In reading through the Bible in 90 days, I find it most difficult to read 12 pages of Psalms each day. The Psalms are self-contained laments, praises or prayers to the LORD. I am used to reading 3 or 4 Psalms at one time. Psalms are wonderful passages to use in our devotional time with the LORD. They speak powerfully to our trials and triumphs in life. They also help us to wait on the LORD for answers to our prayers that don’t come right away. They are meant to be meditated on and prayed through as we relate them to our real-life situations.
Many of the first forty Psalms are written by David. In these poems put to song we get a glimpse of David’s relationship with the LORD. Several of these Psalms seem to have been written by David as he was being pursued by Israel’s 1st king, Saul. It is good for us to remember that a long period of time passed between David’s anointing by Samuel as Israel’s next king (1Samuel 16) and when he actually acceded to the throne of all Israel (2Samuel 5). David went through many dark nights of the soul when he was hiding in caves or facing betrayal at the hands of friends.
David does not give us the following exhortation from an ivory tower: “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture (or as the NASB puts it: ‘cultivate faithfulness’). Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:3,4). He gives these words out of the anvil of hard experience. David’s life was in danger many times and for many years he was chased by Saul in the desert. David continued to trust the LORD and the LORD wrought great deliverances on his behalf. He went from hunted criminal to being the exalted king of Israel. His person and kingship became a powerful type of Jesus the Christ and His messianic kingdom.
In following David’s example, we are encouraged not to fret and to commit our way to the LORD. As we continue to trust the LORD in good times and bad times, we can be confident that He will make our “righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of (our) cause like the noonday sun”. (Ps.37:5) This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pastor John