Psalms 18:20

Psalms 18:20 says, The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.  David said God rewarded him according to his righteousness and the cleanness of his hands.   I believe this would have meant David keeping God's covenant and living in accordance with God's will.  We today do not want to be judged by our righteousness, but by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Our own righteousness will fail us, but after accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we do need to keep our hands dedicated to doing God's work.  Verse twenty-one adds, For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.  David said he had kept the ways of the LORD and had not departed from them.  We know that he did not always do this, but his life was dedicated to following God.   We cannot claim to have always lived in accordance with God's will, but this should be our primary objective as followers of Christ.  Verse twenty-two continues, For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.  David said he kept God's statutes before him and did not depart from them.  Though we will never be able to claim salvation through keeping God's statutes, we should always know them and attempt to follow them.  Verse twenty-three declares, I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.  David once more said he was upright in his relationship with God and that he didn't allow iniquity in his life.  He was speaking of his overall relationship with God, I believe.  We know that David did sin, but he always sincerely repented and returned to God.  We cannot claim to be perfect, but we can claim to be made perfect by our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.   Verse twenty-four adds, Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.  David said God knew he was innocent of the things he was being accused of as a leader.  We need to be innocent of anything bad that we might be accused of in the world today if we arecto look to God for protection.  Verse twenty-five states, With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;  David said that God would show Himself to be merciful and upright to those who were merciful and upright.  Since God is merciful and upright with everyone, I believe that we can more accurately say that since God is merciful and upright with us that He expects us to be that way with others and Him.  Verse twenty-six adds, With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.  David said that God would deal with people based on their relationship with Him.  We either accept that God is in charge and has provided a way to salvation or we deny Him and the salvation He has provided for us.  Verse twenty-seven continues, For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.  David said that God would save those who recognized their need for salvation, but would bring down those who felt they were above the need for salvation, putting their faith in their own abilities instead.   Verse twenty-eight concludes, For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.  David said that God would light his way in the darkness of the world, and He still will today for those who put their faith in Him.  The darkness of the world can ever overcome the light of God. 

Psalms 18:4

Psalms 18:4 says, The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.  David said he was surrounded by the ungodly.  We are not the first people of God to be surrounded by the ungodly, but God is still our protector as long as we 0ut our faith in Him.  Verse five adds, The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.  David continues to speak about his troubles, saying that he was in the midst of hell, and that there were snares all around him.  Though David was a great and powerful king, he often felt like he was going to be overcome by the wicked surrounding him, yet he looked to God for strength, and so should we if we feel that way.  Verse six continues, In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.  As already stated, in his distress David cried out to God and knew that God heard him.  It's not enough to just call out to God.  We must call out to God in faith, knowing that He will hear our cry.  Verse seven declares, Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.  David said God shook the earth because He was so angry about what was going on.  Not all natural disasters are God's judgment, but many throughout history have been.  Verse eight adds, There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.  David attempts to describe God's anger, but like David, we can never adequately do so.  Verse nine continues, He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.  David said that not only did God control the earth, but He controlled the heavens as well.  We either accept the fact that God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, or we do not accept God for Who He really is.  Verse ten states, And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. Verse eleven adds, He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.   God didn't send an angel, but came down Himself, even though He was hidden behind the clouds from the sight of the people.  We will not see God in all His glory in this lifetime, but He is still at work in the world.  Verse twelve adds, At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.  When God then chooses to reveal Himself, brightness overcomes the gloom.  Since God has revealed Himself to us as followers of Christ, we should live in brightness and not gloom.  Verse thirteen continues, The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.  David said that God spoke in heaven and the earth was shaken with hail stones and coals of fire.  God always has and always will have it in His power to destroy the heavens and the earth, which are His creation to start with.  Verse fourteen declares, Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.  Verse fifteen adds, Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.  David continues to speak about God's complete control over His creation.  As followers of Christ, we serve God, Who has complete control of the universe.  We cannot make Him any less and still serve Him faithfully.   Verse sixteen continues, He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.  David said that God saved him from the destruction that God had sent, just as He saves us from the coming destruction of all evil if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventeen says, He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.  David gave God the credit for delivering him from his enemies who were too strong for David to defeat himself.  Our enemies may be too strong for us to defeat today, but they will never be too strong for God to defeat if we simply put our faith in Him. Verse eighteen adds, They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.  Verse eighteen concludes, He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.  David said his enemies prevented him from doing what he knew God wanted him to do by his own power, but that God delivered him from them.  Ir the world seems to overpower us today, all we need to do is look to God for deliverance. 

Psalms 18:1

 Psalms 18:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul:  This psalm has a long introduction.  We are told that it is a Psalm of David to God for delivering him from his enemies,  and especially from Saul.  Then, we are told what David said starting with verse one, which says, And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.  David professed his love for God.  As followers of Christ, we should never be ashamed to profess our love of God every chance we get to do so.  Verse two adds, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  David said God was his rock and his fortress, two things that are difficult to get through, and if we are looking to God for protection, we will find His protection impossible to get past.  David said God was his God, which means that David had a personal relationship with God, and if God is to be our protector, so must we.  David then said God was the source of His strength and the One in whom he would trust.  If we are to rely on the strength of God, we must first put our complete trust in Him.  David called God his buckler, a small round shield worn on the wrist.  David was not looking for actual implements of war, but to God Who would provide even better protection.   We need to likewise look to God for our ultimate protection.  David also said that God was the horn of His salvation, the source from which salvation was poured out, and God is the only source of salvation which comes from putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.   Finally,  David said God was his high tower.  Towers were a place where people could look out and see what the enemy was doing, and God was the One Who was on the lookout for David,  and He still is for Christians today.  Verse three adds, I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.  David then said that He would call on the LORD, Who was worthy to be praised.  God is the only One Who is worthy to be praised, and we should never forget to give Him our praise.  David also said that God, and not David himself, saved him from all his enemies.  We must never rely on our own abilities to save us from the evil in the world today, but must always look to God for deliverance. 

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.