Monday, December 27, Psalm 50
- 15, 22 – What a fearful thing for the unrepentant to fall into the hands of the living God! That won’t happen if we faithfully use the Gospel and Sacraments and daily heed God’s command: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Ps. 50:15)
Tuesday, December 28, Psalm 51
- 5, 10, 15 – This is a beautiful Psalm of repentance especially fitting to be used in preparation for Holy Communion. Underline verse 5, which speaks of original sin, verse 10 which should be our daily prayer, and v. 15, which is a fine prayer with which to begin your worship on Sunday morning.
- 7 – Hyssop was a plant used in the purification rites in the temple. It pointed ahead to Jesus. Through His atonement on Calvary’s cross we are purified from all sin. (Is. 1:18 and I John 1:7)
Wednesday, December 29, Psalm 52
- 8 – While difficulties may surround us as they did David at times, refreshment, strength and spiritual growth are brought us in the house of God through the Gospel and Holy Communion. It is a spiritual oasis in this wilderness of sin.
Thursday , December 30, Psalm 53
- 1, 3, 6 – Excellent verses to quote to an atheist. An atheist believes there is no god. In verse 3, God describes our natural condition. Because no one, not even the Christian, can do anything perfectly good, we, therefore, cannot save ourselves. How deeply grateful we must be to God, that eternal salvation did come out of Zion. In verse 6,
Zion here is a reference to the city of Jerusalem. It was there that Jesus, on Calvary’s cross, many centuries later, won for us eternal life. Read John 3:16.
- 2, 3 – Note the similarity between this Psalm and Psalm 14. David, the author of both, much older and wiser when he wrote Psalm 53, did not change his mind on the natural depravity of man. In connection with David’s discussion of our natural depravity, read Romans 3:10-12. The Apostle Paul here quotes from Psalm 53. The answer to our natural depravity is Romans 3:23, 24.
Friday, December 31, Psalm 54
- 6-7 – How can our sacrifice and praise be any less than David’s, especially when we consider our deliverance from sin, death and hell? The Christian who really understands his helplessness and God’s matchless rescue through Christ, will confess with the hymnist, “Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise! (CW No. 469)
Saturday, January 1, Psalm 55
- 22 — When you say, “Please help me,” to a doctor, perhaps most of the time he can help you. When you say to God, “Help me,” the difference is that He always does help. He does sustain us, strengthen us, give peace of mind to us, forgive us our sins, and assure us of life forever in heaven. That perfect help is found at the cross of Jesus. The Apostle Peter quotes almost the same words in I Peter 5:7