Daily Devotionals

Psalm 8:3-8

As though David continues his worship service, he opens his mouth and shares a message from God, which is the major theme of this composition. We can imagine his standing before the people and preaching about the needs of humanity and the grace of God.

First, he considers the pitiful inadequacy of humanity. Read verses 3 and 4 slowly. Think them over and enter into the mental picture David has in mind.

Psalm 8:1–2

Having worshipped God in a short doxology, David reflects on the greatness of his God and, in doing so, offers praise. Observe as King David takes his place before a congregation of believers to lead them in worship.

[You] have displayed Your splendour above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease (Psalm 8:1–2).

Psalm 5:9–12

Sometimes we suffer discouragement because of difficult circumstances caused by no one in particular: natural disasters, disease, economic downturns, injury.

Frequently, however, we suffer because enemies cause us harm and refuse to stop.

Psalm 5:7–8

Having reviewed the attributes of God, focusing on His sovereignty and goodness, David examines himself (vv. 7–8).

But as for me, by Your abundant loving kindness, I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple, I will bow in reverence for You.
O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;
Make Your way straight before me.

Psalm 5:4–11

After the plea inPsalm 5:1–3, David begins to think through the day that spreads out before him, giving extra consideration to those he would encounter. His song addresses four specific realms of interest (vv. 4–11).

1. David meditates on the Lord Himself (vv. 4–6)
2. David describes himself (vv. 7–8)
3. David describes his enemies (vv. 9–10)
4. David describes the righteous (v. 11)

Let's examine each realm of interest, beginning with the first: God Himself.

Psalm 5:1–3

Some psalms are difficult to outline; others easily lend themselves to an organized layout. Psalm 5 falls in the latter category. It begins with a plea (vv. 1–3) directed to the Lord, whom David addresses,“O LORD ... my King ... my God ... O LORD.” It concludes with a promise (v. 12). Sandwiched between the plea and the promise are four descriptions.

I observe three things in David's introductory plea.

First, it was a "morning" prayer. Twice in verse 3 David mentions that it was "in the morning" that he met with his Lord.

Philippians 2:7

There once lived a farmer who became jaded about Christmas and all things “Christian.”

Late one raw winter night, he sat alone in the house, reading. In the quiet, he heard an irregular thumping against the back-porch door. He flipped on the light. To his surprise, the birds that had made their nests in a nearby tree were flying against the glass, almost as if knocking to come inside. The limb on which they had built their nest had fallen under the weight of the ice. His heart went out to them.

Matthew 2:11

What do you give a young king? The magi, after travelling more than five hundred miles away to see the child Jesus, brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh with them. Why those gifts? What did the gifts mean in relation to Jesus? And what did they mean for the men who gave them?

Matthew 1:23

On that still winter’s night, something was up ... something extraordinary ... something supernatural. The shepherds raced to the City of David and found their Saviour, just as the angel had said ... swaddled and lying in a feeding trough. This was the Promised One, the Messiah! God had finally come to dwell with His people, but in such an unexpected way.

Luke 2:6–7

When Mary and Joseph began their journey southward to Bethlehem, they probably thought they had time to make the trip, register for the census, and then return home to Nazareth before the baby would be born. The weather co-operated and a donkey carried their provisions, but the journey proved more lengthy than either of them had expected. Mary was soon to give birth.