PSALM 1

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It's no accident that this psalm is at the beginning of the book of psalms. This psalm sets up the fork in the road where you must choose which way to go. Here the two ways are the godly and the wicked. This psalm answers the timeless question, "How can I be happy?"

First-You must refuse certain things. 1 Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

NOTE there are 3 stages for those who are out of the flow of God's blessing. 1. Walk in step with the wicked. 2. Stand in the way that sinners take. 3. Sit in the company of mockers.

Those who are out of the flow of God's blessing ignore God's Word and God's way and follow the herd--going along with the crowd.

Second-You must delight yourself in the Word of God. 2 but who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night.

NOTE those who are blessed by God find a certain "delight" in the Word of God. And this delight is characterized by meditating and ruminating over God's Word day and night.

Third-Those who delight in the Word of God will experience certain results. NOTE what these results are. 3 They are like a tree planted by streams of water,

1. They will have a purposeful life, like a tree that is nourished and refreshed by a stream of water. which yields its fruit in season

2. As a tree they will be fruitful in God's timing. What a privilege! and whose leaf does not wither-

3. As a fruitful tree, they will enjoy a healthiness and strength. whatever they do prospers.

4. NOTE whatever they do will prosper. Now that is an amazing statement for those who refuse to walk, stand or sit with the crowd that ignores God and His Word. This is an interesting picture of what it means to be truly happy.

Fourth-Those who do not delight in the Word of God experience certain results. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

NOTE that those who go along with the crowd and ignore God and His Word are like empty chaff rather than real grain and are so unstable and empty that they are simply blown away by the wind. There are no roots and no fruitfulness and their lives amount to nothing. There is no happiness here!

Fifth-God is for the righteous and the wicked will find destruction. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will be destroyed.

So, to be truly happy, delight yourself in God and His Word. To be unhappy, simply ignore it all. NOTE that there is no great performance required of the blessed. It is important to be interested enough to delight yourself in God and His Word. This reminds me of the statement, "God only requires one thing of man and that is that he be interested."

What are your interests? Delighting yourself in God and His Word or delighting yourself in going with the crowd that essentially ignores God? Remember, "Even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat!"

PSALM 139

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This is one of the most complete psalms ever written. In fact, I see this as a psalm of surrender. The only way to give things over to our Creator-God is to give up--TO SURRENDER.

I want to simply read through the 8 movements of this psalm. Let's look at it and let these words penetrate your own heart.

1-Searched and known by God. 1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.

2-Hemmed in by God from all sides. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

3-Can't hide from God. He is everywhere! 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

4-Strong, yet tender hand of God. 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

5-God is the Creator of my inner person. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

6-God's thoughts are most valuable to me. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand- when I awake, I am still with you.

7-Hating God's enemies. 19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.

8-God, search me, know me and test me out. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Now, after 22 verses of pondering, being hemmed in by, and being awed by God's personal focus on his life, David seems to drop to his knees in surrender and pray from the bottom of his heart. I invite you to do the same thing.

Search me, God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

NOTE that the psalm opens with God searching and knowing you and now ends with the same searching and knowing. Only when you surrender your will can the God of gods do His refining and purifying work of searching you out and knowing your innermost self. Then and only then can God hold you in His hands in such a way that you might know you are in the safest place you can be.

PSALM 121

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I love this psalm. It speaks so directly and practically to each of us daily!

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

There are basically three ways to approach verses 1 and 2.

FIRST-I am here in this valley and am overwhelmed by the mountains that I face. Where will I find some help to get through it all? ONLY THROUGH THE HELP OF THE LORD.

SECOND-I am looking for the mountains of Jerusalem, especially Mt. Zion, but I can't see them due to the hills that block my view. ONLY THROUGH THE HELP OF THE LORD--THE GOD OF GODS.

THIRD-As I look up into the "high places" where a variety of gods are placed, I am looking for some real help for me in my plight. NONE OF THOSE GODS SET IN HIGH PLACES CAN HELP, BUT ONLY THE LORD--THE GOD OF GODS IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO GET ME THROUGH MY PLIGHT.

He goes on to say, 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The only help I can count on is the help I can find in the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. NOTE how He will help--BY WATCHING and KEEPING me. He will watch over me and keep me safe.

3 He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

There is no God like our God Who will be able to help me or watch over me as the God of gods--the LORD.

A little girl listened attentively as her father read the family devotions. She seemed awed by her parents' talk of God's limitless power and mercy. "Daddy," she asked, placing her little hands on his knees, "how big is God." Her father thought for a moment and answered, "Honey, he is always just a little bigger than you need."

Let me ask you something, "How big is your God you look to?"

PSALM 23

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Maybe one of the most familiar passages out of the Bible is Psalm 23. It seems to be read at every memorial service or graveside. Yet this little psalm is even more powerful for us, if we use it in our lives rather than in death.

I think what this little psalm is saying to us is, "Everything you need is already available to you through the Good Shepherd!" It's all there!

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

There is an extremely popular book written by a Canadian entitled "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23". Philip Keller, unlike most of us, is an actual modern-day shepherd, who has spent many years in agricultural research, land management, and ranch development in British Columbia. From Keller's first-hand experience, Psalm 23 has burst open with many new insights and surprises. For example, what does it really mean to say "I shall not want"? Keller says that this is a picture of "a sheep utterly satisfied with its owner, utterly contented in the Good Shepherd's care and consequently not craving or desiring anything more." Does this describe our personal day-to-day lives? I remember seeing a poster which read: "Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."

Why does Psalm 23 talk about "lying down in green pastures"? Keller tells us that sheep will never lie down until four conditions are met:

1. They must be free of all fear. 2. They must be free of torment by flies or parasites. 3. They must have a full belly. 4. They must be in harmony with their fellow sheep.

Green pastures did not just happen by accident. A good shepherd would put tremendous work into clearing rough, rocky ground into lush pasture land. Psalm 23 tells us that Jesus the Good Shepherd desires to take away our fear and disharmony so that we can find the inner peace that we have always been looking for.

What about "leading us beside still waters"? What difference does that make? Keller tells us that sheep are made up of about 70% water on average. Without a clean water source, sheep become restless and dehydrated. As well, sheep will not drink from fast, flowing waters, but rather from still calm waters. So, too the Good Shepherd desires to fill each of us with calmness and stillness, with living water that can quench our deepest thirst.

Probably the most familiar of all is the phrase: "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me". Keller tells us that the only way to the mountainous green pastures is through the dangerous mountain valleys where wolves and coyotes are in hiding, waiting for their next victim. Psalm 23 reminds us that the Good Shepherd is also a warrior who will fight for us and protect us, even in times of death and tragedy.

A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he received many requests to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause. The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. But when he finished there was not a dry eye in the room. When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he replied "I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd."

Do you know the Shepherd or just the psalm?

PSALM 107

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I want to revisit a few Psalms that I find most helpful to me in my walk with Jesus and with others.

This morning I want to take a look at Psalm 107. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story-

It's at this point that the writer takes us through four kinds of people in stressed situations of life. FIRST--THOSE WHO LIVE IN RESTLESSNESS. 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for humankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

SECOND--THOSE WHO LIVE IN REBELLIOUSNESS. 10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 because they rebelled against God's commands and despised the plans of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress 14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for humankind, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

THIRD--THOSE WHO LIVE IN REJECTION AS FOOLS. 17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. 18They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. 21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for humankind. 22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.

FOURTH--THOSE WHO ARE REGULAR, RESOURCEFUL PEOPLE. 23 Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits' end. 28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for humankind.

NOTE a couple of observations. FIRST-No matter who you are nor how you live your life, you will experience trials and trouble. This goes against those who preach a health-wealth gospel...that a person who trusts in Jesus will always experience health and be totally prosperous. It's just not true!

SECOND-Every time the answer for their trials and troubles was to cry out to the Lord. Unless we see the Lord as our only real hope of getting through the mess and muck of our lives, we are looking for answers in all the wrong places.

THIRD-Every time the Lord brought His salvation in response to their cries. The Lord knows exactly what you need. I am convinced that the Lord is never surprised at your trials and troubles. And, His salvation is applied to us continually to get us through it all. Remember, the best way out is through!

FOURTH-Every time those who experienced God's salvation for their trials and troubles they were urged to give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds. God wants gratefulness and deserves our thanks. This is the missing link found in every society that turns away from God. In Romans 1 it says, "and neither were they thankful."

The Psalmist ends with this. 43 Let all who are wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.

I just keep thinking about the fact that NOTHING COMES INTO OUR LIVES THAT DOESN'T ALSO GO THROUGH THE WISE AND LOVING HANDS OF GOD.