Category: Psalms

A Reflection on Psalm 4

How can you find peace and safety in the middle of conflict?

The 4th Psalm is often paired with the 3rd Psalm and categorized as parallel prayers of trust in God; one for the morning and one for the evening. Since David was running for his life from his son, Absalom, this Psalm has a lot of credibility.

David’s quest for peace and safety involves three steps in this portion of Scripture. First, he calls out to God and asks for help. He talks to God about the people who want to do him in. He anticipates a good night’s sleep in spite of his troubles.

Next, he seems to call out to his adversaries in verse 6. These are the ones who “love what is worthless” and “aim at deception” (v. 2). David’s previous prayer allows him to stand up to their pressure.

Finally, he crawls into bed in peace. After all is said and done, David renews his trust in God. He finds his gladness and security in God, not in what others are scheming or saying about Him.

This Psalm is an invitation to join David on his quest for peace and safety. We have to same opportunity to call out to God before calling out to our adversaries. Speaking of this dynamic, Charles Spurgeon said, “He who dares to face his Maker will not tremble before the sons of men.” If we approach our own quest in this order, we have a good chance of arriving at our destination, safe and sound.

Photo by John_Towner from Freerange Stock

A Reflection on Psalm 3

David literally ran for his life on more than one occasion. In 1 Samuel 19, he ran from Saul after the unhinged king tried to kill him four times. David stayed in hiding from Saul for the next 10 chapters. Later on, in 2 Samuel 15, David ran away from Jerusalem to as his son, Absalom, made a claim to the throne.

The inscription given to Psalm 3 explains that it was written around the time David fled from his son, Absalom. Even though the inscription is not inspired by the Holy Spirit, it gives modern readers a starting place to evaluate the king’s comments. David had the right to speak about these issues because he has seen the worst kinds of battles.

This Psalm is sometimes described as a morning prayer of trust in God. In four short stanzas, David ran from his enemies and ran to God for help. Instead of focusing on threat that rose up all around him, David focused on the protection that God would provide. His faith in God drove Him to trust in the One who is a “shield” around His people.

A Reflection on Psalm 1

The first Psalm is a vivid call to live with Biblical insight according to the way of righteousness.

C. S. Lewis wrote a book titled Reflections on the Psalms. In it, he hoped that his words might interest and help other “inexpert readers” of the Bible’s most poetic book. This reflection on the first Psalm is offered with the same spirit.

The first Psalm is a vivid call to live with Biblical insight according to the way of righteousness. The way of righteousness is set in sharp contrast with the way of wicked. The righteous person finds his or her wisdom in the Scriptures and the fool finds his or her wisdom in other self-absorbed fools.

The picture of success could not be more attractive. The person who values God’s wisdom is described as a healthy tree with access to an endless supply of water. The tree is a joy to the landowner because it gives off a continual supply of fruit. The person who despises God’s wisdom is a tumble weed that rolls around in the wind, swept aside without a thought.

This description of the righteous way of life is a warning and an encouragement. It’s a warning to those who would discount the Psalms that follow it; and an encouragement to those who take them to heart.