Psalm Five - Another Viewpoint

David has come before the Lord, as was his usual custom, for his time of morning prayer. I believe this was his custom as this is a very intimate conversation between the king of Israel and the King and Creator of all. But much more than a simple chat between close friends.

David started by asking the Lord to listen to his cries, yet he also states to Him that he will stand watch, patiently waiting on the Lord to give His answers. David actually expects God to hear and answer, for He has done just that many times in the past.

David also knows that evil men and women have no place in the Lord. They can't even stay in His presence, for He will destroy them in the end. Yet, David also knows that he has a position in the Lord's Kingdom, His plan, His presence. And he is at home in that knowledge and in God's presence. In His presence David offers his sacrifices of praise and times of worship.

While in God's presence he seeks His face - His guidance and direction - His protection from all his enemies and punishment for those who would harm him.

At the close of David's talk with the Lord, he proclaims joy, refuge, and protection for all who trust in the Lord; because He is the Lord of all and worthy of our trust. God has blessed, is blessing and will continue to bless ALL who are His.

I stand with David. I know that my redeemer lives. And that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him throughout all eternity.

I know that He is faithful to hear and answer all of my prayers ... all of the cries of my heart.

I know that He will reward ALL for their thoughts and actions - whether they are for Him or against Him. Those who choose to live outside His will, WILL perish into eternal damnation ... eternal separation from Him.

And those who choose to follow Him will be rewarded for their acts of faithfulness with life eternally in His presence.

SO ... I CHOOSE to serve HIM. To live as He would have me to. To worship Him daily, without ceasing. To Share my heart and my mind in my prayers and with my actions!

Amen!

Psalm Five

Intro:

To the Chief Musician; 
To be played on wind instruments. 
A Psalm of David.

Lord, please listen to what I have to say. Think about the things that dwell in my mind. Listen to the very cries of my heart oh King! For I will always lift my prayers to You. Early in the morning, as I lay waking up, I will focus my thoughts and share them with You.Yes Lord, I will speak them out so that we can both hear them, all while I am looking up to view Your face.

For I know You Lord. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil. Nor will You allow evil to dwell in Your sight. I know there are boastful people who would brag of their exploits. But You do not allow them a speck of ground within Your presence on which to stand. I know that You hate all that practice evil in their hearts and minds. You destroy those who speak lies and abhor all who seek to shed blood and those who are filled with deceit.

But I choose to come into Your mercy filled house. In truth of heart, reverent fear, respect and honor I will worship You in Your holy Temple .... deep within my heart. Lead me in Your righteousness - Standing a right in Your presence - because of my enemies, those who would seek to harm me in word or deed. Make Your path plain before me, that I may walk see You clearly. 

You know that there is no faithfulness in their mouths; their innermost beings are pure destruction. Their throats spew forth meaningless compliments and their lips with vile flattery, as an open grave wafts the fumes of rotting, decaying flesh.

So pronounce them guilty already, Lord. Allow them to know the failure of their plans and fall by their own evil counsel. Then cast them of Your presence for the great pile of their sin, their very rebellion against You.

But oh the joy of those who have trusted in You completely. They will shout in the streets of how they love You, for You have defended and protected them. And in their joy You will bless them with Your favor and continuously surround them with the Shield of Your righteousness and peace.

Psalm Four

Intro:

To the Chief Musician; 
To be played on stringed instruments. 
A Psalm of David

Standing before the Lord I cry with David; God, can I have some relief here? I know that You are able, for there have been many times that I was trapped and You freed me.

Oh you sons of men, how long will you seek to dishonor me. How long will you search for lies when the truth is right in front of you? You know that the Lord has separated those who walk uprightly from all of the rest. He has placed them in a class by themselves. He listens when I call and He answers me.

So, sons of men, it is OK to be angry, but do not sin in the process. Speak to yourselves within, silently dwell on your inner most thoughts and your own intentions.

Offer to God the proper and correct sacrifices AND for the right reasons. And confidently lean on the Lord, trusting completely in Him.

Lord, I know that there have been many that have asked You to smile on them so that they can see Your goodness all around them. But I love how You treat me. For You have placed Your pure joy and true merriment in my heart than they will ever know. More even than their wheat fields and vineyards have yielded - even in bumper crop years.

Yes my Lord, You fill me with Your great peace, so that I can lay down to rest confident that I am completely safe, and assured that I can trust You wholeheartedly. For You are my King and My God.

Psalm Three

Intro: 

David's prayer when he ran from Absalom, his son.

Look Lord! My enemies gather together, increasing in number greatly. There are many who take up arms against me.

Listen; they boast. God can't help him.

But You protect me, Oh Lord, You wrap me up in your glory, lifting my head up so that I can see You working on my behalf.

When I cry out to You, You hear me and send Your answers from Your Holy mountain, Zion. And I can rest. I sleep peacefully, awakening refreshed, for You sustain me. Therefore I will have no fear of them who are against me. Even if there are thousands - yes, even thousands of thousands, all around me.

Rise up, Oh Lord, and save me. I know You can; for time after time You have defended me in the past. You have struck my enemies, hitting them in the face, knocking out their very teeth. Thus removing all of their power; humbling them.

You ARE Salvation! And You share it freely.

Please, pour out Your joy and Your many blessings on Your own.

Amen!

Psalm Two

The Lord asks; why do men waste their time making futile plans? Why do they plot against Him and His ways, trying to break free of His controls, as if they are slaves?

He laughs aloud at them, snickering at their mindless ways. As His anger builds, He disciplines them ... this fills them with terror. So He announces: "Don't you know that I am in charge? I have placed My chosen on, My very own Son, on the throne in Jerusalem?"

At the coronation celebration the Lord announces: "You are My Son, today I have become your Father. Ask Me for anything, I will grant your request - even the nations as your inheritance, the very ends of the earth could be Yours to possess, rule over, control or destroy as You will."

"So listen earthly rulers, and act wisely! Serve Me with reverent fear and honor. Sing praises, rejoicing as you shake in your boots. Submit to My Son, or He will become angry, destroying you in His wake as you plot against Him , for His anger can explode without without notice.

But, OH what true joy awaits all who find His protection.

Psalm One

Lord, I am so glad that You have shown me that the only way to find true JOY, is in Your service. This means that I must avoid taking advice from unbelievers, or hanging out with them in the places that the congregate, or to join them in speaking their course, rudely put jokes and jesting.

I know I should always take my JOY from Your hands and to chose to do as You desire ... to dwell on Your Law of Love day and night, thinking ... meditating on it all day and all night, pondering on it deeply. This is the way to bear the fruit of Your Spirit like a well-watered tree planted in Your garden, beside Your peacefully flowing river of Life. The fruit never spoils, nor do the leaves, the good acts of Your love preformed, ever dry up, withering and fading away.

Unbelievers will not be as fortunate, for they are worthless in all of their ways. Their thoughts and deeds are evil - scattered by the winds of God's Spirit. They will not be able to stand uprightly before the Lord at the final judgement - for they have no place among Your servants.

I am blessed, for You watch over Your children in the Way. But the ungodly have chosen to walk in the paths of destruction where God does not walk.

For all of these things, My Lord, I am truly thankful!