What I Noticed Today (Psalms 10-17)
Psalm 10
Verse 1 wonders why God is far off in times of trouble. Verses 2-11 describe attributes of the wicked as they take advantage of the poor and helpless thinking that God will not see what he is doing. Verses 12-18 are an appeal to God to take vengeance on the wicked and an expression of confidence God has heard the prayers of the afflicted.
Psalm 11
The psalmist describes not fleeing to the mountains to avoid danger but instead flees to the Lord (vv. 1-3). Flee to the Lord because He is in His temple, He is righteous, and He will uphold the righteous (vv. 4-11).
Psalm 12
The psalmist calls out to God for deliverance from lying and arrogant people (vv. 1-4). The Lord assures deliverance of the afflicted (v. 5), so the psalmist expresses confidence in God’s word that He will keep them safe (vv. 6-8).
Psalm 13
This psalm is a lament that asks a series of four “How long?” rhetorical questions (vv. 1-2). An answer to the questions is requested in verses 3-4, while confidence in the Lord is expressed in verse 5, and praise for salvation is offered in verse 6.
Psalm 14
The entire human race is described as fools having turned away from God (vv. 1-3). The psalmist speaks of needed punishment of the wicked and a time when God would deliver His people Israel (vv. 4-7).
Psalm 15
The psalmist describes the strong character of a person who is worthy of being in the house of the Lord. Such a person is blameless, speaks the truth, fears the Lord, keeps his word, does not charge interest on a loan, and does not take bribes.
Psalm 16
This psalm describes the joy of fellowship with the Lord. The psalmist describes his absolute trust in the Lord and his delight in Godly people (vv. 1-4). Next, he describes the blessing of his inheritance in the Lord, his confidence in the Lord, and the joy that stems from his confidence that the Lord will never abandon him (vv. 5-11).
Psalm 17
With the dangers surrounding him, the psalmist prays to be protected from the evils of the world. There is a sense of urgency felt in his three-part appeal: hear, listen, and give ear to the prayer of a righteous man (vv. 1-5). The prayer specifically speaks of taking refuge in the Lord and asks for protection from those who would ambush him (vv. 6-12).
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
