Psalm 8:1-9 “For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

God is to be praised! When we consider not only creation, but the dominion that mankind has over it, we rejoice in God’s majesty. Even babies praise His name and put His enemies to shame! He is both sovereign (Lord = Adonai), and personal (LORD = YHWH, Israel’s covenant name for God). He is to be feared and loved. We recognize God as Creator and Savior through Jesus Christ!

Colossians 1:15-20 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.”

This passage also points to Jesus in a special way. The author of Hebrews sees the son of man not just as mankind, but as pointing to the special Son of Man who is the coming Messiah!

Hebrews 2:5-9 “For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels. But one has somewhere testified, saying, ‘What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him. But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.”

For additional worship: How Majestic is Thy Name (Keith Green)

Psalm 7:12-17 “If a man doesn’t repent, he will sharpen his sword; he has bent and strung his bow. He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death. He makes ready his flaming arrows. Behold, he travails with iniquity. Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought out falsehood. He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made. The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head. I will give thanks to the LORD according to his righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”

David warns the evildoers who are after him: if you don’t repent of your sins, God is preparing for war, and He is coming for you! If you continue to lie and deceive, you’ll fall into the pit you’ve dug for me. Your own violence is going to rebound against you. Turn back before it’s too late!

God protects us as well. When we know Jesus, we are His for eternity!

John 6:40 “This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

But there is another way that David’s warning should ring in our heads. When we rebel against God, we set ourselves up for failure. When we discover our own sin, we need to repent. Repentance is more than just feeling sorrow. Repentance is a turning away from sin and turning to God. There are both eternal and temporal aspects to repentance. There is a once and for all turning to Jesus as Savior, and there is the daily confession to make sure our ongoing relationship is where it needs to be.

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.”

Have you expressed your belief in Jesus? Do you try to live for Him? Do you confess your mistakes to Him? All are important for a right relationship with Him. And God’s faithfulness to protect and forgive should lead us to praise!

For additional worship: Psalm 7 (Vindicate Me) [feat. Nick Poppens]

Psalm 7:1-11 “A meditation by David, which he sang to the LORD, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite. LORD, my God, I take refuge in you. Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, lest they tear apart my soul like a lion, ripping it in pieces, while there is no one to deliver. LORD, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me (yes, I have delivered him who without cause was my adversary), let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; yes, let him tread my life down to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. Arise, LORD, in your anger. Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries. Awake for me. You have commanded judgement. Let the congregation of the peoples surround you. Rule over them on high. The LORD administers judgement to the peoples. Judge me, LORD, according to my righteousness, and to my integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; their minds and hearts are searched by the righteous God. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, yes, a God who has indignation every day.”

Cush was probably one of Saul’s kinsmen who, like Doeg and the Ziphites, supported Saul and tried to do away with David. Here David basically says to God, “Hey, if I’ve done anything to be worthy of this hatred and pursuit, I’ll accept my death!” But David believes that he is righteous, and that God will ultimately vindicate him because God is a righteous judge. And God will not only vindicate him, but God will judge the wicked as well.

In one sense we are righteous, because the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us. This is positional righteousness:

Romans 8:10 “If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. For Christ is the fulfilment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

However, while we live this life, we aren’t perfect. So, we strive to be better. We strive to have practical righteousness:

1 Peter 1:15-16 “but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'”

Our goal should be to live in such a way that we can cry out to God through our practical righteousness, not just our positional!

For additional worship: Jesus Lover of my Soul — Michael Card

Psalm 6:6-10 “I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication. The LORD accepts my prayer. May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.”

Lament. Do we do it enough? Does our guilt for not being stronger make us turn away from God rather than turn to Him? Do we really think that God doesn’t know how we feel? Why can’t we pour out our weariness, our grief, our complaints to Him? How else do we get rid of our angst and enter into trust? And we see that here. David has stuff going on. He continually has people after him. He has people rejoicing that he is in trouble. Only one person can help him: God. And he cries his eyes out to God until he feels the peace that passes all understanding. He knows that God hears him, and trusts that God will vindicate and help him.

The warning for us today is that vindication and help can be different than what David experienced. In one sense we’ve already won. We have eternal life! God will never forsake us! And, in this life, we have His Spirit to help us experience His presence, His love, His joy, and His peace, no matter what we go through. David had some specific promises that He could trust in. Our promises are different, but just as trustworthy.

For additional worship: Psalm 6 (Heal Me) by The Psalms Project (feat. Deryck Box) – Official Lyric Video

Psalm 6:1-5 “For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint. LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul is also in great anguish. But you, LORD—how long? Return, LORD. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake. For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?”

This is a Psalm of lament, where the worshipper cries out to God in despair. Its circumstances are unknown, but whatever is going on, David has considered that his own sin had a part to play in it. He asks for God’s grace and favor to prolong his life so that he can continue to praise God on the earth.

There is a tension in life that we see represented by having both the Old and the New Testaments. We can think that any thoughts of a prolonged life are evil. That we should all want to go to heaven and not be concerned about how long our earthly life is. But the Old Testament reminds us that long life is a gift from God, a thought that is echoed in two places in the New:

1 Peter 3:10 “For, ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.'”

Ephesians 6:2-3 “‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with a promise: ‘that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.’”

While we shouldn’t necessarily fear death, we recognize that God has a purpose for us in this life, and it’s not a sin to want to continue to serve and to praise Him here. Especially since we have a chance to influence people for eternity while we live!

For additional worship: Psalm 6 – Isaac Watts

Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes,
When thou with kindness dost chastise;
But thy fierce wrath I cannot bear:
O let it not against me rise.

Pity my languishing estate,
And ease the sorrows that I feel;
The wounds thine heavy hand hath made,
O let thy gentler touches heal!

See how I pass my weary days
In sighs and groans; and when ’tis night
My bed is watered with my tears;
My grief consumes, and dims my sight.

Look, how the powers of nature mourn!
How long, Almighty God, how long?
When shall thine hour of grace return?
When shall I make thy grace my song?

I feel my flesh so near the grave,
My thoughts are tempted to despair;
But graves can never praise the Lord,
For all is dust and silence there.

Depart, ye tempters, from my soul,
And all despairing thoughts, depart;
My God, who hears my humble moan,
Will ease my flesh, and cheer my heart.

Additional notes: Sheol can be either the general abode of the dead, or the place where the wicked go upon death. Here it simply refers to the grave. Everyone dies, their voices are snuffed out, and they can no longer praise God in the land of the living.

We also recognize that the premature taking of life, whether murder or suicide, is seen as wrong in the Bible. Murder is explicitly condemned. Suicide can be seen as “self-murder,” and is shown as the Bible as a product of depression and pain instead of trust and submission.

Psalm 5:7-12 “But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow towards your holy temple in reverence of you. Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels. Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you. But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you. For you will bless the righteous. LORD, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.”

What a revelation: we can approach God because of the abundance of his steadfast love! That should ignite in us an even greater desire to worship and serve. And our service is for a purpose: to differentiate ourselves from the wicked. Not only do we want to be protected from them, we also don’t want to become like them. Is it strange that we should ask God to help us be different? No, because we understand that we can’t really live for God without the help of His Spirit:

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Some have trouble with passages that indicate a desire for the wicked to be punished. Although we do live in the New Testament era, we can still pray for the wicked to be exposed and judged for their actions. We actually see that as one of the prayers in Revelation:

Revelation 6:10 “They cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

Notice in both the Old and the New Testaments the saints are crying out for God to do the judging, not us!

The last thing that this Psalm reveals is how those who know and trust God respond to His love and protection: we love Him back and rejoice in His name!

For additional worship: Lead Me Lord (with lyrics)

Psalm 5:1-6 “For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David. Give ear to my words, LORD. Consider my meditation. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to you. LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly. For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you. The arrogant will not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.”

God is Lord (Israel’s personal name for God), and God is king. God is the one who is in control and who can help, which is why we bring our cares and concerns to Him. Although the WEB has “meditation” here, “groaning” is probably better. Groaning implies spiritual weariness and disquiet. Have you ever awakened in the morning upset about your personal circumstances, or distressed because of a dream, or agitated because you have something unpleasant later in the day? We need to pray and look forward to how God will answer those prayers. But beyond that, we should pray every day, because it puts everything in perspective. We remind ourselves that God is in charge. That we are His creation. That He expects us to live a certain way. That he wants us to be humble, kind, truthful, and gracious. Acknowledging God at the beginning of our day gets us started on the right foot!

For additional worship: When Morning Guilds the Skies (Stacey Plays Hymns)

Psalm 4:1-8 “For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood? Selah. But know that the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to him. Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in the LORD. Many say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, let the light of your face shine on us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased. In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.”

Psalm 3:5 is in the past tense, signifying a morning prayer, and Psalm 4:8 seems to indicate that this is an evening prayer. Psalm 4 is a prayer asking God for help. David still has people after him even though he is God’s anointed king! David is confident that God will hear Him, because he is God’s: “the LORD has set apart for himself him who is godly.” He will not allow his anger at his persecutors to be his undoing, because he trusts in God: “Stand in awe, and don’t sin.” He is also humble and recognizes that God answering prayer is a result of grace: “Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” David will be glad and experience peace because of God’s faithfulness, and the unrighteous will learn they shouldn’t underestimate God or His servants!

We too can have confidence that God hears us, because we are His!

1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.”

But we don’t take that for granted:

Luke 18:9-14 “He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: “God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

For additional worship: Psalm 4 (When I Call) by The Psalms Project [feat. Melissa Breems]

Note: There are different ways that Psalm 4:4 can be translated; either “Stand in awe and don’t sin,” or “Be angry and don’t sin.” The word in Hebrew means “to tremble” or “to be agitated.” Ephesians 4:26 could be referring to this verse or could actually be referencing Psalm 37:8.

Psalm 3:1-8 “A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah. But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid myself down and slept. I awakened, for the LORD sustains me. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side. Arise, LORD! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD. May your blessing be on your people. Selah.”

The text in bold is considered the superscription. The superscription is not counted as one of the verses and gives details about the setting, author, and nature of the Psalm. While some argue about their authenticity, the superscriptions are a part of every Hebrew manuscript of the Bible that we have, and I believe that they should be considered original.

The superscription here gives us some context to the Psalm. Absalom wants to take over the kingdom, and he has help (2 Samuel 15-18). David is fleeing, and some take that to mean that God has forsaken him. In the midst of this, David continues to express faith and trust in God. He cries out to God in his trouble because he trusts that God hears him, sustains him, and will save him.

Do you understand that salvation can only be found in God? When you cry out to Him is it because you have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ? Do you trust that He is with you? That He sustains you? That He can save you? While we understand that he can save us in this life and sometimes does, our greatest joy comes from knowing that death, hell, Satan, and the grave have already been defeated!

For additional worship: “A Morning Psalm” by Isaac Watts

O Lord, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of flesh and blood!
My peace they daily discompose,
But my defence and hope is God.

Tired with the burdens of the day,
To thee I raised an evening cry:
Thou heard’st when I began to pray,
And thine almighty help was nigh.

Supported by thine heav’nly aid,
I laid me down, and slept secure:
Not death should make my heart afraid,
Though I should wake and rise no more.

But God sustained me all the night:
Salvation doth to God belong;
He raised my head to see the light,
And make his praise my morning song.

Note: While the exact meaning of Selah is unknown, it is believed to denote a pause, silence, or an interlude in the Psalm.

Psalm 2:7-12 “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your father. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.”

The New Testament makes plain who this passage is ultimately pointing to:

Hebrews 1:5 “For to which of the angels did he say at any time, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father?’ and again, ‘I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?’”

Hebrews 5:5 “Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was. So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’”

It makes the last words more ominous: “Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled.“

We have a choice to make. An eternal choice. Jesus is in charge. He is king! We must submit to and worship Him.

Ephesians 1:20-22 “according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,”

For additional worship: Psalm 2 (Kiss the Son) featuring Shane Heilman

Additional notes: Just as we are to “meditate” (Psalm 1:2) on the word of God, the peoples “plot” (Psalm 2:1) against God. It’s the same root word!