Verse thirteen adds, For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.  David said the people of Jerusalem and Zion should praise God because He protected them, and He still protects those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him today.  Verse fourteen continues, He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.  God makes peace for us in the world today as Christians, and He provides more than just ordinary bread, since He gives us the Bread of Life. Verse fifteen states, He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.  God sent His commandments to the people of Israel, and has preserved them for us today.   God created the universe by His Word, and He is still in charge today.  Verse sixteen adds, He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.  God is in charge of the snow and the frost and the entire climate of the world.  I don't believe this means that all bad weather is caused by God, though, since He has granted Satan certain power over the world until Chist returns.  Verse seventeen says, He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?  God can indeed make it so cold that people cannot endure it. Verse eighteen adds, He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.  Just as God can freeze everything to the point that people cannot endure it, He can just as easily melt the snow.  God causes wind to blow and water to flow.  I believe that we as Christians have the responsibility to do everything we can to care for the earth, but God is the ultimate authority on what happens in the earth.  Verse nineteen continues, He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.  God made His statutes known to Israel, and He makes them known to us today if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Verse twenty concludes, He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.  God did not deal with other nations as He did with Israel, because they were the people that God was going to use to ensure that the world knew Who He was and what His word said.  As Christians, this is our responsibility today, and it is not confined to just one nation.  God's word has been spread throughout the world.  

Psalms 147:1

Psalms 147:1 says, Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.  David said that it is good to sing praises to God.  Sometimes, as Christians, we seem to be more inclined to complain to God than to sing praises to Him, especially if things are going the least bit wrong.  Verse two adds, The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.  David said God was responsible for Jerusalem being strong and that He gathered the outcasts of Israel.  Matthew Henry said this could refer to the outcasts of Israel during Saul's reign after David had been chosen king.  Verse three continues, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  God still heals those who are broken hearted and binds their spiritual wounds if they put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.  David said that God not only knows the number of the stars, but He calls them by name.  Scientists continue to discover new stars today, but they have never been unknown to God.  Verse five adds, Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.  We need to always remember the greatness of God's power and understanding.  We do serve the all powerful God as followers of Christ, so we should never have a reason to live in fear.  Verse six continues, The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.  If you are feeling weak as a Christian, remember that God will lift you up if you continue to put your faith in Him.  Verse seven declares, Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:  David did not say to occasionally sing praises to God if things were going well, but to always sing praises to Him.  Verse eight adds, Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.  David said that the people of Israel were to sing praises to God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of the world.  Verse nine continues, He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.  As David said, God provides for the animals of the world.  Verse ten says, He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.   David said God is impressed by the armies of man, either by the strength of their calvary  or their infantry.  We may have much stronger weapons today, but God is still not impressed.  Verse eleven adds, The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.  God's pleasure is in those that put their faith in Him and their hope in His mercy.  This is what we should do as followers of Christ today. 

Psalms 146:1

Psalms 146:1 says, Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.  This should be the cry of the Christian everyday.  We should praise God with our soul, our everlasting part of ourself.  Verse two adds, While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.  There is no retirement age for praising God.  We should praise Him as long as we live, and spiritually this will be forever.  As followers of Christ, we should never stop praising God in this lifetime, and we certainly won't in the one to come.  Verse three states, Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  David said that we are never to put our trust in people.  I believe this means for everlasting security.  Verse four adds, His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.  People die, and when they do, they no longer have any thoughts in this world.  Verse five declares, Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:  After telling the people of Israel then and us today to not put their or our faith in people, David tells if we put our faith in God, then we should be happy.  Verse six adds, Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:  David said that we should put our faith in God because He alone is the Creator and Sustainer of everything.  Verse seven continues, Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:  David said God provides judgment for the oppressed, food for the hungry, and sets the prisoners free when they put their faith in Him.  We may not see this happen in every circumstance in this lifetime, but it will certainly happen in the lifetime to come.  Verse eight says, The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:  God can indeed do this physically, but more importantly He opens our blind eyes spiritually and removes the burden of sin that causes us to bow do when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse nine adds, The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.  David said that God helped the orphans and widows, but He turned the wicked upside down.  As Christians, we are to help the orphans and widows a much as we are able to since we represent God in the world.  Verse ten declares, The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.  God will rule forever.  We need to praise God for Who He is.

Psalms 145:14

Psalms 145:14 adds, The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.  This refers to all the animals of the world.  Verse fifteen adds, The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.  David said that all of the animals looked to God, though they do not know Who He is, to provide them with food when they needed it.  Of course, that is also a part of the responsibility of people, who were created to have dominion over the animals and to care for them.  Verse sixteen continues, Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.  God does provide for the needs of all living things.  Of course, in the sin filled world, mankind often gets in the way of God's plan.  Verse seventeen declares, The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.  What David said then has not changed.  God is still righteous in all His works and holy in all His ways.  If things are going badly in the world or in our lives as Christians, we do not need to blame God as or first course of action.  Verse eighteen adds, The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.  Though God is close by everyone, He is really just close to those who call on Him in faith by His truth.  If God's nearness is to have any meaning to us, we must call out to Him in faith, beginning by accepting the truth that Jesus Christ died for our sins and is the only way to salvation.  Verse nineteen continues, He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.  David said that God would save those who reached out to Him for salvation.  This should be our only desire from God until we are saved, and then doing His will should become our only desire.   Verse twenty states, The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.  This may not happen in our lifetime, but one day all the evil, those who do not believe in God, will be sent away to everlasting destruction.  Of course, once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are spiritually preserved by God forever. Verse twenty-one adds, My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.  We, like David, need to speak praises to God in the world today and pray that everyone will come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and bless God's holy name forever.

Psalms 145:1

Psalms 145:1 says, David’s Psalm of praise.  This is identified as a psalm of praise by David, then verse one says, I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.  David said he would extol, or praise, God and bless His name for ever and ever.  As Christians, we should always praise God, throughout life everlasting.  Verse two adds, Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.  David did not say on good days or one or two particular days a week he would praise God, but that everyday he would.  We cannot just praise God when things are going well or one or two hours on one or two days a week set aside as days to gather together to worship God, but we must praise Him continually.  Verse three declares, Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. We should praise God because of His greatness, and not because of what is happening in our life.  God's greatness is unsearchable, or above our understanding.  Verse four adds, One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.  David said that because of Who God is, that each generation should teach the next to praise Him.  This is our responsibility today as well.  If one generation is skipped, the next will be in danger of never hearing about God.  Though I don't believe any person will ever be able to justify themself because they claim to have never known about God, it is much easier to come to Him by faith when the gospel is shared.  Verse five continues, I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.  Like David, we as followers of Christ must tell others of the majesty and wonderous works of God, beginning with sharing the gospel.  Verse six states,  And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.  David said when people spoke of God's terrible, or well known acts of judgment, that they would declare God's greatness.  We must always proclaim God's greatness, even if He is acting in judgment against the sin and unrepentant sinners in the world.  Verse seven adds, They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.  This is what we should do as Christians, and we should do this no matter what is happening in the world.  We sing God's righteousness because He alone is righteous.  Verse eight says, The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.  We are so blessed that this is true.  If it were not for the grace and compassion of God, there would be no hope for salvation.  If God acted hastily out of anger everytime we sinned, we would be damned forever.  Verse nine adds, The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.  God is indeed good to all, because He offers salvation to everyone.  Unfortunately, too many people never accept His salvation plan and will one day be separated from His tender mercies forever.  Verse ten continues, All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.  We as Christians are the saints of God and we should bless,or praise, Him.  Saints are not some super righteous group, but are simply sinners saved by grace who are set apart for doing God's work.  Verse eleven states, They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;  We should never forget tell others of the glory of the kingdom of God and of His power in the world.  Verse twelve adds, To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.  We as followers of Christ must tell others of the mighty acts of God and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.  If we personally don't know of any other mighty act of God, we know of His mighty act of providing a way of salvation if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse thirteen declares, Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.  This will never change.  God's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion will last through all generations. 

Psalms 144:9

Psalms 144: 9 says, I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.  In the midst of David's problems, he said he would sing a new song of praise to God accompanied by musical instruments.  Even if we are surrounded by problems, we need to sing a new song to God everyday, though I don't believe that means we have to create a new song.  We simply need to sing praises to God each new day.  Verse ten adds, It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.  David said he was singing praises to God because of Who God is.  God is the deliverer of not only those in power, but of even the lowest of individual who puts their faith in Him.  As Christians, we know that this means accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven states, Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:  David asked God to deliver him from the hands of strangers who spoke vanities and to rid him of them.  God has already provided us with everlasting victory over all who stand against His people.  We will still be in their midst though until Jesus Christ returns.  Verse twelve adds,That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:  David asked God to remove him from the presence of his enemies and their lies so his children could grow up safely.  As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to teach our children about Jesus Christ, so that they might grow up to become a part of the family of God.  Verse thirteen continues, That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:  David then asked that God bless them abundantly materially.  This really wasn't a call for God to make them really rich, but for Him to abundantly meet their needs.  We should not expect Godcto make us materially wealthy today, but instead should rely on Him to meet our everyday needs abundantly.  Verse fourteen concludes, That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.  David asked that their work animals be strong and that their would be no complaining in the streets by God's people.  David also asked for peace, in that their would be no one breaking into their country in war.  We have God's peace with us as Christians, no matter what is happening in life, if we remain faithful to Him.  Verse fifteen declares,  Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.  As followers of Christ, we should be happy, rejoicing people because Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord.  Even in the midst of great trouble, this should be true. 

Psalms 144:1

Psalms 144;1 says, A Psalm of David.  This is identified as a psalm of David, then verse one says, Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:  As king, David was known as a great fighting man, but he gave God credit for his success.  We need to give God the credit for all our victories over sin today, since it is by His power that we are successful.  Verse two adds, My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.  Like David, God should be our goodness, fortress, high tower and shield, because as Christians He is our Deliverer from power of death and and sin.  We must therefore put our trust in Him.  Verse three declares, LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!  David asked what man was that God would make note of him.  The only real value we have as people is the value that God gives us.  We are God's creation, and He could just totally destroy us because of our sinful thoughts and actions, but He chooses to redeem us instead.  Verse four adds, Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.  David said people were like a vanity, or nothing compared to God, who soon passed away physically.  Still, our soul lives on forever, and we are of such great value to God that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place.  We only have to accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord in order to claim everlasting life with God instead of being  separated from Him in hell.  Verse five states, Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.  David asked God to come down from the heavens and give him victory in his battles.  We do not have to ask God to come down from the heavens to help us, because the Holy Spirit indwells us as Christians.  Verse six adds, Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.  David asked God to use His power to destroy his enemies, but I believe our prayer today should be that God would save our enemies through their turning to Him for salvation.  Verse seven continues, Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;  David asked God to deliver him from the hand of strangers.  I believe these would be people who are strangers both to David and to God.  Verse eight concludes, Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  David said that those who fought against him spoke lies about both God and David, and that their strength was based on lies.  No matter how powerful those who fight against God and His people, those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, may be today, their strength is based on a lie that they are more powerful than God.

Psalms 143:1

Psalms 143:1 says, A Psalm of David.  This is identified as a psalm of David, then verse one says, Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.  David asked God to hear him based on God's goodness and righteousness and not on David's.  When we ask help from God, it must be in accordance with God's goodness and righteousness and not our own.  Verse two adds, And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.  Just like David, we must acknowledge that no one is justified before God by their own merit.  As followers of Christ, we are all simply sinners saved by grace, unworthy of God's forgiveness.  Verse three continues, For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.  David said that his enemies had reduced him to almost nothing.  He was living in darkness amongst the dead.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, no matter how successful we may be in the world, we are living in spiritual darkness amongst those who are spiritually dead.  Verse four states, Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.  David said his spirit was overwhelmed and his heart was desolate.  I believe that as Christians we should never feel this way, because the Holy Spirit is always with us, but sometimes when things go terribly wrong, we may.  Verse five adds, I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.  Like David, when things look bleak, we need to remember how God has been with us in the past in bad situations.  Verse six continues, I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.  David said he reached out to God and his soul thirsted for God like a dry land thirsts for water.  Our soul as a follower of Christ should always thirst for His living water.  Verse seven says, Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.  As David asked then, we need for God to hear us quickly when we are in distress, to keep us from being like those who go down into the pit of the unrighteous.  We have everlasting life if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, but we can still fall into bad habits if we are not careful and follow after some of the ways of the world.  I believe having worry and doubt are two of the ways that we can become like those of the world.  Verse eight adds, Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.  David asked that God allow him to hear His voice of lovingkindness in the morning, to guide the way that he should walk, because he lifted up his soul to God.  This should be our prayer every morning.  Verse nine states, Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.  Like David, we must turn to God to deliver us from our enemies.  We cannot be spiritually successful on our own.  Verse ten adds, Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.  David asked God to teach him to do God's will, because He was David's God.  We cannot do God's will or truly learn His ways if He is not our God, which is only possible by putting our faith Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven continues, Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.  When we ask God for deliverance, we must always do so not just for our own benefit, but so that He might be glorified.  Too often I believe that God blesses us by delivering us out of a bad situation and we never give Him the glory.  Verse twelve concludes, And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.  As Christians, out of His mercy God has already cut off our enemies, forever, in the spiritual aspect. 

Psalms 142:1

Psalms 142:1 says, Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.  This is identified as a maschil, or prayer, of Davd, written in the cave, then verse one says, I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.  This was written when David was hiding from Saul in a cave.  Even after God chose David to be king, not everything was perfect in his life.  We should not expect everything in this world to be perfect after we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord either.  David cried out to God during this time, and so should we as Christians in times of trouble.  Verse two adds, I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.  David said he poured out his complaint to God.  I don't believe that he did that in a demanding way, but as a prayer for help.  I believe that we should let God know our concerns in life, not because He doesn't already know them, but to show our faith in Him.  Then, we should have faith in His answering us in the best way possible.  Verse three continues, When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.  David said even when he felt spiritually overwhelmed that God knew the path that he should take, and where the snares that his enemies had laid for him were.  God is with us and knows the source of all our problems even when we are feeling spiritually overwhelmed.  Verse four states, I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.  David said he could find no one to help him.  If we are ever feeling alone in our spiritual walk, we need to look to God for strength as followers of Christ.  Verse five adds, I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  David cried out to God, declaring God to be his refuge in the land of the living.  God is our refuge as Christians, not only in this life but in the everlasting life to come.  Verse six continues, Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.  David, known for his strength and bravery, asked God to deliver him because his enemies were stronger than he was.  David's strength always came from God, and so does ours.  Verse seven concludes, Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.  David asked God to bring him out of the prison that he felt he was in because of Saul wanting to kill him.  He said he wanted this so that he could praise the name of God, knowing that God would deal bountifully with him.  When we ask God for help in times of trouble, we should always do it so that God's name can be praised, and never for our own profit or glory.  God has already dealt bountifully with us by providing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 141:1

Psalms 141;1 says, A Psalm of David.  This is identified as a psalm of David, then verse one says, LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.  Once again,  David was crying out to God and asking God to hear him.  If we as Christians call out to God in faith, we can be certain that He will hear us.  Verse two adds, Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.  David asked that his prayer be as sweet as incense before God and as important as the evening sacrifice.  God does value our prayers more than our sacrifices I believe, and they are always sweet for Him to hear, even when we pray out of distress, because they show our faith in Him.  Verse three states, Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.  David asked God to guard his mouth.  Verse four adds, Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.  David then asked God to keep His heart from being inclined toward those that worked evil and to keep him from eating their dainty things. We need God to guard what we say and what we a)low to come into our life as followers of Christ.  Even if something looks and tastes sweet, even if only mentally, but is evil in God's sight we must not allow it to come into our life.  Verse five says, Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.  David said that he wanted the righteous, those who truly believed in and followed God's laws, to tell him of his faults.  David said he would continue to pray for them if they were in trouble.  We should welcome the correction of other Christians if we have allowed some sinful practice to come into our life, and we should still pray for them.  Too often when corrected we become vindictive towards those who correct us, even if we know they are right.  Verse six adds, When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.  David said that if those who judged him were overthrown, he would still reach out to them with the sweet words of truth.  We should not rejoice when our enemies are overthrown, but should still reach out to them with the sweet news of the gospel.  Verse seven states, Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.  Matthew Henry says David was complaining about how his fellow Israelites were being destroyed with no compassion for them even in death.  We may at times feel that as followers of Christ that the whole world is against us, but I don't believe that we should complain about it.  God has already assured us everlasting victory.  Verse eight adds, But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.  Like David, we must put our trust in the Lord, and if we do He will never leave us destitute.  Verse nine says, Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.  We need to rely on God to keep us from falling into sinful snares today as David asked of God then.  Verse ten adds, Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.  David asked that the wicked be allowed to fall into their own traps as he escaped.  One day, if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will escape all the snares of the wicked and they will indeed fail by their own snares. 

Psalms 140:1

Psalms 140:1 states,To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This is identified as a psalm of David, then verse one says, Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;  David was often surrounded by evil men, and he looked to God for deliverance from them.  In this evil world in which we live, God is our only hope of everlasting deliverance.  Verse two adds, Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. We are not the first generation of people for whom war seems to be a constant threat.  David lived in a time that was the same.  Verse three continues, They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.  David said his enemies were like poisonous snakes ready to bite, or attack, him.  Verse four states, Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.  David again asks God to keep him out of the hands of wicked men.  We as followers of Christ should pray for the same thing today, but we must never lose our faith in God no matter what happens to us in the world.  Verse five adds, The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.  David said that those full of self pride were setting traps for him, who was the leader of God's chosen people.  We may not be as important or powerful as David was, but the world is still out to trap or at least discount us as Christians, God's people today.  Verse six declares, I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.  If we want God to hear our prayers, we like David must first declare God to be our God.   This is only possible through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse seven adds, O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. David said God was the strength of his salvation Who protected him in battle.  David did not say that God kept him out of battles, but that He protected him in his battles.  As Christians, we are not promised a life free of problems, but we are promised that God will carry us through those battles.  Verse eight continues, Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.  David asked that the wicked not be allowed to prosper so that they might not brag.  Verse nine says, As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.  David asked that the things that the wicked proposed to do to him fall on their own heads instead.  We can be certain that one day, when God's judgment comes, something even worse than they can think of will happen to those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse ten adds, Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.  This is the everlasting fate of those who do not believe in God and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, whether they are really evil or not.  Verse eleven states, Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.  David asked that those who spoke evil never be established in the earth and that evil would come on them instead.  We know that evil men do come to power In the world today, but they will always be defeated, if not in this life, then in the one to come.  Verse twelve adds, I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.  David said God would always maintain the rights of the poor and afflicted.  I believe this applies to the poor and afflicted who have put their faith in God.  Verse thirteen continues, Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.  If we are righteous and upright with God, which can only happen by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we should give thanks to God because we always dwell in His presence. 

Psalms 139:11

Psalms 139:11 says, If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Verse twelve adds,Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.  David said the darkness of night could not hide him from God, because God could see just as well in the darkness as in the light.  No matter how dark it may be where we are, God's light will still shine through. Verse thirteen states, For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  David said that God had protected him from the time he was conceived.  Several places in the Bible tell us that life begins at conception, and no law that we pass will change that.  Verse fourteen adds, I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  Like David, whether we believe in God or not, we are wonderfully made by God.  Also like David, we should acknowledge this and praise God for it.  Verse fifteen continues, My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  David said that God always knew what he was, a lowly sinner who was given life and purpose by the grace of God, and so are we all.  Verse sixteen says, Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  David said God knew he was imperfect spiritually even before He formed him.  Since Adam and Eve, we have all been born with the ability to be spiritually imperfect.  At some point, we all become aware of good and evil and choose to do evil.  Verse seventeen adds, How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  David said that God's thoughts were precious to him.  As followers of Christ, what God thinks should always be precious to us and guide our actions.  Verse eighteen continues, If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.  David said he could not count God's blessings, and neither can we.  It is also not a competition as to how much God blesses us versus how much He blesse others.  Verse nineteen states, Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.  It may not be today, but God will certainly one day send all the wicked, those who have not accepted the salvation of Christ, away to everlasting punishment.  Verse twenty adds, For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.  David said that those who spoke evil against God and used His name in vain would be punished.  As Christians, we can often use God's name in vain if we call on Him without faith that He will hear and answer us.  I don't believe that we will be held unaccountable for this, even though our salvation is secure.  Verse twenty-one asks, Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?  Though we should be grieved by those who stand against God, we should not hate them, but should reach out to them with the love of God.  Verse twenty-two adds, I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.  Again, even though we should hate the actions of those who stand against God, we should not hate them.  Verse twenty-three declares, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  As Christians, God does search our hearts and know our thoughts, and we should welcome Him to do so.  Verse twenty-four adds,  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way  everlasting.  Like David, we should want God to search our hearts for any wickedness that might be there and correct us if there is any.

Psalms 139:1

Psalms 139:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  This is identified as a psalm of David and sent to the chief musician, then says, O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.  David said God had searched Him and knew him, and this was to be sung by the people of Israel.  As followers of Christ, God has searched us and knows us, and we shouldn't be afraid to share this fact with anyone we meet.  Verse two adds, Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.  David said God knew when he sat down and when he got up, and even understood David's thoughts.  God knows us just as intimately today.  He is not some absentee God Who only looks down on us occasionally, as some people believe of their gods.  Verse three continues, Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  As David said then, God knows all our ways as Christians.  Verse four states, For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  David said that God knew every word that he spoke, and we know that even more than that, He knows every thought that we think.  We should therefore guard our words and thoughts so that they might glorify God.  Verse five adds, Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. David said that God was behind him and before him to protect him.  God surrounds us with His protective hand today if we put our faith in Him through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse six declares, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.  David said that God's knowledge was above his comprehension.  This will always be true for everyone.  We cannot comprehend the knowledge of God, but fortunately we do not have to.  We would be without hope if we had to understand everything about God in order to be saved, but fortunately all we need to know is Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord and accept this by faith.  Verse seven asks, Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  David asked where could he go to escape the presence of the Spirit of God, and the answer is nowhere.  As Christians, whenever we go, the Holy Spirit is always with us.  Verse eight says, If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  David said that he could not be out of the presence of God in heaven or in hell.  I don't believe that this means that God is with people in hell, but that they will be aware of His presence just out of their reach.  Verse nine continues, If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  Verse ten concludes, Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  David said that if he went to the uttermost part of the sea to live that God would still be with him and protect Him.  As followers of Christ, there is nowhere that we can go that God is not with us to protect us spiritually since we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 138:1

Psalms 138:1 says, A Psalm of David.  This is identified as a psalm of David, then verse one says, I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.  David said he would sing praises to God with his whole heart before the false gods.  As followers of Christ, we should also wholeheartedly worship God, especially in the presence of false gods.  Verse two adds, I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.  As David said then, we should magnify God above everything else for His lovingkindness to us.  Verse three continues, In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.  As God answered David when he cried out to Him, God will answer us when we as Christians call out to Him today.  We simply need to be ready to accept His answer.  Verse four states, All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.  There is coming a day when  everyone, including all the rulers will praise God, but for many it will be to late.  These are the people who refused to hear God's word of salvation in this lifetime.  Verse five adds, Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.  In that coming day, everyone will praise God, even if it is too late for them to know the joy of His salvation.  Verse six declares, Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.  God is indeed high and lifted up, and we can only come to Him as lowly sinners, and never high and lifted up in self pride.  Verse seven adds, Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.  David didn't say that God removed Him from trouble, but that He was with him in the times of trouble.   As Christians, we cannot expect to never have trouble in life, but we can expect God to be with us in times of trouble.  Verse eight continues, The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.  God will indeed perfect the work that we do for Him, and that is all the work that matters.

Psalms 137:1

Psalms 137:1 says, By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.  When in captivity in Babylon, the people of Israel wept when remembering Zion.  If we as followers of Christ allow sin to take us away from God's will, then we should weep as we remember what it was like to be in His kingdom.  Even though we, like Isreal, will not be separated forever, like them our refusal to follow God's will at all times can lead to a temporary separation.  Verse two adds, We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.  They hung their harps in the trees because they had no heart to use them.  If we are out of God's will, we should have no heart for the things that brought us joy when we were following Him.  Verse three continues, For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.  Though the people of Israel had no desire to play their harps and sing, their captors required them to do so.  I believe they did this to mock the faith that the people of Israel had in God.  If we were to be taken captivity by some government today that does not believe in God, we should not be surprised if they attempt to make a mockery of our faith.  Verse four asks, How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?  The people of Israel asked God how they could sing the LORD’s song in a strange land.  We as Christians will never be separated from God's kingdom forever, and if we were to find ourselves captive in an unGodly land, we simply need to keep our faith.  Verse five adds, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.  Verse six continues, If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.  The people of Israel said if they would never forget Jerusalem, and they would rather have their arm cut off and their tongues become useless than to sing praises to God in mockery.  We might be forced to sing to God by some power of the world, but if so, we should do so to truly worship God, and never allow our worship to become a mockery.  Verse seven says, Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.  The people of Israel asked God to remember when the people of Edom had destroyed the city of Jerusalem.  Verse eight adds, O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.  The people of Israel then said that one day Babylon would be punished for their treatment of them.  We may see times when it seems that the world is being victorious over the people of God, but it will always be temporary.  Their punishment is assured.  Verse nine continues, Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.  None were to escape God's judgment, and they will not today.  

Psalms 136:13

Psalms 136:13 says,  To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:  This is a continuation of telling of the great things God did for Israel.  He divided the Red Sea so they could escape from Egypt, but that was not as great as what He did for us when He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  Verse fourteen adds, And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:  The people of Isreal passed through the Red Sea unharmed, not because of anything the did, but because of the mercy of God.  We are saved not by our own abilities but by the mercy of God.  Verse fifteen continues, But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Pharaoh and his srmy were drowned in the Red Sea, because they would not obey God.  Those who do not put their faith in God will one day face an even greater punishment, since they will be forever separated from God and His mercy.  Verse sixteen states, To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God did lead the people of Israel through the wilderness, but they were only there because of their lack of faith.  God out of His mercy will lead us through our spiritual wilderness today,  but as followers of Christ we should not be there to start with.  Verse seventeen adds, To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:  God overthrew the kings in the promised land, and He will overthrow our enemies today if we put our faith in Him.  Verse eighteen continues, And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Some of the kings were famous, but they could not stand before God.  No matter how famous a ruler may be today, he cannot defeat God.  Verse nineteen says, Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Verse twenty continues, And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Two of the kings overthrown by God were mentioned by name.  Verse twenty-one declares, And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Just as God gave the people of Israel the promised land for a heritage out of His mercy, He gives us an everlasting home in heaven as followers of Christ today.  Verse twenty-two adds, Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God gave the promised land to Israel because they were His servants.  If we want to be a part of God's kingdom today, we must be God's servants.  Verse twenty-three continues, Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:   God remembered Israel not because of their greatness, but because of their low estate.  We today do not come to God because of our own innate goodness, but because of our low estate as sinners in need of salvation.  Verse twenty-four states, And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God redeemed the people of Israel from their enemies, and He redeems us from our spiritual enemies today, all because of His mercy and not because we have done anything to deserve it.  Verse twenty-five adds, Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God provided for the needs of the people of Israel, and He will still provide for our needs today if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-six continues, O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.  We today, like the people of Israel then, must put our faith in God and give Him our thanks for His everlasting mercy.

Psalms 136:1

Psalms 136:1 says, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  The people of Israel were called on to give thanks to God because He is good and His mercy lasts forever.  God is good to extend His mercy to us, because He certainly doesn't have to, and if we accept it, it lasts forever.  Verse two adds, O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Like Isreal, we should give thanks to God since He is the only real God, and still He offers His mercy to us.  Verse three continues, O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Once more the people of Israel were called on to give thanks to God for His everlasting mercy.  None of these calls for giving thanks, and didn't say anything about material things, but were all based on Who God is and on His mercy, and this is still the reason we should praise God.  Verse four states, To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.  We are to give thanks to God for the great things and wonders He has done.  He is the Creator of everything.  Verse five adds, To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.  As just stated, He is the Creator of everything out of His wisdom, starting with the heavens.  Verse six continues, To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.  God then created the earth.  Verse seven says, To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:  God made the stars, and He did so out of His everlasting mercy.  Verse eight adds, The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Though scientists attempt to figure out when the sun will burn out, it will shine as long as God from His mercy wants it to shine.  Verse nine continues, The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Just as the sun shines by day, the moon and stars shine by night.  This is all a part of God's design and not the result of some great cosmic accident.  Verse ten states, To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Just as God procured freedom from Egypt for the people of Israel by His power and mercy, He procures our everlasting freedom from the power of sin and death if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven adds, And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:  Verse twelve continues, With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Just as it was by God's mercy and power that the people of Israel were freed from bondage in Egypt, we as Christians are freed from the bondage of sin today by His mercy.  Israel did nothing to deserve God's mercy, and neither can we.  It was freely given to them, and it is freely offered to us today.

Psalms 135:13

Psalms 135:13 says, Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.  What the psalmist said then is just as true today.  The name of the LORD endures forever.  God being a memorial forever seems to refer to Exodus 3:15 where He refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and adds, This is My name forever and this is my memorial to all generations.  Verse fourteen adds, For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.  God will one-day judge all His people, who are those who have been saved by putting their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifteen states, The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.  The heathen, those who do not believe in God, make idols of silver and gold.  We still see them today.  Of course,  I believe an idol does not have to be shaped like some creature or man, but can be material things themself.  Verse sixteen adds, They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;  Verse seventeen continues, They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.  Of course, this refers to those man-made idols that look like they can speak, see, and hear, but have no breath of life in them.  No matter how realistic idols may be made, they are still but inanimate objects.  There is but one true and living God.  Verse eighteen concludes, They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.  The psalmist declared those that made these idols to be just as unable to speak, see and hear the truth of God.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are just as dead spiritually as any idol that we worship.  Verse nineteen declares, Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:  Verse twenty adds, Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.  Then verse twenty-one concludes, Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.  All of God's people were called on to bless the LORD, and we must do the same today as Christians.  We must put aside all idols that may come into our lives and worship God alone.

Psalms 135:1

Psalms 135:1 says, Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.  The people of Israel were called on as servants of the LORD to praise Him.  We as Christians are servants of the same Lord and should praise Him just as much.  Verse two adds, Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,  Verse three continues, Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.  Those who were in the house of the LORD or His courts were called on not only to praise Him, but to sing praises to Him because it was pleasant, to Him I believe.  We need to sing praises to God today, especially in His house.  Verse four states,  For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.  The people of Israel were to sing praises to the LORD because He had chosen them.  We should sing praises to God today because He has chosen to make salvation available to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our acceptance of His salvation.  Verse five adds, For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.  We serve and worship the same God as the people of Israel did then, and He is indeed great and above all false gods.  Verse six declares, Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.  God created the heavens and earth as He chose to make them.  Verse seven adds, He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.  God also created the weather system on the earth.  Scientists are still trying to find other planets like the earth, but have not done so.  Verse eight says, Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.  God not only created the heavens and earth and chose the people of Israel to be His people, but He delivered them from bondage in Egypt.  God has chosen everyone who will put their faith in Jesus Christ to be His people, and He delivers those who do from the bondage of sin.  Verse nine adds, Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.  God delivered the people of Israel from Egypt by sending plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but He delivers us today by faith in Jesus Christ alone.   Theirs was a temporary, physical deliverance, but ours as followers of Christ is an everlasting, spiritual deliverance.  Verse ten states, Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;  Verse eleven adds, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:  The people of Israel were reminded that God had defeated all their enemies, and when we put our faith in Jesus Christ today, God has defeated all our enemies spiritually as well.  Verse  twelve continues, And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.  Just like the land of Israel was given to the people of God as a heritage, we as Christians are given a promised heavenly home as our heritage. 

Psalms 134:1

Psalms 134:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is the last of the songs of degrees, then verse one says, Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.  The psalmist asked for everyone who was a servant of the LORD  to bless Him.  This was directed especially to the priests who stood guard of the holy things at night to use their time worshipping God and not just idly passing the time.  We need to use our time wisely, especially when we are doing things to worship God.  It is possible to be sitting in a worship service and to be doing anything except worshipping God.  Our mind may be on something totally unrelated to God, and this is not true worship.  Verse two adds, Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.  The people of Israel were told to lift up their hands in worship in the sanctuary of the LORD and to worship Him.  There is some disagreement about lifting up our hands in worship today, but whether you do it or not, it is scriptural to do so.  Still, someone can raise their hands up in the sanctuary of God and still not truly be worshipping Him.  Whatever we do must be directed to God and not to others or to call attention to ourself.   Verse three concludes, The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.  The psalmist said that the people of Israel were to worship the LORD that made the heavens and the earth.  We should worship God, the only true God, Who created everything, because He blesses us if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 133:1

Psalms 133:1 says, A Song of degrees of David.  This is identified as a song of degrees of David, then verse one says, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  David said it was good and pleasant for brethren, I believe those who were spiritual brothers and sisters, to live together in harmony.  As followers of Christ, we are all spiritual brothers and sisters, and wouldn't it be wonderful if we all lived together in harmony.  I don't mean just within the church building or our physical kinfolk, but with all our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Verse two adds, It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  David said spiritually harmony is like the holy ointment that covered the whole head and neck of Aaron when he was anointed priest.  This was not just ordinary oil, but was precious oil made by God's specification and for His purpose.  We have the gift of the Holy Spirit today Who should cover us fully.  Verse three continues, As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.  David also compared spiritual unity to the dew that refreshes the grass.  Just as grass does not work to earn the dew, but it is just sent by God, we do not work for salvation, but it is a refreshing gift of God to those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Because of God's anointing, refreshing gift of salvation, we as Christians should live together in spiritual harmony.  

Psalms 132:8

Psalms 132:8 says, Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.  Solomon said for God to arise into His rest, and into the ark of His strength.  The temple that was to be built might have been seen as the resting place of God and the ark as a sign of His strength, but that was all they were.  God is not limited by what we do or do not do for Him.  Verse nine adds, Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.  This applies to us as a priesthood of believers.  We should be clothed in righteousness and shouting with joy.  Verse ten continues, For thy servant David’s sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.  Solomon asked that God not turn His face away from him because of His promise to David.  God will not turn away from us today because of His promise made when Jesus Christ died for our sins if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven states, The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.  Solomon said that God has sworn to set David's descendants upon the throne of Israel and that He would not turn from His promise.  Solomon was basically asking God to be with him as He was with David.  God will always be with us as individual Christians just as He is with all Christians past, present, and future.  Verse twelve adds, If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.  God's promise was that a descendant of David would sit on the throne of Israel forever.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the forever King of Israel, and His people are those who accept Him by faith as their Savior and Lord.  Verse thirteen continues, For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.  Solomon said that God had chosen Zion as the place for the temple.  Today, He chooses wherever we are as followers of Christ as the place to worship Him.  We are not limited to any specific place to worship God.  Verse fourteen says, This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.  Solomon said that God had said that Zion would be His resting place forever.  I am not sure that there is now any one place that is more holy to God than any other, since Jesus said that He is the temple, and as His followers we become the temple of the Holy Spirit as well.  Verse fifteen adds, I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.  Solomon said that God had promised to abundantly bless His people by providing for them, and He still does and always will.  Verse sixteen continues, I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.  Solomon said that God had promised to cloth the priests of Israel with righteousness, and as followers of Christ we are a priesthood of believers, so this promise applies to us as well.  God will provide for our needs if we continueto put our faith in Him.  Verse seventeen states, There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.  Verse eighteen concludes, His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.  Solomon said that God had promised to bless the descendants of David and to put his enemies to shame.  Today, this promise applies to the followers of Christ. 

Psalms 132:1

Psalms 132:1 says, A Song of degrees. This is identified as another song of degrees, then verse one says, LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:  Solomon asked God to remember David in all his afflictions.  If we as Christians are suffering today, we should ask God to help us.  Verse two adds, How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;  Solomon also asked God to remember how David had sworn His faith to God.  In order for us to expect God to help us in times of trouble, we must have a personal relationship with Him through putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Once we do, God will never forget or forsake us.  Verse three states, Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;  Solomon said he was not going to bed until he settled things with God.  We also should make sure that we are at peace with God before we go to bed each night.  Verse four adds, I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,  Solomon also said he not only wasn't going to bed, but he wasn't going to sleep until heard from God.  Verse five continues, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.  Solomon added that he was not going to rest until he found a place for the habitation of God.  Solomon may have had afflictions in his life, but he was more concerned about the things of God than he was about his own problems.  We as followers of Christ may have problems in life, but our first concern must be the our relationship with God and His house.  Verse six says, Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.  Mathew Henry says this is a reference to the Ark of the Covenant which had been located at Shiloh, but the people no longer knew where it was.  We will never have to wonder where the things of God are as Christians, because the Holy Spirit is always with us to guide and direct us to the way of God.  Verse seven adds, We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.  Solomon said that the people of Israel would go into the tabernacle of God and worship Him.  We need to always be ready to go into God's house and worship Him.  

Psalms 131:1

Psalms 131:1 says, A Song of degrees of David.  This is identified as another song of degrees by David, then verse one says, LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.  I believe that this means that David was not self-centered.  We as followers of Christ cannot think that we have all the answers and get caught up in self pride.  We will never be more than sinners saved by grace, and we can never understand the things of God based on our own abilities.  We must learn about God by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse two adds, Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.  David said that in his relationship with God that he was like an obedient child.  Still, David had grown in his relationship with God and was able to understand more without being fed simply with milk.  As new Christians, we start by learning the simple truths of God, but as we mature, we should be able to understand more and more what it means to follow Christ.   Verse three concludes, Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.  As David asked of Israel, God's chosen people then, we as Christians today must put our hope in the LORD forevermore.  There is no lasting hope without faith in God.