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“May you and I seek God’s Presence every moment of every day.” <>< Dona (08/03/20)
Psalm 51 Theme
David’s plea for mercy, forgiveness and cleansing (v. 1-2).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, David was asking You to forgive him for some serious sins (v. 3-4).
Something to think about
David had committed adultery and murder (II Samuel 11). Still he asked God to forgive his sins (v. 9). And to create within him (David) a clean heart and a right spirit (v. 10). Though God forgave David, He didn’t erase the natural consequences of David’s sins (see II Samuel 12:1-23).
Something to experience
No sin is too great that God can’t forgive it. So we should ask God, as David did for mercy, forgiveness and cleansing when we sin. But just like David we too may experience consequences from our sin. When tempted to do wrong, perhaps remembering there may be severe consequence and that you will be sinning against God will help you stay on the right track. We can never please God by our outward actions unless our inward condition, our heart, lines up with God (v. 17).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 51:1-2 1 Have mercy on me, God, according to Your loving kindness. According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:3-4 3 For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. 4 Against You, and You only, I have sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight, so You may be proved right when you speak, and justified when You judge.
Psalm 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.
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Psalm 52 Theme
God will judge the evildoer (v 1-4).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, You can defeat evil (v. 5)
Something to think about
The psalmist David described himself as an olive tree flourishing in the house of God (v. 8a). He was trusting in God’s unfailing love (v. 8b). He said he would praise God for what He had done (v. 9a). He said in God’s name he would hope (v. 9b).
Something to experience
Are we like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God? Are we trusting in God’s unfailing love? Are we praising God for what He has done for us? Are we hoping in God? Oh, I hope our answer is yes to these four questions.
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 52:1-4 1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God’s loving kindness endures continually. 2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking the truth. Selah. 4 You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
Psalm 52:5 God will likewise destroy you (the evildoer) forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your tent, and root you out of the land of the living. Selah.
Psalm 52:8-9 8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever. 9 I will give You thanks forever, because of what You have done. I will hope in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints.
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Psalm 53 Theme
All have sinned. No human can save himself (v. 3).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, You though have a plan to save us (v. 2).
Something to think about
A psalmist explained the foolishness of atheism. A “fool” isn’t necessarily lacking in intelligence. Fools are people who reject God (v. 1).
Something to experience
God is really the only one that can save us (v. 6).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 53:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.
Psalm 53:2 God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, anyone who seek after God.
Psalm 53:3 Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
Psalm 53:6 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
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Psalm 54 Theme
A call for God to overcome the psalmist’s enemies (v. 1).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, the psalmist, David, is being attacked by ruthless men (v. 3).
Something to think about
David wasn’t afraid to cry out to God for help (v. 4-5).
Something to experience
We should thank the Lord when He delivers us from our troubles (v. 6-7).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 54:1-2 1Save me, God, by Your name. Vindicate me in Your might. 2 Hear my prayer, God. Listen to the words of my mouth.
Psalm 54:3 For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah.
Psalm 54:4-5 4 Behold, God is my helper. The Lord is the one who sustains my soul. 5 He will repay the evil to my enemies. Destroy them in Your truth.
Psalm 54:6-7 6 With a free will offering, I will sacrifice to You. I will give thanks to Your name, Lord, for it is good. 7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble. My eye has seen triumph over my enemies.
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Psalm 55 Theme
Responding to the hurts from someone who was thought to be a friend (v. 1-4).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, the psalmist, David, was betrayed by a friend (v. 12-14).
Something to think about
David wanted to escape from his problems and pressures of life (v. 6-8).
Something to experience
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? Have you ever betrayed a friend? Real friends stick by each other in times of difficulties. If you’re experiencing this situation perhaps you could talk to the Lord like David did (v. 16-18, 22-23).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 55:1-4 1 Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan 3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me.
Psalm 55:6-8 6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. 7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah. 8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
Psalm 55:12-14 12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. 13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. 14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.
Psalm 55:16-18 16 As for me, I will call on God. the Lord will save me. 17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice. 18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me …
Psalm 55:22-23 22 Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. 23 … I will trust in You Lord.
Prayer