False accusations can awaken a powerful desire to defend ourselves before everyone who will listen. Psalm 7 directs us first to a better court: the presence of the God who knows every heart, sees every hidden truth, and judges with perfect righteousness. David does not pretend to be sinless, but he can place his innocence concerning the charge before the Lord.

When your name is attacked, examine yourself honestly, repent where repentance is needed, and then rest in God’s verdict rather than living for human approval. The judgment of the world cannot give lasting peace, but through Jesus Christ there is grace, forgiveness, and peace with God. Because evil will not have the final word, God’s people can live without fear.

Psalm 6 gives words for believers who are weary, troubled, and overwhelmed. David does not hide his distress, but he brings it before the Lord and pleads for mercy.

This sermon calls us to run toward God in seasons of sorrow, not away from Him. Hope comes not from a change in circumstances, but from the assurance that the Lord hears, receives our prayer, and shows mercy to His people.

Psalm 5 contrasts the holiness of God with the wickedness of the world. David begins the day in prayer, rejoicing that God hears His people and recognizing that entrance into God’s presence comes only by His abundant lovingkindness.

This sermon calls believers to live righteously in an unrighteous world. Do not envy the world, imitate the world, or join the world in rebellion. Walk before the Lord in holiness and trust the shelter of His favor.

Psalm 4 teaches us how to respond when lies, slander, and reproach threaten to define us. David turns to the Lord and remembers that the world may tell lies and believe lies, but God knows the truth perfectly.

This sermon calls believers to find their worth in the Lord, declare what is true, and trust God’s deliverance. Because the Lord hears His people and makes them dwell in safety, they can lie down and sleep in peace.

Psalm 3 was written when David fled from Absalom. His enemies had increased, many had turned against him, and some declared that there was no deliverance for him in God.

This sermon reminds us that peace is not found in the absence of threats, but in the presence and power of God. The Lord is our shield, our glory, and the One who lifts our head. Salvation belongs to the Lord.

Psalm 2 declares that the nations may rage and the rulers of the earth may rebel, but God is not threatened. He has installed His King, and all creation is moving toward the exaltation and glory of Jesus.

This sermon calls us to submit to King Jesus, honor Him, worship with reverence, and take refuge in Him. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Son

Psalm 1 sets before us two ways: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. The world offers counsel that seems safe and promising, but worldly wisdom will not stand before the judgment of God.

This sermon calls us to delight in the law of the Lord, meditate on His Word, and walk in the way of righteousness. True blessedness is found not in chasing happiness, but in knowing and delighting in God.

True safety and peace are not found in power, prosperity, or public approval, but in being satisfied in the presence of God—even when enemies rise and accusations abound.

Pastor Ben Smith preaches expositionally from Psalm 16 on how the power, providence, and salvation of God give hope to Christians in the present and for eternity.

Psalm 16 is a Psalm of David. God would make a way for David to be king, but there would be a long period where he was a fugitive on the run from an enraged and unhinged monarch. Psalm 16 may have been written during this chaotic period of David's life.

On the run, hunted, and under constant threat, David finds real and lasting peace and security in the power, providence, and faithfulness of God.

Everyone is looking for peace and security, but how do you find real and lasting peace and security? How can you find unshakable hope and peace in a world filled with so much trouble? Psalm 16 declares the sureness, goodness, and faithfulness of God and encourages the church to know the sure hope of God, in God's refuge, providence, and eternal salvation.

When God saves you, He transforms you, and your life will bear the evidence of His holiness.

David begins Psalm 15 with a question.

Who can sojourn or abide with God, and who can dwell or remain in the presence of God? The simple answer to this is no one, unless they have been redeemed and made righteous through saving faith.

David answers his opening question with six characteristics of a life that has been transformed by God. These six characteristics are not an exhaustive list but are representative of the transformation that God brings to your life through salvation that produces in you a life after God’s own heart.

The sanctity of life for Christians is not a political issue. The sanctity of life for Christians is a convictional issue that before the Lord, every human life is made by God and holy before God.

Psalm 139 is a psalm of David and a powerful word on the omnipresence of God. Verses 13-16 come in response to David marveling that God knows everything about him. Building on this, David declares that every human life is the glorious masterpiece of God, known by God, and the intentional work of God.

This is a Psalm of David, but it is unknown what situation he is writing about. From the first two verses, we learn that he is being threatened by evil persons and has received the counsel to flee for safety. However, in the situation that was the occasion of this psalm, David was led by the Lord not to flee from whatever was threatening his life. He trusted his life and well-being to the provision of God. Psalm 11 is not about David’s bravery, wisdom, tenacity, or leadership. This psalm is about who God is.

The division of the psalm is in two parts. It begins with a statement and question, followed by a testimony of who God is. The first part is a declaration of faith: “In the Lord, I take my refuge (vs. 1).” The evidence of this faith is that David rejects the suggestion that he should flee like a bird. The second part is verses 4-7, which testify that God is holy, actively working, and eternally righteous.

This world is corrupted and filled with wickedness. Psalm 10 addresses the wickedness of this world and the destruction that such evil brings, particularly to the weak and vulnerable. However, you must be careful not to assume that the wickedness exposed in Psalm 10 applies to someone else. This psalm does not confront the classical atheism of those who openly reject the existence of God but functional atheism of living as though there is no God.

The psalm calls believers not to settle for the things of this world but to long for the kingdom to come when the king who is king forever will fully reign.

And while there is an opportunity, it beckons all to bow the knee, confess Jesus as Lord, and surrender yourself to the king who is king forever.

The world is defined by theology. Whatever you hold as true defines how you see the world. Whatever you believe has the power to save has your heart's affection, and it will motivate you to fight for it passionately.

Common throughout psalm 119 is a focus on God's word. One of the basics of being a Christian is knowing and obeying the word of God. If you are a Christian, your faith began when you confessed Jesus as your Lord. If Jesus is your Lord, then you obey His commands. The commands of Jesus are known through His word, the Bible.

In this sermon, I make a case that your devotion to the word of God does not begin with determination but with devotion.

Hope in God's word. Love God's word. And be transformed by God's word.

Thanksgiving, in the most basic sense, is an acknowledgment of a gift or act of service. We rightly express thanksgiving when we receive gifts, no matter the quality or value of the gift. Also, we rightly express thanksgiving when receiving service – even service that we pay for.

However, thanksgiving as an act of worship is entirely more significant and important. When you have a thankful heart that responds to God in worship with thanksgiving, this is more than simply acknowledging recite of a gift. Thanksgiving worship flows from the heart of one who recognizes their need, recognizes the source of their provision, and responds with worshipful praise and thanksgiving to the one who has provided.

Psalm 9 is a psalm of David. The psalm is divided into two parts. Verse 1-12 declares what God has done, and verses 13-20 declare what God will do. We could glean many things from this text, but three main truths are we are to be thankful for what God has done, thankful for what God will do, and thankful for who God is.