February 3
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PSALM 63 THE LOVE THAT IS BETTER THAN LIFE
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up
my hands.5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
– Psalm 63:1-11
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YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN MY LIFE by ILMA
My Lord, I sincerely seek you; my whole being yearns for your company
My entire existence will cease if I cannot worship you and bring you glory
Like the trees and plants that need water for their sustenance
My life will run dry if I do not experience your Holy Presence.
I searched for you in your sanctuary, magnifying your power
Your steadfast love makes my entire existence much better
I will praise you constantly, with much joy and thanksgiving
My soul will only be content if I have your blessings.
When I go to bed at night, I meditate on your word
Without it, I will not know how to navigate this world
You have been my help and my provider and defender
My soul will abide in you, for you give life eternal.
Those who mean harm to me will have to face you, my Lord
You will never allow me to be overcome by this world
For He defends all who faithfully serve the One true Master
They’ll experience the best and the only love that matters.
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REFLECTION
• How is God’s steadfast love better than life as mentioned in this psalm?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 98 SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG!
February 2
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PSALM 98 SING TO THE LORD A NEW SONG!
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has
revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together 9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity. – Psalm 98:1-9
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SHOUT OUT LOUD YOUR PRAISE TO THE LORD by ILMA
Come let us sing to our Lord who have worked his salvation on us
Let your heart ooze with much thanksgiving for his steadfast love
He has chosen you to be his own and given you an image like him
The Lord gave you his own righteousness; be joyful to proclaim it.
Shout out loud with melody, using your voice, lyre and trumpets
Let all the gifts he gave you bring Him praise, honor and glory
Clap with a heart that longs to give him exultation and adoration
Let that jubilation be heard by the whole earth and all the nations.
Let the rivers clap, the hills sing and every part of nature glorify their Maker
For the LORD is full of righteousness and faithful to rescue and deliver
He will judge humanity with uprightness and the peoples with justice
The Lord will bring his mercy and love to all those who seek Him.
Occupy your life with worship, singing to Him who gave you all
Do not go against his commands so you will not sin and fall
Put off all your old self so you can fully give Him all the glory
Be joyful to thank Him; He has provided for you generously.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it essential for all Christians to sing a new song to the Lord and worship him with such jubilation as this royal psalm declares?
PSALM 8 GOD SHARES HIS GLORY WITH MAN
February 1
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PSALM 8 GOD SHARES HIS GLORY WITH MAN
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established
strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! – Psalm 8:1-9
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The psalm opens with worshipping God’s majestic name. The all caps “LORD” is God’s covenant name and the “Lord” refers to the position of God to his people, which means Master. In short, David is declaring that His God is his Master. In verse 2, David shows how God uses young and pure innocent children to silence the enemy. In Matthew 21:16, Jesus received the praise from the children in his triumphal entry and quoted this this same verse to his accusers.
In verses 3-4, David speaks of his amazement on how God (the creator of the entire universe) brings honor to man and shares to him His own glory. In verse 5, he continues to mention how God made man just a little lower than his heavenly being and in verse 6, gave man authority over all things on earth. Spurgeon comments “A little lower in nature, since they are immortal, and but a little, because time is short; and when that is over, saints are no longer lower than the angels.” Boice also comments on this verse as “God’s glory is above the heavens; yet He put this same glory and honor on man as a crown. “This is an effective way of identifying man with God and of saying that he has been made in God’s image, reflecting God’s glory in a way other parts of the creation do not.”
What an amazing God we serve, who made us all in his image, so we could fit perfectly into His plan. What an honor that he gave humans an opportunity to share his glory by making us like Him and lifting us from all his other creation.
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REFLECTION
• How can you make yourself worthy of God honoring man and sharing his glory?
PSALM 57 MY SOUL TAKES REFUGE IN THE LORD
January 31
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PSALM 57 MY SOUL TAKES REFUGE IN THE LORD
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! – Psalm 57:1-10
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This psalm is another individual lament of David. Some commentaries says that the event when David wrote this would probably be the one mentioned in either 1 Samuel 22:1 or possibly 1 Samuel 24:3. Saul was pursuing David and wanted him dead in both circumstances. In 1 Samuel 18:7-11, we hear the account of how Saul began to be jealous of David, especially when the women sang their victories in war but compared David as killing ten-thousands whereas Saul only killed thousands. In verse 11, we see the pursuit of Saul to kill David because God had favored and given David much more victories than him.
In this psalm, instead of exercising vengeance on Saul for wanting him dead, he runs to the Lord Most High to plead for mercy. He had always relied on him. He could easily take down Saul, but he will never touch any anointed king by God, so he runs to his Lord for safety. In verse 2, David was hopeful amidst all these threat on his life; he looks forward to the fulfillment of God’s purpose for his life. In verse 3, he declares God’s promise of protection and deliverance where the Lord will trample on all those who want to crush him. He knows that God’s steadfast love will bring courage in the midst of all the threat to his life. He even was able to thank the Lord for sustaining him.
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REFLECTION
• How can David still be very positive in the midst of danger and threat to his life?
PSALM 110 IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MESSIAH’S COMING
January 30
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PSALM 110 IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MESSIAH’S COMING
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the
order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth 7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head. – Psalm 110:1-7
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According to ESV study notes, this psalm anticipates the coming of the Messiah. The Israelites sang this song to celebrate God’s promises to David, to yearn for the day when the Gentiles receive the light through the Messiah and to pledge to be faithful to their calling until that great day.
The opening of this psalm is an oracle from the LORD to the Davidic king. “Sit at my right hand” means it is a position of honor. “Rule in the midst of your enemies” is a promise of protection for the king to remember that God is with him as he rules his people. In verse 3, it shows the loyalty of the people of God to the anointed king and that he has no need to fear. “From the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours”, I would like to quote Mclaren on this verse: “But the reference of the expression is to the army, not to its leader. ‘Youth’ here is a collective noun, equivalent to ‘young men.’ The host of his soldier-subjects is described as a band of young warriors, whom he leads, in their fresh strength and countless numbers and gleaming beauty like the dew of the morning.”
In verse 4, we hear the promise of God to David that he comes from the order of Melchizedek, a priest forever. In Genesis 14, Melchizedek was not merely a worshipper of the true God. He had the honored title priest of the Most High God. The greatness of God magnified the greatness of Melchizedek’s priesthood. Guzik comments on verse 6 as anticipating the slaughter at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16, 19:11-21). Spurgeon comments on verse 7: “His own head shall be lifted high in victory, and his people, in him, shall be upraised also.”
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REFLECTION
• How does this psalm give us a joyful anticipation of the second coming of the Lord? What do we need to picture in this covenant promise of God to his people?
PSALM 129- GOD’S UNFAILING PROTECTION TO HIS PEOPLE
January 29
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PSALM 129- GOD’S UNFAILING PROTECTION TO HIS PEOPLE
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”— let Israel now say—2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; they made long their furrows.” 4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward! 6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand nor the binder of sheaves his arms,8 nor do those who pass by say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”– Psalm 129:1-8
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This psalm is a song of ascents. It was recited by the pilgrims as they go up the hill of Jerusalem to worship the Lord. The psalmist declares how the enemies have brought so much suffering to them all those years, but they were never crushed. When we are chosen by God, he will never allow us to be defeated by the enemy. Boice comments on this psalm: “One might say that the chief accomplishment of the Jewish people has been survival. “The Jews are the longest-enduring distinct ethnic people on the planet. They have been slandered, hated, persecuted, expelled, pursued, and murdered throughout their long existence, but they have survived intact.”
In verse 3, the writer describes the cruelty of the enemy and how they made it impossible for the Israelites to have an easy life, but verse 4 says how the Lord cuts off the wickedness done to his people. Sometimes, we may not visibly see how God protects us, but this verse reminds us that he is our deliverer.
The next verse is a prayer for God’s protection. It may sound like a curse, but let us hear Spurgeon’s comment “This is a proper wish, and contains within it no trace of personal ill-will. We desire their welfare as men, their downfall as traitors. Let their conspiracies be confounded, their policies be turned back. How can we wish prosperity to those who would destroy that which is dearest to our hearts?” Wouldn’t one who loves righteousness pray anything to revert evil? When God’s people wish for evil not to happen to all believers, we are lining up with God’s will. He hates sin and evil, and so should we.
This psalm resonates my life. I have been marinated in abuse and neglect for as long as I can remember and yet I am still here, standing and declaring my Lord’s victory over all the enemy’s schemes. He is my shield and protection.
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REFLECTION
• Why should we not forget that our survival is God’s protection and not our own?
PSALM 17 PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE AND TO BECOME MORE LIKE GOD
January 28
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PSALM 17 PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE AND TO BECOME MORE LIKE GOD
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.12 He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.13 Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by
your sword,14 from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. – Psalm 17:1-15
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This psalm is an individual lament of David, much like Psalm 7. Both have the same theme in which a person considers himself unjustly accused of wrong. This is a prayer for vindication. It is a prayer of someone very confident of his standing with the Lord and an expose of David’s honest heart. The first line pronounces that David won’t come to the Lord, unless he was pure in his heart. He continues to enumerate how faithful he had been to his master. He had followed his path and have evaded any evil act.
Verses 6-8 shifts to declaring God’s promises and trait. He knew that his Lord will answer him because he had responded to God as He requires of him. He also mentions God’s steadfast love and reminds God of his claim on him, that he was the apple of His eyes. In verses 10-12, David tells the Lord how the enemy was accusing him and attacking like a lion would want to tear his prey. Then David closes in verses 13-15 by reminding God of his promise of deliverance to his people. He ends the psalm with a confident trust and hope that when he awakes, he will become more like his Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why do humans often forget to pray to become more and more like the Lord?
PSALM 147 GOD CARES FOR THE OUTCASTS AND BROKENHEARTED PEOPLE
January 27
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PSALM 147 GOD CARES FOR THE OUTCASTS AND BROKENHEARTED PEOPLE
Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! 8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. – Psalm 147:1-11
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This psalm is an invitation for all of God’s people to worship God. It is only fitting since He has created and provided all things for us. He is the only one worthy and deserving of such adoration. In verse 2, the writer begins to enumerate the things that God has been doing for his people: he rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers the outcasts of Israel. In a sermon titled Good Cheer for Outcasts, Spurgeon considered the many kinds of outcasts that Jesus gathers and blesses today. They may be the very poorest and most despised among men; or those who have done wicked things, or those who judge themselves to be outcasts; they may be backsliders from the church; or those who have fallen into great depression of spirit. They may be those who suffer for righteousness’ sake. Whatever category an outcast may fall into, it is reassuring to know that God hasn’t forgotten them.
In verse 3, he also didn’t forget those who are broken-hearted. Psalm 34:18 repeats this verse because it says there that The Lord is near to them and those who are crushed in spirit. What a compassionate and loving God we serve! He heals them and binds up their wounds. This verse is especially heart-warming for me because I am one of these broken-hearted people. It is amazing that I do not have to fix myself to be deserving of God’s love. He loves me especially when I am broken. That’s why he sent His Son Jesus, to save people like me. There are no other gods who would take the outcasts and the broken people, but the one true God who made heaven and earth.
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REFLECTION
• How does Satan twist God’s love through religion and works of the flesh?
PSALM 30- JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
January 26
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PSALM 30- JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”7 By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. 8 To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:1-12
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ESV study bible notes says that David composed this psalm for the temple’s dedication which took place after David died (1Kings 8:63). The psalm is based on David’s experience and the worshipers can liken their own experiences to his.
In the first three verses, David praises God for not letting his enemies gloat over him, for healing him and restoring him. In verse 4, he invites all saints to worship the Lord in songs and thanksgiving. In verse 5, he focuses on God’s trait: He doesn’t stay angry for long. David gives hope to God’s people in the words “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Isn’t this so true? No matter what we are going through, each new day brings hope because we serve a faithful God. The prophet Jeremiah resounds this same verse when he says in Lamentations 3:22-23 that God’s steadfast love and mercy never ceases. It is new every morning.
In verses 6-7, David praises the Lord by enumerating the things he was blessed with. It was only possible because it was God who gave him such favor and provisions. He continues to plead God to deliver them from the enemies. David strongly stands on God’s promises for deliverance. David ends this song with unending thanksgiving and praise.
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REFLECTION
• Why is this psalm a good song to reflect on when we are discouraged and feeling hopeless? What is the antidote for such depressed feelings?
PSALM 19- THE PERFECT LAW
January 25
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PSALM 19- THE PERFECT LAW
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making
wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and
my redeemer. – Psalm 19:7-14
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In this psalm, David exults the perfect law of the Lord. He enumerates what these instructions bring in our lives:
• It revives the soul
• It brings wisdom even to the simple
• It is right and bring joy in our hearts
• It is pure and enlightens our eyes
• It is true and blameless
What a blessing it is to know that we are going to partake of these benefits when we follow the perfect law of the Lord! Sadly, many of us fail to follow these rules on our own strength. We wonder why we feel empty and dead inside, why we don’t understand them and have no joy in our lives; or why we are unable to see things in God’s perspective and choose the path of truth and righteousness. David treasures God’s laws more than gold and describes it as sweeter than honey.
David ends this psalm with a prayer. In verses 11-12, once again, David declares his dependency on God. Without his God, he won’t be able to be aware to discern his own sins. The ending verses pleads God to deliver him from presumptions and for him not to be dominated by such arrogant thoughts. He ends the psalm with a worship: he asks God to anoint him so that whatever he does or say, will be pleasing only to , who is his rock and Savior.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God made perfect law for imperfect people?