Summary: David, betrayed by a close friend, wants to hole up in God's presence and let Him kill off the traitors.
Response: I am glad these psalms are here for when we feel betrayed, but the simple fact is that, if anything, I feel more at fault for any wrong that comes my way.
Summary: David asks again for God's help to (you guessed it) kill his enemies.
Response: God, keep me patient. Help me to defeat myself and my selfish desires. Help me submit to Your will.
Summary: Just like the last psalm, David opens by discussing sinful people, who delight in the destruction of God's people even as they become more aware of the consequences. He prays for God to help protect them.
Response: I dunno? Having a hard time connecting with this one. Have all sinned, or just the non-Israelites? I know God forgives, but I have trouble discerning confidence David might have with arrogance.
Summary: David summarizes the wicked, people who lie and steal for their own benefit. He knows the fate awaiting them includes God taking all that was ill-gotten. By contrast, the wise put their trust in God to be kind and also just in His judgement.
Response: It's becoming more and more clear that God has to prune. Not every ministry started has to continue indefinitely, and few really can without being corrupted or twisted. Not every tongue can be counted on to stay true with its message. I pray I have the patience to seek God's discernment as, to be honest, I have a big change coming up soon in my life.
Summary: David knows he has sinned big time (not in this story, but he sleeps with a married woman and has her husband killed in military action). He pleads with God for forgiveness. David boldly asks not to be left without God's presence; he also gets past the Law and its sacrifices, noting God would rather have hearts that turn to Him than empty offerings.
Response: Here again is Relatable David. Yeah, I've done some sinning in even my short life; and I've gone through the motions in worship services at times. It's very easy for me to get lost in musical details and never get "into" worship (or to get right out of it soon thereafter). Lord, make me ever more dependent on You, that I need Your presence every day.
Summary: The psalmist paints a picture of God as almost a natural disaster, clearing His path off the holy mountain. God doesn't want empty sacrifices, He says; He wants a real change in people's hearts, from fear and obligation to joy and gratefulness.
Response: (Asaph, our psalmist, was probably a singer for the Temple?)
(Holy crap, fifty psalms! A third of the way in, I can't say I'm impressed with all of them, but I've enjoyed digging deeper and getting some real treasures.)
I say natural disaster because it talks about God carving out trees and a burning fire on His way down the mountain. As it says, He isn't hiding.
And His judgement comes with a plan forward or at least an alternative. I can only pray I make such an attitude adjustment.
Summary: The psalmist proclaims as equal the rich and poor, with both dying at the end of their lives. Still, he says that all the rich and their belongings will burn like trash.
Response: What then to do with wealth? Place it in God's care and/or aid His people.
