Psalms 61:1

Psalms 61:1 says,To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.  After the introduction, verse one says, Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.  Once more, David is asking God to hear his cry and his prayer.  We must continue to call on God to hear our prayer, though we should never doubt that He does.  We even at times may not really know what to say, or be left crying out at our situation, but we know that God understands our cry even when we don't know the words to say.  Verse two adds, From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  David said that even if he were at the end of the earth that he would cry out to God, and he would do the same if his heart was overwhelmed.  Then, David asked God to lead him to the rock that was higher than him.  Even from the end of the world if we are totally overwhelmed by life, there is a Rock that is higher than us.  That Rock is Jesus Christ, and we reach Him by faith.  Verse three continues, For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.  David said that God had been a shelter and strong tower for him in the past.  From the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, God is our protector.  We should be able to look back on our life and recognize this, and should therefore continue to put our faith in God no matter what is happening in our life today.   Verse four concludes, I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.  Like David, we as Christians must trust in the fact that we are His forever.  Our bodies as believers in Christ are the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, and we should trust in Him to keep us safe and guide us to a closer relationship with the Heavenly Father.  Verse five states, For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.  David said that God had heard his vows to God and had made him a part of those who fear God.  We as Christians have made a vow to God to put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and when we do we forever become a part of the family of God.  Verse six adds, Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.  David said that God would prolong his life.  When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we have everlasting life with God.  This does not happen some day, but becomes true as soon as we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse seven continues, He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.  As David said, by God's mercy and truth we are preserved as God's people forever once we accept His salvation made available through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eight concludes, So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.  David said that he would sing praises to God forever and daily perform his vows to God.  We as followers of Christ should sing praises to God forever, and we certainly should perform our vow to Him to be faithful through our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Psalms 60:1

Psalms 60:1 says, To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.  As with many of the psalms, there is a specific introduction telling what the psalm was about, then verse one says, O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. David said God had cast the people of Israel off and scattered them.  This was because of their disobedience.  If we as a nation that is called a Christian nation turn our back on God, we should not be surprised if He allows us to be scattered.  Verse two adds, Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.  David said God had caused the earth to tremble, and asked Him to heal it.  We hear of more and more natural disasters today, and it may be that God is trying to shake the world out of its sin and get them to turn to Him in faith.  Verse three continues, Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.  David said God had shown His people hard things and God may be doing the same thing with Christians today.  He may leave us astonished at some of the things that are going on in the world today because we do not put our faith in God and follow His will. Verse four concludes, Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.  As David said, God has given us a banner of truth to be displayed in the world today, and that truth is that Jesus Christ died for the sins of everyone and that every person who puts their faith in Him will be saved.  Verse five states, That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.  David asked God to save His people and to hear his prayers.   As followers of Christ, God has already saved us forever, and He will always hear our prayers.   Even if we are defeated physically, we have already been given everlasting life as Christians, so we need to simply remain faithful to God.  Verse six adds, God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.  David said that since God had spoken in His holiness that he would obey God.  Anytime God speaks to us, it is out of His holiness and we need to acknowledge and follow His word.  Verse seven declares, Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;  Verse eight continues, Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.  David said that God's people would once again triumph over their enemies because God was with them.  If we are feeling spiritually defeated today, we must turn to God with faith in Him no matter what is happening in our life.  Verse nine asks, Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?  David was asking what other countries could he depend on to help him.  Verse ten adds, Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?  David then asked if it were not God alone that they could depend on to help them defeat their enemies as He had in the past.   If we are feeling spiritually defeated today as followers of Christ, we need to ask Him to help us as He has in the past.  Verse eleven continues, Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.  David stated that only God could help them because faith in mankind was of no value.  We should never look to the people of the world for deliverance in times of trouble, but must look to God alone. Verse twelve concludes, Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.  David said that it was through faith in God that the people of Israel, God's chosen people, would be delivered.   It is through faith in Jesus Christ alone that we will be delivered to everlasting victory today.  

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.