Category / Psalms a Tempo

by jdansmall

Psalm 61

Hear my cry, O God
Hearken to my prayer
When my heart is overwhelmed
Let me know You care.

From the ends of earth, I call
Unto You I cry
Lead me to the Rock, O Lord
Set my feet on high.Rock

You have been my shelter, Lord
A strong tow’r to hide
When my enemies surround
With You I’ll abide.

In the shelter of Your wings
I can trust for e’er
You have heard my vows, O God
And my life You spare.

What a heritage I have
Those who fear Your name
Keep me in Your love and truth
Your praise I proclaim.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 60

A psalm[a] of David useful for teaching, regarding the time David fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and killed 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. To be sung to the tune “Lily of the Testimony.”

O God, You have rejected us and we are broken down
Restore us to Your favor, Lord, remove the angry frown
You caused the earth to quake and split, repair the breaches now
Your people stagger and collapse with troubles You allow.

We raise the banner that You gave to those who fear Your name
In love and truth, by Your right hand, You’ll rescue us from shame
God, in His temple, has declared, “Behold, the land is Mine
Each tribe will have its portion there, I’ll draw the bound’ry line.

“I’ll make My helmet Ephraim, from Judah will rise kings
But Moab is My washpot and o’er Edom My shoe flings
The armies of Philistia will shout because of Me
My people, don’t lose heart but know, I will bring victory.”

But who will help us penetrate this city with its walls
And lead our troops to Edom, fighting hard until she falls?
It seems You have rejected us and with us do not fight
Without Your help our hope is lost, do You not see our plight?

You know that when it comes to war mere human help is vain
But with God’s help we’ll overcome, the victory attain
Yes, through our God success is sure, we will fight valiantly
And by His mighty pow’r at work will trample enemies.Ps 60

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 59

wolfBackstory: Written by David as he hid in his house from Saul’s men who were sent to kill him.

Deliver, O my God, from my enemies
Set me out of reach somewhere on high
Fierce and ruthless men full of iniquities
Thirsty for my blood they terrify.

Look, they lie in wait with plans to take my life
I’ve done them no wrong to justify
Openly they gather stirring up more strife
Innocent, I plea to Adonai.

Awaken, Lord of Hosts, see how they stalk me
Punish evildoers everywhere
God, don’t spare these traitors or let them go free
Make them reap in full what is their share.

Just like prowling dogs all night they wander ‘round
Spewing wicked words and evil plots
Thinking they are safe, no one can hear their sound
Laughing, Adonai, You know their thoughts.

O God, You are my Strength, You are my Fortress
Confident, I watch, knowing You’ll come
Your grace and lovingkindness, Lord, is priceless
All my foes will soon be on the run.

Don’t wipe them out or people will forget You
Scatter them to wander to and fro
Bring them down, O Lord our Shield, their schemes undo
Make them reap the evil that they sow.

When You, in wrath, bring to an end the wicked
Men will know that You rule over all
When snarling dogs return and I’m afflicted
Songs will fill my heart, on You I’ll call.

The morning will bring songs about Your mercy
Joyfully, my Strength, I sing Your praise
My fortress and my Refuge provides safety
Grace, You give, to keep me all my days.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 58

Travesty! Rulers of the earth, judges of mankind
Silence? How can you not see that justice is maligned?

Violence! You conjure up more ways to inflict pain
Heartless! Evil the path you choose for increased gain.

Depraved! As soon as you are born you’re speaking lies
Venemous! Skilled charmers can’t prevent what you devise.

O God, avenge, break out these lion’s fangs
Disable all the weapons of these gangs
Cause them to disappear for all their crime
Like slugs reduce their essence into slime
May they, like stillborn infants, take no breath
Your burning wrath consume them unto death.

Avenged! The godly will rejoice to see your end
Relieved! They’ll triumph in the blood of wicked men.

Proclaim: Reward the righteous is what God designed
Declare: He is a God who judges all mankind.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 57

AdullumBackstory: 1 Samuel 24 Written by David when he was running for his life from Saul. This Psalm was composed in the back of a cave.

O God, have mercy, have mercy on me
You are my Refuge, to You I must flee
Under the shadow of Your wings I’ll hide
And as the storm passes, with You I’ll abide.

I cry out to God, the Most High, in this test
He’s sure to come through for He knows what is best
He’ll send down salvation from heaven above
Destroy all my foes in His mercy and love.

Fire-breathing dragons and lions surround
Men with sharp teeth and mean words do abound
Meanwhile in heaven God reigns over all
His glory shines brightest when on Him we call.

The wicked lay traps and dig pits for my soul
But then their foot slips and they fall in the hole
My heart remains steadfast just trusting in You
That’s why I can sing e’en when troubles ensue.

Morning has come and it’s time to awake
I’ll take up my harp and sweet music I’ll make
Among all the nations I’ll thank Adonai
Whose great grace and truth extend to the sky.

O God, I exalt You, declare Your great worth
I would that Your glory be o’er all the earth!
O God, I exalt You, declare Your great worth
I would that Your glory be o’er all the earth!

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 56

prayerO God, Your grace extend
So many with me now contend
They lie in wait, hearts filled with hate
Would leave me trampled in the end.

But when I am afraid
I turn to God, whose word I praise
I trust in You, what can man do?
Despite their threats I’m not dismayed.

All day my words distort
Their wicked plot my path to thwart
They stir up strife, would take my life
O God, make all their plans fall short.

But You record my woes
In Your book note each tear that flows
My foes will flee, God is for me
In Adonai I will repose.

But when I am afraid
I turn to God, whose word I praise
I trust in You, what can man do?
Despite their threats I’m not dismayed.

And now to You I bring
A sacrifice, thank offering
You rescued me, set my feet free
Alive, I walk before my King.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 55

betrayalnote: This psalm has taken three days and three complete rewrites. It presents one of life’s most painful trials -betrayal by a friend. The melody that shaped these stanzas is Keith Green’s “O Lord, You’re Beautiful.” The haunting tone seems to convey the pathos of the Psalmist. The indented stanzas are a sort of chorus that call for a more hopeful tempo.

O God, please hear my prayer
Don’t hide Your face from me
My soul is restless and distraught
Oppressed by enemies.

I hear their vicious threats
And feel o’erwhelmed with fear
Their rage is fueled by some deep grudge
I’m sure my end is near.

If only I could fly with the wings of a dove
I’d soar to safety far away
A hiding place in rocks above
Escape this wild and raging fray.

O Lord, destroy their plans
The streets are filled with strife
Their wicked plots, deceptive schemes
All aimed against my life.

This foe was once my friend
I thought we were so close
But he betrayed and turned on me
And taunts me with his boasts.

But I will call on the Lord to save
Morning, noon, and night, complain and moan
He hears my voice, redeems my soul
I do not wage this war alone.

My God will humble you
From His eternal throne
You broke our trust and would not change
No fear of God you’ve known.

Your words were smooth and soft
Yet war was in your heart
Behind my back they were drawn swords
Deceiving from the start.

The saints can cast their cares on Him
He will sustain, protect, and save
Not so the wicked, treach’rous souls
For God will send them to the grave.

But righteous ones can trust in You
No matter what the wicked do
You’re upright, holy, good, and just
In You alone I put my trust.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 54

Backstory: 1 Samuel 23:19-29 A Psalm “on the run” as Saul pursues David. Here, David’s own countrymen betray his location to Saul. See commentary below.

Save me, God, I’m counting on Your Name
By Your great pow’r defend me from this shame
Hear my prayer, and turn Your ear toward me
Before You, God, I voice my desp’rate plea.

Violent men are trying to take my life
Strangers, too, rise up and create strife
All their schemes and plots are greatly flawed
As they neglect to turn their thoughts to God.

But God’s my helper, He is in control
Adonai, the Lord sustains my soul
My evil foes He’s sure to recompense
In faithfulness He’ll come to my defense.

I gladly bring my offerings to You
Express my thanks for all the good You do
Adonai has now delivered me
With great relief I watch opponents flee.

WorshipMatthew Henry Commentary: 23:19-29 In the midst of his wickedness, Saul affected to speak the language of piety. Such expressions, without suitable effects, can only amuse or deceive those who hear, and those who use them. This mountain was an emblem of the Divine Providence coming between David and the destroyer. Let us not be dismayed at the prospect of future difficulties, but stay ourselves upon Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working. Sooner than his promise shall fail, he will commission Philistines to effect our escape, at the very moment when our case appears most desperate. God requires entire dependence on him, If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established, Isa 7:9.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 53

“There is no God!” the fool declaresFist
His heart depraved and base
While God looks down on man’s affairs
For one who seeks His face.

Is there in all the human race
E’en one who understands?
Together they’ve become debased
So far from what He planned.

Not one of them does what is good
No, not a single one
Corrupt, they won’t do what they should
God’s wisdom they all shun.

When will the wicked ever learn
That this cannot end well?
When they His plan and people spurn
They will end up in hell.

They eat my people up like bread
They will not call on God
Not knowing they will soon be dead
Their bones all spread abroad.

When out of Zi’n salvation comes
Our fortunes are restored
Then will rejoice all Jacob’s sons
Glad praises be outpoured.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 52

AhimelechBackstory: 1 Samuel 22 (Saul is seeking to kill David)
Saul Slays the Priests of Nob after Doeg reveals their support of David as recorded here:
…8″For all of you have conspired against me so that there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, as it is this day.” 9Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by the servants of Saul, said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10″He inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”…

Why do you boast of evil plots
You worker of deceit?
You have no clue that God above
Extends His steadfast love.

Your sharpened tongue seeks to destroy
Loves evil more than good
Devouring people day and night
Not speaking what is right.

But God will strike you down for good
He’ll tear you from your tent
Uproot you from your earthly home
No longer free to roam.

The righteous will observe and laugh
And this is what they’ll say,
“The man who will not trust in God
Relies on a façade.

“He trusted in his own great wealth
And on his evil plots
He would not call on God to save
His hopes lie in the grave.”

But I am like an olive tree
Within the house of God
His steadfast love fore’er I trust
That’s how I stay robust.

Forever I will thank you, God
For what You’ve done for me
And to the saints I will proclaim
My hope in Your good Name.

© 2014 J Dan Small