PSALM 21
THE KING REJOICES IN THE LORD’S STRENGTH
David praises God for sustaining him and keeping His promise to anoint him as King of Israel. God has spared David’s life many times, allowing him to fulfill the role that God has appointed for him.
David’s journey to the throne is tumultuous, but he praises God for establishing him and keeping His promises! This psalm serves as a reminder both to cry out to God in times of need and thank Him in times of provision.
Psalm 21:13 - Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
PSALM 22
WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
David cries out to God, asking why he has been forsaken. Jesus recites this verse on the cross as He is crucified (Matthew 27, Mark 15). David describes his pain as having his hands and feet pierced, a pain that Jesus experienced on the cross, and his clothing divided by casting lots, foretelling how Jesus’s clothes were divided among the Roman soldiers at the crucifixion (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23)
David is deeply distressed and refers to himself as a worm instead of a person. He feels far from God and desires God’s nearness and comfort.
Acknowledging that the Israelites before him trusted God and were not put to shame, David knows that God was faithful to his ancestors.
Psalm 22:5 - To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
PSALM 23
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
One of the most widely known passages of Scripture, Psalm 23 is a comforting reminder of God’s protection and care for His people. David writes that God is his shepherd, a metaphor that David personally relates to as a protector and provider for sheep.
David expresses that he lacks nothing, showing how fulfillment and completion are found in God’s presence. David also speaks of the rest and restoration that God brings, making him lie down in green pastures and restoring his soul. He says that even though he walks through the valley of death, he will not fear because God is with him.
David experienced oppression and despair before his reign as king, but he trusted God. Now David declares that God prepared a table before him in the presence of his enemies and anointed his head with oil.
Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
PSALM 24
THE KING OF GLORY
David praises God, declaring that He is the King of Glory. Similar to Psalm 15, David says that those who have clean hands and a pure heart will be the ones to stand in God’s holy place. David praises God’s great creation, saying He founded the earth upon the seas and established it on the rivers. God is Ruler, King, and Creator!
Psalm 24:7 - Lift up your heads, gates! And be lifted up, ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
PSALM 25
TEACH ME YOUR PATHS
Aware that following God’s wisdom will bring him blamelessness and closeness to God, David asks God to teach him the way of righteousness. David asks God to focus on His steadfast love instead of David’s past transgressions.
In verse 14, David describes the friendship of the Lord as a secret council for those with whom His covenant is made known, and makes it known that he wants a relationship with God that is close and intimate. David ends the psalm by sharing his troubles with God and asking Him to redeem the nation of Israel.
Psalm 25:1 - To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
PSALM 26
I WILL BLESS THE LORD
David praises God as the source of his integrity. David is surrounded by wickedness and evil. Although David has shortcomings, he continually returns to his faith in God. David speaks of hypocrites and evildoers, some of whom have been trying to kill David. David blesses God for the ways He has sustained him and been gracious to him.
Psalm 26:3 - For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.
PSALM 27
THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND SALVATION
David trusts that God will lead him to success over his enemies, trusting that his adversaries and foes will stumble and fall.
David asks to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. He confidently makes his requests known to God and wants to be near Him. Even in tumultuous times, David says that he will wait for the Lord and let his heart take courage in God.
Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
PSALM 28
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND SHIELD
David refers to God as his rock, his strength, and his shield. David wants the righteous to be rewarded and the evil to be punished according to God’s rule. David asks God to be the shepherd for His people and carry them forever. David knows that his only hope for righteousness is dependence on God.
Psalm 28:9 - Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
PSALM 29
ASCRIBE GLORY TO THE LORD
David praises God for His majestic and powerful voice, declaring God’s power over creation. Knowing God’s voice and ascribing to His word, David takes refuge in God and asks God to bless Israel.
Psalm 29:4 - The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
PSALM 30
JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING
David wrote this psalm as a song during the dedication of the temple, an exciting and hopeful day in Israel. David sings of when he has called to God for help and giving thanks to God for rescuing him. Pleads for mercy again, David asks God to be faithful to him. And ends the song by rejoicing in God’s goodness, saying that his mourning was turned to dancing!
Psalm 30:5 - For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
PSALM 31
INTO YOUR HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
David is lamenting his distressful situation, possibly hiding from Saul as Saul tries to take David’s life. David weeps and mourns so much that his eyes, body, and soul feel wasted in grief.
In verse 5 David says, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit,” telling God he trusts Him with this life. Jesus quotes these words in some of His final breaths on the cross!
Psalm 31:9 - Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
PSALM 32
BLESSED ARE THE FORGIVEN
David praises God for His mercy and forgiveness. When David kept his sins to himself, he felt like his bones were wasting away. He has experienced the freedom that comes from confessing and confronting his sin and sees God as his preservation and hiding place.
David calls for everyone who is godly to offer prayers of confession to God. He does not want to be like a mule who must have a bit and bridle to force its every move, but instead he desires to keep his eyes on God and trust His counsel.
Psalm 32:7 - You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
PSALM 33
THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD
The psalmist rejoices in God’s steadfast love, praising God for His reign over the Earth. This psalm calls all people to rejoice and declares that the nation that puts their faith in God is blessed. Praise both honors God and brings gladness to the believer.
The psalmist depicts God looking down from heaven, observing all of His children whom He loves. Knowing God looks kindly on us, we can rejoice that our souls wait for Him and our hearts are glad in Him!
Psalm 33:1 - Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
PSALM 34
TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD
David reminds himself that he has sought out God and God has responded. When feeling despair, sometimes we need reminders of ways God has answered our prayers before to help us trust Him again. David says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” reminding us to experience and remember the goodness and nearness of God (v 8).
David says that the righteous will be delivered from their fears (v 4) and their afflictions (v19). God protects us from both our worries and our realities.
In verse 10, David says that those who seek the Lord lack no good thing, reminding us that knowing God is the best way to an abundant life.
Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
PSALM 35
GREAT IS THE LORD
David asks God to remind him of His greatness, asking Him to remind his soul of His salvation. Although he trusts God, David is aware that his soul needs reminding.
David begs God to fight against those who fight against him. David is confident that God will protect him and plans on praising God for delivering him.
Psalm 35:28 - Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.
PSALM 36
HOW PRECIOUS IS YOUR STEADFAST LOVE
This psalm describes a wicked man, saying his words are deceitful and his ways are not good. In contrast, David tells of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. David knows that evildoers will ultimately be struck down and God will delight in the righteous. David asks God to deliver him from arrogance and wickedness.
Psalm 36:5 - Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
PSALM 37
HE WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS SAINTS
David encourages the reader to not be envious of people who are evildoers, for they will wither and fade like the grass. Instead, he believes that trusting in God and delighting in the Lord will fulfill the desires of your heart.
David trusts that those who follow God and commit their ways to Him will inherit the land and dwell in abundant peace. He has seen in his own life how God has established his steps when he has delighted in God’s way.
Psalm 37:4 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
PSALM 38
DO NOT FORSAKE ME, O LORD
David pleads with God to not rebuke him in anger or discipline him with wrath. David is aware of his sin, so he confesses and repents before God. David asks God to save him and be near him, regardless of the weight of his sin. When his strength has failed him, he relies on God to be his strength and salvation.
Psalm 38:9 - O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
PSALM 39
WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF MY DAYS?
David wrestles with his mortality and fleeting time on earth, saying his life is like a mere shadow or breath. When David was silent around wickedness, his anguish grew worse. David asks God to listen to his cry before his short life is over.
Psalm 39:4 - O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!
PSALM 40
MY HELP AND MY DELIVERER
David praises God as his help and his deliverer. Similar to the many years he waited to be king of Israel, David waits patiently for God. David knows that God delights in our affections more than our sacrifices.
Psalm 40:8 - I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.