A Walk Through David's Garden: A Daily Devotional Through the Psalms

By Richard Hallahan

A Walk Through David’s Garden is a daily devotional that takes you through the book of Psalms with the clear and compelling goal of magnifying the great God of the Bible.

Written in an easy-to-read yet theologically sublime style, the devotional will give you a newfound love for God. At the conclusion of each day’s devotion, there is a “word of the day,” which explains a theological concept in your daily reading.

For instance, the first word of the day is “righteous,” which the author explains means to conform to a correct standard. He writes, “Men can only be righteous if God makes them so. When anyone believes Jesus Christ the Righteous One, God declares that sinner to be righteous; that is, God declares him to be without guilt. All other paths to righteousness include man’s self-effort and lead to a very dark place.”

Gaining a love for the psalms by reading this work will not only feed your soul—it will also cause you to sing a new song to God for all His mighty acts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Sep 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781489730374

Richard Hallahan

Richard Hallahan is a lover of Christ and God’s holy word. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Denver Seminary. He has been a pastor, teacher, Christian writer, and church historian. He is also the author of A Plain History of the Reformation. He lives and works at Southside Bible Church in Denver, Colorado.

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JANUARY 1

Psalm 1:1-6 Part I

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Today’s Walk: Here we have the opening psalm in Israel’s songbook; it summarizes the one ultimate question for any man: Am I a righteous or an unrighteous person in God’s eyes? The Bible deals with this question by offering up a proposition, a dilemma and a question. The proposition is simple and inflexible. It goes like this: One can only experience true life if one is right before God. God is perfectly holy and cannot endure any imperfection in His presence. Next is the dilemma and it is disturbing. Every man knows deep down that he is not right. The internal stinger called our conscience continually reminds us of this. Shame fills our hearts whenever we tell a lie or pass a motorist struggling with a flat tire. We try to hide our uneasiness by suppressing the nagging voice but it never goes away. How then can a man truly be righteous? That is the question of the ages. The psalm does not attempt to answer the question. It simply tells us that we are either righteous or not. It presents two great portraits of mankind. First, we have the righteous. Their overriding trait is their indifference to the world’s influence and their single-eyed focus on God. They are citizens of another world and they act the part. A wonderful metaphor is used to describe them. They are like a healthy tree flourishing aside a fresh running stream, with budding green leaves and luscious fruit. The wicked, however, are like the weightless and useless husks of skin covering grain. So the grand issue of all mankind is wrapped up in this one short poem. The question alone remains, which are you? The Bible now embarks on a trek to answer that question. It is a question that all must one day face.

Word of the Day: RIGHTEOUS - In both Hebrew and Greek the word righteous means to conform to a correct standard. God alone is righteous. Whatever God does is right. He is the standard of all things. Men can only be righteous if God makes them so. When anyone believes in Jesus Christ the Righteous One, God declares that sinner to be righteous; that is, God declares him to be without guilt. All other paths to righteousness include man’s self-effort and lead to a very dark place.

JANUARY 2

Psalm 1:1-6 Part II

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Today’s Walk: Yesterday we noted that the righteous man is likened to a healthy tree that prospers near fresh waters. He takes not his nourishment from the world, but his life is drawn from the very hand of God. The unrighteous man, on the other hand, is marked by a ready reception of the world’s philosophies. Life to him is an enjoyable walk through Vanity Fair. First, he stands on the perimeter while his eyes soak in its many enticements. Next, he walks by those delightful booths and he stops and tastes their delights. Soon he finds himself sitting at the ticket gate, fully immersed in the system. To his peers, this man seems like a stable character. God says otherwise. Though well respected, in truth he is nothing more than weightless chaff that flutters down on the threshing floor. By earthly standards he is firm, but in the eyes of God he is a rolling tumbleweed. Today he moves with this crowd, tomorrow he moves with another. The point of the psalmist is clear. The one who seemed to be standing firmly in the world will collapse in the judgment. You see, men will not be judged by man’s standards, but by God’s. To stand before God requires perfection according to His holy law. A man who only judges himself by comparison to his peers will stand tall among his peers but will eventually fall into the divine pit. On the other hand, the righteous man knows God’s standard and pleads with God to help him meet that standard. One thing he knows: he survives only so long as his roots pierce the ground deeply. For he knows that fruit comes not from the tree, but from the nourishment that flows to it, which comes from the depth of God’s grace beyond human gaze.

Word of the Day: UNRIGHTEOUS – To be unrighteous is to be out of conformity with God and His law. The Bible clearly says that all men fall short of this standard. Thus, all men are unrighteous. Being unrighteous is more than doing bad things, it is being born with a congenital moral crookedness that expresses itself in a life that is totally crossways to the will of God. Men are unrighteous because of who they are, not so much for what they do.

JANUARY 3

Psalm 2:1-6

Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.

Today’s Walk: This is the grand coronation psalm. The historical background is as follows: a godly Davidic king, perhaps Solomon, has been anointed to assume the throne. However, he is faced with opposition from surrounding nations. They rage against his authority and threaten to escape his rule. Such talk can certainly be unnerving, even for a secure king. But one thing the king knows, his rule rests on the authority of God. This means he must rule under God’s rule and seek Him in every matter of state. Those keen on rebellion need to remember these things. Years later Paul will say, There is no authority except from God. (Rom. 13:1) Thus, God is generally on the side of authority and against resistance. He is never moved by the noisy bluster of man. God has set the Davidic king on the throne and so what can these little grasshoppers do to usurp what He has installed? So God laughs. The king is His king, and outside of His own will no force in heaven or hell can depose him. But as the reader can see, this psalm does not ultimately speak of Solomon. For indeed there will be an anointed Son of David, the final anointed One, who will one day come and sit upon the throne of His father David and will rule the nations forever and ever. Who is He? He is the greater Solomon whose wisdom trumps all and whose love is never ending. His name is Jesus. Now I ask every reader, is this the King you bow down to today? Oh, you must not oppose Him. Rather obey Him and run into His arms for forgiveness. He is the King who came not to crush but to save.

Word of the Day: ANOINTED - To anoint is to set someone apart for a certain divine task. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests and kings were anointed with oil. We recall that Jesus at His baptism was anointed, not with physical oil, but with the Spirit of God. By virtue of their attachment to Him, all believers are anointed with the same Holy Spirit for they too are God’s chosen who do works of priestly service.

JANUARY 4

Psalm 2:7-12

I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Today’s Walk: As we said yesterday, this psalm tells a double story. The reign of the historic king, most likely Solomon, points forward to the reign of a more glorious future King, Christ, the Messiah. Verse seven is crucial for understanding His reign. The New Testament quotes this verse three times, all with reference to the ministry of Jesus (Heb. 1:5, Heb. 5:5, Acts 13:33). Christ’s entrance into the world as a true man is tied to His coronation as King. As the newly installed King, His will for the nations becomes supreme. What does He request? He asks for their subjugation. The Son-King will fight for their submission to His rule of love. His goal is not to destroy, but to save them. What king is like unto this King? For Solomon, the subjugation of the nations was by the rod of iron. That is how kings ruled in those days. Yet Christ will conquer, not by might, but by the Spirit’s power of persuasion. He will rule by gently wooing the nations to the gospel, however not all will listen. The psalmist appeals to all peoples to bow down to their king willingly. Wisdom demands they do this. Instead of fighting the anointed One, it would behoove them to bow down and kiss Him, an eastern way of expressing loving subjection. But beware, like any King, failure to submit to His gracious overtures will incite His wrath. The psalm ends by showing how this submission expresses itself in trust. The obedient man is the man of faith. He alone will be truly blessed by God. Have you kissed the Son and made Him the King of your life? If so, all the nations will call you blessed.

Word of the Day: SUBJUGATION - To subjugate is to conquer another’s will; to rule over one with an eye toward obedience. In this world, the strong often subjugate the weak. Jesus Christ moves men’s wills in a totally different way. He shows them that He is meek and lowly of heart. He woos them by love not the lash. By His servant leadership He makes men willing in the day of His power.

JANUARY 5

Psalm 3:1-8

A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, There is no help for him in God. (Selah) But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. (Selah) I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. (Selah)

Today’s Walk: The heading says that this was written by David as he fled from his rebellious son, Absalom. This was truly a low point of David’s life. Not only had David lost his family and throne, but many around him were reminding him that he had also lost God; that God had forsaken him. On the surface they seemed right. God had allowed David’s chief counselor, Ahithophel, to betray him. Things looked bleak. Then, as David departed Jerusalem weeping, God raised up another man, Shimei, to curse and throw stones at him. Despite all the temptations to abandon God, David’s faith in God held firm, evidenced by the fact he was able to forgive his abusers. He so trusted in the protective hand of God that he didn’t feel compelled to vindicate his honor. By trusting God and accepting His will, David was able to lie down in peace and sleep. Indeed faith removes the anxieties in our lives. But note, this resting in God did not make David passive. He actively cried out to God to save him. This, too, was an act of faith, for salvation cannot be self-induced. It comes by an intense begging at the throne of grace. Since David quietly trusted in God for himself, he could also seek God’s blessing on others. Dear reader, do you see what faith does in a life? It enables the believing one to calmly endure no matter what the strife. For David, faith brought him a sense of peace which drove him to plead for others. If you trust Jesus, then know you have an Advocate with the Father and you can leave your case with Him. By putting all your personal cares in His capable hands, you can now go forth and minister to a dying world.

Word of the Day: SELAH - This is a mystery word found over seventy times in the psalms. Some believe it is a signal for a musical interlude. More likely, it marks a place for the reader to pause and meditate. Selah reminds us all that when reading or singing Scripture, we are to reflect upon its truth. Music and poetry are wonderful conduits through which God’s truth clearly enters the mind and moves the soul. Let us with one voice say, ‘Selah.’

JANUARY 6

Psalm 4:1-5

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. How long, O you sons of men, will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? (Selah) But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. (Selah) Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

Today’s Walk: In this psalm, David guides us through that bumpy highway that is the portion of every child of faith. David’s situation was a difficult one. His foes were using shameful lies to discredit him, all in the name of God’s glory. This drove him to seek deliverance. David’s confidence in God was set against the confidence of the godless. The battle for truth revolves around those who are confident of truth and those who hate the truth. The latter put their faith in a lie. The man of faith will always fight a battle between two opposing pressures, contending for God’s faithfulness and resisting the world’s fallenness. Happily, David found victory by trusting God and silencing the world. Thus he cries out, The Lord will hear when I call to Him. Let every Christian hear this. Praying in confidence does not eliminate the battle, but actually ramps it up. Verses 4 and 5 give us a glimpse of this spiritual battle. Being a man of flesh, David was aware that he might get angry against the gainsayers. Yet he knew that he could not let that anger fester lest he become like them. Rather, he chose to meditate on his bed and lay before God all the events that had transpired. At once a great peace flooded his soul. The flashlight of God’s revelation reminded him how he had been set apart by God and was the object of God’s favor. This enabled David to offer up the sacrifice of righteousness rather than the sacrilege of revenge. Whatever difficulties you may have with others, stand back and consider who you are in God and find delight in His great care for you. When you have won this battle, then you will be able to fight your enemies by loving them with joy.

Word of the Day: SACRIFICE - Men make sacrifices for two reasons. As creatures, men offer sacrifices as an expression of worship. As sinners, men offer sacrifices to atone for sin. In our psalm, David offers to God his righteousness. Not that he offers to God his own goodness, rather he slays his own merit in order to receive a greater righteousness from God. Sacrificing one’s good works to gain God’s works is always painful. Our sacrifices always cost us dearly.

JANUARY 7

Psalm 4:6-8

There are many who say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Today’s Walk: Yesterday we saw how David handled the taunts of ungodly men. Their major tactic was to question David’s motives in his time of trial, by hinting, of course, that God would not help him. David’s response in our text today is moving. He recites to himself the priestly blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26, saying, LORD, lift up Your countenance upon me. David counteracts these godless taunts by remembering that he is the special recipient of God’s favor. Such knowledge calms David’s heart at once. It brings him an indescribable joy that all the gold and grain of the world could not give. Never forget that the joy that God puts in one’s heart is not subject to external pressures. By seeking God’s blessings, David’s soul returns to the place of rest and the naysayers can do nothing about it. Those mockers, persecutors, and detractors have no power over him. Because of its quiet restfulness, some have called this the ‘evening psalm.’ The title is deserved, for having wrestled the day-long with God, David will lie down on his bed and review the affairs of the previous twenty four hours. The day was truly difficult for him. He had been falsely accused. Yet at the end of the day, he knows that all of his anxiety is swallowed up in the beauty of God’s love and forgiveness. Not only that, he knows he can rise in the morning because the One who loves him is the One who controls all things. Perhaps you, dear reader, have suffered. Perhaps old failures have risen up to accuse your conscience. Think about how much God loves you and how He controls everything that is happening in your life. Then, lie down and take rest.

Word of the Day: PEACE - Our world can be characterized by one word: strife. The history of man shows his fruitless quest to stop all the fighting, but he never realizes peace. That is because the world has no peace with God, and if there is no peace with God, there cannot be peace anywhere else. David’s peace came because he knew God loved him. So when he lay down at night, he slept well because he knew the God of peace was watching over him.

JANUARY 8

Psalm 5:1-6

To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Today’s Walk: The true saint often groans to God without words. Groaning is the undecipherable voice of desperation. Verses 1-3 do not show us a finely dressed Pharisee praying in the marketplace. Rather we see a distraught Publican sighing unintelligibly for relief. His plea comes early. He has risen from his bed with only one nagging issue on his mind and he must quickly find the One who can help. Oh, how God loves the destitute sinner who ignores religious niceties and beats on his chest. Pious folding of the hands may bring a smile to God, but desperate pleas move His hand. Boastful men think their religious feats gain them leverage with God, but He pays them no heed. It is only upon those of a contrite heart that Yahweh looks. Note how intimate David is with God. He prays, not to an aloof sovereign, but to my King and my God. This is a personal prayer, like a child speaking frankly to his papa. Note also David’s confidence. He is certain that God will punish the wicked because he knows God’s character. He knows that Yahweh hates all workers of iniquity; he knows that He despises those who speak falsehood; he knows that He abhors bloodthirsty men. The upmost confidence is given to the weakest child when he prays according to God’s character. Oh desperate saint, when the morning dawns and you are vexed by evildoers, know that the Lord will speedily hear you and help you. Only come to God as His broken child. Bring with you no pious phrases or poignant arguments. Simply come groaning with a needy heart that loves God. It is this one that He is willing and able to help.

Word of the Day: DESTITUTE - A person who is destitute lacks possessions or resources. It describes someone who is in sore need of relief. The Bible teaches that Christ comes to save those who are destitute, meaning those who know they have no spiritual resources to help themselves. Christ came not to help the self-sufficient, but to fill the vast emptiness of destitute, pleading sinners.

JANUARY 9

Psalm 5:7-12

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue. Pronounce them guilty, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Today’s Walk: The psalmist continues in his prayer by reminding God of the great contrast between himself and his enemies. Their home is the world where they operate with great zeal and devotion. The heart of the righteous man, however, abides in God’s house. He finds it to be his place of safety and knows that through God’s counsel he will be shown the straight paths. Those dwelling outside the covenant of God live according to their own temporal wisdom. They use their mouths not for their Maker’s glory, but for their own; they lie, they slander, they flatter. Their spiritual obstinacy causes David to pray that God would grant them the inevitable consequences of their sin; that the counsel they have given others will fall back on their own heads. He also asks God to cast them out for ‘the multitude of their transgressions.’ In verses 11 and 12, David’s thoughts take a radical turn. Having prayed against those who hate God, he now intercedes for those who love Him. Three times he asks that the righteous will find joy in Yahweh. It is a joy that comes only because they have believed God, are blessed by God, and because they are safely enclosed in His grace. True joy only comes when one senses the favor of God. A stiff, formal knowledge of God may bring a surge of good feelings, but like a fire of crackling twigs they quickly burn out. Joy only comes when our desires are in concert with God’s. If He hates evil then we must hate it too. If He delights in His people, so the believer finds true joy in the congregation of the saints. So we ask, Does your joy spring from these heavenly realities?

Word of the Day: SHIELD - Shields in the ancient world were metal plates which wrapped around a soldier’s body and protected all the vital organs. They were the soldier’s most important defensive weapon. David says that God is such a shield to the righteous man. No matter what the angle of the assault, whether it is temptation, or affliction, or persecution, God is always there to bear the brunt of any attack upon His chosen one. He is the shield and buckler to those He loves and those who love Him.

JANUARY 10

Psalm 6:1-7

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O LORD – how long? Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; in the grave who will give You thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.

Today’s Walk: David was a passionate man: passionate in his sinning, and passionate in his repenting. Here we have a song that reveals his passion for praying. No one knows the issue that provoked this psalm. This we do know: David’s conscience is stirred up to the point of pain. He had sinned egregiously and he was suffering both physical and spiritual disintegration. His great guilt of conscience had caused his soul spiritual dislocation. His spiritual bones were completely out of joint. Can a man be driven any lower than when both body and soul cry together in anguish? Yet in all this, David retains one great gift of God, an enlightened conscience. He knows that healing comes only when he casts himself upon the mercy of God. He also knows that this mercy is subject to God’s timing. Indeed, God often delays deliverance so that His child will feel the horror of sin. So David waits and cries, How long, O Lord! Yet in his waiting he keeps praying. Children in anguish should never stop seeking relief in God. Like the importunate widow of Luke chapter 18, the saint dares not cease his cries to God. Note, too, that his argument for mercy is powerful and logical. He reminds God that a man who descends to the grave can no longer glorify God. The sons of Adam have but one life, one chance to glorify God. It is only in this body of flesh that a sinful man can magnify his Creator. From the sorrow of one’s eyes, man can show the world the true measure of repentance. David’s bed swims with tears so that his sins might be forever drowned in the grace of God.

Word of the Day: IMPORTUNATE - The word ‘importunate’ which rhymes with ‘fortunate,’ speaks of a persistent and almost nagging desire to receive something. One envisions a little boy in a candy store tugging at his mother’s dress for his favorite treat until in exasperation she relents. Such an attitude should mark a Christian’s prayers. Let us first pray according to God’s will and then relentlessly exercise our own will.

JANUARY 11

Psalm 6:8-10

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

Today’s Walk: This dolorous psalm is stained by many tears. To the world, tears are a sign of weakness, but to God, tears are often the oil of spiritual dependence which facilitates the petitioner’s requests to heaven. When the saints’ eyes are watered in weeping, the vision of God’s glory is most clear. David entertains no doubts that his well-watered prayers will be heard of God. In fact, he seems to pray as if God has already answered him. When we pray as if the invisible is visible we pray in the spirit of Abraham, who was fully convinced that what God had promised He was able to perform (Rom. 4:21). James adds that we are to ask in faith, nothing doubting (James 1:6). Such is the kind of prayer we find here on the lips of David. His particular request is that his enemies would go away. Despite this confidence, David is too weak to help bring his requests to pass. Sometimes we pray knowing our obedience will be used to fulfill our prayer. Sometimes we pray knowing that God alone must do it. When Jairus came running to Jesus, he knew that there was nothing he could do to help his daughter. Yet he was confident Jesus could. The same is true with the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years. She had sought help from physicians but none could heal her. Nothing was left for her to do but to touch Jesus’ garment. In both cases what was sought in the weakness of tears was realized. Returning to our psalm, David does not merely hope God hears Him, he knows that He hears him. Dear saint, do you believe God? Do you believe that He loves to hear your requests drenched in tears? Even when we pray in a weak faith, our enemies must flee before a strong God.

Word of the Day: DOLOROUS - This word describes something marked by misery or grief. It aptly summarizes this psalm. We are reminded that life with God is not always marked by temporal happiness. Many of the dearest saints have suffered horribly and wept often. Yet for those who love God, all those griefs will be barred from entering that place where God will dry every tear from their eyes. Dolorous strugglers today will be joyful worshippers tomorrow.

JANUARY 12

Psalm 7:1-5

A Meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, or have plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; yes, let him trample my life to the earth, and lay my honor in the dust. (Selah)

Today’s Walk: The title of this psalm suggests that David is being slandered by somebody in the camp of King Saul. His life is in serious jeopardy. David is both innocent and defenseless, facts which set the stage for one of the more moving poems in all of Holy Writ. Being in dire straits, David does what every believer ought to do at such times: he cries out to God. His adversary is no mean threat. The unnamed antagonist is likened to a lion, an image Peter will later employ for Satan. David, being one of God’s choice lambs, has no earthly chance against so vicious a foe. Just as lions tear their prey into many pieces, so David’s enemy wants to not only destroy David, but all his progeny. But before seeking God’s aid against this ruthless foe, David searches his own heart in verses 3-5. Before asking for God’s assistance, he must be sure he is not guilty of any sin. For if he is, then David must believe that his affliction is a chastisement of God. David will experience such chastisement when God takes away Bathsheba’s child. This reminds us that when persecuted we should always evaluate ourselves to be sure there is in us no wicked way that might justify the adversary’s cause. Many Christians have wrongly prayed for relief when it would have been better to repent. Indeed, the hardest sins to detect are our own. Thus, self reflection is not only healthy, but hearty. If having searched our hearts we find ourselves guiltless, we may pray for God’s aid with confidence. Such is what David does here. Let us remember when trials come we do well to first search our own house before praying against another’s. Indeed let us always be swift to repent and slow to react.

Word of the Day: PERSECUTE - The word persecute used in our psalm can also mean ‘pursue.’ Persecutors are those who relentlessly pursue their victims and wear them down. Persecution is generally not one isolated event but a long season of pressure. The Christians of the first century were hunted down and driven into dens and caves of the earth. Here David is persecuted by a relentless Saul. Only God’s gracious hand saved him from sure death.

JANUARY 13

Psalm 7:6-10

Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; for their sakes, therefore, return on high. The LORD shall judge the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart.

Today’s Walk: Having been found free from guilt, the writer, David, embarks on a journey of serious pleading against his enemies. Little wonder that these verses are loaded with courtroom language. The persecuted believer must always remember that God is the Judge who will decide every case according to His perfect standard of righteousness. Nevertheless, the believer is permitted to present arguments in his favor. Convinced that no ill deed should go unpunished, David is quick to summon the Judge to the bench to adjudicate his case. His plea has two aspects. First, David pleads that the Judge would rise up and condemn the persecutors. Second, he asks the Judge to vindicate the one who has been wrongly accused. The first request is normal for any court, but the second is unique. Human courts are instituted to punish evildoers, not to reward the righteous. But the Judge of the universe has the right to do both. To those found guilty, He will consign them to a sentence of eternal misery. But those who have lived righteously He will gather to His side and reward them before the eyes of the watching world. To those on his left hand, the Judge will speak the melancholy words, depart from Me. But to those who are gathered at His right hand, the words will be a triumphant job well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord. If you are suffering, dear Christian, remember that the Judge has already declared you innocent in His Son, and someday soon He will feed you at His table of everlasting bounty.

Word of the Day: ADJUDICATE - This word means to settle a case judicially. There are human courts which are ordained by God to render justice in this present age. But theirs is only a temporary and imperfect justice. Someday the Judge of the Earth will adjudicate everything that happened on Earth. Every wrong will be righted, and every righteous act will be rewarded. And for true believers, their case has already been adjudicated when Jesus stood at the bar of God for the sins of His people.

JANUARY 14

Psalm 7:11-17

God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Today’s Walk: The psalm ends with David highlighting the relationship between the just Judge of the universe and the guilty. It is interesting that the theme of God’s judgment is avoided in many pulpits today. Yet when we come to the psalms, we find the writers talking about it without shame. David is intrigued by the fate of the wicked. He notes that the Judge of the universe is angry at them. The reasons are obvious. Evil men spend their lives trying to undo what God has so marvelously created. They take wood and stone and use them to kill. They utter words made to encourage others and enlist them for slander. They employ the human mind given by God for holy meditation and use it as a festering cesspool of evil plots, foul fantasies and manifold lies. The wicked, however, shall not escape. Their sins have built within them the seeds of their own destruction. The ungodly man makes a pit to trap the innocent, yet he falls in it. The violence he has perpetrated on others will ultimately bring violence to his own house. Jesus said the man who lives by the sword dies by the sword. Righteousness is never opposed without serious consequences. Thus this psalm warns us about sin’s double penalty. It stings its owner with great temporal pain and reserves its rendezvous with eternal punishment. Putting it in those terms, it is a wonder that any man would want to sin. Furthermore, it is equally a wonder that any man would not want to see justice for the man who does sin. As David meditates on God’s perfect justice, he breaks out in spontaneous praise. Christian, as much as you find joy in God’s grace to sinners, do you equally rejoice in His justice against sin? This is a matter for sober reflection.

Word of the Day: SWORD - This is the offensive weapon of the soldier. In ancient days, there were both long swords for fighting at a distance and short swords for close hand to hand combat. The word ‘sword’ is often used figuratively for the right of governments to punish evildoers. Ultimately, God alone bears the sword for He alone is the executer of justice. When He wields the sword, He does so in perfect righteousness and holiness.

JANUARY 15

Psalm 8:1-2

To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

Today’s Walk: This famous psalm is bookended by identical praises to Yahweh, the God of the universe. Whereas most gods magnify themselves by using great things, Yahweh brings glory to Himself in weakness. Though infinitely strong, God comes to humanity quietly. When God came to Elijah to encourage the flagging prophet, He met him not with fire bolts, but with that ‘still small voice.’ When Yahweh endeavors to show forth His strength, He bypasses the powerful sword of Hercules and speaks through the mouth of babes. He uses less to show that He is infinitely more. Gideon was the least in Israel. His shocking victory with three hundred pedestrian troops caused all Israel to look to the God who works behind the scenes. Indeed the Bible is full of stories about God’s use of weak nobodies. David was a little shepherd boy. Amos tended to sycamore fruit; Peter a crude fisherman. Despite their lowly stature, all were used by God. As Paul considered the saints at Corinth, he noted that not many were wise, mighty, or noble. False gods use great things, but the God of creation accomplishes greater things with little things like children. Perhaps we see in this song an allusion to the weakest event of history when God, the King of all, came to earth as a baby lying in a cow stall. According to the world’s way of thinking, this makes God look foolish. Who wants a God who was so weak He couldn’t even gain entrance to an inn? But to us who have eyes to see, this coming to the world as a babe is at the very heart of God’s wisdom. When we see the One who spoke the worlds into existence crying at His mother’s breast, we hold our breath in wonder and then cry, O LORD, our Lord how excellent is Your name in all the earth.

Word of the Day: WEAK - To be weak is to lack the strength to perform a given task. One can be weak in body, weak in mind or weak in ability. The beauty of weakness is that it can do nothing but rest upon something strong. This is exactly how it works when God enables the weak to carry forth His will. Like a huge wave that bears the surfer along, God carries along weak little men and women to do things that foster wonder and worship.

JANUARY 16

Psalm 8:3-9

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen – even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Today’s Walk: As we saw yesterday, God’s use of weakness best magnifies His greatness. Earlier the psalmist had used little babies as an example of extreme weakness. Now, he expands that designation to all mankind. As David looks up to the heavens - perhaps recalling one of his night watches as a shepherd - he sees the majesty of God in the skies. This caused him to ask, Why does this great and mighty God who transcends all creation seem to favor man? Indeed man is but a creature of the earth, made from dust, and subject to all the frailties of sickness and death. At best, he is a little lower than the angels. Yet God has decreed man to be his vice-regent over all creation. The fish of the seas, the free-flying fowl and the grazing beasts are subject to man’s authority. This causes us to pause. Has man truly fulfilled his commission as noble ruler? The book of Hebrews answers negatively, Now we do not see all things put under him. Man truly has failed to fulfill his commission under God. But wait, God will not go back on his promise. As we look at this song again, we see embedded in it a riveting prophecy. Man will someday reign; not just any man, but that one Man who obeyed God perfectly. Was He the strong conqueror looked for by the masses? No, He was a lowly carpenter. Did he burst upon history in power? No, He came to us as a baby. Did He die a noble death? No, He was murdered as a common thief on a cross. But when all the dust settles, there we see Jesus, crowned as king over the universe. What no man was able to do, He did. Hallelujah! The prophecy is fulfilled. Man does rule the universe. And so we sing with the psalmist, ‘O LORD, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.’

Word of the Day: VICE-REGENT - A vice-regent is a king’s right hand man, His deputy. When God created man, He created him to be His chief executive officer. Man’s task was to govern God’s glorious universe. However, man fell and his dignity was stripped away. He exited the throne of Eden in shame. But now in the man Christ Jesus, he once again rules. Jesus, the man, is the vice-regent of God, the One who rules and sustains all things, and His people rule alongside Him.

JANUARY 17

Psalm 9:1-5

To the Chief Musician. To the tune of Death of the Son. A Psalm of David.

I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

Today’s Walk: The life of the believer is a strange mixture of worship and warfare. He is both to exalt the name of God and defend His cause. The Bible teaches that these two are supremely compatible. Just look at the author. In David, we find both aspects in wonderful harmony. What man ever worshipped God with more abandoned zeal than he? When the ark was brought into the holy city, he was found dancing with all his might. We see this same devotion as this psalm opens. David not only praises God, but praises Him with all his heart. For the son of Jesse, praise demanded nothing less than the engagement of the entire man. But suddenly the song turns to the punishment of the wicked in verses 3-5. How can David so quickly shift from one to the other? The answer is that one of the reasons we praise God is because He punishes the wicked. God’s holy nature demands that He must judge wickedness and all creation worships Him for it. God’s justice has two aspects. First, He is just in punishing the wicked for their sins. Second, He is just in punishing a substitute for the guilty. For both these expressions of justice, the creation praises God. Indeed it is right to praise God for His justice; and grander still to praise Him for His grace that flows from justice. But this David knew and we too must know: God must always be just. He will either condemn the guilty sinner or He will condemn His Son on behalf of the guilty. But justice must be had! Think how we feel when a guilty criminal goes free? Yet such an outrage never happens with God. In His court, no guilty person ever beats justice. Even secret offenses are punished. Therefore let us worship the One who judges perfectly. He must condemn sinners or condemn their substitute.

Word of the Day: ECONOMY - An economy is the overall use of resources in a given dispensation. God’s economy is the universe. He is the King and everything else is His subject. In God’s economy everything is geared toward the execution of righteousness. In God’s economy, He has found a way to uphold justice while showing forth His character of mercy. Some might call it an economy of gracious justice. We call it the gospel.

JANUARY 18

Psalm 9:6-8

O enemy, destructions are finished forever! And you have destroyed cities; even their memory has perished. But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.

Today’s Walk: Where is Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon? Where are the Minoans who ruled the mighty isles of the Aegean? Where are the Hittites who were great metalworkers 1200 years before Christ? History is like an old phonebook with page after page of disconnected numbers. Every kingdom has known its heyday…. and its demise. These earthly kingdoms are not only conquered, they are forgotten. David notes, Even their memory has perished. Daniel who lived in one of those meteoric kingdoms adds, (God) removes kings and raises up kings (Dan. 2:21). As David contemplated the rise and fall of kingdoms, it brought him great comfort. He had personally fought many hostile nations and knowing they would not last forever strengthened his resolve to fight. David was also aware that another kingdom had been promised to him, a kingdom that would go on forever through his heirs. What a contrast we find between the two. The kingdoms of the world are ruled by wickedness and must one day perish. But the eternal kingdom is ruled in righteousness and must never end. Dear tried saint, never forget that every kingdom in this present age shall fail. That boss who mistreats you, that government agency that harasses you, that administrator who slanders you, that regime that imprisons you, all these will fade away. But there soon comes an eternal kingdom ruled by King Jesus. He will treat His subjects with love and grace. So here is the question: Will you be part of the kingdom that never ends? This can only be if Jesus is your King now. And if He is your King now, He will be your King forever. However, if you reject His regal authority, you shall be forever exiled from His presence into an outer world where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Word of the Day: PERISHED - The memory of many former kingdoms of the earth has perished. To perish is to be separated from existence. So when a man perishes before a holy God it does not mean annihilation, but banishment from His presence; a banishment, mind you, that is conscious, eternal, and degenerative. The righteous, however, will live with God forever and they will never perish. Jesus said, whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:26).

JANUARY 19

Psalm 9:9-14

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation.

Today’s Walk: These verses succinctly follow the life path of the saint in distress. No one represents the life of every believer better than David. He was a man who experienced great highs and great lows. In verses 9 and 10, David twice states that when believers are oppressed, they are blessedly forced to trust in God. Those who are defenseless must flee to Yahweh lest they perish. And when one shelters in God, one is absolutely safe, no matter how strong the external threats. Lay it down as an axiom; God will never forsake those who put their trust in Him. In verses 11 and 12, David responds in worship. God’s grace and mercy to His own must inevitably lead to praise and confession. Praise, because of the wonderful things God has done for the beleaguered saint; and confession, because he wants others to know more about his great Deliverer. In verses 13 and 14, the psalmist pleads that God would spare his life. His request is not self-centered, but God-centered. He desires to live so that he may proclaim the great works of Yahweh. A believer under the weight of oppression is like a song-less bird cooped up in a cage. However, when he is freed, he at once sings melodious sonnets in praise of the One who freed him. Whatever David’s circumstances in this song, we know that he deeply yearned to be among the saints and to joyfully tell of the good works of God. Perhaps you feel cut off from the saints. Perhaps you are filled with distress. Then you must find your refuge in God. Only in Him will you experience salvation. Only in Him will you be avenged of all your enemies. When you are fully vindicated, you will rejoice heartily with the saints and be glad in your God.

Word of the Day: AVENGE - This verb is related to the noun vengeance. To avenge is to strike back at a wrong committed. Jesus taught rather than avenge a wrong, one ought endure it and turn the other cheek. Though the Christian dare not avenge personal injuries, God must and will avenge all who affront Him and His holy law. Thus, it is for the Christian to show mercy to his persecutors and to defer personal vengeance to the One who alone has the right to avenge all wrongs.

JANUARY 20

Psalm 9:15-20

The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. (Selah) The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. (Selah)

Today’s Walk: This psalm ends with a vivid comparison between the mighty nations and the humble one who trusts in Yahweh. The oppressive nations truly believe they have the world at their disposal. Nonetheless, in due time they always fall into their own traps. That fate is but a minor inconvenience compared to the penalty they shall receive at the final judgment bar. The place of death, Sheol, will be the lot for all those who fight against God and His majesty. Nations need not actively oppose God to be judged. They need only forget Him. Jesus said, He that is not for me is against me. You say you are neutral regarding God? The Bible says those who are neutral toward Christ actively oppose Him. God’s command for you is to repent and come join arms with your Savior. Failure to do this will make you guilty of high treason. This reminds us that evil is often defined not by what men do, but what they fail to do. Paul describes the chief sin of mankind as, …they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Rom. 1:21). The psalm ends on a word play that compares the mighty nations, which are characterized by those who forget God, with the humble who are never forgotten by God. What a