Psalm 54

1-2 A lively song, written after spies told Saul David's location. Written to teach one specific 'thing'.

O God, listen carefully to me and make the right decision. And please use Your authority and power to set me free.

3 People with no respect for You have harassed me, treated me terrible and have now turned traitor.

(Pause in music)

4-5 How Awesome! You, my Sovereign - the same One who helps those who help me - will turn back and make good for nothing those who are against me so that they will as good as vanish, while I trust You.

6 I lift up my hands in spontaneous praise to You, My God, for how good You really are.

7. You snatch me away from every rival. Now I also see those who are really against me.

Psalm 92

1.-3. A poem song for Sabbath. Singing praises to our Supreme God accompanied with instruments is a good way to boldly manifest His beauty and faithfulness day and night. Use a piano, guitar and even include a harp for more solemn, meditative themes.

4.-5. O Creator God, You give me joy working in my life. I get so excited I shout as I watch Your actions and activities. Your works are awesome, yet Your thoughts go far deeper.

6. A busy consumer can't figure out what's happening, neither can those just out for a 'good time'.

7.-8. Those who don't agree with You spring up like young grass, but they soon die and are gone - just the opposite of You, Lord, who lives eternally.

9. Those who hate you, Lord, wander off, get scattered and become lost.

10.-11 But my light (which comes from You in the first place) You cause to shine conspicuously, bringing me fresh, abundant life and enabling me to see those who didn't like me when I was 'down' and to hear what happened to those who were against me before I became prosperous.

12. Those who are right with God in their hearts will flourish, be erect and keep growing.

13.-14. When You become part of God's family, you will grow up as in a protected garden, and will continue to be productive and 'fruitful' even as you mature, which will make manifest to everyone that God is unchangeable - as a mighty mountain - and that His way is totally right.

Psalm 44

1. An instructive musical arrangement for the choir.
(Review of past experiences with God)
Supreme God, we have thoughtfully listened as our fathers have celebrated Your special dealings in their lives as well as sharing Your Story from the very beginning of this earth's history. 2.-3. You expelled spoiled, 'good for nothing' communities and gave Your family lands, not because of their might, but You were the One who was strong and it gave You JOY to satisfy them and make them happy. 4. You, God, are in full control. Keep delivering Your family even though they keep tripping and messing up. 5. In Your power and authority we push, as with horns, through narrow, tight places and trample down whatever is in our way.

(personal commitment)
6.-8. I won't be confident in my own prowess or ingenuity to save me, but You have set us free and disappointed those who hated us, so we choose to celebrate in You and worship You from now on.

(Perceived problem)
9.-11. But it looks to us as though You have insultingly rejected us; You don't fight for us anymore so we are defeated. Those who hate us take what they want, leaving us like lost, scattered sheep to be killed to eat. 12.-14. It's like You have sold us, even though You got no benefit. You permitted us to be disgraced and laughed at by those around us who have taunted us and considered themselves better than us. 15.-16. I am confused as those who hate me loudly revile, defame and shame me.

(person perceptions)
17.-19. This is what has happened to us. But haven't we kept our part of your covenant? Haven't we fulfilled Your will for us? Yet it's like we are surrounded as by dragons and possibly staring death itself in the face, so to speak. 20.-22. But, Lord, we did forget who You really are. We were allured into affairs and had 'flings' with other partners (which You know all about for You know everything in our hearts), so we are now being struck - with intent to kill (by our affair partners) - in an attempt to destroy us.

(appeal to God)
23.-25. My true Sovereign, wake up quick! Don't stay so far away! We are distressed to the point of depression. Don't hide from us - we're almost dead! 26. Pay the ransom for our release entirely on the basis of how kind You really are!

Psalm 91

1-2 The person who is in love with God will stay very close to their awesome Lover. [He is my Lover too.]

3-4 He will rescue you from covert seductions as well as obvious attempts to destroy your love for Him by surrounding you with His own passionate love. Passionate intimacy with Your lover is what will really protect you 5-6 so You won't panic when you can't see what is happening or even when you can; whether lies are secretly spoken to destroy you or you know you are being attacked.

7-8 Others all around you will lose their love for God and become unfaithful, but it won't break your intimacy with Him. You will see, however, what happens to those who become unfaithful.

9-10 But because you have chosen (as I have) God as your lover, no infidelity will contaminate your thoughts or life.

11-13 Your Lover will also use others who love Him to safeguard you from adultery by teaching you how to passionately repel any obvious temptations and even quickly dismiss all evil insinuations.

14-16 (Your Lover's message to you:) "Because you love Me intimately - having learned who I really am and what I am really like - and fully respect My authority, I will marry you and give you My special name to call Me. When You use My special name I will lovingly respond to you. Even when you get in tight, narrow situations or are crowded by opponents, I will strengthen you with My joyful, satisfying peace filled Presence and will save you in spectacular ways."