angela hormberg

Tag: David

  • Psalm 38

    Psalm 38

    Commonplace –

    “Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.

    Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation” (Psalm 38:21-22).

    In the heading to Psalm 38, we read, “A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance”. This is a psalm heavy with remorse.

    David recognizes his own sin and is overwhelmed by it.

    “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me” (Psalm 38:4).

    He realizes his only hope for relief is in confessing his sin to God and seeking forgiveness.

    “For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15).

    David appeals to God to hear his confession:

    “For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

    For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin” (Psalm 38:17-18).

    Finally, David begs God for help.

    “Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.

    Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation” (Psalm 38:21-22).

    In regard to Psalm 38, Matthew Henry shares the following:

    “This is one of the penitential psalms; it is full of grief and complaint from beginning to the end. David’s sins and his afflictions are the cause of his grief and matter of his complaints. It should seem he was now sick and in pain, which reminded him of his sins and helped to humble him for them; he was, at the same time, deserted by his friends and persecuted by his enemies; so that the psalm is calculated for the depth of distress and complication of calamities” (307).

    Further, he writes,

    “In singing this psalm we ought to be much affected with the malignity of sin; and, if we have not such troubles as are here described, we know not how soon we may have, and therefore must sing of them by way of preparation and we know that others have them, and therefore we must sing of them by way of sympathy” (307).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 38.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 37

    Psalm 37

    Commonplace –

    “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

    But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:37-38).

    In Psalm 37, David is offering wise counsel. He is contrasting the life of the wicked man with the life of the good man. He opens the conversation by advising the saints not to fret over or be jealous of what appears to be the success of the wicked in the moment, but, instead, take the long view and know the wicked “shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (v. 2).

    What, then, shall the good man do?

    1. “Trust in the Lord and do good” (v. 3).
    2. “Delight thyself also in the Lord” (v. 4).
    3. “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him” (v. 5).
    4. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him” (v. 7).
    5. “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath” (v. 8a).
    6. Refrain from considering to do evil (v. 8b).

    What is the reward for pursuing good?

    1. “[T]he meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (v. 11).
    2. “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” (v. 16).
    3. “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever” (v. 18).
    4. The righteous “shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine shall be satisfied” (v. 19).
    5. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way” (v. 23).
    6. “[T]he Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever” (v. 28a).
    7. “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever” (v. 29).
    8. “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment” (v. 30).
    9. “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (v. 31).

    David then adds his own testimony and counsel to all of the above:

    1. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread” (v. 25).
    2. “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it” (v. 34).
    3. “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found” (v. 36).
    4. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” (v. 37).
    5. “[T]he salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him” (v. 39-40).

    David says much about the wicked in Psalm 37, as well, but it seemed best today to dwell on the good.

    Matthew Henry puts it beautifully, when he says,

    “[Psalm 37] is a sermon, and an excellent useful sermon it is, calculated not (as most of the psalms) for our devotion, but for our conversation; there is nothing in it of prayer or praise, but it is all instruction; it is “Maschil – a teaching psalm”; it is an exposition of some of the hardest chapters in the book of Providence, the advancement of the wicked and the disgrace of the righteous, a solution of the difficulties that arise thereupon, and an exhortation to conduct ourselves as becomes us under such dark disposition” (300).

    Further on, he adds,

    “In singing this psalm we must teach and admonish one another rightly to understand the providence of God and to accommodate ourselves to it, at all times carefully to do our duty and then patiently to leave the event with God and to believe that, how black soever things may look for the present, it shall be “well with those that fear God, that fear before him” (301).

    I’d say that was some pretty good news.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 37.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 36

    Psalm 36

    Commonplace –

    “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 36:7).

    David begins Psalm 36 with a meditation on the wicked. The wicked person

    1. has no fear of God (v.1),
    2. flatters himself in his own eyes (v.2),
    3. speaks only lies and sinful words (v.3),
    4. has left off being wise and doing good (v.3),
    5. devises mischief (v.4),
    6. sets himself up in a way that is not good (v.4), and
    7. does not hate evil (v.4).

    David then turns his thoughts to God. God

    1. is merciful, and his faithfulness reaches the clouds (v.5),
    2. is righteous, and his righteousness is like “the great mountains” (v.6),
    3. is wise and his judgments are like a “great deep” (v.6),
    4. “preserves man and beast” (v.6), and
    5. is excellent in his “lovingkindness” (v.7).

    Here before us are the two paths: evil and good. We can choose to be like the evil man, or we can choose to mirror the goodness of our God. After reading the comparison, we are left to wonder: is there really any choice? David completes his thought by declaring that between the two, men will choose the clearly better path and “put their trust under the shadow of [God’s] wings” (v. 7). A person who chooses to seek goodness

    1. will be completely satisfied with the fullness of God’s house and drink from the river of His pleasures (v. 8) and
    2. will live in the light of God, where the “fountain of life” resides (v. 9).

    David ends by praying for those who choose to follow the path of goodness: that God will continue to extend his lovingkindness and righteousness to those who know him (v. 10)

    Finally, he closes in prayer regarding himself: that God will keep pride and the wicked far from him, which have been the downfall of those who have chosen the path of evil (v. 12).

    Matthew Henry notes the following related to Psalm 36:

    “If, in singing this psalm, our hearts be duly affected with the hatred of sin and satisfaction in God’s lovingkindness, we sing it with grace and understanding” (297).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 36.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    1. Psalm 35

      Psalm 35

      Commonplace –

      “…say unto my soul, I am thy salvation” (Psalm 35:3b).

      In Psalm 35, David is crying out to God for help in conquering his adversaries. He beseeches the Lord to defend him. Particularly moving is David’s request that God speak directly to and encourage his soul. He desperately needs to know God supports him, because he is surrounded by those who seek his life.

      Interspersed in between his petitions, David declares:

      “my soul shall be joyful in the Lord” (Psalm 35:9a) and

      “All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?” (Psalm 35:10).

      In this way, David lives in hope of God’s providential help. He builds his confidence in God’s salvation, He reminds himself of what his own response should be and had been to evil doers, when sickness strikes them: “I behaved as though he had been my friend or brother” (Psalm 35:14a).

      This is a psalm of petition. David is in the midst of suffering. He models for us what we should do in such trying times. We may

      1. cry out to God and lay before him our claims against those who commit evil against us,

      2. continually praise God through the process and rest assured of his aid, and

      3. not turn from doing good.

      Matthew Henry imparts solid guidance in regard to Psalm 35.

      “In singing this psalm, and praying over it, we must take heed of applying it to any little peevish quarrels and enmities of our own, and of expressing by it any uncharitable revengeful resentments of injuries done to us; for Christ has taught us to forgive our enemies and not to pray against them, but to pray for them, as he did; but,

      1. We may comfort ourselves with the testimony of our consciences concerning our innocency, with reference to those that are any way injurious to us, and with hopes that God will, in his own way and time, right us, and, in the mean time, support us.
      2. We ought to apply it to the public enemies of Christ and his kingdom, typified by David and his kingdom, to resent the indignities done to Christ’s honour, to pray to God to plead the just and injured cause of Christianity” (293).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 35.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    2. Psalm 31

      Psalm 31

      Commonplace –

      “O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

      Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all yet that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:23-24).

      In Psalm 30, we see David’s framework for prayer:

      1. Beseech: verses 1-8

      David beseeches God to hear him. He asks God to deliver Him, acting as his strong rock of defense.

      1. Confess: verses 9-18

      David then asks for God’s mercy and confesses that his own strength fails because of his iniquity. He was at the mercy of his enemies and fear surrounded him, yet he trusted in God. He prays for God to deliver him and protect him, keeping him from shame and silencing his enemies.

      1. Praise: verses 19-24

      David recognizes God’s goodness towards those who commit to Him. He acknowledges God’s protection, recalling a time when God showed his marvelous kindness toward him. He entreats other saints to love the Lord and be of good courage, knowing God will strengthen all those who put their trust in Him.

      Matthew Henry notes the following regarding Psalm 31:

      “It is a mixture of prayers, and praises, and professions of confidence in God, all which do well together and are helpful to one another” (279).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 31.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    3. Psalm 23

      Psalm 23

      Commonplace –

      “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

      Psalm 23 is a beloved and well-known psalm.

      John Parsons, author of the website Hebrew4Christians.com, offers the following insight into the Hebrew translation of the first verse of Psalm 23:

      “Mizmor le-David. Adonai Ro’i, lo echsar

      Adonai Ro’i – “The LORD my shepherd,” hearkens to Gen 49:24, where God is described as “The Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.”  If God is Israel’s Shepherd, then His followers are (tzon mar’ito) – the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). Note that the word “shepherd” is thought to derive from (re’a), meaning friend. Lo echsar – “I shall not lack,” hearkens to Gen 22:14, where God is called (Adonai Yireh), “The LORD will Provide (or will see).” Since the LORD is our Shepherd, we will not lack His provision. God will see and fully understand our needs” (Parsons).

      We must take note of the present tense of the verb to be used in this Psalm: IS. He is my shepherd. In every moment, he is present with us. And he is not just a shepherd off in the distance; he is an active shepherd. In verses 2 and 3, David gives us three action verbs to describe what God is doing as our shepherd:

      1. “He maketh me to lie down” (v.2a) is translated from the Hebrew word yarbitzeini, which specifically refers only to animals and their being made to lie down.
        • Animals are meant for work; they are up and active. Yet, here is the shepherd bringing them to lush grasses, where they makes them lie down.
      2. “He leadeth me beside the still waters” (v.2b)
        • He guides me to places that are calm and where a refreshing drink of water is available.
      3. “He restoreth my soul” (v.3a)
        • The living water offered renews the soul.
      4. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (v.3b)
        • He is a shepherd who takes me only to good places.

      This is an idyllic picture. Here we see that God is concerned with our physical and spiritual needs. He provides rest and nourishment and brings us to good places. Yet the reality is we face difficult challenges and find ourselves in trying places. David addresses these circumstances in verses 4 and 5. Even when we are in those types of places and situations, if we are following God, we are still on the path of righteousness and need not fear evil. He is with us; his rod and staff are working for our good. The rod correcting and the staff guiding are working together for our good. We must remain confident not in ourselves but in everything He has taught us. Victory is ours if we persevere (v.6). And, ultimately, if we stay the course, we, too, “will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” (v.6b).

      Matthew Henry offered the following words regarding Psalm 23:

      “In this [David] certainly had an eye, not only to the blessings of god’s providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God’s grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable” (257).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 23.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      Parsons, John. “Psalm 23 in Hebrew”. Hebrew4Christians.com. https://hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Ketuvim/Psalms/Psalm_23/psalm_23.html. Accessed 17 Oct 2025

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    4. Psalm 13

      Psalm 13

      Commonplace –

      “How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1a).

      Questions for God

      David opens Psalm 13 with four questions:

      1. How long wilt thou forget me O Lord? for ever?
      2. How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
      3. How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?
      4. How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

      Petition

      Then, David brings forth his petition to God, and he uses action verbs. These are the actions he desires God to take:

      1. Consider me
      2. Hear me
      3. Lighten mine eyes, lighten my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death

      The first two petitions are clear. He is asking God to listen and carefully weigh his requests. The third is a bit confusing, “lighten my eyes” (v.3.); this could be physical, spiritual, or both. David’s mood is heavy and dark; spiritually he is weighed down. This downhearted outlook casts a darkness over life, so he’s asking for spiritual illumination. He is asking for help to see beyond his circumstances and to be reinvigorated with hope and light. It could also have the double physical meaning that he is fearful he will lose his life. He needs strength to overcome his enemies, who stand waiting to jeer at him, if he fails.

      Remembering and Reminding

      David remembers.

      “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

      I will sing unto the Lord, because he hat dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6).

      Note his past tense in the word ‘trusted’ and how he switches tense with ‘shall’ and ‘will’. I have trusted; I shall rejoice. I will sing. God has always supplied more than enough of his needs. He will walk forward in faith, knowing God will not leave him.

      Once again, Matthew Henry’s words are on point.

      “This psalm is the deserted soul’s case and cure.

      Henry comments on David’s final words: “[David] concludes his deliverance to be as good as wrought” (229).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 13.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    5. Psalm 12

      Psalm 12

      Commonplace –

      “Help, Lord” (Psalm 12:1a).

      Petition

      The situation is dire. David cries out, “Help, Lord” (v.1.). He lays before the Lord his charge against the wicked.

      1. They speak vanity with flattering lips.
      2. They speak with a double heart.
      3. They speak with pride and boasting.

      Grounds for Petition

      David details the situation resulting from the evil actions of the wicked.

      1. godly men cease
      2. the faithful fail

      Justification

      David asks God to keep and preserve the godly from the wicked. He quotes God’s own words back to him:

      “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him” (Psalm 12:5).

      Further, David compares God’s words to the vain words of the wicked. God’s words are “pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (v.6). Therefore, God’s words are more than enough evidence to support the petition for God’s intercession on behalf of the godly.

      Remembering and Reminding

      David reassures himself and the reader that God will resolve this situation and the godly will prevail: “Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:7). Remembering this brings peace in the midst of troubling circumstances. Reminding the reader of this is a help in times of trouble.

      Warning

      The psalm closes with a warning, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted” (Psalm 12:8). Again, this is written for David and the reader. If vile men are elevated in a society, the wicked proliferate. It is our responsibility to be on guard against this, refrain from participating in anything that encourages the increase in wickedness, and to pray faithfully against it happening.

      Here is an excerpt of Matthew Henry’s summary of Psalm 12.

      “It is supposed that David penned this psalm in Saul’s reign, when there was a general decay of honesty and piety both in court and country, which he here complains of to God, and very feelingly, for he himself suffered by the treachery of false friends and the insolence of sworn enemies” (227).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 12.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    6. Psalm 4

      Psalm 4

      Commonplace –

      “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah

      Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord” (Psalm 4:4-5).

      Psalm 4 is credited to David. David begins this psalm with a plea to God to be heard; he predicates his argument to be heard on God’s previous responses to his cries. In the past, God blessed him in his distress, and he is asking for the same again: “have mercy upon me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1b).

      David then turns to his oppressors and calls them out for their shaming him to stoke their own vanity. He warns them that God will hear him, when he prays.

      Then, David turns his face to God, and the glory of God fills him to overflowing as the wisdom pours out in his song. He instructs the reader in the way of the good in verses 5 and 6. This receiving from God and sharing with others has “put gladness in [his] heart” (v. 7), and his prayer has been answered. He receives the calm and comfort only God can impart: “for thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8). In this psalm, David leads the reader from being perturbed to being at peace and the pathway is prayer.

      Matthew Henry paints a beautiful picture of David as we see him in Psalm 4.

      “David was a preacher, a royal preacher, as well as Solomon; many of his psalms are doctrinal and practical as well as devotional; the greatest part of this psalm is so, in which Wisdom cries to men, to the sons of men (as Prov. 8:4,5), to receive instruction” (204).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 4.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg

    7. Psalm 3

      Psalm 3

      Commonplace –

      “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah” (Psalm 3:8).

      This is a very desperate psalm; David is being hunted by his son, Absalom. Yet in his despair, David is not fearful, even though his circumstances would seem to dictate it. If he is not fearful, how does David maintain his peace?

      Herein David gives us a pattern to use in times of trouble:

      I. He relates his situation to God.

      Is this necessary? Is not God omniscient and omnipresent? Yes, He is. So the recounting of the situation is the opportunity of the troubled to speak out his fear: in writing or verbally. It draws that fear from the mind into reality and solidly identifies the problem. Using David’s situation as the example, we note, he says “many are they that rise up against me”(Psalm 3:1b) and “many there be which say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God” (Psalm 3:2). So, he expresses two fears: the physical threat of bodily harm and the spiritual threat of God not helping him.

      II. Recognize that God is Protector.

      After expressing his fears, David claims the promise of God, “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3). In one verse, David overcomes the two fears he expressed. The singular expression of ‘God is my shield’ counteracts his two fears: 1) he uses the present tense “to be verb” and addresses God – “But thou, O Lord, art”, which acknowledges God has not deserted him; David still has access to God, even in this present moment and 2) he acknowledges God’s role as protector – “thou art a shield for me”.

      III. He recalls God’s previous help

      This is very important; we have available to us our own history, looking back to see how God has helped us in the past serves as a personal testimony to ourselves in present trouble. David remembers: “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:4-5). David spends time pondering his past difficulties, possibly remembering when he was being hunted in a similar way by Saul; in that circumstance, David slept and arose, because God was keeping him safe.

      IV. Encouragement

      David takes courage from remembering being spared in the past. He then en-courages himself: “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. ” (Psalm 3:6-7). He expresses his confidence, which gives him confidence.

      V. Living in peace

      David rests in the peace he has found: “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people” (Psalm 3:8).

      In his summary of Psalm 3, Matthew Henry writes:

      “As the foregoing psalm [Psalm 2], in the type of David in preferment, showed us the royal dignity of the Redeemer, so this, by the example of David in distress, shows us the peace and holy security of the redeemed, how safe they really are, and think themselves to be, under the divine protection” (201).

      For the reader, Henry offers the following:

      “Those speak best of the truths of God who speak experimentally; so David here speaks of the power and goodness of God, and of the safety and tranquility of the godly” (201).

      Works Cited

      Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 3.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

      Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

      © 2025 Angela Hormberg