PSALM 23 23 JANUARY 2008
By David

Jesus – The Shepherd Who Cares

What so distinct our God from all other gods is that He is a God of love. He cares for us in a very practical way, just like a shepherd tending his sheep would do so, not just in nice ‘I love you’ phrases.

Ps 23 phrases
Jehovah
God who is my
Green pastures
Jireh
Provider Gen22:14
Still waters
Shalom
Peace Jdg 6:24
Restores my soul
Rophe
Healer Ex 15:26
Paths of righteousness
Tsidkenu
Righteousness
Jer 33:16
You are with me
Shammah
Here Ezk 48:35
Presence of my enemies
Nissi
Banner Ex 17:15
Anoint my head
M’Kaddesh
Sanctifies Lev 20:8
(extracted from pg 94-95 ‘Be Worshipful’ by Warren Wiersbe)

Many would pray to all sorts of gods for supernatural intervention. But our God doesn’t just want to grant miracles but He also wants to walk that road with you too. Simply because He’s our Shepherd & we are His sheep.

Our Shepherd God is able to meet every need in your life. If you are feeling lonely or rejected, know that He is Jehovah Shammah, He is always there for you, “Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you.” Hebrew 13:5b. If you know that your examination results would be coming out soon or you are confused about what choices of courses to make, He is Jehovah Shalom, your peace.

Truly, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” Psalm 23:1

PSALM 22 22 JANUARY 2008
By David – Psalm 22, 23 & 24 are all about the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. Ps 22 is about the Messiah Who laid down his life, Ps 23 is about the Messiah Who Shepherds & cares, Ps 24 is about the Messiah who returns as King.

Jesus – Crucifixion & Resurrection

David saw prophetically the crucifixion of our Lord. There was no familiar experience that he could have possibly drawn from, for Israel did not have crucifixion as a form of capital punishment & the events described by David were 1000 years before they actually took place.

David prophesied that :

1. Jesus was forsaken by God the Father, v1-5 (refer to Mat 27:46; Mk 15:34)

2. Jesus was despised, v6-11 (v7 & Mat 27:39; v7-8 & Mat 27:42,43)

3. Jesus was crucified & the happenings around, v12-21 (the animals in this psalm was symbolic of those who wanted Him dead)
- Pierced hands & feet, v16 & Jn 20:25
- Crowd that gathered, v17 & Lk23;27
- Divided & lots cast for his garments, v18 & Mat27;35

4. Jesus appearance after resurrection, v22-25 & 1 Cor 15:1-8

We now live in the blessings that flowed from the cross – the message of salvation is freely given to all, v26-31. “All the ends of the earth will remember & turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will worship before You.” Psalm 22:27 (NASB)

Let’s pause & pray for unsaved loved ones & our nation to come to the Saviour.

PSALM 21 21 JANUARY 2008
By David

Secret to Victory

If Psalm 20 was the prayer & Psalm 21 was the answer, let’s now take a look at how God answered the nation Israel’s prayer:

Granted David’s heart’s desire
PS 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
PS 21:2 You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

Joy in the victory God gave
PS 20:5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious
PS 21:1 O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!

God protected David
PS 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
PS 21:3-4 You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him-- length of days, for ever and ever.

The key to the nation Israel’s success and to greater success in the days ahead (v8-12) is found in this verse, “For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.” Psalm 21:7

David’s confidence in God was built in his relationship with God. Just like in any human relationships, when we know someone well, we can confidently reflect his or her wishes and be right on target.

Make this your life goal: to know God & grow in confidence in the prayers that you utter before Him.

PSALM 20 20 JANUARY 2008
By David

Prayer Before Battle

Psalm 20 & Psalm 21 are prayers made as a nation before the battle and after the victory, respectively.

All of us face some form of battles in our daily life. Some are really huge ones: prolonged illness of a loved one, big debt to repay, a major deal to close or perhaps this is the ‘O’ level or ‘A’ level year. Yet other battles are smaller stuff, a geography test, an urgent need for a taxi to get you to an important meeting.

God is on your side & He wants you to do well, “May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.’ Psalm 20:3-5 Hence the psalmist could confess “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7 (NASB)

Yes, we need to put in our share of the effort to study for the test, to familiarise yourself with the arguments to persuade clients and so on.

But today, we can make a bold confession that God will help me in __________ battle I face today. Commit your battle to the LORD today. He can be trusted.

PSALM 19 19 JANUARY 2008
By David

God Wants You to Hear Him!

The Bible tells us that God makes Himself known to us in 3 ways:

1. Through nature, v1-6
2. Through the Word, v7-8
3. Through the Holy Spirit, v9-13

For the group that has been faithfully reading a psalm a day, you would probably have learnt how to hear God through 2 & 3. God isn’t just verbal in His expression, nor is His interest solely on moral issues. He is also quite an Artist. David has discovered & been enriched by that part of God as he spent a good part of his life outdoors – as a shepherd boy in his youth and later on, as a fugitive on the run. Colours & the various forms of creation that he saw, drew him to His Maker.

Today, we have similar media that captures our attention & time: television, movies, magazines, internet & all sorts of computer games. Yet, these forms never quite leave you refreshed on the inside. Prolonged watching of television or the playing of computer games leaves us feeling tired.

Why not take a step outdoors today, look into the heavens, marvel at the stars, the clouds, the trees, the flowers and the little animals that come by. They all belong to God, Maker of the Universe and the one Who made you and me. When we stand in the midst of His handiwork, it draws us to both His greatness & love. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

PSALM 18 18 JANUARY 2008
By David

The Story of David’s Adventures

This psalm of praise was shared to the nation of Israel after God gave victory to them over the attacking nations. It reflects David’s journey of walking with God in all the battlefield & running away episodes of his life.

Hence, it’s no wonder David opens the psalm with a declaration of love for the LORD & a dependence on Him! “I love you, O LORD, my strength.” Psalm 18:1

And he truly meant it. He knows how narrow some of the misses were & some of the miraculous deliverances, “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-19

As you meditate on David’s tribute to God in the short paragraph above, you would observe that he not only describes what happened, but David also tells of the wonderful love God has for him, that God was delighted in him.

What’s your testimony of your walk with God like? Perhaps there was something that the Lord did for you recently. Would you now re-look it & learn to acknowledge His love & His delight in you? As we affirm God’s love, we allow God to make us more secure in His love & delight.

PSALM 17 17 JANUARY 2008
By David

Please... Please... Help Me

David sounded pretty desperate here. Throughout the whole psalm, he seemed to be appealing to God to step in and intervene. The heat got so strong that it seemed like the enemy was close at hand, “They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover. Psalm 17:11-12

Have you prayed intensely before? These were David’s lines of intense praying –

- Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
- listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer, v 1
- ‘I’m innocent / clean’ v3-5
- I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; v6a
- Give ear to me and hear my prayer, v6b
- Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you, v7
- Keep me as the apple of your eye, v8a
- Hide me in the shadow of your wings v8b
- Rise up, O LORD, v13a
Is there an urgent & pressing need in your life today? Pray an intense prayer to the Lord to come to your help or turn the situation around.

PSALM 16 16 JANUARY 2008
By David

What Possesses You?

Marilyn Hickey puts it aptly in her comment for this psalm, “The man who possesses God, and is possessed by God, has true joy.”

For some of us, our possessions are our achievements – academic, sports or finances, or loved ones – family and special friends. We recognise that these are all blessings from God for our lives and are thankful. Then there are the moments that as we interact so much with the blessings that God gave, that we start to get forgetful and somehow credit ourselves that we deserve what we have and where we are today. And that’s when the grip on life’s blessings tighten & we get possessed by our possessions rather than the Giver of life. A sure test on where your heart lies would be when something precious is taken away. Would you still be happy in the Lord or would you feel that God has violated your rights?

David’s joy and faith is unshakable because God possesses His heart so fully “I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 David felt really blessed because the LORD is his inheritance (David possesses God in a sense) “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance” Psalm 16:5a (NASB) and God fully takes care of him v10-11 (God possesses David).

Does Jesus captures your heart fully today or are there blessings that God gave, that now mean more than Him? Renew your heart before God today.