Psalms 37:1

Psalms 37:1 says, A Psalm of David.  After being identified as a psalm of David, verse one says, Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  David told the people of Israel to neither worry about nor be envious of evildoers and workers of iniquity.  We today as followers of Christ need to be that way as well, not worrying about nor envying what those who are not Christians are doing.  Verse two adds, For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  David then tells the people of Israel, and us, as Christians today, why we should not fear or envy the wicked.  One day, when God's judgment comes, they will be cut down like grass, or completely destroyed.  Verse three states, Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  David told the people of Israel to trust in the LORD and they would be fed.  He did not say that they would be materially rich, but that they would be fed, or have their daily needs met.  This will always be true spiritually, even if we were to suffer physically for our faith.  Verse four adds, Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  I don't believe that this means that God will give us everything we want, but that if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, then the desires of our heart will be what God wants for us and what will bring glory to Him.  Verse five declares, Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  David tells us that if we commit our way to following God's will in our lives and follow Him in faith, that He will bring us success.  Verse six adds, And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  David said that when we follow Christ, and become the righteous because of His righteousness, that we should be a light unto the world.  We as Christians are commissioned to share the light of the gospel to the world today,  and if we don't, it will not be shared.  Verse seven continues, Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  David tells us to rest in the LORD and wait patiently on Him and to not fret that the wicked seem to prosper.  God's judgment will come one day, and until then we need to just rest in our relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eight says, Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  David told the people of Israel, and tells us today, that we are to cease from anger and to not allow our worries to lead us into evil.  Verse nine adds, For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.  This is the truth of salvation.  Evil doers, those who do not accept salvation through Christ, will be cut off from God when His judgment comes, but those who wait on the LORD, or put their faith in Jesus Christ, will inherit the earth.  One day, as Christians, we will be going to our heavenly home.  Verse ten states, For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.  David said that the wicked might seem to be successful for a little while, but one day they would be no more.  I believe this means that they will no longer be a part of God's coming kingdom, but will be cut off from Him forever.  Verse eleven adds, But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  David said the meek would inherit the earth and live in an abundance of peace.  We as followers of Christ are called on to be meek in our relationship to others, realizing that it is by God's grace that we are saved and by His power we are sustained. 

Psalms 36:1

 Psalms 36:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.  Once more we have the introduction, then verse one says, The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.  David said those who were wicked said they had no fear of God.  If people truly believe in God, they will fear His wrath if they do not repent of their sins and turn to Him by faith.  If they do repent, they will still have an awesome respect for Him.  Verse two adds, For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.  David said that the wicked flattered themselves in their own eyes, or were unwilling to admit that they were doing anything wrong.  People today do horrible things because they believe that it is their right to do so, no matter what God says about it.  This will never be true.  Verse three continues, The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.  David said these people spoke with iniquity and quit even trying to do what is good.   We find many people around us today who would fit this description.  Verse four continues, He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.  David said that the wicked, those who do not believe in or follow God's teachings, devise evil and do not abhor evil.  We see people throughout the world today who devise evil plans and certainly do not abhor evil.  Verse five declares, Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.  David then looks to God instead of the wicked and evil people around him.  We likewise need to look to God in His glory and faithfulness instead of focusing on the evil of the world.  Verse six adds, Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.  David declared God's righteous to be deep and unmoveable, and that He preserved both men and beasts.  God's righteousness will never change, and He is the only One Who can sustain His universe.   Verse seven continues, How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.  As David stated then, God's lovingkindness is great and if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we will forever be safe in God's care.  Verse eight states,They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.  David said that those who put their faith in God would be satisfied with His blessings.  This does not mean that they will have everything that they want, but that they will desire only what God blesses them with, and this is the way we should be today as Christians.  Verse nine adds, For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.  As David said then, God is the fountain of life and the source of light in the world.   Verse ten declares, O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.  David asked God to continue His lovingkindness to those who knew Him and His righteousness to the upright in heart.  We cannot come to God through our own righteousness, but must come to Him through the righteousness of Christ by accepting Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven adds, Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.  David asked that his pride not come between God and him, and that the hand of the wicked not move him from his faith in God.  Self pride too often comes between people and God today.  Verse twelve concludes, There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.  When God's judgment comes, the workers of iniquity will certainly be cast down into everlasting punishment. 

Psalms 35:19

 Psalms 35:19 says, Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.  David asked that his enemies not be able to wrongly rejoice over him, or to think that they had defeated him in other words.  As long as we are faithful to God, even if the people of the world rejoice if we seem to be defeated, they will be wrongfully rejoicing.  Verse twenty adds, For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.  David said those around him didn't want peace, but devised deceitful plans against those who wanted to live in peace.  Sometimes, those who desire to live in peace are seen as being weak by those who would like to rule over them, but we as Christians are always to do our best to live at peace with those who are lost.  Verse twenty-one continues, Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.  David said his enemies were loudly boasting against him when he seemed to be defeated.  The world likes to brag about Christians who have seemingly been defeated, but we must continue to live by faith because we know the ultimate outcome.  We are forever victorious through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty-two declares, This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.  David said that God had seen what was happening in his life and asked that He not be far from him.  As Christians, we can be certain that God sees what is going on in our lives, and since we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, then He is with us always.  Verse twenty-three adds, Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.  David called for God to wake up to judge his cause, declaring God to be his God and Lord.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, He is forever our God, and we should always allow Him to be the Lord of our life.  Verse twenty-four continues, Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.  Like David, we must ask that God judge us according to His righteousness, since we cannot stand before God based on our own righteousness.  When we stand by the righteousness of God through our faith in Jesus Christ, those who are against God will never rejoice over us in the day of God's judgment.  Verse twenty-five states, Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.  David asked that God would keep his enemies from rejoicing over him, believing him to have been defeated.  Though people of the world may rejoice thinking that they have defeated the followers of Christ today, it will be a false rejoicing.  Verse twenty-six adds, Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.  David asked that those who rejoiced over him thinking that they had defeated him be left in confusion and shame.  When God's ultimate judgment comes, all those who scoffed at Christians will be clothed in shame, and we need to just continue to live by faith until then.  Verse twenty-seven says, Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.  David asked that those who favored his righteous cause to shout for joy and continually ask that God be magnified.   If we are followers of Christ, we should rejoice in the Lord and live our lives in such a way that God will be magnified, and not we ourselves.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.  David said he would speak of God's righteous and praise Him all the day long, and so should we as Christians. 

Psalms 35:11

 Psalms 35:11says, False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.  David said false witnesses claimed he had done things that he had not done.  If we as Christians are charged with something today, we need to live in obedience to God, so that the only charges that can be brought against us is because of false witnesses.  Verse twelve adds, They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.  David when he did good that he was rewarded with evil.  We may at times feel that no good deed goes unpunished, but we still need to continue to do them.  Verse thirteen declares, But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my that soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.  David said that when people around him were sick that he humbled his soul with fasting while wearing sackcloth and ashes.  We need to have that same willingness to humble ourselves in prayer for others, even our enemies.  Verse fourteen adds, I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.  David said he prayed for others, who may have been his enemies, the same way he prayed for his family.   We need to have this same attitude about those around us today.   We are not to just pray for our family and friends, but for all those in need, especially the lost.  Verse fifteen states, But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:  David said while he prayed for his enemies, they did not do the same for him.  He said his enemies gathered together to try and destroy him.  There are many people in the world today who do their best to destroy Christians, even if we are doing good things for them, but we are not to be like them, but are to reach our to them with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and are to be in prayer that they will accept His gift of salvation.  Verse sixteen adds,With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.  I believe that David was saying that some of those who were supposed to be a part of God's people were lashing out against him, calling them hypocrites.  We as Christians should never lash out against other Christians, even if they are being hypocritical.  We instead should continue to pray for them with a Christ like love.  Verse seventeen asks, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.  David asked God how long He would just look down on him without rescuing him.  We need to just patiently wait on the Lord, because if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are His forever.  Verse eighteen concludes, I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.  David said he would give thanks to God before the great congregation.  We much likewise always give thanks to God for His great blessing of salvation. 

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.