In Luke 7 we have the story of a prostitute who anoints the feet of Jesus with an expensive perfume. While the religious onlookers mock, Jesus tells them this: Those who are forgiven much love much (Luke 7:41-48). In many ways Psalm 30 resembles the story of the woman of Luke 7. As David hits rock bottom he cries out to God and God answers. David’s experience of great deliverance leads him to great praise.

As we take time to today to remember mothers it is appropriate that we return to the Psalms. The life of a mom is often overwhelming and full of worry and fear, and the question has to be asked, where do we turn when life seems out of control? In Psalm 25 David is overwhelmed and fearful. His enemies are opposing him, but in the midst of this opposition he makes it clear that his trust is in God. While some have classified Psalm 25 as a lament, I see it as a Psalm of reliance and trust. David makes three requests and confesses that his hope is in God.

God has spoken. This is a reality that changes everything: The Creator God has communicated with us. In Psalm 19 David focuses in on the blessed truth of God’s revelation of Himself. In the Psalm he describes two ways that God has spoken: God has spoken through creation and God has spoken through His Word. As we consider this truth there are a couple of natural questions: will we listen and how will we respond?

It’s no secret that all of us are joy-seekers. We all want joy but it can seem elusive – for a moment we think we have it, and then it’s gone. In Psalm 16 David describes what he has found in God – true and never ending joy.

John Calvin rightly said the Psalms are an anatomy of all the parts of the soul. It’s true, the Psalms speak to times of joy, and times of pain; times of great gain and times of deep loss. In Psalm 6 David addresses a dark season of the soul. It has been called a Psalm of Lament and tells of a season of suffering and deep anguish. As we consider Psalm 6 two things become very clear: Suffering is real and can be intense, and God is near and can be trusted in our times of pain.

Who can stand in the presence of God? Who qualifies to enter the place where God dwells? These are significant questions that are foundational to the Christian faith and are the central questions of Psalm 24. The answers that are given should leave us in awe of the grace and mercy of God.

Of all the Psalms the 23rd Psalm may be the most well known – and for good reason. In these six verses David demonstrates how a confident trust in God can produce a blessed contentment. At the heart of the Psalm is the truth that our God loves us and desires to give us rest, guidance, protection and blessing even in the darkest seasons of our lives - we have a good and faithful shepherd.

As we come to Easter Sunday we are picking up where we left off last week in Psalm 22. The first half of Psalm 22 is focused on the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. As we began the Passion Week it was helpful for us to consider the cross and the suffering that Jesus endured on our behalf. But while the first half of Psalm 22 is about suffering, the second half is about how we should respond once deliverance has come. Specifically, how should we respond to the deliverance of Jesus from suffering (His resurrection) and what does the future look like because He was delivered from His suffering?

As we come to Easter Sunday we are picking up where we left off last week in Psalm 22. The first half of Psalm 22 is focused on the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. As we began the Passion Week it was helpful for us to consider the cross and the suffering that Jesus endured on our behalf. But while the first half of Psalm 22 is about suffering, the second half is about how we should respond once deliverance has come. Specifically, how should we respond to the deliverance of Jesus from suffering (His resurrection) and what does the future look like because He was delivered from His suffering?

Psalm 22 is a Psalm of David. It was written by him, and is about him and his suffering, but it is not only about him. Psalm 22 is also a Psalm of Jesus. About a thousand years before Jesus came to earth and before crucifixion was even invented as a form of execution David foretold the sufferings of Jesus. As we hear of the suffering of Jesus, we have a picture of length that God went to in order to save us from our sin and to end suffering once and for all.