May 6

Psalms Expressing a Variety of Sentiments

The next 16 psalms contain a variety of sentiments from the heart of a believer to his God. In this grouping is an indication of the complexity of human nature and the acknowledgment of a God who answers every need.

Mercy demands obedience. Psa. 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?

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. Se 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.

Misuse of the gift of speech. Psa. 12

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

Help, lord, for the godly are no more;

the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor;

their flattering lips speak with deception.

May the lord cut off all flattering lips

and every boastful tongue that says, "We will triumph with our tongues;

we own our lips'?—who is our master?"

"Because of the oppression of the weak

and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the lord.

"I will protect them from those who malign them." And the words of the lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

O lord, you will keep us safe

and protect us from such people forever. The wicked freely strut about

when what is vile is honored among men.

Prayer for others' welfare, and expression of trust. Psa. 20

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

May the lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings. Selah May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious

and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the lord grant all your requests.

Now I know that the lord saves his anointed;

he answers him from his holy heaven

with the saving power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.

O lord, save the king!

Answer¹" us when we call!

Expression of trust in God and his instruction. Psa. 25

Of David.

To you, O lord, I lift up my soul;

in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me your ways, O lord,

teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O lord, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O lord.

Good and upright is the lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way. All the ways of the lord are loving and faithful

for those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, O lord,

forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, is the man that fears the lord?

He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land. The lord confides in those who fear him;

he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the lord,

for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress

and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased

and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you.

Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

Blessedness of confession and forgiveness of sins. Psa. 32

Of David. Amaskil.¹

Blessed is he

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man

whose sin the lord does not count against him

and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent,

my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

For day and night

your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped

as in the heat of summer. Selah Then I acknowledged my sin to you

and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess

my transgressions to the lord"— and you forgave

the guilt of my sin. Selah

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you

while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise,

they will not reach him. You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule,

which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle

or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked,

but the lord's unfailing love

surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Agonizing confession of sin. Psa. 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

O lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath. For your arrows have pierced me,

and your hand has come down upon me. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

my bones have no soundness because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me

like a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds fester and are loathsome

because of my sinful folly. I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning. My back is filled with searing pain;

there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;

my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart pounds, my strength fails me;

even the light has gone from my eyes. My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;

my neighbors stay far away. Those who seek my life set their traps,

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;

all day long they plot deception.

I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear,

like a mute, who cannot open his mouth; I have become like a man who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply. I wait for you, O lord;

you will answer, O Lord my God. For I said, "Do not let them gloat

or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips."

For I am about to fall,

and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin. Many are those who are my vigorous enemies;

those who hate me without reason are numerous. Those who repay my good with evil

slander me when I pursue what is good.

O lord, do not forsake me;

be not far from me, O my God. Come quickly to help me,

O Lord my Savior.