Read today’s scripture.

How do you love in these Psalms?

Psalm 6.

Perhaps this was written after David rescued his family from the Amalekites, only to come home and learn King Saul and his “Best Friend Forever” Jonathan had been killed in battle and Israel had been soundly defeated. He mourns and laments the losses.

• I am weary with my moaning, every night I flood my bed with weeping.
• My eye wastes away because of my grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
• Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
• The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.

Psalm 8,

(I love this psalm!)

• O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
• Out of the mouths of babies and infants, You have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
• When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which You have set in place, what is MAN than You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?

Psalm 9.

• I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds.
• I  will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
• The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
• And those who know Your Name, put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
• Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples His deeds!
• For He who avenges blood is mindful of them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

Psalm 10.

• Why, O LORD, do You stand far away?
• Why do you hide Yourself in times of trouble?
• In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised
• In the pride of his face, the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
• The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.
• He (the wicked) says in his heart, “God has forgotten, He has hidden His face, He will never see it.”
• Arise, O LORD: O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.
• O LORD, You hear the desires of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. 

Psalm 14.

• The FOOL has said in his heart, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is NONE who does good.
• The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see IF there are any who understand, who seek after God.
• THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; together they have become corrupt; there is NONE who does good, not even ONE.
• Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!  When the LORD restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Psalm 16.

• I say to the LORD, You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.
• I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
• I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
• Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh who dwells secure.
• You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 19.

• MAY THE LORD answer you in the day of trouble,
• MAY THE NAME of the God of Jacob protect you!
• MAY HE grant you your heart’s desires and fulfill all your plans!
• MAY THE LORD fulfill all your petitions!
• O LORD save the king!
• MAY HE answer us when we call.

Psalm 21.

(I love reading this psalm pointing to David’s love for and closeness to the LORD … before his fall.)

• O LORD, in Your strength the KING rejoices, and in Your salvation how greatly he exalts!
• You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.
• For You meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
• He asked life of You, and You gave it to him, length of days forever and ever.
• HIS glory is great through Your salvation; splendor and majesty You bestow on HIM.
• For You make him most blessed forever; You make him glad with the joy of Your presence.
• For the KING trusts in the LORD, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.

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