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."

Psalm 90

A prayer hymn written by Moses, a man who loved God.
1 - 2. Sovereign Creator, You are the source of life for everyone on earth. Even before this earth was created You were God, are God and always will be God.
3. - 4. People on this earth get crushed, they crumble and die even as you call to them to return to You. But each generation is a sad repetition of the previous one.
5. - 6. First people grow quickly and flourish like fresh, green grass. But by the end of their lives, like cut grass, they wither in shame, confusion and disappointment.
7. - 9. We try hard to prepare for You, but as You draw near to reveal more of Your passionate love to us, we are afraid we will die as we realize that everything about us - including all our guilty secrets - You see clearly as another sad story.
10. You gave us a full life and at times have even lengthened it. Yet we get proud or depressed, chose wrong or in other ways waste our lives, until we finally die.
11. Does anyone have any real idea how much You intensely love us? Does anyone really know what it means to truly reverence You in gratitude for Your love - life?
12. Harmonize us with You so Your wisdom will flow into our hearts
13. Creator God, how long will it take to come back to us. Enable us to know Your sorrow for and compassion to those who have loved You in return for Your love.
14. Fill us each morning with love we don't deserve so we can shout in triumph that You love to be with us and in experiencing Your love our whole day will brighten.
15. Make us to comprehend that You love to be with us which will counteract the lie we believed that you were against us.
16. - 17. Show us what You are really like so we can share it with our families. Let Your delightful love fill us so we can reveal who You really are through our lives.

Psalm 86

1. An intercessory prayer written by David. Look at me Lord so I perceive that You hear me better. Please pay attention to me. I feel depressed and destitute, yet I yield myself to You. 2. I am trying to be like You so protect me, Supreme God. Be open to help me for I'm sure You are my only help. 3. Be kind to me, my Sovereign, for I am coming to You all of the time. 4. Give me JOY for I come to You with my life. 5. You, Lord, are good, ready to pardon and are sparing me. You are full of kindness to everyone who comes to You. 6. Listen, Lord, to my request as I speak to you my earnest prayer. 7. When I am having a hard time with others, I please give me Your answer. 8. There is no one else who is like You and who can do what You can do. 9 - 10. Everyone will eventually bow before you and agree that You really are Sovereign and Supreme. 11. Teach me now how You want me to be and live so I am at-one in Your will. 12. I raise my hands in worship to You, Supreme God as a symbol that I am completely Yours. I will honor and respect Your authority from now on.13. You have been so kind to me and have delivered me from eternal death. 14. Those who don't honor you are trying to get me to turn against You like they are, 15 -16. but You, my Sovereign Lord, have come along side me with Your passion and have chosen to reveal to me Your beauty as well as Your stability. Let me experience Your kindness and trustworthiness as You give me Your saving strength.

17. Give me a token of evidence You delight in me so those who hate me will be disappointed because You have protected and comforted me.

Psalm 43

1. Govern me, Strong and Supreme God, and defend me before those who are not religious, kind or courteous. Slip me away from those who are false and distorted.
2. My Supreme, Strong God and Defender, why do I feel You are failing me or letting me go? Why am I so distressed because of those who are hostile to me?
3. Let Your happiness and trustworthiness transport me into Your sacred, uplifting Presence where You reside.
4. Then I will come into agreement with the Almighty God who loves me to be in His presence. With music I will dance with intense emotions while lifting my hands to You in worship, O my Supreme God.
5. Why do you sink down in depression, O Self? Why is there so much tumult and clamor inside? Be patient and hope in my Supreme God. I will continue to raise my hands in worship to Him who delivers me, makes me joyful and is MY God.