Psalms 35:1

Psalms 35:1 says, Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.  David asked God to protect him from his enemies.  God has already defeated our enemies today in an everlasting sense, whether they defeat us in this lifetime or not.  Verse two adds, Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.  David was using military terms to describe how God should protect him, but God does not need any military weapon to defeat those who oppose Him.  His word alone is powerful enough to defeat the most powerful enemy.   Verse three continues, Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.  David continued to use military terms for the way God should defeat his enemies, then proclaimed God to be his salvation.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, and we are forever given victory over our enemies through that faith.  Verse four states, Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.  As David asked of God then, those that oppose the followers of Christ today will be confounded by God.  Until a person accepts salvation through Jesus Christ, God's word and those that follow Christ will always confound him or her.  Verse five adds, Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.  Those who oppose God and His people will never be more powerful than chafe before the wind in the everlasting scheme of things.  We as Christians simply need to always remember this.  Verse six continues, Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.  David asks that the way of the wicked be dark and slippery, and this will always be the case.  David also asked again that the angel of the LORD persecute them.  We may never know when God has sent one of His angels to protect us.  Verse seven declares, For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.  David said without cause his enemies had set traps for his soul.  If people are setting traps for us as followers of Christ today, we need to let it be without cause. Verse eight adds, Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.  David asked that God turn the traps that his enemies had set upon themselves.  Ultimately, when God's judgment day comes, this will happen.  Everything done by those who oppose God and His people will come back to trap them in their own disbelief.  Verse nine continues, And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.  Like David, because God has defeated our enemies forever,  we should rejoice in His salvation.   Salvation is and always will be from God, and if we accept His gift of salvation we should always be rejoicing in the Lord.  Verse ten asks, All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?  David said his bones, the very core of his being, would ask Who besides God could deliver the poor and needy, and no matter our status in the world, we are poor and needy before God, and no one but God can deliver us..  

Psalms 34:11

 Psalms 34:11 says, Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.  David asked the children to listen to him and he would teach them to fear. the LORD.  We, as followers of Christ, should call on our children to listen to us as we teach them to put their faith in and show respect to God.  Verse twelve asks, What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  Though David asked this as a question, I believe it was a rhetorical one.  Nearly all people desire these things.  Verse thirteen states, Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.  David then begins to list some things a person should do in order to have a long life and see good.  First, he said they should not speak evil and guile.  The Bible has a lot to say about controlling the tongue, and we as Christians should learn to control ours.  Verse fourteen adds, Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.  Next, David said people wanting a long and good life should depart from evil, do good, and seek and pursue peace.  As followers of Christ, we need to turn away from evil and actively work toward peace in the world.  Verse fifteen declares, The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.  David said that God is watching over the righteous, those who put their faith in Him, and that He is listening for when they cry out to Him.  We are never righteous by our own merit, but only by puting our faith in God through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse sixteen adds,The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  David then said that God turned His face away from those who did evil and that He would cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  No matter how powerful or rich a person may be today, if the do not put their faith in Christ, one day they will be cut off from Him to be remembered no more.  Verse seventeen says, The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. David tells us that when the righteous cry out that God hears and delivers them.  This will never change, but our righteousness is not from our own goodness but from our relationship with Christ, and when we have that relationship, we are forever secure in God's grace, no matter what happens in this world.  Verse eighteen adds, The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  I believe this means those who are broken hearted and contrite in spirit because they recognize their guilt as they call on God.  God is always near tto those who call on Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, which acknowledges their need for God's forgiveness.  We never have to go hunting for God when we acknowledge our need for His forgiveness, but He is always as close as a prayer.  Verse nineteen declares, Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.  David said that the righteous would suffer many afflictions, but that God would deliver them.  This is far from the name it and claim it because God wants me to be happy concept that many proclaim today.  Verse twenty adds, He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.  David said that God would protect His people, I believe spiritually.  Even if we suffer and die for our faith, God has already given us an everlasting victory and a home in heaven, where there will be no broken bodies.  Verse twenty-one continues, Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.  When God's judgment comes, the evil, those who reject the righteousness of Christ, will be destroyed.  Often in the world today they destroy each other.  Verse twenty-two concludes, The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.  David said that God redeems the soul of His servants and that none who trust in Him shall be desolate.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have everlasting life with God. 

Psalms 34:1

 Psalms 34:1 says, A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.  After a long introduction, verse one says, I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  David said he would praise God at all times, even in his times of adversity, continually speaking his praises for God.  We cannot let our situation determine whether we praise God or not, but must always give Him the praise He is due no matter what.  Verse two adds, My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  David said his soul, his innermost being, would boast to the LORD and that those who humbled themselves before God would hear of it and be glad.  We who humbly stand before God by faith should be glad when others boast about Him.  Verse three states, O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.  David asked those who were glad to hear him praise God to join him in magnifying God together.  We need to be united as followers of Christ in giving our praise to God so that His name can be magnified.  Verse four adds, I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  David said when he sought the LORD that He heard him and delivered him from his fears.  If we have fears in our lives today,  we need to simply seek God and put our faith in Him.  Verse five continues, They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.  David said that those who had humbled themselves before God had their burdens lightened and were not ashamed of their faith in God.  God will lighten our burdens today if we look to Him, and we should never be ashamed of our relationship with Him.  Verse six declares, This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.  David said he was a poor man who cried to God, and that God heard him and saved him from his troubles.  We will always be poor people before God, no matter how rich we may be in the eyes of the world, and in our times of trouble we must call out to God in faith.  Verse seven adds, The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.  David said that God's angels surrounded those who put their faith in God and delivered them in times of trouble.  I don't believe that God's angels will always deliver us from troubles in this world, but I do believe they will be with us to help us remain true to our relationship with God.  Verse eight says, O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.  David asked that people rely on God and see that He is good and that those who trusted in Him would be blessed.  When we rely on God and put our trust in Him no matter what, then we will be blessed.   This does not mean that we will be materially blessed, but we will be spiritually blessed.  Verse nine adds, O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.  David called on the saints, those who put their faith in God, to fear, or have an awesome respect for God, and if they did, they would have no want.  I don't believe that God wants us to fear Him as meaning being afraid of Him, but He does want us to always have an overriding respect for Him.  Verse ten continues, The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.  David said that those who put their faith in their own power would end up lacking and suffering hunger, but that those who trusted in the LORD would not want any good thing, or the things needed in everyday life.  When we put our faith in God, He will provide for all our needs spiritually, which is all that really counts.

Psalms 33:12

Psalms 33:12 says, Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.  David tells us that the nation whose God is the LORD is blessed.   If we as a nation hope to be blessed today, we must put our faith in the only true God, and be His people by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Then, we will be a part of those chosen to be a part of His inheritance.  Verse thirteen adds, The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.  David tells us that God is watching all people from heaven.  Nothing that we do is hidden from God.  Verse fourteen continues, From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.  Again,  David tells us that God doesn't just look on some people, but all people.  Verse fifteen states, He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.  David tells us everyone is created the same, and then God observes our works.  I believe this means whether or not our works are done under God's leadership through our faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen adds, There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.  David said that rulers were not saved by their own strength, and no matter how strong rulers may think they are today, if they are not putting them faith in God and following Him, they will fall.  Verse seventeen continues, An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Horses were considered a source of power during wars in David's time, but God said they were a vain thing to look to for safety.  No matter how powerful we may feel militarily today as a nation, it is a vain thing if we have not put God first.  Verse eighteen declares,  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;  David also tells us that God is watching those that put their faith in Him.  God doesn't just look down on His people occasionally, but He looks down on us continually.  Verse nineteen adds, To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.  David said God looking down on His people to deliver their soul from death and to keep them from famine.   When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our soul is forever delivered from spiritual death, and God will always provide for our needs if we rely on Him through faith.  Verse twenty says, Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.  We, like David, must wait on God and rely on His strength to shield us from evil in this world.  Verse twenty-one adds, For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.  David said that the hearts of God's people would rejoice in Him, because they had trusted in His holy name.  We as Christians should always rejoice in God if put our trust in His holy name.  Verse twenty-two concludes, Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.  David asked that God's mercy be on people according to their hope in Him.  As followers of Christ, God's mercy is always on us, and because of that we should always live by faith.

Psalms 33:1

 Psalms 33:1 says, Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.  As David said then, the righteous need to rejoice in the LORD, because praising Him is comely, or what we should do.  Verse two adds,, Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.  David said that God's people were to praise Him with songs and musical instruments.  Some people today believe that musical instruments have no place in worship, but if we look to what David said, then we should see that this is not the case.  Verse three continues, Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.  David called on people to worship God with a new song and to play skillfully with loud noise.  Sometimes, the new songs that are sung and played in worship may sound like loud noise, hopefully skillfully played, but if it is offered in sincerity to praise God, then we should find nothing wrong with it.  Verse four declares,  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.  David tells us that we should worship God because His word is right and all His works are done in truth.  God will never do anything wrong or that is based on a lie.  Verse five adds, He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.  David said that God loves truth and righteous and that the earth is full of His goodness.  This has not changed.  God still expects His people to be righteous based on His judgment, and even with all its problems, the world is still full of the goodness of God.  Verse six continues, By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.  David said that God brought all of creation into being by the power of His word, so we need never doubt God's power in the world today.  Verse seven concludes, He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.  David continued to speak of God's power over the earth.  God gathered the seas together and separated the land.  Verse eight states, Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.  David called on all the earth to fear and stand in awe of God.  I don't believe that we are to be afraid of God, but we are to have an awesome respect for Him.  We don't need to fear that God is just waiting to destroy us, but instead that He stands ready to forgive us if we will only put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse nine adds, For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.  David tells us that we need to stand in awe of God because He spoke everything in to existence.  God's power has not diminished since He created the heavens and the earth, and we need to acknowledge His power today.   Verse ten says, The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.  As followers of Christ, we have no reason to fear the heathen, those who do not believe in God, because God makes all their devices, or power, to no effect in our spiritual life.  Verse eleven adds, The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.  David said that God's word will endure forever.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, God secures us as His forever.  There is no power that can separate us from God as long as we put our trust in Him.

Psalms 32:1

Psalms 32;1 says, A Psalm of David, Maschil. Again, the identification of this being a psalm of David, then verse one says, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  David said that those whose transgressions were forgiven and whose sins were covered were blessed.  As followers of Christ, this means us.  By the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, our transgressions are forgiven and our sins are coveredby His blood.  Verse two adds, Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.  David said the person whom God does not hold his or her iniquity against is blessed.  The only way for this to happen is through faith in Jesus Christ.  If we put our faith in Him and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, there should be no guile in us.  Verse three states, When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.  David said he had kept silent about the sin around him and his sins and it made him grow old.  If we do not speak out against sin and confess our own sins, we will begin to feel old and defeated.  Verse four adds, For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.  David added that when he refused to speak out against sin that God's hand was heavy on him.  If we refuse to renounce sin today as followers of Christ, then we should not be surprised if we feel God's hand pressing down on us and drying up our joy.  Verse five declares, I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.  David said he confessed his sins to God, and that God forgave him.  If we confess our sins to God through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then God will always forgive our sins.  Verse six adds, For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.  David tells us that because of God's salvation from our sins that we should seek Him while He may be found.  Jesus Christ died for the sins of everyone, but for this to have effect in our life, we must come to Jesus Christ when God calls us.  Verse seven continues, Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. David pronounced God to be his hiding place, or his place of security.  As Christians, as long as we put our faith in Jesus Christ, God will always be our place of security.  Verse eight says, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.  David said he would teach others about God because he knew Who God is from his personal relationship withHim.  We as, followers of Christ today, must teach others about God  and share the gospel wherever we go.  Verse nine adds, Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.  David asked that people not be like a horse or mule who need someone else to force them to obey.  I believe that David was saying that we should not have to be forced to do God's will, but that we should do so willingly.  Verse ten states, Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.  As David said, if not in this lifetime, then at God's judgment day certainly, many sorrows will come to the wicked, but to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ  God's mercy will encompass them.  Verse eleven adds, Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.  David called on the righteous to rejoice in the Lord, and that includes us today as followers of Christ. 

Psalms 31:14

Psalms 31:14 says, But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.  David said he always trusted in the LORD, because He was his God.  There should never be a time when we do not trust in God as Christians.  Verse fifteen adds, My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.  David placed his life in God's hands and asked God to deliver him his enemies.  We need to put our lives in God's hands as followers of Christ and leave it up to Him to deal with our enemies.  Verse sixteen states, Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.  Once more, David asked God to shine His mercy on him for God's sake.  We should recognize that God sheds His mercy on us for His glory and not for ours.  Verse seventeen adds, Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.  David asked that God enable him to not be ashamed of his relationship with God.  Instead, he asked that his enemies be ashamed and silent in the grave.  We need to also ask God to give us the strength and dedication to never be ashamed of our relationship with Him.  The enemies of God will on day realize their shame, and they will have nothing to say to God in their defense.  Verse eighteen says, Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.  David asked that those who lied against the righteous be put to silence.  When God's judgment comes, this will be their status.  Verse nineteen declares, Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!  David stated that God's goodness was great, and we as Christians should always acknowledge this fact.  Verse twenty adds, Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.  David continued to talk about God protecting those who put their faith in Him.  As David said, as followers of Christ, God keeps us safely in His pavilion.  Verse twenty-one states, Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.  David declared that he proclaimed his blessing to God because of God's marvelous kindness.   We should never forget to praise God for all His blessings that He bestows on us daily, even when the world seems to be out to destroy us.  Verse twenty-two adds, For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.  David said in his haste that he thought he was cut off from God, but then he realized that God had always heard him when he called out to Him.  Sometimes, when life seems to be overwhelming, we may in our haste feel that God has forgotten us, but He never will if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three states, O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.  David called on all the saints of God to love the LORD because He preserved the faithful, and this still applies to us today.  As Christians, we are the saints of God.  Verse twenty-four adds, Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.  David then asked those who put their faith in God to be of good courage.  As followers of Christ, we should live courageously for God today, never wavering in our faith.