Psalms Readings – Week 5
January 31 – Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
The ancient church identified this psalm as one of seven penitential psalms. The other psalms of confession are from the perspective of waiting on God’s forgiveness. This psalm is unique in that it focuses on the release that David felt after he finally confessed his sins.
David began by celebrating the joyful state enjoyed by all who have been forgiven. The Lord graciously covers the sin so that He no longer counts it or remembers it anymore.
However, before David confessed, he felt the horrible weight of guilt that affected his whole well-being. When we are not well spiritually, we will not be well in other ways.
You may know this uncomfortable feeling if you have ever been in an ongoing sin where you did not confess or turn away from it. Maybe, you felt the guilt but could not break out of the sin. Guilt is actually God’s gift that lets us know when we are not right with Him. It is meant to be a strong motivator to cause us to confess and change our ways so that we can live in the freedom God has always intended for us to enjoy.
When we sincerely, wholeheartedly acknowledge our sin to God, the weight is lifted. The guilt is gone. Peace enters in. The relationship is restored. We are among the blessed.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
Is there a sin that you have not confessed or turned away from? What will it take for you to do so?
February 1 – Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
This is a marvelous song of praise for all who truly belong to the Lord. This psalm reminds us to sing new songs, to do so with skill, and to use a variety of instruments.
The psalmist, who is unnamed but many believe to be David, gives us several reasons for our praise.
The word of God is accurate and dependable. God is faithful in everything. God’s nature is one of right living, justice, and unfailing love.
The power of God’s word is celebrated as it spoke creation into being. God is so immense that the vast oceans are only like small jars of water in His hands. His greatness should be feared and revered in all the earth because there is only one God, Creator and Lord over all.
The Lord is mightier than any nation. Nations proudly announce their strength and plans, but they are worthless if they are not aligned with God’s holy will. However, nations will be blessed if they line up with God’s desires and plans for all of humanity.
God keeps his eyes upon those who worship Him most sincerely and stand in reverent awe of who He is and what awesome things He can do. As we do so, we will hope, rejoice, and trust in the Lord because we are confident of His unfailing love for us. This is reason to give praise to the Lord!
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
Among the many qualities and actions listed of God’s nature, which ones speak praise to the Lord for you today?
February 2 – Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
This is the fifth of fourteen psalms with a historical title linked to David’s life. It speaks of the time in David’s life when he fled from Saul to the city of Gath. While there, David pretended to be insane because he feared the Philistines who discovered who he was. The story becomes humorous when David acted like a madman marking up the gates’ doors and letting saliva run down his beard. The king said, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me?” (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
However, this psalm portrays anything but a madman’s words. David praises God for deliverance from his troubles in verses 1-7 and then instructs the people to learn the proper fear of the Lord in verses 8-14. In the verses that follow, he affirms that the Lord is a tender, watchful caretaker of those who seek refuge in him. Because of the instruction that David offers, it is understood to be a wisdom psalm.
Here are a few of the great lines in the psalm: “His praise will always be on my lips… Those who look to Him are radiant… He delivered me from all my fears… The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him… Taste and see that the Lord is good… Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous… His ears are attentive to their cry… The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Are there others you would add to the list?
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
What promise or principle do you need to claim and pray from this psalm today?
February 3 – Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.”
4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.
19 Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. 21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God; do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.
David has two different pleas for two huge concerns. First, he asks God to fight against his enemies who fight against him. Secondly, he feels betrayed by those he considered friends. When they were afflicted, David mourned and prayed for them, but now in his own adversity, David has found they are unreliable friends who falsely accuse, slander, and express their anger against him. David needed encouragement and prayer support, but they kicked him while he was down. In David’s dark agonizing place of lament and asking for God’s vengeance to come upon his foes, he is able to express faith that God will answer. When He does, David will praise the Lord and delight in His salvation. May we have such faith to offer praise today for God’s coming answers.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
With any affliction you are experiencing, can you praise God today for his future answers? For those who are going through a challenging time, how will you be a friend for them today?
February 4 – Psalm 36
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.
1 I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen— thrown down, not able to rise!
I like the description of David as the servant of the Lord. It reminds me of how Paul often described himself in his writings. If we can see ourselves in this light, it will give us the proper attitude by which we will flourish in life. We choose to strip away all titles and accomplishments, except for one: SOTL, servant of the Lord. As such a servant, we have one master whom we trust and obey because He is unlike any other master who has ever lived.
God’s love and faithfulness soar to the heavens above. His righteousness stands above the grandest mountains. His justice is the foundation that reaches into the deepest depths. He offers His generous provision to both animals and people. His unfailing love has infinite value that cannot be priced.
Because all of these qualities are true about God, we can hide ourselves in the shadow of God’s wings just as a hen gathers her chicks to protect them. We can eat and drink from God’s delightful abundance. He is the fountain of life, and it is there we see God’s eternal light shining brightly.
David asks that God would continue his love and faithfulness to those who know the Lord and have pure hearts. May God answer that prayer in each of our lives!
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
What’s your most prized title? What accomplishments fill you with pride? Will you claim this title: SOTL? What difference will that attitude make in your life today?
February 5 – Psalm 37
Of David.
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care, and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;
33 but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial. 34 Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree, 36 but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
We have a choice of whether we fret about evil or trust and take delight in the Lord where we do good, commit our way to Him, and be still and wait on Him for His answers. This psalm beautifully contrasts the way of the godly from the ungodly and gives overwhelming evidence of what God promises to do for the one who is blameless before Him.
I encourage you to take a moment and go through this psalm slowly, writing down what the ungodly do in contrast to what the godly do. Then go back through and write down the promises of what the godly will receive versus the fate of the ungodly.
Turn your fret into a peace-filled joy as you take hold of these promises that are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus and the promise of eternity that we are given through faith in Him.
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
What did you find when you made the two contrasting lists of the godly and ungodly? Is there anything you are fretting about today? How does this message help you to fret less and trust more?
February 6 – Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie. 13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; 14 I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.” 17 For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies without cause; those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21 Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.
In this penitential psalm, David sounds similar to Job in the pain to which he has plummeted. There is one major difference. Job maintained he had not sinned to cause his misery. David admits he has sinned, and the guilt is overwhelming. He admits he has caused his sickened body and soul.
Like Job, even those closest to him stay away from him. He is miserable company! Yet, true friends should be willing to draw near even when others are at their worst. It is easy to be a good friend in good times, but it is in the dark and difficult experiences of life where true friendship is tested.
It gets worse. Others have found this to be an opportunity to kill him. Those who hate him without reason have multiplied. He finds no comfort or encouragement from anyone. He is all alone.
Yet, he knows the same God who burdens us with guilt when we sin can, also, free us. David confesses his sin. He seeks to do good. He asks God to be near and not forsake him. He calls on God, who he names as “my” Lord and Savior, to come quickly to his aid.
If we have failed and fallen into sin and are overwhelmed by guilt, David shows us what to do. Even though no one else may be there for us, God is. He still speaks “my” Lord. He trusts God will forgive him. He believes God will deliver him out of the darkness he created. There is always hope with God!
Memory Verse:
Psalm 32:1, Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Question(s) to Consider:
Is this you today? Has it been you? What will you do? What did you do? How did God deliver you?