Psalm 71

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“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge.” The author of Psalm 71 called out to his God. There was no other savior who could compare with his “rock of refuge.” No other helper had the righteousness necessary to deliver the psalmist in his time of need.

An unjust and cruel man stood against him. The Lord was the psalmist's hope. He called out to the One in whom he had always trusted as long as he could remember. He had worshiped God from the earliest moments of his life, and he continued to praise him now.

This worshiper of the Lord was no longer a young man. Those who sought his destruction sensed his weakness. They made a plan against him. “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.”

As we often hear in the psalms, this suffering servant was not only singing to his God in his time of distress, he was also making a promise. He vowed that he would give hearty testimony to the Lord in front of all of the other worshipers when the day of his deliverance arrived. The righteousness and power of the Almighty were not merely matters of private meditation for him. He would continue to do what he had always done. He would praise the Lord in the hearing of many others.

The Lord's servant especially desired to bring a good word concerning God to the next generation. Young people would hear about the great works of Yahweh. They would hear the specific account of one man's deliverance from peril so that they also might give glory to God.

Prior to the coming of Jesus, many of the Lord's servants must have found great strength in the words of this song. They might easily relate to the experience of the writer. They too had been low, and the Lord had brought strong help to them. Yet in the case of the Son of God, His fulfillment of these words went further than any man before Him. He had experienced deliverance from the grave.

Jesus was brought up from “the depths of the earth.” His cry of “revive me again,” resulted in a glorious resurrection. He is bringing the praise of the nations to His Father on high. Because of Him, we have joined the community of the redeemed throughout the world. Our tongues will sing of God's righteous help forever.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord God, we take refuge in You, and we come to You every day. The wicked man would fight against us continually. We will praise You forever. We know that You will not cast us off when we are weak. Evil men would accuse and destroy the righteous. They actively seek our hurt, but You will come with mighty deeds and with a powerful love that will never end. You have done great things for us. You are bringing us up again from the dead, and we will shout with joy forever.

Psalm 70

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“Make haste, O God, to deliver me!” David needed help from God. He sought aid against those who wanted to see the king hurt and even killed. David's need was immediate. He asked the Lord not only to stop his enemies, but even that they be “put to shame and confusion.”

This one servant of God looked beyond himself and his immediate crisis. “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You!” The answer for David in this time of distress was to worship and enjoy the Almighty One. Rejoicing in God was also the solution for many other faithful servants of the Lord. They too would experience the Lord's salvation and say forever, “God is great!”

These words, “God is great,” need to be more than a slogan. If the god we worship cannot conquer sin and death for us, how great is he or she? Saying that a powerless god is great will not make him worthy of our utmost devotion.

The Lord of heaven and earth is truly great. He saw us in our weak condition and determined to save us. We were like David in his great hour of need. “I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!” The King of Glory came from on high. He suffered and died for us. He atoned for our sins. Now He lives forever to intercede for us.

We join with David in holy boldness: “You are my help and my deliverer!” Yet we know that we continue to have immediate needs that require His constant and steadfast love right now. “O Lord, do not delay!”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Mighty God, it seems that we cannot wait much longer. Trouble is very near to us. Our confidence remains in You, for You are great. Be nearer than any danger, O Lord.

Psalm 69

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“Save me, O God!” David cried out to the Lord in a time of great distress. David's enemies were numerous and powerful. They hated him “without cause.” He was aware of his own sin, but would he now be forced to “restore” what he “did not steal?”

The king knew that his actions in this time of difficulty would have implications for the lives of many other people. He did not want to sin in his response to injustice, in part because of the “shame” and “dishonor” that it might bring upon others.

David also understood that the events that were transpiring all around him had something to do with the Lord's purposes. “It is for Your sake that I have borne reproach.” It was because of his devotion to God that many people stood against him. “Zeal for Your house has consumed me.” Those that were against David were actually expressing their anger with God by speaking against His anointed. “The reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”

When David humbled himself before the Lord, his enemies took that opportunity to express their displeasure. These attacks hurt the King deeply, but he affirmed in Psalm 69 that he was not fasting and crying out to God in order to make friends among men. “My prayer is to You, O Lord.” He appealed to His God for deliverance, trusting that the Lord would hear him and provide the salvation that he needed.

Throughout this psalm of David we recognize New Testament quotations that take us beyond the life of the king. When we read, “They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink,” we cannot help but consider the Anointed One who died for our sins on the cross. Zeal for the temple of the Holy Spirit consumed Him. He humbled Himself for our salvation.

Those who will not repent of their hatred of Jesus and His people fall under the condemnation of David's words in Psalm 69: “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.” Those who would trust in God and His Anointed, Jesus, have a far better destiny.

The resurrection hope of the faithful was displayed first in the vindication of one perfectly righteous Man. “I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set Me on high!” The Lord heard the cries of His Son and lifted Him up from death as the firstfruits of the coming resurrection.

The pattern of suffering leading to glory for one great Servant of God would bring much courage to many others who would follow Him. His vindication would give them great hope. “When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.” Because of His pleas for help and the Lord's bountiful deliverance, many people all over the world would one day sing these words with joy: “The LORD hears the needy and does not despise His own people who are prisoners.”

Beyond the present strengthening of the Lord's faithful in their own times of distress, the death and resurrection of Jesus would also secure the fullness of blessing that the Almighty intends for all His people. One day a new heaven and earth will praise Him, and the people who put their trust in the Lord will inherit the best land of grace for all the sons of God who “love His Name.”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

God of Our Salvation, we are in a sea of enemies who seek our destruction. Though we have sinned, we hope in You. We are in great need, for we love Your house, and Your enemies hate us. Even our own families do not understand our zeal for Your Kingdom. Help us, O God, for we would be swallowed up by the earth in death. Come quickly, O God. Speak the word of our redemption again through the blood of the Lamb. He was entrapped by faithless men, but He has won His battle through the victory of the cross. Hear the prayers of Your Son, who surely lives forever to intercede for us. We are weak and close to death. We are weary, O Lord. You will give us life, for we are in Him.

Psalm 68

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“God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered.” David knew that the enemies of Israel could never defeat the Lord. He looked to the day when God would rise up and show His power. The people of the Almighty would not only be saved from those that sought their lives, they would be captivated by the glory of their God.

Who is this God that Israel worshiped? David tells us in his song. He is the protector of the weak and the defender of the widow and the orphan. He surprises those who have lost all hope, giving them good gifts that are beyond their happiest imagination. He is also the judge who will cause the lowly to rise up, but who will bring their persecutors to ruin.

The Lord God of Israel had proven His power in the past. Centuries before David was born, God had led Israel through the wilderness, providing for them in their desperate need. Jehovah was not only the God of the past, He was also the Lord of the future. One day He would put good news in the mouths of His beloved women. They would announce the defeat of powerful enemies and enjoy the rich gospel blessings that the Lord would surely bestow upon His people.

The Lord would never forget His chosen people. He who descended from heaven to save us would surely ascend again to the place of His holy abode. He would lead “a host of captives” with Him. He would receive the free gifts of mankind and bestow the best blessings of eternity upon His people.

One day there would be a great victory procession that would lead all the way up to the sanctuary of God in heaven. The Lord of the resurrection would lead His “prisoners” to the place of highest praise. They would not arrive in that great realm as despondent exiles, but would be singing with joyful worship. The great throng of the redeemed would include not only the elect from the tribes of Israel, but also kings from among the Gentiles who would gladly bow before the Lord of glory.

Until that great day of the coming Messiah, David and the people of Israel could boldly call upon the Name of the Most High. They could bring their petitions to the Lord with confidence. The false gods of their adversaries would be rebuked and defeated. The Lord who would one day bring even nobles from far off nations to stretch out their hands in worship to Israel's God could certainly care for His people right now.

As David and all of the Lord's worshipers from among the people of Israel waited for deliverance, they boldly addressed the other nations of the earth in their song. “O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God!” They invited them to join Israel in the worship of one true and living God.

We who have heard the news of the cross and the resurrection have the privilege of knowing the story of the victory of Jesus. We have also been given the gift and duty of singing these gospel tidings among all the people groups of the earth. 1000 years after David wrote Psalm 68, the Apostle Paul was able to quote this song in his letter to a largely Gentile church in the city of Ephesus. He went on to give this explanation of this ancient composition: “In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” (Ephesians 4:9-10)

We who were once far off from the covenant promises of God to Israel have been drawn near to the Lord through His blood. His death and resurrection were for us. We are among the rejoicing throng of worshipers ascending with Him in order to enjoy Him forever.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Our Father, there are enemies who would threaten the safety of Your family. What will You do, Father? You are the Protector and Defender of Your people. No matter how desperate our condition may seem, You will bring us the exact help that we need. Speak, Lord, for Your servants listen. Send forth Your men and women to speak of Your glory. There is no one like You, for You are a towering mountain over everything that You have created. Make us to dwell with men and angels who will praise You forever. You have brought us back from the depths of disaster. You will surely judge the wicked. We have a hope of the greatest eternal celebration because of our Messiah, Your Son. We bring our gifts to You. We have been freed from the chains of men, and we sing with joy as we walk in Your Spirit. Grant us power today for the praise of Your glory.

Psalm 67

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“May God be gracious to us and bless us.” The Lord makes His “face shine” upon His people in a splendid benediction so that the nations of the earth may know the ways of God and may understand His saving power. The Lord has always intended to have the praise of all the nations of the earth. “Let the peoples praise you, O God!”

It was never the Lord's intention that only the Jews would love Him. The rest of the people groups of the earth were not of secondary importance to His plans, with the Jews being sons of the kingdom and all the Gentiles forever consigned to joyless submission. “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.”

How did so many of God's chosen people of the Old Testament miss passages like Psalm 67? Like all of humanity, they had a tendency to love the gift more than the Giver. Their status as a chosen nation was a great privilege, but the One who gave them that exalted position was not only the God of the Jews, he was also the God of the Gentiles.

Those who knew and loved the Giver would one day be pleased to learn more clearly of His plan to show grace to the nations of the earth. Like the Jerusalem church in Acts 11:18 many would one day be able to say, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” When that great day of worldwide mission came, they would be able to read passages like Psalm 67 with new understanding. They would find in these ancient songs strong confirmation that the Lord had always intended that all the nations of the earth would praise Him.

As the church eventually spread from Jerusalem, to Judea, and then throughout the Roman world, it would become clear to the apostles and to the thousands of disciples of Jesus in every city that the fields of the earth were “white for harvest” (John 4:35). All the many believers who were responding to the message of God's grace would be able to sing with many believing Jews, “The earth has yielded its increase.” The harvest was not in wheat or barley, but in precious people who had found life in Israel's God.

“God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!” Even these many centuries after the first missionary endeavors brought the Word of Christ to the nations around the Mediterranean Sea, there remain great opportunities for the church to be engaged in seeing all the people groups of the earth freely delighting in the Triune God. Though this work may even cost us our lives, it a blessing to be used by the Lord in the fulfillment of His eternal purposes.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Gracious Lord, be kind to us. Show forth Your grace to all the peoples of the earth. Draw them to Your worship. Move all nations to yield themselves to the celebration of Your eternal goodness.

Psalm 66

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“Shout for joy to God, all the earth.” Why should the worship of Yahweh be limited to only one people group on the planet? This was never God's plan. All are called to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. All are to know the great deeds of the Lord and to celebrate His victories over all His enemies. All should have the pleasure of singing praises to His Name.

The record of the Lord's dealings with Israel should cause the nations of the earth to seek Israel's God. “Come and see what God has done.” He made the sea dry land. His people crossed the Red Sea in safety and their oppressors were drowned as the waters returned. “Let not the rebellious exalt themselves.” The Lord is most impressive as He “keeps watch on the nations.”

The peoples of the earth could observe the Lord's works of redemption and learn about Israel's God. Despite Israel's rebellion over many centuries, the Lord preserved His people. Their lives were not easy. The Lord tested them. He disciplined them, training them according to His purposes. Though He put a “crushing burden” on their backs, they were not utterly destroyed. He eventually brought them out “to a place of abundance.”

What was the end result of centuries of wrenching history? The Lord was purifying for Himself a holy remnant who would come into His house with sacrificial worship. They had learned to call upon the Lord when they were in trouble. They would remember to keep their promises to the Lord. Their mouths would be filled with the high praise of the Almighty, and they would not cherish sin in their hearts.

But did Israel ever obey this way? The nation as a whole did not have such a great record of steadfast devotion. The second half of the psalm moves away from the plural “we” and “us” to the singular “I.” One Man would truly obey the Lord. One Man would secure the glorious righteousness which would bring heavenly riches to all those who would call upon His Name. Jesus alone would be the obedient Son of the Father. Through Him a pathway of peace and blessing has come to all the nations. “Come and hear, all you who fear God.” Now all who trust in Jesus have been given the words of confident praise: “Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!”

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father God, we call everyone everywhere to submit to Your glory and to shout for joy. We know that our Redeemer lives. He has heard us in the day of impending doom. We live, O God, for You have rescued us. We have known Your discipline in a time of fatherly chastisement. Our training is swiftly coming to a close. You have heard our prayers, and You will take us to a place of perfect righteousness and safety.

Psalm 65

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“Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.” David acknowledge before the Lord that Yahweh was worthy of worship. All of the Lord's people were to give their God His due. They needed to gather together in “Zion,” the appointed place of holy assembly, so that they could give to Him the praise that He deserved.

Though worship should start with the people of Israel, it should not stop with them. “All flesh” ought to come before the only God who can hear and answer prayer. The Almighty could forgive their sins and cover their transgressions. Could the gods of the nations do that?

But how could anyone from the other people groups of the earth come into the presence of the God of Israel? Any worshiper from the Gentiles would have to be chosen by the Lord, and then God would have to “bring near” the one who would worship Him. Only then could the newcomer “dwell” in the courts of the Lord, and be “satisfied with the goodness” of God's house.

The ceremonial Law of the Old Testament stood against the hopes of seekers from among the Gentiles. How would the uncircumcised be cleansed and accepted by the God of the Jews? Only through some provision of God's mercy that would satisfy the demands of His holy Law. The Lord would have to answer the requirements of His own justice through the provision of “righteousness” that could only come from the “awesome deeds” performed by the “God of our salvation.”

The God of the Jews was the only “hope of all the ends of the earth.” The Creator of the universe and the Provider of every good gift would Himself have to bring the nations near to Him. If not, they would all perish without any hope of eternal joy.

But now the hope of the nations has appeared in the gift of the Son of God. Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ an acceptable Substitute has been found, not only for Jews, but for Gentiles who draw near to God through faith in Jesus. The vision of a world restored to the glory of holy blessing has become the confident expectation of millions who believe the message of the gospel.

Through faith in Jesus, people from every ethnic background have heard of a new world that will be theirs based entirely upon the grace of the Messiah. The “river of God” will water a renewed environment in a world without sin. No longer will the people of the earth be hungry, for the Lord will bring the bountiful provision of heaven everywhere. The animals of the new creation will cover the fruitful land, and the earth will be filled with abundant grain. Even the meadows and valleys will “shout and sing together for joy.”

The vision of a gloriously restored creation is one that you will not want to miss. You must see it with your eyes. You should drink the water of heaven with your own lips, and your heart should sing along with the new earth as the Lord fulfills all His glorious plans.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Glorious God, You should receive our praise all day long. We come to You now, for You have drawn us into Your house, and we see Your goodness and Your righteousness. You have created the land and the seas. You govern even the spheres in the sky. You bless us with great fruitfulness. There is a joy everywhere that can be seen and heard throughout the world. We will magnify Your Name forever, O Lord.

Psalm 64

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“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint.” David knew that he had “dread of the enemy.” He didn't want to live in fear of men, so he asked God for help.

If the king could grow in his trust for the God of Israel, he would be able to live as a more faithful servant of the Lord. He asked God to “hide” him from “the secret plots of the wicked.”

David did not pretend that those who sought his life were good. They were “evildoers.” Waiting for every opportunity to murder an innocent man, they seemed to live without fear of God. They did not vacillate in their vicious plans, but were entirely committed to injustice.

This honest assessment of the depths of wickedness within evil people did not prevent David from living a life of holy joy. He turned toward the Almighty and sang songs of honest petition with the confidence that the Lord would hear and send help from on high.

Yes, the wicked were able to shoot arrows, but God had some arrows of His own as well. The Lord knew the secret plots of David's enemies, and He was well aware of how He would save His anointed one.

David knew that his life was not his own. There would be another Anointed One who would face evil foes, even from among the religious rulers of His day. This Christ would turn to his Father with supreme trust. He would “rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him.” Because of Jesus, David and all the “upright in heart” will be able to exult in the Lord God Almighty forever.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father, why do we fear powerful enemies? They have an evil purpose and seem to be invincible, but they will not be able to stand against You. They have not adequately considered Your love for Your children, and Your power to save. You shall surely deliver the upright in heart from the grasp of even the strongest foes.

Psalm 63

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“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you.” David longed for God. He knew what it was like to be physically thirsty. He spent much time in the wilderness of Judah as he was seeking to survive the attacks of those who were trying to kill Him. Yet the thirst that he wrote about in Psalm 63 was an intense spiritual longing. “My soul thirsts for you.”

David “looked upon” the One who could not be seen. By faith, he saw God in His sanctuary. He beheld the power and glory of the Lord. Now when he was far from the tabernacle, he was very eager to experience God again among the worshiping assembly of His people.

Why was the Lord so attractive to David? This man after God's own heart knew the steadfast love of the Almighty. The covenant faithfulness of the Lord was better to David than life itself. This awareness of the mercy of God moved David in the direction of heartfelt praise. He lifted up his hands to the glorious God of Israel.

David's hunger for his God would one day be satisfied. He would again experience worship with all who called upon the name of the Lord. Even now when he was forced to be alone in the wilderness, in the dead of night, he knew the love of his Maker. He remembered God and meditated upon His Majesty.

The Lord had been David's help. David took shelter in the presence of the Almighty and sang for joy. He stayed close to God, knowing that the Lord himself was embracing His servant and holding him up in the midst of every difficulty.

David also knew that his destiny included the future joys of heavenly worship. But what would become of his enemies? They would go down to the land of death, and would not experience the eternal blessedness that God had prepared for His elect.

Jesus also knew the joy of fellowship with his Father during His brief days upon the earth. There has never been a better worshiper than this great Son of David. Yet He longed for something more. He was thirsty for His heavenly home. Our experience in worship even now should be a happy anticipation of the communion with God that we will enjoy forever in heaven. Why should our taste of worship today be bitter? God invites us to enjoy Him now and forever. Why should that be boring or unpleasant?

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Lord God, You have put something within us that longs for You. You have made our souls alive to Your goodness. We praise You when we are together, and we praise You in secret communion. No matter how dangerous the enemies against us may be, You are our refuge and our help forever.

Psalm 62

Read Psalm 62

“For God alone my soul waits in silence.” David testified that God was his only hope. There was no point in pleading with anyone else. Only God could save him. The Lord was his stability and his safety.

The king was surrounded by those who sought to knock him down. They were not interested in the truth. These adversaries took joy in their skillful pretense of being David's friends when they were actually working against him. They were proud of their treachery. David was only a “leaning wall” and a “tottering fence.” Why would anyone take any pride in defeating someone as weak as him. He did not consider himself to be a very formidable opponent—at least not in his own strength.

Yet David was not placing his hope in himself. Again, “God alone” was the king's confidence. David's plans for “glory” were entirely resting upon the Lord. The only reason that David would not be shaken was the unchanging stability of the Almighty.

The king had learned something from which everyone could greatly profit. “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” Perhaps some good would come from the king's present distress. Others might learn that the Lord was entirely trustworthy.

If God would not save His people, who could they believe in? Would those “of low estate” be able to protect their king? They were “but a breath.” What about the rich and powerful? The king knew that they were “a delusion.” Put the high and the low together and they would still amount to nothing.

The king's conclusion was plain: “Power belongs to God.” The Lord alone would be the source of “steadfast love.” God could not be cheated or mocked. One day the Lord would “render to a man according to his work.”

Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of the power of God. More than any created being and far beyond any impressive array of objects, the Son of God reigns supreme. We trust in the same God that David praised in his psalms. The only difference between King David and all the faithful of the New Testament era is this: We live after the Power of God has come to earth to die for our sins. We know the Name of the one who has risen from the dead. He is our only hope.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Our God, we rest in You. The dangers around us are real. In silence we wait for You. When we cry out to You, You hear us and help us. Forgive us when we would put our hope in evil schemes. Your Son is our Redeemer. What more do we need? We have You, O God.