The Sovereign's Crown

 Read Psalm 24. 

These three songs, Psalms 22-24, present a full picture of the Messiah.  He died on the cross.  He cares for and leads His people.  But there is even a greater view of who Jesus is.  He is the eternal King of glory! 

The poetic picture is that of the watchman on the city wall.  Suddenly, he sees someone coming and recognizes the king immediately.  With that he shouts the order to those in charge, "Open the gates!"  After a victorious battle, David had experienced such triumphal entries.  But here he imagined the day when the Messiah would enter to rule and reign, once and for all. 

Why is this One so immediately welcomed?

1. He is the Owner. (vv.1-2)

Everything and everyone in heaven and on earth belongs to Him.  It is His by creation.  As the rightful Owner, He has full claim. 

2. He is Holy. (vv.3-6)

The Messiah is Immanuel, God with us.  Then, David asked a logical question, "Who can stand in the presence of this holy LORD?"  The requirements are not a secret.

-Clean hands: what we do, conduct

-Pure heart: who we are, character

-Honest speech: what we say, credibility

Such personal holiness is impossible apart from the forgiveness of the Savior and a life surrendered to Him.  The results are blessing and righteousness. 

3. He is All-powerful. (v.8)

This is not the meek and mild Jesus of the manger.  This is not the suffering Savior on the cross.  The King of glory is coming in power to take over His world.  The Prophet Isaiah foretold both the first and second comings of Christ.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore." (Isaiah 9:6-7) 

"Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20)

The Shepherd's Crook

 Read Psalm 23. 

This Psalm is surely quoted more than any other passage in all the Old Testament.  It paints a graphic picture of the LORD being a shepherd of His people.  The same metaphor is used throughout the Scriptures but none provides a more complete and poetic rendering. 

1. A Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. (vv.2-3)

His loving care is seen by providing food, water, rest, and a good path for the journey.  His staff is a walking stick for leading the sheep.  On the end is a crook for pulling back the wayward. 

2. A Good Shepherd comforts His sheep. (v.4)

Sheep can be easily frightened.  They are defenseless.  But even in the darkest, scariest places the loving shepherd is there watching and protecting.  His rod, or club, can fend off any threatening wild beast. 

3. A Good Shepherd celebrates with His sheep. (vv.5-6)

Note that David shifts the analogy to his own reality and hope.  This is a personal celebration of victory now in this life and a promise of an eternity with this Shepherd. 

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11) 

"The LORD is my shepherd."  What is the most important, life-changing word in that phrase?  The difference maker is the word "my".  When a person confesses this personal relationship with Jesus, their eternal destiny immediately changes.

The Savior's Cross

 Read Psalm 22. 

David described his suffering to be so intense it was like being put to death by his enemies.  Anyone who is familiar with the New Testament cannot help but see how prophetic this picture is of the crucifixion of Jesus.  Though on his own David certainly was not writing about Messiah directly (a thousand years in advance), the typology is there.  The Holy Spirit gave David the poetic descriptions of his circumstances and the Gospel writers got to see its ultimate fulfillment in the passion of Christ. 

1. The cry of Christ (vv.1-2)

These are the exact words that Jesus used hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:46).  It came in the very moment that God, the Father, laid the sin of the world upon the Savior.

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

2. The criticism of Christ (vv.6-8)

Amazingly, in the fulfillment of God's prophetic word, the unbelieving crowd did not realize they were quoting these verses as they ridiculed Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:39-44).

About 500 years in advance Isaiah wrote, "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3) 

3. The crucifixion of Christ (vv.14-18)

There is no mention of crucifixion in David's day.  It was the Romans who used it to publicly humiliate those who dared oppose them.  The prophetic typology was fulfilled to the last detail, including the soldiers gambling for his garments. (Matthew 27:35) 

Obviously, David did not die in this instance.  God answered his prayer.  Though Jesus died on the cross and was buried, He rose from the grave in proof that He is God.  In Acts 2:27, the Apostle Peter quoted Psalm 16:10 as a prophetic word concerning the resurrection of Jesus.  "For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption." 

David's deliverance caused him to praise the LORD and want to tell others about it (v.22).  In addition, he looked forward to a day when "all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you." (v.27)

Counting our many Blessings

 Read Psalm 21. 

Quite often people only see prayer as a means for what they can get from God.  Few take time to celebrate what He has already done.  King David took that time in this song.  God had been good to him and he wanted everyone else to know about it. 

1. He celebrated God's provision in his life.

-God answered his prayers (v.2)

-God gave him material blessings (v.3)

-God spared his life and legacy (v.4)

-God honored him (v.5)

-God made His presence personally known to him (v.6)

-God established his life with His love (v.7) 

2. He celebrated God’s protection of his life.

-God knows His enemies.  David's enemies were haters of God. (v.8)

-God judges those who oppose Him (v.9)

-God destroys the legacy of the wicked (v.10)

-God ensures that the plans of His enemies ultimately fail (v.11)

-God puts His enemies on the run (v.12) 

This is an encouragement for all of us to stop and make our own lists of how God has blessed us and protected us.  Let the music begin. 

"We will sing and praise your power." (v.13b)

Moving from blessing to Blessings

 Read Psalm 20. 

When reading this Psalm it may remind us of the old traditional Gaelic blessing:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand. 

David's song of blessing takes us much deeper into the basis of our hope.  It is a prayer.

1. He prayed for specific responses from God. (vv.1-3)

"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!"

-protect you

-help you

-support you

-remember all your offerings

-regard your sacrifices 

2. He prayed for requests to God (vv.4-5)

"May he grant you..."

-your heart's desire

-fulfill all your plans

-your deliverance

-your victories

-all your petitions 

3. He prayed for powerful results from God (v.6)

-God saves

-God answers 

At the root of our hope is where we put our trust.  Some put their faith in things that will ultimately fail them.

"But we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (v.7b)

This will change your Life

 Read Psalm 19. 

The purpose of the Bible is not information, but transformation.  Life-change is to be the result of a personal relationship with the LORD.  The better we know and practice the principles of His Word the more our lives will be pleasing and acceptable to Him. 

1. God's Work. (vv.1-6)

Creation is a testimony to the existence, power and presence of the living God.  When a heart is open and receptive, the message becomes real and obvious.

"For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse." (Roman 1:20) 

2. God's Word. (vv.7-11)

The Scriptures are totally reliable.  They provide words of instruction, wisdom, encouragement, warning, and blessing.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

3. God's Worker. (vv.12-14)

Self-valuation is not always accurate.  Let the Scriptures be the unchanging standard of right and wrong.

"How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word....I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:9, 11) 

A verse we should all memorize:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Singing Along with David

 Read Psalm 18. 

This is a song of victory.  The inscription identifies it as written in response to being rescued from his enemies, especially Saul.  Though a warrior with his own troops engaged in the battle, David gave God full credit for His divine intervention. 

Here the sweet psalmist of Israel showed his giftedness in writing artistic poetry.  Using multiple metaphors, David described graphically who God is and how God acted on his behalf.  It began with a testimony of worship.  He sings of his love for God and here is why-

"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." (v.3) 

1. God rescued him.

David was in a tight spot, cornered, and seemingly with no way out.  God opened a door for him to overcome the adversity.

"But the LORD was my support.  He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (vv.18b-19)

"You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip." (v.36) 

2. God rewarded him.

David had done nothing wrong, yet he was being pursued to the death.  God saw his character and humility.

"So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight." (v.24) 

3. God reminded him.

In his relief and joy, David recalled a truth he already knew, but at this point he could embrace it with even stronger faith.  God is trustworthy.

"This God-his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." (v.30) 

We can all sing along with David:

"The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation." (v.46)