RE: Psalms 7

7 is a Psalm about God's judgment based on what you do. If this strikes you as a bit scary, it should. If this strikes you as over-simple, congratulations you posses higher level moral thinking. There are people, children and adults who decide questions of right and wrong based on what causes them harm or causes them pleasure. Since the Lord is the God of all people, he speaks in his Word to those who think about right and wrong in this simple way because God wants us to follow him and love justice, and it is good for us to do so.

Ask God to increase your love of what is right, and to forgive your shortcomings.

RE: Psalms 6

Here is David's 1^st emo psalm. That's not to make fun of it, that's to drive home a point:

Sometimes David was whiny, and God was faithful and loving towards him anyway.

Sometimes YOU are whiny, and God will be faithful and loving towards you anyway.

If things are not lovely and you cannot see what he is doing right now you are in good company, David from Psalm 5 is right there with you.

RE: Psalms 5

Psalms like this are scary. If God “Hates all who do wrong”(v.5) then we have reason to be scared. Take a minute to think on that. Don't dwell too long though; it doesn't end there.

By his great love we can enter his house(v.7) Dwell on that, dwell in that. David confessed that only God's great love could bring him into God's house, and he did so ages before Paul wrote the words “It is by grace you have been saved” (Eph2:8)

You are welcome in God's presence because his love for you is great.

RE: Psalms 4

Spirituality doesn't have to be complex or impressive, it can be as simple as eating a meal that God provides. In the Lord's Prayer Jesus teaches us to ask for our “Daily bread”. God cares about your basic needs because he cares about you, not just what you do. David recognizes in this Psalm that he can lay down to sleep or bring in a harvest because God allows it. May you find Joy in what blessing God brings today.

RE: Psalms 3

David wrote this Psalm after being betrayed by his son (2 Sam 15). Betrayal has not changed since then. Once upon a time I was new to a certain group, and after a time I discovered that one of my new friends had spread some hurtful words about me. It was heartbreaking because this was someone who had welcomed me and whom I had trusted.

The God of love calls us to trust (1 Cor 13:7) even though we are sometimes betrayed, and when we are, God promises that vengeance is his alone so we may repay evil with good (Rom 12:19&20). Sometimes we are the ones who fail and betray; when we fail ourselves, our friends and our God, God offers us an unconditional love to heal the hurt we've caused.

if we are faithless, he [God] remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself -2 Timothy 2:13

RE: Psalms 2

This Psalm appears to be a psalm of threats against anyone who rebels against the Lord. Yeah Gods wrath against evil is terrible, but we are invited to take refuge in his son Jesus. God the father has put all things under Jesus authority and it is his will that we should be welcomed into his arms. Whatever trouble you face, God offers himself as a safe refuge.

Take a minute to confide in him. Whatever is going on in your life, God cares about it.

RE: Psalms 1

Psalms is a book of poetry, self-reflection, anger, doubt, and triumph. Because it is separated into so many short chapters it's an idea book for opening to a random page and reading through, but the Psalms do have context that matter if you want to get the most out of them.

Psalms 1 used to strike me as a refreshingly clear cut picture of the universe: If you, Love God and do right, then you will prosper, but if you, do evil and reject God, you will be destroyed. It's a simple, childlike view of the world that the psalms will go on to appear to challenge. Latter in psalms there are verses from when David is chased by Saul, when Israel is in slavery again. In those latter, dark part of the psalms when the words of the psalter are full of fear, anger, and doubt, remember Psalm 1 God is in control. Regardless of what loss we are experiencing at any given moment, God's final victory is sure.

What is going on right now that makes you question God's goodness?

As God to give you his Holy Spirit to increase your faith, so that no matter what challenge comes, you may rest confidently in the certainty of God's love for you, and his victory over this world.

What is going on right now that makes you question God's goodness?

As God to give you his Holy Spirit to increase your faith, so that no matter what challenge comes, you may rest confidently in the certainty of God's love for you, and his victory over this world.