Psalm 108

Remix – A new version of a recording made by recombining and re-editing the elements of the existing recording and often adding material such as new vocals or instrumental tracks (thefreedictionary.com).

Reprise – a repeated passage in music (Oxford dictionary).

Greatest Hits – An album, sometimes called a best of album or a catalog album, that is a compilation of songs by a particular artist or band. Most often the track list contains previously released recordings with a high degree of notability (definitions.net).

Remix, reprise and greatest hits all have a common theme – taking something that was great or successful on its own, using it again and/or trying to make it better.  Our scripture for today, Psalm 108, could be described as a remix, reprise or even a greatest hit.  This Psalm is made up of un-edited verses taken from two other Psalms – verses 1-5 are from Psalm 57:7-11, and verses 6-13 are from Psalm 60:5-12.

Both Psalms 57 and 60 are Psalms of lament, or Psalms that express deep sorrow for the painful experiences of God’s nation and cry out to God for his intervention/blessing.  Because the lament portion of these Psalms did not carryover, Psalm 108 essentially turned into a Psalm of victory where David 1) offers praise to God, 2) asks for God’s help, and 3) conveys his expectation of deliverance.

  • David’ personal exaltation of God

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth (Psalm 108:3-5).

  • David’s request for help

Save us and help us with your right hand,
    that those you love may be delivered (Psalm 108:6).         

  • David’s expression of confidence in God’s ability to deliver      

Give us aid against the enemy,
    for human help is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory,
    and he will trample down our enemies (Psalm 108:12-13).

David’s formula was simple. Without God, he could do nothing.  But with God, anything was possible.  Do you have confidence in God’s ability to deliver you from your enemies? From your distress? From your pain?

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).

 

 

 

 

Psalm 107

What is your story? Who were you before Jesus?

Were you a wanderer without purpose? A prisoner to sin or addiction? Were you distressed? Have you been tossed in the storms of life? Psalm 107:2 says, “Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.”

I have been a prisoner to my worry for a long time. It was something that was so natural for me that I didn’t even know I was doing it. I would wake up with a racing heart and anxious mind that would take me through the day and then have the audacity to keep me awake at night. And the cycle would continue day after day. It was like a snowball that kept getting bigger and bigger.  Peace eluded me and I thought something must be wrong with me! And the thought that I was flawed kept me from rejoicing in the truth that I am loved by God, my creator. I was distressed. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your cares and worries to God, for He cares about what happens to you. Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the devil, your great ememy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.”  I believed the lie that I was flawed, unworthy, and unable to overcome my thoughts.  I am still a work in progress, but I am aware now that God did not create me to worry about all of the what ifs and to succumb to the feelings of “not good enough”. That is the roaring lion creeping up behind me. When this happens, I cry out to the Lord and He helps me in my distress. It is not always a sweet prayer. Most often it is me, on my knees, crying out for help to see myself as God sees me. To have faith that He will rescue me, ultimately into eternity with Him. I am redeemed! Not because I have the power to redeem myself, but because there is power when I cry out to the Lord in my distress. And he never tires of my cries. I am loved and significant because of God. I am redeemed! And in Him, I find peace. There are days that I am really good at remembering this and then there are other days that the lion is closer than I want it to be. But my redeemer is always a prayer or a cry away and able to rescue me in my distress!

Psalm 107 is a chapter about thankfulness to God for delivering us from our distress. Verses 6,13,19,and 28 repeat “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued (saved) them from their distress”. The more we suffer and have to rely on God the bigger our understanding of Him becomes. He saves us from wandering, from being a prisoner to ourselves and the world, from our distress, and from the storms of life. All of our stories are different. Your story could lead someone closer to Jesus.

Psalm 107:2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!

 

His Loving Patience

What a great Top 10 Lynden shared with us yesterday on things we take for granted.  His examples were definitely aligned with mine as a reminder about many of the things we have in this life. After Psalm 105’s reminder about the hidden things we take for granted comes a reminder in Psalm 106 of God’s grace and patience despite our forgetful and self-willed lives.

Todays Reading: Psalm 106

I read and listened to a recent Podcast that recommended going back and reading different Bible versions.  Today I landed on the Good news Translation.

1 Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good;
his love is eternal.
2 Who can tell all the great things he has done?
Who can praise him enough?

Who can praise him enough? I know that I can’t.  Even if I started a list right now, I’d still be making a list for days to come. Take a moment to pause and reflect. Write it down in your journal, on the side of your bible, say them out loud.

  • Praise for His transformation in my life.
  • Praise for His love and grace He shows and gives me.
  • Praise for my family.
  • Praise for small groups.
  • Praise for 1777 posts Bible Journal has posted since 1/1/2016.

These were just some I thought about today.  As you continue to read through this chapter, you will be reminded of the importance of our obedience in verse 3.

3 Happy are those who obey his commands,
who always do what is right.

Verses 6-43 humble me and remind me of the blind, rebellious, and forgetful we can be in our sinful nature how stories from the Israelites shortcomings can connect back to our stories today.  To my story.  To yours.

Thankfully, we have a Father who has given and shows grace to those who deserved judgment. Verse 44-47.  God’s faithfulness to us is not dependent on our faithfulness to him.  Just a few weeks ago, we remembered that God sent His son to die for you and me.  He showed us grace when we were still sinners.  Imagine the grace He shows as his children.

44 Yet the Lord heard them when they cried out,
and he took notice of their distress.
45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and because of his great love he relented.
46 He made all their oppressors
feel sorry for them.

47 Save us, O Lord our God,
and bring us back from among the nations,
so that we may be thankful
and praise your holy name.

48 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel;
praise him now and forever!
Let everyone say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord!

The Shema

Ten things that I have taken for granted is the past:
  • Kissing my kids and wife daily and telling them I love them
  • Talking with my parents and mentors often
  • Taking a shower (hot or warm water that is easily accessible)
  • Having the ability to do laundry whenever I need
  • Being able to walk and move without hesitation
  • Having a job and the ability to get there without any problems
  • Being able to go to the restroom without assistance
  • Being able to sit with my children and just be in their presence
  • Being able to breathe
  • The Lord’s Prayer
By no means is this a complete list, I would not be able to contain the items in finite pages.
Every day we are given blessings that we are not aware or don’t acknowledge. Over the last several years, I have been more aware of my blessings that God has instilled upon my family, my friends, and myself. Sometimes, I take for granted the waking up in my bed or being able to walk from my bed to the restroom or to the kitchen without assistance. Currently, the patients that I serve want to do these activities, but are physically incapable of performing these tasks. When we become more aware and attentive to our surroundings and our privileges, then we are more appreciative of the small things that causes us to be where we are and where we have come from. I have found the more that I am reminded of God’s glory in my everyday life, the more I can give Him more praise and give it unconditionally.
Psalms 105 is a reminder of the hidden blessings that we can take for granted. This psalm is an echo and reminder of the Shema: Deuteronomy 6. The author of this psalm is reminding Israel of the complete promise and fulfillment of the Promise that God gave Abraham. He would give the people of Israel a land that was full of blessings and all they had to do was to enter and remember God’s provisions.
When I first encountered this psalm, I had the feeling of deja vu. As we have prayed through and reflected in the Psalms we are reminded of the promise and liberation and joy of the God. This particularly echos the Shema because in Deuteronomy 6:6-12 it is a statute that we must remember and not take for granted our current situation.
Deuteronomy 6:6-12

Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

10-12 When God, your God, ushers you into the land he promised through your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, you’re going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn’t build, well-furnished houses you didn’t buy, come upon wells you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn’t plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don’t forget how you got there—God brought you out of slavery in Egypt.

Each of our current situations, God is in the midst and providing all our needs. Our current situation could be better and it could be worst. We must allow ourselves to see what God is doing and remember what he has brought us through. We must also remember when we are in the wilderness at different times in our lives, God will fulfill his promises if we allow Him to show us in his time.
The main sustenance of Psalms 105 is summed up in the last part of the verse : When you take it it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don’t forget how you got there.
Be Blessed

God’s Creation

Springtime is my favorite season of the year.  I yearn for the flowers to bloom, the trees to bud, the birds to sing, and the grass to green.  The picture above was taken from my back porch over this past weekend.  I sat and marveled at the redness of this cardinal sitting in the pinkness of the tree.  Wow!  God you are colorful and creative!  

Psalm 104 is a marvelous account of God’s creation.  

O Lord, what an amazing variety of all you have created!  Wild and wonderful is this world you have made, while wisdom was there at your side.  This world is full of so many creatures, yet each belongs to you!

Psalm 104:24

The word “wisdom” in the verse above comes from the Hebrew word –chokmah – meaning to describe skillful craftsmanship.  God’s handiwork in nature proclaims His presence and makes us want to praise Him.  

When we see creation as the psalmist who wrote Psalm 104, we will better know and appreciate the greatness of God.  We can all benefit from taking time to sit in the presence of God in His creation.  There we can relax in quiet and ponder the wonders of our God.

Psalm 104 begins and ends with the words:  “Praise the Lord” (vs 1 & 35).  From the red Cardinal sitting in the bursting pink Redbud tree to the oceans, the mountains, and the stars in the sky, our Creator’s artistry is all around us.  May we take it all in today and PRAISE Him for it!

Psalm 103: Ten Thousand Reasons

When I think of Psalm 103, my mind goes to the song 10000 Reasons (Bless the Lord). Based off an old hymn inspired by this passage, it’s such a relatable, genuine expression of just how much we have to really be thankful for in God. Matt Redman said when writing this song: “We live beneath an unceasing flow of goodness, kindness, greatness, and holiness, and every day we’re given reason after reason why Jesus is so completely and utterly worthy of our highest and best devotion.” Amen, Matt! Everything God does to deserve praise is so abundant & convicting that when we are devoted to worship, living turns into an act of worship, because every little thing we do & everything within us reflects His providence and glorifies Him – “Bless the Lord, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

This psalm acts as such a refreshing list of just a few of the qualities that paint us a picture of who God is, and act as a good grounding point for me when I need to be reminded of the important things. Reading through, I think: how has God displayed this attribute in my life lately? How can I honor Christ by learning from these qualities & using these lessons to glorify Him through my own thoughts & actions more than the day before? We see throughout this psalm how God is:

  • Forgiving & healing (v. 3)
  • Redeems us from sin (v. 4)
  • Satisfies us, renews us (v. 5)
  • Righteous & just (v. 6)
  • Revealer of all knowledge & wisdom (v. 7)
  • Full of mercy & grace (v. 8)
  • Genuinely forgiving (v. 9)
  • Merciful towards our wrongdoings (v. 10)
  • Boundless in love, all-encompassing (v. 11-12)
  • A sternly compassionate teacher (v. 13)
  • Eternally steadfast (v. 14-17)
  • Rewarding of faithfulness & faithful in kind (v. 18)
  • Sovereignly & ultimately in charge (v. 19)

This only scratches the surface of God’s qualities, but going over all our reasons to praise the Lord is a great reminder of how blessed we really are. Scripture helps & encourages me through these reminders to want to be more Christ-like, to share His love with this world better – increasingly turning my life into an act of worship. Psalm 34:1 is a great missive to this regard: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” I want more and more to be forever singing God’s praises, to where my existence is seen as the act of praise that it is; as Paul put in 1 Phillipians 1:20, “that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” This Psalm rejuvenates me and strengthens my need to surrender my life to Christ and to pray for Him to transform it into a candle of His light and a song of His praise. I ask you join me in prayer today as well, that God could move in & through us that we would sing His praises through our words & all we do. Though this, may our lives be beautiful and contagious songs of his countless blessings and immeasurable glory.

Always With You, Never Changing

Today’s reading is Psalm 102 with the title in my Bible reading, “A Prayer of One Afflicted When He is Faint and Pours Out His Complaint Before the Lord.”

This Psalm begins very sad with the psalmist saying the following…

Hear my prayer, O Lord;

let my cry come to you!

Psalm 102:1

For my days pass away like

smoke,

and my bones burn like a dry furnace.

My heart is struck down like

grass and has withered;

I forget to eat bread.

Psalm 102:3-4

If those verses don’t tell you enough about what a sad state the psalmist is in, read all of Psalm 102:1-11.

What gives you strength in tough times? What provides you comfort in challenging moments? Where does your sense stability come from even during “normal” times? Many may say it’s from a relationship with a spouse, a parent, son/daughter, or friend. This could be good for a period of time, but the reality is it won’t be permanent. We, as well as those we have relationships with, are human…meaning we and they are prone to sin so these relationships could weaken and even end, or they will end because we or they pass away. There is a saying out there about “having faith in people.” Those who know me well have said I tend to always try to find the best in people, and I do like that saying. However, if taken literally and too far…it will eventually leave us feeling let down, lonely, and sad if we rely on people alone.

The psalmist realizes and reminds himself and us there is only One who is truly ALWAYS there for us and will never let us down.

He regards the prayer of the

destitute

and also does not despise their

prayer.

Psalm 102:17

He says a few verses later…

Of old you laid the foundation of

the earth,

and the heavens are the work

of your hands.

They will perish, but you will remain:

they will all wear out like a

garment…

Psalm 102:25-26

And again in verse 27…

But you are the same, and your years have no end.

Psalm 102:27

We see public figures let us down and mess up. We hear about pastors who were not really men/women of God, and we even find out family members who we revered made mistakes because they are well..human like us. Only God will never let us down. Only He is perfect. Only He has always been and always will be there for us. You may be reading this and saying my life is not going as I planned and blaming God, but that’s not because of God..that’s because we live in a world filled with sin which was not in God’s original design. Despite all that’s happened to you, God has been there with you the whole time. He hears your groans, and He cares.

When Jesus called Nathanael to be a disciple in John 1:46, He says “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit.” When Nathanael asked Jesus how he knew Him Jesus says in John 1:47, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” When Nathanael hears this, he immediately calls rabbi or teacher. Some scholars believe Jesus comments hit Nathanael between the eyes because he may have been sitting under the tree not only by himself where only God could have seen him, but also possibly saddened about a recent event or misunderstanding  where he was incorrectly blamed for something and was crying out to God because He had done no wrong. Jesus comments that He not only saw Nathanael, but that He knew there was no deceit in him were not coincidental which is why Nathanael immediately knew He was the Messiah and called Him teacher.

What’s the point? Jesus was there with him. Jesus knew. Jesus cared. Jesus is with you. Jesus knows. Jesus cares. Lean on Jesus. He will always be there for you. The world and people change and will let you down. Jesus won’t..ever.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Promises

 

Psalm 101

How often do you find yourself considering doing evil? I find that I have a few certain sins that cause me to fall into their trap time after time, some daily. For me it doesn’t seem like I get tempted by each option that blows by, instead I fall for a few specific things often when they are in my path. When I look through my list of confessions to God it seems like there are several issues that make almost daily appearances.

In our reading today, David states his goal of “being careful to live a blameless life”. Next he writes out a very specific list of things he will do and not do to help him self accomplish his goal of living a blameless life. He even goes so far as to list the traits he will not tolerate in those around him and says that he will only allow those above reproach to serve him. He says his daily task will be to ferret out the wicked and to free up his city from the grip of those wicked people. This passage lists the specific steps David plans to take each day to help him keep his promise or commitment to God of living a blameless life. Thank God that I, unlike David, do not rule a city. My world and life are smaller than what he was responsible for at the time this was written. Because of the life he lived I see the wisdom in stating his goals and the things he could not tolerate in the people around him. But I wonder what I can learn from his approach.

My story looks different than David’s does. In past years, I would make sweeping promises to God like, “I am going to beat this issue!” or “I will never do that specific thing again”. I may have made it a day or two or even a little longer on certain issues without falling but the truth was that I never truly “beat” the issue. It would always rear its ugly head at some point and I’d give in and do it again. My promises broken, I wanted to hide from God instead of going to Him for forgiveness.  Out of shear necessity I quit making promises I couldn’t keep. I think I felt like a double failure in these instances, first for sinning and second for not keeping my commitment to God. After a good amount of time with no promises and only confessing the actual sin, I started to see a pattern in one of my main struggles. Sometimes the thought of this particular sin would pop into my mind and I would consciously think, “I’ll deal with the consequences of this later-go ahead and enjoy”, and at other times I would consciously think “Not with God near. The idea is so offensive, I couldn’t possibly do it in front of Him.” So what is the deciding factor in which approach I decide to take? For me, it is if I have spent time with Him earlier that day and if I have had a strong run of consecutive days of time with Him. When I have spent more time with Him, He is able to communicate more freely with me because I have put myself in position to hear His promptings, He manages the temptation for me. I think I am finally coming to grips with the fact that I will never develop enough willpower to overcome some issues. God is the only one who can change the way I think and the way I respond to situations. (We all know this to be true in knowledge from reading the Bible, but I think I am actually seeing it work in my life so it is becoming real to me like never before.)

Like David I want to live a blameless life. While my circumstances are very different than David’s, I am learning that my strongest defense against sin is closer relationship with God. I see the wisdom in David’s plan to put the best influences around him self and to remove the people with ungodly habits from his close associates. By vetting his staff with his list of strong moral criteria, he built a support system and a hedge of accountability around him in his daily life. He had the wisdom to use other people’s relationship with God to support him in his desire to live blamelessly. I have made similar choices in the people I choose to spend my time with. It helps to have likeminded people with the same life goals as me being the main voices speaking into my life. While these relationships with people will never hold a candle to the power and influence that my relationship with God has in my life, they are a huge help in keeping me aimed at my goal. So maybe today I need to read David’s words as a set of guidelines to help me achieve my goal instead of seeing them as proclamations or promises to God that I am unable to keep. If I set up a good support system around myself, and stay committed to spending the time with Him that I know I need, I will see Him make me different than I am today.

Celebrate

Psalm 100

Sometimes I read the Bible for instruction.  Do “x” to get “y.”  I want to know the steps, the right actions to take, and the methods that make for a happy and God-pleasing life.  Psalm 100 is not written for instruction.  It’s a celebration.  One that provokes shouting, singing, and gladness.

It occurs to me that when I am instructed to do things, I don’t shout for joy or sing out loud so that everyone can hear.  Provoking those actions and emotions requires something more.  It has to come from the heart.  So, what did this Psalmist have in his heart that was so exciting?

First, he is excited about who God is.  Verse 3 says it clearly, “Acknowledge that the Lord is God!”  What does that mean to you?  For me, it’s about His being in control.  I don’t have to have all the answers or solutions to every problem.  Those are all his to deal with!

Second, there is something about who we are in relation to him.  The Psalmist gratefully remembers that He is our creator and we are his.  He even uses the imagery of being his sheep in the pasture.  I picture a lush green field and the full comfort of knowing that I am protected from everything.

Do those thoughts stir your soul with emotion?  If yes, take a moment to shout your praise.  Sing hallelujah!  Of course, not everyone will experience God’s joy in this very moment.  If that’s you, look no further than verse 5.  It may take more than glancing at the words for a moment, so find a quiet spot.  Think for a moment as this Psalmist did.

    • The Lord is good
    • His love is unfailing
    • His love is forever
    • He is faithful
    • This is true for all generations

Now, in my reflection, I experience a very different kind of joy.  Instead of shouting from the rooftops, I get a tear in my eye and warmth in my heart.  It’s joy, just the same.  All for Him and all from Him.

AMEN!

 

He is Holy

Psalm 99 is packed full of substance in 8 short verses.

1 The Lord reigns;

Let the peoples tremble!

He dwells between the cherubim;

Let the earth be moved!

2 The Lord is great in Zion.

And He is high above all the peoples.

3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name –

He is holy.

4 The King’s strength also loves justice;

You have established equity;

You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

5 Exalt the Lord our God. And worship at His footstool – He is holy.

6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests,

And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;

They called upon the Lord,

And He answered them.

7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar;

They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.

8 You answered them, O Lord our God;

You were to them God-Who-Forgives,

Though You took vengeance on their deeds.

Exalt the Lord our God,

And worship at His holy hill;

For the Lord our God is holy.

In my experience, sound relationships are built on trust.  We respect people who we trust.  We love people who love us back, provide us unconditional love, and are there for us when we need them.

What about our “mighty and powerful God?”  How do you feel about the trust and relationship that you have with Him?  Do you believe in the three exclamations in verses three, five, and eight, “He is holy?”

Webster’s defines holy as “exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.”

I have been reading lately about our God’s “gentle and lowly” approach to our sins.  Scripture tells us in Hebrews 12:1-12 that our sins “draw the discipline” of God but He still loves us.  God hates our sin and draws near to us and wants us to choose the right path. His immediate reaction to our sin is not wrath and retribution but love and care for us.

In Hosea 11:7-9 God exclaims his love for Israel, even after they have sinned against God.

7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.

Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I set you like Zeboiim?

My heart churns within Me;

My sympathy is stirred.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger,

I will not again destroy Ephraim.

For I am God, and not man,

The Holy One in your midst;

And I will not come with terror.

Our God has compassion for us always.  God showed His eternal love by sending his Son Jesus to earth to die on a cross for our sins.  The New Covenant God made with man with Jesus’ birth and death was the greatest demonstration of love ever shown to humankind. God acted on His love for us by sending us a savior, knowing we would continue to sin and defy Him.

Back to trust.  I think trust in God is vital to my relationship with Him.  I would find it hard to love Him if it was only because of my fear of Him.  I could feel “forced” to believe in Him because I am afraid or scared of His wrath, or I can choose to believe and follow Him because I know he loves me ALWAYS and wants what is best for me.

I choose love.  God loves me and wants what is best for me.  I get to choose my actions and they are frequently not pleasing to God.  But I know and trust that God will never forsake and leave me knowing that He created me for a purpose, and I will strive to live out that purpose and glorify His name.