Psalms 56:1

 Psalms 56:1 says,To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.  There is once again an introduction of the Psalm, then verse one says, Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.  Verse two adds, Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.  David asked God to be merciful to him because he had many enemies who daily tried to swallow him up, or totally defeat if not destroy him.  If we seem have many people today who seem to be out to destroy us as Christians, we are not the first to feel this way, but God has already been merciful to us by sending Jesus Christ to die in our place.  Verse three continues, What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  Like David, even if it seems that the world is out to get us and we are afraid, we need to just continue to trust in God.  Verse four declares, In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.  David said that he would praise God regardless and put his trust in Him, and that when he did, he would not fear what people might do to him.  This is the kind of faith that we need today as followers of Christ.  Verse five adds, Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.  David said that the thoughts of his enemies were constantly against him.  At times we may feel that the whole world seems to be continually out to get us, but if so, we need to just draw closer to God.  Verse six continues, They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.  David said his enemies hid and waited to find ways to destroy him.  There are those in the world today who attempt to ambush and destroy Christians witness if not their life.  Verse seven asks, Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.  David wanted to know if those out to destroy him would escape by their iniquity.  At times, we may wonder if the sinful people of the world are going to destroy those who believe in Jesus Christ by the evil ways.  David asked God to cast them down in His anger.  We need to acknowledge that God has already cast down those who do not believe in Him, but I don't believe He does so in anger.  Even if people reject Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, He still died for them and loves them.  Still, if they refuse to put their faith in Him, they will be cast down to hell one day.  Verse eight states, Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?  David asked God to note how he had cried because of his situation.  David was not ashamed of crying, and neither should we be.  Sometimes, life may simply seem to overwhelm us, but if so, we must continue to cry out to God in faith.  God already knows the tears that we cry.  Verse nine adds, When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.  David said that he knew that when he put his faith in God that his enemies would be defeated, because God was for him.  We can be certain as Christians that our enemies have already been defeated by God, even if it doesn't seem so at the moment.  Verse ten continues, In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.  Like David, no matter what is going on in our lives or in the world in general, we need to continue to praise God's word.  Verse eleven says, In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.  We need to be like David, and when we put our faith in God through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we should not be afraid of what the world may do to us.  Verse twelve adds, Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. David said that he would live up to his vows to God and praise Him no matter what.  We need to live up to our vows to God today that we will always put our faith in Him and continue to praise Him daily.  Verse thirteen continues, For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?  As David said, since God has delivered our soul from death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, if we put our faith in Him, we should walk in His light.  God will keep us from falling spiritually if we do.

Psalms 55:12

Psalms 55:12 says, For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:  David said it wasn't an enemy that reproached him, but one that he thought was a friend.  Many believe this was written about the rebellion of Absalom.  It is bad enough when our enemies want to destroy us, but it is so much worse when our friends or family do, especially if we are trying to do God's will in our life.  Verse thirteen adds, But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.  David emphasizes that it was one who he considered his equal and his guide who had betrayed him.  David evidently had not treated this person as his subject as king, but as a close friend.  Verse fourteen continues, We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. David said that they took counsel together and even went to God's house together.  We should pray that none of those that we consider to be close Christian friends treat us the same way today, and we certainly should never treat our close Christian friends that way.  Verse fifteen states,  Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. David asked that death would claim this person, or these people if there were more than one, and that they would go to hell.  As followers of Christ, I don't believe this should ever be our attitude.  We are called on to love and share the gospel of Christ with everyone, even our enemies, and should never hope that anyone goes to hell.  Verse sixteen adds, As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.  David said he would call on God and the LORD would save him.  When we call out to God for salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ will save us.  Still, this is but one God.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God.  Verse seventeen adds, Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.  David said that he would pray all day long and that God would hear him.  We can rest assured that whatever time we call on God, He will hear us.  Verse eighteen continues, He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.  As followers of Christ, like David we can be certain that God has delivered us from all our enemies for all time.  Verse nineteen concludes, God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. David said God would punish his enemies, because they did not fear God.  We likewise need to simply allow God to deal with our enemies.  Verse twenty declares, He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.  David said that this person had put forth his hand against David, who was at peace with him, and had broken his covenant with Him.  Unfortunately, Christians sometimes act this way with God.  Though we should be at peace through our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ, sometimes we break that covenant, but still God keeps us secure in our everlasting relationship with Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.  David said though this person spoke with smooth words that their words were really as drawn swords.  There are many people today who speak to us with smooth words, but they are really out to destroy us.  Verse twenty-two states, Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  As David said then,  if we cast our burden on the Lord, He will sustain us and never allow us to be moved away from our relationship with Him.  We are forever secure through our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three adds, But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.  David said he would trust God to deal with treacherous people, and so must we today.  All we can do is to continue to live by faith in God, no matter what is happening in the world.

Psalms 55:1

 Psalms 55:1 says, To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. After the introduction, verse one says, Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.  David asked God to hear his prayers.  Once more, as followers of Christ, we can be certain that God hears and answers our prayers. The answer may not be what we want, if we are praying more for our will than God's, and the answer may not come as quickly as we want it to, but it will come.  Verse two, Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;  David said he was mourning in his complaint and making a noise about it.  We don't have to mourn or complain loudly if God does not immediately answer us with the answer we want.  At times, we might even be complaining that God hasn't answered our prayers when He already has, but we don't like the fact that the answer was no.  Verse three continues, Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.  David said that he was mourning and didn't feel that God was hearing and answering his prayers because of the hatred and oppression of his enemies.  As Christians, we are going to have enemies in the world today, and they may hate or even oppress us, but that should not lead us to conclude that God does not hear and answer our prayers.  Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we have already won the war with the evil of the world, no matter what happens in this lifetime.  Verse four states, My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.  David said that his heart was sore and he was terrified of death.  God tells Christians to not let their hearts be heavy, and we should never live in fear of dying.  Unless Christ returns first, we are all going to die on day.  Verse five adds, Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.  At this time, David, the mighty warrior, said that he was overcome by fear and trembling.  I believe this was because he had lost sight of who God is and who David himself was in the sight of God.  As followers of Christ, we should never lose sight of Who God is and who we are in His sight.  If we start to become terrified by what is going on in the world, or even in our own life, we need to once more simply look to God in faith.  Verse six declares, And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.  David said that if He had wings like a dove that he would fly away and rest.  We may at times wish that we could escape the problems and pressures of the world by simply flying away from them, but instead we are called on to stand firm in our relationship to God.   Verse seven adds, Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.  David said if he could fly away that he would go to the wilderness and remain there.  We might at times want to escape to some place quiet and safe, but we as followers of Christ are told to go into the world and witness to the lost people, who sometimes may hate us.  Verse eight says, I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.  David said he would escape from the storms of life as quickly as possible.  The only time we can really escape the storms of life completely is when God calls us home to glory.  Verse nine adds, Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. David asked God to destroy his enemies.  We are called on to love our enemies instead.  Verse ten continues, Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.  David said his enemies were after him day and night, with mischief and sorrow in their midst.  Those who are not God's people today, who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, are always bringing spiritual sorrow to those around them, even if they are rich and powerful by the world's standards.   Verse eleven concludes, Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.  This could be a description of the world today, but as Christians we should never fear that God is not at work in the world.  God will always hear our prayers, and He has already given us the everlasting victory, so we should never live in fear and despair. 

Psalms 54:1

 Psalms 54:1 says, To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?  David said this psalm was written when people were asking if David hid himself from Saul, who was still king at that time.  Then verse one adds, Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.  David asked God to save him by His name and to judge him by God's strength.  We will all be saved by God based on one name, Jesus Christ, and our acceptance of rejection of Him as our Savior and Lord.  Then, it will be by the strength of God that we are kept as a part of His people forever.  Verse two adds, Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.  David asked God to hear his prayers, and we know that as Christians if we sincerely pray seeking God's will that He will hear our prayers.  Verse three continues, For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.  David said that even strangers who did not obey God's word had risen up against him.  We should not be surprised if people who do not put their faith in God today rise up against Christians.  This is nothing new, but just as God was with David in times of trouble, whether David realized it or not, God is always with the followers of Christ today, since the Holy Spirit lives within us.  Verse four states, Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.  David said that God was his helper and that He was with those who upheld his soul.  God is always our help in times of trouble, and hopefully our fellow Christians will be there to help us as well.  Verse five adds, He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.  David said God would punish his enemies and cut them off by His truth.  One day, God will punish all who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ, and He will cut them off from His truth.  In this life alone can we claim the truth of God and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse six declares, I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.  David said he would freely sacrifice to God and praise His name, because God was good.  God was, is and always will be good, and for this reason we as Christians should always praise His name.  Verse seven adds, For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. David said that God had delivered him out of his trouble, and so has He today for Christians. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, God has already given us an everlasting victory.  We should live in such a way that we show the lost people of the world that we believe this.

Psalms 53:1

Psalms 53:1 says,To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.  After the introduction, verse one says, The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.  David said that the fool said in his heart that there was no God and that he was corrupt, full of iniquity, and did no good.  There are many people today who claim that there is no God, or claim that even if there is that He does not exist as far as they are concerned.  As David said, this makes them fools.  Those who do not believe in God are full of sin and do no good in God's view, no matter how the world may view them.  Verse two declares, God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.  As David said then, even now God is looking down on the world to see if anyone understands and seeks Him.  God is not some far away being Who only occasionally looks down on the earth, but He is an ever present God Who knows what each individual is doing.  Verse three adds, Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  David said that at that time, when God looked down on mankind, that all of them had gone back from God and had become filthy.  When God looks down on mankind today, until people accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord they are all guilty of sin and spiritually filthy in the eyes of God.  Still, then as now, there are some who had been made clean by faith, either in the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, or in Him after He came and lived and died to wash away the sins of all who believe in Him.  Verse four asks, Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.  David said God asked if the workers of iniquity had no knowledge.  When Christians look at all the things that are going on in the world today that are opposed to God's will and teachings in the Bible, we have to ask if most people have lost all knowledge of God.  Then, there are those who profess to believe in God who say that what He says doesn't really matter at all times and in all cases.  Verse five adds, There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.  David said many of those who denied God lived in great fear where there was nothing to fear.  We as followers of Christ should not live in fear, because as God's people He has already assured us of everlasting victory.  We are secure in God's protective hands, so we should live without fear of anything the world can do to us.  Verse six declares, Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.  David said that when salvation came out of Zion that God would bring back His people who had been captive and that they would rejoice and be glad.  Redemption came out of Zion when Jesus Christ came to live and die for the sins of everyone and to be resurrected to give those who put their faith in Him everlasting life.  We are no longer held captive by sin but are restored to a right relationship with God if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  If we have done so, then we should rejoice and be glad, no matter what is going on in the world. 

Psalms 52:1

 Psalms 52:1 says, To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.  There is a long and specific introduction to this psalm, then verse one says, Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.  This was addressed to Doeg, but it applies to any ungodly powerful person.  David asked why the mighty men boasted in their mischief.  He then said that the goodness of God was what endured forever, and not their worldly might ans riches.  This will never change.  Verse two adds, Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.  David said this mighty man spoke words of mischief and deceit, as do many today.  We don't have to look to hard today to find powerful men who speak words of deceit, but we should never be caught up in their lies.  Verse three continues, Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.  David said that people had started to like evil more than good and lying more than righteousness.  There are so many evil things in the world today that too many people who like evil things and even promote them as being the truth believe and promote.  We as Christians need to make sure that we are not the same way.  Verse four states, Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.  David said that Doeg loved all devouring words.  He had rather do a person harm for his own benefit than to treat a person well.  Many people today are so self-centered that they would rather do something that harms others if it benefits themselves than to do them good if it somehow costs them something.  Verse five declares, God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.  David said God would destroy Doeg forever, and we know that those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord will be destroyed forever in hell.  Verse six adds, The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:  David said that the righteous would see what happened to Doeg and fear, or as Matthew Henry stated reverence the justice of God and stand in awe of Him.  We must acknowledge the justice of God while acknowledging His mercy to us.  We are made just by faith in Christ.  Verse seven continues, Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.  David said people would laugh at Doeg because he put his faith in worldly power instead of God.   I don't believe that we are to laugh at people who do this, but we are to acknowledge how foolish they are.  Verse eight says, But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.  David said that he was like a green olive tree in the house of God.  God sustained him and kept him productive.  David also said that he would trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.  As Christians, God renews us daily and keeps us productive for Him if we put our faith in Jesus Christ and live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  For this reason, we should praise God forever and ever.  Verse nine adds, I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.  We like David must praise God because He has given us everlasting salvation if we accept it.  

Psalms 51:10

Psalms 51:10 says, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Like David, we need to ask God to create a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within us.  We cannot do this on our own, but can only be cleansed of sin and be spiritually renewed by faith in God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Verse eleven adds, Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  David asked God to not cast him out of His presence nor remove His holy spirit from him.  As Christians, we never have to be afraid that God will cast us out of His presence, and the Holy Spirit will always indwell us.  Our salvation is sealed by God.  Verse twelve asks, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  David evidently felt that he had lost the joy of his salvation, and so may we if we begin to focus on the things of the world instead of on God.  David also asked that God uphold the free spirit of God in him.  I believe that when David referred to the spirit of God that he was referring more to an attitude than to the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirteen adds, Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.  David said that when he was made right with God, then He could teach transgressors about God and sinners could be converted.  We as followers of Christ have been made right with God, and it is our responsibility to reach out to a lost and sinful world with the gospel.  Verse fourteen declares, Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.  David said when God delivered him from his guilt of sin, then he would sing aloud of God's righteousness, and so should we as sinners saved by grace.  Verse fifteen adds, O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.  As David asked of God then, we need to ask God to open our lips with praise for Him.  As Christians we should praise God no matter what is going on in life.  Verse sixteen states, For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.  David said that God did not desire the rituals of sacrifice.  God instituted the sacrificial system not because this was something He needed, but to show the obedience of His people.  The only sacrifice that God needs from anyone today is the sacrifice of themself to Him.  All our tithes and offerings are just to show our obedience to Him.  Verse seventeen adds, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.  As David said then, the only sacrifice we can give God is our broken and contrite heart as we accept His gift of salvation.  Everything else is already God's.  Verse eighteen says, Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.  David asked God to do His good pleasure to God and for Him to build the walls of Jerusalem.  It is only when we are obedient to God through faith in Jesus Christ that we can expect Him to show His good pleasure to us, and even then that does not mean that He is going to make us materially rich.  Verse nineteen adds, Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.  David said that after the people of Israel were made right with God that then He would accept their offerings and sacrifices.  We can give everything we have to God, but unless we have been made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, what we offer will never be acceptable to God.