The LORD Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy, shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Meditation on Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is often known as the Shepherd’s psalm, which it is, but it is much more. David not only sees God as his Shepherd, but also as his Guide, “He leadeth me”; and finally his Host, He prepares a table before me, He fills my cup to overflowing and I shall dwell in His house forever.
The LORD Is My Light
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light, and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid ?
2 When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host should encamp against me, my heart will not fear: though wars should rise against me, in this, will I be confident.
4 One thing, I have desired of the LORD, and that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle he will hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above my enemies round about me: therefore I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When you said, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: for thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD, in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Meditation on Psalm 27
Because the Lord is my Light and Salvation, I have no cause to fear. My victory over fear arises from my seeking His face, and believing that I will see the “goodness of the LORD in the land of the living,” so I will just wait on Him.
Joy Comes In The Morning
Psalm 30
1 I will praise thee, O LORD; for you have lifted me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from the grave: you have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand
strong: you have hid your face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried unto thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Hear, O LORD and have mercy upon me: LORD, be my helper.
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing: you have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 That my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.
Meditation on Psalm 30
David recounts what the Lord has done for him. He has lifted Him up; has not allowed his foes to triumph over him; has healed him; brought up his soul from death; turned his mourning into dancing. Thus David promises to sing praises to Him, and give thanks forever.
O Taste & See That The LORD Is Good!
Psalm 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O, magnify the LORD with me, let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and he delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see, that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and they suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want, any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: and I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near unto those, that are of a broken heart; he saves such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous, shall be desolate.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Meditation on Psalm 34
David calls on others to magnify the Lord and exalt His name forever. For He delivers His children from all their fears, and saves them out of all of their distresses, and He delivers them from all their troubles, and afflictions. He then gives them the formula for the good life. “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
My Soul Thirsts For God
Psalm 42
1 As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God ?
3 My tears have been my meat, day and night, while they continually say unto me,
Where is your God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore I will remember thee from the land of Jordan, and from the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves, and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer, unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is your God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Meditation on Psalm 42
David admits to being discouraged, but then seeks to analyze why and find the answer for his discouragement. “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” Why are you so upset? He then gives the cure for his discouragement. “Hope thou in God.” He knows that if he puts his hope in God he will not end in depression, but in praising God.
God Is Our Refuge
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains are carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad, the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were removed: he uttered his voice, and the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he has made in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and he cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Meditation on Psalm 46
When God is your refuge and strength, fear must be dispelled, for fear and faith are mutually exclusive. Though the greatest calamities may befall us, God is greater than any national disaster, so just remember that “the LORD of Hosts is with us.”
A Broken & Contrite Heart
Psalm 51
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, and thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud your righteousness.
15 Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praises.
16 For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offerings and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon your altar.
Meditation on Psalm 51
David has just been rebuked by the prophet for his great sin, and rather than trying to justify what he has done, he casts himself on the mercy of God. He asks God to wash him from his iniquity, and cleanse him from his sin, to purge him with hyssop and to cause him to hear joy and gladness. He also asks Him to hide His face from his sins, and blot out his iniquities, to create a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within him. Most of all, David asks God not to banish him from His presence and not to remove the Holy Spirit from him and restore the joy of His salvation.
The Strength Of My Heart
Psalm 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such, as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; and neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride surrounds them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, they speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places: you cast them down to destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when you awake, you shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: you have held me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: and you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Meditation on Psalm 73
Psalm 73 begins with an affirmation of what David knew, “God is good.” He confesses his own confusion when he tries to reconcile the goodness of God with his observations. As he sought to live a righteous life, he seemed to have nothing but trouble whereas the wicked seemed to have more than they could wish. In trying to understand this anomaly his faith was challenged. He was almost ready to make the fatal mistake of giving up what he knew for what he didn’t know, which we should never do. This dilemma was settled when he went into the house of God, where he saw things from the eternal perspective. The wicked are the ones to be pitied, not me, for God is continually with me. He holds me by my right hand, He guides me with His counsel and will receive me into glory.
He Has Heard My Voice
Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD , because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he has inclined his ear unto me, therefore, will I call upon him as long as I live.
3 The sorrows of death surrounded me, and the pains of hell, got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
6 The LORD preserves the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For the LORD has dealt bountifully with thee.
8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed, and therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious, in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: you have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, I will call upon the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD, now, in the presence of all his people.
19 In the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD
Meditation on Psalm 116
The psalmist begins with the words, “I love the LORD because…” We could each write an essay beginning with these words. David said, because He hears my prayers, He is gracious, righteous, and merciful, and He preserves the simple. David then questions, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all of His benefits to me?” A good question: what can you give to someone who needs nothing?
Help Comes From The LORD
Psalm 121
1 I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help comes from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade on thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve, thy soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve, thy going out, and thy coming in from this time forth, And even… for evermore.
Meditation on Psalm 121
As David looks at the grandeur of God’s creation, he is reminded that the One who created all these things is the One who has promised to help him. He needs not to worry or fret, for God is surely sufficient to take care of all his needs.
My Soul Waits For The LORD
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of
my supplications.
3 If you, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in his word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD, there is mercy,
and with him is plentious redemption.
8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Meditation on Psalm 130
David does the wise thing when he finds himself in the depths of sorrow or despair. He calls unto the Lord. Knowing his own limitations he waits on the Lord for His help and deliverance. He knows that his hope in the Lord is well founded, for God is merciful.
Search Me, O God
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 You know my downsitting and my uprising, you understand my thoughts, afar off.
3 You surround my path and my lying down, and you are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You have beset me behind and before, and you have laid you hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness does not hide from thee; but the night shines as the day: and the darkness and the light are both alike, to you.
13 You have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are your works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, know my heart: try me, know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Meditation on Psalm 139
David expresses how completely his life is encompassed by God. David is saying, “He knows my discouragements, and my delights, in fact, every thought that I have. He goes before me, and He is behind me, and His hand is upon me.” David realized that God knew more about him than he knew about himself, so he ends by asking God to search his heart, and reveal to him the truth about himself.
Attend Unto My Cry
Psalm 142
1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice,
unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then you knew my path and in the way wherein I walked they have secretly laid a snare for me.
4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, You are my refuge and my portion
in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low:
deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: and the righteous shall encircle me about; for you shall deal bountifully with me.
Meditation on Psalm 142
What do you do when you feel that you are alone, and overwhelmed with your circumstances and that no one seems to truly understand how you feel, and what you are going through? In that condition, David declared that he cried out to the Lord for help and deliverance with the assurance that the Lord would surely help him.