Psalms 48:1

 Psalms 48:1 says, A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.  After the introduction, verse one says, Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.  As David said, great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in His city.  David may have written this about Jerusalem, but wherever we are gathered today as Christians should be God's place.  Verse two adds, Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.  David said that God's people were a joy to the whole earth, and we should be today.  If it were not for Christians, think of how bad the world would be, and because of this, we should live in such a way that we bring joy to all those around us.  Verse three continues, God is known in her palaces for a refuge.  David said that God was known as a place of refuge to the people of Israel, and especially in Jerusalem.  As followers of Christ, God should always be our place of refuge.  We should put our faith in Christ alone.  Verse four states, For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.  David said that those other countries around Israel feared them, not because of their great power, but because of the great power of their God.  I believe that too often the world today just ignores God and His people, Christians, because too often we don't live in such a way as to show the true power of God to the world.  Verse five adds, They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.  David said that when the other nations saw the power of God at work in Israel that they marvelled, were troubled, and ran away.  When we live in obedience to God, the world should know that there is something about us that can never be defeated.  Verse six continues, Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.  David said that those around Israel were filled with fear and pain.  This was not because of the great military might of Israel, but because of the great might of their God.  Though as Christians we might not have much earthly power, we do have the power of God with us, and the people of the world should see this in our lives.   Verse seven concludes, Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.  David said that with just the wind that God defeated the ships of Tarshish.  No matter how powerful the weapons of the world are today, God can defeat them with just His word.  Verse eight declares, As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.  David said as the people of Israel had heard of the power of God in the past that they had also seen it in their lives and that God would establish His city forever.  We cannot not just look at the works of God in the past, but must experience His work in the world and especially in our lives today as followers of Christ, knowing that He will establish His city forever one day.  Verse nine adds, We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.  We like David, must acknowledge the lovingkindness of God, no matter what is going on in the world.  Verse ten says, According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.  David said because of God's name and His righteousness that He should be praised to the end of the earth, and one day He will be.  Verse eleven adds, Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.  David called on the people of Israel to be glad because of God's judgments.  If we are living by faith in Jesus Christ today, we should be thankful for His judgments and rejoice in them.  Verse twelve states, Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.  David said that the people of God should go around Zion proclaiming His goodness.  Verse thirteen adds, Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.  David said that the people of Israel should remember God's great work and tell it to the generations following.  This is also our responsibility today, to teach the next generations about God and His goodness.  We must first and foremost share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse fourteen declares, For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.  We like David must acknowledge that God is our God forever and ever and that He will be our guide for as long as we live.

Psalms 47:1

 Psalms 47:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  There is the introduction, then verse one says, O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. David called on the people of Israel to shout praises to God while clapping their hands.  We today need to joyously worship God, no matter how much or how little we are demonstrative, and we should never judge others for how much or how little they are.  Verse two adds, For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.  Matthew Henry says this means that God is the God of infinite majesty.  I don't believe it means that He is a terror to be feared, unless someone continues to reject His salvation until it is to late.  Verse three states, He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.  David said God would subdue the other nations under Israel.  We know that they did when the people of Israel were obedient to Him, and as long as we as followers of Christ continue to be faithful to God, one day all our enemies will be defeated.  Verse four adds, He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.  As David said,  God will choose our inheritance for us.  There is never a need to feel that someone is getting more than they deserve from God.  God is the One Who chooses our inheritance.  Verse five declares, God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.  Jesus Christ went up to heaven, and one day He is going to return to the sound of the trumpet.  Verse six adds, Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.  David called on the people of Israel to sing praises to God, not just when things are going well, but at all times.  Too often, we wait until something good happens in our life before we sing praises to God.  Instead, we should always sing His praises, maybe even more in bad times than in good.  Verse seven continues, For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.  David called on the people of Israel to sing praises to God with the understanding that He is the King of the universe.  If we truly understand Who God is, there should never be a time when we don't praise Him.  Verse eight says, God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.  David said that even though they may not acknowledge it, God still reigns over the heathen.  Just because someone claims that there is no God doesn't change the fact that there is and that they will on day realize this fact.  Verse nine adds, The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.  David said that God's people were gathered together, because the earth belongs to Him, and therefore He should be greatly exalted.  As Christians, we should always greatly exalt the goodness of God.  He loves us enough that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, and if we accept His salvation, then we should always greatly exalt Him. 

Psalms 46:1

 Psalms 46:1 says, To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.  After the introduction, verse one says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  David said that God was the refuge and strength of the people of Israel and a very present help in time of trouble.  God is still the refuge and strength of His people today.  He is an ever present help in our times of trouble if we are followers of Christ, and not some distant and sometime God.  Verse two adds, Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Like David, as Christians we should not fear, even if the world were to blow up around us.  This world is not our home, but heaven is.  Verse three continues, Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  David just continued with the thought that no matter how bad things got in the world that the faithful people of Israel would continue to put their faith in God.  We cannot allow bad things that happen in the world to shake our faith in God.  Verse four states, There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  David said there was a river flowing that would make the people of the city of God glad and that it came from the tabernacle of the most High, the only true God.  As Christians, Jesus is the source of living water that flows for those who put their faith in Him.  Verse five adds, God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  David said that God was in the midst of this flowing river and that He would not be moved.  God is the source of the living water today and He will never be moved by the forces of evil.  Verse six declares,  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.  As in David's day, the heathen may rage today, but God's voice can still melt the earth.  God does not need man-made weapons, but can destroy all of creation with just His word, but fortunately for us, He made a way to salvation by faith in the Living Word, Jesus Christ.  Verse seven adds, The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.  David declared that the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob, was the refuge of the people of Israel.  God is still the same God, and He is the source of refuge for Christians.  We need to live like we trust this to be true.  Verse eight says, Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.  As David said then, we need to acknowledge the works of God.  He can make the whole world desolate if He so chooses, and one day when Christ returns in judgment He will.  Verse nine adds, He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.  When Christ returns, He will claim those who have put their faith in Him, and all the weapons of war will be destroyed.  There will be no need for them.  Verse ten declares, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. God calls on us to be still and know that He is God and will one day be exalted among the heathen.  We need to be careful as followers of Christ that we don't get so caught up in the things of this world that we do not hear God speaking to us.  Sometimes, we need to just be still and know that God is God, and at the time He chooses, He will be exalted among the heathen.  One day, everyone is going to acknowledge God, but for too many it will be too late for it to do them any good.  Verse eleven adds, The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.  As Christians, as David said then, the LORD of hosts is with those who put their faith in Christ and He should be our refuge at all times. 

Psalms 45:8

 Psalms 45:8 says, All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.  Matthew Henry says this refers to David being exalted by men because he had humbled himself before God.  David had been anointed king because he was humble, and it was often when he began to feel self important that he would find himself in trouble.  We as followers of Christ need to remain humble before God and never begin to feel free to do whatever we want to do for our own glorification.  Verse nine adds, Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.  Honorable women attended David's court, and his queen was at his right hand.  As stated earlier, Matthew Henry says these verses refer to Christ and His court, and the may be a prophesy of His coming and return, but if they all refer to Christ and not David, then there would be a queen of heaven, and I do not find any scripture to support this idea.  Of course, as Matthew Henry states it could be referring to the church as the bride of Christ, but that still does not make the church the queen of heaven.  Verse ten declares, Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house;  I believe this was addressed to the women of Israel, but also could refer to the church as it is referred to as the bride of Christ.  Either way, the woman, or daughter, is called on to forget her own people and remain true to her husband.  As Christians, we cannot allow family to come between God and us.  Verse eleven adds, So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.  Again, this could refer to the church being desired by Christ because of the beauty of their obedience to Him.  Verse twelve  continues, And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.  Matthew Henry says this refers to everyone honoring the bride, but the church is there to honor God and not to be honored by mankind, so my problem with this would be people of the world bringing gifts to honor Christians.  Verse thirteen states, The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.  Now, with this referring to the church as the king’s daughter, we know that the people of the church will be glorious within.  Verse fourteen adds, She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.  Still, if this does refer strictly to the church, who are the virgins that accompany the church as the bride of Christ.  The church, all of it, is called the bride of Christ, so to me, it seems there would be no others there to serve the bride.  Verse fifteen says, With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.  We do know that one day the church will be brought before God with gladness and rejoicing, and then the people of the church will enter God's palace, or their heavenly home.  Verse sixteen adds, Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the Old Testament as the fathers and the New Testament as the children who replaced the them.  Verse seventeen continues, I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.  We know that Jesus Christ will be remembered in all generations and people will praise Him forever and ever, but will the church, the bride of Christ, be?  We do not serve God as followers of Christ so that we will be praised, but so that He will.  

Psalms 45:1

Psalms 45:1 says, To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.  After a very specific introduction, verse one says, My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. David said he would speak and write of the things he knew in his heart about God.  Whatever we as followers of Christ say today should be guided by our relationship with God. Verse two adds, Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.  Matthew Henry said, and I believe, that David was speaking of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is indeed fairer than all men, pouring out the grace of God forever.  Verse three continues, Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.  David spoke in military terms about the coming Messiah equipping Himself for battle with a sword, but we are told that the word of God is mightier than a two edged sword.  Jesus did not need military weapons to win the war against sin, but only obedience to the heavenly Father, and this is still true for Christians today.  Verse four states, And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.  David said that Jesus Christ would ride prosperously and teach the people of the world terrible things.  God tells us of the terrible things that will happen to those who do not come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, and He promises those who do everlasting prosperity when they are called home to heaven.  Verse five adds, Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.  Still using military imagery, David said God's arrows were sharp and penatrated the heart of His enemies.  Though God does not need military weapons, He will one day defeat all of His enemies.  As Christians, we will be a part of this victory, because God's truth of salvation penatrated our heart.  Verse six declares, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.  David declared that God's throne would last forever.  God always has and always will sit on His throne, ruling the world through His righteousness.  It is up to each individual whether or not to accept God's gift of salvation, which brings righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Either way, whether we accept Jesus Christ or not, God's reign will last forever.  Verse seven continues, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.  David said that since God loves righteousness and hates wickedness, that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be set above all other people.  We cannot come to God by our own righteousness, but must come to Him through the righteousness of Jesus Christ if we are to be a part of God's everlasting kingdom. 

Psalms 44:17

 Psalms 44:17 says, All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.  David said even though the people of Israel were suffering, that they had not dealt falsely with God and His covenant.  This must be our declaration as followers of Christ today, no matter what is happening in our life.  Still, this was not true for all Israelites, nor is it true of all who profess to be followers of Christ today.  Verse eighteen adds, Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;  David said that they remained true in their walk with God, and so must we as Christians.  Verse nineteen states, Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. David once more says that God had broken them.  God is never going to break His people, though He may allow them to be broken, or defeated, by those who do not believe in Him.  Even if this happens, we need to continue to live by faith and to praise God.  Verse twenty declares, If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;  David then said if they had forgotten God's name and reached out to a strange God.  We must make sure that we never do this as Christians.  Verse twenty-one adds, Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.  David asked if they had done this would God not search out this fact, as He knew the secrets of their hearts.  We can be certain that if we have turned away from following God's will in our lives, even if it is only in our thoughts, that God is aware of it.  Verse twenty-two states, Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.  David said that the people of Israel were being killed like sheep before the slaughter for God's sake.  Even if we as Christians are killed today, we must die for the glory of God.  Verse twenty-three declares, Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.  David felt that God must be asleep and asked Him to arise and not cast them off forever.  As followers of Christ, no matter how bad things may be going in our lives today, God is never asleep but is always with us.  God will never cast off or desert those who are His.  Verse twenty-four adds, Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?  David said he thought God was hiding His face from the people of Israel and forgetting them in their oppression.  We may sometimes hear Christians say that it seems like God has forgotten them, but He never will.  Verses twenty-five continues, For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.  David said that they were very oppressed.  If we feel oppressed today as Christians, we need to simply look to God in praise.  Our status in life should never determine whether we believe that God is with us or not.  Verse twenty-six concludes, Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.  David asked God to rise up and redeem them for God's sake.  We must always look to God to redeem us from bad situations in life, and if He does we must give Him the glory. 

Psalms 44:9

Psalms 44:9 says, But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.  David said God was no longer with them, that He had cast them off and no longer went with them against their enemies.  In reality, the people of Israel had cast God off.  As followers of Christ, God will never desert us, and if we feel He is no longer with us, we need to examine our own life to see if we have fallen away from Him.  Verse ten adds,Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.  David said God caused them to fall back to their enemies, but it was their lack of faith in and disobedience to God that led to their defeat.  God did not just abandon them for no reason, nor will He ever abandon us for no reason.  Verse eleven continues, Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.  David said God had left them at the mercy of the heathen.  At least David acknowledged God as the source of their success, but he did not put the blame for their defeat on their lack of faithfulness.  We must acknowledge God as the source of our strength as Christians, but we must never blame Him if we are overcome by the wicked of the world.  As long as we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God has already given us an everlasting victory.  Verse twelve states, Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.  David seems to imply that God gave His people up for nothing and somehow made Himself more wealthy by doing so.  Since everything already belongs to God, this is a foolish idea.  God will never have to abandon His people for His own benefit, nor will He do so.  Verse thirteen adds, Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.  Though the people of Israel may have become a reproach and a source of derision to those around them, it was their own sins that had caused this.  They had turned away from God.  If we feel that we have become a source of scorn to the people around us today as Christians, we need to examine our relationship with God.  We know that God will never abandon us, so we must simply remain faithful to Him, no matter what.  Verse fourteen says, Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.  David was still seems to be putting the blame for the failure of Israel on God, instead of on their disobedience to God.  If life is going badly for us today as followers of Christ, we cannot begin to question or blame God.  We need to continue to praise God for our salvation, and continue to put our faith in Him.  We also need to examine our life and see if we have allowed sin back in.  Verse fifteen adds, My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,  David said he was continually confused and shame had covered his face.  We do not need to be confused about God's love and protection of Christians today, no matter what is happening in the world.  As long as we remain faithful to God,  there will never be a reason for us to feel like we are covered with shame.  Verse sixteen continues, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.  David said that his confusion came because his enemies seemed to be victorious, even though they spoke blasphemy against God.  Even if those who deny God or attempt too attribute His work to something else may seem to be flourishing today and Christians beaten down, we know that through faith in Christ that we have already won the victory, so we need to keep praising God no matter what.