“Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.”
Psalms 143:10-11 NKJV
This is a prayer of David. He knows that he is not able to do good on his own, but with the Lord’s help he can. With the Lord’s help he can do anything… But his prayer is explicit – it is for His righteousness’ sake. We need His help for His glory.
“Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.”
Psalms 142:4-5 NKJV
It seems that David is saying that he has sought refuge here, only to find that the Lord is his only refuge. God is all we need and He provides what we need, though sometimes we have to learn this on our own.
“Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
Psalms 141:2 NKJV
This is what the Lord wants: obedience, praise, and a humble heart – not sacrifices. This is why in times of old when they made sacrifices, it wasn’t the lame or disfigured animals, but the choice ones, because this was, well, a sacrifice.
“Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Psalms 140:13 NKJV
The righteous (this is only obtainable through Jesus) will give thanks to God because He will deliver them – I believe this to be for all of eternity – in Heaven. But why should I wait? I have so many things to give thanks to God for now!
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV
Sometimes I think about David where he asks the Lord to search his heart, and I’m afraid to ask the same of God. Here I see where David isn’t bragging about his uprightness, but rather he wants God to search his heart and root out any evil and lead him away. David knows he’s not perfect, but he also knows with the Lord’s help he can move closer to being like God.
“Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.”
Psalms 138:6 NKJV
First off, how incredible that the one and only true God will think of me, but He will pull back if my head gets too big. God loves a humble heart, one that knows it needs Him!
“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!”
Psalms 137:5 NKJV
While this is referring to Jerusalem, a place, I believe today it really means a heart of worship. If I forget my heart of worship, let me forget all things I enjoy.
“Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.”
Psalms 136:26 NKJV
This is the last verse, but every verse ended with the same “For His mercy endures forever.”
And this is true! Everything He does, we need to remember that His mercy endures forever!
“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.”
Psalms 135:15-18 NKJV
This is quite the insult – idols are lifeless, as are those who put their trust in them. Money is lifeless – so is anyone who puts their trust in it. Jobs are lifeless, just like those who place their value in them. Possessions are lifeless…
“Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!”
Psalms 134:1 NKJV
This is a really short Psalm, but this first verse is what stands out. I believe when this was written there were people assigned to the tabernacle or temple at all times. But just because you are assigned to something, you should still take the time and praise God always!
