Sunday, May 24
Psalm 8: 3– 5

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor.

We studied the life of David, from shepherd boy to mighty king. I think he learned many lessons from his days with the sheep. We all know the 23rd Psalm. But so many others, like Psalm 8, reflect on the glory and greatness of God’s universe, and the humble place of God’s people in the marvelous world he has created. Today we know even more than David about the greatness of the universe. We see the pictures from the Hubble space telescope. But God still gives us a place of honor in his creation. We are the caretakers of all that God has made. This understanding is probably more important for us today, than it was for David when he was just a boy. Our responsibility is even greater now, because we also have so much destructive power. Caring for God’s gifts is a great opportunity and a real warning for all of us.

Dear God, help us to always appreciate our place in your created world. Make us thankful that we get the chance to take care of all that you have created. Amen.

Monday, May 25
Psalm 18: 1, 2

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

David would have needed to know the safe places in the wilderness, the strongholds where he could shelter his sheep and find refuge from storms and wild animals. It didn’t take him long to realize that the real shelter and hiding place in his life was God. I think if you look carefully at the Psalms, you would see that David’s favorite words to describe God are “my Rock and my Stronghold.” He would spend many years of his youth and adulthood hiding from King Saul, going from hiding place to stronghold, and praying to God for help. God was his Rock right up to the end of his life, when Absalom and his men sought to take over his kingdom. God is the Rock on which we build our lives. In times of trouble, he protects us and shelters us from life’s storms. When we have trouble, we also know God’s saving help.

Lord God, you are our Rock, even today. Help us to put our trust in your faithfulness and your steadfast love. Hide us in the day of trouble. Amen.

Tuesday, May 26
Psalm 19: 1, 2

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

I envision David on an endless summer campout, except that his camping buddies are his father’s sheep, not friends from school. Night after night he sleeps out under the stars, he learns the constellations, he follows the path of the planets and the moon. What he sees there is God’s greatness displayed, and God’s wisdom written across the heavens. The universe spoke to David, and he heard its message of knowledge about God.

We could learn from David. What an incredible universe we live in! And how fragile is the balance of life on the planet earth. God’s knowledge is there for us to observe, and to learn to live in harmony with God’s wisdom for all life. Look at the stars tonight, and thank God for this good creation!

What a wonderful world you have created for us, dear Lord. Help us always to give thanks for the universe that surrounds us, and for all of the blessings that you share with your people. Amen.

Wednesday, May 27
Psalm 51:1-2

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most painful stories in the Old Testament. How can this great hero of faith fall into such sin and how can someone so devoted to God be so full of his own power as king of Israel? Perhaps the story is there to remind us that even the greatest of God’s people are pitiful sinners, unable to say no to the power of temptation. Perhaps it is God’s desire to use David as an example of our weakness, and our need for God’s strength.

And then the story turns to David’s grief and sorrow over his sin. The great King is brought down to sackcloth and ashes. And God forgives him! God’s grace and mercy are so powerful that not even murder and adultery can separate David from God. God’s goodness is always stronger than our sin.

God, we stand before you and admit our brokenness. Our lives do not match your righteousness in any way. Restore us and give us your saving help. Amen.

Thursday, May 28
Psalm 63: 1– 3

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

Water in the desert is the most valuable thing a person can possibly have. David knew that simple truth from hard experience. He often had to hide from King Saul in the barren desert of Judea. He learned the secret places where water would bubble up from hidden springs. He knew the secret of life in a world of death. Sometimes in his life, God was like those hidden springs. But David also knew that nothing in life was better than the love of God. God’s love was the secret to survival in the hostile wilderness.

We live in a world where water will become the next great resource battle. In some places there will be too much water, but in most places, people will fight to get the little there is. We need to remember God’s love for us in this hostile world. We should remember God’s love is poured out for all people, like refreshing rain in a desert.

Loving God, pour out the goodness of your saving health on all people. Help us to find the water of salvation in all those places where there is conflict and turmoil in our world. Amen.

Friday, May 29
Psalm 67:1-2

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

David enjoyed great success in his years as king of Israel. He united the tribes of Israel and pushed their territory to Syria and Egypt. He established a great capital city at Jerusalem. Israel grew wealthy off the trade caravans crossing the Promised Land. He knew this was all from God, and that it was God’s desire to bless Israel. But David remained humble in the face of all these blessings. He knew that Israel was a witness to the nations, God’s message of love for all people. If there was anything to learn from Israel’s good fortune, it was that God wanted to demonstrate his salvation for all the world to see.

Like Israel, the United States has known God’s abundant blessings. Is it our greatness on display, or is it God’s goodness shown to all the world? We want to make sure that our blessings are used for God’s purposes, and not for our own glory.

Great God, you have made our nation great so that we can be instruments of your will. Make us always to be your servants of peace and love. Amen.

Saturday, May 30
Psalm 139: 1-4

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely O, Lord.

David is one of those Bible characters who walk with God, who talk to God like he was their best friend. This Psalm from the end of David’s life recognizes that God is in every breath we take, every thought we have, and every task we undertake. God knows us better than we know ourselves. It is really surprising to find a man with all of David’s experience lost in amazement at God’s special knowledge of his life. Everything is known by God, including our secret thoughts.

We can hide nothing from God. It is good to learn that fact early in life. God is so big, and so wise, that he surrounds us with all of his being. We live and breathe in his love.

Dear God, remind us that you are always with us, that you hold us up and carry us forward. Help us to give our lives entirely to you–our thoughts, our words, our deeds are all yours. Amen.