Psalm 26 - Test Me, God?

Psalm 26: How I see it.

David writes: 

Vindicate me, Lord,

for I have led a blameless life;

I have trusted in the Lord

and have not faltered.

I myself have not led a blameless life. I have faltered and sinned. I'm not sure what David means here, but I would think he means he has worshiped the Lord all his life. He has never left God and worshiped other gods. 

Test me, Lord, and try me,

examine my heart and my mind;for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love

and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

I am too scared to actually ask God to test and try me. Anyway, I don't have to ask because God does it all the time. The way this modern world runs, our patience is tested continually. Most of us have schedules to keep; if we get up late in the morning are we upset or angry? Do we yell at the kids or other drivers on the road? Do we snap at people at our jobs? Patience and love are daily tests for everyone.

David also says he doesn't hang around with wicked people. He goes to church and tells others about God's wonderful works. He does not commit evil deeds such as murder or taking bribes. He asks God not to let his soul be with people who do such things. He wants to live in God's house forever.

Yes, I want my soul to be in heaven in God's house too. It is an exciting thought to finally see God in person and all the angels and all the beauty that will be there. May we all meet together there one day.

Psalm 25:3-22 - Guide Us Lord.

Psalm 25:3-22 - What it Means to Me.

Lord, I want you to show me your ways and guide me in your paths of truth. I need you to teach me how to live because I am wrong so many times. Other people could teach me the wrong way too, so that is why I need you to teach me. You alone know all truth. My hope is in you.

Forgive my rebellious ways, O Lord, for the sake of your holy name. I know you love me for you are a loving and faithful God. I believe you will guide me through life. I believe you will teach me.

I want to keep my eyes on you, God. You are the only one who can save me from sin and the evil one.

Sometimes I feel so lonely. I also feel harassed by life. Please relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from despair. Some people are cruel to me. Rescue me, God. Deliver me from all my troubles. Amen.

Psalm 25:1-3 - No Shame.

Psalm 25 - 1-3 What it Means to Me.

In you, Lord my God,

I put my trust.

I trust in you;

do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you

will ever be put to shame,

but shame will come on those

who are treacherous without cause.

As I was reading I noticed how many times the word "shame" came up in the first few verses. It says if we hope in God we will never be put to shame. Yet, Corrie Ten Boom experienced the shame of public nudity in a concentration camp. Jesus hung naked on the cross. Sexually abused children and adults feel shame. So, what do these verses mean?

I believe it means our hope and trust in God will never bring shame. He will save us for eternity. 

Also, if someone abuses a child, it is the abuser who should be full of shame -not the child. If someone oppresses me, the oppressor should be ashamed - not me. There is no shame in any kind of suffering for Christ or for the good of the world.

Psalm 24 - Who Can Stand in God's Presence?

Psalm 24 - What it means to me:

God owns the world: everything and everyone on it. He founded the world on water as it says in Genesis; he created it, therefore he owns it.

Who of us can walk up the mountain into God's presence?

Only those who have a clean heart and clean hands. Only those who put God first in their lives.
He alone can give us a clean heart. He alone can make us do good.
We will be blessed by the Lord forever.

And the angels sang:
"May the gates of Heaven be thrown open to let the King of Glory come in."
"Who is this King of glory?"
"The Lord, the Lord strong and mighty in battle. He has fought Satan and won the war against sin."

Amen.

Psalm 23: Our Shepard.

Psalm 23 - What it means to me.

I am like a helpless child and the Lord takes care of me.
When I am feeling sad and discouraged, He lifts my heart; he gives me peace.

God's name will be lifted up because I will thank him as he leads me through my life.

Even when I am near death I will not be afraid because I know God is with me. Knowing God's power, I'm not afraid of evil and I am comforted.

Those who have harmed me will know God has blessed me.
God has given me more than I have asked for and more than I have dreamed.
I know God's goodness and love will be with me in this life, and some day I will live with him in his house forever.

Psalm 22:6-18 Jesus Crys for Help.

Psalm 22 is a song about Jesus suffering on the cross. It was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The Jews of Jesus time knew these verses as they did all Scripture. Perhaps this psalm convinced many thousands of people to realize Jesus is the Son of God.

I've written about the first three verses in the previous post. I've decided I cannot do justice to these words. I will just put them here for you to read.

But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,

“let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

since he delights in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;

you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast on you;

from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,

for trouble is near

and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Roaring lions that tear their prey

open their mouths wide against me.

I am poured out like water,

and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

it has melted within me.

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me,

a pack of villains encircles me;

they pierce my hands and my feet.

All my bones are on display;

people stare and gloat over me.

They divide my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.

You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

Deliver me from the sword,

my precious life from the power of the dogs.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will declare your name to my people;

in the assembly I will praise you.

You who fear the Lord, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised or scorned

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek the Lord will praise him—

may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the Lord

and he rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Posterity will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

They will proclaim his righteousness,

declaring to a people yet unborn:

He has done it!

Psalm 22:2

Psalm 22:2-3 How I see it.

God, when I pray, it feels like you don't listen and don't answer me. I go to bed at night and can't sleep.

In spite of this, I know you are holy (perfect in goodness). Our praises to you reach heaven.

I have read many Christians say that when they were in deep trouble they felt heaven's door was shut and God wasn't listening. C.S. Lewis said something similar when his wife died and he was filled with grief. 

For some reason I have never thought like that. Perhaps because when I was a child I was taught God always sees and hears everything. I know He always hears my prayers; his answer may be yes, no or wait - but I know he hears.

In this Psalm, the author feels God doesn't hear him. Yet, he realizes God is good and therefore must hear him. He says God loves to hear our praises to him, perhaps because praise will lift us out of depression and anger. We can praise God even in our pain as Paul did when he was in prison. We have to look away from our circumstances as much as possible and look up and know that God is good.

Jesus felt God had forsaken him since he was suffering the second (eternal) death for us. Yet, he still knew his Father was good.