Day 1 Morning Psalt Intake

Welcome to a devotional journey that is designed to help you develop healthy spiritual disciplines to keep your spiritual fervor. The journey begins with reading a portion of the Psalms every morning and evening, so that you read the entire book of Psalms (or Psalter) once each month. This is a spiritual discipline that has been practiced by believers for thousands of years. I will add little comments on the Psalms as you read them. If you find them distracting just skip over them. The important thing is to get in the habit of reading your Daily Psalt Intake every morning and evening.
Psalm 1 captures the flavor of the entire Psalter. It reminds us that real life is found by fixing our eyes on Jesus and in living by trying to do the next right thing. Attempting to find life by doing it ‘our way’ only leads to misery. Ask me how I know.

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the LORD’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Jesus has come and inaugurated the Kingdom of God. When He comes again, He will bring it to complete fulfillment. In this in-between time, the Kingdom of God here but not yet fully here, people have to choose if they will embrace Jesus as King, or reject the Truth in order to try and establish their own false kingdoms. One choice leads to now and forever life in His story, the other choice does not end well at all.

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath: 6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.” 7 I will tell of the decree. The LORD said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father. 8 Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
As you read through the Psalter, you will see time and time again how honest the writers are with God as they deal with the struggles of living in a fallen world on a broken planet. It is OK to be honest with God in your struggles. He can handle the full range of your emotion. He wants you to know, as the writers of the Psalms did, that you can trust Him in every situation that you go through.

Psalm 3

A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
1 LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. 2 Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah. 3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. 4 I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid myself down and slept. I awakened; for the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side. 7 Arise, LORD! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing be on your people. Selah.
David speaks of God’s faithfulness and the peace that is found as we put our trust in Him, even in hard times. In Psalm 3, and again here in Psalm 4 and throughout the Psalter, you will see the word ‘Selah’. Some believe it is a musical instruction, but I believe that a better Biblical explanation is that is an exhortation to stop and consider what you have just read. Make it a habit when you see a ‘Selah’ to not just skip over it, but to pause and ponder the verses that lead up to it.

Psalm 4

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David.
1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah. 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah. 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. 6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
What an amazing blessing it is that we have access to God 24/7 through our great priest Jesus. Take time every morning and throughout every day to take advantage of this blessing and spend time with God.

Psalm 5

For the Chief Musician, with the flutes. A Psalm by David.
1 Give ear to my words, LORD. Consider my meditation. 2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for to you do I pray. 3 LORD, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly. 4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you. 5 The arrogant shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. 6 You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow towards your holy temple in reverence of you. 8 Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. 10 Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice, Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you. 12 For you will bless the righteous. LORD, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.