Bible Chapter: Psalms 21 & 22

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Psalms 20 and 21 go together. They are prayers of the Psalmist regarding warfare. First is a prayer before the fight.  Then a time of praise when it is done.  King David said he rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord.  David said that God gave him the desires of his heart. He also said that he trusts in the Lord and find strength and shelter in God’s mercy. His enemies intended evil and they plotted against God, but they couldn’t accomplish their purpose. David said they would sing praise to God.
    Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm that points forward to Jesus and his crucifixion on the cross. It expresses the extreme suffering and agony He went through.  People would mock Jesus on the cross, taunting him to seek God to rescue him. It talks about some of the specific details of the crucifixion.  For example, the Psalmist said they pierced my hands and my feet. Jesus did go through all of this agony and more when He died on the cross to be the Savior for all who call on him for forgiveness of sins. This Psalm expresses the thought that on the cross Jesus felt abandoned by his Father. Many people as they go through struggles and trials in life have felt that God has abandoned them. But God has promised that he will never desert his people.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    In life there will be times of rejoicing as well as trials and difficulties. I can rest on the assurance that God will never leave me and that He will be with me through whatever comes. King David rejoiced in what God had done for them. We also have times when we feel all alone. God’s Word gives us the assurance that God will never abandon his people even when we think there is no hope. We know that in the end there is deliverance and salvation as we put our trust in Christ.

3.  How can I help someone?
    The Lord is my strength and my salvation. This is what God’s word says and I want to encourage people to put their trust in God in all the situations of life. It is a common temptation to run from God when things get difficult. We need to learn to run TO God in hard times because running from him will never solve our problems but only make them worse.