Daniel Dessinger

Tag: psalms

  • I Meditate on Your Wonders

    Let me understand the teaching of your precepts*;
    then I will meditate on your wonders.

    Psalm 119:27

    One of the ways I want to grow, Father, is by meditating on Your wonders. Your great deeds tell me about who You are. I can see how You’ve responded to the cry of Your children in times past. And since You are unchanging, what I learn about you from the past is who You are today.

    Your wonders are marvelous


    When I meditate on your wonders, I most often reflect on the universe. I picture seemingly infinite space. I see planets, comets, stars, galaxies. Such beauty as one could only imagine. You are the God who created such beauty as could never be replicated by another.

    This is one aspect of who You are.

    I confess that I have a little trouble with Your immutability (never changing), because You also commanded the Israelites to kill man, woman, and child in the cities of the promised land. It’s hard to say and fully believe You are the same God who would do this, yet who later says He wills that none should perish.

    I’ve heard speculation as to Your motives. I don’t know exactly what I believe. Some things I just don’t understand. I’m not throwing out the baby with the bath water. I’m not discarding my faith in You because of a paradox. But I would benefit from deeper comprehension. Teach me of Your ways, O Lord.

    You called yourself my Father. You see me as Your son. It is one thing to ponder Your creation, but there is so much more to Your wonders. So much more. Show me Your wonders, Father. Cause them to pass before my focused attention so that I may perceive Your nature and Your character.

    Demonstrations of Power

    But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.

    And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed.

    Exodus 3:19-21

    Father, You performed such wonders before Egypt’s pharaoh and the Your people in the days of Moses. You demonstrated Your power – Your supremacy over any gods the Egyptians worshipped. You gave testimony to Your own omnipotence.

    Show us throughout Scripture other great examples of Your wonders. Remind us of Your wonders in our own lives. That we may see you with new eyes. With fresh understanding. With renewed hope and trust.

    *Precept – a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct; an injunction as to moral conduct; maxim; a procedural directive or rule, as for the performance of some technical operation.

  • Psalm 6

    A psalm of David.

    1O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.

    2 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
    O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.

    3 My soul is in anguish.
    How long, O LORD, how long?

    4 Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.

    5 No one remembers you when he is dead.
    Who praises you from the grave?

    6 I am worn out from groaning;
    all night long I flood my bed with weeping
    and drench my couch with tears.

    7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

    8 Away from me, all you who do evil,
    for the LORD has heard my weeping.

    9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
    the LORD accepts my prayer.

    10 All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed;
    they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

  • Psalm 37

    Psalm 37

    Of David.

    1 Do not fret because of evil men
    or be envious of those who do wrong;

    2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
    like green plants they will soon die away.

    3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

    4 Delight yourself in the LORD
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

    5 Commit your way to the LORD;
    trust in him and he will do this:

    6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
    the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

    7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
    do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.

    8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.

    9 For evil men will be cut off,
    but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

    10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
    though you look for them, they will not be found.

    11 But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy great peace.

    12 The wicked plot against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth at them;

    13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.

    14 The wicked draw the sword
    and bend the bow
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose ways are upright.

    15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
    and their bows will be broken.

    16 Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;

    17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the LORD upholds the righteous.

    18 The days of the blameless are known to the LORD,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.

    19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

    20 But the wicked will perish:
    The LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields,
    they will vanish—vanish like smoke.

    21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;

    22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses will be cut off.

    23 If the LORD delights in a man’s way,
    he makes his steps firm;

    24 though he stumble, he will not fall,
    for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

    25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.

    26 They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be blessed.

    27 Turn from evil and do good;
    then you will dwell in the land forever.

    28 For the LORD loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.
    They will be protected forever,
    but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;

    29 the righteous will inherit the land
    and dwell in it forever.

    30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks what is just.

    31 The law of his God is in his heart;
    his feet do not slip.

    32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
    seeking their very lives;

    33 but the LORD will not leave them in their power
    or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

    34 Wait for the LORD
    and keep his way.
    He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

    35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,

    36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.

    37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
    there is a future for the man of peace.

    38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
    the future of the wicked will be cut off.

    39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

    40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

    (New International Version)

  • Psalm 5

    For the director of music. For flutes. A psalm of David.

    1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
    consider my sighing.

    2 Listen to my cry for help,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.

    3 In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait in expectation.

    4 You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;
    with you the wicked cannot dwell.

    5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
    you hate all who do wrong.

    6 You destroy those who tell lies;
    bloodthirsty and deceitful men
    the LORD abhors.

    7 But I, by your great mercy,
    will come into your house;
    in reverence will I bow down
    toward your holy temple.

    8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies—
    make straight your way before me.

    9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with destruction.
    Their throat is an open grave;
    with their tongue they speak deceit.

    10 Declare them guilty, O God!
    Let their intrigues be their downfall.
    Banish them for their many sins,
    for they have rebelled against you.

    11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
    let them ever sing for joy.
    Spread your protection over them,
    that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

    12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
    you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

  • Psalm 4

    For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

    Answer me when I call to you,
    O my righteous God.
    Give me relief from my distress;
    be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

    How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
    How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
    Selah

    Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
    the LORD will hear when I call to him.

    In your anger do not sin;
    when you are on your beds,
    search your hearts and be silent.
    Selah

    Offer right sacrifices
    and trust in the LORD.

    Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?”
    Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

    You have filled my heart with greater joy
    than when their grain and new wine abound.

    I will lie down and sleep in peace,
    for you alone, O LORD,
    make me dwell in safety.

  • Psalm 3

    A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

    1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!

    2 Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.”
    Selah

    3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
    you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

    4 To the LORD I cry aloud,
    and he answers me from his holy hill.
    Selah

    5 I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

    6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
    drawn up against me on every side.

    7 Arise, O LORD!
    Deliver me, O my God!
    Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth of the wicked.

    8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
    May your blessing be on your people.
    Selah

  • Psalm 2

    Psalm 2

    1 Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?

    2 The kings of the earth take their stand
    and the rulers gather together
    against the LORD
    and against his Anointed One.

    3 “Let us break their chains,” they say,
    “and throw off their fetters.”

    4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.

    5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

    6 “I have installed my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

    7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
    He said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.

    8 Ask of me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.

    9 You will rule them with an iron scepter;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

    10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.

    11 Serve the LORD with fear
    and rejoice with trembling.

    12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
    and you be destroyed in your way,
    for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

  • Psalm 1

    Psalm 1

    1 Blessed is the man
    who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
    or stand in the way of sinners
    or sit in the seat of mockers.

    2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

    3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
    and whose leaf does not wither.
    Whatever he does prospers.

    4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.

    5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

    6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

    (New International Version)