Derek Prince - Through the Psalms with Derek Prince

1983 and 2002 by Derek Prince Ministries-International

Published by Chosen Books
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
chosenbooks.com

Chosen Books is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ebook edition created 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-1079-1

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from the Amplified Bible, Old Testament. Copyright 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission. Or from the Amplified New Testament. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

Cover photo
LYN89581
Sheep, 1991 (tempera on panel) by James Lynch (b.1956)
The Maas Gallery, London, UK/Bridgeman Art Library

Contents

Introduction

Davids harp has long been silent. Nor has history preserved any notational record of the music that he played. Probably none was ever set down in written form. It was preserved only in the memories of the musicians he trained, and by them passed down from generation to generationuntil, with the destruction of the Second Temple, its music was finally silenced.

Nevertheless, the melodies of Davids harp live on, not in the audible sounds of a musical instrument, but rather in the inner resonance of the soul that his psalms still call forth. In the succeeding centuries this response of the soul to Davids psalms has become the experience of countless millions of people from all races and backgrounds and in every corner of the earth. How shall we describe this inner resonance? Perhaps the most appropriate word is meditation.

Davids opening psalm pronounces a special blessing on the man who meditates on Gods law day and night. David not only pronounces this blessing; he goes on to provide a limitless source of material to stimulate such meditation. There is no literature in the world that excels the psalms of David in the ability to provoke the human soul to meditate on the deepest and most abiding truths of God.

For more than sixty years I myself have turned again and again to the psalms of David. His writings have helped me, like millions of others, through the most trying times, including the loss of two wivesLydia in 1975 and Ruth in 1999. At present I am battling on several fronts for my health, including a condition called polymyalgia that has greatly reduced my physical strength. Yet the Psalms still supply the needs of my soulencouragement, inspiration, correction, inner strength and vision. It is my sincere prayer that these brief personal meditations will in turn stimulate my readers to meditations of their own that will go far beyond anything that I have here been able to set down in writing. Meditation on the law of God is a limitless ocean of delight, of which only the shallowest borders may ever be communicated from one soul to another. The fullness of the ocean can find expression only in the souls most intimate communion with God Himself.

The meditations in this book are set forth in the order of the passages from the psalms on which they are based, beginning at Psalm 1 and continuing on to the last passage, which is taken from Psalm 147. Many readers will probably wish to follow this order, perhaps commencing, or closing, each day with a meditation.

It may also be, however, that at times a reader will be searching for a meditation to suit some special mood or situation. To meet this need I have providedon pages 213 to 220an index of all the material in the book under seven headings:

1. Gods Eternal Majesty
2. Prayer and Praise
3. Learning Gods Ways
4. Times of Pressure
5. Gods All-Embracing Care
6. The Word at Work
7. Time and Eternity

Quite a number of the meditations are listed under more than one heading. Many of those listed under Times of Pressure, for example, are also included in Learning Gods Ways. This in itself illustrates an important practical lesson: It is often in times of pressure that we most quickly and effectively learn Gods ways. It also serves to bring out the many-faceted nature of the Psalms. Even a short verse of one or two lines may provide insight into several precious aspects of divine truth.

The law of the L ORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statutes of the L ORD are trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the L ORD are right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the L ORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 19:78

May the meditations that follow help you to receive your full portion! May they revive your soul, make you wise, give joy to your heart and light to your eyes!

Derek Prince
Jerusalem
January 2002

Blessed Prosperity

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the L ORD ,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:13

Blessed; the opening word of the Psalms contains the essence of all that is to follow. The blessings they unfold flow in two directions: from God to man, and from man back again to God.

David goes on to sum up the blessedness promised to man in one brief, expressive sentence: Whatever he does prospers. How can you be such a personblessed of God so that whatever you do prospers? David lays down five conditions, the first three negative, the last two positive.

First, the negative: you must not walk in the counsel of the wicked; you must not stand in the way of sinners; you must not sit in the seat of mockers. There is one decisive issue: from where do you get your counsel? The counsel you follow determines the course of your life. If your counsel comes from the people who reject Gods principles and flout His requirements, you can have no claim upon His blessing.

Next, the positive: you must delight in the law of the Lord and you must meditate on it day and night. The ultimate source of all wise and righteous counsel is the law of the Lord. If you fill your heart and mind continually with His law, and if you direct your life according to it, then blessing and prosperity are your God-appointed portion.

Perhaps you are weary of frustration and failure. Then take heed to these rules. Meditate on them. Apply them. They will work in your life. God Himself guarantees you success.