Psalm Fourteen: Growing in the Right Direction

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God,' they are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God."
v. 1-2
"[Evildoers] are overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous." v. 5


It is easier to be overwhelmed with dread when we are not in the company of our Creator.

Psalm Eleven: God Loves Justice

"In the LORD I take refuge..." v.1a

"For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?" v. 2-3

"On the wicked he will rain fiery colas and burning sulfur, a scorching wind will be their lot. For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice, upright men will see his face." v. 6-7

The psalmist asks God what he can do when the enemy crushes the very foundation of their spirit. The answer is NOTHING. God is the one who will destroy our affliction with more force and punishment than we ourselves can fathom. Therefore, we should not think it is our responsibility to retaliate. In addition, God promises us a gift of seeing His face and knowing Him deeper when the attack is finished.

Psalm Ten: God Protects, God Provides

"He lies in wait like a lion in cover, he lies in wait to catch the helpless and drags them off in his net." v. 7

"The LORD is king forever and ever, the nations will perish from his land. You hear, o LORD the desire of the afflicted. You encourage them, and listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more." v. 16-18

In this Psalm, the King does not take the threat of the oppressor away. Instead, he protects the psalmist from it, and therefore takes the sting of fear away from him.

I would rather be in the protecting and nurturing hands of my Heavenly Father, than safe from any oppression where I do not see the need for Him.

Psalm Two: Taking Refuge in the God We Fear

"Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, less he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are those who take refuge in Him." v. 11-12

God, your divinity and humanity is such a puzzling dichotomy- to serve a God we fear and love a God who will show His wrath is we do not. I praise you for giving us Your Son so we could see how the two come so perfectly together.

Psalm One: Yielding Fruit in Season

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked...v.1
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yeilds its fruits in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers...v.3
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous." v. 6a


God, you promise that our ways will prosper if we surround ourselves with Godly influences and are planted firmly in the truth of Your Word. While I am always promised abundant sustenance for my soul, the evidence of Your work in my life will only be revealed in Your timing. It is frustrating to know that You are working and growing me, and that evidence is not yet seen. And yet, you bring me hope knowing that I have more to look forward to.

My sister, Robin, who is quite possibly one of the most talented writers I know, wrote a sonnet that reminds me of the Psalm.

I've heard it said, "The fruit defines the tree."
What shall we say when branch and leaf and root
Are all the measure that our eyes can see?
How shall we name the tree without the fruit?
We may be tempted to assign the blame
Of lacking crop to inactivity
And say the tree does not deserve a name
If idle is what it decides to be.
But if this is our verdict, we despise
The very work by which the fruit is won:
How desperately the root for water cries,
How faithfully the sapling seeks the sun.
If day by day, the tree is slowly grown
In season, by its fruit it will be known.

By Robin M.G. Lawrenz