Psalms 88:1

Psalms 88:1 says, A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.  There is a long introduction and dedication, then verse one says, O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:  Heman called God the God of his salvation, and then said he cried day and night before Him.  As followers of Christ, God is the God of our salvation, and we should pray to Him night and day, or continually.  Verse two adds, Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;  As Christians, we need to understand that God always hears our earnest prayers.  He also answers them in the best way possible.  Verse three continues, For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.  The psalmist asked God to hear his prayers because his life was full of trouble and he felt that he was close to dying.  Life may not always seem fair to us today as followers of Christ and it may seem that all we have is trouble in our life, but we need to remember that through our faith in Jesus Christ that God has already given us everlasting victory.  Verse four states, I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:  Heman, a very good and wise man according to Matthew Henry, felt that he was without strength and doomed like those who go down into the pit.  We need never feel that way as Christians.  Because of God's salvation given to us through faith in Christ, we shoulad never be in despair.  Verse five adds, Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.  Heman said he felt he was no better than a dead man, who God would no longer remember, even though he had declared God the God of his salvation.  We, as Christians, should never feel this way, no matter how bead things get in life.  Verse six continues, Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.  Heman said God had placed him in the deepest pit, but it was really his lack of faith that put him there.  As long as we maintain our faith in Christ, we should never feel that God has put us in a place where we are without hope, even if we are suffering in life.  Verse seven says, Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.  Once more, Heman attributes his suffering to God.  God is never going to directly cause our suffering if we are followers of Christ, but He may allow us to suffer for our faith.  We must simply remain faithful to Him without questioning His love and mercy.  Verse eight adds, Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.  Heman said God had shut him away from his acquaintances and made him an abomination to them.  God never removes us from our brothers and sisters in Christ, and if He removes those who aren't from our life, it is for our own good.  Verse nine states, Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.  Heman said he mourned because he had cried out to God daily but believed that God had not heard him.  Even if we feel that God has not heard us because whatever we are praying about has not changed, He always hears the prayers of those who believe in and put their faith in Him.  Verse ten asks, Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.  One day, God will indeed show the wonder of resurrection to everlasting life to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and who have died.  This life is not the end.

Psalms 87:1

Psalms 87:1 says, A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.  We have the dedication, then verse one says, His foundation is in the holy mountains.  Matthew Henry says this applies to the church, which is founded on the rock of Christ.  It has a solid foundation that will never fail.  Verse two adds, The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.  Zion was known as the city of God, and even though the people of Israel worshipped in their homes, God preferred their public worship of Him in His holy temple.  Matthew Henry says this means that even though we should worship at home, God expects to to worship Him publicly even more.  We need to let the world know that we are worshipping God, and this may not be evident if we never worship Him in public.  Verse three continues, Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.  Glorious things were spoken then about the city of God, and glorious things should be spoken about the church today.  As Matthew Henry says, even when the church is at its lowest, we as followers of Christ should still speak about how wonderous it is, because it belongs to God. Verse four states, I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.  Zion was preferred above all other nations, even those known for their power.  Also, this could be interpreted as the fact that the gospel of Christ was going out to all nations, making those who accepted it just as much a part of the people of God as those born as Jews.  God's salvation has always been available to those who put faith in Him.  Verse five adds, And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.  Those who are born in Zion, spiritually, shall be established in His kingdom by God Himself.  Verse six adds, The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.  This is once again a reference to Jesus, Who was born as the way to Zion, the temple of God. We cannot become a part of God's kingdom based on where we were born in this world, but can only become a part of it based on our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse seven concludes,  As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.  The praises of God will be sung by His people, who have the Living Water flowing through them.  We, as God's people today, should never stop singing praises of God to the world. 

Psalms 86:10

Psalms 86:10 says, For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.  As David said, God is great and does wondrous things, and He alone is God.  This always has and always will be true.  Verse eleven adds, Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.  We, like David, need to ask God to teach us His ways, and when He does,then we need to unite our hearts with His laws.  Verse twelve continues, I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.  David said he would praise God, his LORD, with all his heart forevermore.  Before we can praise God, He must be our God through accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and once He is we should praise Him with all our heart forevermore.  Verse thirteen states, For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.  As David said, as Christians, God's mercy is great towards us and He has delivered us from hell.  Of course, God's mercy is great towards everyone, but unless each individual accepts God's salvation, then he or she will not benefit by being delivered from hell.  Verse fourteen adds, O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.  David said men filled with self pride had risen against him and sought his soul, because they had not set God before them.  Ultimately, if we allow those in power in the world to come between us and accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, it is our soul that they will cause to suffer, even if we are successful in this lifetime.  Those who refuse to put their faith in God will always try to lead others away from Him.  Verse fifteen declares, But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.  God always was and always will be a God full of compassion, grace, and longsuffering Who is full of mercy and truth.  Anyone who meets God as a God of justice against sin instead of a God of mercy Who has forgiven their sins does so because of their own choice.  Verse sixteen adds, O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.  When we, like David, call out to God to have mercy on us and give us strength to follow Him, He always will. Verse seventeen continues, Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.  The token, or sign, that we have today of God's grace is the sign of the cross of Jesus, and there is no other sign that we can show people to prove the grace of God, and we must accept this by faith. 

Thanksgiving

 It is Thanksgiving Day once again.  Psalms has a lot to say about giving thanks to God, but Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday established to give thanks to God.  Though not from the Bible specifically, it was created on Biblical principles.  It was also created to acknowledge the goodness of God, though now many people in America too often don't even want God mentioned in the celebration of Thanksgiving Day.  It is also a day to celebrate with our family and friends.  We should value the time that we have together everyday, but this is a special time to celebrate God and family.  It is also a day to reach out to those in need.  It is not turkey day, though a lot of turkey may be eaten.  It should not be a day to spend planning what we can rush into stores to buy tomorrow.  It certainly shouldn't be a day when stores attempt to get people to rush into them today.  We need to reclaim Thanksgiving Day as what it is supposed to be, and that is a day to thank God for His love and mercy, as we gather together with family and friends.  

Psalms 86:1

Psalms 86:1 says, A Prayer of David.  This psalm is identified as a prayer of David, then verse one says, Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.  David asked God to bow down and hear Him.  I believe that though God is above us, He really doesn't have to lower Himself to hear us.  God is both above us and all around us.  We reach up and out to Him by faith in Jesus Christ, because as David said we are poor and needy spiritually.  Verse two adds, Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.  David asked God to preserve his soul, then declared himself to be holy and God's servant who trusted Him.  The only way we can be made holy is by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and once we do, then we need to serve God in all that we do.  Verse three continues, Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.  Though David asked God to be merciful to him, as Christians God has already been merciful to us by giving us salvation.  The sad thing is, God has already done the same for everyone, yet many will never know His mercy because they reject the salvation that He offers them.  Like David, we need to cry to God daily.  Verse four states, Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.  David asked God to cause his soul to rejoice and said he lifted his soul up to God.  When we lift our soul up to God through faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us a reason to rejoice every day.  Verse five adds, For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.  David then gave the reason to rejoice, and that is because of the goodness and mercy of God.  Our rejoicing should not be based on the things of this world, but on the goodness and mercy of God to us.  Verse six continues, Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.  As followers of Christ, even if we may sometimes feel that God isn't listening to us, He always hears our prayers.  Verse seven declares, In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.  David said he knew that God would answer him when he called on God in his time of trouble, and we should have that same assurance today.  If we call on God in faith today, at any time, He will hear us.  Verse eight adds, Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.  There is no false god like God, and the works of false gods can never rival God's work.  Verse nine continues, All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.  This will one day happen, but unfortunately it will be too late for too many people to benefit from the salvation that God makes available through Jesus Christ.  The idea that there may be a God, but not for me, will one day be proven wrong.

Psalms 85:1

Psalms 85:1 says, To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  After the introduction and dedication, verse one says, LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.  The psalmist begins by stating that God had been favorable to His land and had brought Jacob, or God's chosen people, back from captivity.  God will always be favorable to those who put their faith in Him and has brought them out of the captivity of sin through their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse two adds, Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.  Just as was stated then, God has forgiven the sins of those who accept Jesus Christ and has covered their iniquities with His blood.  Verse three continues, Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.  When we accept salvation that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, then God turns His wrath, which He has toward sin, away from us.  Verse four states, Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.  When we turn to God by salvation, His anger toward us does cease.  Still, if we turn away from His will for us, we may feel His chastisement once again.  Verse five asks, Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?  God's anger toward sin and those who refuse to accept His salvation will last throughout the generations.  There will never come a time when sin is okay.  Verse six adds, Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?  We often ask that God revive us again, but revival only comes when individual Christians begin to truly put God first.  God stands ready to revive His people at all times, and this will happen if we as followers of Christ begin to follow Him in all that we do.  Verse seven declares, Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.  God did this once and for all time when He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross as an atonement of all sin for all time.  Many people will go to hell with their sins forgiven since the refuse to accept the salvation that Christ died to give them.  Verse eight adds, I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.  We likewise need to hear what God says to us as followers of Christ, because following Him and listening to His words brings us peace.  Verse nine says, Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.  The salvation of Christ is always just a prayer away.  We don't have to perform great deeds or go on great journeys to find salvation.  We only have to open up when Christ knocks on our heart’s door.  Verse ten adds, Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. God's mercy is found when we accept His truth, and once we do, we should live in righteousness which brings us peace. Verse eleven continues, Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.  Truth can only come from God, and righteousness only comes from putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve states, Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.  If we want true success in the world today, it will only come once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse thirteen adds, Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.  Righteousness does indeed go before God, and therefore should go before His people as well.

Psalms 84:1

Psalms 84:1 says, To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.  Once more we have the introduction, then verse one says, How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  God's tabernacles should always be amiable, since we as followers of Christ are the tabernacles of the Holy Spirit.  Of course, the buildings where we meet as a congregation of believers should also be amiable.  Verse two adds, My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.  Asaph said that his soul longed for the LORD, and his heart and soul cried out for the living God.  We should feel the same way today, and not just at times, but all the time.  Verse three states, Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.  Asaph said that the birds had found a home in God's house.  Of course, even if they were there, they were not there to worship God.  Verse four adds, Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.  Asaph then says that those who dwell in God's house are blessed and praising God.  We are blessed as Christians today and should praise God for it every day, but especially when we are gathered in His name.  Verse five declares, Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  This applies to us today as followers of Christ.  Our strength comes from God as we follow the way He leads us.  Verse six adds, Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  Asaph said those who waited on God in difficult times were blessed by having their needs met, and we still are today as followers of Christ.  Verse seven continues, They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.  If we put our faith in God, we go from our strength to His, and no matter how strong we may be, without God's strength we are powerless.  Verse eight says, O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.  Asaph asked God to hear his prayers, acknowledging Him as the only God, Who was the God of Jacob.  If we expect God to hear our prayers, we mist first acknowledge Who He is, the only God.  Verse nine adds, Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.  Asaph acknowledged God as the shield of Israel and asked Him to look upon His anointed.   God is our shield in the world today if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ, and He always looks upon us.  Verse ten declares, For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  Like Asaph, we should know that one day with God is worth more than a thousand without Him.  It is better to be a doorkeeper in God's house than to live in any place without Him.  Verse eleven adds, For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  God is indeed the source of all good things, and He has not withheld the greatest gift of all, everlasting life with Him, from those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve continues, O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.  The only way for someone to be truly blessed is to put their faith in God.