Psalm 14:6 “You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.”

[Ungodly people prey on the poor instead of praying to God. But, when the poor turn to you, Lord, you are their help and protection. You are faithful, you are good and you are powerful. As it says in Psalm 68:6, “God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”]

Psalm 14:7 “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!”

[And it did come from Israel to Judah to Dave to Daniel and finally to Jesus, who as a Jew brought salvation for all!]

“When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!”

[Yes, the first believers, who were all Jewish, as well as we gentiles who are your children, have rejoiced and will rejoice in our salvation! What a great and high privilege to be your children and to honor you with our praise and thanksgiving.

And we can continue to rejoice in your daily ongoing practical protection and salvation, Lord Jesus. You lead us out of our personal prisons, taking us further up and further into your glorious Kingdom. Truly, you are our Good Shepherd and we will not lack anything we need, following you on paths of righteousness as they zig zag through life.]

Psalm 14:2b “The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”

[This means, Lord, that you look into the heart of every single person, you weigh their thoughts, you are concerned for them. Only an infinite God could be in such close contact with 6 billion people all at the same time! And in doing so, you love all of them, wanting each to come to you, giving each multiple chances to enter your Family, your Kingdom, your Eternity with you. You are a wonder!]

Psalm 14:3 “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

[This is the sad truth: not one single person in the whole world, in the whole of history since the Fall, has ever sought you out on their own. Not one naturally followed you in the right way. We all turned away from you, we were all corrupt. And as sinners, any good that we did was tainted with selfishness, pride and deceit, but we futilely tried to convince ourselves we are good.

What a hopeless situation! In ourselves we are unable to alter it. But praise you, Lord Jesus, that you have entered history, paid the great price making it possible for us to be released from the trap of the enemy and our own wickedness. Then we could come into your Kingdom of Light and Life and Love! Like in this picture below, you bring life and beauty out of what is dead and decaying.

May we be ever thankful for your unwarranted grace, undeserved goodness and unending love. May my life, being focused on you, reflect your love and light to all around me today.]

Psalm 13:3 “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;”

[Thank you that we can cry to you in our desperation, as David did here, Lord. We can always appeal to you, knowing that your faithfulness will flow into our lives like a stream forever. As it says in Psalm 86:7 “In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you WILL answer me.”]

Psalm 13:4 “my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

[Even if we fall, we can stand again, firm in your faithful power, with you as our persistent Shield and Defender. I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are our unshakable Rock, our faithful Fortress, our high Tower, our almighty Shepherd who can never to be defeated.]

Psalm 13:5 “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”

[Yes, I look away to you, Lord, and look down the long river of history, revealing your unfailing love where you–in faithfulness–answered, acted, protected, and guided your people: Abraham, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jesus and Paul. And so you will do with us.]

Psalm 13:1,2 “How long, O LORD?”

[There will be times when God seems distant, when He is not answering our prayers on our timetable (like right now in my life), when things are going awry with no help in sight. We pray and wait, but nothing seems to happen. There is no hint of His goodness in the mists and darkness of our lives.

Yet His goodness is still shining on the edges of and over our darkness and seeming barrenness. He is at work behind the scenes, carrying out His greater plans, as He was in the difficulties of Joseph, and Daniel, and Jesus.]

“Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?”

[There are dark valleys in life, ones we must pass through. These may be sickness, unemployment, relationship problems, depression (like the deep one my dear wife was going through as I wrote this in 2014), the death of a loved one, or fears sparked by governmental chaos and failure, by wars, pandemics, or great disasters.

But we can know that you, Lord, in your goodness, have designed or allowed each one to mature us, to give opportunity to bring glory to you through faith, and to demonstrate your power to the world, sweeping all who are willing into your Kingdom.

As we know and believe this–even though at times our hearts fail us if we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by disappointment and the immediate circumstances surrounding us–we can choose to look up and have hope in the midst of despair; we can have light in the midst of darkness; we can have joy in the midst of turmoil. Why? Because you are good and we know that you have a plan for good and will faithfully carry it out.

Psalm 12:1 “Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.”

[In spite of how it appears, I praise you, Lord, that you have always reserved for yourself some who are righteous in Christ.

You are quietly at work to keep your children strong, to make them truth-bearers, shining your light in love to all around them; to be yeast, salt, and light in society. Help us to be carriers of hope, truth and light to all around us; convict us quickly when we are not.]

Psalm 12:2 “Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.”

[This is true of so much of what goes on today: lies about what is right and wrong; lies in political correctness; lies of those who claim to be tolerant but are not; lies we tell ourselves.

But You, Lord God, are the only One we can truly, totally trust to speak Truth. Help us to be truth lovers (loving your Word), truth speakers (especially to ourselves) and truth discerners (in society).]

Psalm 12:3 “May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, ‘We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips—who is our master?’”

[Yes, Lord, show yourself mighty, expose the liars, bring them to justice; show yourself the true Master. May the deceived be brought into the light and grasp Truth. May we see that on our own we are like the rickety old building in the picture, doomed to fall with time. May we not be fooled by anything that is put forth by liars, including lies we tell ourselves.]