Verse of the Day: (45:7) Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
1.God Is Our Righteousness (45:1-14)
And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. (45:4)
God loves righteousness, because He is righteous. David knew that without God’s righteousness, he could never please God as the appointed and anointed King of Israel, His chosen nation. This is a double prophecy as not only David, but Jesus Christ shall come to this world to be anointed with the oil of gladness. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit as His Father was pleased with Him as He gave His life for the sins of the whole world, and whoever believes in Him shall have His righteousness in him. (Matthew 3:13-17) Indeed, the world has the saying that the end justifies the means, but God’s command is that our means must always be righteous before Him. Let us thus awake to righteousness and sin not, amid evil in this present world. (1 Corinthians 15:34)
2.God Is Our Rejoicing (45:15-17)
With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace. (45:15)
What a privilege and honour for King David and all who believe in God as we are His royal children and are bound for His palace in the kingdom of heaven. Amid all the sufferings and sorrow, David looked to God with gladness and rejoicing as he knew that all his sorrow and sufferings were transient as one day, he shall be with God in His palace in heaven forever. Let us thus rejoice in our King Jesus Christ always, and trust and obey Him, as one day He shall bless us with His crown of rejoicing. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)
3.God Is Our Refuge (46:1-11)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (46:1)
Since the day David believed in and trusted the God of Israel, the true and living God, he had committed everything to Him, as He was his refuge, strength and present help in trouble. As a young shepherd boy, David already trusted God when he slayed both the lion and the bear by his slingshot when they would threaten to devour the sheep under his charge. As a young man he trusted God, and defeated Goliath, the Philistine giant, again with his slingshot, when no one in Israel, not even King Saul of Israel, would fight against Goliath. (1 Samuel 17) As an old and dying king, he trusted God as he passed his throne to Solomon, his son, who gave glory to God when he built His majestic and magnificent temple. (1 Kings 2) Indeed, let us trust God, and be still, and know that He is our Refuge, Anchor of our souls and High Priest in time of our trouble. (Hebrews 6:17-20)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help us to awake to righteousness and sin not for Your glory.
Verse of the Day: (44:26) Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.
1.God Is Our Health (43:1-5)
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (43:5)
Have you ever ask God in time of your deepest crisis, Why me? Though we are God’s children, yet when the worst situation happened to us, our very first question to God is, Why me? This was why many times David cried out to God in time of his crises as he needed God to help and deliver him, though he the King of Israel. Many times, God sends crises such as the loss of our jobs, or even the loss of our loved ones, or we become bedridden or handicapped because of an accident or illness, to test our faith in Him. In fact, Apostle Paul prayed and wished his disciple, Gaius, whom he loved much, that God would bless him with great health and a prosperous soul as he served God and preached His gospel, as he knew that Gaius would also be facing crises in his life. Indeed, let us pray for one another that we be of great health and have prosperous souls, so that we can overcome our great crises and serve God, do His work and share His gospel. (3 John 1-2)
2.God Is Our Heart (44:1-21)
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (44:21)
David was confused, as he cried out to God that he had done everything as commanded, such as destroying the wicked people of the land, and preparing to build His house, yet God still allowed crises to happen in his life. However, God comforted David that He knew his heart, and that He was actually testing him. Indeed, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts the moment we believe in Jesus, and as we study and meditate His Word, He will discern the intents of our hearts and help us to apply it to our lives. (Hebrews 4:12)
3.God Is Our Helper (44:22-26)
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. (44:23)
Though David was out of line when he cried to God to awake from His sleep, and falsely accused Him of forsaking him and the nation of Israel, yet God loved him and Israel, and understood their pain and suffering in time of trouble. Jesus’ disciples also reacted like David in time of a great storm, and they awoke Him, and cried out whether He truly loved and cared for them. (Mark 4:35-41) Indeed, God loved David and Israel, and the disciples as well all who believe in Him, and He is actually testing our faith in Him, so that one day, we shall all be richly rewarded and blessed in His home in glorious heaven. (Revelation 22:12-21) Let us therefore humbly seek God for His help in all our crises, and truly fear no one, not even the devil, and fear nothing, not even death. (Hebrews 13:6)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help us in time of trouble and heal our hearts and health.
Verse of the Day: (41:4) I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
1.Healing From The LORD (41:1-5)
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. (41:2)
If there is one who suffer from depression and disillusion he must be David, as he went through betrayal, slander and even attempted murder by his own King and son. However, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, went through the worst as He was not only mocked and wrongly accused by His own people, but He was eventually betrayed and crucified not for His sins, but for the sins of the whole world. David wrote this psalm with a double prophecy of his own suffering as well as that of Jesus’ suffering. Amid all the sufferings, both David and Jesus still praised and blessed the name of God, the Father, because He healed their souls and comforted their hearts. Indeed, let us commit our broken souls and hearts to God, and He shall surely heal them for His glory and praise. (Revelation 22:1-2)
2.Heart From The LORD (41:6-13)
And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. (41:6)
David poured out to God his anguish of the slander and attempted murder upon his life. He knew that his enemies’ hearts were wicked, and only God could transform their hatred to love by His grace and power. (Jeremiah 17:9-10) God then inspired David to prophecy not only his betrayal by his son, Absalom, (2 Samuel 15:1-12) but also the betrayal of Jesus by His apostle, Judas Iscariot. (Matthew 26:14-16) Let us thus draw near to Christ as only He can cleanse us from all our unrighteousness by His blood. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
3.Hope From The LORD (42:1-11)
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. (42:11)
David panted and longed for God and His Word amid all his sadness and sorrow. He was always in a reflective mood, as he searched his heart and soul questioning himself what he had done wrong, and how he would repent his sins and get right with God. However, he knew that there were times when he did no wrong, but God was actually testing his faith so that it would come forth as gold. (Job 23:10) He understood that he must truly hope in God amid hopelessness, as only God could provide him with the solutions to all his problems. Let us therefore be holy as God is holy, and hope in His amazing grace to the end, and He shall surely make a way when there seems no way. (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please heal my soul that I may love and desire You now and forever.
Verse of the Day: (40:8) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
1.Deliverance from God’s Power (39:1-13)
Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. (39:8)
How do we delight in doing God’s will when we are at the lowest point of our lives? This was exactly what King David did as he knew that God shall deliver him from the worst situation in His time, and even if He allowed him to continue to suffer, and even die for His glory, he knew that one day he shall be promoted to the highest point of his life in His eternal home in heaven. Throughout David’s life, he was careful to live a holy life by controlling his tongue and temper, and faithfully doing God’s work with His power. Indeed, since the beginning, there were many God’s people who chose not to be delivered from their persecution and even death, as they refused to renounce the true God, and instead chose to be martyrs, thus obtaining the resurrection in heaven. (Hebrews 11:35-40)
2.Delighting to do God’s Will (40:1-9)
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (40:5)
David delighted in doing God’s will, as God had never failed him, not even once, but have instead blessed him with innumerable and wonderful works, the likes of blessing his heart with the construction of His magnificent temple, commending him as a man after His own heart, and above all, blessing him with Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the whole world, as one of his descendants. (Acts 13:22-24) This was why David reaped the blessings of God as he delight in doing His will. Let us delight in doing God’s will, especially through prayer, as it demonstrates our complete trust in Him. (Proverbs 15:8)
3.Declaring God’s Faithfulness (40:10-17)
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. (40:10)
Time and again, David declared God’s faithfulness and salvation as he experienced many blessings from Him that no word could described how much he owed Him. Even Moses declared God’s faithfulness and salvation as he and the Jews experienced how God miraculously delivered them from the bondage of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Indeed, God through Moses proclaimed to Pharaoh that His name and power shall be declared throughout all the earth. It is truly God’s mercy and compassion that we are saved by His grace through our faith in Him, as we are His clay and He is our Potter. (Romans 9:15-25)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to delight in doing Your perfect will for Your praise.
Verse of the Day: (37:4) Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
1.Delighting In The LORD (37:1-26)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (37:23)
King David delighted in God and His Word, as he committed his entire life to Him for His glory, and God granted him the desires of his heart. Whatever situations he faced, he entrusted them to God as he knew that He would never fail him since the day he trusted in Him. Though he saw how wicked unbelievers prospered in their deceit and lies, and the righteous suffered in their honesty and integrity, yet he knew that God never make a mistake. Indeed, one day, the wicked unbelievers shall be eternally punished in the devil’s hell, and the righteous believers shall be richly rewarded, and promoted to God’s heaven. Apostle Paul, like David, also delighted in God and His Word, and he kept his faith in Him, and was granted the desires of his heart with a crown of righteousness awaiting him in glorious heaven. Let us thus delight in God and His Word, and commit all our ways to Him, and He shall grant us the desires of our hearts. (Romans 7:22-25)
2.Dwelling In The LORD (37:27-40)
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. (37:27)
David chose to dwell and meditate in God and His holy Word, as he did what was good in His eyes, departing from evil. Let us thus believe in and receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Let us read, study and apply His Word so that we be rooted and grounded in His everlasting love, and sharing His Gospel, that all may know that Jesus is truly the Son of God. (Ephesians 3:11-21)
3.Desiring The LORD (38:1-22)
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. (38:9)
David poured out his heart before God, desiring to do His will and even to be with Him in His home in heaven. This must be the lowest point of David’s life, as he groaned to God that his heart is heavy, his strength is failing, and his light and life is diminishing and about to meet Him. Every time when David was in deep trouble and crises, he would seek and desire God and His Word, so as to find His perfect plan and purpose for his life. He knew that if not for God’s mercy and grace, he would have been eternally condemned to fiery hell because of his sins and iniquities. However, David truly loved and desired God and His Word, and he repented of his sins, and return to Him. Like Apostle Peter and David and like babies desiring the nourishing milk of their mothers, let us also desire God and His Word so that we may grow in grace and in knowledge of Him. (1 Peter 2:1-3)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to delight in You and Your Word so as to grow in You.
Verse of the Day: (35:9) And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
1.God Is My Rejoicing (35:1-11)
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. (35:11)
King David inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote this Psalm with double prophecy as he not only prophesied his future but also the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This was the time when David must have experienced the hardest trial of his life, especially when his beloved son, Absalom, betrayed him, and conspired with some of his unfaithful leaders to usurp his throne to be the next King of Israel. David also prophesied the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how He too would also be betrayed by false witnesses, and eventually was crucified on the cruel cross at Calvary, not for His own sins, but the sins of the whole world. Amid all the trials and testing, David still rejoiced in God, and praised and thanked Him for who He is, and what He had done with, in and through him. Like Apostle Paul and King David, let us rejoice in the Lord always in whatever circumstances we are in, as He is truly in control of everything. (Philippians 4:4)
2.God Is My Reward (35:12-28)
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. (35:12)
Like the Lord Jesus, King David did good for his family and people, but many of them failed to be grateful to him, and instead they rewarded him evil for good. Jesus performed great miracles for the people, as He healed the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear, and He cast out demons from them, and even raised the dead alive. However, they rewarded Him evil for good, as they chose to free Barabbas, the worst criminal, and crucify Jesus. (Matthew 27:26) Though Jesus and David were rewarded evil for good, yet it was God’s will for them, as they believed that He never make a mistake. Indeed, though this world may reward us evil for good, but our God shall richly reward us when we believe in Him and diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
3.God Is My Righteousness (36:1-12)
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. (36:6)
At the end of David’s life, he knew that he was an imperfect and sinful king, but it was truly God’s abundant mercy, great faithfulness, and everlasting righteousness, that he was eventually promoted to His eternal home in glorious heaven. (1 Kings 2:1-10) This was the legacy that David charged Solomon, his son, and successor to the throne of Israel. Indeed, with God, all the kings of Israel and Judah shall victoriously rule the nation, but without Him, their enemies shall ruthlessly defeat and rule over them. Let us therefore put on Christ’s righteousness and holiness, and flee from wickedness. (Ephesians 4:17-32)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Rejoicing, Reward and Righteousness.
Verse of the Day: (33:1) Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
1.Be Rejoicing (33:1-4)
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. (33:4)
King David who penned this Psalm knew that he must rejoice in the Lord as he knew that God never made a single mistake, and every word that He spoke to, and every work He did for him, was in truth and for his own good. Though he went through much sorrow and suffering, yet he knew that he must continue to trust in his righteous God. Apostle Paul also commanded the Thessalonian Christians to rejoice evermore, even when they were going through intense persecution and even martyrdom, knowing that one day, they shall be with Christ in His heaven for all who fully trusted in Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
2.Be Righteous (33:5-22)
He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. (33:5)
Though David failed many times yet he trusted God for his life. He acknowledged that God reigned supreme in his life as he could never outwit, outsmart and outmanoeuvre. Him. He knew that God shall blessed Israel, and no enemy shall defeat them when he led them to fully trust and obey Him, their Help and Shield. Indeed, God loves righteousness and judgment, and He hates wickedness and lawlessness, because He is good all the time, and all the time He is good. Everything that God makes is good, and especially man who is made in His own image. Indeed, let us truly trust and believe in Jesus Christ that He is our God and Saviour, and He shall grant us the best for our lives, even though many times we may not fully understand all His ways. Let us be prepared to meet Christ, as one day, He shall judge all the people in this world, and let us be found righteous in Him when we believe that He died and shed His precious blood for our sins. (Revelation 16:5)
3.Be Redeemed (34:1-22)
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (34:22)
The entire life of David was full of rejoicing and gratitude to his God who had not only delivered him out of all his afflictions, but especially, He had redeemed him from fiery hell, and one day He shall promote him to pearly heaven. Indeed, David could only praised God knowing that no nation, and no one, could ever overcome him and Israel, when they trusted in Him. At the end of his life, he challenged the people to taste and see that God was good to all who trusted in Him. Let us thus rejoice and revive in God, as He had sent His Son to shed His blood to fully redeem us from our sins, and make us as His kings and priests to reign with Him on the new earth for all eternity. (Revelation 5:9-10)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to rejoice and revive in You amid sadness and sorrow.
Verse of the Day: (31:24) Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
1.Hand (31:1-15)
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. (31:15)
Many times, the book of Psalm has double prophecy, that is, the author, King David, inspired by the ultimate Author, the Holy Spirit, not only prophesied his own future, but that of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, His life and ministry, including His death, resurrection and return as the King of kings and Lord of lords during the Millennium and the new Jerusalem, which is after the Rapture of all Christians that can happen at any time now. David not only prophesied God’s preservation of his life, but also that of Jesus, his Rock, who suffered great persecution under the Romans’ rule before He was crucified not for His own sins, but for the sins of the world. Jesus’ death was in fulfilment of God’s prophecy that He shall come to shed His blood for the forgiveness of the sins of the world, and whoever believes in Him shall live forever with Him in heaven. Let us thus humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand that He may exalt us in His time. (1 Peter 5:6-11)
2.Hope (31:16-24)
O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. (31:23)
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the “black-swan” event in many decades, God desires the world to truly believe and hope in Him in this hopeless world of sins and wickedness. Even during the time of King David, he already experienced the sense of hopelessness as the heathen of the world, including God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, kept committing idolatry and immorality, and refusing to believe and hope in the God of Israel, the true God. Indeed, by God’s grace, let us believe in Christ, and repent our sins, and look forward to the blessed hope of His glorious appearing, as He loved and gave Himself for us, that He shall redeem us from our sins, and purify us as His people zealous of good works, and bound for our home in heaven to be with Him forever. (Titus 2:11-15)
3.Heart (32:1-11)
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (32:11)
Amid all the trials and troubles, David rejoiced in God knowing that his faith was tested to the fullest, so as to reveal the real motive of his heart, which was indeed, after God’s own heart. Let us thus rejoice in God, singing and making melody in our hearts, and giving thanks to Him for all things, especially our precious salvation. (Ephesians 5:16-21)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to hope in You amid this hopeless world of wickedness.
Verse of the Day: (30:5) For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
1.LORD (29:1-11)
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (29:2)
David was called a man after God’s heart, because he trusted and obeyed the voice of the LORD, and worshipped Him in spirit and in truth. (Acts 13:22) David acknowledged that the voice of the LORD was indeed powerful and majestic, and it is through His great voice that the whole world was created - the magnificent universe, the clear blue sky, the great oceans, the forests, the animals, etc. David truly understood God’s glory and holiness, and this was why he confessed and repented his sins, and prayed to God for fellowship and restoration. Let us thus obey and worship God in spirit and in truth, as He is a Spirit, and worthy to be worshipped for all His glory and holiness. (John 4:21-24)
2.Lift (30:1-4)
I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. (30:1)
God always lift up King David even when he was at the lowest point of his life because he trusted in Him. Though time and again David sinned against God, yet God in His abundant mercy, grace and love lifted him up from the mud of sins. Let us therefore believe in and receive Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our personal Saviour, and He shall lift us up one day to His home in glorious heaven to be with Him forever. (John 3:14-17)
3.Life (30:5-12)
To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. (30:12)
After all that happened to King David as he encountered many near deaths during his battles against the enemies of Israel, and even with his own son, he realised that it was truly God’s abundant mercy, grace and love, that had kept him alive. He reminisced and recalled the many nights that he cried and wept to God because of the pain and agony of his life storms and struggles, and yet every morning he would wake up with joy and gladness as God comforted and consoled him. Let us thus give thanks to God, as even though we may weep in the night, because of our great trials, but joy shall come in the morning as He shall comfort and console us. Indeed, God blesses us with abundant life as we are His sheep, and He is our good Shepherd, who sent His Son to die on the cross and shed His precious blood for the sins of the world. Whoever believes in Him shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. (John 10:7-10)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for granting me Your favour and life as I believe in You.
Verse of the Day: (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?
1.Salvation (27:1-3)
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (27:3)
At the time of my writing the entire world is facing the threat of coronavirus pandemic, that have caused the loss of many lives, and many are struggling in pain in the Intensive Care Units fighting for their lives, and many are living in fear and anxiety. As I pray to God for His deliverance upon those infected and affected by this tragic outbreak, and the many cities that are experiencing lockdowns and chaos that have resulted in economic recession, this Psalm comes in timely from God to encourage me that He is still on the throne, and He is the Light, Salvation and Strength to all who believe and trust in Him. King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, must have written this Psalm amid great fears, especially impending war, just like this pandemic, and God assured him that He is his Salvation, and that he should continue to trust in Him. Indeed, God is our Salvation, and only He can save us from hell and promote us to heaven as we believe in Him. (Acts 4:12)
2.Seek (27:4-14)
One thing have I desired of the LORD, 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. (27:4)
There were many things that King David might have sought after, yet he only sought after God. This must be the time when he had passed his youthful and lustful days, and had experienced God’s chastisement and humbling, and had concluded to himself that the only thing that was worth pursuing in life was God and His holiness. He must have spent much of his time in sweet fellowship and prayer in the house of God. Indeed, let us daily seek God, and invest our time and treasures on the things that are eternal and pleasing to Him, such as soul winning and discipleship, and supporting and praying for the pastors and missionaries as they preached the Gospel to the regions beyond. (Colossians 3:1-3)
3.Strength (28:1-9)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiced; and with my song will I praise him. (28:7)
David was thrilled and thankful to God for being his salvation and strength, and saving his wretched soul, and forgiving him of all his sins, as he praised and rejoiced in Him all the days of his life. Let us thus glory in our infirmities because God’s grace is sufficient for us, as our strength is only made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You are my Light, my Salvation and my Everything.
