Psalms 16:
It's very common for people to make plans for their lives and then ask God to bless the plans they made without first consulting with God. Before we make any plans, we need to consult with God first to learn His will for us. He will provide insights that help us make good decisions and live in God's will using God's wisdom.
David's heart was filled with joy because he had found the secret to far deeper happiness. We, too, can have that same joy when we put God first in our lives. Unbelievers have a sense of confusion about their purpose on earth and feel hopelessness more frequently than believers. Those who seek God first move ahead with confidence and know what is right in God's eyes. Believers also know that God will not leave them in the grave. He has promised to bring us back to life again when He returns.
Psalm 17:
We deceive ourselves when we measure our happiness or contentment in life by the amount of wealth we have. When we put riches at the top of our value system, we let power, pleasure, and financial security overshadow the eternal value of our relationship with God. David urges us to realize the true goal of life - to know God - and the true reward of life - to see God one day. He is praying to God for strength and assistance to stay on the righteous path that he has been traveling. He senses his own weaknesses and is pleading to God to remove the wicked people and murderous enemies that are constantly after him. He is pleading to be rescued from their persistent pursuit.
Psalm 18:
David is praising God for delivering him and giving him victory throughout his life. No doubt this psalm was written later in his life when there was more peace in David's life. He characterizes God's care using five military symbols. God is like
1. a rock that can't be moved by anyone who would harm us
2. a fortress or place of safety where the enemy can't follow
3. a shield that comes between us and harm
4. power that saves - a symbol of might that can save us
5. a place of safety high above our enemies
If you need protection, look to God. Some people think that belief in God is a crutch for the weak. God is indeed a shield to protect us when we are too weak to face certain trials by ourselves, but he does not want us to remain weak. He strengthens, protects and guides us in order to send us back into an evil world to fight for Him. Then He continues to work with us because the strongest person on earth is infinitely weaker than God and needs His help. David was not a coward; he was a mighty warrior who, even with all his armies and weapons, knew that only God could ultimately protect and save him.
Psalm 19:
The apostle Paul referred to this psalm when he explained that everyone knows about God because nature proclaims God's existence and power. While nature points to the existence of God, the Bible tells us about God's plan of salvation. We are surrounded by fantastic displays of God's craftsmanship - the heavens give dramatic evidence of his existence, his power, his love, his care. To say that the universe happened by chance is absurd. It's design, intricacy, and orderliness point to a personally involved Creator. As you look at God's handiwork in nature and the heavens, thank him for such magnificent beauty and the truth it reveals about the Creator.
Psalm 20:
As long as there have been armies and weapons, nations have boasted of their power, but such power does not last. Throughout history, empires and kingdoms have risen to great power only to vanish in the dust. David, however, knew that the true might of his nation was not in weaponry but in worship, not in firepower but in God's power. Because God alone can preserve a nation or an individual, be sure your confidence is in God, who gives eternal victory.
Whom do you trust?
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments.
The Shepherd
Psalms 21-25
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