What Shall I Render to the Lord

The psalmist expresses his close relationship with God. He knows that the LORD hears him whenever he prays. Although he feels he is at the lowest point of life, even like death, he knows the LORD will lift him up again.

In response to this, the psalmist is full of thanks to God. He has experienced God's wonderful salvation and mercy and knows that there is nothing that he can pay God with. And so he declares himself to be a servant to God. He will praise and give thanks to God.


Psalm 116
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

1 I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

3 The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.

7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.

9 I will walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.

10 I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”

11 I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?

13 I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people,

19 In the courts of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

They Have Mouths, But They Do Not Speak

A great praise to God that the LORD is the only true living God. Compared to the other gods who are just idols:

"They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;"

The God of Israel is the one true God. So this psalm encourages people to put their trust in their LORD and they will be blessed in many ways. Everything belongs to God, including the heavens and Earth; but God has given men the Earth. This is a picture of the Almighty God who is living and has relationship with His people.



Psalm 115  
The Futility of Idols and the Trustworthiness of God

1 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.

2 Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”

3 But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;

6 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;

7 They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feet they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throat.

8 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

9 O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

12 The Lord has been mindful of us;
He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.

13 He will bless those who fear the Lord,
Both small and great.

14 May the Lord give you increase more and more,
You and your children.

15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.

17 The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor any who go down into silence.

18 But we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore.
Praise the Lord!

The Mountains Skipped Like Rams

A brief account of God delivering His people out of Egypt. The emphasis here seemed to be more than a historical reminder but rather that God is the personal God of His chosen people Israel, that is the descendants of Jacob.

As God led the children of Jacob out of Egypt, nature had to obey God such as the sea parting to let the Israelites through. The mountains and hills also skipped to make way for God's people. The rock in the desert had to turn to water for the provision to the people. So God's creation had to obey God and make way for the Israelites coming through.



Psalm 114
The Power of God in His Deliverance of Israel

1 When Israel went out of Egypt,
The house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

2 Judah became His sanctuary,
And Israel His dominion.

3 The sea saw it and fled;
Jordan turned back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams,
The little hills like lambs.

5 What ails you, O sea, that you fled?
O Jordan, that you turned back?

6 O mountains, that you skipped like rams?
O little hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the God of Jacob,

8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water,
The flint into a fountain of waters.

He Raises the Poor Out of the Dust

A call to praise the LORD. Acknowledging that God is higher than all the nations. It also recognizes one of the key characteristic of God for His caring of the poor and needy by raising them up. Also mentioned is His care for barren woman, as shown in various parts of Scripture too.


Psalm 113 
The Majesty and Condescension of God

1 Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore!

3 From the rising of the sun to its going down
The Lord’s name is to be praised.

4 The Lord is high above all nations,
His glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,
Who dwells on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in the heavens and in the earth?

7 He raises the poor out of the dust,
And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

8 That He may seat him with princes—
With the princes of His people.

9 He grants the barren woman a home,
Like a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the Man who Fears the LORD

Starting off like one of the beatitudes, this psalm specifically details the blessings on those who are upright, in other words, those "who fear the LORD".

The characteristics of such a person are:
- delights greatly God's commandments
- gracious, compassionate, righteous
- deals graciously
- lends to people
- not be shaken
- not be afraid of evil
- solid trust in the LORD

The blessings are:
- descendants will be mighty on Earth
- wealth and riches in his house
- there is light even in darkness
- in everlasting remembrance

What seemed to be a list of blessings is rather a list of the characteristic of a person described as righteous. The Word of God, through this psalm at least, is driving us to consider such characteristics for ourselves. Then the blessing will come and the enemies will fall away.


Psalm 112
The Blessed State of the Righteous

 1 Praise the LORD!
         Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
         Who delights greatly in His commandments.
       
 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
         The generation of the upright will be blessed.
 3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
         And his righteousness endures forever.
 4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
         He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
 5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
         He will guide his affairs with discretion.
 6 Surely he will never be shaken;
         The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
 7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
         His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
 8 His heart is established;
         He will not be afraid,
         Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
       
 9 He has dispersed abroad,
         He has given to the poor;
         His righteousness endures forever;
         His horn will be exalted with honor.
 10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;
         He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
         The desire of the wicked shall perish.

The Fear of the LORD is the Beginning of Wisdom

A wonderful psalm of praise for our LORD. It highlights so many of the awesome characteristics of the LORD such as grace, compassion, just, truth, uprightness to name a few. In addition to these personal attributes, the psalm also reminds us that our God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. This is perhaps to encourage us, not only because God has such wonderful characteristics, but He also relates to us, His children, in a personal and binding way through the covenant.

The ending verse is worth memorizing: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"


Psalm 111
Praise to God for His Faithfulness and Justice

 1 Praise the LORD!
       
         I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,
         In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
       
 2 The works of the LORD are great,
         Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
 3 His work is honorable and glorious,
         And His righteousness endures forever.
 4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered;
         The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
 5 He has given food to those who fear Him;
         He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
 6 He has declared to His people the power of His works,
         In giving them the heritage of the nations.
       
 7 The works of His hands are verity and justice;
         All His precepts are sure.
 8 They stand fast forever and ever,
         And are done in truth and uprightness.
 9 He has sent redemption to His people;
         He has commanded His covenant forever:
         Holy and awesome is His name.
       
 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
         A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
         His praise endures forever.

The LORD (YAHWEH) Said To My Lord (Adonai),

This is the psalm in which Jesus quoted at least one time when He confronted the Pharisees. The Pharisees were stumped by the first verse when confronted by Jesus. The understanding is that Messiah is a descendant of David - and the people could accept that. But what was amazing to most is that Messiah is also divine, otherwise David would not refer to his descendant as Lord (Adonai, also meaning master).

This psalm thus reveals the divinity of Christ and also establishes that His spiritual children will all be considered priests of the order of Melchizedek. It also reveals the supreme authority of Messiah over all nations, kings and countries,



Psalm 110
–A Psalm of David.

 1 The LORD said to my Lord,
         “Sit at My right hand,
         Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
 2 The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
         Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
       
 3 Your people shall be volunteers
         In the day of Your power;
         In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning,
         You have the dew of Your youth.
 4 The LORD has sworn
         And will not relent,
         “You are a priest forever
         According to the order of Melchizedek.”
       
 5 The Lord is at Your right hand;
         He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
 6 He shall judge among the nations,
         He shall fill the places with dead bodies,
         He shall execute the heads of many countries.
 7 He shall drink of the brook by the wayside;
         Therefore He shall lift up the head.

Thus They Have Rewarded Me Evil For Good

The psalmist is probably David in this case. He described his situation in which his enemies were coming against him. What follows is a request or curse on his enemies. He requested God to bring various kinds of disasters on his enemies. He asks God to reward his accusers according to their unrighteous and wicked deeds. It may be questionable to ask God to deal harshly with our enemies, but the psalmist seems to be asking God to give them what they deserve.

Then the psalmist ask God for His mercy and to deliver him, describing himself as feeble and needy. He cries to God from his soul, trusting the LORD to deal with his enemies. He delights in praising the LORD and trust that God will save those oppressed.



Psalm 109
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 Do not keep silent,
         O God of my praise!
 2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
         Have opened against me;
         They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
 3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
         And fought against me without a cause.
 4 In return for my love they are my accusers,
         But I give myself to prayer.
 5 Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,
         And hatred for my love.
       
 6 Set a wicked man over him,
         And let an accuser[a] stand at his right hand.
 7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
         And let his prayer become sin.
 8 Let his days be few,
         And let another take his office.
 9 Let his children be fatherless,
         And his wife a widow.
 10 Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg;
         Let them seek their bread[b] also from their desolate places.
 11 Let the creditor seize all that he has,
         And let strangers plunder his labor.
 12 Let there be none to extend mercy to him,
         Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
 13 Let his posterity be cut off,
         And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
       
 14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
         And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
 15 Let them be continually before the LORD,
         That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
 16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,
         But persecuted the poor and needy man,
         That he might even slay the broken in heart.
 17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;
         As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
 18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
         So let it enter his body like water,
         And like oil into his bones.
 19 Let it be to him like the garment which covers him,
         And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.
 20 Let this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers,
         And to those who speak evil against my person.
       
 21 But You, O GOD the Lord,
         Deal with me for Your name’s sake;
         Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
 22 For I am poor and needy,
         And my heart is wounded within me.
 23 I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens;
         I am shaken off like a locust.
 24 My knees are weak through fasting,
         And my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
 25 I also have become a reproach to them;
         When they look at me, they shake their heads.
       
 26 Help me, O LORD my God!
         Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
 27 That they may know that this is Your hand—
         That You, LORD, have done it!
 28 Let them curse, but You bless;
         When they arise, let them be ashamed,
         But let Your servant rejoice.
 29 Let my accusers be clothed with shame,
         And let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.
       
 30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth;
         Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
 31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor,
         To save him from those who condemn him.

O God, My Heart Is Steadfast

A short psalm call for the praise of God for His mercy and truth. It recognizes God as the  LORD who saves and delivers. A reminder also that God has given them the lands as part of His covenant. It is God who led them to victory in the conquests and also defend them against the armies of the enemies.


Psalm 108
–A Song. A Psalm of David.

 1 O God, my heart is steadfast;
         I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
 2 Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.
 3 I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples,
         And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
 4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
         And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
       
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
         And Your glory above all the earth;
 6 That Your beloved may be delivered,
         Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
       
 7 God has spoken in His holiness:
         “I will rejoice;
         I will divide Shechem
         And measure out the Valley of Succoth.
 8 Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;
         Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;
         Judah is My lawgiver.
 9 Moab is My washpot;
         Over Edom I will cast My shoe;
         Over Philistia I will triumph.”
       
 10 Who will bring me into the strong city?
         Who will lead me to Edom?
 11 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?
         And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies?
 12 Give us help from trouble,
         For the help of man is useless.
 13 Through God we will do valiantly,
         For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.[a]

Understand the Lovingkindness of the LORD

This psalm encourages us by looking at God's deliverance on many occasions when His people were in distress. They were in darkness and in the shadow of death as a result of their rebellion against God. In their distress, they called out to God, and out of His Goodness and Mercy, He brought them out of their darkness.

So this psalm calls for thanksgiving and rejoicing to recognize God's goodness. The LORD is also a just and fair God. He depreciates the land and resources of the wicked and blesses the land and resources of the obedient. The psalm end beautifully with:

"Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."


Psalm 107
Thanksgiving to the LORD for His Great Works of Deliverance

 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
         For His mercy endures forever.
 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
         Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
 3 And gathered out of the lands,
         From the east and from the west,
         From the north and from the south.
       
 4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
         They found no city to dwell in.
 5 Hungry and thirsty,
         Their soul fainted in them.
 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
         And He delivered them out of their distresses.
 7 And He led them forth by the right way,
         That they might go to a city for a dwelling place.
 8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
         And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
 9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
         And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
       
 10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
         Bound in affliction and irons—
 11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
         And despised the counsel of the Most High,
 12 Therefore He brought down their heart with labor;
         They fell down, and there was none to help.
 13 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
         And He saved them out of their distresses.
 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
         And broke their chains in pieces.
 15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
         And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
 16 For He has broken the gates of bronze,
         And cut the bars of iron in two.
       
 17 Fools, because of their transgression,
         And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food,
         And they drew near to the gates of death.
 19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
         And He saved them out of their distresses.
 20 He sent His word and healed them,
         And delivered them from their destructions.
 21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
         And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
 22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
         And declare His works with rejoicing.
       
 23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
         Who do business on great waters,
 24 They see the works of the LORD,
         And His wonders in the deep.
 25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
         Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
 26 They mount up to the heavens,
         They go down again to the depths;
         Their soul melts because of trouble.
 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
         And are at their wits’ end.
 28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
         And He brings them out of their distresses.
 29 He calms the storm,
         So that its waves are still.
 30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
         So He guides them to their desired haven.
 31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
         And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
 32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
         And praise Him in the company of the elders.
       
 33 He turns rivers into a wilderness,
         And the watersprings into dry ground;
 34 A fruitful land into barrenness,
         For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
 35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water,
         And dry land into watersprings.
 36 There He makes the hungry dwell,
         That they may establish a city for a dwelling place,
 37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
         That they may yield a fruitful harvest.
 38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly;
         And He does not let their cattle decrease.
       
 39 When they are diminished and brought low
         Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow,
 40 He pours contempt on princes,
         And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way;
 41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction,
         And makes their families like a flock.
 42 The righteous see it and rejoice,
         And all iniquity stops its mouth.
       
 43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
         And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Who Can Utter The Mighty Acts Of The LORD?

This psalm starts off with praising God for His mighty acts. It acknowledges God's salvation and favour for His people. The people acted in rebellious ways but God still saved them and redeemed them. God led them out of Egypt but they soon forgot and became idolatrous. Moses interceded and God did not destroy them all.

The account of the Israelites was a cyclical pattern of disobedience, repentance, favour from God and back to disobedience. Their rebellion and disobedience went to the point of utter abomination in God's eyes involving the sacrificing of their own sons and daughters to demons and pagan idols.

God gave His people away to be oppressed by their enemies. But because of their cries and God's covenant and His mercy, God relented and saved them.



Psalm 106
Joy in Forgiveness of Israel’s Sins

 1 Praise the LORD!
       
         Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
         For His mercy endures forever.
       
 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?
         Who can declare all His praise?
 3 Blessed are those who keep justice,
         And he who does[a] righteousness at all times!
       
 4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favor You have toward Your people.
         Oh, visit me with Your salvation,
 5 That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,
         That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,
         That I may glory with Your inheritance.
       
 6 We have sinned with our fathers,
         We have committed iniquity,
         We have done wickedly.
 7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;
         They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,
         But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.
       
 8 Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake,
         That He might make His mighty power known.
 9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up;
         So He led them through the depths,
         As through the wilderness.
 10 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,
         And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
 11 The waters covered their enemies;
         There was not one of them left.
 12 Then they believed His words;
         They sang His praise.
       
 13 They soon forgot His works;
         They did not wait for His counsel,
 14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,
         And tested God in the desert.
 15 And He gave them their request,
         But sent leanness into their soul.
       
 16 When they envied Moses in the camp,
         And Aaron the saint of the LORD,
 17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan,
         And covered the faction of Abiram.
 18 A fire was kindled in their company;
         The flame burned up the wicked.
       
 19 They made a calf in Horeb,
         And worshiped the molded image.
 20 Thus they changed their glory
         Into the image of an ox that eats grass.
 21 They forgot God their Savior,
         Who had done great things in Egypt,
 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham,
         Awesome things by the Red Sea.
 23 Therefore He said that He would destroy them,
         Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach,
         To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.
       
 24 Then they despised the pleasant land;
         They did not believe His word,
 25 But complained in their tents,
         And did not heed the voice of the LORD.
 26 Therefore He raised His hand in an oath against them,
         To overthrow them in the wilderness,
 27 To overthrow their descendants among the nations,
         And to scatter them in the lands.
       
 28 They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor,
         And ate sacrifices made to the dead.
 29 Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,
         And the plague broke out among them.
 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
         And the plague was stopped.
 31 And that was accounted to him for righteousness
         To all generations forevermore.
       
 32 They angered Him also at the waters of strife,[b]
         So that it went ill with Moses on account of them;
 33 Because they rebelled against His Spirit,
         So that he spoke rashly with his lips.
       
 34 They did not destroy the peoples,
         Concerning whom the LORD had commanded them,
 35 But they mingled with the Gentiles
         And learned their works;
 36 They served their idols,
         Which became a snare to them.
 37 They even sacrificed their sons
         And their daughters to demons,
 38 And shed innocent blood,
         The blood of their sons and daughters,
         Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
         And the land was polluted with blood.
 39 Thus they were defiled by their own works,
         And played the harlot by their own deeds.
       
 40 Therefore the wrath of the LORD was kindled against His people,
         So that He abhorred His own inheritance.
 41 And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles,
         And those who hated them ruled over them.
 42 Their enemies also oppressed them,
         And they were brought into subjection under their hand.
 43 Many times He delivered them;
         But they rebelled in their counsel,
         And were brought low for their iniquity.
       
 44 Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,
         When He heard their cry;
 45 And for their sake He remembered His covenant,
         And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.
 46 He also made them to be pitied

       
 47 Save us, O LORD our God,
         And gather us from among the Gentiles,
         To give thanks to Your holy name,
         To triumph in Your praise.
       
 48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
         From everlasting to everlasting!
         And let all the people say, “Amen!”
       
         Praise the LORD!

He Brought Out His People With Joy

From the Creation in the last psalm, this psalm reminds us of the more personal God who relates to His people. It starts with a call to give thanks to God, sing to Him, glorify Him and remember His works. Then it starts reminding us that God formed a covenant relationship directly with man, through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

It tells the account from Jacob to the injustice done to Joseph, but who finally rose to become a powerful man in Egypt - all part of God's plan. Following this the children of Jacob were oppressed in Egypt, but God miraculously brought them out through Moses and Aaron, and provided for them through their journey in the desert.

The last few verses provide an excellent summary that God was glad and it filled Him with joy to bring His people out of Egypt. And God fulfilled His promise to give them the land of the Gentiles. He also expected them to observe and keep His statutes and law


Psalm 105
The Eternal Faithfulness of the LORD

 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
         Call upon His name;
         Make known His deeds among the peoples!
 2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
         Talk of all His wondrous works!
 3 Glory in His holy name;
         Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
 4 Seek the LORD and His strength;
         Seek His face evermore!
 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
         His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
 6 O seed of Abraham His servant,
         You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
       
 7 He is the LORD our God;
         His judgments are in all the earth.
 8 He remembers His covenant forever,
         The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
 9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
         And His oath to Isaac,
 10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
         To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
 11 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
         As the allotment of your inheritance,”
 12 When they were few in number,
         Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
       
 13 When they went from one nation to another,
         From one kingdom to another people,
 14 He permitted no one to do them wrong;
         Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
 15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
         And do My prophets no harm.”
       
 16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
         He destroyed all the provision of bread.
 17 He sent a man before them—
         Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
 18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
         He was laid in irons.
 19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
         The word of the LORD tested him.
 20 The king sent and released him,
         The ruler of the people let him go free.
 21 He made him lord of his house,
         And ruler of all his possessions,
 22 To bind his princes at his pleasure,
         And teach his elders wisdom.
       
 23 Israel also came into Egypt,
         And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
 24 He increased His people greatly,
         And made them stronger than their enemies.
 25 He turned their heart to hate His people,
         To deal craftily with His servants.
       
 26 He sent Moses His servant,
         And Aaron whom He had chosen.
 27 They performed His signs among them,
         And wonders in the land of Ham.
 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark;
         And they did not rebel against His word.
 29 He turned their waters into blood,
         And killed their fish.
 30 Their land abounded with frogs,
         Even in the chambers of their kings.
 31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
         And lice in all their territory.
 32 He gave them hail for rain,
         And flaming fire in their land.
 33 He struck their vines also, and their fig trees,
         And splintered the trees of their territory.
 34 He spoke, and locusts came,
         Young locusts without number,
 35 And ate up all the vegetation in their land,
         And devoured the fruit of their ground.
 36 He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land,
         The first of all their strength.
       
 37 He also brought them out with silver and gold,
         And there was none feeble among His tribes.
 38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
         For the fear of them had fallen upon them.
 39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
         And fire to give light in the night.
 40 The people asked, and He brought quail,
         And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
 41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
         It ran in the dry places like a river.
       
 42 For He remembered His holy promise,
         And Abraham His servant.
 43 He brought out His people with joy,
         His chosen ones with gladness.
 44 He gave them the lands of the Gentiles,
         And they inherited the labor of the nations,
 45 That they might observe His statutes
         And keep His laws.
       
         Praise the LORD!

Psalm of Creation

The LORD is described here with details of His creation. From the mountains to the waters of the deep and the water that cover the earth. He is the God who provides water by directing the springs to the animals and to water the Earth. It is written beautifully that: "The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. "

God had worked wonderfully in His creation, supplying all that is needed to His creatures, the plants and man. There is also a reference to the Leviathan - which some believe may be some large sea creatures mentioned in various myths.

This is a wonderful testimony of the God's handiwork in His creation. Everything from the celestial objects to the Earth and all the living things are beautifully designed by Him. In verse 29 and 30, a very important point is revealed that "You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;"


Psalm 104
Praise to the Sovereign LORD for His Creation and Providence

 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul!
         O LORD my God, You are very great:
         You are clothed with honor and majesty,
 2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
         Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
       
 3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
         Who makes the clouds His chariot,
         Who walks on the wings of the wind,
 4 Who makes His angels spirits,
         His ministers a flame of fire.
       
 5 You who laid the foundations of the earth,
         So that it should not be moved forever,
 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
         The waters stood above the mountains.
 7 At Your rebuke they fled;
         At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
 8 They went up over the mountains;
         They went down into the valleys,
         To the place which You founded for them.
 9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
         That they may not return to cover the earth.
       
 10 He sends the springs into the valleys;
         They flow among the hills.
 11 They give drink to every beast of the field;
         The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
 12 By them the birds of the heavens have their home;
         They sing among the branches.
 13 He waters the hills from His upper chambers;
         The earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.
       
 14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
         And vegetation for the service of man,
         That he may bring forth food from the earth,
 15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man,
         Oil to make his face shine,
         And bread which strengthens man’s heart.
 16 The trees of the LORD are full of sap,
         The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
 17 Where the birds make their nests;
         The stork has her home in the fir trees.
 18 The high hills are for the wild goats;
         The cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers.[a]
       
 19 He appointed the moon for seasons;
         The sun knows its going down.
 20 You make darkness, and it is night,
         In which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
 21 The young lions roar after their prey,
         And seek their food from God.
 22 When the sun rises, they gather together
         And lie down in their dens.
 23 Man goes out to his work
         And to his labor until the evening.
       
 24 O LORD, how manifold are Your works!
         In wisdom You have made them all.
         The earth is full of Your possessions—
 25 This great and wide sea,
         In which are innumerable teeming things,
         Living things both small and great.
 26 There the ships sail about;
         There is that Leviathan
         Which You have made to play there.
       
 27 These all wait for You,
         That You may give them their food in due season.
 28 What You give them they gather in;
         You open Your hand, they are filled with good.
 29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;
         You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;
         And You renew the face of the earth.
       
 31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
         May the LORD rejoice in His works.
 32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles;
         He touches the hills, and they smoke.
       
 33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
         I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
 34 May my meditation be sweet to Him;
         I will be glad in the LORD.
 35 May sinners be consumed from the earth,
         And the wicked be no more.
       
         Bless the LORD, O my soul!
         Praise the LORD!

Bless The LORD, O My Soul

This is a call to bless the LORD. Many reasons are given here why we should bless the LORD. The LORD forgives us for our iniquities, heals us, saves us from destruction. And He also shows his mercy and lovingkindness to us. He is gracious, merciful and slow to anger. He is righteous and just. But through salvation, he does not punish us as we deserve.

He is like a father to us in His mercy toward us. To those who fear Him, his mercy is forever, in fact he has established a covenant with those who keeps His commandments.

Finally the call to bless the LORD, extends to all His creation from the angels to the heavenly hosts to those who minister to Him



Psalm 103
A Psalm of David.

 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
         So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
       
 6 The LORD executes righteousness
         And justice for all who are oppressed.
 7 He made known His ways to Moses,
         His acts to the children of Israel.
 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
         Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
 9 He will not always strive with us,
         Nor will He keep His anger forever.
 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
         Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
       
 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
         So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
 12 As far as the east is from the west,
         So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
 13 As a father pities his children,
         So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
 14 For He knows our frame;
         He remembers that we are dust.
       
 15 As for man, his days are like grass;
         As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
         And its place remembers it no more.[a]
 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
         On those who fear Him,
         And His righteousness to children’s children,
 18 To such as keep His covenant,
         And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
       
 19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
         And His kingdom rules over all.
       
 20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
         Who excel in strength, who do His word,
         Heeding the voice of His word.
 21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
         You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
 22 Bless the LORD, all His works,
         In all places of His dominion.
       
         Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Do Not Hide Your Face From Me In The Day Of My Trouble

The psalmist calls upon the LORD to listen to his petition. He seems to be weary by trials and trodden by his enemies. He feels that at times, he has been brought up but then brought down again. But he remembers God and his mercy. He knows about God's glory and the promises to rebuild Zion. He forsees that the nations on Earth will one day acknowledge God and serve Him. He understands that God is the Creator and even when the heavens and Earth are gone, God will be there.


Psalm 102
A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the LORD.

 1 Hear my prayer, O LORD,
         And let my cry come to You.
 2 Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble;
         Incline Your ear to me;
         In the day that I call, answer me speedily.
       
 3 For my days are consumed like smoke,
         And my bones are burned like a hearth.
 4 My heart is stricken and withered like grass,
         So that I forget to eat my bread.
 5 Because of the sound of my groaning
         My bones cling to my skin.
 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness;
         I am like an owl of the desert.
 7 I lie awake,
         And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.
       
 8 My enemies reproach me all day long;
         Those who deride me swear an oath against me.
 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread,
         And mingled my drink with weeping,
 10 Because of Your indignation and Your wrath;
         For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
 11 My days are like a shadow that lengthens,
         And I wither away like grass.
       
 12 But You, O LORD, shall endure forever,
         And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.
 13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion;
         For the time to favor her,
         Yes, the set time, has come.
 14 For Your servants take pleasure in her stones,
         And show favor to her dust.
 15 So the nations shall fear the name of the LORD,
         And all the kings of the earth Your glory.
 16 For the LORD shall build up Zion;
         He shall appear in His glory.
 17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute,
         And shall not despise their prayer.
       
 18 This will be written for the generation to come,
         That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
 19 For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
         From heaven the LORD viewed the earth,
 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
         To release those appointed to death,
 21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion,
         And His praise in Jerusalem,
 22 When the peoples are gathered together,
         And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
       
 23 He weakened my strength in the way;
         He shortened my days.
 24 I said, “O my God,
         Do not take me away in the midst of my days;
         Your years are throughout all generations.
 25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
         And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
 26 They will perish, but You will endure;
         Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
         Like a cloak You will change them,
         And they will be changed.
 27 But You are the same,
         And Your years will have no end.
 28 The children of Your servants will continue,
         And their descendants will be established before You.”

Oh, When Will You Come To Me?

Unlike the previous calls to worship with song and music and praises, this psalm is a quieter reflection on the LORD. It encourages us to wait for the LORD patiently, keeping ourselves wise and with a good heart. Wickedness is to be deplored and rejected while we wait.

Most who have heard of Jesus' teaching may consider it to be at a much higher or stricter standard than the Old Commandments. But even here in the psalms, wickedness can be considered as slandering your neighbour, having a haughty look and a proud heart, deceitful and lies.


Psalm 101
A Psalm of David.

 1 I will sing of mercy and justice;
         To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
       
 2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
         Oh, when will You come to me?
         I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
       
 3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
         I hate the work of those who fall away;
         It shall not cling to me.
 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me;
         I will not know wickedness.
       
 5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor,
         Him I will destroy;
         The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart,
         Him I will not endure.
       
 6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,
         That they may dwell with me;
         He who walks in a perfect way,
         He shall serve me.
 7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house;
         He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
 8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
         That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.

Make a Joyful Shout to the LORD, All You Lands

As the title suggests, this is a psalm about thanksgiving. There is a few ways to express our thanksgiving beside saying thanks. These include worshiping with shouts, singing, praise and blessing His name. Or indirectly, thanks can be shown by serving God with gladness. Also the reason for thanks which we need to remind ourselves are:
- He is God
- we are His people
- He is good
- He is merciful
- His truth is unchanged.


Psalm 100
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

 1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
 2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before His presence with singing.
 3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
         It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]
         We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
       
 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
         And into His courts with praise.
         Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
 5 For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations.

He is holy

The praising of the LORD continues. It is clear that He is above all peoples, is Holy and awesome. Justice and righteousness is part of Him. We are called to humbly worship at His footstool. He is the LORD who answers people and have at times communicated through selected individuals like Moses and Samuel and elected some like Aaron to be specially ministering to Him. He forgives but also exercise vengeance. Above all, He is Holy.


Psalm 99
Praise to the LORD for His Holiness

 1 The LORD reigns;
         Let the peoples tremble!
         He dwells between the cherubim;
         Let the earth be moved!
 2 The LORD is great in Zion,
         And He is high above all the peoples.
 3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name—
         He is holy.
       
 4 The King’s strength also loves justice;
         You have established equity;
         You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
 5 Exalt the LORD our God,
         And worship at His footstool—
         He is holy.
       
 6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
         And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;
         They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.
 7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar;
         They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.
       
 8 You answered them, O LORD our God;
         You were to them God-Who-Forgives,
         Though You took vengeance on their deeds.
 9 Exalt the LORD our God,
         And worship at His holy hill;
         For the LORD our God is holy.

For He Has Done Marvelous Things

A victorious call to sing to the Lord because of His salvation, mercy, faithfulness. The psalmist is in great joy and encourages people to make music with all kinds of instruments to worship God. Previously the mighty and awesome nature of God was made known. Here God's provision for His people is revealed. The people are eagerly awaiting the righteousness of God and His coming judgement.



Psalm 98
A Psalm.

 1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
         For He has done marvelous things;
         His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
 2 The LORD has made known His salvation;
         His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
 3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
         All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
        
 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
         Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
 5 Sing to the LORD with the harp,
         With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
         Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.
        
 7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,
         The world and those who dwell in it;
 8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
         Let the hills be joyful together
          9 before the LORD,
         For He is coming to judge the earth.
         With righteousness He shall judge the world,
         And the peoples with equity.

Rejoice in the LORD, You Righteous

Another psalm of praise of the LORD. It shows how God is above anything on Earth, greater than the lightnings, mountains and heavens. He is definitely above all the idols that pagans worship. For all these reasons, His people rejoice and exalt Him. So we are called to walk in righteousness and rejoice in Him, since He will preserve and deliver them.



Psalm 97
A Song of Praise to the Sovereign LORD

 1 The LORD reigns;
         Let the earth rejoice;
         Let the multitude of isles be glad!
       
 2 Clouds and darkness surround Him;
         Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
 3 A fire goes before Him,
         And burns up His enemies round about.
 4 His lightnings light the world;
         The earth sees and trembles.
 5 The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
         At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
 6 The heavens declare His righteousness,
         And all the peoples see His glory.
       
 7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
         Who boast of idols.
         Worship Him, all you gods.
 8 Zion hears and is glad,
         And the daughters of Judah rejoice
         Because of Your judgments, O LORD.
 9 For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
         You are exalted far above all gods.
       
 10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!
         He preserves the souls of His saints;
         He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
 11 Light is sown for the righteous,
         And gladness for the upright in heart.
 12 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
         And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

He is Coming to Judge the Earth

This psalm continues with to call to worship and praise God. Even at the time of the psalm, the people understood the good news of His salvation. He is praised for His glory, He is above any idols and other gods. He has honor, majesty, strength, beauty.

The psalm is a glorious praise of God for who He is and His majesty. It sets him high and lead people to praise and worship Him. It declares that God is the God of all people, not just the Israelites. And there will be a time when God will come to Earth and judge with righteousness.





Psalm 96


A Song of Praise to God Coming in Judgment

 1 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
         Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
         Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
 3 Declare His glory among the nations,
         His wonders among all peoples.
       
 4 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised;
         He is to be feared above all gods.
 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
         But the LORD made the heavens.
 6 Honor and majesty are before Him;
         Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
       
 7 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
         Give to the LORD glory and strength.
 8 Give to the LORD the glory due His name;
         Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
 9 Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!
         Tremble before Him, all the earth.
       
 10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns;
         The world also is firmly established,
         It shall not be moved;
         He shall judge the peoples righteously.”
       
 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
         Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
         Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice
 13 before the LORD.
         For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
         He shall judge the world with righteousness,
         And the peoples with His truth.

Let Us Shout Joyfully To The Rock Of Our Salvation

This psalm calls for God's people to worship the LORD joyfully with singing and shouting, with psalms. God is recognized to be in control of the whole earth from the deep places to the highest mountains. We are called to worship, bow and kneel and recognize that He is our Maker. A kind reminder to also listen to God and do not turn away when He speaks to us. An example for the reminder is the Israelites who was delivered by God, yet grieved God with their hardness of hearts.



Psalm 95
A Call to Worship and Obedience

 1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
         Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
         Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
 3 For the LORD is the great God,
         And the great King above all gods.
 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
         The heights of the hills are His also.
 5 The sea is His, for He made it;
         And His hands formed the dry land.
       
 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
         Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
 7 For He is our God,
         And we are the people of His pasture,
         And the sheep of His hand.
       
         Today, if you will hear His voice:
 8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,[a]
         As in the day of trial[b] in the wilderness,
 9 When your fathers tested Me;
         They tried Me, though they saw My work.
 10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
         And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
         And they do not know My ways.’
 11 So I swore in My wrath,
         ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

O LORD God, To Whom Vengeance Belongs

This starts with a strong call to God for vengeance. It explains the rampant evil and violence perpetrated by the wicked ones, who even think God cannot see them. Then it remind those wicked ones that God the Creator who created us with eyes and ears and gives us knowledge; surely this God will know exactly what we do.

Then an encouragement for those who belong to God. The LORD will not forsake His people. God's judgement will come and will be righteous. God will stop the wickedness and stand up for His people. He will give them comfort.


Psalm 94
God the Refuge of the Righteous

 1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs—
         O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
         Render punishment to the proud.
 3 LORD, how long will the wicked,
         How long will the wicked triumph?
       
 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things;
         All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
 5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD,
         And afflict Your heritage.
 6 They slay the widow and the stranger,
         And murder the fatherless.
 7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,
         Nor does the God of Jacob understand.”
       
 8 Understand, you senseless among the people;
         And you fools, when will you be wise?
 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
         He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
         He who teaches man knowledge?
 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man,
         That they are futile.
       
 12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD,
         And teach out of Your law,
 13 That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
         Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
 14 For the LORD will not cast off His people,
         Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
 15 But judgment will return to righteousness,
         And all the upright in heart will follow it.
       
 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
         Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
 17 Unless the LORD had been my help,
         My soul would soon have settled in silence.
 18 If I say, “My foot slips,”
         Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.
 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
         Your comforts delight my soul.
       
 20 Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law,
         Have fellowship with You?
 21 They gather together against the life of the righteous,
         And condemn innocent blood.
 22 But the LORD has been my defense,
         And my God the rock of my refuge.
 23 He has brought on them their own iniquity,
         And shall cut them off in their own wickedness;
         The LORD our God shall cut them off.

The LORD Reigns, He is Clothed with Majesty

This psalm proclaims God Almighty with his majesty and strength. He has been on his throne forever. The strength of the LORD is also incomparable and is no match for anything on earth, such as floods. This short and simple psalm simply places God up high above all else forever.


Psalm 93
The Eternal Reign of the LORD

 1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD is clothed,
         He has girded Himself with strength.
         Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
 2 Your throne is established from of old;
         You are from everlasting.
       
 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
         The floods have lifted up their voice;
         The floods lift up their waves.
 4 The LORD on high is mightier
         Than the noise of many waters,
         Than the mighty waves of the sea.
       
 5 Your testimonies are very sure;
         Holiness adorns Your house,
         O LORD, forever.

It Is Good To Give Thanks To The LORD

Following from the previous psalm of recognizing those who dwell in the LORD will be protected, this psalm encourages thanksgiving and praise to God. It even lists the musical instruments for music for praise such as strings, lute and harp.

It reminds us that God ultimately triumphs. It even suggests that wicked ones spring up just so that they can be finally destroyed by God. In contrast, the righteous will flourish and be fruitful even till old age.


Psalm 92
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day.

 1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
         And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
         And Your faithfulness every night,
 3 On an instrument of ten strings,
         On the lute,
         And on the harp,
         With harmonious sound.
 4 For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
         I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
        
 5 O LORD, how great are Your works!
         Your thoughts are very deep.
 6 A senseless man does not know,
         Nor does a fool understand this.
 7 When the wicked spring up like grass,
         And when all the workers of iniquity flourish,
         It is that they may be destroyed forever.
        
 8 But You, LORD, are on high forevermore.
 9 For behold, Your enemies, O LORD,
         For behold, Your enemies shall perish;
         All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
        
 10 But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox;
         I have been anointed with fresh oil.
 11 My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies;
         My ears hear my desire on the wicked
         Who rise up against me.
        
 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
         He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
 13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
         Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
         They shall be fresh and flourishing,
 15 To declare that the LORD is upright;
         He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

He That Dwelleth In The Secret Place of the Most High

This psalm is filled with imagery and is one of the popular passages that is taken as prayer and is memorized. The main idea is to "dwell in the secret place of the most High" - meaning to abide or to live in the LORD. In other words, it is trusting God, taking refuge in Him, depending on God as our fortress and putting our love on Him.

The benefits are we will be protected, our enemies cannot harm us, we will not be afraid day and night. Angels will be assigned to keep us from accidents. Enemies will fall beside us and we will see God's justice on them.

Finally, a personal commitment by God when we dwell in Him include God will answer our call, He will set us on high, He will be with us in time of trouble and deliver us, and we will be assured long life and salvation.



Psalm 91
Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
       
 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
         And from the perilous pestilence.
 4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
         Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
         Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
       
 7 A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
         But it shall not come near you.
 8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
       
 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
         Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
 10 No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
         To keep you in all your ways.
 12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
       
 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
 16 With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”

So Teach Us To Number Our Days

This psalm looks at Israel or perhaps humankind in general, examining who we are in relation to the Everlasting and Almighty God. There is a sense of finiteness of man compared with God's infiniteness. Man has angered God in many ways and subjected to God's wrath.

The writer acknowledges our sins and God's anger but asks God to teach us to "number our days" so we can live wisely. Finally the writer calls for the mercy and compassion of God so that His people can rejoice and be glad in life. In addition he asks for God to reveal His work and glory to His people.



Psalm 90
A Prayer of Moses the man of God.

 1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place[a] in all generations.
 2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
         Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
         Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
       
 3 You turn man to destruction,
         And say, “Return, O children of men.”
 4 For a thousand years in Your sight
         Are like yesterday when it is past,
         And like a watch in the night.
 5 You carry them away like a flood;
         They are like a sleep.
         In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up;
         In the evening it is cut down and withers.
       
 7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
         And by Your wrath we are terrified.
 8 You have set our iniquities before You,
         Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;
         We finish our years like a sigh.
 10 The days of our lives are seventy years;
         And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,
         Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
         For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
 11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
         For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.
 12 So teach us to number our days,
         That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
       
 13 Return, O LORD!
         How long?
         And have compassion on Your servants.
 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
         That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,
         The years in which we have seen evil.
 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants,
         And Your glory to their children.
 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
         And establish the work of our hands for us;
         Yes, establish the work of our hands.