Psalm 29

“The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, ‘Glory!’” (Psalm 29:9; NKJV).


“Glory” has to do with the beauty, power, or honor of GOD.  It is a quality of GOD’S character that emphasizes His greatness and authority.  The word is used in three senses in the Bible:

1. God's moral beauty and perfection of character.  This divine quality is beyond man's understanding:  “The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens” (Psalm 113:4; NKJV).  All people "fall short" of it (Romans 3:23).

2. God's moral beauty and perfection as a visible presence.  While GOD’S glory is not a substance, at times GOD does reveal His perfection to man in a visible way.  Such a display of the presence of GOD is often seen as fire or dazzling light, but sometimes as an act of power.  Some examples from the Old Testament are the pillar of cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21), the LORD’S deliverance of the Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 14), and especially His glory in the tabernacle (Leviticus 9:23-24) and Temple (1 Kings 8:11).  Since the close of the Old Testament, the glory of GOD has been shown mainly in Christ (Luke 9:29-32; John 2:11) and in the members of His church.  Christ now shares His divine glory with His followers (John 17:5-6, 22), so that in their lives Christians are being transformed into the glorious image of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).  Believers will be fully glorified at the end of time in GOD’S heavenly presence (Romans 5:2; Colossians 3:4).  There the glory of GOD will be seen everywhere (Revelation 21:23).

3. Praise.  At times GOD’S glory may mean the honor and audible praise which His creatures give to Him (Psalm 115:1; Revelation 5:12-13).

See His glory.  Let His glory be seen in you.  Give Him the glory in your life.

Hidden in My Heart

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses" (Luke 12:15; NKJV)

Psalm 90

A Prayer of Moses the man of God

1.  The Praise of Jehovah's Eternality (90:1-2)

2.  The Perception of Man's Frailty (90:3-12)

3.  The Plea for Jehovah's Mercy (90:13-17)

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands." (Psalm 90:17; NASBU)

Jason Cicero

Psalm 40

Psalm 40:6-8 is quoted in Hebrews 10:5-7 and applied to Jesus of Nazareth.


5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:


"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me. 
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure. 
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come — 
In the volume of the book it is written of Me — 
To do Your will, O God.'"  


8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them"(which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:5-10; NKJV

Jason Cicero

Psalm 36

"To the Chief Musician.  A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD."

1.  Mood of Deliberation (36:1-9)

2.  Mood of Dependence (36:10-11)

There is the reality of human wickedness and the hope for divine benevolence in each of us.  Don't be naive about the wicked.  Trust in the lovingkindness of Jehovah.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 140

"I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah." (Psalm 140; ASV)

1.  Concerning David (140:1-5)

2.  Concerning David's Enemies (140:6-11)

3.  Concerning Jehovah (140:12-13)

Know Jehovah.  Give thanks to His name.  Dwell in His presence.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 95

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker" (Psalm 95:6; NKJV).

1.  Positive Call to Worship (95:1-7)

2.  Negative Warning of Wrath (95:7-11)

Heed the call.  Avoid the wrath.  Enjoy the rest that remains (see Hebrews 3:7-4:16).

Jason Cicero

Psalm 71

The Psalms speak to the circumstances of life.  Psalm 71 expresses the concerns of old age.  At a time in life when the psalmist thinks he should be exempt from certain kinds of troubles, he is personally attacked.  Though  his enemies conclude that Jehovah has abandoned him, the psalmist is confident that He will remain faithful.

1.  Confidence in Jehovah Stated (71:1-8)

2.  Confidence in Jehovah Practiced in Prayer (71:9-13)

3.  Confidence in Jehovah Vindicated (71:14-24)

"O God, do not be far from me..." (Psalm 71:12; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses" (Luke 12:15; NKJV)

Psalm 41

Psalm 41 is a general psalm that applies to anyone who might be considered "down."  The term "blessed" serves as bookends in verses 1 and 13.  Jehovah's tender, loving care is available when we find ourselves in time of trouble.

1.  Recognizes Human Compassion (41:1)

2.  Revels in Jehovah's Care for the Compassionate (41:1-3)

3.  Requests Grace, Health, and Forgiveness (41:4)

4.  Rehearses the Meanness that He Has Experienced (41:5-9)

5.  Requests Grace, Health, and Retribution (41:10)

6.  Revels in Jehovah's Care for Him Personally (41:11-12)

7.  Recognizes Divine Compassion (41:13)

"Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting!  Amen and Amen" (Psalm 41:13; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is probably the best known OT passage.  As a hymn of confidence, Psalm 23 pictures Jehovah as the disciple's Shepherd-King-Host.  The psalm progressively unveils the psalmist personal relationship with Jehovah in three stages.

1.  Exclamation - Jehovah is My Shepherd (23:1)

2.  Expectations - I Shall Not Want; I Will Fear No Evil (23:1-5)

3.  Exultation - My Cup Runs Over (23:5-6)

Allow Jehovah to shepherd you...to rule you...to host you.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 11

Introductory Affirmation (11:1a)

The Two Voices

1.  The Voice Urging Flight (11:1b-3)

2.  The Voice Urging Faith (11:4-7)

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3; KJV)

Curiously, David doesn't answer his question with an answer.  He answers it with a declaration.  “Jehovah is in his holy temple, Jehovah, his throne is in heaven…” (Psalm 11:4; ASV).  His point is unmistakable.  –GOD is unaffected by our storms.  He is undeterred by our problems.  He is unfrightened by these problems.  He is in His holy temple.  He is on His throne in heaven.  Foundations have fallen, but He has not.  GOD has made a business out of turning tragedy into triumph. 

Jason Cicero

Offerings for Building the Temple

"Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver" (1 Chronicles 29:3; NKJV).

David’s offering was not as penance, as atonement for sin, or to be seen of men. It was an expression of love. “LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells” (Psalm 26:8; NKJV).

Let our giving upon the first day of the week be an expression of our love for him too.

Jason Cicero

The Levites

In 1 Chronicles 23-27 we read how David organized the people for the purpose of transferring the kingdom to Solomon. It's important for us to understand that this was not an arbitrary organizing. David gave Solomon "the plans for all that he had by the Spirit...also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the articles of service in the house of the Lord" (1 Chronicles 28:11-13; NKJV). "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing by His Hand upon me, all the works of these plans" (1 Chronicles 28:19; NKJV).

Consider Jehovah's organizing of the Levites:

1. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests.

2. In order to be a priest, one must be of the tribe of Levi, of the branch of Kohath, and of the particular family of Aaron - see Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:10; 18:1-7.

3. In order to be High Priest, one must be of the family of Aaron, and the direct descendant of the High Priest, usually passed from the Priest to his oldest son.

4. Other Levites served in various capacities connected with the worship, but they did not offer the animal sacrifices or the incense - see Numbers 18:3

Jason Cicero

Satan and David

"Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel" (1 Chronicles 21:1; NKJV).

Satan – adversary

Devil – accuser, slanderer –He accuses man to God (Job 1:6-11; 2:1-5) –He accuses God to man (Genesis 3)

In the numbering of the people in 2 Samuel 24/1 Chronicles 21 Satan had his way with David. Our adversary can take something that is not sinful in and of itself (the numbering of people), and prey on our carnal man and lead us to sin. He successfully moved David in this instance. "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses" (Luke 12:15; NKJV)

O Absalom My Son, My Son!

Consider this article by Sewell Hall: http://truthmagazine.com/archives/volume32/GOT032056.html

Then consider this article by Ron Halbrook: http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume32/GOT032057.html

Be blessed by both of them.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 3

David wrote Psalm 3 when he fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15).

1. David's Predicament (1-2)

2. David's Peace (3-6)

3. David's Prayer (7-8)

When you find yourself in hard predicaments, seek the peace that passes understanding and pray Psalm 3.

Jason Cicero

2 Samuel 13-19

2 Samuel 13-19 tells the story of the dysfunction that appears in the next generation of David's family.

As we read these chapters let us look for these four points:

1. We see David, a man of God with feet of clay.

2. We see the disaster which we create when we fail to deal with sin in our lives.

3. We see that the consequences of our sin are often passed on to our family.

4. We see a great God, full of grace and mercy, every working to save us from ourselves.

Jason Cicero

I Shall Go to Him

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:17-18; NKJV)

1. Hades - the abode of the spirit

2. Death - the abode of the body

When the child of David and Bathsheba died, David said, "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23; NKJV). It seems David had some understanding of Hades and Death and resurrection and that we will know one another in Heaven. And so, with the Thessalonians, we "comfort each other and edify one another" with this knowledge and in this hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Psalm 51

David wrote Psalm 51 after the awful events of 2 Samuel 11-12.

1. Plea for Forgiveness (1-2)

2. Proffer of Confession (3-6)

3. Prayer for Moral Cleanness (7-12)

4. Promise of Renewed Service (13-17)

5. Petition for National Restoration (18-19)

Read Psalm 51 and see David's repentance, God's forgiveness and the renewal that comes as a result of that combination.

Jason Cicero

Mephibosheth and Me

In 2 Samuel 9 David shows kindness to one of Saul's house.

1. His name – Mephibosheth

2. His calamity – dropped by his nurse

3. His deformity – lame

Is there anyone who sees you for who you are and not what you did? ¨

For two decades he lived in a distant land…

1. Unable to walk to the King…

2. Too fearful to talk to the King…

3. Unable to help himself…

Mephibosheth was...

1. Called

2. Found

3. Rescued

He still needed assurance. Don't we all? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8; NKJV) ¨

Consider Mephibosheth and David. Consider yourself and Christ. Rejoice in the grace you've been shown.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses" (Luke 12:15; NKJV)

David Inquired of Jehovah

"And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Jehovah..." (2 Samuel 2:1; ASV)

Inquired - a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand (Strong's).

Today's life lesson: Men after God's own heart "inquire" of Jehovah.

Jason Cicero

The Song of the Bow

Saul's death was not a time for rejoicing.

1. Despite his poor choices, Saul was still “the LORD’S anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6, 10; 26:9, 11, 16, 23; 2 Samuel 1:14, 16).

2. “How the mighty have fallen!” – The Song of the Bow (2 Samuel 1:19, 25, 27)

3. Samuel mourned for Saul when GOD tore the kingdom from him (1 Samuel 15:34-35).

4. GOD has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11).

5. We should weep for those who do not repent (Matthew 23:37-39).

Jason Cicero

Abigal: A Woman of Intercession

1 Samuel 25 tells the story of Nabal, Abigail and David. Consider their story. Consider our story in Christ.

1. Each of us, like Nabal has foolishly rejected Jehovah's goodness and stood in danger of His righteous judgment.

2. Like David, Jehovah holds us accountable for our sin.

3. Abigail demonstrates how Jesus bridged the gap between Jehovah and ourselves, interceding on our behalf and accepting the penalty for our sin that we might be forgiven.

4. On the basis of that forgiveness we collectively become the bride of Christ, His church on Earth, entering into an incredible and unanticipated royal marriage relationship.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 52

David wrote Psalm 52 during the time of the events of 1 Samuel 21-22. Doeg the Edomite told Saul that David had gone to Ahimelech's house. David flees to the forest of Hereth where he wrote a psalm about the end of the wicked and the peace of the godly.

1. The Rashness of the Wicked (1-5)
2. The Recation of the Righteous (6-7)
3. The Rejoicing of the Godly (8-9)

Read Psalm 52 and choose wait on the good name of Jehovah.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 56

David wrote Psalm 56 in Gath while he was fleeing from Saul (see 1 Samuel 21:10-12). This psalm expresses the kind of confindence in Jehovah that His children should have in Him when they find themselves in terrrifying circumstances. David's natural inclination is to panic (Psalm 56:3-4, 11), but he ultimately replaces his terror with the composure of trust.

1. Fear and Faith (56:1-4)
2. Destroyer and Deliverer (55:5-9)
3. Trust and Thanksgiving (56:10-13)

Read Psalm 56 and learn to trust in Him when you find yourself in terrifying situations.

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses." (Luke 12:15; NKJV)