Author: Nick Booth

Psalm 25

I can hear that rebuke in so many situations.  I can hear the frustrated parent with the child over the tidiness of their room, the teacher when a student adopts the passive aggressive pose, the employer to the repeatedly late employee, the pensioner to the patronizing call centre worker.  Why is attitude so important?  It is because it acts as a key to unlocking learning, healthy relationships and personal well being. ^v13

The attitude with which we approach God impacts our learning but it does not come out of a vacuum.  At the time of writing David is fearful and afraid he will be shamed. ^{vv 2-3,19-20}  These are common emotions through life, they can cause spiritual paralysis but David is aware this is a time to turn to God and learn.

A key aspect of discipleship is ordering one’s desires and David’s first desire is for the Lord, ‘To you O Lord, I lift up my soul.’ ^v1  He then desires to learn and learning is much more that a quick fix answer.  Learning involves engaging with truth, understanding the character of God and his purposes.  ‘Make me to know your ways, O Lord … Lead me in your truth and teach me.’ ^{vv 4,5}For the modern disciple it involves being a life-long learner from the bible. 

David brings an attitude of humility to both his Lord and to the process of learning.  He doesn’t expect instant command of God’s ways.  Perhaps the most important word in the psalm is ‘wait’. ‘For you I wait all the day long’ ^v5 is repeated in verse 21, ‘for I wait for you.’  Learning takes time and understanding can come in unexpected moments.  For me, surprisingly, often in the shower. 

David knows God is the teacher, and this is an act of mercy ^v6  in response to repentance. ^v11 Learning comes from being in relationship with the Lord.  David speaks of, ‘friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him.’ ^v14  This should not be surprising as most remember learning best from teachers they liked and respected. 

Finally, learning is set in an attitude of trust.  The psalm is bookended with trust, ‘O my God, in you I trust;’ ^v2 and, ‘for I take refuge in you. ^v19 

A prayer, ‘Lord, enable me to order my desires.  I will wait upon the Lord’

Psalm 24 and 2 Samuel 6

There is a generation who gained all their knowledge of the ark of the Lord from Indiana Jones and in a sense would have understood a partial truth.  The ark was not to be treated casually, not because blue lasers would be emitted from it, but because it was holy.  The awesome holiness of God has a tendency to be lost in the relaxed ease of modern worship but David and the Israelites had a sharp lesson regarding holiness as they carried the ark to Jerusalem. ^{2 Samuel 6}   The ark embodied the presence of God in all his holiness, from God’s presence comes blessing, ^{2 Sam 6.11} therefore the entry of the ark into Jerusalem symbolized God’s blessing of David’s kingship and thus the whole nation.  Psalm 24 is closely associated with this event.

The starting point of reverence and worship is understanding and asserting that everything is God’s because he is the source of all. ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.’ ^{Ps 24.1}  This changes our perspective as any ambitious drive to permanently own becomes illusory.

Who then can stand in the presence of such a holy God?  Four criteria are set out; righteous actions, righteous motives, loyalty to God alone and openness in relationships with others without unfair gain.  ‘The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.’ ^v4  Verses 5 and 6 change the phrasing and blessing from an individual to the collective people of God.  When we seek God’s blessing it is the whole church whose living worship ^{Romans 12.1-2} is called upon to reflect God’s holiness.  This does seem alien in an individualized society but we are called to be in the world but not of the world.

The psalm in verses 7-10 changes to a call and response liturgy as the ark and thus the ‘King of glory’ ascends the mountain, enters Jerusalem and the tabernacle, later the temple, to bring victory.

How then can we enter the presence of such a holy God?  Praise God, only through Jesus.

‘God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.’ ^{1Corinthians 1.28-30}

Who is this King of Glory – Chris Tomlin

(Suggest playing through a good speaker to get the bass)

Psalm 23

Valley walking can be a great joy.  We probably have favourite valleys.  Each one capturing a mood and a sense of spirituality.  I love the steep wooded sides of the Dart valley, dark but lightened by the bright foaming water of the river; or the wide peaceful green pastures of Dovedale.  But then the valley narrows and the craggy sides steepen casting menacing shadows. 

In Psalm 23 David draws upon his personal experience of Israel’s valleys or wadis.  Following the rains they provide rich pasture land but they are subject to flash floods and when the sides become cliffs the pilgrim ways become places of danger from bandits, the mood changes completely.

Psalm 23 is often associated with comfort at funerals but that only truly makes sense if in the context of a life led by the shepherd.  God as shepherd and his people as sheep led by him is a repeated image in the Old Testament. ^{Isaiah 40.11}  Jesus picks up on this, ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.’ ^{John 10.14}  Crucial to Jesus shepherding is the notion of him leading, in contrast to modern shepherding, where sheep are driven with a harrying sheep dog pushing them forward.  Where Jesus calls us to go he has already gone before.

The psalm contains three testimonies.

I shall lack nothing, ^vv1-3 and this is because he has provided plenty, (green pastures) ^v1 peace, (quiet waters) ^v2 refreshment, (soul food) ^v3 and righteousness (guidance along right paths.) ^v3

I will fear no evil as the joyous wide valley becomes harsher terrain, ‘shadow of death’ ^v4 is literally translated deepest darkness, which includes the darkness of death but also other life experiences.  At such times God promises to draw particularly close with a rod to protect and a staff to support.

I will safely dwell even though I am surrounded by hostile circumstances and people. ^v5 Here David may well be drawing on God’s hand through the abundant hospitality provided by Barzillai when he was being pursued by Absalom. ^{2 Samuel 17.27-29}  The psalm ends with assurance of God’s abundant blessing whatever our circumstances, be it in green pastures or dark valleys.  This provision is life long, ‘all the days of my life, ^v6 and beyond this life into eternity, ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ ^v6  Jesus confirms this assurance with the words, ‘In my Father’s house there are many rooms … I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself.’ ^{John 14.2-3}

The Lord’s my Shepherd – Stuart Townend

Psalm 22 and Matthew 27.35-46

Black Dog, often used as a metaphor for depression, is regularly attributed to Winston Churchill although its use can be traced to earlier authors.  It is a metaphor not limited to depression but it does convey an ominous presence that is not under our control where it imposes strong negative influences on our minds.

Psalm 22 is an intense personal lament written by David in a time of great personal despair.  David probably wrote the psalm whilst fleeing from either Saul or Absalom although the intensity of suffering in verses 12 to 18 far outstrips anything David is recorded to have experienced.  The resonance with Jesus sufferings is pronounced both in words spoken and the derision of his treatment. ^{Matt 27.35-46}  The mental and physical suffering described in the psalm oppresses him spiritually.

The psalmist feels deserted by God and his desperate prayers are unanswered. ^v1  He cries in the daytime and cannot sleep at night. ^v2 He considers himself utterly derided for his faith in the Lord. ^vv6-9  He is surrounded by overwhelming enemies, ‘Many … strong bulls of Bashan surround me;’^v12 and ‘Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the dog!’ ^v20  His body is broken as if by torture. ^{v v14,15} 

It is heartbreaking to consider that this is still a literal experience for many and we see it in the accounts of huge numbers of refugees and victims of abuse.

How does David respond to this?  Despite his feelings he remembers that God is holy and has repeatedly in the past saved his people and on that basis appeals to God. ^vv3-5  He then remembers God has cared for him since his conception. ^vv9-11  From that he moves to publicly praise God by faith.  ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ ^v22  In the end he asserts that he is what the Lord has made him.  ‘For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.’ ^v28

David has learnt that as a disciple we are not what the black dog says or even what we feel at the time.  We are what the Lord has done and said.

You say by Lauran Daigle

Psalm 21

Schools, colleges and universities having closed more than a term before the end of the academic year, cohorts of students will miss their graduation celebrations.  That outpouring of relief having gone through the struggle of study and examination.  Proud parents buy cards, organize meals, friends gather together to celebrate with joy.  In a sense the battle is over.  Teachers, lecturers and parents are worrying that the students will miss out on this right of passage.

In a time when many are preoccupied with stressful situations, the battle is not over and we are still in the midst of it all, many will be wondering if they will ever celebrate with joy again.  Psalm 21 concentrates on the time after the battle when the crisis at the top of the mountain has been overcome and does so in the name of the king.  Whilst psalm 21 is a psalm of David it is also a messianic psalm that rejoices in the victory of the king to come, the Lord Jesus.

Jesus’ battle took place on the cross as he overcame sin and death for the sake of his people and now there is great rejoicing.  ‘The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.  How great is his joy in the victories you give.’ ^v1  His great desire is the salvation of his people and this has not been withheld. ^v2  He is now crowned in glory and ‘a crown of pure gold’ ^v3 has been placed on his head.   Even through the spiritual, emotional and physical torment of Gethsemane and Calvary he trusted in the unfailing love of God the Father.  ‘For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.’ ^v8

The bible is clear, there will be judgement and evil will be destroyed, even if that seems very far off.  In David’s imagery, ‘Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.’ ^v8  That does not mean there will not be suffering and grief on the way.  There is hope and expectation that we will come to a time of celebration again through the victory of Jesus Christ.

My hope is built on nothing less:-