Scripture: Psalms 6: 1-5

(To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.) O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.  Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.  My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?  Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.  For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Scripture Commentary:

David accepted God’s punishment but he begged God not to discipline him in anger.  He implored God to have mercy on him.  He poured out his heart to God, being completely honest with Him.

Be honest with God (He knows when we are not) even when filled with anger or despair.  God knows us thoroughly and wants the very best for us.

God would wipe us out with His wrath if He treated us with justice alone and no mercy.  Instead, God is kind to us and forgives us instead of giving us what we deserve.

God searches our minds and hearts.  He knows our motives.  There is no place to hide and no way to pretend that we can get away with sin.

We don’t have to impress God.  Communicate with Him in prayer.  Talk to Him and talk about Him to others while able because the day will come when we will not talk or praise His name.

Even after others have forgotten us, He will call us His good and faithful servant.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 6

Scripture: Psalms 2: 7-12

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Scripture Commentary: When God says, “Ask of me, and I shall give,” He means for us to be fully His first.

God is all powerful.  God said to David, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee …”  Because David had totally surrendered himself to God, he could ask.  If we truly place ourselves in God’s hands, He will provide.

To “kiss the Son,” means to surrender fully and submit to Him.  Christ is not only God’s chosen king, but also He is the rightful king of our hearts and lives.

Our world has many leaders who boast of their power, who rant and rave against God and His people, and who promise to take over and form their own empires.

God has the only power.  He is our creator; we are in His hands.  To be ready for His coming, we must submit to His leadership every day.

Jesus Christ is the light; He is the way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 2

Scripture: Psalms 150: 6

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Scripture Commentary: Let me live that I may praise you

How could the message be more clear?  In a way, the book of Psalms parallels our spiritual journey through life.  It begins by presenting us with two roads, the way to life and the way to death.  The road to eternal life is with Jesus Christ.

Which road are you on?  If you choose God’s way to life, you will still face both blessings and hardships, joy and grief, successes and obstacles.  However, God is at your side, guiding, encouraging, comforting, are caring.

The writer tells us to give thanks to God for He truly loves you.  As the wise and faithful person’s life draws to an end, he or she realizes clearly that God’s road is the right road, but don’t wait until the end of your life to accept Christ.  Do it now!

Go and tell everyone how He has loved you despite yourself.  Knowing and accepting God for leading you in the right direction and for assuring your place in His Kingdom will put praise for Him on your lips.  Let your voice tell the world how He loves you.

What a fitting way to end Psalms with encouragement for you to praise God.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 150

Two Additional Readings on Praise:
Deuteronomy Chapter 32
Psalms Chapter 119

Scripture: Psalms 146: 1-4

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.  While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Scripture Commentary: I can only complete my assignment while I live

Praise the Lord while you still have the mind, time and ability.  Praise the Lord while you live.  We are on a path to God or we are on a path to Satan.

Do not put your trust in the images you see daily on your computer or TV/movie screens.  These images are only for a moment.  Do not let worldly things come between you and our Lord Jesus Christ

The Word of God is the truth and is forever.  Jesus is the truth and the light to eternal peace with God.

We are but a vapor, but before we disappear we have an assignment to spread the Gospel.  You must be saved to do this – you must believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Once you have departed this life, you can no longer talk about Our Lord.  Talk about the Lord while you can.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 146

Scripture: Psalms 146: 1-4

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.  While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.  Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.  His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Scripture Commentary: Praise Ye the Lord for his splendor and majesty

Praise ye the Lord, for God lasts forever.  We, on the other hand, are here for a moment only.  Think about it – we may have known our parents, grandparents, and maybe our great grandparents, but chances are we don’t personally know our family further back.

We are but a moment, but Our Lord is forever.  That said, we have his Holy Spirit within us.  When we praise God, we see His power and His love.  Praising God takes our mind off our problems and shortcomings and focuses us on Him.

Praises cause us to consider and appreciate God’s character.  Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.  God is able to lift us up because His greatness is unfathomable.  The Lord is full of glorious splendor and majesty. He is righteous, gracious, compassionate, patient and loving.  He is our source in this life.

Jesus is ready to lift us up and bear our burdens if only we will let Him.  What will you do?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 146

Scripture: Psalms 119: 97-104

MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Scripture Commentary: Wisdom comes when you learn and apply God’s word to your life

God’s word makes us wise – wiser than our enemies and wiser than any teacher who ignores it.  True wisdom goes beyond amassing knowledge; it is applying knowledge in a life-changing way.

Intelligent or experienced people are not necessarily wise.  Wisdom comes from allowing what God teaches to guide us.  In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil.  But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won’t stumble as we walk.

It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies.  Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path.

God Bless You and Yours, and Happy New Year!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 119

Scripture: Psalms 127: 1-5

(A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Scripture Commentary:  All you have is a gift from God

Families build homes and watchmen guard cities but both of these activities are futile unless God is with them. A family without God can never experience the spiritual bond God brings to relationships.  A city without God will crumble from evil and corruption on the inside.

Don’t make the mistake of leaving God out of your life.  If you do, all of your accomplishments will be futile.  All that you have – home, car, family – is a gift from God.  He gave you the ability to have all of this, but without His grace and mercy, what would you have and/or who would you be?

Look at some of the homeless and say to yourself, “If not for God, this would be me.”

Make God your highest priority, and let Him do the building.  Get from being into yourself and get into the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior.