Psalm 145:1-7 “A praise psalm by David. I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious majesty of your honor, on your wondrous works. Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness. They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness.”

Although His greatness is unsearchable, we should still meditate on God’s glory so that we’ll be ready to declare His mighty acts from one generation to another. He is great, and greatly to be praised!

For additional worship: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Psalm 144:9-15 “I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you. You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword. Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep produce thousands and ten thousands in our fields. Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets. Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD.”

How important is God to a person? A family? A community? A nation? A right relationship with God brings blessing and happiness.

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

For additional worship: You Are My All In All

Psalm 144:1-8 “By David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands to war, and my fingers to battle— my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. LORD, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him? Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away. Part your heavens, LORD, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke. Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them. Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.”

David gives us a glimpse of God’s great power. If God can make the clouds split, volcanoes erupt, and lightning strike, then David can trust Him to protect, rescue, and defend! God is a rock, fortress, tower, deliverer, and shield. He provides, even though we are so far beneath Him.

For additional worship: God Will Take Care of You

Psalm 143:7-12 “Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, Yahweh, for your name’s sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble. In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant.”

This Psalm can make faith seem transactional, i.e. “I trust in You so you should reveal Your love to me.” But I think these are best viewed as requests based on faith and need. “Please answer me because my spirit fails.” “Bless me or I’ll go to the grave.” “Please reveal Your love to me because I trust in You.” “You are my protection, so I need You to deliver me.” “I am your servant; please destroy my enemies.” “You are loving, kind, and righteous, so I trust that You will rescue me!” Faith in the grace and love of God is the basis of our prayers for protection and guidance in this evil world.

For additional worship: In the Garden

Psalm 143:1-6 “Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me. Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous. For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands. I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.”

All mankind sins. All mankind continues to sin. Even saints, who know better! It’s something we continue to struggle with throughout life. Even though we’ve escaped the eternal penalty for our sins through Jesus Christ, we aren’t completely free from committing sin until we enter into glory. So, we need to continue to ask God for mercy and forgiveness in everyday life, because we need His help and protection. In the midst of violence and oppression, when our hearts are overwhelmed, we need to dwell on God and seek His face. He is the only one who can help us. He is the only one who can sustain us. He is the only one who can give us hope and peace!

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

For additional worship: Kyrie Eleison

Psalm 142:1-7 “A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry with my voice to the LORD. With my voice, I ask the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my route. On the path in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me. Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul. I cried to you, LORD. I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’ Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.”

This could refer to either 1 Samuel 22 or 1 Samuel 24. David was hiding from Saul in both instances. The prayer is so intense that it literally “pours” out of David. He reminds us that in times of extreme distress, when it seems that no-one else cares, God does. He is our refuge and all that we need (our portion) in life. When He helps us we should join with the righteous in praising His name.

For additional worship: Wonderful Merciful Savior

Psalm 141:5-10 “Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don’t let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds. Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken. ‘As when one ploughs and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.’ For my eyes are on you, LORD, the Lord. I take refuge in you. Don’t leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall together into their own nets while I pass by.”

David’s longing is to be righteous. He doesn’t want to be caught up in the plans of the wicked, because eventually they will be judged.

We’re reminded here that we don’t just need God’s help to live righteous lives, we also need the help of other believers.

Proverbs 27:5-6 “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.”

Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.”

It’s a challenge to speak God’s truth to others. It’s even more of a challenge to speak gently and appropriately.

For additional worship: Under His Wings

Psalm 141:1-4 “A Psalm by David. LORD, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you. Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, LORD, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips. Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.”

We sometimes believe that our Christian walk is up to us. That’s only partly true. One of the best things we can do, rather than try to make it on our own, is to humbly submit ourselves to God, and ask Him for His help to live for Him.

Matthew 6:13 “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

2 Peter 1:3-4 “seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue, by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

For additional worship: Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise

Psalm 140:9-13 “As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise. An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy. Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.”

This is more than just a cry for vengeance. This is a request for God to allow the evildoers own evil to catch up with them. “Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.” “Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” This sometimes happens naturally, but David is asking God to make sure of it, because God cares for the afflicted, and brings justice for the needy!

There is another way that we can heap burning coals on our enemies:

Romans 12:20-21 “Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

For additional worship: When in the Hour of Deepest Need (Paul Eber)

When in the hour of utmost need
we know not where to look for aid,
when days and nights of anxious thought
no help or counsel yet have brought.

Then is our comfort this alone
that we may meet before your throne;
to you, O faithful God, we cry
for rescue from our misery.

For you have promised, Lord, to heed
your children’s cries in time of need
through him whose name alone is great,
our Savior and our advocate.

And so we come, O God, today
and all our woes before you lay;
be with us in our anguish still,
free us at last from ev’ry ill.

So that with all our hearts we may
to you our glad thanksgiving pay,
then walk obedient to your Word
and now and ever praise you, Lord.

Psalm 140:1-8 “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah. I said to the LORD, ‘You are my God.’ Listen to the cry of my petitions, LORD. LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.”

Wicked and violent people don’t just desire to physically hurt God’s people. They lie and slander, and they set traps. Are these metaphorical or physical traps that David is referring to? For us, I think it’s a reminder that people will try to get us to blaspheme and sin against our Lord. “Why hasn’t He come back yet?” “Why are you suffering if God really cares?” “What good does it do to follow God?” Perhaps we should take to heart the example of Jesus in the Lord’s prayer:

Matthew 6:13 “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Doesn’t David’s prayer seem like a longer version of that?!?!?

For additional worship: My Father Watches Over Me