OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 15

Psalm 15:1-5

15:1 David asked: Who is welcome in the House of the Lord?

15:2 The person who lives honorably, humbly before the Lord. The person who does righteously. The person who speaks sincerely. 

15:3 The person whose words are kind. The person who is fair to people. The one who is peaceful with his friends. 

15:4 The person who rejects evil. The person who loves and encourages the faithful. The person who is steadfastly true to his/her word.

15:5 The person who does not financially abuse others or deal deceptively, crookedly for self-interest.

The person who lives in such a way will not be moved. That person will be established and sustained by God against all winds and waves, enemies and fears. 

OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 14

Psalm 14:1-7

14:1 David lived as a pioneer; through his faith in action and obedience to God, he established the kingdom of Israel against its adversaries. He was taunted by fierce enemies for his faith yet he held onto it. 

14:2-3 David knew that God is vigilant for people with emphatic faith. God finds the people who are searching for Him. It occurred to David that no one was searching; each generation feels that way. 

14:4-6 Yet it was ridiculous to David that so many were not in acknowledgement of God because God would be the one to defeat them. They chose unrighteousness instead of righteousness, and that decision would ruin them. Concurrently, the righteous would find a haven in Him.

14:7 David also knew that the people of the tribes of Israel would undergo discipline and captivity. It was necessary to restore their faith and character, but Israel would be glad for it. Their return to God would make that process, that at-times harrowing journey meaningful, and productive.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of our values. That difficult process of remembering brings us back to God. 

OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 13

Psalms 13:1-6

13:1-2 David experienced moments when he interpreted God's silence as absence. God's nature is solemn. Quiet but always active. We must remember that. He does not abandon us; He does not turn His eyes from our life; He does not turn is heart from our cause. The stronger our relationship with Him, the lighter our soul shines in the darkness. And in the darkness, we need a light. We need that hope and strength and endurance. It comes from our relationship with God. We need the light that is His quiet counsel and model of patience. 

13:3-4 David felt cornered and attacked in an impossible situation. Darkness shrouded him. He envisioned the victory of his enemy rather than the presence of His God. We all do it sometimes. 

13:5 Like David, we must refocus. We must trust in the promised word of rescue God has given us. We must rejoice in His goodness and truth that He always prevails.

13:7 Ultimately David decided to praise God; he shook off the darkness and started putting light into his heart and situation. He remembered God's faithful generosity and trusted that He is steadfast. A steadfast defender, provider, healer, and Father. We stamp the enemy, the pain and depression into the dirt with every word we speak to praise our God.

OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 12

Psalm 12:1-8

12:1-2 David recognized that the system of the world operated opposite from the system of heaven. Without God's intervention, peace and justice and righteousness would be overrun by chaos, injustice and evil. Through prayer and a sincere relationship with God, we call forth the intervention of heaven on the circumstances of the earth. 

12:3-4 David prayed for call to thwart evil, to mute its voice and strip it of its power. 

12:5 God has promised to raise the righteous-humble; He has promised to rise Himself and place His children in safety. 

12:6-7 David knew that God's word was authentic. God's intentions come in fruition every time. He is solid and so are His promises. Solidly held in truth for eternity. 

12:8 David knew that it was crucial for him to call upon God; on earth, the righteous are surrounded by unrighteousness. Our only defense against evil is God. God is our defense against evil but also enemy and depression, anxiety and fear, violence and darkness. Our relationship with Him is our journey into the light and away from the darkness. 

OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 11

Psalm 11:1-7

11:1-3 In the midst of danger and oppression, David chose to put his trust in God. Instead of panicking and abandoning his faith, David reinforced it with confidence in God. The situation seemed hopeless, impossible to escape. Yet David was a child of hope, a son of a Father who makes all things possible. He remembered that, especially in the most crucial moments of his life, and it changed the outcome every time. 

11:4-6 It was a comfort to David that God weighed the hearts, the actions, of every person. David knew that God distinguishes between the innocent and the guilty, the righteous and the corrupt. Though many doubt or deny it, there is order in the world. God has established it and enforces it. David knew that God would determine what happened to him and that gave him the strength to endure.

11:7 God is and has established righteousness as the benchmark, the standard, the be-all-end-all. And He will uphold it; He will enforce it. 

OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 10

Psalm 10:1-18

10:1-2 There are moments in everyone's life when their hope for God's intervention becomes desperate. It is not easy to be patient through times of strife; it is not easy to be understanding in times of discipline. It is extremely difficult to witness injustice and disparity. The psalmist raised these points but ultimately found reassurance in their confidence in God. 

10:3-11 We like, this Psalm, call for God to insert His justice. And inevitably, He always does. It can seem like evil and corruption hold an unshakable power but only God is that steadfast. Only God has the unchallenged power.

10:8-11 As is done here in this piece of scripture, we must call to God. He answers His children. He defends and rescues those who commit themselves to Him. 

10:12-14 Ultimately, we know that God is aware and present. We know that His favor and His power is on the side of the innocent and the just, the meek and the humble. He prepares us and strengthens us for the journey He has chosen for us; but we must commit ourselves to Him in order to put on that strength and preparation. 

10:15 God is thorough in identifying evil and then eliminating it. On earth we have freedom; some people abuse their freedom by abusing others through injustice. God is aware and He is an active, triumphant effort against it. 

10:16-18 Our God is King of Kings, the creator of the universe. He is the ultimate power and Father of the oppressed, the Father of everyone who needs Him and His glorious inheritance. 

OT: The Book of Psalms, Psalm 9

Psalm 9:1-20

9:1-2 David made it a priority to praise God with his whole heart. He made it a priority to speak about the work God had done in his life: the planning, the saving, the defending, the establishing, the comforting and triumphs. God's active presence in David's life filled him with so much joy that he wanted the world to know. 

9:3-5 David trusted that God would maintain the balance of justice in his life. He was grateful to God for defending him from forces which were corrupt and stronger than he was. 

9:6-8 He was confident that God's declarations would be cemented as inevitable reality. David knew that God would always, ultimately, crush and eliminate corruption. He knew that God would be forever presence in His suppression of evil, fair and honest in his establishment of the righteous. 

9:9-10 God is a shelter for people who have been mistreated, overlooked and undervalued. To enter the refuge that is God, David reminded us that we have to put our trust in God. We have to seek Him; God has promised that all who seek His love and refuge will find it. 

9:11-12 David wanted God's children to live with gratitude and awareness of God's protection and love. God doesn't forget us, so we should never forget Him. Our relationship with God should be steadfast, constant, permeating every moment, day, relationship, conversation, action and thought. 

9:13-14 Save me, David sang, so that I can tell of Your wonder. David did not want to be saved for selfish reasons; he wanted there to be someone alive who would openly, emphatically, vocally love God and express gratitude and awe.

9:15-16 The nations had gotten themselves into trouble; they had succumbed to temptations and become slaves to their desires and corrupt leaders. They put their trust not in God but in worldly things and those worldly things and systems began to oppress them. Corrupt them. Harm them. 

9:17-18 Evil will become a wasteland. Deprived of power and of life. Corruption will face judgement. But God is willing and able to restore the repentant; He is willing to free the slave. 

9:19-20 David preferred God's will over the will of humankind. And if we hope for peace and justice, so should we. God establishes order. His decisions are not tainted like ours are. David prayed for the world, for humanity, to be humbled, so that they would finally realize God is the only righteous authority. The only authority humanity would ever benefit from.