Psalms 17:1

Psalms 17:1 says, A Prayer of David. This psalm is classified as a prayer of David, and verse one says, Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.  David asked God to hear his righteous, sincere prayer.  When we pray in sincerity, and not with just feigned, or empty, words, God will always hear our prayers.  Verse two adds, Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.  David asked that God judge his righteousness.  Matthew Henry says that Saul would not, but David appealed to God.  We may not get a just hearing in the world, but as long as God judges us as being righteous, which comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ, then nothing else matters.  Verse three states, Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.  David said that God had visited him day and night, and that God had found him to not be filled with transgressions, or sins.  We know that David did sin, but he never allowed sin to continue to rule his life.  We have all sinned, but when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we should no longer allow sin to rule our life.  Verse four adds, Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.  David continued to profess his innocence.  Verse five declares, Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.  David asked God to guide his footsteps on the path of righteousness, and so should we.  We need God's guidance each step we take.  Verse six says, I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.  David said he called on God because he knew God would hear him.  When we sincerely call on God to hear our prayers, we can be certain that He will, as long as our prayers are sincere and seek His will for our life.  Verse seven adds, Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.  David asked God to show His marvellous lovingkindness to him, and through Jesus Christ dying on the cross to provide forgiveness to those who accept His salvation, God has shown His marvellous lovingkindness to everyone.  This is true of even those who will not put their faith in Jesus Christ, but it does them no good.  Verse eight adds, Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,  David asked for God's protection.  We need to be like David asked of God, and that is sheltered under His wing.  David said his enemies were all around him.  We are not the first of God's people to be surrounded by enemies, and we likely don't even have the most enemies around us.  This has almost always been the status of God's people.  Verse nine adds, From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.  Verse ten continues, They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.  David said that his enemies had grown strong and fat, and that they bragged about their power and riches.  We should never become so rich or powerful as followers of Christ that we begin to brag about ourself and not give the glory to God, and we certainly should never use our position to abuse others.  Verse eleven says, They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;  Verse twelve adds, Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.  David compared God's people to those who were surrounded by young ,hungry lions.  There was real danger all around them, and in some places more than others there is real danger for Christians today.  That is why we need to always look to God for help.  Verse thirteen states, Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:  David called on God to defeat his enemies.  David may have been a great and powerful man, but he recognized that his deliverance came from God.  No matter how strong we may be in the eyes of the world, we will always find our strength and deliverance to come from God if we are followers of Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.  David said the people of the world were flourishing.  Verse fifteen concludes, As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.  David then said that no matter what happened, he would behold the righteousness of God and be satisfied.  We need to be satisfied with being God's people, even if it seems that those who deny Him are rich and prosperous while we struggle in life. 

Psalms 16:1

Psalms 16:1 says, Michtam of David. After the introduction, verse one, Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.  David asked God to preserve Him, because he put his faith in God.  If we want God to preserve us, or keep us safe forever, we must first put our faith in Him.  Verse two adds, O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;  David said from the very depths of his soul that he declared the LORD to be his LORD.  We must accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord for God to be our God.  No one else can do it for us.  David said his goodness was shown to the world because of his relationship with God, and so must ours be.  Verse three continues, But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.  This is just a continuation of David stating the his goodness was shown to his fellow believers.  We are to show our goodness, which comes from our relationship with God, to all the world, but especially to our fellow Christians.  Verse four declares, Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.  David said that those who chased after other gods and sacrificed to them would have their sorrows multiplied.  This has always been true, and even if it doesn't happen in this lifetime, it will when God's final judgment comes.  Verse five says, The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.  David declared the LORD to be the one to give him his inheritance.  If we are to have everlasting life with God, it will not be because of our own goodness, but because of our inheritance of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse six adds The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.  David said that God had given him a good Inheritance, and as followers of Christ, God has given us the good Inheritance of everlasting life.  Verse seven states, I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.  David said that he would bless God for all that He had done for him.  David said God's counsel guided him, and so must we be guides by God's counsel today and we must always give God the praise no matter what is happening in our life.  Verse eight adds, I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.  David said he always put God first in his life, and because of his faith in God, he would not be moved.  If our faith in God remains strong, nothing in this world can move us away from Him.  Verse nine continues, Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.  David said that his relationship with God gave him hope and peace.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, we should rest in hope in this world.  Verse ten declares, For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  David said that because of His faith in God that he knew God would not leave him in hell.  David also said that he knew that God would not allow His Holy One, the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, to suffer corruption.  Verse eleven adds, Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  David said that God would show him the path of life in His presence.  We today as followers of Christ know that He will always direct us in the path of life. 

Psalms 15:1

Psalms 15:1 says, A Psalm of David., The Psalm is identified as a Psalm of David, then verse one asks,, LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  David asked the question of the LORD, and ultimately His is the only answer that will matter.  David wondered who could abide in the tabernacle of God and dwell in His His holy hill.  As David's question implied, it is God Who makes this determination, and we know that the answer is that only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will.  For those who lived before Jesus Christ came, it was their faith in His coming.  Verse two states, He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  David said that those who were sincere in their relationship to God were the ones who would live in God's land.  We would need to add today that they did these things as followers of Christ and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit I believe.  Verse three adds, He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  David then lists some things that those who would live in God's land would not do.  They would not speak badly to or about their neighbor,nor would they mistreat them.  We are told that everyone should be considered our neighbor, so we should be mindful of what we say about anyone and especially be mindful of how we treat them.  Verse four declares, In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  David said that those who would live in God's land would condemn those who were vile while uplifting those that lived under God's guidance.  We should never hold the unGodly up as examples to follow, but should always look to Christians as examples of how to live in the world today.  Verse five adds He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.  David warns against using money as a way to enrich ourselves at the expense of others.  This speaks of loaning money for excessive interest or even taking a reward for helping the innocent.  God never wants us to put our faith in material things and to value them more than we do people. 

Psalms 14:1

 Psalms 14:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. As in many Psalms, there is the introduction, then verse one says, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  David speaks about the fool, those who say in their heart that there is no God.  There are many people in the world today who are considered brilliant, but deny God.   As David said, this makes them fools, and we should not hold them up as examples to follow or as people to listen to.  David also said that they are corrupt and have done abominable works and that nono of the people like this do any good in God's sight.  We see the abominable works all around us today, and we as followers of Christ must recognize how God feels about them. Verse two adds, The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  David said that God was watching mankind to see if there were any people who understood Who God is and who sought God.  Just because people deny the existence of God, doesn't mean that He is not still in charge.  I don't believe that God is impressed with a lot of what is going on in the world today.  Verse three continues, They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  David said that when God looked down on the world that He declared that all had become filthy and that not even one person did good.  When we think that the world has gotten so much worse today than it used to be, we need to simply look back at what was being done in David's day.  Verse four asks, Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.  The question from God was if the workers of iniquity had no knowledge of Him.  They abused people without any concern for them.  I believe this was a disregard for those who were without power in the world, just as many poor people throughout all the world are mistreated today without any concern for what God says.  Verse five adds, There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.  God said that the people of Israel had once had His protection and were a righteous generation.  We cannot live by what people have done in the past and be successful in our Christian walk today.  Verse six declares, Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.  God said that people had shamed the counsel of the poor for whom God was their refuge.  Again, we cannot follow God's guidance while at the same time mistreating the poor.  Verse seven adds, Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.  David asked that the salvation of Israel come out of Zion and that all the people of Israel might rejoice.  Salvation has come out of Zion, when Jesus Christ died on the cross for the salvation of mankind, which is given to all who put their faith in Him.  We should therefore rejoice if we are followers of Christ.  

Psalms 13:1

Psalms 13:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  Again, we have the instructions, then verse one asks, How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?  David felt that God had forgotten him, but God never will forget His people.   If we are feeling that God has forgotten us, we need to ask what makes us think so.  Simply because things are going badly in the world certainly does not mean that God has forgotten us.  God will never hide His face from His people.  Verse two adds, How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?  David was in sorrow because of his situation, and seemed to believe that God had forgotten him, leaving him to rely on his own counsel.  David said that his enemies were exalted over him, and wondered how long God would continue to allow this to happen.  We may feel that we have to rely on our own wisdom if we are surrounded by our enemies, but we need instead to simply continue to put our faith in God.  Verse three declares, Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;  David asked God to hear him and consider his situation before was killed.  Even if we sleep the sleep of death, as David said, as followers of Christ we are still secure in our everlasting life.  We need not allow the world to get us down.  Verse four continues, Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.  David said that if God did not hear and help him that his enemies might brag that they had prevailed against him.  The people of the world may stand ready to declare victory over Christians today, but God has already secured the final victory.  Verse five states, But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.  David may have been asking questions about God's protection, but he then said that He trusted in God's mercy and salvation.  We may at times wonder about what is going on in the world when evil seems to be winning, but we must always trust in God's mercy and salvation.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, nothing that happens in this lifetime can separate us from God and His mercy.  Verse six adds, I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.  After all his questions, David said he would sing praises to the LORD, because God had had dealt bountifully with him.  When everything seems to be going wrong, we should simply sing praises to God, because He has been bountiful to us by providing us with everlasting salvation. 

Psalms 12:1

 Psalms 12:1 says,To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. We have the introduction, then verse one says, Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.  David called on God's help because the Godly people were dying off.  They were becoming fewer in number.  We may see the number of Godly people decreasing today, and if we do, we need to call on God for help, while at the same time sharing the gospel with others.  Verse two adds, They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. David said that everyone spoke flattering but deceitful words.  There are a lot of lies being spread today simply to flatter powerful people, but we as Christians should never be guilty of doing so.  Verse three states, The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:  David said that the LORD would cut off the flattering lips and the tongue that spoke proud things.  God has always be against prideful, self glorifying speech.  We as followers of Christ should never engage in it or idolize those who do.  Verse four adds, Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?  David said that some people declared that God had no right to attempt to control their speech, but as followers of Christ we know that God does expect us to have our speech controlled by His guidance.  We should always speak in such a way that God is glorified and never in a way that glorifies ourself.  Verse five declares, For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.  God declared that He was going to defend the weak and needy who were being oppressed.  God expects His people to do the same thing.  We as Christians are called on to help the less fortunate in the world.  This applies to all the less fortunate, and not just to those in a particular country or of a particular ethnic group.  Verse six adds, The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  David said that God's words were pure, comparing them to refined silver.  God's word has no imperfection in it, and this is the word, the truth, that we must share with the world.  Verse seven states, Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.  David stated that God would preserve His chosen remnant forever. We are a part of that remnant if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and God will preserve us forever.  Verse eight adds, The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.  Although God will preserve His remnant, they will still be surrounded by evil people who will be exalted.  We need to simply look at some people who are exalted today to realize the truth of this. 

Psalms 11;1

 Psalms 11:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. After the introduction, verse one says, In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  David said he put his trust in the LORD, and so must we.  David asked why some might tell him to flee to save his soul, or life, when his trust was still in the LORD.  The people of the world today may question why don't flee from the evil of the world, but if our faith is in God, we should never think of running from the forces of evil in the world today.  Verse two adds, For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.  David said that the wicked stood ready to destroy the upright in heart.  The world in which we live today has many, many people who are ready to destroy the upright in heart, or God's righteous people.  This is everyone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  If we have, we have no reason to live in fear.  Verse three states, If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?  David said that the people of the world asked him if the foundations of society were shaken, what could he do.  David's foundation was not in the structures of society, though, but in God.  The world may come apart around us,but along as God is our foundation, we will not be moved.  Verse four declares, The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.  David said that God was still in His holy temple and was looking down at what was going on in the world.  He was then, and He now is and always will be in His holy temple.  Verse five adds, The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.  God may give us opportunities to prove our faith, but He will never tempt us to give in to sin.  God will also judge the wicked, those who refuse to put their faith in Him.  We may think of the wicked as being terrible people, but even good people who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are wicked in God's sight.  Verse six continues, Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.  We know that when God's judgment comes that the wicked will be sent away to everlasting punishment in hell, which is full of fire and brimstone.  Those who do not believe in hell and refuse salvation through faith in Christ will one day experience the reality of hell.  Verse seven declares, For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.  Since God is righteous, He expects His people to be righteous also.  The only way to be righteous is through accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.