Psalms 28:1

 Psalms 28:1 says, A Psalm of David. After the introduction, then verse one says, Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.  David asked God to not stop speaking to him so that he would not be like those who went down into the pit.  As Christians, we should not find it strange that God speaks to us, though it probably won't be with an audible voice, but we should be alarmed if He stops speaking to us.  Verse two adds, Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.  David then asked that God hear him when he prayed to Him in humbleness.  We can be certain as followers of Christ that God will always hear our prayers if we come to Him simply seeking His will.  Verse three continues, Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.  David asked that God not send him away with those who worked iniquity, claiming to come in peace with their neighbors but really having mischief in their hearts.  We will not be sent away with the wicked if we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and if we have, we should never mistreat our neighbors.  Verse four states, Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.  David basically asked God to give the workers of iniquity what they deserved.  I really don't believe this should be our attitude, since we are all but sinners saved by grace.  God will take care of punishing those who refuse to accept His salvation plan in His own way and time.  We simply need to reach out to them with the gospel and pray for their salvation.  Verse five adds, Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.  David said that God would destroy those who did not regard Him and would not build them up.  Those who deny God today will one day be destroyed, along with everything that they have gained in this world.  Verse six declares, Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.  David then said that He blessed the LORD because He had heard David's prayers.  When God hears our prayers today, we should give Him the glory, even if His answer to our prayers is no.  Verse seven adds, The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  Like David, we need to acknowledge God as the source of our strength and know that He will shield us from the sins of the world.  For this, like David, we need to rejoice in our heart and sing praises to God.  Verse eight continues, The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.  David said God was the strength of those who put their faith in Him.  As those who have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God is our strength as long as we seek His will in our lives.  Verse nine concludes, Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.  David asked God to provide for His people and to bless them and keep them safe forever.  We as followers of Christ are His forever, and He blesses us beyond measure, no matter what happens in this lifetime. 

Psalms 27:1

Psalms 27:1 says, A Psalm of David. After the introduction as a psalm of David, verse one says, The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  David said that since God was his light, salvation, and strength, he asked whom should he be afraid of.  If we put our faith in  God, like David, we should be afraid of no one.  Verse two adds, When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  David said when his enemies came upon him to destroy him, that God caused them to fall.  Even if our enemies defeat us in this world, God has already caused them to fall in the everlasting perspective.  Verse three continues,  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  David said that no matter how large the force against him might be, that he would still be confident in the LORD.  This should be our belief today as well as followers of Christ.  Verse four states, One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.  David said that the one thing that he had desired and sought after was to dwell in God's house all his days, to behold the beauty of God and to seek God's will there.  We should also want to live in God's presence and seek His will in our lives as Christians.  Verse five adds, For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.  David said that God would hide him in His security in times of trouble.  God will always keep His people securely in His strength in times of trouble.  Verse six declares, And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.  David said that since God had lifted him up above his enemies that he would offer sacrifices in God's temple and sing praises to Him.  David gave God the credit for his success in life, even when at war, and so should we.  Verse seven adds, Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.  David asked God to hear him and have mercy on him.  If we are to be successful life today, we must first ask God to hear us and have mercy on us.  We cannot demand that God hear us, but if we call out to Him sincerely seeking His mercy through faith in Jesus Christ, He always will hear us.  Verse eight says, When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.  David said that when God told him to seek Him, he obeyed.  God tells everyone to seek Him first today, and our relationship to Him depends on whether we do or not.  Verse nine adds, Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.  David asked God, Whom he called the God of his salvation, to not forsake him.  As Christians, who have salvation through Christ, we can be certain that God will never forsake us.  We have everlasting security through our relationship with God when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse ten states, When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.  David said that even if his father and mother forsook him, he would still put his faith in the LORD.   Even if all the world were to forsake us, even our closest relatives, we must still continue to put our faith in God.  Verse eleven adds, Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.  Like David, we need to ask God to lead us in the plain path of righteousness, because we like David have enemies all around us.  Verse twelve continues, Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.  David asked God to keep him safe from the false witnesses that had risen up against him.  We need to ask the same of God today.  Verse thirteen says, I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  David said that if it weren't for his faith in God that he would have fainted.  We must never allow our faith in God to falter.  As followers of Christ, God secures us by His power and goodness.  Verse fourteen adds, Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  Like David, we simply need to wait on the LORD, both in times of trouble and in times of prosperity.  We need to give God the glory no matter what happens in our life. 

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.