Please read Psalm 36 (12 verses)

The evil doers are fallen down and cannot rise again. God has given the psalmist a message about the wicked to share with us, so that we can recognise wickedness and deal with it in our own lives and in other lives. The primary problem is that we, in our fallen state, and the wicked, do not fear the Lord at all. They have no regard for the Lord as a person, neither are they afraid of His power or authority. They are foolish, as we saw in Psalm 14.

There are those have a very good opinion of themselves and think they are good enough for God, and God will be ok with them in the end. They have no concept of the holiness of God, nor any serious thoughts about the depths of their own sin. Their words are deceitful and hide the serious sin in their lives, and their hearts are full of folly, triviality and the reflection of the spirit of the age. They do not detect their sin because it is covered by the self-deception of positivism and a rosy glow in their view of their own behaviour. Those who reject God end up going their own wicked way and plotting what to do and say without the standards of the Lord to guide them, therefore they continually go wrong and choose the wrong direction.

The ways of the Lord are very different and His love towards the repentant could not be greater. God keeps His people safe because He is righteous, faithful and just at all times. The Lord is not like us, and we need a complete turn around in our souls, minds and hearts, to be like Him. God’s love is priceless and those who shelter under his wings have great blessings and comforts. We receive the blessings of His whole house and drink from the river of delight and the fountain of life. We have the light of life in our lives, the Word of God to direct our path daily. We gain the insight to walk uprightly and be wise and discerning people.

The psalmist asks that God will continue His love and care and keep the wicked from driving him away from his faith and love in the Lord his God.

Please read Psalm 35 (28 verses)

The psalmist is feeling the oppression of his enemies acutely and brings the situation before God, that God will be his shield and defence. He wants to hear from the Lord that the Lord Himself is his salvation and not anyone else.

MHe asks that the enemy be put to shame and brought to confusion, so that their way becomes unclear and they are unable to carry out their wicked schemes. The enemies have put a net for his feet, to trip him up in his godly living, but he requests that they be caught in it themselves and that their destruction come on them when they do not expect it.

The psalmist will rejoice in the Lord and in all the ways of the Lord. He will not allow his spirit to be downcast because of the traps the enemy set for him, but will rejoice that he has the salvation of God. The bones of the writer cry out to the Lord and he knows for sure that the Lord will deliver the poor in spirit and the needy, so that those who oppress them are confounded.

The psalmist speaks of the oppressor as someone who he befriended and yet has dealt treacherously with him. Those he has helped and humbled himself before, have now turned on him and torn his psyche to pieces and behaved in a cowardly and hypocritical way. He asks God to rescue him for these lions who have waiting in cover for him, and that God will stir up His justice on his behalf. He asks that the righteousness of the Lord would prevent the wicked from gaining the victory over his life and soul, and that they be brought to the point of shame for what they have plotted against him.

Those who are supporting of the righteous will then rejoice at the vindication of the Lord and that the Lord will be magnified by his people because of His great justice. It is the sign of a godly life that we seek fairness and equity in every layer of life and society, and that ungodliness comes to nothing.

Please read Psalm 34 (22 verses)

The psalmist is full of the joy of the Lord and in this Psalm he rehearses the glory and blessings of the Lord. He is obedient to the Lord and extols the name of the Lord at all times. He remonstrates with us as the afflicted, to join him in the adulation of the Lord.

When we are in trouble, the Lord delivers us, out of the trouble and from all fear of it. He builds our courage over the years and makes us brave and fearless in the face of danger and sorrow. When we face death, we will face it with courage and remember that it is already vanquished through the death of our Saviour Jesus. Those who are weak in spirit can call on the power of God and he will change their faces of shame to those of triumph and radiance. The angel of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, will be the deliverer of His people. We have no fear…

The Psalmist invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good. Even the smallest amount of the presence of the Lord is enough to let us know that He loves us and will rescue us in our infirmities. No one who trusts in Him will ever be disappointed, or put out, or disadvantaged in any way. In fact those who put him in the rightful place in their lives will find him to be everything they need. There are two prerequisites for these many and great blessings of the Lord. We must keep our tongues from speaking evil and we must resist all that is wrong. The Lord will listen to the prayers of his people but the evil will be ignored.

But those of His people who are particularly hurt and in trouble He will be a refuge to them and He can mend the brokenhearted and heal all their wounds including, all of the scars from the hardship they have experienced. But the evil that the wicked propagate and practice will be their downfall, for the face of the Lord is against them. However everyone who calls on the name of the Lord in faith will not be ignored and will be rescued.

Please read Psalm 33 (22 verses)

Christian people rejoice together and sing before the Lord. We worship and praise His holy name with all kinds of instruments, played skilfully and with great joy. We use our voices to sing a new song of the redeemed people, that only those bought with the precious blood of Christ, can sing – a shout of joy…

The psalmist makes much of the Word of the Lord. That eternal Word made the heavens and all the starry host of the skies, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator. The word of the Lord is faithful and true and all He says will surely come to pass. His word keeps the ocean in its boundaries, and by that same word keeps the nations of the world in check. He thwarts that plans of the people of this world and ensures that everyone in clear about who is in charge of every situation. His will cannot be manoeuvred or side-stepped and we are all subject to it. It is the Lord who forms the motivation and intention of our human heart, even though we think we are free agents and chose what we think and do.

Blessed are the people who belong to the Lord, for they are under His especial care. No king, warrior or mighty war horse can oppose or oppress them, for they are the rampant people of God. None of these powers can save us in times of trouble, though the ungodly put their trust in them. God will protect His people in the dangers of life, rescue them in the war we all face and keep us alive with the bread of the Word. We can rejoice for our hope is in this God who is able to keep us because He is holy and we can trust in that almighty name. In all the circumstances of life, we wait for Him in living hope…

Please read Psalm 32 (11 verses)

When the Christian falls into sin either by their will or inadvertently, they lose fellowship with the God the Father and life can become uncomfortable for them. The psalmist expresses his situation as having God’s hand heavy on his life and his body being full of stress and fatigue. He has no peace night or day and his strength has been sapped by the guilt that is infiltrating his mind. He comes to the Lord in confession, knowing there is forgiveness and relief for his body, mind and soul.

Blessed are they who are freely forgiven for all their sins and who have repented to the Lord about their failures. Blessed is the person who’s sin has been atoned for and have been given the salvation of God in their souls. Blessed is the person who has been changed and given a new heart and life and made to be like the Lord their God. They have no preponderance to deceit nor do they seek retribution for ill will against them. The Lord is with them continually because they keep away from guile and follow the way of Christ.

The Lord is a hiding place for such people and will hear their heartfelt prayers and answer from His holy mountain. The floods of trouble will never drown the believer and they will be delivered from all destructive forces. We must not be stubborn and resist the way of the Lord, but listen to His teaching and the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks in the Word of God. God will surround us with joy and music and dancing and make us a holy and happy people, full of His love. All who are upright will be a rejoicing people, full of good works and a certain destiny of delight and everlasting glory.

Please read Psalm 31 (24 verses)

The psalmist is showing us the extent to which we can trust in the Lord our God. We can put our whole trust in Him because He is our fortress and our defence. He will be the rock of His people because of who He is and for the honour of His name. The Psalm cites many troubles and contains the prophecy of the words of Christ from the cross as He dies for the sin of the world.

The psalmist gives us many ways that the Lord has delivers him for the adversity that overtakes Him, especially at the hand of other people. The Lord has maintained his dignity despite the extreme repulsion of his physical appearance as he suffers depression and spiritual destitution. He is not lost for the Lord keeps Him and sustains his spirit as he listens to the slander about his person. The Lord has brought the writer to a wide place of comfort and released him from the blame and accusations of fools. He knows that his life and times are on the hand of God and that he will see and experience the goodness of the Lord which is prepared for those who trust in Him. The Lord has delivered his servant from all the secret and deadly plans of those who plot his ruin, as was the way of Christ as He escaped the many instances where the Pharisees tried to kill Him.

The psalmist admits that his heart gave way at the onslaught of the enemy, yet the Lord still heard his cries for help and has had mercy on Him. He constrains us to love the Lord and to be of good courage for the Lord will strengthen the heart that has living faith in Him and will surely repay the proud for all their posturing and show.

The face of the Lord will shine on His precious people and will deliver them in all times and circumstances of their adversity and trials, even to the constant threat to take their lives. The Lord hears the supplications of His suffering ones and gives them strength of heart to face the fears. He has delivered His servant and has kept all His promises therefore we will never be ashamed.

Please read Psalm 30 (12 verses)

Weeping only lasts for the night – joy comes in the morning. We may experience the short weeping of this weary life, but the joy of heavens morning will cover over all tears. Similarly the anger of the Lord is temporary for the believing heart, but His favour lasts through our whole life. We rejoice to know our God who turns our wailing and sorrow into dancing and joy.

The psalmist lifts high the name of the Lord for he has been raised out of the depths of despair and distress and his enemies have been put to shame. The writer has been brought out of sickness and death and given healing and a new life in God. He does not belong with those who go down to the pit but has been given a new destiny and reason to live. When the Lord shows us His favour we are truly blessed, but when we cease to feel His felt presence with us, we fall into a myriad of insecurities and even despair. We are made for God and without Him we are in the deepest of troubles, which we may not recognise, but are a spiritual reality.

The psalmist remonstrated with the Lord again to withhold His righteous judgment and let him live for surely the dust of the earth, by which we are made cannot praise the Lord. The psalmist asks for mercy that his voice of praise will ever be raised to the God of his salvation.

Please read Psalm 29 (11 verses)

The Psalmist remonstrated with us to give the glory to the Lord for He is holy. We are to worship the Lord in a way that reflects His holiness and our complete devotion to Him.

The voice of the Lord supersedes the thundering of the mighty waterfalls of the world and is more powerful and certain than the ocean tides. That voice is majestic and everything succumbs to its powerful commands, even the majesty of the great cedar trees that grown in Lebanon. These trees are so valuable, long-lasting and resplendent, that they are used in the temple of the Lord for building and carved decoration because of their longevity.

Lebanon is synonymous with the promised land which will be a place where the people of God will never grow old and is their rich heritage of grace. Lebanon flourishes like the people of God under His keeping power and kind provision.

Mount Hermon is considered a sacred mountain and David likens the blessing of unity to be like the dew on Mount Hermon. Kadesh was the site where Abraham conquered the Amalekites, but the place where Israel failed to conquer in the beginning of the takeover of the promised land. It is a key site on the southern boundary of Israel near the wilderness of Zin. Whatever the outcomes in these places, the Lord is over all and in His holy temple, all cry glory to His name.

This Psalm makes much of the voice of the Lord, which is so powerful it calls worlds into being. The Word of the Lord is strong and true and creates and destroys according to His almighty purposes.

It is the Lord who sits on the throne of the Universe and all of heaven, and He alone will bring His people peace.