Psalm 22

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,...
That He has done this. vv.1,31

Read chapter 22
The very first verse of this Psalm is well known as it was spoken by Jesus on the cross as we have recorded in scripture (Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34).  The last verse of this Psalm "has done this" can also be translated "It is finished."  We also see these words recorded by Jesus while on the cross in John 19:30.  It's possible that Christ recited this whole Psalm in HIs last breaths on the cross by seeing recorded the beginning and end of this Psalm.  Throughout this Psalm we can see the truths and prophesy of Christ's death.  and all that happened, from teh shouts people yelled at him, to the dividing and gambling of His clothes, to description of death by crucifixion of all His bones being out of joint (crucifixion wasn't even a conceived idea at this point in history of David's writing).  The Psalm also ends with praises of the glorious riches of the kingdom to come.  Just like it didn't end at the crucifixion  but He rose and conquered death and with that brings many into eternal life.  How does this Psalm prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah?  What other details do you see came true and which ones are we still waiting to be fulfilled?

Psalm 21

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.....

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

Read chapter 21
The little words before verse one are called the superscript and the little words after the last verse are called the subscript.  It's hard to tell from the translators which super and sub script go with what Psalm since it's not actually a verse.   Dependent on what each psalm says we can figure out what title and ending gives to each Psalm.  Also from Habakkuk 3 we can tell psalms were written this way with titles at the end as that chapter is a song that ends "To the Chief Musician..."  So what's with the "to the tune of the Deer of the Dawn"?  For one we no longer have or know any tunes of that day, so we can't really know how this was sung or what beat it had.  The Hebrew words are "Aijeleth Shahar" and should be translated "Relating to the Day Dawn."  This helps us make more sense as relating to the day when Christ dawns at last and His future kingdom is here.  This makes sense with Psalm 21 in David's praise of his prayers being answered and his future plans in the earth and the judgement to come on God's enemies.  Chapter 22 has to do with Christ's death and nothing to do with the dawning of the kingdom.  So we understand this phrase of the Psalm that God put in, and not just a heading by man in different Bible versions, we can understand the subject and context. 
So how or what do you look forward to that future dawning day of Christ?

Psalm 20

Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call. v.9

Read chapter 20
"Save, Lord!"  Such a simple and direct prayer.  Throughout this psalm David is asking God to save Israel in some battle going on.  He makes his request and full assurance of God's power and will.  After all these words he uses he ends it so simply and summed up in just two words, "Save, Lord."  Sometimes we need to make our prayers simple and to the point.  To not get caught up in fine speech or let our many words trail off into nothingness or random thoughts and distractions.  God doesn't just answer the "fine speaking" christians as so many thing (maybe not intentionally but with phrases like "Have Tom pray, he's a prayer warrior" or "Molly's a good Christian, you should ask her to pray for this rough situation.).  So let it not be in our brilliance of speech that we think our prayers are answered but shout a praise to the Lord.  'May the king answer us when we call' no matter what words we use or what the situation is.  Do you enjoy group prayer?  Does it intimidate you?  What are you focusing on in times of out loud prayer?  Pray simple today with few words and full trust!

Psalm 19

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. vv.7-10

Read chapter 19
Here we have six statements describing God's word and how awesome they are!  There are six different words describing His word and six characteristics of them.

• Converting the soul: if it wasn't for this we'd be lost forever to sin and death
• Making wise the simple: this we even see in young children proclaiming profound truths that they've learned by having the Bible read to them.
• Rejoicing the heart: God's ways are always right and we can rejoice in that  and not worry of some "small print" or "too good to be true".
• Enlightening the eyes: to know what is good and right.
• Enduring forever: His word that cleanses us endures forever and not just once or needed over and over again.
• More desired than god and sweeter than honey: His judgements are precious and something we should crave.  (Surely judgements dong mean punishments as no one would truly say "I'd rather be punished than have riches."  But judgements are setting things right.)  

Do you desire God's words more than anything else?  Do you crave His words more than chocolate  (or whatever the most delicious food is to you)?  Which of these six characteristics do you desire to come more alive in your life and how will you let that happen?

Psalm 18

For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him. vv.28-30

Read chapter 18
This psalm is also the whole of chapter 22 in 2nd Samuel of the song David sang after the Lord delivered him from his enemies and from the hand of Saul.  In these verses 28-30 it made me think of all the super heroes that my roommate loves.  And surely God can make us super heroes if He wants, like one man running against and breaking through a troop (like Samson against the whole Philistine arm), or leaping over a wall with one simple step.  This wall isn't just a hurdle in the way but instead a high wall of a fortified city David's referring to here.  But the other cool super hero power He gives us is light!  This is not just some boring super power but the best.  Light is Jesus, darkness is sin.  When we were without Jesus we were lost in the darkness of the world and when He lit our lamp by giving us Jesus it gave us joy and hope and salvation, something any super hero is lost without.  And just like all super hero's have some type of outfit/costume/symbol, ours is the armor of God-"the shield to all who trust in Him."
So what "superpowers" has God given you?  What superpower would you want if you could pick one?

Psalm 17

Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings v.8

Read chapter 17
The "apple" of the eye, or the pupil, is the most sensitive part of the eye and it helps to guard the rest of the eye.  David is asking God to guard him as one would guard the apple of his eye.  Our eyes naturally blink when something comes toward it as a shield to the eye.  God reacts the same as the natural flinch to protect us.  In Spanish this phrase is "la nina de tus ojos," literally 'the daughter of Your eyes."  How much a loving father protects his precious daughter!  In the next phrase of this verse God is referred to a mother bird who protects her young under her wings.  Here we see God not only as a father figure of qualities but as a mother too.  The desire David, and us too, wants protection and comfort and care for by a mother and father.  What are ways or characteristics you view God in both the mother and father roles?

Psalm 16

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance. vv.5-6

Read chapter 16
Land allotted to the Israelites in the promise land was their inheritance and was a huge deal and super important.  The lines of their boundaries marked their portion of inheritance.  The Levites didn't have an inheritance of land but received a different portion of blessing.  Here David, a priest and king, refers to his portion on the throne as king over Israel and his future promise of the throne as well.  Yet aside from even that physical inheritance he says the Lord is his portion and it is a good inheritance that fills his cup and full of blessings.  This is the best and our inheritance too!  That we are the Lord's and part of all that is to come.  If we have nothing in this life we can still rejoice that we have the Lord.  Do you believe or realize that promise in your life today?  Do you know what your inheritance from the Lord is?  Is that na inheritance you desire more than anything else?