Psalms

Do you join with the ungodly? Do your pursuits involve you in being as one with wicked men and women? If so, it is the wicked who badly affect the Christian… the Christian will not affect the wicked by his presence. No Christian should mix with the wicked, because his soul will be tarnished by the sinfulness of his fellows. This is what Psalm One teaches us, with both a warning and an assurance. The Psalm is quite forthright in its judgment. Read and beware!

Verses 1&2

1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Keeping apart from the unsaved is not just a command or warning. When a Christian refuses to join with them, he is actually “blessed”, ‘esher. That is, he will know happiness or the blessedness of God. In full it means the man will be happy because God will give him many rewards and benefits. This is because the man “walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”.

From my own experience I know that when I have been amongst the unsaved, even for work purposes, I felt tainted and uncomfortable. I know I ought not be with them, even if it is temporary. In my work I used to be amongst my employees for only as long as I needed to be. I did not join them in their unsavoury conversations, their lewd jokes, their foul language, their descriptions of unsaved activities, nor did I join them after our work. I kept well away because I did not wish to have my life tarnished with their sin. If I joined them and mingled freely with them, I know that their sin would become my own, even if I did not wish it to be so. By remaining amongst them I would be complicit in their sins, and even their wickedness, and so my own spiritual life would be compromised badly, dragging my soul down to the pit, where these unsaved belong and have their thoughts and actions.

This is underpinned by the root of ‘blessed’, ‘ashar, meaning to ‘go straight’, to advance or to make progress, to ‘set right’. The man who determines to do only what God says and does not mix with the ungodly, is ‘walking a straight path’ - that is, he is right with God. Any other path is ungodly, not acceptable to God. Any Christian who thinks he can mix with the ungodly without penalty, is deluded. When we deliberately mix with them our souls are blackened by their sins. The only reason Christ mixed with the unsaved was to preach the Gospel! If He had stayed with them for any other reason, He would have become sinful, as they were, just by being with them. (This was, of course, not possible).

This Psalm is for leaders of nations (but it can also apply in principle to anyone who leads, such as employers, local councils, etc). There can be no denying that most leaders today, including religious leaders, are wicked and godless. Some are awful in the extreme. Some African countries are like beacons in the dark, displaying a morality and truthfulness rarely found in the West, especially concerning the immorality of sexual aberrations.

Let us harass our leaders to get morality right, just as they insist on harassing us to follow their foul lead. We can expect the West to fall in tatters, because it does not just reject God - it forces people to act out sin, by law and by example. Those who stand firm are punished, but those who act sinfully are praised.

This is a very short Psalm – but quality of content is not determined by quantity. As part of God’s word, every letter comes from God’s own mind, and is important. David wrote this when he fled from his son, Absalom. The fear of enemies is strong, and when the enemy is your own son, it is mingled with bitter sadness. Absalom led a revolt against his father, forcing David to run from the royal city.

In this Psalm we see that enemies of God and Christians tend to increase in number and hatred, rather than diminish! It has always been so, because the genuine Christian is like a spotlight on unbelievers’ dark and sinful lives, so he is hated.

Like so many other Psalms, Psalm 4 is short. The very name ‘Psalm’ is taken from the Latin, Psalmi, meaning ‘short’! We can trace the word back to the Greek and then to the Hebrew, mizmor. Interestingly, the Hebrew bible does not actually give a title to the full collection. Later, rabbinical teaching referred to the collection as Sefer Tehillim, or just Tehillim. After the exile, the section became known as ‘Temple Worship’. ‘Halleluja’ was a liturgical refrain, heading ten Psalms as an invocation.

The number of Psalms differed in Hebrew history, but was generally set at 150; the differences mainly being about the division of verses rather than content. Thus, the divisions of the Psalms as we now have them were not known to the ancient Hebrews, who joined them together or split them up as they wished. Originally, the ‘psalms’ were one long text, apart from what we know as Psalm 119. Psalm 4 is one of a cluster of Psalms using the term ‘neginot’, explained below.

Those who receive our Sunday Bible studies are unable, of course, to take part in the usually intense and varied discussions we have during the study itself at Manselton Church. This short article is about one of the topics we discussed, spilling over from a similar one last Sunday. It is about God answering prayer; in particular, how He answers prayer. Though I have examined this many times and in several long articles, there is always another aspect to the matter!

 For example, one thing I spoke of on Sunday was the need to ‘think outside the box’. We are human beings, created and limited, whilst God is uncreated, unlimited (except by His own will), and nothing like us.

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut.6:5)

“What doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deut.10:12)

“Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee…” (Luke 12:20)

Foolish Christians do not understand the weight of God’s supremacy and sovereignty. That is why they ignore the need to call on God to destroy certain enemies. Imprecatory prayer is rarely heard of today, as ignorant believers continue to think we may only pray for the good of people, especially leaders, even if they are gross sinners, wicked to the core, doing us harm and blaspheming God! David is not so slow – he calls on God to destroy those who are wicked… and so should we.

This Psalm is written by David to the “Chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith”. ‘Neginoth’ is to do with stringed instruments. “upon Sheminith” could be an instruction that the music be played on a special eight-stringed instrument (as many believe).

However, the word can also refer to an octave (a musical notation), and this is the meaning here, for ‘octave’ in this context means the lowest and most solemn notes sung by male voices (bass). Given the subject matter, it makes sense, particularly as the root means ‘eighth’ (lowest note), confirmed by further root words of the same meaning.

Modern Jewish rabbis, whose faith in their own religion is blighted by liberalism, do not accept the prominence given to musicians and singers in the Davidic period, when they had an authority and status equal to, if not greater than, the ordinary priests. Yet, at that time the singers and musicians did have prominence! Singers and musicians came from the tribe of Levi; they had duty rotas, and even their genealogies were listed and examined… they were an elite band of men.

To quote the original introduction to this Psalm:

“Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.”

The meaning of a ‘shiggaion’ is unclear, but it might just mean ‘a song’ or ‘hymn’ written by David. We can ordinarily assume it means ‘song’ or ‘hymn’ because David says he sang it, and inserts ‘Selah’, which is a musical notation or pause in singing!

He was apparently upset by something said by ‘Cush the Benjamite’. Cush means ‘black’ but specifically refers to the descendants of Ham and the Negro descendants of his family living in Ethiopia. You might ask how his descendants could be Negro, but consider that Adam and his descendants were a dark reddish-mahogany colour and the difference is only slight.

Another Psalm written by David, this time to the “chief musician upon Gittith”. This either means a musical instrument used by the giants of Gath (the root, Gittiy, means a person who lives in Gath), or, one used for the songs sung at harvest time by wine-pressers (the root of Gittiy means ‘winepress’, a reference to the chief city of the Philistines).

This Psalm wishes to only praise God for being so wonderful. This is something most of us miss doing because of the various woes we always bring to Him. But, it is essential, not only that we praise God for being Who He is, but because it lifts our spirits to do so. It is insulting to want something from God and yet not praise Him, whether we want something or not.

Verse 1

1. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

“To the chief musician upon Muthlabben.” David, an accomplished musical director, wrote this Psalm for the attention of the chief musician who plays for the ‘virgin voice’ (though the meaning of this is uncertain). Possibly, it might refer to a young man’s voice, or the voice alone without music. David does this to give emphasis to the drama of the words, particularly at verse 16. (The primary meaning is ‘death’, though this seems inappropriate in context).

Though speaking of the sinfulness of mankind, it is really a song of praise that appears to have been written during a time of victory over the enemies. We all go through ‘bad patches’ when things do not go right and we are left bereft of joy and peace. At those times we can become depressed, or we can praise God; we can concentrate only on the circumstances, or we can look up and see God; we can become as worms, or as eagles. Which is it to be? One way will take us downwards into a spiral of anxiety and sin, and the other way will take us closer to God, where we can think and act spiritually, hear His voice, and listen to His instruction to our souls.

Is God far away from us when we need Him most? If we are faithful, no, He is not. It might be how we perceive it, but if that is the way we think, it is proof we do not understand how God works anyway. The first nine Psalms have adequately shown us how to approach the Lord, so why do we still insist God is not near us? Think about it and apply the answers found in scripture. God always hears… but does not always listen!

Verses 1-4

1. Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

4. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

A legitimate question from the ‘apple’ of God’s eye, David. And a legitimate question from every one of God’s children. Though legitimate, it is also semi-rhetorical, because David often asks such questions when he already knows the answer. ‘Why, Lord, when I am in trouble, do you seem to be distant, not answering my pleas?’

 Some think this Psalm (to be played and sung under the guidance of the chief Temple musician) was written after Saul attempted many times to kill David, or to get him to flee Israel. But he refused. (Once he did fail and almost got himself killed by the Philistines). David might have fleetingly considered it, but quickly quells the idea.

We all sometimes feel overwhelmed by situations, and think of avoiding them by one of many means. We even avoid talking to God, because we fear He will pull us back to reality, to talk with Him! We struggle because we WANT to feel insecure, or miserable, or attacked, because then we feel justified in hitting out or attacking back. David frees himself of these wayward thoughts, to his benefit. So should we.

In this Psalm David is referring not only to believing men of his own time, but to men in our own day. I have watched in pity, awe and shame, as godly men have turned their hands from the plough for no good reason. I am very aware of what it is like to do so, and I fear what would happen to me if I did the same. (I have come close).

When the godly man stops his work, or lapses in his godliness, his decision to do so affects many, many others, even if he does not know they are watching him! This is in my mind always. Of course, it is possible to keep doing or saying things just to maintain an aura of godliness. This will be found-out at some time, because one cannot keep up pretence over time. The Lord Himself will deal with such fakery, for He cannot allow His children to live a lie.

This Psalm was given by David to the “Chief Musician upon Sheminith”, who also led worship for Psalm six. The sheminith was an eight-stringed instrument, but in this Psalm it refers to the lowest notes - bass - sung by male voices. This was probably David’s way of using voices to denote the gravest of topics, which we find in this Psalm. (We do not find female singers in Temple choirs).

It is a strange thing, but most Christians would never admit to another Christian that they are confused, depressed, anxious, afraid, or feeling let down by God. Of course, no believer can be ‘let down’ by God, but that is how many feel at some time in their lives… except for those superficial ones who have no true commitment anyway.

We all reach a point of despair or panic at some time in our lives. A situation, or a person, can batter our beliefs and faith almost to submission, and we are shocked by the inadequacy of our response to God and His word!

A huge number of Christians resort to depression because of this; and I use the word ‘resort’ advisedly, because it is the correct term. Neurotic depression is sin – make no mistake about it. But, do not confuse it with a depression that can set in to older people, because it can be a symptom of the onset of dementia. There can also be a ‘physical’ depression brought on by any number of ailments, from anaemia to hypothyroidism. Only careful blood and other tests can determine if there is a genuine cause.

Surely neurotic depression is real? Yes, it is – but it is not acceptable, nor is it godly, it is a sinking into self and sin. But, David is not talking about any of these. He is making some very factual statements, posed as questions.

In this Psalm we see God’s judgment upon atheists and all who deny the reality of God. We can almost understand atheistic unbelief, because atheists are unsaved, but what of Christian unbelief? Yes, I mean it. It seems that many believers are only-just, living lives of poor regard for the things of God and for their own selves.

Christians today tend to be superficial, with scarcely a nod towards God, though they claim to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. And they have no love. They live as though God did not really exist. Many do not even read their Bibles, except when they want something, or are in trouble! Some think they can turn God off and on like a tap. Then, after enjoying their sinfulness they try to turn back to God.

The question that arises is: were they saved in the first place? It is a reasonable query, given the sinful, and often ungodly, ways lived by people who claim to be saved. They assume God will allow them to continue in their sins, particularly if they are relatively young. I know of many who have claimed to be saved, but who smoke, drink and even take drugs. In this condition they may also have promiscuous sex, or the laughable ‘steady’ sex of one boy or girlfriend! Are these people saved? We have every authority from God to ask that question, because their lives are unholy, and atheistic in form.

Paul was not the only person to tell us how we should be as believers. In this Psalm David does the same thing. Why do you think scripture contains these instructions and commands? As I keep saying, they are not options, to be used or ignored at will. They are imperatives, to be obeyed. Once you know what God says about anything at all, you are bound to obey, immediately. Indeed, even when we do not know what God says, we are bound.

Surely God will not leave us ignorant? No, He does not. He speaks to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who prompts us continually in the ways of the Lord. We cannot claim ignorance as a shield against God’s demands. Do what scripture says.

All Christians say they trust God. Why, then, do most of them run around in a frenzy when anything happens they consider to be bad or troublesome?

What do you think God does when we are in trouble? Sit back and just watch? No, He observes to see how we react, because most of us only react. What He wants to see is an holy response. This should be based not on knee-jerk reactions but on considered, measured beliefs and emotions. If, when we feel threatened, or anxious, or afraid, we run amok, or scream, or act like demented flies, then we are not acting like saved men and women!

We might be surprised by a sudden onset of trouble or perceived trouble, but that should quickly settle, so that we do not become vile in how we respond. Then comes what we ought to expect from a Christian – calm, rational thinking, unruffled emotions and respect for others. When this is our normal outlook and response, we are acting as Christians, not like unsaved fools.

When God sees this proper response He steps in and couches us in His mighty hand. He gives whatever is needed in our circumstance. His hand is always there, but we reject it by running around foolishly, letting our minds go into heated overdrive, trying to think of ways to avoid the trouble (most of which, incidentally, are perceived rather than actual; in the future and not a present reality).

In this Psalm we see the faith of David. We also see imprecatory prayer, where God is asked to obliterate enemies. Modern Christians hate this kind of prayer and try to avoid it. Or, to be precise, they hate it in public but think it in private!

It is like those Christians wh9o say we must not judge. It is a nonsense, because EVERYONE judges. Usually, they pretend not to when talking with their peers, but they mull over plenty of judgment in their heads and hearts. It is inevitable, unless a person is literally brain-dead or unbalanced. We all make judgments every moment of the day! Of course, we may not be judgmental, which is a different thing.

There is an unfortunate belief amongst modern Christians that God is soft and always loving. How far from the truth can they be! In this Psalm we find a God Whose wrath is final against His enemies. And He counts enemies of His people the same way, because an attack against His children is an attack against Him.

In the chapter we also find answers to our circumstances and attacks by enemies in our own day. God is just as firm and unyielding! Do not approach God’s word with blinkered eyes… if He says it, and has done it, we may not pretend otherwise.

Many Christians substitute what is said here with “Love your enemies” which, though truth, does not apply here. Why not? Because God says otherwise.

Verses 1&2

1. I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

2. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Do we see God as He ought to be seen? No, I do not think so. If we saw God as He really is, we would not sin and would not live lives that favour wrong. In the Psalm David speaks of the inestimable worth of God, and His supremity.

God created everything – yet there are Christians, afraid to appear stupid before their peers, who allow evolution and other sins to proliferate. In this they have no excuse, because creation is plainly seen, and the work of an Almighty ‘other’, God, is obvious. Those who say these two things are not obvious are plagued by their own delusions, sins and inability to perceive what is before them.

Law is absolute and there are no exceptions. No Christian may overturn any part of God’s law or word. Today, some think they are free to say God’s word was ‘for its day’ and not for every age. God forbid! Such liars come under God’s wrath!

Every Christian MUST cleanse himself of sin and wicked thought, to mimic and be a result of, God’s law and demands. Without it we are no better than the sinners around us who hate God.

Many Christians today are very worried; they are joining with groups consisting of heretics and genuine believers, in the hope that this show of force will bring the desired help.

But, what they are doing is acting out of desperation, not hope. Joining with spiritual enemies to produce a godly result is never a good idea, and does not work. What they think is a show of force is but a mirage, a weak shadow of what could be, and it is ‘too little, too late’.

The answer to today’s wicked movements and their impact on Christians is to repent as individuals, to pray in the sure power of God’s promise (that if we pray without doubting we will receive what we ask for), and to live only in the strength of the Holy Spirit. Nothing else will do, as I have warned many times before.

God hears the calls of His repentant children! He WILL defend us! “Let the king hear us when we call”! This Psalm was not just written for the chief musician and singers of the Temple; they are for all of us today.

I see this Psalm in the light of the end time we live in. The end is surely very close, as all the world turns black with sin, the colour of necrosis, with a stench of human and satanic wickedness.

As the end comes, so enemies consolidate and join forces, to come against God and us with great fury. But, God is ready to send His punishments. Many enemies now arise, and more are to come, but some enemies will be put to shame before the end.

In particular I think of homosexuality and its enslaved adherents, whose end will come swifter, because they ignored the very plain punishment of God in the diseases they carry and spread. Many of them have already died, but the remainder scorn God and continue to sin, inviting more disease and death. It is possible that God will visit them with an even hotter wrath in the very near future.

In every Psalm we see the demand for us to live righteously. Do not put it to one side – it is both a warning and an overture to do what is right. Live in God’s name and on His path, and He will give you whatever you legitimately ask for! It is part of your inheritance in Christ!

In this Psalm we see an obvious similarity to what happened to Jesus. Note that we should not think that a similarity always means a text is necessarily a deliberate ‘type’. However, in this text, it would appear that David’s words are meant to be prophetic, so close is the similarity. Indeed, the ‘similarity’ is precise and clear! Sadly, many Christians see ‘types’ around every corner, when they are just imagination. Not so in this case.

This Psalm was written to the “chief musician upon Aijeleth Shahar”. The literal meaning of Aijeleth is a doe or deer, but in this context probably refers to the kind of melody to be used. The added Shahar means dawn, or at dawn (early), and the root means to seek diligently, early. It is thus more likely to be a type of musical form played at an early hour in the Temple. This appears to be possible given the urgency of the Psalm (even if presented in the temple after the event).

This is probably the most well-known Psalm, and best known literature in the world.

Only a man completely in harmony with his own soul and the mind of God could write this Psalm. David knew immense fear, and yet God’s peace at the same time. God’s peace does not always displace human fear, but controls it. At times it will displace fear, but our human frame does not give us an easy time!

 Do any of us truly appreciate the gloriousness of God? I doubt it - we speak like princes but act like spiritual paupers.

Do we truly believe God made everything, and he did so in six days? Very few ‘Christians’ do – they have fallen for the unscientific lie of evolution.

Do we truly believe God is the King of kings and can do anything He wishes? It does not seem like it as we go about our daily business of accruing money, or status, or give our whole energies to job, or pursuits.

As the world sinks lower, and very quickly, into a pit of its own making, paying regard to Satan and not God, one must wonder whether or not Christians mean what they say, and if what they say is really representative of their faith. Time is short. Get it right – or live what is wrong.

Verses 1-3

1. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

2. O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

3. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Christians who have never known actual attacks on their person because they are believers, or on their Christian character, will not really understand the psalms that call on God for help. To them, these are just words. But, as those of us who have been attacked, continually, they are not just words, but heart-felt pleas for rest and assistance, from people who sometimes cannot sleep for fear.

Time and again I counsel Christians to live righteously and not to consort regularly with the unsaved. They listen and ‘agree’, but then go on to do what they wish. It is an habitual routine, for Christians to sit and listen to a pastor’s or teacher’s counsel, to agree solemnly, and then to live life like the unsaved for the next six days.

What does this achieve? Sometimes the one who counsels already knows of this unrighteous way of life. Even if he is deceived by assurances, he has given God’s word on the matter, and those who ignore it do so at their peril.

When I was an unsaved young man, pubs were places of poor repute, drinking dens filled with smoke and drunks. There were no clubs, just church halls with pounding music played by wannabe ‘Beatles’… the bass drum thumped so loudly it reverberated through the bell, so we did not stay long! And girls and boys were on opposite sides of the hall, drinking orange squash. It was too expensive to go to the cinema.

As a Christian, do you fear anything or anybody? If you say no – have you ever known real fear or real distress? If yes, then you are one of the few Christians to know God in a genuine way.

Many claim to trust God and to fear nothing because God is their strength. Yet, those same people tend to lack credibility when they come across situations or people who are so wicked or bad, their claimed trust and strength evaporates.

Such strength is possible, and is given, by our God, whose response to genuine faith (which is given by Him anyway) is absolute. In this Psalm we see David showing this genuine and utter faith in his living Lord. You are commended to have the same relationship with God, that your life will be vibrant and real.

Verse 1

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?

Today, ‘experts’ tell us that mental disturbances and social ills are just things that happen because we are products of evolution. There is no ‘cure’, only a resort to therapies and human interventions. For this reason, for example, homosexuals remain homosexuals, because that is the way evolution made them; some actually say ‘God’ made them that way. In other words, misery is our lot: cure, healing and change are just nasty deceptions put out by Christians.

Yet, the Christian answer, which is the answer given by God in His word, is full of hope! It is why we must always present these people with the truth, that though they are in deep sin, they have a way out. Homosexuals, addicts and many others, live in absolute misery. They pretend publicly that they love their lives – so why do so many commit suicide and live on the edge of normalcy? Why do they flout their sins and proclaim so loudly? It is all just a falsity.

God is good. He did not create men and women to be perverts, but condemns them outright. Even so, God gives a lifeline: to be saved. The repentant man or woman, forgiven by God, can change dramatically and fully; they can cast away their previous evils and enjoy real freedom in Christ. But, because this means leaving their perversions, activists fight Christians in the extreme. They do it anyway, because their perversity is a sign of their mental imbalance, caused by sin.

Many of David’s Psalms or songs plead for help, for David, for the nation and for personal reasons. Very clearly, this Psalm is one of praise for God and His power, with a sub-title of “The voice of the LORD”. (See Outline O-222)

It is a salutary lesson to us all, that we must praise God simply because of Who He is, and not just because He helps us and gives us blessings. He is our creator and supreme Master; He is worthy of praise because He is God and in ourselves we are nothing. We are His creatures who, though loved and saved in Christ, must recognise God’s greatness and ‘otherness’. If we do not have this kind of awe and fear, then our attitude and perception will all be wrong.

Today, many Christians run amok spiritually, doing what they think is right in their own eyes. They ignore God’s teachers and ignore scripture, preferring their own versions of what they think the Bible says, often with damaging, sinful results.

This Psalm was written for the dedication of the cedar-built house of David. He had a lovely home built of the strongest wood in the Lebanon. Yet, even at that time of personal gain and joy he remembered the Lord. This is because riches and plenty do not give us the Lord; they are only a temporary, earthly accomplishment.

I would say that few Christians dedicate their homes to God. This is because a home dedicated to God must have residents who honour the Lord, and do not continually sin. When we dedicate our home to God, we are saying “This house belongs to Him, and so I will live in it as one who is His servant.” Is this how you see your home? Does it truly belong to God? Or, do you see it as your private place to commit your own pleasures and sins, forgetting God, and even making it grubby and tainted by your selfishness and evils?

This Psalm was given to the Chief Musician of the temple, for public playing and singing. It is a fact that most of scripture is given over to various warnings and horrendous situations. It shows just how sinful people can be!

Yet, behind all this is the worship of the one true God, and the many promises He makes to those who obey Him. What David describes – his problems and then their treatment by God – is all genuine. God really does do these things. He can remove a problem in an instant; He can overcome enemies with a word. He heals and He makes good. He is Almighty God! We do not believe in a vacuum – we can read of God’s actions in scripture – and they are all true. So, our faith is not pie-in-the-sky, but actual and historical.

Someone recently suggested that all Christians ought to write their own Psalms. Maybe that is not such a bad idea. The Psalms were written from the heart, with God in mind. They are some of the earliest examples of formal prayer to the Lord – yes, that is what they are, written in poem form. It would be good to write down our thoughts on how we are and how God is part of our lives.

Many Psalms express David’s humility, his hurts, his fears, but they all contain his praise for God. The reason the Bible is made up mainly of warnings and woes is that this is what people are like! We are very good at messing things up and doing what is wrong. Then we expect God to pick up the pieces. And, very often, He does, because He is a merciful God. Why not meditate on Who God is and what He does for you? Thank Him just for being Who He is. Praise Him even when you think everything is going wrong. It is His due, and it will clear your head of self.

As David says (verse 6) - make no delay; pray to God when He will be found. We need to talk with God all the time; when we accrue anxieties and reluctances, our lives turn to dust. Be with God daily and see the difference! Or, He will not be found, but will have retreated to a distance until we repent. This is a time of loneliness and despair… David speaks of it many times. Repent and get back to God.

“Let all the earth fear the LORD”.
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made”.
“He spake and it was done”.

These are powerful words, referring to Almighty God. Today, many who call themselves ‘Christian’ show disdain for God by their lack of faith and by their public denunciation of what is holy and true. They twist scripture to mean whatever they want it to mean. They side with wicked men, showing a love for what is sinful and ugly, harmful and untrue. They will be judged!

Others, genuine believers, are afraid; they hide behind the baggage as spiritual war rages around them. They ‘tut-tut’ against fellow believers who fight alongside the Great General of our faith, who receive many wounds and scars. They want a quiet life, regardless of what scripture says about true Christian living.

This Psalm was written after David was driven away by Abimelech (also known as Achish: ‘Abimelech’ is more the title of a king or prince; thus ‘king of Gath’, a Philistine city). At one time David was so afraid of Saul that he tried to appeal to the Philistines, who were his enemies, to give him sanctuary. But, when he banged on the city gates, guards recognised him as the leader of the Hebrew band that killed their fellow Philistines.

Realising his error, David pretended to be crazy and drooled at the mouth. Quick thinking! Believing David really was mad, the king sent him away from the gates. It was memory of this incident that led David to write Psalm 34.

It is a reminder to us not to fall into the delusion that our enemies will give us help, or will become our friends. Many Christians befriend wicked people today, thinking they are doing the right thing. But, they are deluded.

The wicked do not care for believers, nor do they love them – rather, they hate Christians and will only tolerate them whilst they do the bidding of the wicked, or say nothing about their sin.

A Psalm of David.

As I observe, and experience, the quickly-growing hatred for believers in this world, made almost a legal requirement by governments, it would be very easy to fall into a mood of despondency or paranoia. Enemies are all around us, threatening our lives, freedoms and livelihoods, depending on which country we live in.

Yet, David, who himself experienced these things, shows us time and again that if we are righteous God protects us. We must not allow the wicked to bring us down, or make us ‘victims’, but must praise God and bless His name continually, even as the enemy bangs on our door. Not like rabbits caught in the glare of a headlight, but as an act of faith, calmly shown and followed. Yes, the initial fear must give us a jolt, but do not let it stay in the heart and mind. Instead, ask God to keep you safe and to guide your mind and heart in all things.

Verses 1-4

[1] Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
[2] Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
[3] Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
[4] All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

It is often taught that we cannot demand the unsaved to listen to God. But, God Himself demands that all people everywhere obey Him. It is not relevant that they wish to disobey or even if they say they do not believe in Him. They must obey and they must praise God, whoever they are! All people must make a joyful noise to God, “all ye lands”. Not just Believers, but everyone. “All ye lands” means everybody in every land on earth (whole earth, ‘erets). We have already seen that atheists are called ‘fools’ (which can be translated as ‘stupid’) by God. They also receive God’s wrath for not praising Him. We must make a joyful noise to God. (This is interpreted [in the Hiphil form] as shouting in applause, or to shout impulsively and [in the Hithpolel form] in triumph or joy. Other interpretations do not apply in this text). We must proclaim the honour of God’s name… that is, everything He stands for, is, and does.