by jdansmall

Psalm 64

O God, please hear my voice, attend to my complaint
The enemy pursues my life, my hope is growing faint
Hide me from all their secret plots
You know their wicked thoughts.

Their tongues are sharpened like a sword, their words like arrows pierce
They shoot from ambush fearing naught, attacking swift and fierce
They make their plans in secrecy
Believing they’ll go free.arrow

Then suddenly God shoots them down His arrows hit their mark
Caught by their futile words they reel and stumble in the dark
The passersby look on in shock
They shake their heads and mock.

The works of God will make men fear -amazed at what He’s done
The righteous will rejoice in Him, for refuge to Him run
The upright ones lift up their praise
Exalt Him all their days.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 63

O God, You are my God, I want You desp’rately
I seek Your face and need Your grace
As in Your sanctuary.

This dry and weary land makes my soul thirst for Youdesert
In this dark hour to see Your pow’r
Would strengthen and renew.

Your lovingkindness far exceeds the best that life can give
My lips will praise, my hands I’ll raise
I’ll bless You while I live.

Rich blessings You bestow my soul will satisfy
I’ll praise Your Name, my mouth exclaim
My deepest needs supply.

When I remember through the night the things that You have done
Under Your wings my spirit clings
And to Your side I run.

But as for those who hunt me down and seek my life to quell
Their sure reward will be the sword
Their souls descend to hell.

But this king will rejoice and glorify his God
When liars words no more are heard
The godly will applaud.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 62

Prayer2In silence, God, my soul does wait
Salvation comes from You
My Rock and Stronghold in the fray
I know that You’ll come through.

How long will you attack a man
And strive to destroy him?
Deceivers, murd’rers, full of plans
Whose hearts are full of sin.

In silence, God, my soul does wait
My hope resides in You
My Rock and Stronghold day by day
Unshaken, I’ll come through.

My safety and my glory rest
On God, my Rock of strength
In Him, at all times, You can trust
Pour out your heart at length.

Don’t place your trust in puny men
Their lives are but a breath
In vain their hope on wealth depends
But soon will end in death.

Hear now the words that God would speak
All power is the Lord’s
So, too, the grace we all would seek
Our trust He thus rewards.

© 2014 J Dan Small

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