Let There Be Music: Life Lessons from the Songs of the Psalms: Book of Devotionals and Short Bible Lessons: Volume 1 of 3

By Pat Mann

The lessons and devotionals printed herein are always intended to teach a biblical principle, a life lesson, show a path to righteous living, or give a warning before taking a wrong turn in life. The Bible, as a whole, contains principles and guidelines regarding every issue a person can possibly face in a lifetime, including relationships, financial management, emotional highs and lows, attitudes, authority, truth, integrity, fear, pride, temptations, possessions, repentance, and all spiritual insights to name a few. Many of these issues are presented in the chapters of Psalms. Every effort is taken to apply the principles found in the Psalms to everyday life situations so that you may become spiritually strong as you face life's complexities at every stage of your life.

The majority of the chapters of Psalms were written by David, the lad who went from shepherding his father's sheep to shepherding the flock of God's chosen people as king of Israel. In his lifetime, David was hunted down for slaughter for no misdeed of his own. He experienced betrayal by close associates. He knew what it was like for his own children to try to steal his throne. He was a fearless warrior. He had a heart for God. He is called "a man after God's own heart." David had an unrelenting trust in God's protection and provision. He is the author of the most beloved Psalm--the twenty-third Psalm--that begins, "The Lord is my shepherd."

May these songs from Psalms encourage you, inspire you, bless you, and challenge you every day of your life. Let there be music in your heart toward God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098094867

Book preview

Psalm 1

Formula for Success

(NKJV)

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 Bible’s formula for success offers three things that you must not do and two things you must do if you want to be successful.

Do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. If you seek sound advice for your life’s decisions, do not get such advice from evil people: those who practice immorality, idolatry, sorcery, and lawlessness. Seek good advice from those whom you know are living godly lives and who best exemplify the example of Jesus Himself. Always search the Bible and compare what it says to whatever advice anyone gives you, even if it is from a godly person.

Do not stand in the way of sinners. Today, they may call it hanging out. If the group with whom you are hanging out are those who engage in sinful activities, that is the wrong crowd. Common sense tells you that. Never believe you will not be influenced by those companions who do evil things. The Israelites decided it was not necessary to drive out and destroy all the people in Canaan as God instructed. They let them live among them. Before long, it was the people of God who began to live the lifestyles of the idol worshipers around them—all to their own destruction.

Do not sit in the seat of the scornful. Who are the scornful? What does scorn look like? A scornful person is one who has extreme contempt for a person, or idea, especially when it comes to spiritual things. It may be expressed with vicious ridicule, or mockery. Often, the people of God and Christian ideals are the targets of scorn. The Bible itself is often scorned. If you regularly sit in the circles of those who scorn, your success will be hindered.

Now, there are two positive things you can do to assure success:

Do delight yourself in the law of the Lord—His Word, the Scriptures. Are you one who just can’t wait for the hour to come when you sit down with your Bible and read what God has to say to you? You anxiously desire to see how God’s Word instructs and guides you? Do the words of God flood delight into your soul? Perhaps not in the immediate scheme of things. You read your Bible, say a prayer, yawn, turn the lights off, and go to sleep, having done your Christian duty. That’s how it is for many people. Actually, having a daily time for Bible reading and prayer is a really good habit. Don’t stop doing it just because you may not be flooded with delight about what you read. The human brain has the capacity to store all that information you just read. The delight comes when you are living out your life, and you face decisions and circumstances. God’s Spirit brings forth from the storage files of your mind something you read during one of those times. Because of that, you are guided to make the right decision about whatever you face on some given day. Your delight comes when you know you have God’s answer for the many choices you face each day.

Do meditate on God’s laws day and night. No, I do not mean to sit on a cushion all day and all night with your arms folded and hum a monotonous tune. Enlightenment from God’s Word does not come to you like that. As you go through your day, attach God’s Word to everything you see, hear, and experience. Be alert to anything that applies to your recent Bible reading. God often does not reveal His secrets at the same exact time you are reading a passage. His revelations about His Word come to you as you live out your life. You encounter people and circumstances of which God will cause His Word to come alive in you. Your mind’s storehouse of the Word of God will sustain you and guide you successfully through each day. Keep God’s Word fresh in your mind by thinking deeply on it constantly. Be alert and watch for God’s guidance throughout the day.

Your life will be successful because you will not fall into the pit where those without the knowledge of the Lord gather. Your own wisdom is not sufficient to guide you successfully through the hundreds of decisions you must make every day. Let the Word of God be your guiding light.

His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalms 1:3).

Psalm 2

Thou Art My Son

(NKJV)

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. 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.

Do you ever feel like engaging in a battle against God Most High? You will lose. Are you ever angry toward God? It doesn’t hurt God, and it doesn’t help you. If you want to engage God in a conflict, you will not win. A very famous movie star once said of God, He has a lot to answer for. Obviously, he was blaming God for allowing people to exercise their free will, choosing to do evil things. Can’t you just hear the roll of laughter from the heavens? If you want to do evil, God won’t stop you, but neither will He deliver you from the consequences.

Job of the Old Testament wanted to challenge God on the issue of his righteousness. Using modern terms, the Lord said, Who do you think you are? As God began to reveal His greatness to him, Job began to feel smaller and smaller before God and His powerful creative attributes and sovereignty. Job soon had nothing more of which to argue with God (Job 38–42).

Jacob, son of Isaac, encountered the Lord one day. They struggled together all night.

Finally, the Lord said to him, Let me go!

Jacob said, I will not let you go until you bless me!

Now that is the kind of battle the Lord will let you win. The Lord gave Jacob a permanent reminder of that event by touching him on his thigh so that it was out of joint. Jacob, hereafter named Israel, walked with a limp for the rest of his life (see Genesis 32).

This Psalm introduces God the Son, the second person of God’s Trinity. He is presented as the great King with authority over all the earth. When and before Jesus was ever born in Bethlehem, He was already the King. He has always been and forever shall be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Lord all powerful! On the very first day of His life on earth, Jesus was worshiped by common people. Kingly men also searched Him out and presented worthy gifts to Him, acknowledging Jesus as King.

The text above says, Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Mankind must fear and revere God. He is able to crush those who oppose Him beneath His feet. They become dust for clay on the potter’s wheel. Those who enter into relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ know Him as a gentle and loving God who brings salvation and forgiveness of sins. Let His people rejoice! Let the wicked fear and tremble! It is not wise to anger the Judge of all the earth. He is the Son of Almighty God. He reigns in the heavens over all the earth.

Thou art my Son., this day have I begotten Thee. Blessed are they which put their trust in Thee.

Psalm 3

God, My Protector

(KJV)

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly; salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Do you ever feel like people are ganging up on you for your hurt? Are your enemies so intent against you that they believe even God cannot rescue you? You have to remember that in David’s youth as a shepherd, the Lord rejected Saul as the king over Israel. He sent the prophet Samuel to anoint young David to become the next king after Saul. David could certainly have mustard great confidence in God’s protection since he had not yet become king. Perhaps that anointing is why David could have been so brave to face the giant, Goliath. David was armed with only a sling and stones. David was never reckless with his life, tempting God, but he was confident that God would bring about that which He had promised. He also had experienced God’s protection on prior occasions as a shepherd.

Imagine this: David never lost any sleep over the fact that he was being hunted down by those intent on taking his life. He said, I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. Do you hear that unfailing confidence in the protection and provision of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? David’s spiritual shield of protection covers him all the day and throughout the night. So David sleeps soundly, even though ten thousand seek to destroy him.

It is wise to take precautions to protect yourself. Don’t be reckless just because you know God has your back. Jesus said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God (Matthew 4:1–7).

Perhaps you have a security system in your home. Perhaps you have a fence protecting your property from intruders, or you have a barking dog who would alert you to danger. You have smoke detectors installed. It does not show a lack of trust in God to take such precautions. With any, or all these things, however, it is wise to call upon the Lord God to surround you with His protection at all times whether you are in your home, in a workplace, on a road trip, or wherever your life’s paths may take you. Man-made protective measures can fail. The Lord Himself is your greatest security. Put your trust in Him.

My very godly mother came to help me put my house in order. She lived in a town fifty miles away. After we visited and enjoyed dinner, she decided she would return home; however, the weather had changed, threatening severe rainstorms and hail. Still, she intended to go home. I encouraged her not to make that trip because it may not be safe. She could certainly spend the night instead. She said, I will just trust God to keep me safe. I was stunned. What do you think? Was she trusting God, or tempting God? I gently told her that perhaps her choice to drive in really bad weather may be tempting God. There was no urgent reason for her to go home, so she could stay safely at my house until the next day when the storm passed. She thought about that a minute or two and made the decision to remain safe until the storm passed. I was amazed that insignificant me gave some good advice to my mother who was a spiritual giant.

Trust in God’s protective shield at all times. He is able to keep you from harm, but that does not give you license to be reckless. David took precautions, but his trust was in the Lord, his God.

"I laid me