Psalms 26:1

Psalms 26:1 says, A Psalm of David.  After being identified as a Psalm of David, verse one says, Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.  David asked God to judge him, and then said that God knew he had sinned but also that he had trusted in the LORD.   God will one day judge us, whether we ask Him to or not, and we are all guilty of sin, so our only hope is to put our faih and trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Verse two adds, Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.  David then asked God to examine his heart.  It is not enough for us to pronounce ourselves innocent, but we need to continually ask God to examine our life to see if there are any sinful thoughts or actions in our life.  Verse three continues, For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.  David said God's lovingkindness, His mercy, was before his eyes, and that he had walked by God's truth. Because of God's lovingkindness, or mercy, toward us, we should walk guided by His truth.  Verse four states, I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.  Though we are told to go into all the world to share the gospel, this does not mean that we are to sit with those we witness to all the time.  Verse five adds, I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.  David said he hated the congregation of the wicked and would not sit with them.   Again, we are to hate the sins of people and to witness to them about Jesus Christ, but we are not to make congregating with them a way of life.  Verse six declares, I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:  David pronounced his innocence before God and his right to come to God's altar.  David's innocence came from his faith in God and God's mercy and not from his own goodness.  The only way we can stand innocent before God is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Verse seven adds, That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.  David said that he would tell the world of all of God's wondrous works in his life, and so should we as Christians.  Verse eight continues, LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.  David said he had loved being in God's house  where God's honor dwelt.  We should love being in God's house today, but when we are gathered in His house, all that we do there should honor Him.  Of course, anywhere that we are as Christians should be God's house for us and we should honor Him in all that we do.  Verse nine says, Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:  David asked that his soul not be gathered with sinners.  David had proclaimed his innocence because of God's grace to him and his faith in the LORD, and asked that he not be sentenced to the same fate as the sinners who had not put their faith in the LORD.  We are all sinners, but if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will not be judged with those who don't.  By our faith in Jesus Christ, we are pronounced innocent.  Verse ten adds, In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.  David then spoke of some of the actions of the sinful men.  Their hands were full of mischief and bribes.  There will always be sinful people in the world, but as Christians we must not be a part of them.  Verse eleven declares, But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.  David said that he would walk in his integrity, but at the same time asked God to redeem him and be merciful to him.  We cannot save ourselves by our own integrity, but can only be saved by the mercy of God, which we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord to obtain.  Verse twelve adds, My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.  David said he stood on the even ground of God and would bless the LORD in the congregation.  When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He leads us on the even ground and keeps us from stumbling, and for this we should always give Him the praise. 

Psalms 25:11

Psalms 25:11 says, For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.  David asked God to pardon his great iniquity for the sake of God's name.  When God pardons our sins, whether great or small, it is God's name that is glorified and not ours.  Verse twelve asks, What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.  David asked who was the man who would fear the LORD, and said that it was the one who allowed God to show him God's way.  It is always our choice.  Verse thirteen adds, His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.  David said the person who chose to follow God would live at ease and that his or her descendants would inherent the earth.  If we look back to the beginning of creation, God placed the earth in the care of and under the control of mankind.  I believe this was what David was referring to, and not to claiming all the riches of the world.   Verse fourteen declares, The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.  We cannot discover God's secret or truly understand His covenant without Him revealing it to us, and the only way it is revealed to us is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifteen states, Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. David said his eyes were continually on God, Who would pluck him out of the snares of life.  If we keep our eyes continually focused on God,  we will never fall into the traps of sin.  Verse sixteen adds, Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.  David was asking God to look at him in his desolation and affliction and not for God to turn to David's way.  We need to continually be in prayer to God, but especially so when things seem desolate or we are suffering affliction.  Verse seventeen continues, The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.  Verse eighteen concludes, Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.  David just continues to speak of the great distress that he is in.  Sometimes, the world may seem to be overwhelming us, but if that happens, we need to call out to God.  Verse nineteen says, Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.  David asked God to consider his enemies, which he said were many and that they hated him.  David was a great and powerful king, but he recognized that God was the source of his strength, and so must we today.  Verse twenty adds,  O kee!p my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.  David asked God to keep his soul and deliver him.  He asked that he not be ashamed of putting his faith in God, because God was the One Who delivered him from his enemies.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, God has already delivered us to victory over all our enemies, so we should never be ashamed to say so.  Verse twenty-one declares, Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.  David asked God to help him live in integrity and uprightness.   David knew he couldn't do this by his own ability.  We need to put our faith in God and wait on Him to show us the way he wants us to live our life.  Verse twenty-two adds, Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.  David then asked God to redeem Israel out of all his troubles.   We should be in prayer not only for ourselves but for everyone, and especially for God's people who may be in distress, wherever they may be.

Psalms 25:1

Psalms 25:1 says, A Psalm of David. After identifying this as a psalm of David, verse one says, Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. David said he lifted up, or gave, his soul to God, and so must we.  We must give everything that we are, have, or ever hope to be, to God.  Verse two adds, O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.  David asked that he not be ashamed of trusting in God, and also that because of his trust in God that his enemies not be allowed to triumph over him.  As long as we trust in God, whatever happens in this lifetime, we will be successful over our enemies by God's power and strength.  Verse three continues, Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.  David asked that no one who trusted in God be ashamed, and also that those who sin without cause to be ashamed.   We certainly should never apologize for or attempt to hide the fact that we are followers of Christ.  Unfortunately, most of these who openly sin against God are not ashamed of the fact, and instead often openly brag about it, but we still need to be in prayer for them.  Verse four declares, Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.  David asked God to guide his life by showing him God's ways and teaching him God's path.  We need to be in constant communication with God, studying His word, and then He will guide our life to where we need to be.  Verse five adds, Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.  David continues to ask God for His guidance and says that He is the God of his salvation.  David wanted to live by the truth of God.  As Christians, God is the God of our salvation, and we must live by the truth of His word and by His guidance. This is a continual thing, and not just an occasional one.  Verse six asks, Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.  David asked God to remember him in His tender mercies, which had always been present.  From the beginning of creation,  God has always been a merciful God, but He does expect people to reach out to Him in faith.  Verse seven states, Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.  David asked God to not remember the sins of his youth nor his transgressions according to God's goodness and for God's glory.   When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, all our sins are forgiven and forgotten, and we need to give God the glory for it.  Verse eight declares, Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.  David declared God to be good and upright and said that He would teach sinners His way.  We are all sinners, and in order to be taught the ways of God we must first put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Then, God will teach us His ways.  Verse nine adds, The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.  David said the meek, those not full of self pride, would be guided by God's judgment and taught His ways.  We cannot come to God in pride and arrogance, but must come humbly to Him.  Verse ten adds, All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.  David said all of God's paths were full of mercy and truth for those who kept His covenants.  We as followers of Christ are called on to follow God in a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.  We are still to keep God's laws, even though we are saved by Christ.  Salvation does not exempt us from following the laws of God.

Psalms 24:1

 Psalms 24:1says, A Psalm of David.  After being identified as a psalm of David, verse one says, The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  David said that the earth and everything in it, including the people, were God's.  God is the Creator of all things, and therefore everything is His.  He could have created mankind without a choice as to whether or not to follow Him, but He gave them free will as to whether or not they would.  God then provided a way of salvation after mankind sinned, but still still gave them free will as to whether or not to accept His salvation plan.  Verse two adds, For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.  David continues to speak about God as the Creator of the earth, as He set the land upon the seas.  Verse three asks, Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  David asked who could go up to God by their own ability.  We can only reach God because He calls us and allows us to come into His presence.  Verse four answers, He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  David lists a few things required before a person can enter into God's presence,  such as clean hands, a pure heart, and being one who has not lifted up his soul in vanity or sworn deceitfully.  Still, we know that no one can meet all these requirements all the time,, which is why the only ones who can come into God's presence are those who come by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five adds, He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Those who come to God with the penalty of sin removed from their lives through the righteousness of Christ will receive a blessing from God.  Verse six continues, This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.  David said that those around him were a generation that sought God's face.  We must be a generation that seeks God's face or will, because each generation must do so.  Verse seven declares, Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  David said that if we opened our hearts to Jesus Christ that He, the everlasting King of glory would come in.  It is always the choice of each individual whether or not to accept Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and Lord.  Verse eight asks, Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  David asked who the King of glory was, and answered that it was the Almighty God, the only true God.  If we are to be followers of Christ, we must acknowledge that God is the only true God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  Verse nine says, Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.  Again,  David tells us if we will open our hearts to Jesus that He will come in.  God does not force Himself into anyone's life, even though He could.  It is the choice of each individual whether or not to invite God into his or her heart.  Verse ten declares, Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.  Once more, David asked Who the King of glory was and answered the LORD of hosts, the Creator God.  There has always been and always will be only one true God. 

Psalms 23:1

Psalms 23:1 says, After being identified as a psalm of David, verse one says, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  David said that since the LORD was his shepherd that he would not want for anything.  This meant that David had a personal relationship with the LORD, and that He would supply all of David's needs.  If we are followers of Christ, we need to have that same faith.  Verse two adds, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  Since David said the LORD was his shepherd, he used an analogy that would have made a sheep content.  David said that the LORD made him lie down in green pastures, and not in some grand palace, and that He lead him by still waters.  These were what sheep needed for food and drink.  We today should be content when God provides us with what we need in life, and not be disappointed if He doesn't provide us with what we want.  Verse three declares, He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.   David said the LORD, or God, restored his soul.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our soul is restored.  David also said God led him in the paths of righteousness for God's name sake.  When we follow the path of righteousness, it reflects glory on the name of God.  Verse four adds, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  David said that even if he was in the valley of the shadow of death that he would fear no evil around him.  We hear a lot about the evil in the world today, but if we are Christians we should not be afraid of it.  David said that the reason he feared no evil was because God's rod and staff protected him.  This was another Shepherd analogy, and David didn't say it was because of his great abilities or weapons, but because God protected him that he was unafraid in bad situations.  We need to put our faith in God's protection, and not in our own strength or any weapon that we might have.  Verse five states, Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  David said that God prepared a table for him in the presence of his enemies.  David didn't say that God removed him from his enemies, but the He provided for David's needs in their presence.  He also said that God anointed his head with oil and that his cup ran over.  God went above just meeting David's needs when he was in the presence of his enemies, but He blessed David with an abundance of what was expected at a meal.  God's blessings will always meet our needs, but they will also show His abundant love and grace for us.  Verse six concludes. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.  Since David was often under attack, it was God's goodness and mercy that gave him peace and security.   If we feel that we are under attack in the world today, we as followers of Christ should still acknowledge that God's goodness and mercy will be with us all the days of our lives.  David said that he would live in the house of the LORD forever, and as Christians, we know the we have everlasting life with God through our faith in Jesus Christ.  This is one of David's best known psalms, and in it he basically declared himself to be a sheep in God's pasture, and yet we today look down on those that are called sheep. I believe that we sometimes want to think more highly of ourselves than what God calls us to be.

Psalms 22:22

 Psalms 22:22 says, I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.  David said he would declare God's name to his brethren.  We need to do that as well, but even more so we need to proclaim God's word to everyone we meet.  Verse twenty-three adds, Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.  David then called on people who believed in God to praise Him, especially the people of Israel, God's chosen people.  Like them,we need to have an awesome respect for God.  I don't believe we are to be afraid of God as followers of Christ, but we are to recognize His complete power in the universe.  Verse twenty-four continues, For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.  David said that God had not despised nor abhorred the afflicted, nor had He hidden His face from them, and when they cried out to Him, He heard them.  We can never be so bad that God will turn away from us, and if we call out to Him in faith He will always hear us.  Verse twenty-five states, My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.  David said that he would declare his praise of God to the people and that he would keep his vows to Him.  It is not enough to just praise God without keeping our vows to Him.  Verse twenty-six adds, The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.  David said the meek would eat and be satisfied.  I believe that as followers of Christ we are to be meek and humble people and not loud and bragging on our own abilities.  If we humbly put our faith in God, then we can eat and sleep in peace.  Verse twenty-seven declares, All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.  David said that people throughout the world, and not just the people of Israel, would turn to God and worship Him.  God is worshipped throughout the world by people today, but not by all the people of the world.  Verse twenty-eight adds, For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations.  David declared God to be the ruler of all nations.  Even if they don't acknowledge God's sovereignty in this lifetime, when Jesus Christ returns in judgment, every person who ever lived will acknowledge God's sovereignty.  Verse twenty-nine continues, All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.  David said that everyone would one day be held accountable, as I had stated.  We cannot keep our own soul alive, nor can we destroy it.  All we can do is choose our everlasting destination by either accepting or rejecting salvation made available through Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty says, A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.  David said there would always be a remnant that served God and that those who did would be counted as a generation to God.  As followers of Christ, we are part of that remnant.  Verse thirty-one adds, They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.  David said that the coming generations that put their faith in God would declare His righteousness to the world.  This is our responsibility as Christians today.

Psalms 22:11

Psalms 22:11 says, Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. David asked God to be close to Him, because trouble was near him.  We need to always be close to God and ask Him to always be close to us, because trouble is always near and God is the only One we can rely on to always help us.  Verse twelve adds, Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.  David said he had many very strong enemies around him.  If we feel that the evil of the world has surrounded us today, we are not the first people to feel so.  Verse thirteen continues, They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.  David felt that everyone was speaking against him, and it may seem that most people in the world today speak out against Christians, but we need never be afraid, because God is with us.  Verse fourteen states, I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.  David, the mighty warrior that he was, said he felt as weak as water.  Still, it was not his strength that he was to rely on, but God's strength.  When we feel our weakest, that is when we especially need to look to God for strength.  Verse fifteen adds, My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.  David continues to speak about how weak and helpless he felt.  If we feel weak and helpless today, we need to focus on God and not our situation.  Verse sixteen continues, For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.  This is once more a reference to Jesus Christ,  Who had His hands and feet pierced on the cross.  Matthew Henry says the first twenty-one verses are a reference to Christ, but I believe most of the verses refer to how David was feeling at the time as well.  Verse seventeen says, I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.  Again, we know that those that crucified Jesus looked on Him with contempt, so we should not be surprised if they do the same to us today if we are followers of Christ.  Verse eighteen declares, They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.  This is a definite prophesy about what happened to Jesus when He was crucified.  Verse nineteen adds, But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.   Whether this refers to Christ or David himself, it should also be our prayer.  We need God's help to be successful in our Christian walk, whether in times of trouble or times of prosperity.  Verse twenty continues, Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.  Verse twenty-one concludes, Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.  David asked God to deliver his soul from the sword.  We can rest assured that through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord that God has already delivered our soul from all adversity.