S – Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully, ¹⁸ doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere humans from the earth may terrify them no more. 

Psalms 10:17,18 CSB

O – Commentary:

The longing of the afflicted you have heard The wicked praise their desires (v. 3), but Yahweh cares for the desires of the afflicted (Prov 10:24).

You will listen attentively The Hebrew term used here, qashav, means “to listen attentively” or “to pay attention” (Prov 2:2; Isa 48:18). Rather than being far away, Yahweh pays close attention to the cries of the afflicted (compare Psa 10:1, 11).

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 10:17.

A – What does it do for your attitude and perspective to know that God cares for those afflicted and listens to them attentively?  It reminds us how important we are to God and He listens when we talk with him.  With all of life’s challenges, it is comforting and empowering to know that there is something bigger than us and that He knows us intimately.  

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you alone.  Thank you for knowing and caring for us.  We know you hear us and desire the best for us.  Empower us to walk in confidence and humility today.

S – I will thank the Lord with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works. ² I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High

Psalms 9:1–2 CSB

O – A:  Most of what we say to God in prayer is our expression of what we need or want from God.  This scripture is all about the psalmist exalting, proclaiming and declaring how big and wonderful God is.  We need to spend time honoring God in our thoughts, words and actions.  God is worthy of all praise, honor and majesty we can ascribe him.

R – Heavenly Father, You are the Most High.  We are grateful that you allow us relationship that invites us closer to you.  You alone are worthy of all of our honor and praise – there is none like you.  We love you today with all of our hearts!

S – what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? 

⁵ You made him little less than God^, and crowned him with glory and honor. 

Psalms 8:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

The rhetorical questions in verse 4 emphasize that man is an insignificant creature in the universe (cf. 144:3). Yet God cares for him immensely. It amazed David that the Lord of the universe even thinks about man.

8:5. God’s creation of man is described as one of power and dignity, for he was made … a little lower than God (’ělōhîm; cf. niv marg.). The KJV followed the Septuagint in translating this word “angels.” The NIV has chosen heavenly beings, which follows the same interpretation. Though in some cases ’ělōhîm may refer to angels, this is not its main meaning. Man was created as God’s own representative on earth, over the Creation, but lower than God. David was amazed that God should exalt finite man to such a place of honor.

 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), 797.

A – It is mind blowing when you take in the “bigness” of God and the relationship man has to Him.  Not just as a species…an individual relationship.  He created all things and holds all things while at the same time, he knows how many hairs are on my head right now, what I am feeling and what is happening tomorrow.  How can you not have hope when God is part of the equation? 

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Creator of all and hold all things.  We humble ourselves and surrender to you as our Lord and Savior.  Thank you for all that you provide for us in our relationship.  You have no limits or rival.  Help us to honor you for who you are today.

S – Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous. The one who examines the thoughts and emotions is a righteous God

Psalms 7:9 CSB

O – “Establish” – kûwn. to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence, (caus.) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether lit. (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or fig. (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous

“Examine” – bâchan, baw-khan’; a prim. root; to test (espec. metals); gen. and fig. to investigate:— examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).

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

A – As the world goes one way, righteousness will go another.  “Standing perpendicular” means something is going straight upward in different direction.  God examines our thoughts and emotions.  He knows our hearts.   We need to align ours with His.

R – Heavenly Father, you know all things.  Thank you God for searching our hearts, thoughts, emotions, words and actions.  We desire to walk in your righteousness.  Empower us to take what you reveal to us in our relationship and walk in a way that brings you  glory and honor today.

S –  Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love. ⁵ For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol? 

Psalms 6:4–5 CSB

O – Commentary:

In his earnest prayer for deliverance, David gave two reasons why God should answer. One is that the Lord should rescue him because of His unfailing love. God had shown Himself again and again to be abundant in loyal love (ḥeseḏ), so David pleaded for deliverance on the basis of God’s character.

6:5. David said the second reason the Lord should turn to him is because of the absence of praises (tôḏâh) in the grave. If he died because of his illness, he then could not praise God for delivering him from it. So David reasoned that if God desired someone to stand in the sanctuary and proclaim that God delivered him, then God would have to do so

 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), 795–796.

A – Believers will go through situations and seasons where they want God to deliver  them from the pain and challenges.  These are real and difficult times.  We know God has unlimited power and could “fix it” instantly and yet, He doesn’t.  Our faith must remain steadfast in Him, trusting that His will and plan for us is good.  In His timing, we will be “delivered” from the challenge.

R – Heavenly Father, you are a good and merciful God.  You know every detail of what we are facing today and the challenges that are before us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to equip and go with us into every conversation and moment.  We want to be led and used by you to bring your presence into each one.  We put our faith in you to work to accomplish your purposes today.

S – Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries; make your way straight before me.

Psalms 5:8 CSB

O – Commentary:

O Yahweh, lead me The psalmist asks God to lead him. To be led by Yahweh is to enjoy His protection and safety (23:3; Isa 42:16). The path of righteousness is ultimately a path of safety and blessing (Psa 1:6; Prov 12:28).

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 5:8.

A – David asks God to lead him because he has enemies.  He also asks God to reveal his will and plans so he can see and follow them.  We need to invite God to lead us as well. Our enemies are not always visible and the things we can see are not always beatable in our own strength.  We need God in both situations.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are knowing and all powerful.  We invite you to reveal your will and plans for us today.  We put our faith in your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in our thoughts, words and actions so we can honor you and be safe.  

S -Know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him

Psalms 4:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

Because the Lord had set apart the psalmist in love, He would answer his prayer. David described himself as one of the godly (ḥāsîḏ), an object of God’s covenantal loyal love. In the care of God, David was safe and God would hear and respond to his prayers.

 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), 794.

A – Like David, we are “set apart.”  When we accepted Christ, we became one of God’s children.  He hears us when we pray.  Even when we don’t see him working, we know He is at work for our good.  We can have confidence to face today as His children.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Rock that is Higher than I.  Thank you for hearing us when we pray and talk with you.  You have called us your own and we walk confidently knowing you are with us.  We invite your Holy Spirit to be present and lead us according to your will and purpose today.

S – But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

Psalms  3:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

In the face of such antagonism, David found comfort in God’s character. Using the metaphor of a shield, he said that God was the true Source of his protection (in spite of their taunts). The psalmists often spoke of God as a shield to depict His protection (7:10; 18:2, 30; 28:7; 33:20; 59:11; 84:11; 115:9–11; 119:114; 144:2). David was confident that God would restore him to his throne. The words lifts up my head express restoration to dignity and position 

 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), 793.

A – “David found comfort in God’s character.”  As believers, we are under the constant barrage of the enemy’s attack – temptation, accusation, lies, shame and guilt.  God not only fights for us but equips us to fight using the Word of God, the armor of God and His promises.  It is spiritual warfare daily.  We must fight from the place of victory because Jesus secured that on the cross for us.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Thank you for fighting for us with your presence and character.  We are equipped and prepared through the weapons you have given us.  We know in Jesus name, we will have the victory today.

S – The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and his Anointed One:^, 3 “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.” ⁴ The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them

Psalms 2:2–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

The kings hate the Lord’s established order in the world, so they desire to be independent of him (see 36:4). They scheme about dominating the Lord’s people (31:13; see 83:1–4). Their goal is to subvert the Lord’s rule in the world by overthrowing his anointed one (or his messiah); the Lord chose the kings of David’s dynasty to establish his kingdom throughout the earth. The NT confirms that Jesus, the appointed and anointed Son of God (Acts 4:26; 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5), fulfills the role in which these earlier kings failed.

2:3 break their chains: These kings believe that acknowledging the true God and his chosen ruler will result in their enslavement (Isa 28:22; 52:2; cp. Lam 3:7; Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 7:22; Titus 1:1).

2:4–6 The Lord finds the human threat insignificant. He provided a solution long before their rebellion. He will end their agitation through the appointment of a human agent, a descendant of David’s line who will rule the nations.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Ps 2:2–7.

A – The idea of man’s independence from God is throughout the Bible.  We know God through relationship, not our own endeavors.  God laughs at the “silliness” of trying to accomplish their own agenda against Him.  When we surrender, God comes close.  In that relationship, we see the power of working with God to accomplish things instead of working against Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are all powerful.  We surrender our hearts, thoughts, words and actions to you.  We are grateful for our relationship and the ability to work with you to accomplish all that you have for us today. 

S – He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 

Psalms 1:3 CSB

O – Commentary:

For all who take their delight in living by God’s Word, there is prosperity. Under the image of a fruitful tree, the psalmist declared that whatever the righteous do will prosper (cf. 92:12–14). Two qualifications need to be noted. First, the fruit, that is, the prosperity, is produced in its season and not necessarily immediately after planting. Second, what the godly person does will be controlled by the Law of God (1:2). So if a person meditates on God’s Word, his actions will be godly, and his God-controlled activities will prosper, that is, come to their divinely directed fulfillment.

 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), 790.

A – We all want to “prosper.”  While this is usually associated with finances, it covers so much more.  Any area that is vital to our well being physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually comes together for our overall well being.  All of that breaks forward when we follow God Word.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.  Thank you for your Word that allow us to prosper in all areas of our lives.  We invite you to work in us to align with your Word so we can grow in our relationship with you, while enjoying the benefits of your blessing.