Psalm 22

Summary: David starts by describing himself crying out to God continually, yet with no answer; he continues and finishes by proclaiming God's might and power even without a response.

Response: (If you're somehow reading this and haven't heard, this is one of the last seven words of Jesus. Dying on the cross, he starts the psalm, which sounds hopeless to those who don't get it but triumphant to those who know the rest of it.)

David shows humility! Wow! Help me to do the same, Lord, even as I ask for boldness before You.

Psalm 21

Summary: David recounts God's faithfulness and protection specifically to kings, of which he is one himself. He says that God not only grants kings long life and prosperity, but defense against their enemies.

Response: Again, I try my best to have respect for the context of David's thoughts. I know that kings were just a thing instead of a distraction as they usually are today. I think I get that, without a long-reigning king, disaster would befall a kingdom. But I have read through I and II Kings, and they're really bad at ruling anyway as well as short lived even when they do obey God. Lord, I pray that, where I lead, help me to serve more and more. Where I follow, help me to respect the position and the one who holds it, and guide my hand to help.

Psalm 20

Summary: David passes on the promise of God's protection to the reader, praying for victory and celebration of God's people. He also proclaims God's hand on their leader the king as the people trust in God rather than military might.

Response: My first reading felt very celebratory, but that ignores some parts and words that really give it an air of desperation. Lord, if I don't get Your help, I'm done for. Help me to hear Your word and follow Your plans.

Psalm 19

Summary: David praises God with the sun and sky, whom he says show God's handiwork. God's craftsmanship is also evident in His Law, he says; David prays not only to be forgiven of sin he knows about, but also of sin he doesn't as well as guiding him away from sinning in the first place.

Response: I like this one! There are like five different feelings here, but I agree with them. God's creation is wonderful; His Law is the ideal way to live, though we can only fall short of it; I need God's hand to stay me away from sin; even when I do sin, I need His forgiveness; even when I sin and don't know it, I still need it. They flow pretty well, all from the majesty of the sky. Neat!

Psalm 18

Summary: Saved from Saul, David rejoices in God's protection. This is a very long psalm, so let's have a look; David calls God:

Source of strength, high ridge, stronghold, deliverer, rocky summit, shield, horn (like the attacking kind), refuge, lamp, protector, king; worthy of praise, sovereign, loyal, reliable, trustworthy, true, alive, praiseworthy, faithful.

He also recounts (again) God's might, his innocence, his enemies' guilt, and what he got God to do to his enemies.

Response: God, I know you are protecting me from things all the time. But I don't think any of them are individuals who want my death. Thank you for your protection, but be with my enemies; I really do feel I want them to succeed. Not in hurting me, of course, but in becoming better people, drawn closer to you, maybe through me.

Psalm 17

Summary: David bookends calling for God's judgement on his enemies with calling for God's judgement on himself.

Response: I'm not sure I could be so bold. I know I'm guilty of quite a bit. Maybe if it were one of a bunch of passing judgements instead of a singular, permanent one?

I had a thought for a metaphor last night at our Ash Wednesday service: which is cleaner, the cup that sits in the China cabinet or the cup that gets used and washed every day? Obviously the former starts out cleaner but, unless you come and dust it often and well, it gets dirty over time, requiring cleaning that is more difficult because of how fragile it is. Holiness is not a one time thing and trying to keep it that way. It gets neglected that way, and is less useful. Holiness, to me, is a daily surrender and cleansing, in the hopes that less and less will need rinsed off each day.

Psalm 16

Summary: David proclaims his trust in God, who protects and delights him in the present and provides for a future where he is used and not cast aside.

Response: So in the last bit, David says that he won't be sent to Sheol; as I understand it, this was basically a large ditch outside Jerusalem where people would throw stuff away that had no use anymore. It was also sort of their version of hell, to be cast aside and left out of God's future plan. I'm thankful I still get used from time to time, but hopefully I can start to see and act on more opportunities to be used by God for His purposes.