He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor. (Psalm 72:4) Scripture, and I believe history, teaches that those in powerful positions should never govern people exclusively by a rigid...

Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice. (Psalm 72:1-2) As we previously mentioned, Jewish tradition teaches that David wrote this prayer on behalf of his...

Give the king Your judgments, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice. (Psalm 72:1-2) While there are some who believe this psalm was written by Solomon, Jewish tradition says that David...

Your righteousness, O God, is very high, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again. (Psalm 71:19-20) Things that are elevated, whether high mountains or the celestial bodies, by...

Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. (Psalm 71:18) In the previous devotion, we highlighted the desire exhibited by David to proclaim to others the...

Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come. (Psalm 71:18) According to one esteemed Jewish writer, lessons mastered in childhood are like ink written on...

O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. (Psalm 71:17) As stated in the previous devotion, coming into the fulness of what God has called us to be is a process -- sometimes a long process, at least from our point of view....

O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. (Psalm 71:17) Have you ever wondered how it is that David, a young man untrained in the art of war, was inspired and confident to face the Philistine's champion, Goliath? The Bible...

I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day. (Psalm 71:14-15) A notable Jewish sage once made this observation: the most eloquent praise man can offer God is to continually...

My enemies speak against me; and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, saying, “God has forsaken him; pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him.” O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! (Psalm 71:10-12) If we...

You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. (Psalm 71:5-6) Jewish commentators say that, in order to truly appreciate the...

In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for...