Psalms 20:1

Psalms 20:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  Once more the instructions, then verse one says, The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;  David asked God, Whom he called the God of Jacob, the only true God,  to defend him in the time of trouble.  God is still the God of Jacob, the only true God.  Verse two adds, Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; David asked that God send strength from out of His sanctuary.  David asked for God's divine strength and not just earthly things to help fight the enemy.  If we have faith in God and rely on His strength, that is all we need to be victorious in the world today.  Verse three states, Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Selah.  David asked God to remember all the offerings that he had made to Him and to accept the burnt sacrifices.  The only sacrifice that we can offer God that He will remember is ourself by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four declares, Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.  David then asked God to do this because of Who God is.  God has mercy and provides salvation and protection for us today as Christians because of Who He is and not because of who we are.  Verse five adds, We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.  David said that the people of Israel and he himself would rejoice in God's salvation and proclaim God's goodness to the world.  We today as followers of Christ need to be rejoicing in our salvation and proclaiming God's goodness to the world.   Verse six declares, Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.  David could have been referring to him self as God's anointed king, but I believe the greater reference is to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Who is the true Anointed One.  Verse seven adds, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.  David said that instead of trusting in horses and chariots, or things used in war, that the people of Israel would put their faith in the LORD.  We will never defeat the evil in this world with military might, but will only defeat it by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eight continues, They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. David said that his enemies had fallen, but by God's strength he and the people of Israel were still standing. As long as we live by faith in God, we will always stand spiritually victorious.  Verse nine concludes, Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.  David asked that God hear and save them.  We need to ask the same thing of God today.  Unless we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we cannot expect God to deliver us from the evil in the world, but once we do, then we can always go to Him in prayer and ask His strength to keep us safe forever. 

Psalms 19:1

Psalms 19:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.  Once more the introduction, then verse one says,, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Like David, we need to recognize that heaven and earth themselves, all of the universe, reflect God's work in creation.   Verse two adds, Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  David also said that the fact that time was separated into day and night showed God's creative work.  Verse three continues,  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.   David said that people didn't have to speak a particular language to see the testimony of God's work in the order of the heavens and the earth.  Verse four concludes, Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,  David said there was no place in the earth where God's creative work could not be seen.  Those who deny God as the Creator of the universe will be without excuse.  Verse five declares, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run.  David said the sun shines everyday without tiring.  Nothing is too hard for God to do, and He delights in His creation.  Verse six adds, His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.  David said that the sun influenced everything in the earth, just as the Son came to shine the light and glory of God to the world.  Verse seven declares, The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  David declared God's law to be perfect, in the rest or creation and in the soul of man.  We sometimes forget that mankind was created perfect, but with free will to deny God.  Verse eight adds, The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  David said that God's laws were perfect and brought joy to the heart.  This should still be true for followers of Christ today.  We should see God's law as a delight and not a burden.  Verse nine continues,The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  God's judgment is pure and endures forever.  There was never anything wrong with God's law, but the problem was the inability of people to live up to His law, and that will always be the problem.  Verse ten continues, More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  David said that God's law should be desired more then riches or the sweet things in life.  This should still be true for Christians today.  Verse eleven states, Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.  David tells us that God's laws warn us of the dangers in life and says that there is great reward in keeping them.  As followers of Christ, we have the great reward of everlasting life through our faith in Him, and God's laws still tell us of the danger of not obeying Him.  Verse twelve asks, Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.  David said that we might not always know that we have committed errors in keeping God's law, but that we should ask God to cleanse us from even these secret faults.  Verse thirteen adds, Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.  David then asked God to keep him from wilful sins.  It is bad enough to be guilty of sinning without realizing it, but it is worse to wilfully sin.  Verse fourteen concludes, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  This should be our prayer today.   All that we say and do should be acceptable in God's sight, because He is our strength and Redeemer. 

Psalms 18:29

 Psalms 18:29 says, For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.  David said that God had empowered him to be victorious over great obstacles.  When we see the obstacles to following God today, we need to keep our focus on God and not the obstacles.  Verse thirty adds, As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.  David stated that God's ways were tried and true.  This will always will be true.  Verse thirty-one asks, For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?  David basically asked who else besides God was God.  Who else could they rely on to keep them strong.  There is no other God, and He alone can give us strength in the world today.  Verse thirty-two adds, It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.  David once again said that God, and not David himself, was the source of his strength and his goodness.  We cannot rely on our own strength and goodness and be successful Christians, but must always rely on God's strength and goodness.  Verse thirty-three continues, He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.  David continues to state that God is the One Who lifts him up to the high places.  Verse thirty-four declares, He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.  The world may have seen David as a great warrior, but he said God was the One Who empowered him.  We should always give God the credit for our strength today.  Verse thirty-five adds, Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.  David said God gave him the shield of salvation and held him up with strength and gentleness.  If we have salvation today, it can only come from God, and when we claim salvation through Jesus Christ, He will hold us up with both strength and gentleness.  Verse thirty-six says, Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.  Verse thirty-seven add, I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.  Once more, David gives God credit for his success against his enemies.  If we as followers of Christ are to be successful against our enemies today, we must look to God for strength and give Him credit for our success.  Verse thirty-eight states, I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.  Verse thirty-nine adds, For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.  David said God gave him strength and that God subdued his enemies.  What we as Christians need to realize today is that God has already subdued our enemies.  We have everlasting victory through our faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what happens in this lifetime.  Verse forty continues, Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.  David was still just giving God credit for his success.  God has already destroyed our enemies which we will see when He comes in judgment, and He will give us the strength to not be overcome by them today as long as we remain faithful to Him.  Verse forty-one states, They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.  David said that there was no one to save his enemies.  He also said that they cried to God and He didn't hear them.  We have to assume that they were not calling out to God in sincerity, because I believe that God will always hear those that sincerely call out to Him, for salvation first and then in obedience and praise afterward.  Verse forty-two adds, Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.  David said he totally destroyed his enemies by the power of God, and so can we today. 

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.