Bible-Reading.com
  1. Wed: 1 Samuel 21-25
  2. Thu: 2 Corinthians 11-13
  3. Fri: Ezekiel 32
Saturday · Week 16
The Books of Poetry & Wisdom

Psalms 27-32

Week 16 · about 11 min
  1. Sun: Exodus 22-25
  2. Mon: Mark 10-11
  3. Tue: Isaiah 44-45

Psalms about longing for God, trusting him in danger, and the relief of confession.

When I Kept Silent

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 32:5 (KJV)

Psalm 32 describes what hiding sin did to David: “my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” He felt it in his body. When he finally confessed, God forgave him, and he calls the forgiven person blessed. Psalm 27 says, “One thing have I desired of the LORD,” which was to live near him. Psalm 30 gives hope to anyone in a long night: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” In Psalm 31 David says, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit.” Jesus prayed those words on the cross in Luke 23.

Reflect: Is there something you’ve been keeping quiet about before God?

Psalm 27

1Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?

2When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.

3Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.

4One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.

5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.

6Then my head will be held high above my enemies around me. At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.

8My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

9Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

11Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.

12Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

13Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

Psalm 28

1Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.

2Hear my cry for mercy when I call to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.

4Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.

5Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD or what His hands have done, He will tear them down and never rebuild them.

6Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy.

7The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.

8The LORD is the strength of His people, a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.

9Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them forever.

Psalm 29

1A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD strikes with flames of fire.

8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry, “Glory!”

10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

11The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace.

Psalm 30

1A Psalm. A song for the dedication of the temple. Of David. I will exalt You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up and have not allowed my foes to rejoice over me.

2O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

3O LORD, You pulled me up from Sheol; You spared me from descending into the Pit.

4Sing to the LORD, O you His saints, and praise His holy name.

5For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

6In prosperity I said, “I will never be shaken.”

7O LORD, You favored me; You made my mountain stand strong. When You hid Your face, I was dismayed.

8To You, O LORD, I called, and I begged my Lord for mercy:

9“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

10Hear me, O LORD, and have mercy; O LORD, be my helper.”

11You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever.

Psalm 31

1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.

2Incline Your ear to me; come quickly to my rescue. Be my rock of refuge, the stronghold of my deliverance.

3For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.

4You free me from the net laid out for me, for You are my refuge.

5Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.

6I hate those who cling to worthless idols, but in the LORD I trust.

7I will be glad and rejoice in Your loving devotion, for You have seen my affliction; You have known the anguish of my soul.

8You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.

9Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.

10For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

11Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends— they flee when they see me on the street.

12I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.

13For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

14But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

15My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

16Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me by Your loving devotion.

17O LORD, let me not be ashamed, for I have called on You. Let the wicked be put to shame; let them lie silent in Sheol.

18May lying lips be silenced— lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.

19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!

20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.

21Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His loving devotion in a city under siege.

22In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.

23Love the LORD, all His saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but fully repays the arrogant.

24Be strong and courageous, all you who hope in the LORD.

Psalm 32

1Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long.

4For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah

5Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

6Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.

7You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.

9Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.

11Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB). The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.