Daily Morning Watch

May 18, 2023

Much of David’s trouble (and sometimes, much of ours, too) comes from people betraying our trust or being deceitful. It must have been hard for David to hold onto his faith and trust in God when he was betrayed on every side by those who should have been his friends. Perhaps writing and singing these songs helped him to stay focused. What helps you?

May 17, 2023

What a lovely image David uses here—of a bird flying to her mountain nest where she is safe. David had a lot of chances to feel unsafe and hunted. He spent his entire young manhood running from King Saul, and then when he became king, he still had several wars, and even ended up in conflict with his own son! Where does David say his refuge is? Where is yours?

May 16, 2023

This psalm may have been written by David or by someone else. Almost everybody has felt this way at one time or another. Have you? Why do the wicked seem to get away with all kinds of cruelty and oppression? Why do the widows, orphans, displaced people, and other vulnerable ones seem to constantly get treated badly? While you’re at it, ask God what you, personally, can do to help change this situation.

May 15, 2023

If you set out to list all the things you praise God for, your psalm, like this one, would be pretty long! As you read it, think about which parts most apply to your life and your heart. What things could you add to this psalm, to praise God for?

May 14, 2023

Write down this psalm, and when you come to phrases like “what is man,” put in your own name. Then read it over prayerfully and see what feelings arise in your heart. The psalms were written by real people expressing real feelings (good and bad) but we have the collection now because God wanted them to be for us—for you! Why do you think God is mindful of you?

May 13, 2023

As we study the psalms, you will see many times when David gives in to his own anger and asks God to turn against the wicked, and even to destroy them and their children. When you read those, remember this psalm. Here, David gets it right: “let the evil of the wicked come to an end”! We can all pray that if possible, God can redeem and change the people themselves, while destroying their wickedness.

May 12, 2023

Have you ever prayed and prayed, and felt as if God didn’t hear you? David wrote this psalm when he felt like that. He asked God how long it would be before He answered. He felt as if he were wasting away from his grief and sorrow. Yet, look at the last couple of verses: before his circumstances have changed, David states his faith and trust. You can do that, too.

May 11, 2023

One of the most important lessons of the psalms is to show us what to do with our grief—like everything else, take it to God! Also, it always helps to make some kind of art out of it. As a songwriter, David made songs from anger, joy, fear, pain, and ecstasy. This increases joy and brings down pain to something more manageable. But that’s not enough in itself, you must also use the art to bring the feelings to the Creator. What changes can you see happening in David from the beginning to the end of this song? How do you use your creativity to help with emotions?

May 10, 2023

Both Psalms 2 and 4 mention finding peaceful sleep in hard times through God’s grace. This one points out that even when we are trembling from either anger or fear, we need not sin, but can by meditation hide ourselves in God and be safe. Have you ever tried this method for getting to sleep, especially when you are stressed or worried?