Psalm 109

Song of the Slandered

 

Psalm 109 is the best known of the "imprecatory" or "cursing" psalms.  The reader should remember that these psalms are fundamentally pleas for God to administer justice.  My Bible also  notes this:

Strong emotions in poetry are expressed by strong language - while to us, that language seems harsh, its these of God's righteous judgment is entirely proper. 

Perhaps these psalms are included in Scripture to express God's approval of a passionate hatred of evil and evil deeds.

I tend to agree with that thought - it seems like that's missing in our culture today, doesn't it?  True passionate hatred for evil & evil deeds. 

 

I also love the thought in verse 4 - David is being betrayed and falsely accused by those he believed loved him and cared about him, yet his response is to TRUST God and give himself to prayer, trusting the Lord to work on his behalf.  A great, godly response that we would do well to emulate!

In return for my love they are my accusers,
But I give myself to prayer.
~ Ps. 109:4

 

It is the unspeakable comfort of all good people that, whoever is against them, God is for them.

~ Matthew Henry

 

Another good life lesson is expressed in verses 21-22; how often we behave sinfully when our "hearts are wounded."  When we are hurt, we tend to lash out and lash back.  David reminds us to call on the  mercy of the Lord in times like these - when our hearts are wounded within us 

 

But You, O God the Lord . . .
Because Your mercy is good, deliver me
For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
~ Ps. 109:22

In the New Testament Jesus tells us to love and pray for our enemies.  Have you ever struggled with this?  Ever wondered exactly how or what to pray for someone who is treating you wrongly?  David gives us another beautiful, godly example in verses 28-29: "Let my accusers be clothed with shame . . . "  As Matthew Henry notes,

 In this David prays that his enemies might be ashamed - that they might be brought to repentance, which is the chief thing we should beg of God for our enemies.

But I tell you, love your enemies

and pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44)

~  Jesus Christ

 

David concludes Psalm 109 with joy, the joy of faith.  God was David's protector in his sufferings, and He will be ours as well!

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• God can be trusted with the things that most try our souls and break our hearts
• God is the Deliverer of the poor & brokenhearted
• God's mercy is good
• My help is from the Lord, and I am saved according to His mercy

 HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• I bless the Lord that when my heart is wounded within me, His mercy is good to deliver me. 
• I praise God that, though I am weak, He is strong. 
• I praise the Lord that I can give myself to prayer, trusting Him to handle my worries and even troublesome people

 Today is Wednesday of "Holy Week" - the last week of Jesus' earthly life & ministry.  O, what wounds were inflicted on the Son of God this week - how falsely He was accused and betrayed by one He trusted.  How obediently He submitted to the will of the Father in all of this!

Below is a prayer penned by Scotty Smith, pastor @ Christ Community Church:
PRAYER:
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:27-32

     Dear Lord Jesus, it’s Wednesday of Holy Week and I’m moved by how troubled and yet peaceful You were as the events of that week began to unfold. There was no doubt in Your mind why You came into Jerusalem riding the foal of a donkey, in great conflict, but no doubt.

    For this very reason You came from eternity into time and space; for this very reason You emptied Yourself of Your glory by taking the form of a servant-man—the Lord’s Servant; for this very reason the Father spoke thunderous words from heaven for our benefit. In the fullness of time You came, and now at just the right time You would die.

     There would be no surprises. You knew what was coming. At the end of the week, You would pay the supreme price that fully guarantees our redemption, and the “drawing” of men and women from every single nation, tribe, people and language—a number as great as the stars in the sky, the sand of the beaches, and the dust of the earth.

     In a matter of days You would take the holy wrath of Judgment Day for all who will trust in You. At the end of the week, Your “bruised heel” would secure the ultimate crushing and “driving out” of the “prince of this world”—Satan himself. Understandably so, Your heart was troubled, greatly troubled, yet fully at peace.

     Jesus, as the events of our week now unfold, grant us grace to survey the wonders of Your cross, with greater awe, humility and gratitude than ever. In an hour when many in our culture are marginalizing and minimizing, denying and dismissing Your cross, may our boasting in Your cross grow by all-time exponential proportions.

     Love so amazing so divine demands our soul, our life our all. So very Amen, we pray, in the beauty and bounty of Your most glorious name ~

Psalm 108

Awake Early and Praise the Lord

Awake,  lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn,
I will praise you, O Lord, among the peoples.
~ Ps. 108:2-3

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee

How do you begin your day each day?  I have heard my Sunday school teacher give this great counsel:   when you awaken each morning, before your feet hit the floor, give your first thought to God.  A great way to start the day, and with the proper mindset!

Psalm 108 is a psalm of David - does it sound familiar?  Verses 1-5 are nearly identical with verses we read in Psalm 57, and verses 6-13 with Psalm 60.  Psalm 108 begins with praise and ends with prayer, and faith is at work in both.  

May we read & study Psalm 108, and learn to praise God by some who is a master of this art - David!  Matthew Henry summarizes what we need to learn & observe from Psalm 108 regarding praise:

• 

  We must praise God with fixedness of heart - wandering, straggling thoughts must be gathered in and our focus set
• We must praise God with free expression -  what talents has God gifted you with?  King David was a gifted musician, and he praised God greatly with this ability.  Use the talents at which you excel to bring glory & praise to God
• We must praise God with affection, and not carelessly
• We must praise God publicly, as those that are not ashamed to own & show our obligations to Him
• Our praise must magnify the mercy & truth of God

Regarding verses 12 -13, Henry makes a notable comment:

We must do our part, but we can do nothing of ourselves;

 it is only through God that we shall do valiantly.

Give us help from trouble,
for the help of man is useless.
Through God we will do valiantly.
~ Ps. 108:13

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• God is worthy of my praise
• God's mercy is great, and His truth is high
• God's glory is above all the earth
• God saves with His right hand
• God hears my prayer
• God is holy
• God is our hope and our help - we can do nothing of ourselves

 HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• I praise the Lord for His mercy, truth, glory and greatness
• I praise the Lord that He hears my prayer
• I praise the Lord for His help in my time of trouble, and that through Him I can do valiantly

PRAYER:

 

     O Lord, I pray that my heart will be kept steadfast in my faith & trust in You.  May I never look to any other, but keep my focus only on the Lord.  May my ear be keen to Your voice all the days of my life. 
     I pray that You will walk with me each day, that I would awaken and praise You each morning of my life.  How often I am beset by the busyness of  my own making, and often put thoughts of You last instead of first.  I bless You that Your mercy is great above the heavens, and that Your truth reaches the clouds.  Far beyond my comprehension.  I bless You for Your ways that I don't understand - that You are big, and I am small. 
     O Lord, on this day of the Holy Week over 2,000 years ago, Judas bargained with the Jewish rulers to betray Jesus.  I know that, in my sin, I betray You each day.  How I bless You that, by the end of this blessed week in history, Your work of salvation for Your people was complete.  You had paid the price for my sins, and secured my salvation by the death of Your precious Son.      
     Be exalted, O God, above the heavens . . . and in my life.  In Christ's name I pray ~ Amen
    

Psalm 107

God Satisfies the Longing Soul

Psalm 107 begins book 5, the last of the 5 books of the Psalms.  Verse 1 in Psalm 106 & 107 are exactly the same:

In Psalm 107, the psalmist observes some of the incidences of God’s providential care of the children of men in general, especially in their distresses; for He is the God of the whole earth, and a common Father to mankind. 

The psalmist specifies some of the most common calamities of human life, and shows how God succours those that labor under them, in answer to their prayers.  He specifies events concerning nations and families, in which God’s hand is to be eyed by His own people, with joyful acknowledgements of His goodness.                                    ~ Matthew Henry

Psalm 107 recounts those in these common situations:

1. Persons who are in distress - all who receive mercy are called upon to return thanks to God
2. The goodness of God towards prisoners & captives
3. Bodily sickness is another of the calamities of this life which gives us an opportunity of experiencing the goodness of God.
4. The power of God appears at all times in the sea and to sea-farers

Verses 8 is a refrain that occurs at the close of each stanza – v. 8, 15. 21, 31.  Verses 8&9 are worthy of our committing to memory as a reminder for us to offer proper thanks to God.

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
~Ps. 107:8-9

Psalm 107 also shows us that GOD IS THE MASTER OF NATURE!

He commands and raises the stormy wind

Which lifts up the waves of the sea. . .

He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

Ps. 107:25, 29

Verses 33-43 are a description of the Lord’s ability to turn abundance into barrenness, and poverty into exaltation.  He does the first because of human wickedness, and the second because of His lovingkindness.

 Regarding verse 43, my Bible notes,

The scenes of this psalm are descriptive of the plight of all sinners.  Perhaps the emphasis of verse 43 is that the reader should recognize his own need and his own salvation as being described in the four scenes of this Psalm

Whoever is wise will observe these things,

And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

 ~ Ps. 107:43

A prudent observance of the providences of God will contribute very much to the accomplishing of a good Christian. 

~ Matthew Henry

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• The Lord is good – His mercy endures forever
• The Lord redeems His people, and delivers them out of their distresses
• The Lord shows His wonderful works to the children of men
• The Lord satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness
• God is the master of nature

HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• I praise the Lord for His goodness, mercy, redemption, and deliverance
• I bless God for His wondrous works
• I praise the Lord that He satisfies my longing soul
• I praise God that He is the Blessed Controller of the universe – that all of nature obeys His voice!  O, that I would be that obedient to Him!

 PRAYER:

     Thank You, O Lord, that Your mercy endures forever.  We would be utterly destroyed without Your merciful redemption & deliverance, without the lovingkindness which You pour out on Your people.  How I bless You for pouring it out in my life, for raining down Your love like an endless spring shower!  I give thanks to You for Your goodness, for Your wonderful works shown to me!  Thank You for satisfying my longing soul with Yourself, for filling my hungry soul with the goodness of Yourself. 

    Would you grant to me great wisdom, O Lord – that I may understand the Your lovingkindness.  That I may know the mind of God as much as I am able. 
     O Lord, we celebrate "Holy Week" this week - the week that marks the final week of Jesus' earthly ministry, beginning with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the shouts of "Hosanna" - shouts of praise and adoration.  May You hear my heart shouting hosannas to You this week!  In Jesus' name I pray ~ Amen

Psalm 106

We have Sinned

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!”

~ Ps. 106:1

The cause for thanks is always the good character of God.

Psalm 106 has elements of a lament and a hymn, reciting the rebellion of Israel.  After a brief introduction, the rebellion in the wilderness is recounted.  The following discussion in Psalm 106 concerns Israel’s succumbing to the Canaanite gods and the ensuing exile.  It is also an example of God exacting consequences for the sin of His people. In all of this, God’s faithfulness endures.  As we saw in previous Psalms, forgiveness does not mean no consequences! We see that God rebuked them for their sin, but saved them from ultimate ruin.  What a God of lovingkindness!

Matthew Henry notes:

We must give glory to God by making confession, not only of His goodness but our own badness.  Psalm 106 is a history of God’s goodness to Israel, a history of their rebellions and provocations, and yet it beings & ends with Hallelujah, for even sorrow for sin must not put us out of tune for praising God.

Verse 6 is a great example of confession – it is true ownership of sin!  No excuses, no covering it up – just humble repentance – “I have sinned.” 

How well do you own your sin and acknowledge it before God?

We have sinned with our fathers,

We have committed iniquity

We have done wickedly.

~ Ps. 10:6

Psalm 106 is a beautiful expression of God’s faithfulness to His covenant with His people in spite of themselves, and of His lovingkindness to those who cry to Him:

Nevertheless, He saved them for His name’s sake,

That He might make His mighty power known.  V. 8

He regarded their affliction when He heard their cry;

And for their sake He remembered His covenant v. 44-45

Matthew Henry: 

God brought His judgment upon them, and what else could be expected.  This is the worst thing in sin – that it makes us loathsome to God. 

Those that will not by repentance humble themselves are justly debased.  They were chastened for their sins, but not destroyed; cast down, but not cast off.  God heard their cry with tender compassion.  Bad as they were, He would not break with them, because he would not break His own promise (just as we saw in yesterday’s Psalm 105)!

This doxology marks the close of the fourth book of Psalms.  Each of the 5 books of the Psalms ends in a similar way.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

From everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord!

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• The Lord is good
• His mercy endures forever
• He does righteousness at all times
• The Lord deals with favor towards His people, for His name’s sake
• God brings consequences for sin
• God remembers His covenant with His people
• God hears the cry of His people

 HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• I bless the Lord that He is a forgiving God – that He bears with me in my sin.  He allows consequences, but will not allow me to be ultimately destroyed
• I praise the Lord that He hears my cry
• I praise the Lord for His faithfulness to the generations of His people . . . from days of old to today

PRAYER:

     Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You have toward Your people.  How I bless You that You have visited me with Your salvation – that You made me spiritually alive, that You took my heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh.  As this Easter season approaches and I contemplate anew the price of the cross, my heart blesses You once again for the gift of Your Son and His righteousness in place of my filth and sin.  Thank You that I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, and glory with Your inheritance!  You saved me for Your name’s sake.  I pray that You would bring each member of my family to saving faith as well – those today, and future generations.

     O Lord, I pray that You would guard my heart and mind from forgetfulness – that I would not forget You or turn from Your ways.  Forgive me when I complain, when I am complacent, when I sin against You.  I bless You that You regard me according to the multitude of Your mercies, and I plead for Your mercy in my life and in the lives of those I love.  Save us, O Lord our God – to give thanks to Your holy name, and to triumph in Your praise.

     Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.  And let all the people say, ‘Amen.’  Praise the Lord!

    

Psalm 105

Remember, God Keeps His Promises

He is the Lord our God . . .

He remembers His covenant forever,

The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations.

~ Ps. 105:7-8

Psalm 105 is a hymn reviewing Israel’s history

1. Beginning with Abraham
2. Continuing with Joseph
3. The deliverance from Egypt
4. Provision in the wilderness
5. Concluding with the occupation of Canaan

 “His holy name” refers to God’s character; the very essence of His being

Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

~ Ps. 105:3

We’ve mentioned before that God’s faithful promises to His people are often seen through the generations.  Verses 9-10 are such an example:

The covenant which He made with Abraham,

And His oath to Isaac,

And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute.

~ Ps. 105:9-10

 

What Does It Mean to Seek the Lord?

Seeking the Lord means seeking His presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek His “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having access to God. To be before His face is to be in His presence.  R.C. Sproul frequently uses the term “Coram deo” – before the face of God.

This happens through “seeking.” Continual seeking. But what does that mean practically? Both the Old and New Testaments say it is a “setting of the mind and heart” on God. It is the conscious fixing or focusing of our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on God.

“Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.”

~ I Chron. 22:19

This setting of the mind is the opposite of mental coasting. It is a conscious choice to direct the heart toward God. It is a conscious effort on our part. But that effort to seek God is a gift from God.

1. The HEAVENS are telling the glory of God. So we can seek Him through that.
2. He reveals Himself in HIS WORD. So we can seek Him through that.
3. He shows Himself to us in the evidences of GRACE in other people. So we can seek Him through that.

The seeking is the conscious effort to constantly set our minds toward God in all our experiences, to direct our minds and hearts toward Him through the means of His revelation. This is what seeking God means.

And as we direct our minds and hearts Godward in all our experiences, we cry out to Him. This too is what seeking Him means.

The great obstacle to seeking the Lord is PRIDE.

“In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him”

~ Ps. 10:4

Therefore, humility is essential to seeking the Lord.

The great promise to those who seek the Lord is that He will be found.

“If you seek Him, He will be found by you”

~ I Chron. 28:9

And when He is found, there is great reward.  God Himself is our greatest reward. And when we have Him, we have everything.

 

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• God is faithful to His promises  - He remembers His covenant forever
• God’s works are marvelous & wondrous
• He is the Lord our God, and His judgments are in all the earth
• God turns men’s hearts
• God has a plan for His people – for His children of old. . . .and for me!

HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• I praise the Lord for His great faithfulness - to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob . . . and to me!
• I praise the Lord for His wondrous & marvelous works
• I bless God that He has the plan, knows the plan – for all creation, and for my life

PRAYER:

     O Lord, I call upon Your name, Your holy name – coming into Your presence to give thanks to You!   Your works on behalf of Your people are marvelous and wonderous, and I sing praise to You.  May I, and may the members of my family, seek You all the days of our lives, and may our hearts rejoice with the joy of knowing & following You. 

     You are the Lord our God – what joy & comfort fills my heart to acknowledge that wonderful truth!  How I bless You that You have made Yourself known to me – that You show Yourself through Your creation, through Your word, through Your grace & mercy, through Your faithfulness.  How I bless You that You remember Your covenant with Your people, You remember Your holy promise.  My faithfulness to You is so flawed, yet Yours endures forever.  Thank You for the Biblical accounts of Your faithfulness to the generations of Your people – how we see Your deliverance over and over through thousands of years.  We’ve seen Your plan revealed and carried out – from Your first promises to Abraham through the coming of the promised Messiah . . . to today, and we can with the apostle John, “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)  Praise the Lord!

     ~  Amen and amen

Psalm 104

Psalm Rehearsing Creation

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live,
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
~ Ps. 104:31

I LOVE this psalm!  Don't you love reading about our Creator! It is believed that Psalm 104 was penned at the same time as Psalm 103, because it begins as Psalm 103 ends:  "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"  Psalm 104 is a hymn about creation - all of the elements of God's creative work are mentioned:

• the heavens
• the division of the waters and the land
• provisions for animals & humans
• the 'luminaries' (sun, moon, stars)
• the sea creatures

Psalm 104:4 also mentions the angels - they are curious beings to our human, finite minds aren't they?  My Bible notes this:

"Angel" denotes a class of beings who are not usually perceived by human senses.  Angels were created at some point before the physical universe.  They apparently do not age or die.  They are compared to spirit and fire because they have no bodies; however, angels do appear in some sort of visible bodies frequently in pages of Scripture to serve as God's messengers or to intervene in human events on behalf of God or His people.  When they are visible, their appearance is distinctive from humankind and radiantly glorious.   



The earth is full of Your possessions.
~ Ps. 104:24



In verses 19-30, we are taught to praise & magnify God:

O Lord, how manifold are Your works!

In wisdom You have made them all.

~ Ps.104:24

The dependence of all creatures on God leads to a closing note of praise as Psalm 104 concludes.

 I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice

To worship You, O my soul, rejoice!

Take joy, my King, in what You hear -

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.

 - Laurie Klein

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD IN THIS PSALM:

• God is Almighty Creator - it is amazing to consider that He speaks all these things into existence!
• The Lord is very great - He is clothed with honor and majesty
• God is all-wise
• The earth is full of God's possessions
• God is the Provider for all creatures of the earth
• God's glory will endure forever

HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• I praise the Lord for His greatness, honor & majesty. 
• I praise the Lord for the greatness of His works and marvel at His creation
• I praise God for His wisdom in creation . . . how each part works together
• I bless the Lord for His kind provision for all His creatures

PRAYER:

     Bless the Lord, O my soul!  O Lord my God, You are very great.  Your might & power are evident in Your creation, and a testimony to You.  It is spring season right now, and the earth is coming alive again - new green grass, new flowers budding, new baby birds singing, sunshine warming the earth again after the winter.  All of these obey Your voice - You have appointed the moon for seasons, and the sun knows its going down.  O Lord, how manifold are your works!  In wisdom, You have made them all.  Thank You for the enjoyment of all of these things as I marvel at their beauty and at the work of Your hand.

     O God, I will sing praise to You as long as I live.  May my meditation be sweet to You - a sweet sound in Your ear.  May I be glad in You, finding my joy in You and in the sweetness of each blessing You have given into my life. 

     Bless the Lord, O my soul!  Praise the Lord!  In Jesus' name I pray ~ Amen

    

    

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord

Verse 1 of Psalm 103 makes up a song we used to sing in the senior high youth group of my church.  In an unusual sense of timing as we are studying this psalm, I attended the funeral of my youth director just yesterday.  Charles Heinz.  He was a great youth director, and had a strong impact on my life.  I loved the youth trips we used to take with my church:  in the summers to Panama City, and during Christmas breaks to Gatlinburg.  Charles had an amazing voice, and would lead our entire group as we would all sing:

Bless the Lord, O my soul

And all that is within me,

Bless His holy name!



He has done great things,

He has done great things,

He has done great things,

Bless His holy name!

Psalm 103 is a psalm of David.  Matthew Henry notes that in this psalm, David is communing with his own heart, stirring up himself and his own soul to praise God and "he is no fool that thus talks to himself."   

There are many beautiful truths in Psalm 103:

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy
toward those who fear Him.
~ Ps. 103:11



Regarding verse 13, my Bible comments:

 The image of a Father and His children is one way in which God's covenant is expressed. Children of God are those who fear Him - that is, obey Him.  God has both affection and compassion for His children. 

For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.
~ Ps. 103:14

WHAT CAN I LEARN ABOUT GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:
Psalm 103 names many of God's attributes:

• forgives our iniquities
• heals our diseases
• is our Redeemer
• Is merciful, gracious, & lovingly kind
• Is our provider
• Executes righteousness & justice
• Is slow to anger
• Forgives our sin
• Takes pity & compassion upon His children
• Has established His throne in Heaven
• His kingdom rules over all

HOW CAN I PRAISE GOD THROUGH THIS PSALM:

• Like David, I praise the Lord for His attributes listed in this Psalm
• I bless God for the compassion He showed to His children of old . . . and to me!
• I praise God that He has removed my transgressions  . . as far as the east is from the west
• I praise God that His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting  . . . and is shown to those who fear Him

PRAYER: by Ruth Myers:
     O Lord, You are full of mercy and compassion toward me.  You know the way I am put together; You know my limitations; You understand that I am dust.  And I praise You that You are greater than any or all of my failures .  . that as my Potter, You are able to mold and remold me, as I submit to Your wisdom and skill . . . that as the master Artist, You are able to take the dark threads of my life - my wounds, my scars, my blotches, the messes I make, and even my sins - and blend them into a beautiful design, to the praise of the glory of Your grace.
     Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!