Psalms 59:8

Psalms 59:8 says, But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.  As David said,  God laughs at those who think they are more powerful than He is.  People may believe that God does not exist or is very limited in power if He does, but God will always find this to be nothing more than something to laugh about.  Verse nine adds, Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.  David said because of God's strength he would wait to face his enemies, because God was his strength.  As followers of Christ, God is the source of our strength and we must always wait on His leadership in all that we do if we are to be spiritually successful in life.  Verse ten states, The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.  David said God would prevent him from being destroyed by his enemies, and so will He spiritually for Christians today.  Verse eleven adds, Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.  David asked God not to slay his enemies, but to scatter them so that the people of Israel would not forget the power of God.  I believe that though we are to pray for our enemies, we are not to pray for their destruction, but we are to pray that they will be brought down from power in the world.  Verse twelve continues, For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.  David asked that God bring his enemies down because they were sinning by what they said and were full of self pride.  Too many people today speak lies about God and are full of self pride, and one day, God will bring them all down.  Until then, it is our responsibility to pray for and witness to them.  Verse thirteen declares, Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. David asked God to destroy those who did not believe in or even defied Him so that the world would know that He ruled to the end of the earth.  We as followers of Christ must always accept the fact that God is in power over all the earth, even as He allows people the free will to choose whether they will accept Him or not.  Verse fourteen adds, And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.  David asked that God allow his enemies to be allowed to continue to live, but that they be like dogs wandering around outside the city.  We should want to see the enemies of God reduced to the point where they have no power, not so we can lord it over them, but so that God will be glorified.  If they fall, it will never be so that we can gloat.  Verse fifteen continues, Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.  David asked that when God defeated his enemies that they be reduced to wandering around searching for food, but never finding enough.  We need to leave the punishment of God's enemies up to God, and be content with the fact that we are a part of His kingdom as followers of Christ, no matter what happens to our enemies and God's enemies in this lifetime.  Verse sixteen states, But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.  Verse seventeen adds, Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.  David said he would sing aloud of God's mercy, because God was his strength and defense.   We need to continually witness to the world about the goodness and power of God.   He is our strength and our defender against all who would destroy us because of our faith in Him.  We are forever secure if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. 

Psalms 59:1

Psalms 59:1 says,To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.  After David's introduction, which says this was written when Saul was trying to destroy David, verse one says, Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.  David asked God to  deliver him from his enemies.   He didn't even ask that God give him the ability to deliver himself, even though David was known as a mighty warrior.  No matter how strong we may be seen as being in the world, we need to realize that as followers of Christ that our victory comes from God, and we need to call on Him always, but especially in times of trouble.  Then, we need to put our life totally in His hands.  Of course, we should always do this, but sometimes in times of trouble we want God to do what we want immediately instead of waiting patiently for His will to be done.  Verse two adds, Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.  David asked God to deliver him from workers of iniquity and those who would shed the blood of others.  We need God to do the same thing for us today, but if He doesn't, we still need to live our lives to bring Him glory.  Verse three continues, For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.  David said that the mighty men were gathered against him wanting his soul, or life.  No matter how powerful people may be, they can only take our life, but never our soul.  As Christians, our soul is secured forever by God.  David also said that it wasn't because he had sinned that they wanted to kill him.  We may ask why bad things happen to good people, as David was saying was happening to him, but we need to realize that it is because of the wickedness of people.  Verse four states, They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.  David said that his enemies ran to prepare themselves to defeat him, and that was not because they had reason to.  He then asked God to awake and behold him.  Even if the whole world seems to be uniting against us, we must acknowledge that God is never asleep or not involved in the world.  Verse five adds, Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors.  Selah. David acknowledged God as the LORD of hosts, the only true God, and the God of Israel in particular, but then he attempted to tell God what to do.  David asked God to not be merciful to wicked transgressors, but as Christians we must acknowledge that Christ died for wicked transgressors, including us.  We are called on not to destroy but to love them with a Godlike love,and witness to them so that they might be saved.  We should never want to see anyone die without accepting salvation, no matter how much they may hate and want to destroy us.  Verse six adds, They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. David said that his enemies went around the city even at night, sounding like a pack of dogs.  Even if it seems that our enemies are out to destroy us day and night, as followers of Christ, we should rest secure in His peace.  Verse seven continues, Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?   David said that his enemies bragged about their power and asked if anyone thought that God heard David's, or anyone's, prayers.  People who do not believe in God and His power often see their victory over Christians as proving that there is no God, or if there is that He is weak and not to be concerned about.  One day, when God's judgment comes, they will realize just how wrong they were.

Psalms 58:1

 Psalms 58:1 says, To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.  After the introduction, verse one says, Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?  This was written before David became king.  David asked if the people of Israel, especially the religious leaders, really spoke righteousness and judged uprightly.  This is a question we as Christians should ask ourselves everyday.  Verse two adds, Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.  David went beyond questioning the actions of the people and said that they had wickedness and violence in their hearts.  God judges us not only by our actions but by our attitude as well.  Verse three declares, The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.  David said that the wicked are that way from the womb and go astray as soon as they are born.   I believe that we are born with the ability to sin, but that we are not really guilty of sin until we are old enough to make a personal choice as to whether we will choose to do what is right or what is wrong.  Verse four adds, Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;  David said that those who chose to do evil were as deadly as serpents.  Those who refuse to acknowledge God and obey His laws are indeed more deadly than serpents, because if they get people to follow them, it is the soul of a person that is condemned unless that person turns to God through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse five continues, Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.  David said that like a deaf adder, these people could not be charmed by the voice of the charmers.  This does not mean that God's word is some sort of charm to lure people in, but is simply used as an illustration of how obstinate the people were.  They would stop up their ears to keep from listening to God's word.  Verse six states, Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.  David asked God to break the teeth of those who would destroy His people.  David referred to the adder and the young lion, but it was the evil people around him that he was really referring to.  God has already broken the power of those who would destroy us spiritually if we continue to put our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seven adds, Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.  David continues to ask God to destroy those who work evil in the world.  Even if it doesn't happen in this lifetime, those who refuse the salvation that God has provided will be sent away into everlasting destruction.  Verse eight continues, As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.  David compared the destruction of the evil to a snail, which Matthew Henry says leaves a little of itself behind in its trail, slowly destroying itself.  David also said that these wicked people would be better off if they did not live beyond the womb.  We know that those who never put their faith in Jesus Christ slowly destroy themselves chasing lies, and they probably would have been better of if they hadn't lived much past their birth.  Verse nine says, Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.  David said that like the pot before it felt the heat of the thorns lit to heat the pot, or quickly in other words, that God would take away the evil.  Even if someone lives a very long life without accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, from a perspective of eternity, they will be sent away quickly to everlasting punishment.  Verse ten declares, The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.  David said that the righteous would rejoice at the destruction of the evil and wash their feet of the blood of the wicked.   I personally don't believe that we as Christians should rejoice at the destruction of wicked, evil people, but should be saddened that they are going to be forever separated from God and His mercy.  Still, as long as we witness to them, their blood is not on our hands or under our feet.  Verse eleven adds, So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.  David said that the people of the world would say that there is a reward for the righteous and that God judges the earth.  This is true, but we must remember that it is our acceptance of the righteousness of Christ that makes this true.   We cannot stand innocent before God based on our own righteousness, because as God said, there is none righteous.  The only person to ever live a totally righteous life was Jesus Christ, and the only way for a person to be made righteous is to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. 

Psalms 57:1

Psalms 57:1 says, To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.  We have the introduction, which tells us that this was written when David was hiding from Saul in a cave, then verse one says, Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. Even though David was hiding from Saul, he asked God to be merciful to him because he still trusted in God to protect him.  No matter how badly things may be going today in our life, we as Christians should continue to put our faith in God keeping us safe forever.  Verse two adds, I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.  David said he would cry to God most high, Who was responsible for all of David's success.   As followers of Christ today, we must acknowledge that God is the One Who gives us all our success in life.  We need to cry out to Him in praise.  Verse three continues, He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.  David said God would send help from heaven to save him, from reproach and from those who would swallow him up, and that God would send forth His mercy and truth.  God sent Jesus from heaven to take away our sin and reproach before God, and Jesus Christ is God's mercy and truth to people.  Verse four states, My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.  David said he lived amongst people who would destroy him.  Sometimes, it may seem that as Christians the whole world is out to destroy us, but we need to simply remain faithful to God and keep sharing His message of salvation with the world, even those who might be out to destroy us.  Verse five adds, Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.  As David said then, even in the midst of all his troubles, we must live so that God will be exalted above everything else.  We should not just call on God to be exalted when things are going well in life, but at all times.  Verse six continues They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.  Once more, David said it seemed that everyone was out to destroy him.  If it seems this way to us today, then we must continue to live by faith, because God has assured us of everlasting victory through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seven declares, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.  David said his heart was fixed on God and that he would give God the glory and praise.  Nothing today should keep us from giving God glory and praise.  This should never be contingent on our worldly situation.  Verse eight adds, Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.  David said that it was time for him to wake up and worship God.  When life seems to be falling in on us, as Christians we need to wake up and give God our praise and worship Him.  Verse nine continues, I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. David said he would praise God to the nations, and so must we today as followers of Christ.  Verse ten states, For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.  David said he would praise God because of the mercy and truth of God.  We should always praise God for His mercy and truth that is shown to us through Jesus Christ.  Verse eleven adds, Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.  David asked that God be exalted above the heavens and that His glory be above all the earth.  This is the case whether we acknowledge it or not.   

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.