But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
Psalm 13:5
Psalm 13 opens with a raw and relatable cry of distress: “How long?” (vv. 1-2). These are words everyone has uttered when in a long period of anguish or distress, and David shares the anguish he feels and how he feels as if he had been abandoned by God, weighed down by his sorrows, and oppressed by his enemies. This is another example of lament (letting out one’s grief or sorrow), and it reflects the universal experience of believes who face seasons in which they feel their prayers go unanswered, their suffering will never end, and heaven’s response to their pleas is silence.
David’s honest plea here shows that lament is a faithful response to suffering. Rather than turning away from God, David directs his questions – and his pain – toward God. He acknowledges these feelings by asking God: “Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (v. 1). But he doesn’t stop at the lament; he begins praying, asking the Lord to “consider and answer me” and “light up my eyes” (v. 3). David knows that God alone holds the power to restore life and hope, even and especially when all seems lost.
Psalm 13 culminates in the declaration of trust and praise that David has “trusted in [God’s] steadfast love” and that his heart “shall rejoice in [the Lord’s] salvation” (v. 5). He again anchors his faith in the unchanging character of God (which is a theme that has shone up regularly in the psalms thus far). Even in the darkness, he remembers God’s past faithfulness and looks forward to his future deliverance and closing with a commitment to praise: “I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (v. 6).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 13
Jesus embodies the full reality of Psalm 13. In His humanity, He experienced the depths of lament, most vividly on the cross when He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). He knew the pain of feeling abandoned, yet He fully trusted Himself to the Father’s will.
Through His death and resurrection, the ultimate “How long?” has been answered. God’s steadfast love was displayed clearly and concretely. His victory over sin, and especially death, guarantees ultimate and eternal deliverance. We can face seasons of waiting and sorrow by looking to Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).
Reflection
Psalm 13 teaches us that faith does not deny the reality of pain but clings to the truth of God’s love and promises. Lament can (and should) lead to intimacy with God as it allows us to bring our whole selves – questions, fears, hopes, etc. – into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:16).
Do you feel free to bring your honest emotions to God? We see here that God is big enough to handle our questions and more than faithful enough to carry us through.
Spend some time meditating on God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, remembering His past acts of kindness in your life. Trust that His promises are true even when His answers seem delayed. Let David’s journey from lament to praise inspire you to move to deeper intimacy with God, trusting that He hears, cares, and will answer in His perfect timing.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face.
Psalm 11:7
Psalm 11 speaks directly to a moment of crisis, when fear and doubt creep in while everything around David seems to be going wrong because of wicked enemies. David starts off with a declaration of his trust in the LORD: “In the LORD I take refuge” (v. 1). This is David’s response to being told to “flee like a bird” (v. 1) in the face of danger. He refused to flee anywhere other than to the LORD. Why? Because his hope is not found in his circumstances but in the sovereignty and power of God.
People looked at David and saw chaos – wicked men lurking in the shadows, preparing to strike out at the righteous (v. 2). They questioned what the righteous could do once “the foundations are destroyed” (v. 3), yet David’s confidence was not shaken. His response was to turn his gaze upward, away from the troubles and wicked enemies, declaring, “The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven” (v. 4). His foundations are too high and too deep to be in danger of crumbling or shaking! From His throne, He sees all, tests all men’s hearts, and brings judgment on the wicked while vindicating the righteous.
Psalm 11 culminates in a beautiful promise: “The upright shall behold His face” (v. 7). For those whose trust is in the LORD, there is not only refuge now but the ultimate reward of seeing God face-to-face. This hope is unshakable because it rests on the unchanging character of the LORD, who is righteous and loves justice (v. 7).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 11
Jesus fulfills the promise of Psalm 11. In His life, He endured the attacks of the wicked, standing firm in the face of betrayal, violence, and the cross. He is the ultimate example of trusting the Father as a refuge. On the cross, He bore the judgment we deserve, drinking the cup of wrath described in v. 6 so that those who believe in Him can experience the joy of seeing God’s face (1 John 3:2).
Jesus triumphed over sin and death through His resurrection, ensuring that the righteous will one day be vindicated, and His return will bring ultimate justice, proving that no wickedness escapes His notice.
Reflection
In times of crisis, where do you turn for refuge? Psalm 11 challenges us to put our trust in the LORD not human solutions or fleeing.
Let the hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face sustain you as you navigate the challenges of life.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Psalm 10:17-18
Psalm 10 opens with a heartfelt cry, “Why, O LORD, do you stand far away/ Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (v. 1). This lament resonates deeply with anyone who has ever tried to reconcile what may look like God being silent toward the rampant injustice in the world.
The psalmist (no one is specifically named as the writer of Psalm 10) paints a vivid picture of the wicked — arrogant, oppressive, and violent — preying upon the helpless with no fear of accountability (vv. 2-11). Their hearts are full of pride, and they make the bold proclamation that “There is no God” (v. 4).
The wicked seem to prosper — seem. Their prosperity is only temporary because their ways are deceptive and cruel. They lurk in ambush like predators, exploiting the vulnerable like their prey and doing so with what seems to be no punishment or repercussions. The psalmist pleads with GOd to respond — to rise up, defend the afflicted, and bring the wicked to account (vv. 12-15). These cries are not expressions of doubt but of trust that God is just and able to intervene.
Psalm 10 concludes with renewed confidence (rather than disappointment) in the Lord, who is “King forever and ever” (v. 16). The wicked may seem to prevail, but the power is fleeting. God hears the cries of the afflicted, strengthens their hearts, and ensures justice for the fatherless and the oppressed (vv. 17-18). This is the assurance that while human justice is rampant, divine justice will ultimately prevail.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 10
Jesus embodies the heart of Psalm 10. He demonstrated God’s care for the afflicted and oppressed during His earthly ministry — healing the sick, comforting the grieving, and extending grace to the outcasts. On the cross, Jesus bore the ultimate injustice — dying for sins He did not commit — so that justice and mercy could be perfectly reconciled in Him.
When Jesus returns to establish His eternal Kingdom of justice and peace, He will fulfill the psalmist’s cry that “man who is of the earth may strike terror no more” (v. 18).
Reflect
Psalm 10 reminds us that even when God seems distant, He is neither unaware nor indifferent to injustice.
Are you wrestling with situations where the wicked appear to prosper? Bring your concerns — and even your laments — to the Lord, trusting that He sees, hears, and will act.
Consider ways you might be able to defend the weak, care for the vulnerable, and trust in His ultimate plan to right every wrong. May Psalm 10 strength your faith as you learn to wait on the Lord.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
When I say that, I’m not talking about some sort or religious obligation for attending church or anything like that. My mind is drawn to my need for Jesus and the fact that He would deign to accept one like me.
There were times in my life when thinking of Sunday was more religious than relationship, but the older I get and the more I think about all that Jesus has done (and is doing and will do), the more I think of Sunday like the imagery in Hebrews 4:14-16.
The writer of Hebrews begins this section talking about Jesus as the “great high priest”. That phrase can definitely be acquainted with religious ideas and temple life and sacrifices, but Jesus is something different.
High priests are typically “chosen from among men” and “appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God” (Hebrews 5:1). Jesus is different. He is God become man to be the sacrifice for men to be able to come to God.
High priests would typically need to “offer sacrifice” for their own sins “fust as [they do] for those of the people” (Hebrews 5:3). Jesus is different. He has no sins to sacrifice for because He “has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He is the Lamb of God bearing our sin.
High priests worked and worked and worked on behalf of the people before God, but all of their work was just a shadow of what was to come. Jesus is different. Jesus is all substance, and no shadow, being Himself “the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:9-10).
Because Jesus is different, we are not limited to showing up for some religious observances over and over again, dwelling only in the suburbs of God’s grace and partaking only of shadows. Because Jesus is our high priest, He has made a way for us not just to be in relation to God but for us to be able to approach Him — to go directly to “the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
For those bringing their animals for the high priest to slaughter and make atonement for their sins, the idea of approaching God’s throne would be a frightening thing. Think of Isaiah’s “woe is me” talk when he had a vision of the holy, holy, holy God seated on His throne; he knew he was unclean and unworthy to look upon “the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5)! The King of kings seated on the throne is still holy, holy, holy and we are still sinners. the King of kings seated on the throne is the divine word who discerns “the thoughts and intentions” of our hearts, laying us bare — “naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Yes, Jesus is the King of kings.
Yes, Jesus is holy, holy, holy.
Yes, Jesus is Lord.
No, we are not any of those things and neither worthy nor holy. We are not God, and most of us could not stand even alongside Isaiah to state our “woe” in God’s presence. But Jesus is also our high priest! He has made atonement for our sins! He has made a way for us to come before Him (John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:1-2)!
This is why the imagery of Hebrews 4:14-16 is so heavy on my mind. I have the opportunity and privilege to approach the throne of grace in my time of need. Because I have confessed Jesus as Lord and believed upon Him — but my trust in Him to save me, I have assurance to be able to approach Him without fear of death and punishment because He Himself has “bore [my] sins in His body on the tree, that [I] might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). I don’t have to say “woe is me” because He put Himself through woes on my behalf.
Because of this, I can approach His throne with the confidence of a child waking a parent in the middle of the night for a drink of water. I can turn to Him with the assurance that I not only may approach Him for help but be confident that I will “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
That’s good news!
But it’s not just good news for me. It is good news for all who trust in Him, all who are saved by grace through faith in Him.
So, Sunday’s coming, and we have the opportunity to gather together on the first day of the week — the Lord’s day — and remember His death, burial, and resurrection. We have the opportunity to gather with brothers and sisters who have been saved by grace through faith and approach the throne of our Lord together, confident that His grace and mercy are enough, sufficient, and eternally flowing toward those He loves.
If this doesn’t describe you, know that there is good news and grace enough for you, too. Your sin can be forgiven. You can be saved. There is grace enough and room enough and good news enough for you and all who call on His name.
You won’t find anything relgiously impressive. You won’t find impressive priests or practices. You won’t find perfect people. You will find a bunch of sinners — and hypocrites — whose only hope is Jesus. He is who will will read about. He is who we will sing about. He is who we will preach about. And that’s because He’s our only hope. He’s our King. He’s our God. He made a way for us and there is no place we’d rather be than gathered around His throne in a small picture of how we will get to be when this world passes away and He gathers His people to Himself.
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
4We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin.
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 9:9
Psalm 9 is a celebration of God’s justice, faithfulness, and salvation. David opens with a powerful declaration of praise to God: “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds” (v. 1). Throughout Psalm 9, he does just that: recounting God’s past acts of deliverance and expressing praise through trusting in His eternal reign.
David reflects on God’s role as judge. God is able to both rebuke the nations and destroy the wicked, blotting out their names forever (vv. 5-6). This righteous judgment reminds us that God’s justice is not limited by time; He is enthroned forever, ruling with fairness and protecting the oppressed (vv. 7-9). For those who trust in Him — in His name, God offers refuge and security as a mighty stronghold, never forsaking His people (v. 10).
Psalm 9 also highlights God’s concern and care for the weak and afflicted. He remembers their cries and avenges their suffering (v. 12). David pleads for deliverance himself, trusting that God is able and will lift him from the “gates of death” so he can praise God in the “gates of the daughters of Zion” (vv. 13-14). The reversal from near-death to rejoicing is a powerful testimony to God’s power and grace.
God’s justice is clear in Psalm 9. The wicked often fall into the traps that they have set for others (v. 15), yet ultimate justice belongs to the Lord, who will one day judge the world completely in His righteousness. Until then, the needy and poor can take comfort in the knowledge that He has not forgotten them — and that hope in Him will not perish (v. 18)!
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 9
Psalm 9 anticipates Jesus’s reign as the righteous Judge of all nations. As Paul declared in Acts 17:31, God has “fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed” — Jesus is the appointed Judge as well as our assurance because of His resurrection.
In His first coming, Jesus brought hope to the oppressed and salvation to the lost. When He returns, He will bring final justice and an end to all evil.
David’s plea for deliverance also foreshadows Jesus and His gospel. Just as David was able to rejoice in God saving him from the “gates of death”, we can rejoice that Jesus conquered death itself through His resurrection. Through Him, believers are delivered from sin and eternal death and transferred into His Kingdom to rejoice in Him forevermore (Colossians 1:13-14)!
Reflection
Psalm 9 gives an example of David worshiping the Lord out of a grateful heart. Take time today to thank God for His faithfulness in your own life. Consider His acts of justice and salvation — both in the world around you and through Jesus. Follow David’s example and recount His wonderful deeds and sing His praises so that those around you can hear about Jesus.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens.
Psalm 8:1
Psalm 8 is a beautiful hymn of praise, celebrating the glory of God as seen in creation and the high calling He has given to humanity. David begins and ends with the same refrain: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (vv. 1, 9) This bookends Psalm 8 with awe and reverence for the true God, Yahweh, the Creator and Sustainer of all that there is.
As David contemplates the vastness of the heavens — the moon and stars set in place by God’s fingers — he marvels at the smallness of humanity in contrast and asks “What is man that You are mindful of Him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (v. 4) Yet, despite our frailty, God has given us the honor of being entrusted with dominion over His creation (vv. 5-6) which reflects our unique position as His image-bearers (Genesis 1:26-28).
Psalm 8 also highlights how God uses the weak to display His strength: “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes” (v. 2). This theme is echoed in Jesus’s ministry when He cited this verse in Matthew 21:16 to defend children’s praises in the temple. God’s majesty shines brightly when His power is displayed in (and despite) human weakness.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 8
Psalm 8 points us to Jesus, the perfect fulfillment of humanity’s calling. The writer of Hebrews quotes this psalm, showing that Jesus was “made a little lower than the angels” and crowned with glory and honor through His suffering and resurrection (Hebrews 2:6-9). As the second Adam, Jesus restores what was broken by sin, exercising dominion over all things in heaven and earth (1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:22).
Jesus’s victory over sin and death through His death and resurrection ensures that one day creation will be restored and that His followers will share in His reign (2 Timothy 2:12).
Reflection
Take time today to marvel at the majesty of God in His creation. Look at the stars or consider the intricate design of nature around you, and reflect on how small we are compared to God’s greatness. Yet, despite all of His majesty and everything He has made, He is mindful of you, cares for you, and has given you a purpose in His creation.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
Psalm 7:10
Psalm 7 offers a vivid picture of David’s reliance on God in the midst of slander and false accusations. Faced with an attack from Cush, a Benjamite likely allied with Saul, David turns to God as his refuge (v. 1). He describes his pursuers as lions ready to tear him apart (v. 2), yet, instead of seeking personal revenge or justifying himself to others, David brings his case before the ultimate Judge.
David’s prayer begins with self-examination. In vv. 3-5, he acknowledges the possibility of wrongdoing (because he knows he is a sinner) and invites God to judge him if he is guilty. This humble request reveals David’s heart toward God, seeking to be the man God called him to be rather than be vindicated. His appeal for justice (v. 8) is grounded in his trust that God is a righteous judge who sees all hearts and minds (v. 9).
When he talks about the pit and hole in vv. 14-16, he paints a striking illustration of how sin traps people. This sort of poetic justice reminds us that God’s judgment is perfect, but it is also active. Despite his situation, David concludes Psalm 7 with confident praise in his God: “I will give to the LORD the thanks due to His righteousness” (v. 17).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 7
David’s plea for justice and his willingness to entrust himself to God foreshadows Jesus who endured what David did and more. Jesus was reviled and slandered but “continued trusting Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23) — to the Father. Unlike David, though, Jesus was (and is) sinless leaving no doubt to His righteousness.
When David talks about God’s bow being “bend and readied” toward those who don’t repent in v. 12, we are reminded of the reality of what our sin deserves. We need to be reminded that God hung His bow in the clouds a long time ago, reminded that for those who trust in God for salvation His bow is pointed toward heaven — toward His Son Jesus — instead.
Reflection
Psalm 7 invites us to bring our hurts and accusations to God and let Him sort them out rather than seeking personal revenge.
Are you carrying such a burden today?
Lay it before the righteous Judge who knows every heart. His justice may not be immediate, but it is certain.
Let this psalm inspire you to trust in God as your refuge, examine your own heart, and rest in the assurance that God’s justice — and, thankfully, His mercy — will prevail.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
I know, I know. Christmas was last week, really last year at this point. But it is still on my mind.
As I type this, Christmas break is coming to an end for me and my family. Candice is taking down the tree and putting away Christmas decorations. But there was one song that we just couldn’t get around to or get to work during our time of Christmas songs at Christ Community: “Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)”.
I know that we have sung other versions of “Joy to the World” which were lifted up with much enthusiasm and joy, but this other version that we will be singing this week gets to the heart of why Isaac Watts wrote it in the first place (which is even more fitting considering our #dailyPSALMSchallenge).
Watts originally published “Joy to the World” in a collection of poems and hymns called The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament and Applied to the Christian State and Worship. This was a publication taking the song/prayer book of the Psalms and translating it forward in light of Jesus’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. This tells us that “Joy to the World” points back to Jesus’s first coming (Christmas) in order to point us toward His imminent return!
That, in essence, is the substance of our weekly worship gatherings. We worship on the first day of the week in remembrance of Jesus raising from the dead on the first day of the week AND in recognizing and reminding that He is coming again!
We lift our voices in song not in memorial but in honor and directly to our resurrected King!
We read and preach and listen to God’s Word not as a holy book of a bygone era but as a representation of our living and active Savior who died, rose, and is coming again — who is actively at work in the world today!
So, while Christmas is over until, Lord willing, December 2025, we can and should still sing “Joy to the World”.
Joy! The Lord is coming. Let earth — and our own hearts — prepare to receive the King.
Joy! Lift your voice in song and repeat the joy in all areas of your life.
Joy! Sin and sorrow has an expiration date. Thorns and trials do, too. As far as the curse of sin reigns, Jesus has become curse for us to end it!
Joy! No matter the state of world affairs and terror of wicked rulers, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords — fully in control and coming to crush the Serpent’s head under His heel!
Joy!
This Sunday, we will be singing “Joy to the World” in light of Jesus’s imminent return. We will be singing to and about what He has done for us on the cross and the beautiful hope that comes from His empty, borrowed tomb. We will be singing about the hope that comes from the surpassing worth of knowing Him and being His. John will open up God’s Word and share the gospel — the good news — of Jesus to us. May God prepare our hearts to listen and sing and look forward to Jesus’s return!
Won’t you join us?
Here are our Scriptures & songs:
Scripture | Psalm 150 —
1Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! 2Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! 4Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! 5Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! 6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love.
Psalm 6:4
Psalm 6 is a cry of deep lament (which we defined in Psalm 3 as letting out one’s feelings of grief or sadness) as David is overwhelmed by distress and the apparent silence of God. This is the first of the penitential psalms (meaning Psalms of confession and repentance — including Psalms 32, 38, 51, 130, and 143). Here, rather than confessing specific sins, David cries out to God about his experiences with God’s discipline and his enemies’ torment.
David starts off with an urgent plea: “O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath” (v. 1). He feels the weight of God’s discipline but asks for God’s mercy instead of wrath. If God’s grace is giving His undeserved favor, His mercy is withholding punishment or wrath that we DO deserve. David’s plea for mercy is because his distress is affecting him physically and longs to know from the Lord how long the discipline will last (vv. 2-3).
The turning point in Psalm 6 comes when David appeals to God’s steadfast love (Hebrew: chesed) and sees that love as the basis for his hope. He has experienced God’s steadfast love in the past and trusts that God will not be angry with him forever and will move to rescue and save him (v. 4). David understands that God is just and does not dispute whether the discipline is warranted; knowing God loves him, though, he pleads for mercy.
What began as lament turns to worship with David pouring out his soul before the Lord. While he initially remarked that he felt God was being silent toward him, He had faith that God had heard his prayer (v. 9). This assurance fuels his boldness to call out his enemies, knowing that God is not done with him and will vindicate him.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 6
This psalm points forward to Jesus, the Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3). Like David, Jesus experienced deep anguish as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). On the cross, He bore the full weight of God’s wrath and punishment for our sin — not His, but ours — so that we might be delivered and experience His steadfast love.
Jesus also fulfills David’s confidence that God hears the cries of the afflicted. In Him, have assurance that our prayers are heard and that our salvation is sure. More than that, Jesus’s resurrection turns our weeping to joy, proving that not even death can separate us from God’s love.
Reflection
Psalm 6 invites us to bring our deepest sorrows and fears to God, trusting in His steadfast love even when we are being disciplined (and our troubles stem from our own sin). When God seems silent, David’s faith and words in Psalm 6 can help us see that God’s mercy is greater than His discipline and that His salvation is certain for those who trust in Him.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of David where he cries out urgently to the Lord, asking God to lead him in righteousness and bring justice to the wicked. This psalm contrasts the holiness of God and the ways of evildoers, showing both God’s hatred for sin and His steadfast love for those who take refuge in Him.
David’s confidence in God is rooted in God’s character. The Lord does not delight in wickedness, and evil cannot dwell in His presence (v. 4). David is confident he can enter God’s presence — not by his merit but God’s through the abundance of God’s steadfast love (v. 7).
This psalm also highlights the effects of sin. David illustrates the wicked as having no truth in their mouths and calls their throats open graves (v. 9), which is quoted by Paul in Romans 3:13 to show the depths of sin in all people. Left to ourselves and our own desires, we are no different. The difference is taking refuge and finding salvation in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 5
David’s prayer finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. Jesus loved us so much that He took the wrath of God due our sin on Himself. Rather than standing before God in our wickedness, we can stand covered by Jesus’s righteousness.
Jesus also illustrated what it looks like to pray like David, rising early to talk to His Father (Mark 1:35). Let’s follow His example.
Reflection
As we meditate on Psalm 5, we are invited to pray like David. Each morning, we can cry out to God for guidance, trusting Him to lead us in righteousness and protect us from sin.
Just as David relied on God’s faithfulness, we can approach God today through Jesus, the perfect representation of God’s steadfast love. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins so that we can come boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22).
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Just Keith Harris 