S – Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalms 32:5 CSB

O – Commentary:

The psalmist recounts a personal testimony to illustrate the power of confessing sin. During a situation when he was silent and unrepentant, he suffered and continually felt Yahweh’s punishment. Only after he acknowledged and confessed his sins to Yahweh did he enjoy Yahweh’s forgiveness.

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 32:3–5.

A – When we confess our sins to God, we are recognizing our inability to please him with our actions but our ability to please him with our surrender.  We are all going to sin.  When we acknowledge him in that journey, we invite his forgiveness, compassion and love for us to be real in our lives.  We get to walk away guilt free – no shame, no condemnation.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for forgiving us of our sins.  We confess that our thoughts, words and actions do not honor you at times.  We ask forgiveness and invite your compassion and love to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Thank you, God.

S – For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, 

but there is joy in the morning.

Psalms 30:5 CSB

O – God has emotions – he gets angry and he delights and gives favor.  Life will have challenge and grief but it will also have proclamations of hope, rejoicing and gladness.

A – It makes God more “touchable” when we realize that He has emotions.  He feels.  If we are created in His image, why would this surprise us.  We feel.  It gives us another step of cohesion with our Creator.  We need to understand and validate our feelings and emotions. We also need to create boundaries for them to express themselves in a healthy way.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator.  Thank you for creating us with feelings and emotions – they reflect you.  Give us insight and wisdom on understanding and validating these wonderful gifts.  Also, help us create a healthy expression of them that honors you, ourselves and others.

S – Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord

Ps 27:14 CSB

O – 

“Wait” – qâvâh, kaw-vaw’; a prim. root; to bind together (perh. by twisting), i.e. collect; (fig.) to expect:— gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait

“Strong” – châzaq, khaw-zak’; a prim. root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (fig. courageous, caus. strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – We all have expectations of God.  When we wait, our expectations are a combination of all that we believe about God, his character and abilities.  The psalmist is tell us to be “obstinate” in this. I love the tenacity in which he tells us to possess.  The challenges we face are tough and we need to be tougher in our belief and faith in God.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are limitless and hold all things.  Empower us today with a genuine tenacity in our faith and belief in you.  You have a will and purpose for us that is for our best – help us to hold fast during challenges we face.  We choose you today.

S – Test me, Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind. ³ For your faithful love guides me, 

and I live by your truth

Psalms 26:2–3 CSB

O – David asks God to do three things:

•    Test – Investigate him, examine
•    Try – Discern, prove
•    Examine – fuse, refine

  He is confident in his heart and mind and surrendered to God’s love and truth to guide (stand boldly) him.

A – We can walk with the same confidence in our relationship with God.  When we are consistently faithful to the relationship with him, our thoughts and actions align with his will.  By inviting God to examine us, we continue to grow and obtain more of his character.  We will live boldly and model God’s love to others.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Supreme God and there is no other.  Empower us today by your Holy Spirit to surrender all of ourselves to you.  We want you to test, try and examine us.  Whatever doesn’t align with you, we surrender it to you.  We want to live by your truth with a pure heart today.

S – Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. ⁵ Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.

Psalms 25:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

The psalmist uses several Hebrew words here for learning or instruction as he asks Yahweh to teach (lamad), lead (darakh), and make known (yada’) His true paths. The psalmist trusts in Yahweh because He guides and protects him (Ps 23:1–3

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 25:4–5.

A – When we invite the Holy Spirit into our day, we are inviting God to interact with us as He sees fit.  We want him to make known, teach and guide us.  He will not only make known his character and integrity, he will also help us understand his timing and heart.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  We invite your Holy Spirit to make known, teach and guide us today so we will know you more intimately.  We want your character, integrity and heart to be evident in us.  We trust and put our faith in you.

S – Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. 

⁸ Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle

Psalms 24:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary:

The psalmist offered an exhortation (v. 7) and then an explanation (v. 8). If lift up your heads, O you gates refers to the city of Jerusalem then he was calling for the ancient gates to open wide for the triumphant entry. This was a poetic way of displaying the superiority of the one entering. They should lift up their heads because the King of glory is about to come in.

24:8–10. David then gave an explanation. By question and answer he stated that this King of glory is the Lord, who is mighty in battle. The Lord had shown Himself strong by giving them great victories; so He is the glorious King who will enter the city. One can visualize a procession of triumphant Israelites carrying the ark, the symbol of the Lord’s presence, going up to the sanctuary to praise Him. The ideas in the exhortation (v. 7) and the explanation (v. 8) were repeated in verses 9–10. The repetition stressed the point: The Lord is a glorious King who is coming in. Only pure worshipers can enjoy His presence.

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 812–813.

A – There are many facets to describe God.  Strong and Mighty King entering his city as a conqueror is quite vivid.  That is who goes with us to face our daily challenges, questions and situations.  We can engage with confidence knowing that the Holy Spirit accompanies in all things we encounter.  

R – Heavenly Father, You are our Mighty King!  Every knew will bow and surrender to the one, true God.  Thank you for empowering us in your presence today.  We choose to be confident in your presence and gifting to make an impact that demonstrates your love and character.

S – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ²  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Psalms 23:1–3 ESV

O – A:  This is one of the most widely known scriptures in the Bible.  Here are some observations and applications:
– God cares for and takes care of us.  His leading us fills our needs.  Like a shepherd who nurtures his flocks, we can grow to our fullest potential under his nurturing leadership.

– He gives us rest and quiets the noise. Life is busy and chaotic at times.  Our relationship with God gives us solace from the distractions and allows our minds to be at peace.

– He replenishes us spiritually.  We are physically human but we have a spirit man as well.  God’s spirit speaks to our spirit and renews it.  

– He leads us in ways that will make us more like his character.  We exist to have relationship with him and be part of his family.

R – Heavenly Father, you are a big and unlimited God.  Thank you for loving and caring for us in all aspects of our lives.  You lead, care for and replenish us.  We surrender today to you and step closer to you in relationship.

S – For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet. ¹⁷ I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me. ¹⁸ They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing. 

Psalms 22:16–18 CSB

O – Commentary:

He compared them to dogs (cf. v. 20), who in the ancient world were scavengers. Like dogs, his foes (evil men) surrounded him, waiting till he was dead so they could tear at his limbs. To compare his enemies to dogs was to say that he was almost dead. The words they have pierced my hands and my feet figuratively describe such a tearing as if by animals. Of course in the New Testament, these words in reference to Jesus Christ have greater significance (cf. Luke 24:39–40).

22:17–18. After speaking of his enemies (v. 16) the psalmist again described his agony. He was weak and emaciated. His enemies stared at him, considering him as good as dead, so they divided up his garments, his last possession (cf. Matt. 27:35).

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 810–811.

A – It continues to amaze me how the OT points to Jesus.  David, in his lamenting, gives two lines that depict the crucifixion of Christ.  God’s plan for our salvation is humbling.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our Savior and Lord.  Thank you for Jesus going to the cross for us.  You had a plan hundreds of years before it happened so we can have a relationship with you today.  We are grateful for your love for us.

S – Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God. ⁸ They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm. 

Psalms 20:7–8 CSB

O – Commentary:

In contrast with those who trust in military equipment (or in horses, 33:17), David trusted in the Lord. The verb for trust is actually “keep in memory or ponder” (zāḵar). Contemplation of the Lord builds confidence in Him.

The object of his faith was the name of the Lord. God’s “name” is His nature, His reputation and character. David’s faith came from meditating and pondering on the known reputation of God.

20:8. Because of God’s character David envisioned a great defeat of the enemy. He foresaw the certainty of his army’s victory.

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 809.

A – What or who do we trust in our lives?  God needs to be at the top of the list.  David puts his faith in the name of God.  Do we invite God/ Holy Spirit to be part of our day?  When we do that, we are inviting all of his character, power, presence and abilities to lead us into our conversations, interactions and experiences.  In doing so, we rise against defeat and stand victorious.

R – Heavenly Father, you are God.  You have no equal and we invite you into our day.  We ask that all of your character, power, presence and abilities lead us.  We want to be victorious in each moment.  We surrender this day to you.

S – The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. ¹⁰ They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold; 

and sweeter than honey dripping from a honeycomb. In addition, your servant is warned by them, 

and in keeping them there is an abundant reward. 

Psalms 19:9–11 CSB

O – Commentary:

Fear is here a synonym for the Law, for its purpose was to put fear into human hearts (Deut. 4:10, kjv). The Law is pure.… sure, and righteous. It was designed to cause believers to obey God and lead righteous lives.

19:10–11. David next disclosed his personal reaction to God’s perfect Law. He found the statutes desirable and enjoyable. In extolling their value to him, he compared them to gold and honey—they are more precious than gold, the most valuable commodity in the ancient Near East, and sweeter than honey, the sweetest substance known in the ancient Near East. The Law was not a burden to believers who were trying to please God with their lives. For David, keeping God’s statutes, which warned him of the dangers of folly and sin, brought reward

 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 808.

A – The fear of the Lord is essential in our walk with God.  While it does mean “dread” which is associated with being afraid, it also means “reverence.”  Both work in a healthy way.  We should have a fear of what our lives would look like without God’s presence and hope.  In our relationship with him, it should develop an “awe and reverence” for him that draws us closer each day. Finally, that makes commands and expectations more applicable.  We do them because they are given to make life better.  The psalmist found the treasure in following them.

R – Heavenly Father, you are Holy and just.  Thank you for our relationship with you.  We respect and stand in awe of your unlimited power.  We are grateful that we can have an intimate relationship with you that grows daily.