Psalm forty-Two- Longing for God

The palmist, perhaps a Levite, longs for the day when he can again come to the Temple of God.  He seems to be far away from Jerusalem, and in his memory relives the joyous pilgrimages he used to make in the past.

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.




Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  (KJV)

Psalm Ninety One | He that Dwells in God's Secret Place

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

God Speaks:

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.  (KJV)

Psalms 57 | When David fled from Saul in the cave.

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, 

When David  fled from Saul in the cave.

When David fled from King Saul, he hid for a time in the Cave of Adullam.  He was surrounded by enemies, and he feared for his very life.  Just as the cave was a place of refuge for his body, so he believed God was a refuge for his spirit.  Therefore, his heart was strong with courage.

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trust
in you: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that perform all things for me.

 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.  My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.  They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.  I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.  For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
 (KJV)

Psalms - Twenty- One | Psalms for the Soul

In this Psalm, David sings of a King
 that is greater than he.

 The king shall joy in your strength, O LORD; and in your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah.

For you prevent him with the blessings of goodness: you set a crown of pure gold on his head.

He asked life of you, and you gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in your salvation: honor and majesty have you laid upon him. For you have made him most blessed for ever: You have made him exceeding glad with your countenance.

For the king trust in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.

Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: your right hand shall find out those that hate you.

You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your  anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.

For they intended evil against you: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you shall make ready your arrows upon your strings against the face of them.  Be you exalted, LORD, in your own strength: so will we sing and praise your power.

 (KJV)

Psalms Four | Psalms for the Soul

        To the chief Musician on Neginoth
  (  a poem set to music on a string instrument)

 A Psalm of David.

 Hear me when I call O God of my righteousness
You have enlarged me when I was in distress have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity and seek after leasing? Selah.

But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Selah.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the LORD.  There be many that say Who will show us any good?  LORD lift thou up the light of your countenance upon us.

You have put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep for thou LORD only make me dwell in safety.

 (KJV)