Songs for Those Who Are Traveling Home
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Psalms 120
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Four Ways to Treat God's Word
In his sermon on Psalm 119 (Part 2), Stephen Davey highlights four questions the psalmist raises about how believers should treat God’s Word: Do you love it, memorize it, understand it, and apply it? He explains that loving Scripture reveals love for its Author, while memorizing it stores truth in the heart to guard against sin. Understanding the Word requires humility, as the psalmist prays for God to “open my eyes” by exposing blind spots and sin. Applying Scripture means letting it function as a lamp that gives just enough light for each obedient step. Davey concludes that God’s Word is the divine blueprint for building a straight, strong life—and it must be treasured, studied, and obeyed daily.
The Power and Protection of God's Word
In his sermon on Psalm 119 (Part 1), Stephen Davey explains that the psalmist uses 176 verses and eight different Hebrew synonyms—listed on page 4—to emphasize the essential power and protection of God’s Word. Davey shows how the carefully structured acrostic poem urges believers to study, memorize, and obey Scripture, describing it as the “supervisor” that guides every detail of life. Through verses like 9, 23, 63, and 67 (page 2), he highlights that God’s Word guards purity, gives wisdom during opposition, shapes friendships, and even uses affliction to draw wandering hearts back to the Shepherd. The psalmist ends with a humble confession in verses 175–176 (page 3), admitting his tendency to stray and pleading for God to keep him close. Davey concludes that Scripture is God’s transformative tool, and that passionate devotion to it anchors believers in every season of life.
Portraits of Our Redeemer
In his sermon on Psalms 115–118, Stephen Davey explains that Psalm 115 calls believers to give God all the glory, even when taunted by a watching world, because idols are powerless but “our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.” Psalm 116 becomes deeply personal as the psalmist—possibly King Hezekiah—testifies that God heard his desperate prayer during a life-threatening crisis and that such faith should be shared publicly. Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, serves as a global evangelistic invitation, calling all nations to worship the Lord for His steadfast love. Psalm 118 then celebrates God’s covenant faithfulness and includes the prophetic declaration that “the stone the builders rejected” would become the cornerstone—a truth Jesus Himself likely sang with His disciples before going to Gethsemane. Together these psalms portray our Redeemer as powerful, compassionate, faithful, and worthy of worldwide praise.
Studying God's Works and Submitting to God's Will
In his sermon on Psalms 111–114, Stephen Davey explains that Psalm 111 celebrates God’s marvelous works—from creation’s wonders like electric eels, migratory birds, and intricate design (noted on page 1) to His acts of redemption—calling believers to study and delight in them. Psalm 112 then shifts to describe the kind of person who fears the Lord, someone whose heart remains steady even in “bad news” (page 2) because he trusts God’s sovereignty. Psalm 113, likely sung at Jewish festivals and perhaps by Jesus and His disciples before His arrest, highlights God’s compassionate care as He stoops to lift the needy and the barren, just as He cared for Hannah. Finally, Psalm 114 recalls Israel’s exodus, the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and Sinai, showing how creation itself obeys God’s commands. Davey concludes that, like the seas and mountains, believers should study God’s works and submit joyfully to His will.
Lord, High Priest, and Coming King
In his sermon on Psalms 107–110, Stephen Davey explains how these psalms celebrate God’s covenant faithfulness, His deliverance in every kind of crisis, and His ultimate rule through Christ. Psalm 107 shows a repeated pattern—crisis, cry, comfort, and confession—reminding believers that God responds when His people call. Psalm 108 highlights that God’s Word never goes out of date, as David reuses earlier lyrics to reaffirm timeless truth. Psalm 109 expresses David’s plea for justice when falsely accused, teaching believers to entrust their reputation to the Lord rather than seek revenge. Psalm 110 then reveals Jesus as King, eternal High Priest, and future Conqueror, the One who will rule from Zion and triumph over every enemy.
Created, Directed, and Remembered by God
In his sermon on Psalms 104–106, Stephen Davey explains how creation, Israel’s history, and God’s covenant faithfulness all call believers to worship and obedience. Psalm 104 magnifies God’s greatness displayed in creation—seen both in the vastness of galaxies and, as the image on page 1 shows, the intricate detail of life—reminding believers that the Creator cares even for the hidden wild donkey in the desert. Psalm 105 traces God’s faithful works for Israel, from His covenant with Abraham to Joseph’s suffering in prison, showing that God’s promises are always fulfilled and often prepare His people through hardship. Psalm 106 then recounts Israel’s repeated failures but highlights God’s mercy—He “remembered His covenant” and rescued them again and again. Davey concludes that while people often forget God, God never forgets His people, and such faithfulness should move believers to gratitude, trust, and obedience.
Convictions and Daily Encouragement
In his sermon on Psalms 101–103, Stephen Davey explains how David’s convictions, the psalmist’s despair, and the call to remember God’s blessings provide a pathway to daily courage and spiritual stability. Psalm 101 records David’s nine “I will” commitments, showing that real conviction must shape private life as much as public leadership. Psalm 102 shifts to an anonymous sufferer who feels overwhelmed and alone, yet finds hope by remembering God’s eternal throne and turning his attention toward helping others in need. Psalm 103 then calls believers to fight spiritual amnesia by recalling God’s benefits—His forgiveness, compassion, and healing of the soul’s deepest discouragements. Together, these psalms show that convictions, prayer, and gratitude steady the heart in seasons of despair.
The Original Thanksgiving Hymn
In his sermon on Psalm 100, Stephen Davey explains how this psalm—uniquely labeled “A Psalm for giving thanks”—teaches believers both how to give thanks to God and why. The psalm opens with three commands describing how to express gratitude: make a joyful noise, lifting thankful voices even when circumstances are dark; serve the Lord with gladness, choosing a grateful attitude as an act of obedience rather than emotion; and come into His presence with singing, remembering that believers have access to the Father because they are held by the hand of His Son. Davey then turns to the reasons for thanksgiving: who God is—the only true God, good, unchanging in His steadfast love, and faithful to every generation—and what God has done—creating each of us intentionally, designing both our strengths and weaknesses, and claiming us as the sheep of His pasture. Gratitude grows when we accept God’s design and depend on His care. Davey concludes with a warning from a parable: discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart. Because anxiety, pride, bitterness, and materialism cannot coexist with true thankfulness, Psalm 100 calls believers to a supernatural, Spirit-enabled choice—to rejoice, serve gladly, sing boldly, and practice gratitude that shines like light in a dark world.
The Lord Reigns
In his sermon on Psalms 96–99, Stephen Davey explains how these “Yahweh Malak” psalms—“The LORD reigns”—call believers to bold worship, confident witness, and joyful submission to the rule of God. Psalm 96 opens with an invitation to sing a new song and to “tell of His salvation,” using a Hebrew word linked with delivering victorious news. Davey compares believers to ancient messengers running to announce triumph—our message being the gospel of Jesus Christ, the true victory over sin and death. Psalm 97 expands this theme by proclaiming that the Lord’s reign extends to the farthest “coastlands,” and that His descending glory, fire, and lightning foreshadow His coming judgment. Yet even in judgment, God preserves the lives of His saints—His redeemed people—who rejoice in His righteousness. Psalm 98 celebrates the Lord’s saving work, repeating the word salvation three times to emphasize that God alone accomplished redemption and now offers it as a free gift, like a gift already paid for by Christ’s sacrifice. Psalm 99 looks forward to the millennial kingdom, when the Lord reigns from Zion as the holy King; the choir’s refrain—“Holy is He”—reverberates through the psalm. Davey concludes that Jesus is not only Savior but King: mighty in judgment, merciful in salvation, holy in character, and worthy of bold proclamation as we carry the good news of His rule into the world.
Created and Guided by Our Creator God
In his sermon on Psalms 93–95, Stephen Davey explains how these three psalms call believers to confidence in God’s sovereignty, comfort in His attentiveness, and obedience to His warnings. Psalm 93, likely written by a Levite returning from Babylonian exile, opens Book Four by declaring, “The LORD reigns,” reminding worshipers that God’s eternal throne stands unmoved by the chaos of nations or the obstacles facing His people. Though life feels like a rising flood, the psalmist insists that God’s power is mightier than the roaring waters, giving believers courage in real time. Psalm 94 then asks whether God truly sees and understands the injustices of a wicked world, and the psalmist answers with creation logic: if God designed the human ear, He can certainly hear; if He formed the eye, He absolutely sees. Davey highlights how this leads to comfort—“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul”—because the Creator who engineered human complexity also attends to His children’s burdens. Psalm 95 calls God’s people to joyful worship and humble responsiveness, celebrating the Lord as Creator, King, and Shepherd while warning both unbelievers and believers not to harden their hearts as Israel once did. Davey concludes that these psalms anchor believers in the truth that they are created, known, guided, and cared for by a sovereign God—One whose voice is to be trusted today, whose power stabilizes every storm, and whose shepherding hand never lets go of His flock.