Psalm 132

Davids ThroneLord, remember David’s longing
And the solemn vow he swore?
“I will give myself no respite
‘Till I find a place for You.”

When Your ark was found in Jaar
Symbol of Your mighty pow’r
Priests arrayed in righteous garments
Joined the saints in joyous song.

“Let us worship at His footstool
Go into His dwelling place”
For the Lord has chosen Zion
As His resting place fore’er.

Lord, remember too, Your promise
Unto David’s royal line
If they would obey Your cov’nant
They would reign till end of time.

Adonai has chosen Zion
As His permanent abode
“This is where I want My home
Plenteous blessings have bestowed.”

“I will prosper priest and pauper
All who dwell in her rejoice
Clothe her enemies with shame but
Give to David a shining crown.”

© J Dan Small

Psalm 89

David anointed

Your mercies, O Lord, are the theme of my song
Your faithfulness I will declare
Forever Your mercy and grace will endure
I will sing of them all the day long.

“I’ve chosen My servant, a covenant made
Your seed I establish your throne will not fade
My promise to David forever will stand
Descendants shall reign evermore in this land.”

Behold, how the heavens Your wonders declare
Your faithfulness saints also tell
For who in the heavens is like unto Thee?
Not an angel or god can compare.

Indeed, all around You in reverence bow
The Lord God of hosts is supreme
More awesome than all who around Him do dwell
Your faithfulness all must avow.

By Your mighty arm all Your enemies flee
The sea in its raging is stilled
The sea monster, Rahab, You’ve crushed and destroyed
O Lord, there is no one like Thee.

The heavens are Yours and the earth You have made
The world and its fullness You formed
From north unto south all the mountains rejoice
Your great name like a banner displayed.

Your powerful hand is exalted on high
Before You dwell mercy and truth
With justice and righteousness You rule o’er all
On Your faithfulness all can rely.

How blest are the people who shout the glad sound
Who walk in the light of Your face
In Your holy name they rejoice all the day
For Your righteousness praises abound.

For You are our glory and strength, Adonai
By Your favor, exalted, we rule
Our king is from You, our protection and shield
All we need Your great hand doth supply.

In a vision You spoke to our fathers before
“I have raised up a warrior for you
‘Tis My servant David, anointed with oil
Upon him My great strength I’ll pour.”

“The wicked who hate him will never prevail
His foes I will fight and destroy
In My name he’ll conquer and crush enemies
And My covenant never will fail.”

“With My help his rule will extend far and wide
I will make him My cherished firstborn
He’ll call Me his Father, his God, and his Rock
In My love I’ll uphold and provide.”

“His reign I’ll establish, His throne keep secure
All the kings of the earth will bow down
Exalted, victorious, his kingdom remains
As long as the heavens endure.”

“And if his descendants My Law should forsake
I’ll punish their guilt with a rod
I’ll discipline soundly with firmness and wrath
The ones whom My statutes would break.”

“But I will not withdraw My love even then
My promises still I will keep
As sure as the sun and the moon in the sky
Forever his throne shall endure.”

But, Lord, Your anointed You’ve spurned in Your rage
The covenant has been forgot
His crown lies in dust, his walls broken down
He’s defeated by all who engage.

Our lives are cut short and we’re covered with shame
How long will You hide from our plight?
How long will Your anger consume us as fire
While enemies mock and defame?

Remember, O Lord, that our lives are so short
How fragile we are without You
How futile our efforts to live and not die
And the pow’r of the grave to abort.

O Adonai, where is Your former great love
Your acts of deliv’rance and might?
To David You swore Your allegiance and help
Your assistance from heaven above.

Remember, O Lord, the reproach that we bear
How our enemies hold us in scorn
Every step that we take they are there to oppose
Leaving us in deep shame and despair.

In conclusion we praise Him again and again
As we say, “Bless the Lord evermore”
You are faithful and true and worthy of trust
Bless the Lord, Amen and amen.

© 2014 J Dan Small

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

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

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

Psalm 31 (Part 1)

I run to You, O Lord
And hide myself in Thee
Because You always do what’s right
My Rock and Fortress be.

Let me not be ashamed
In You I put my trust
Bow down Your ear, deliver me
I know that You are just.

You are my hiding place
I get my strength from Thee
For Your name’s sake, please lead and guide
From their nets rescue me.

Into Your hand, O Lord
My spirit I commit
You have redeemed. O God of truth
I willingly submit.

I hate idolaters
Who worship worthless gods
But I put my trust in the Lord
Whose mercy I applaud.

You cause me to rejoice
In Your amazing grace
You’ve seen my plight and set my feet
Secure in a wide place.

Have mercy on me now
My troubles have increased
I spend my days in sighs and tears
My life has almost ceased.

Scorned by my enemies
Rejected by my friend
Forgotten, lonely, full of fear
When will this madness end?

I’m like a shattered pot
Ignored as if I’d died
I hear their slander and their threats
These all against me side.

© 2014 J Dan Small