The Seeker's Network

The Double Heart

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.


What evidence do we have that the godly man seems to be disappearing from society? The fact is documented by David with the evidence that everyone speaks vanity. The Hebrew word, shav, is much stronger than our word, vanity, and implies a devastating evil. It is any kind of hypocrisy that deceives in such a way as to cause harm to someone else or to the church.

David is speaking of the kind of mischief that we are accustomed to seeing from corrupt politicians. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:1-3)

We have many of this type in government offices today. I will not mention their names, because we are told to honor and to pray for them, but we do not have to honor the things that they do. These are men who claim to be Christians but vote against every godly piece of legislation placed before them. They support abortion, assisted suicide, homosexuality, high taxation, abolition of prayer from public buildings and public events etc.. They speak with feigned words, flattery and lies, promising handouts for the poor, while making merchandise out of them.

We have this type of person serving as pastors at some of our churches. I have had the experience of making an appointment with a certain pastor of a large church and being stood up not once, but three times, and never having received even an explanation or an apology. Other members of the community have had the same experience with this man. This type of unfaithful behavior does serious damage to the church's reputation.

Flattery and a double heart go hand in hand. The double heart has two agendas. The first is to gain someone's favor and the second is to take advantage of that favor. "A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin." (Proverbs 26:28)

But, I must be very careful that I am not writing these words about myself. Paul wrote, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." (Romans 3:10-14)

Except for the righteousness that is offered to me through Jesus Christ, I have no power to be godlier than any other man. I must be careful to only say what I mean and to not be double hearted, even in the little things. Jesus commanded us, saying, "...let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (Matthew 5:37) In other words, speak only the truth; everything else is evil; and anyone who uses flattery or other forms of deceit cannot be called a "godly person."

How often have you used flattery to manipulate someone? How often have you spoken with a double agenda, one evident and false and another hidden but true? Will you make the commitment to be very careful about what you say and about your motives for saying it? We need more godly people like you in the world in which we live.

Before The Throne:

"Change my heart, O God.
"Make it ever true.
"Change my heart, O God.
"Make me more like you."

The wonderful words of that song are perhaps the greatest prayer we could offer. Confess your sins, your little lies, your deceptive tricks and your flattering ways to God. Admit to Him that you can not do it on your own. Ask Him to make you more like Him. Pray that you will grow in the righteousness of Christ and that your life would bring honor to Him.

For Further Study:

(v.2) ** They: Psa 10:7; 36:3, 4; 38:12; 41:6; 52:1-4; 59:12; 144:8, 11; Jer 9:2-6, 8; ** flattering: Psa 5:9; 28:3; 62:4; Prov 20:19; 29:5; Eze 12:24; Rom 16:18; 1Thess 2:5; ** a double heart. 1Ch 12:33; ** marg. Jam 1:8;

The Godly Man Ceases

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.


"Help, Lord!" It is not a cry from someone who is under attack nor is it a cry from someone with a personal problem such as sickness, failing finances etc.. This is the cry of a man who sees a general lack of godliness in the culture and world around him and is deeply moved by it.

We do not know what occasion inspired David to write this psalm, and the title does not give us much help. Sheminith means, "eighth." It could mean that the psalm was in the key of the eighth note, or that it was to be accompanied by the eight stringed lyre. Some have supposed it to be a Messianic prophesy and say that Sheminith means "the eighth day."
However, it is not unusual for godly men in every generation to become painfully aware of the lack of devotion to God among their peers. (See Mic 7:2; Isa 57:1; Jer 5:1; 7:28)

David says, "the godly man ceaseth." The godly man comes to an end; he is dying off and there seem to be fewer and fewer each day. This can be a very self-righteous statement, if one is comparing everyone else to himself. Elijah hid in a cave, thinking that he was the only godly man left alive, but God had preserved 7,000 others for Himself. ( 1Kings 19:10-18) We must be careful about labeling others and we should judge ourselves first by the only acceptable standard, the word of God.

John Gill defines the godly man as, "...one that has received grace and mercy of the Lord; as pardoning mercy, justifying and adopting grace; and who has principles of grace, goodness, and holiness, wrought in him; who fears the Lord, and serves him acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, and sorrows for sin, after a godly sort; who loves the Lord, and hopes and believes in him; who is regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God, and is a true worshiper of God, and lives in all holy conversation and godliness; and, particularly, is 'beneficent', 'kind', and 'merciful.'"

Such men have certainly been scarce in every generation, but we should be on the alert for any decline in their numbers. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

David wrote, "...the faithful fail from among the children of men." With a lack of godliness, there is a natural falling away of faithfulness. Men will cease to be faithful to themselves; deceiving themselves into the belief that they can sin without consequence; abusing their bodies with drugs, alcohol and sexual perversions; and worshiping everything that brings instant pleasure. They will even put on a form of godliness by attending church, teaching Sunday school, or even preaching from the pulpit, while believing the lie that doing these things can get them into heaven.

The term "ungodly" naturally means that they are unfaithful to God. Twisting His word to make it mean what they want it to mean or ignoring it completely. God will have little, if any, place in their daily thoughts and they will despise everything that is good.

Finally, the ungodly will also be unfaithful to others. They will not have relationships that last, because they have no sense of loyalty to anyone but themselves. There will be a high rate of divorce and a rise in sexual promiscuity. Children will be raised by only one parent or by someone other than their parents, because of the lack of natural affection. Business ethics will decline as people become embroiled in a dog eat dog economy. People will live with a constant, high level of stress and will not know why. Faithfulness is necessary for any society to survive.

Don't cry out as David did. Instead, ask yourself how God, your family, and your friends see you. Are you a godly and faithful person?

Before The Throne:

Pray, "Help, Lord! for I have failed to be a godly and faithful person. Please do not allow me to become part of the problem, but let me be the bearer of good news to a lost and hopeless world. Clothe me in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, change my heart to one that has compassion for others, and make me loyal and faithful to myself, to you, and to everyone whom I meet."

For Further Study:

(v.1) ** (Title.) Sheminith. or, The eighth. Psa 6:1; ** title 1Ch 15:21; ** Help. Psa 3:7; 6:4; 54:1; Matt 8:25; 14:30; ** godly. Ge 6:12; Isa 1:9,21,22; 57:1; 63:5; Jer 5:1; Mic 7:1,2; Matt 24:12; ** faithful. Prov 20:6; Isa 59:4,13-15;

Our Righteous LORD

7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.


Picture a train at the station, waiting for its passengers to board. Once it is boarded, it pulls out and accelerates to a very high speed. As it flies down the tracks, it never veers to the left or right. Its path is set in advance. Those who are on it will ride to its destination. Suddenly, someone steps out in front of it. They want to stop it or change its direction. It blows a warning whistle, but the person does not move. The train runs him down without ever hesitating or changing direction. The passengers are safe and will continue with the train to the end of the line.

God is not a mindless object like a train but, like the train, He has already laid out His course. He will not be deterred and He will not veer to the left or to the right. We think of His course and destination as His will and purpose, and both of them are good and righteous. Those who agree with Him are like the passengers on the train. They are safely carried along to God's destination. We say that He loves them. They are the upright people of this world.

The wicked are standing on His tracks, opposing Him. The train does not hate the person on the tracks but it destroys him. God is the same way. If He is good and just, then He must destroy everything that stands in His way. We say that He hates the wicked with all His being, (v.5) but that is not entirely accurate. God is not subject to human emotions or passions, which can get out of control and take over a person's thoughts and very soul. God is perfect and desires His creation to be perfect. He is not going to change His plans, because they too are perfect. Everything imperfect, like sinners, will be done away with.

Every reader should now take note of one Bible verse, which says, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one." Then whom does God love? This psalm should be a dire warning to every sinner. It is the train's whistle blowing. You have a very limited time to stand out there resisting it before you are run down. There will be no second chance and your feet are firmly planted. You are not going to move in time to avoid destruction.

God has another characteristic that is not mentioned here but it has to be considered. It is His grace and only His grace that can save the wicked from being run down. He has sent His Son to take the impact for those who have been opposing God. If we continue with our analogy, Jesus would stand far up the tracks, long before the train gets to the sinner. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus already died for our sins. If the man standing on the tracks in God's way will repent and trust in Jesus' death to save him, Jesus will place him safely on the train.

God's countenance will behold the upright. He smiles on all of those who are on His train, carrying them to a wonderful eternity where they will be with Him forever. There was nothing more precious to the people of Israel than to think that God would smile at them. "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26) He will keep them eternally safe with Him; He will pour out His blessings upon them; He will smile and be pleased with them; and He will give them peace.

God is a perfectly just God, and there is nothing good in all of creation except it comes from Him. This psalm has warned us to trust in Him alone, because those who oppose Him or His people will be destroyed. Those who trust in Him do not trust in vain. He smiles upon them and cares for them.

Before The Throne:

Where do you stand today? Are you still dangerously opposing God or are you safely on His side, saved by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ? When you pray, be sure of your salvation. Thank God for the many promises that He has made to those who love Him. Ask Him to help you walk in His ways, to be among those whom He considers to be upright. Praise Him for opening the doors of His throne room so that you can enter and bring your concerns and needs to Him.

For Further Study:

(v.7) ** For. Psa 45:7; 99:4; 146:8; Isa 61:8; ** his. Psa 5:12; 21:6; 33:18; 34:15; 42:5; Job 36:7; 1Pet 3:12;

Discipline and Punishment

5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.


Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? That age old question has been used by atheists to create doubt among believers who are weak in their faith. David knew the answer and was able to apply it to his own situation.

"The LORD trieth the righteous," he said. The Hebrew word that is translated as "trieth" is the same one used in verse 4. It means to test, investigate, prove or examine. It is similar to trying gold or silver in the fire to purify it. God puts His children through these trials to test the reality of their faith. Will they flee to their mountains or will they stand firm and trust in Him? How real is their commitment to Him? The hypocrites will run for the hills when persecution rears its head, but the righteous will stand firm and will grow stronger in their faith.

Thus, David demonstrated both his faith and his understanding of the God whom he served. He realized that Saul's persecution of him was nothing more than a trial that would strengthen his faith. The words from the Epistle of James sound very much like something that David might have written. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." (James 1:12)

The trials that Christians endure are God's way of disciplining His children. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:6-7)

Next, David makes a statement that goes against the teachings of our contemporary pastors. He states very clearly that "...the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth." God does not love the sinner but hates the sin. He hates every sinner who does not repent and receive Christ as both his Lord and Savior. He hates everyone who loves violence, which could also be translated as, "who loves injustice."

The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on this verse says, "And His soul hates (i.e., He hates him with all the energy of His perfectly and essentially holy nature) the evil-doer and him that delights in the violence of the strong towards the weak. And the more intense this hatred, the more fearful will be the judgments in which it bursts forth."

There is no punishment in this life or in this world that is sufficient enough for those who hate their own Creator. Therefore, the wicked often appear to be prosperous and happy, but their future is very grim. "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." (Proverbs 13:24) God has spared the rod on those who love their sinful life, because He hates them and has a more appropriate judgment reserved for them.

"Upon the wicked He shall rain snares..." In other words, God has laid His traps for His enemies so that there will be no escape. Sinners have the option of turning to Jesus Christ, who has already paid the price for their sins, or face eternal punishment from which there is no escape. Once trapped, their goose is cooked. Fire and brimstone is not a pleasant way to spend eternity. Forever is a hell of a long time to burn. It will come upon them like a violent unexpected storm, "a horrible tempest."

On the other hand, the promise to the faithful is this: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) The faithful are not trapped. God will bring them through their trials.

Finally, fire and brimstone are the portion of the cup that the wicked receive as their inheritance. By contrast, David also wrote, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot." (Psalms 16:5) Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, maybe those things are not as bad as we think. They certainly are not as bad as what the wicked will face. To the contrary, the bad things that happen to good people simply prepare them for the eternal joy of being with God forever.

Before the Throne:

Think about your troubles and consider how trivial they are compared to what the wicked will suffer. Praise God for loving you enough to discipline you. If your troubles seem to be too severe, ask Him to show you the way that He has prepared for you to escape them. Pray for your enemies and those who love their sins. Ask God to give them understanding and to save them from themselves.

For Further Study:

(v.5) ** trieth. Psa 7:9; 17:3; 26:2; 139:1, 23-24; Gen 22:1; Zech 13:9; Mal 3:3; Jas 1:12; 1Pet 1:7; 4:12; ** wicked. Psa 5:4-5; 10:3; 21:8; Prov 6:16-19; Jer 12:8; Zech 11:8;

(v.6) ** Upon. Psa 105:32; Gen 19:24; Exod 9:23-24; Job 18:15; 20:23; Isa 24:17-18; Ezek 13:13; 38:22; Luke 17:29; ** Ps 16:5; Gen 43:34; 1Sam 1:4; 9:23; Job 27:13-23; ** their. Psa 75:8; Isa 51:17, 22; Jer 25:15-17; Hab 2:16; John 18:11;

Our Infinite King

4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.


This verse begins the second part of the psalm, the answer to David's advisers who, because of the enormous danger that he was in, told him to flee to his mountain. But David trusted in Yahweh, whom he knew experientially.

"The LORD is in his holy temple..." His temple must of necessity be infinite in scope, because Yahweh is infinite. There is no room, or temple that can contain Him. As finite little specks of dust in the enormity of God's creation, men must have some kind of visual image to help them comprehend the One who is without form or limits. Thus we are told that He is in His temple and that His throne is in heaven, but that does not adequately describe His infinite presence. "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is] the place of my rest?" (Isaiah 66:1) He says that the whole of heaven is His throne, "But... behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee..." (1 Kings 8:27)

David knew Yahweh personally and trusted in Him. If God be with you, who can be against you? David was not afraid of what man could do to Him as long as he had God as his friend. Few men had that kind of a relationship with Yahweh until His Son Jesus Christ died to take away the sins of the world. Now we are, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

This magnificent and infinite God in whom David trusted so completely knows what kind of troubles each of us are experiencing. As small as man is in comparison with the rest of His creation, we are told, "His eyes behold..." everything and everyone. He knows what wicked men are plotting. They might be standing in the shadows, unseen, with their weapons loaded, but God sees them. He is there. There is no place where anyone can go that God is not present. Sinners deceive themselves when they think that God does not see what they are doing. He knows their very thoughts.

The very fact that God is depicted as seated on the throne of heaven tells us that He is the sovereign Ruler over everything. Having created the universes with just a few simple but all-powerful words, He rules His creation according to His sovereign will. The very power that created all things is also available to provide justice for those who are persecuted because of their love for Him. Only the fool would fail to trust Him.

"His eyelids try..." The Hebrew word that is rendered as "try" means to explore, investigate, or examine. There is no detail that escapes His view. Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, "...he narrowly inspects their actions, words, and thoughts. As men, when intently and narrowly inspecting some very minute object, almost close their eyelids to exclude every other object, so will the Lord look all men through and through. God sees each man as much and as perfectly as if there were no other creature in the universe. He sees us always; he never removes his eye from us; he sees us entirely, reading the recesses of the soul as readily as the glancings of the eye."

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:13) This is the faith that David expresses in this memorable psalm. The same faith is available to each of us through the Lord Jesus Christ. "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;" (Hebrews 8:1) He is our advocate who is constantly intervening between His Father and all those who trust in Him.

Before The Throne:

Where do you place your trust? Life is fragile and the world is a dangerous place to spend it. Take your fears to the throne of God right now. Trust Him to handle each problem and then leave them with Him at the throne. Ask Him to help you serve Him without fear. Pray for the ability to feel His presence at all times. Thank Him for Jesus' promise that He will never leave you. Pray that others will recognize the confidence that you have in Him.

For Further Study:

(v.4) ** The Lord. Psa 9:11; 18:6; Exod 40:34-35; 1Chr 17:5; Hab 2:20; Zech 2:13; 2Thess 2:4; ** the Lord's. Psa 2:4; 103:19; Isa 66:1; Matt 5:34; 23:21; Acts 7:49; Rev 4:2; ** his eyes. Psa 33:13; 44:21; 66:7; 2Chr 16:9; Prov 15:3; Jer 17:10; 23:24; Heb 4:13;

Crumbling Foundations

2 For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?


Who is the speaker in these two verses? That seems to be the primary mystery in understanding the intent of this passage. Most commentators seem to believe that these are the words of the same people who were giving David the bad advice in the first verse, and it seemed to me to be the most logical before I had read the opinions of others. Calvin on the other hand believed that David is the speaker, as he continues to explain the dangerous circumstances in which he found himself. W. S. Plumer felt that Calvin's view is the best. However, Matthew Henry even introduced the thought that these could be the words of David's enemies who are mocking him with the concluding question, "What can the righteous do?"

Since the majority of our translations begin with the preposition, "For," it seems that the translators thought this should refer back to the previous phrase. It appears as though this is the reason why David's advisors wanted him to flee to his mountain. We will look at it from that view, but the circumstances and meaning do not change much regardless of who spoke the lines. It is only the intent of the speaker that changes from one view to the other.

The wicked bend their bows and load their arrows to shoot at the man who is upright in heart. They do it privately, or in the shadows, or under cover of darkness where they are not likely to be seen. They are men who have no justification for their actions, so they hide like cowards and attack without being seen.

The enemies of the person who tries to walk in the ways of the Lord can be ruthless. This can be seen in many examples, but Saul's pursuit of David might be one of the most dramatic. Saul hated David because he had found such favor among the people and with God. Although David was a national hero, he had never posed any threat to Saul's throne. Yet, jealousy drove the king to seek David's death.

The same evil pursuit can be seen in the life of Jesus and the way that the Pharisees were constantly conspiring to do away with Him. They did it secretly, knowing that the people would condemn them for it. Did they make ready the arrow upon the bow string? Yes, they used the armed power of the Roman soldiers to do their dirty work.

Christ warned us that, if we follow Him, we will be like lambs among wolves. The world does not like righteous people, because they speak the word of God, which condemns the world for its sins. We only need to watch the news and every day we can see someone being berated, slandered, arrested, or even murdered for standing strong on the word of God. Christians are described as hateful, because they speak out against sin. It is not important to the enemy that their words are his only hope of salvation. Jesus was the only hope for the Pharisees, but they killed Him anyway.

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Most scholars believe that the word "foundations" refers to the foundations of morality and the rule of law upon which a civilization must be built. When these foundations are destroyed chaos rules. Saul had cast aside any thought of right or wrong, any desire to be guided by the simple commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." He had surrendered his soul to the jealous will of the flesh. The Pharisees had done the same thing when they considered having Jesus killed.

When the foundations of society are destroyed, the concepts of right and wrong are switched. Sin becomes good, and righteousness is called evil. The Christian will have to face these things today. Society has reversed the morality of God's laws. Those who believe in Him are depicted as stupid, the murder of children and euthanasia are good things, the use of government to steal the wealth of one group of people and give it to another group is charitable, lies and deceptions characterize our national leaders, drugs and illicit sex are glamorized by the rich and famous, the sin of homosexuality is now acceptable, the government is god and anyone who opposes any of these things is depicted as an enemy of the people. "

"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" If this is asked by David's enemies, it is done to mock his trust in God (v.1). But, what if it is asked by his friends? Is the effect any different? Many times good people can fall into the trap of thinking that all is lost. Their negative comments can do as much damage to the morale of their friend as the mocking comments of his enemy.

Let me finish with the words of Paul to Timothy. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Timothy 3:12-14)

Before The Throne:

Recent earthquakes and Tsunamis have demonstrated the tragedy of crumbling foundations. When the foundations of morality and faith crumble the effect is even worse. Ask God to raise up laborers to spread the gospel to every nation and tongue on earth. Ask Him to prepare the hearts of men to be receptive to His word, especially those in leadership positions. Ask Him to show you what you can do. What can the righteous do? We can begin with prayer and call upon the Righteous One to lead us.

For Further Study:

(v.2) ** For, lo. Psa 10:2; 37:14; 64:3-4; Jer 9:3; ** make. 21:12; ** that. Psa 10:8-9; 64:5; 142:3; 1Sam 18:21; 23:9; Matt 26:4; Acts 23:12-15; ** the upright. Psa 7:10; 32:11; 64:10; 94:15; 97:11; 125:4;

(v.3) ** If the. Psa 75:3; 82:5; Isa 58:12; 2Tim 2:19; ** what. 2Kgs 19:13-18; 22:12-14; 2Chr 32:13-15; Neh 6:10-12; Jer 26:11-15; Dan 3:15-18; 6:10-28; John 11:8-10; Acts 4:5-12, 24-33;

Why Run?

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?


I would suppose that there has come a time in everyone's life when the temptation to flee from our troubles has presented itself. In this psalm, David faces that temptation and teaches us that it is not always the best solution. This psalm appears to have been written when David's life was under constant threat by Saul. It was a time when prudent men would have told him to run for his life, but David had a different solution.

The psalm can be divided into two parts. The first three verses describe a man's victory over fear and temptation through his faith. The fourth verse through the end of the psalm describe the righteousness and faithfulness of God to act justly among men.

"In the Lord put I my trust..." This is the theme that runs through the entire book of Psalms from the first, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,.." until the end, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God." (Psalms 146:5) Trust is the foundation of any relationship, whether it is between men or between a man and his God.

Trust is not natural but is learned only by experience. David had learned to trust in the Lord even when he was young and offered his services to Saul in the battle against the Philistine giant named Goliath. While others laughed at him, David touted his trust in God as the only weapon he needed. "David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee." (1 Samuel 17:37)

Now, as he faces another enemy, the very king who was afraid to face Goliath by himself, David is advised by his friends and servants to run. "Flee as a bird to your mountain." And, David asks, "How can you say such a thing to me? Where is the logic behind this advice? Why should anyone who trusts in the LORD run from anything?" To the godly man, such reasoning is beyond comprehension. The Goliaths of this world are weak and easily defeated when the real giant, the One who holds the heavens in the palm of His hand, is on our side.

"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" (Isaiah 5:21) They have not experienced the faithfulness of God. Because they have not trusted in His word for even the smallest things, they have not known the blessings that He bestows on those who trust in Him. Therefore, they must rely on their own prudence and, when trouble comes, they shout, "Run for the hills!" The godly man asks, "How can you say that? Have you no faith?"

Our Savior, the Son of David, was mocked for His faith while he was nailed to the cross. "Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." (Matthew 27:41-43) Yet, by His trust He did more than just come down from the cross. He rose up from the grave, proved the faithfulness of God, and defeated the devil, sin and death for everyone who would trust in Him.

Faith is the answer to sorrows and depression. When David felt depressed, he reminded himself of his relationship with God. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalms 42:11) When you feel depressed, when the circumstances tell you to run, and when there seems to be no hope, walk by faith and not by sight. Look the whole world in the eye and say, "In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"

Before The Throne:

What is the world burdening you with today? Can you say, "In the Lord put I my trust?" Ask God to increase your faith. Pray for the strength to face your problems and the evils that surround you with the boldness of a young man facing Goliath. Know deep down in your heart that God will answer your prayers, because He is faithful. Thank Him for allowing you to know that He is with you always. Thank Him for proving His faithfulness and His love by what He did on the cross at Calvary.

For Further Study:

(v.1) ** In the. Psa 7:1; 9:10; 16:1; 25:2; 31:14; 56:11; 2Chr 14:11; 16:8; Isa 26:3-4; ** how. 1Sam 19:11; 20:38; 21:10-12; 22:3; 23:14; 27:1; ** Flee. Psa 55:6-7; Prov 6:5; Luke 13:31;

Men of the Earth

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.


The psalmist is assured by faith that God has heard the prayers of the humble, or of those who have been oppressed. It can be supposed that he includes himself in that category of people. His strong faith was seen in the previous verse where he affirmed that Yahweh is King forever. It is further seen in his use of the Hebrew word shama, which means to hear with interest and to respond.

"Thou wilt prepare their heart..." This is where the LORD does His greatest work... in the hearts of men. In this case, the psalmist is assured that the LORD will do more than just answer the prayers of the oppressed. He will work in their hearts to give them the confidence to wait upon Him. The margin indicates that He will "establish" their heart. The Hebrew word actually means to stand erect. God will make the humble and oppressed to have an upright heart, strong in the faith, established in His law and able to stand firm and wait upon Him.

"Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear..." God broadens His ears, or pricks up His ears, to hear the prayers of the oppressed. Of course this is an anthropomorphism, but it means that He is anxiously awaiting our prayers, waiting to answer, and waiting to avenge the fatherless and the oppressed.

"That the man of the earth may no more oppress." Albert Barnes explained, "...literally, 'the man from the earth;' that is, that man springing from the earth, or created of the dust (Genesis 2:7) - man frail, short-lived, feeble - should no more set up an unjust authority, trample on the rights of his fellow-worms, or suppose that he is superior to his fellow-creatures."

Barnes then goes on to elaborate on the wickedness of men, explaining that we are all the same... made from the dust, yet we think that we are superior to others. Our reasons for this unsubstantiated supposition are always based on very trivial differences such as the color of one's skin or the social circumstances of one's birth. Even our education makes us feel like we should be among the elite. "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." (1 Corinthians 3:18-20)

Nevertheless, it is these feelings of superiority that cause men to oppress their fellow men but, in the end, we all return to the dust without hope, except that which is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. We will all be raised again and judged. Some will inherit eternal life and some will suffer eternal damnation. That is where and when God will judge between men and place each in the society to which he belongs. No one will be judged on his merits, no one is better than the other. The only criteria for their salvation will be their relationship with Jesus Christ, which is given solely by the grace of God.

As we complete our study of this psalm, perhaps a good thought to end with is that spoken by the Apostle Paul, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3) We are made of the dirt of the earth, turned against our Creator, appointed once to die and after that the judgment. God is no respecter of persons. Everyone is the same to Him. The only thing that can save us is His grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Before The Throne:

Have you ever looked down on a homeless person, a thief, a drug addict, or a homosexual? Now is the time to ask God to forgive you and to confess that you are a sinner just like everyone else. If you have found grace in His eyes, thank Him for the sacrifice that He made to that end. Ask Him to help you see other people the way that He says them and to have compassion on them as Jesus did. Pray for the oppressed, the orphans, the widows and the lost masses of this world. Ask God to send enough laborers into His harvest to make a difference.

For Further Study:

(v.17) ** Lord. Psa 9:12, 18; 37:4; 145:19; Prov 10:24; ** humble. 2Chr 33:12-13; 34:27; Prov 15:8; Matt 5:3; Luke 18:13-14; Jas 4:6, 10; 1Pe 5:5; ** thou wilt prepare. Psa 112:7-8; 1Chr 29:18; 2Chr 29:36; 30:12; Prov 16:1; Rom 8:26; Eph 2:18; 3:12; Jas 1:16-17; ** cause. Psa 102:17; Isa 65:24; Acts 4:24-31; 12:5-19; 1Pet 3:12;

(v.18) ** judge. Psa 10:14; 72:4; 82:3; 94:1-6; Isa 11:4; Luke 18:7-8; ** the man. Psa 17:14; Luke 16:25; 1Cor 15:47-48; Phil 3:18-19;

King Forever!

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.


The power of prayer can never be fully realized until we pray without a sliver of doubt that it shall be answered. Jesus said, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22) The key word is "believing" (Greek: πιστευοντες). The word is set as a present participle, which literally means that the prayer is offered with the continuous and unwavering faith that the prayer will be answered.

With that in mind, we can see the faith that David had as he wrote this prayer to the LORD. He finishes these last three verses with a song of faithful praise, acknowledging in advance that his prayer is as good as answered. "Yahweh is King for all eternity!" Yes! The heathen rage and oppress the poor. They have no belief in God nor any fear of His authority and power, but Yahweh is still King for ever and ever.

Our modern world seems like it is coming apart at the seams. Terrorists threaten peace in nearly every country of the world. Riots and revolutions rage. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer as we watch the world's economy teetering on the brink of total collapse. Even the United States, once the harbinger of freedom, is rapidly becoming an oppressive out of control socialist state. Life looks bleak but, if we have prayed with faithful hearts, we should be able to say, "Yahweh is King for ever and ever!"

You may have prayed for some of the lost people groups around the world. Perhaps you have prayed for the safe passage of missionaries who are trying to reach them or for the breaking of the dictatorial power that prevents them from openly accepting Christ. Did you pray with the confidence of knowing that Yahweh is King? Did you pray with the knowledge that those dictators and oppressive regimes will be brought down?

That is how David finishes this psalm. He ends this passage with the declaration that the heathen were already perished out of his land. David knew that Yahweh is King and that He has the authority and the power to destroy the heathen nations and remove them from the face of His earth. There was no doubt in that statement. That is why he had the boldness to write it down for all future generations to read.

Let us, dear readers, follow the instructions that Paul gave to Timothy when he wrote, "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:12-16)

Before The Throne:

Can you praise God today for answering all the prayers you have made but have not yet seen the answers? Will you worship Him for being the King of kings and Lord of lords? Bring your requests to Him, but always thank Him for answering them. Pray for the LORD to break the arm of the oppressors in this world so that the gospel can spread to every nation and tongue. Thank Him again for answering.

For Further Study:

(v.16) ** The Lord. Psa 29:10; 93:1; 145:13; 146:10; Isa 33:22; Jer 10:10; Lam 5:19; Dan 4:34; 6:26; 1Tim 1:17; 6:15-16; ** heathen. Psa 9:5, 15; 18:43-45; 44:2-3; 78:55;

Breaking the Power of Evil

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none."


The arm of a man symbolizes his power and strength. Power over the lives of others comes in many forms such as political influence, financial power, the power of persuasion, familial authority and authority in the work place. Strength is the ability to enforce that power. It is usually expressed in physical prowess, military strength, or police power.

What we have here, then, is a prayer that might have been offered by billions of people in every century since the beginning of time. The powerful have always taken advantage of the weak. Cain killed his brother, Able, simply out of a jealous desire to be number one in God's eyes. The wicked do not seem to need much of a motive to persecute their weaker brothers and sisters, and Cain was just the first of many more to come.

How many have sought relief from the bonds of the wicked but have not sought it from the only One capable of giving it? As I write this study, there are political revolutions occurring in countries all around the world by people who want to be free of the arm of their wicked rulers. Yet, most of those revolutionaries are not Christians and are not calling on God to break the arm of the wicked. Instead, they are relying on their own strengths to overcome the enemy or they call out to false gods or idols for relief. The end result is that their governments will be overthrown and most of them will simply be replaced by new oppressors, perhaps worse than their predecessors.

Only God can overthrow wicked governments and replace them with righteous rulers. Only God can break the will of the dictators in the middle east. He alone can change the hearts of presidents and senators. It is He who turns the greedy employer into a generous friend. All of the world's oppression is due to the world's lack of faith in the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ. The wicked mock at God, because He presents no threat to them. He presents no threat, because there is no one calling out to Him for relief from their tyranny.

David, however, was different from most men. He relied on his God for everything. So he cried out, "Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none." Not only does he seek the breaking of their power, but for the abolition of all wickedness and evil. This is a prayer that will be answered. It is offered up according to the will of God. David was a man after God's heart, because his desires and prayers mirrored the will of God.

Zephaniah 1:12 prophesied, "And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil." God would search the city with candles, with minute detail, until he found every wicked person in it. And,in the final days after Jesus returns to judge the earth, there will be no wickedness left.

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:7-8) God will have sought out man's wickedness and there would be none left to find.

Those who are feeling oppressed, enslaved, cheated, or persecuted in any way, have a wonderful promise in the word of God. It is His will that all evil be destroyed. So, why should we not go to Him for relief right now? Why do we always try to do things by our own power? If we do not go to Him for relief, aren't we going to be numbered among the wicked?

Before The Throne:

First, let's praise God for having the will, the sovereign authority, and the power to rid the earth of everything evil. Thank Him for giving you this example from the psalms of how we should pray when we are under attack. Do not pray for the destruction of anyone, but for their power over you to be broken. Pray that God will wipe evil from the face of the earth. Ask Him to send more laborers to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ so that love and peace can reign on earth.

For Further Study:

(v.15) ** Break. Psa 3:7; 37:17; Job 38:15; Ezek 30:21-22; Zech 11:17; ** seek. Psa 7:9; 2Kgs 21:12-15; Jer 2:34; Ezek 23:48; Zeph 1:12;

You Have Seen It

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.


David begins in this verse by drawing a contrast between wickedness and truth. The wicked believe that God cannot see what they are doing (v.13). In fact, they deny His very existence, mock the idea that He knows their evil intentions, and certainly do not believe that He is watching them. People hate to think that they are being observed all of the time and that even their thoughts are secretly known by others. It is one of man's most basic instincts, which keeps governments from becoming "Big Brother." Their citizens will not stand for it. But, God is our Big Father who is watching us out of love and concern, a Father who can do no wrong. "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." (Proverbs 15:3)

David says, "God, You have seen it!" That is the truth of the matter. He has seen the mischief and the anger; He has seen the misery and the grief that they have caused; and He has seen who has committed those things. It grieves God to see some of the things that men do, but He never looks away. "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:24) He is everywhere and nothing escapes His observation.

David also knew the truth that God would take the matter into His own hands and see that justice is done. In the Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on this verse, it says, “To give anything into any one's hand” is equivalent to, into his power (1Ki 20:28, and frequently); but here God gives (lays) the things which are not to be administered, but requited, into His own hand. The expression is meant to be understood according to Psa 56:9, cf. Isa 49:16: He is observant of the afflictions of His saints, laying them up in His hand and preserving them there in order, in His own time, to restore them to His saints in joy, and to their enemies in punishment."

What a shock it will be to so many people when they are brought before the throne of God for judgment! They will not only see that there is a God but they will also be forced to confess that He is Lord over heaven and earth. Then they will be judged for every wicked thought they had ever entertained, every wicked word their tongues had flicked from their mouths, and every wicked deed they had committed against God or His people.

Praise God for having brought this warning through the psalms of David and our salvation through the Son of David. Each of us had had the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and to be spared the eternal punishment of the wicked. Through Jesus Christ and Him alone everyone can be free from all condemnation.

Thus, the poor commits himself into the hands of the Almighty. Those who lack the financial ability to defend themselves against the wicked of the world have nowhere else to go but to God. Likewise, the poor in spirit can find no relief except in the arms of the Father who sees their misery and grief. They who mourn for their own sins and the sins of others are comforted by the knowledge that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has died for their sins and will judge the earth in righteousness upon His return.

Has your father passed away or abandoned you? God wants you to know that you have a Father in heaven. He is a helper, a defender, of the fatherless. He sees your loneliness, fills the empty spot in your heart, knows your enemies, and takes the matter into His own hand to bring you comfort and joy.

Even in the worst of all situations, the Christian can feel secure, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7) What more do we need?

Before The Throne:

Take a moment to rejoice and to thank God for the fact that He has seen it. Thank Him for taking all of your troubles, pain, and grief into His hand to deal with it. Thank Him for being the Father of the poor and for accepting you with your broken heart and contrite spirit. Praise Him for making a way, through His Son, for you to be forgiven and reunited in fellowship with Him. Then, pour out your heart's desires before Him with the confidence that you are being heard.

For Further Study:

(v.14) ** Thou hast. Psa 35:22; Prov 15:3; Jer 16:17; 23:24; Heb 4:13; ** for thou. Hab 1:13; ** to requite. Judg 1:7; 2Kgs 9:26; 2Chr 6:23; Jer 51:56; Joel 3:4; ** the poor. Psa 55:22; 2Tim 1:12; 1Pet 4:19; 5:7; ** committeth. Isa 10:3; Jer 49:11; ** helper. Psa 68:5; 146:9; Deut 10:18; Hos 14:3;

Lift Up Thine Hand

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. "


Wickedness reigns throughout the land or at least it appears that way. There seems to be nothing left of the innocent, the pure, and the wholesome life. Children are growing up without any notion of God and are taught to believe in the achievements of man and in the power of government to save them from their own stupidity and laziness. Anything that pleases them is good... sex, drugs, alcohol, violence, self-indulgence etc.

But, the psalmist, David, knows the truth. He knows that God reigns over all things. In this passage, he calls upon God to rise up against the surge of evil that was going through the land. Many would have asked God to forgive the sins of the wicked, but that is not going to happen unless they repent. And, how can they who do not believe in the existence of God repent from sinning against Him? The correct prayer is to call for God to rise up, to take a stand, and to bring His judgment upon them.

David used three different names for God in this plea for relief. "O LORD" is a cry to Yahweh, the self-existing, eternal, omnipresent God who revealed His name to Moses. The name itself combats the doubts and unbelief of the wicked. There is a God who has always existed and always will exist. He is a God in whom David trusts and can call upon in times of need.

"O God" uses the Hebrew name El, which represents one of strength and might. When He lifts His hand, it is with all the power of the universe. There is nothing that can resist His force or escape His anger. To call upon such power is a dangerous thing for any man, because we are all sinners. David must have realized this and, knowing that he had no righteousness of his own to present to God, he begs for Him to remember the humble. Remember, mighty El, those sinners who have confessed and submitted themselves to You and begged for Your mercy.

Then, he asks, "Why do the wicked despise God?" Here the name used is Elohym, the ruler, and judge of all the earth. Is there anything that the wicked hate more than for someone to judge them? They do not believe in God, because they cannot even entertain the thought of someone judging them. They will say things like, "If your God is a God of love, why does He allow suffering or how can He throw people into hell? I cannot believe in a God like that." So they reject the whole idea of God. They hate those who preach about Him. They refuse to believe that He exists.

"He has said in his heart, Thou will not require it." God will not pursue His promise of judgment, because He does not exist. You, the witness, will be the guilty party for judging the sins of others, for wanting to change them, and for "hating" them. The wicked are misguided by their own desires. They are unable to understand the things of God. Your passion for their eternal security looks like hate to them.

Is it right to pray for their judgment? Is it right to ask God to lift up His hand against them? The answer is, "Yes!" although not in the sense of eternal damnation. It is very often necessary for God to bring a temporal judgment against people to make them realize that they need Him. Nothing drives people into the church faster than a disaster in their life from which they have no one to turn for relief, except to God.

I believe that God is ready to lift up His hand against the United States and that Christians should be prepared to embrace it as an opportunity to save many through the preaching of His word. It will not be easy, because there will be strong resistance and persecution. However, that is almost always the formula for spiritual revival.

Before The Throne:

Are you frustrated by the evil that surrounds you? Call upon God to rise up and lift up His hand. Ask Him to give you the wisdom, when He does it, to see the opportunities to bring more people into the kingdom. Ask Him for the faith that will be required of you during that time. Pray for the leaders of our nation to recognize the hand of God upon everything that they do. Thank the LORD for giving His Son to save the humble, the meek, the poor in spirit, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

For Further Study:

(v.12) ** Arise. Psa 3:7; 7:6; 9:19; ** lift. Psa 94:2; Isa 26:11; 33:10; Mic 5:9; ** forget. Psa 9:12; 13:1; 77:9;

(v.13) ** contemn. Psa 74:10, 18; Num 11:20; 2Sam 12:9-10; Luke 10:16; 1Thess 4:8; ** Thou. Gen 9:5; 42:22; 2Chr 24:22; Luke 11:50-51;

He Lies in Wait

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.


One might wonder why a man would lie in wait to rob and murder the poor. Perhaps, it is because they do not have the defenses around them that the wealthy person might have. In those days a wealthy man would travel with a host of servants and armed guards. He was not so easily attacked. The poor, however, often walked alone, carrying their goods to market or to their homes, along very dangerous roads. The Arabs liked to hide among the rocks and take the lonely traveler by surprise.

The situation is not much different today. The rich and famous travel with their entourage and body guards and are not easily attacked. They have their money invested in secure places, are knowledgeable concerning the markets and are not easily duped. The poor, on the other hand, are not securely invested, do not have financial advisers and are eager for an opportunity to get rich quickly and easily. This makes them easy targets for con-artists and others who would rob them and even kill them for their small savings.

I do not need to discuss all of the ways that the wicked have of catching the poor in their traps. They are like lions secretly waiting, stalking and striking when the time is right.

Paul wrote about his encounter with Alexander the copper smith who had apparently professed to be a Christian but refused the apostles doctrine. "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." (2 Timothy 4:17)

Calvin wrote, "From Paul’s words,.. we may infer that he had committed no greater offense than an attack on sound doctrine; for if Alexander had wounded his person, or committed an assault on him, he would have endured it patiently; but when the truth of God is assailed, his holy breast burns with indignation, because, in all the members of Christ that saying must hold good, 'The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up.' (Psa 69:9.)"

Thus, history teaches us that the poor in spirit are also prey to the lions of this world. We are taught to, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter 5:8)

But, the key to the heart of all evil persons is described in the eleventh verse of our psalm. "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it." When there is no fear of being discovered and no fear of being punished, the lion is emboldened. Lions can be frightened like any other animal but, when they do not fear the lambs or the shepherds caring for them, they will attack. They will take as many from the flock as they want. The poor lambs have no defense.

However, the LORD is our shepherd and, while the wicked neither see nor fear Him, He is our defender and will punish those who attack His sheep. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:3, 5) So, be wise as serpents, dear reader, and harmless as doves, but fear not because Christ shall never leave you.

Before the Throne:

Ask God to help you recognize the traps that are laid by wicked men, especially those that are laid for the meek and poor in spirit. Ask Him to show you how you can generously help the poor to understand His word and to improve their circumstances. Pray for those whom you know are under attack by the satanic lions. Pray for those in public office who want to return our nation to one nation under God. They are all under attack right now. Give praise to God for being your defender against the traps of the devil.

For Further Study:

(v.8 ) ** sitteth. 1Sam 22:18; 23:23; 2Kgs 21:16; Prov 1:11-12; Hab 3:14; Luke 8:1; 10:1; ** his eyes. Psa 17:11; Prov 6:12-13; Jer 22:17;

(v.9) ** He lieth. Psa 17:12; 59:3; Mic 7:2; Acts 23:21; ** secretly. Lam 3:10; Amos 3:4; Nah 2:11-12; Zech 11:3; ** to catch. Jer 5:26; Ezek 19:3-6; Hab 1:15; John 10:12; ** poor, when. Psa 12:5; 35:10; 37:14; 109:31; Job 5:15-16; Prov 14:31; 22:16; 28:15; Isa 3:15; 32:7; Ezek 22:29; Amos 2:6-7; 5:11-12; Hab 3:14;

(v.10) ** croucheth. 1Sa 2:36; ** humbleth. 1Sam 18:21-26; 23:21-22; 2Sam 15:5;

(v.11) ** said. Psa 10:6; Mark 2:6; Luke 7:39; ** God. Psa 64:5; 73:11; 94:7; Job 22:13-14; Eccl 8:11; Ezek 8:12; 9:9;

His Tongue Destroys

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity."


This verse has come to me at just the right time in my life. This past weekend, a friend of mine witnessed a large group of Satanists disrupting a funeral service by chanting satanic chants and cursing God in and around the church. Just a few days ago, another friend of mine had his testimony attacked by someone who also cursed God, blaming all the evils of the world upon Him. Another person said that God and Satan are equals. None of these wicked people were the least bit receptive to what the word of God has to say.

William S. Plumer wrote about this psalm, saying, "There is a consanguinity between all sins. Compare v.6 with several preceding and succeeding verses. Pride, cruelty, cunning, boasting, lust, covetousness, false peace, want of docility, practical atheism, spiritual blindness, contempt, cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity are a frightful sisterhood."

All of a man's sinful thoughts, desires and actions are revealed through His tongue. It is a deadly instrument that can do more damage than any weapon invented by man. Evangelist Rick Coram has recently pointed out that the tongue is the only muscle in the body that never has to rest, never gets tired, never gets flabby, never needs to work out, never begins to sag and is not weakened by old age. Furthermore, I believe that, when the tongue begins to curse God, the soul of that person is either in danger of being lost forever or has been possessed by very powerful and wicked spirits.

He will not only curse God, but will attack anyone who loves God and/or opposes evil. The sinner cannot stand to hear the name of Jesus or the truth from God's word and will, therefore, curse the person and his God with false accusations and half-truths.

He uses his tongue to deceive many people for profit. Someone whose mouth is full of deceit can bilk people out of their life savings without the slightest bit of guilt. A recent case of a highly respected financial broker revealed that all of his businesses were built upon a Ponzi scheme that had stolen billions of dollars from his clients. Our government's social security system is a ponzi scheme, yet crooked politicians continue to defend it in order to buy the votes of their constituents.

These people are all around us. They run the businesses and governments of the world. Christians are a small minority in an ever increasingly wicked world. It is often difficult for us to discern the truth from the lies when we see, listen to, or read the news. Lies and empty theories are paraded past us daily as scientific truths in an attempt to damage our biblical world view. "For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief." (Proverbs 24:2 )

Of course, these things were not exclusive to David's time nor are they new or exclusive to our day and age. Since sin entered the world man has not changed, will not change, and cannot change except the grace of God fall upon him. Even then, we still have the flesh with which to contend. Our struggles with sin are a daily battle, and our tongues are the worst offenders. If Christians are honest, we will have to admit that we constantly use our tongues to deceive, gossip, backbite, manipulate, cause mischief, or to just argue about vain and meaningless things.

If we would get control of our tongue, we could contribute much more toward the purpose for which God has saved us. Paul pleaded with the church at Rome to be united in Christ, "That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name." (Romans 15:6, 9) It is a marvelously powerful way to use the tongue without any fraud, mischief or vanity. When we glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ, we speak the pure and undeniable truth.

Before The Throne:

Ask God to wipe the sin of lies, deceit, fraud, mischief and vanity from your lips. These are the tools of antichrist. Ask God to give you a never ending string of words that bring glory to His name. Pray for those Christians around you to also be in control of their words, but those who do not know Christ cannot control their tongues. Pray for them to receive God's grace and come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

For Further Study:

(v.7) ** full. Psa 59:12; 62:4; Rom 3:14; ** and deceit. Psa 5:9; 7:14; 36:3; 52:4; 55:21; Psa 58:3; 64:3; Isa 59:4; Jer 9:3, 6; Rom 3:13; ** under. Job 20:12; ** mischief. Psa 7:14; 140:9; Job 15:35; Matt 12:34; Jas 3:6-8; ** vanity. Psa 12:2; 41:6; 144:8, 11; Prov 21:6; 30:8;

He Is Arrogant

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.


The sinner and the believer often make the same statements of faith, but the first has lies for his foundation while the other has absolute truth. David wrote, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Psalms 16:8) The faith that he should not be moved was not based on anything good within himself but on the fact that God was always present with him. David went through plenty of adversity in his life but his faith was never shaken, God was always with him, and he was always able to surmount whatever difficulties he faced.

The sinner, on the other hand, has built his faith on his own vain accomplishments. He has successfully persecuted the poor and has been rewarded with substantial wealth because of his own covetous lifestyle. Power and wealth are his to use as he wishes and serve as the security for his future. He has puffed at his enemies and easily defeated them. No one has punished him for his wrong doings. In fact, the world admires him for his success.

He has put God completely out of his thoughts. God has not punished him. He is like the Pharaoh whom Moses and Aaron confronted. "And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go." (Exodus 5:2) He does not know God and, therefore, has no reason to submit to Him. Like the Pharaoh, he is his own God.

Albert Barnes wrote concerning this verse, saying, "The phrase, “he hath said,” means that this was his deliberate and settled character. What is here described was no sudden thing. It was not the freak of passion; it was a deliberately-formed purpose. The phrase, “in his heart,” means that he had purposed this; he had said this to himself in a spirit of self-gratulation and confidence."

This self-gratulation and confidence is common among all wicked people, including the heathen nations of the world. Babylon was told, "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it." (Isaiah 47:7) And, again, she has the same attitude in the last days, "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." (Revelation 18:7)

Today, we are witnessing one of the most amazing periods in modern history, as people all over the globe are rising up in a wave of revolutions against the tyrants who have been enslaving them for decades. Men who have boasted to the whole world about their power, wealth, ruthlessness and infallibility are falling from power in violent revolutions. These men thought that they would never see adversity. Spurgeon wrote, "Every proud thought is twin brother to a cruel thought. He who exalts himself will despise others, and one step further will make him a tyrant."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, pride is the cancer that will destroy everyone who entertains it. It grows rapidly giving a false sense of confidence to its owner. It will cause you to think you are infallible and to reject criticism or correction. It will turn your thoughts away from God. You will think that you are good, strong, smart, clever, safe and immune to adversity. Without knowing it, you will become your own God. Do not give the sin of pride any room to reside in your heart, for God will discipline those who are His children in Christ and destroy all who continue to reject His grace.

Before The Throne:

Ask the Holy Spirit to examine every fiber of your being and to cast out any trace of pride that is found there. Humble yourself in the presence of the Lord. Confess Him as the one and only true God. Ask Him to forgive you for every time that you have been self-dependent. Pray for the poor people of the world who suffer under the tyranny of a dictator or under a political system that persecutes them. Pray for for the safety of the missionaries who have been sent to those countries with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For Further Study:

(v.6) ** said. Psa 11:1; 14:1; Matt 24:48; ** not. Psa 15:5; 30:6; Eccl 8:11; Isa 47:7; 56:12; Nah 1:10; Matt 24:48; 1Thess 5:3;