Psalm 17 is a prayer of David.

He starts off by praying that God will hear him. He tells God that he is not faking his prayer, but is being totally honest with God.

He then tells God how God has proved him, and how God has tried him, and found no evil. How many of us have been tried by God and have passed the test? How many of us can tell God that we have not transgressed?

The Psalmist continues by praying that God will guard his footsteps, so that he will not slip. We should pray that God will guard our footsteps so that we don’t stumble. He further prays that God will show his loving kindness, and that God will protect him.

The Psalmist then changes to describing the wicked’s ways. The wicked are described as having proud mouths, and as lions waiting in dark places.

After describing the wicked, the Psalmist prays that God will cast them down, and deliver the Psalmist from them.

The Psalmist concludes by saying that God will protect him.

When things are going rough for us; when we are afraid of what is coming, do we pray to God and ask for Him to guide our steps? Or do we instead push through, and try to make it on our own.

Several times throughout the prayer, the Psalmist praises God. When we pray do we just read off a list of things we want, or do we take time to actually worship God?

Psalm 16 is a Psalm of trusting and relying on God.

The Psalmist starts off by crying out to God to preserve him, and that the Psalmist puts his trust in God. He then says how his goodness is nothing apart from God.

From reading the opening lines of this Psalm, we can see how much the Psalmist trusted God. He places his trust in Him, and prays that God will preserve him. when we are faced with seemingly impossible circumstances, what do we do? Do we place our trust in God, or do we just fall apart?

The Psalmist goes on to describe how those who follow other Gods will suffer, and will have far more sorrows. He further says that he will not help them with their worship, or even mention the names of their gods.

This is a powerful statement. When he saw people who were worshipping other gods, he did not help them with their worship. He would not even mention the names of their gods. He was completely given over to God, there was no room for anything else to be worshipped in his life. Too often, we let other things crowd into our life, and they quickly become the centerpiece of our life. We should rather follow the Psalmist’s example and let NOTHING come between us and God.

Continuing, the Psalmist describes how much God has blessed him. He says that God has set his lines in favorable places. What that means is that God has blessed him with much land. He says that he has a good heritage, and that he will praise God, because God has given him much.

He then describes how he has God in front of him, and he shall not be moved. Because of this, he says he is glad, and he will rest in hope, because God will not leave him in hell.

How about us? Is God in front of us, as the only God we have? Or is he off to the side, and something else is in the front? God should be at the front of our life, and not off to the side.

Psalm 15 is a Psalm giving the qualifications for someone who is fit to be in the temple of God.

The Psalmist starts off by asking God who is able to dwell in the tabernacle or on the holy hill. In the next verse, the Psalmist answers the question.

A man who walks upright,works in righteousness, and who speaks the truth. A man who doesn’t attack with his words, does no evil to his neighbour, and does not hate his neighbor. A man who holds a vile person in contempt, but instead honors those who fear God. When he makes a promise, even if it ends up hurting him, he still keeps it. He doesn’t take bribes. He doesn’t do things to hurt the innocent for money.

In closing the Psalmist states that those who do these things shall never be moved.

To be a righteous man, capable of being in God’s temple, we have to have those qualities. We’re supposed to be doing righteous works. We shouldn’t attack people with our words, rather, we should build them up. What it comes down to, is that we should be blameless people doing righteous works.

How many of us can claim that we have those qualities?

Psalm 14 is a psalm that describes the problems that arise when people don’t believe in God. The psalmist shows the evil, and what God thinks of them.

He starts off by saying that a fool believes that there is no God. The fool believes that there is no God. Having stated this, the Psalmist then describes how the fools have done great evil, much corruption, and many abominable works.

Now, lets look at our culture. We live in a culture that denies the existence of God. The people are corrupt, they have done so much evil. By denying the existence of God, they have removed the consequences for their evil. By denying the existence of God, they have no greater authority than themselves. By denying the existence of God, they have removed any inhibitions to do what THEY want. Denying the existence of God is dangerous and harmful to everybody concerned.

The Psalmist continues, describing how God looked down at the world, to see if anyone seeked God, or if anyone understood. He saw none. Everyone had turned aside.

Does that not sound like our culture today? Sometimes, it seems like we are alone in our striving to be Christian; striving to obey God’s laws.

Now, if the Psalm ended here, it would be bleak. BUT, it does not end.

In the next verse, the wicked are asked if they have no knowledge; if they don’t understand what they are doing in attacking the godly. It says that the wicked will be in fear because God is in the presence of the godly.

God is in the presence of the godly. Is that not reassuring? God is with the godly.

In conclusion, the Psalmist describes how salvation for Israel is coming, and how God will restore the fortunes of His people.

Salvation has come for Israel, and for the rest of the world. It came with the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you have not already accepted Jesus are your savior, and would like to do so, here is how you do it. . If you have any questions or anything like that, post a comment, or send an email.

Psalm 13 is Psalm asking where God is during a time of trouble.

The Psalmist accuses God of forgetting him. He asks how long God is going to hide from him. He asks God how long he is going to be sad, and how long his enemies will be raised above him.

Can you imagine asking God where is He is, and why He doesn’t seem to be doing anything? The Psalmist crying out for God to do something.

Having made that bold statement, the Psalmist details what he would like God to do. He prays that God will protect him.

He then says how he trusts in God, and how will sing unto the Lord.

No matter how bad things are for him. Even though he just finished accusing God of forgetting him, he still praises and trusts God.

Sometimes, it seems like God has forgotten us. Sometimes, it seeems like God is hidng from us. Sometimes, it seems like we are surrounded on all sides, and no matter what happens, we will lose. In times like that, we need to place our trust in God, and sing to the Lord. He has given us so much, and He deserves our praise.

Psalm 12 is a cry out to God.

The Psalmist details how the godly man cease, and the faithful men fail. He describes how the wicked speak vanity, and have a double heart.

The Psalmist continues by describing how God will punish those who lie and cause problems when they are speaking. He goes on to say that the Lord will rescue those who are caught by the evil people, and how the words of the Lord are pure. The Psalm ends by describing how evil is all around, and how vileness is exalted.

The Psalmist spoke a lot about words. How the wicked speak vanity, which means lie. How the wicked have a double heart and flattering lips. What about us? Are we honest? Do we have double hearts and flattering lips? Look at the beginning again. It says the godly men have ceased and the faithful have failed. When that happens evil comes. Shouldn’t we then not cease, but be a witness for God?

Psalm 11 is about trusting God, even when we are surrounded by the wicked.

The Psalmist starts off by saying that he puts his trust in God. He then asks how one can ask him to flee to a mountain? This is a powerful question. If we trust in God, how can we flee when things get rough?

He then describe how the wicked are ready to kill him. He then makes an interesting comment. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”. What the Psalmist is saying, is that if the foundations of the law are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

To answer this question, the Psalmist changes topics, and describes how God is in his temple. He describes how God is trying the righteous, and punishing the wicked.

The answer to the Psalmists question is to Trust God. God will punish the wicked, and will protect the righteous.

What about us? Do we have that kind of faith to just trust God, and to face the trials in our lives?

Psalm 10 is cry out to God to judge the wicked.

The Psalmist starts off by crying out to God, asking Him why He is hiding, and why He isn’t doing anything in times of trouble. He goes on to describe the wicked.

The wicked blesses those who God hates. The wicked’s ways are always grievous. He cannot see judgment for what he is doing, and says that he will never be in adversity. His mouth is full of deceit, fraud, cursing, vanity, and mischief. He hides and ambushes the poor. The wicked say that God has forgotten what they have done.

Look at the ways of the wicked. Can you say that you do nothing that the wicked do? If you cannot, should you not stop, and repent?

The Psalmist continues by crying out again that God will judge the evil, and that the Lord will show the wicked people that God is real, and that God is there.

The Psalmist makes an interesting point about how the wicked think that God has forgotten or does not see what they do. In the end though, they suffer the consequences for their evil. Even though it seems like they are getting away with wickedness, God will judge them someday.

Today, I’m finishing up looking at Psalm 9. I’m picking up in Verse 11.

The Psalmist says to sing praises to the Lord, and to declare His doings among the people. Declare His doings means to tell people what God has done. Do we do this? Do we tell people God has done in our lives? Do we tell people how much God has done to help us? Or do we not say anything? Part of praising God is telling other people how Great He is.

Continuing, the Psalmist describes how God doesn’t forget what the evil do, or what the humble cry out for. The Psalmist then switches over to a cry for himself, asking God to have mercy on him, so that he will then be able to praise God more.

He then describes the heathen, and how they are trapped in their own doings. Many times, evil people get trapped in their own evils, and end up dying, or suffering greatly for it. We may think that we are not evil people, but haven’t we all got trapped at least once in something we were doing to “get back at someone” for something they did to us?

The Psalmist ends by describing the consequences of being evil, and that the needy and poor’s dreams will not always be forgotten. In ending, he also prays that God will show nations how all they are just men and how God is God.

Psalm 9 is another Psalm of praise to God. The Psalmist details how he will praise God with his WHOLE heart. He doesn’t say with part of his heart, or with most of his heart, he says that he praises God with his WHOLE heart; with all of his heart.

Too often, we worship God with part of our life, and basically say “Here God, have this, but stay away from the rest of my life”. Should we instead offer God our entire life when we praise, rather than only part of it? This doesn’t mean we aren’t allowed to enjoy ourselves, but it does mean that we should pick what we do carefully, and not do things that God wouldn’t like.

Continuing, the Psalmist describes how God judges the evil, and how He has destroyed the wicked. He says how the Lord will endure forever, and how he is a refuge for those who put their trust in him.

God is our refuge, if we are willing to let go, and put our trust in Him. Too often though, we are so caught up in our own problems, or we are so stubborn, we don’t put our trust in God. Rather, we try to work through it on our own. Instead of relying on ourselves, or worrying, we should put our trust in God, and He will be a refuge for us.

Tomorrow, I’ll finish going over Psalm 9