1Let (A)God arise, let His enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate Him flee before Him.
2As (B)smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As (C)wax melts before the fire,
So let the (D)wicked perish before God.
3But let the (E)righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
4Sing to God, (F)sing praises to His name;
(G)Lift up a song for Him who (H)rides through the deserts,
Whose (I)name is the LORD, and exult before Him.
5A (J)father of the fatherless and a (K)judge [a]for the widows,
Is God in His (L)holy habitation.
6God (M)makes a home for the lonely;
He (N)leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only (O)the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7O God, when You (P)went forth before Your people,
When You (Q)marched through the wilderness, Selah.
8The (R)earth quaked;
The (S)heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God;
(T)Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9You (U)shed abroad a plentiful rain, O God;
You confirmed Your inheritance when it was parched.
10Your creatures settled in it;
You (V)provided in Your goodness for the poor, O God.
11The Lord gives the command;
The (W)women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host:
12"(X)Kings of armies flee, they flee,
And she who remains at home will (Y)divide the spoil!"
13[b]When you lie down (Z)among the [c]sheepfolds,
You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver,
And its pinions with glistening gold.
14When the Almighty (AA)scattered the kings there,
It was snowing in (AB)Zalmon.
15A (AC)mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan;
A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan.
16Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks,
At the mountain which God has (AD)desired for His abode?
Surely (AE)the LORD will dwell there forever.
17The (AF)chariots of God are [d]myriads, (AG)thousands upon thousands;
The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.
18You have (AH)ascended on high, You have (AI)led captive Your captives;
You have received gifts among men,
Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19Blessed be the Lord, who daily (AJ)bears our burden,
(AK)The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20God is to us a (AL)God of deliverances;
And (AM)to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.
21Surely God will (AN)shatter the head of His enemies,
The hairy crown of him who goes on in his guilty deeds.
22The Lord said, "(AO)I will bring them back from Bashan.
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23That (AP)your foot may shatter them in blood,
The tongue of your (AQ)dogs may have its portion from your enemies."
24They have seen (AR)Your procession, O God,
The procession of my God, my King, (AS)into the sanctuary.
25The (AT)singers went on, the musicians after them,
In the midst of the (AU)maidens beating tambourines.
26(AV)Bless God in the congregations,
Even the LORD, you who are of the (AW)fountain of Israel.
27There is (AX)Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them,
The princes of Judah in their throng,
The princes of (AY)Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28Your God has (AZ)commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, O God, (BA)who have acted on our behalf.
29Because of Your temple at Jerusalem
(BB)Kings will bring gifts to You.
30Rebuke the (BC)beasts in the reeds,
The herd of (BD)bulls with the calves of the peoples,
Trampling under foot the pieces of silver;
He has (BE)scattered the peoples who delight in war.
31Envoys will come out of (BF)Egypt;
(BG)Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God.
32Sing to God, O (BH)kingdoms of the earth,
(BI)Sing praises to the Lord, Selah.
33To Him who (BJ)rides upon the (BK)highest heavens, which are from ancient times;
Behold, (BL)He speaks forth with His voice, a (BM)mighty voice.
34(BN)Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And (BO)His strength is in the skies.
35O God, You are (BP)awesome from Your sanctuary
The God of Israel Himself (BQ)gives strength and power to the people
(BR)Blessed be God!
i dont even know what to say. like ash said in the last post, God does things for a reason, and its for him to know alone. everything, even about things we can't understand and seem unjust, like in numbers 5, about the jealous husband and unfaithful wife. it takes alot to say, God is good, blessed be his name always. but it shouldn't be because that is the truth, and we're either deceived or deceiving ourselves if we think otherwise, or think just because we can't understand God is being unjust.
God IS strong. God IS awesome. God DOES provide. these are all statements of faith and truth.
my soul is glad.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Psalm 67
1 God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us -Selah
2 That Your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
It is so joyous when we can call on God's attributes because we know that they are true of Him. For no one else can we say the same thing because we are all so fickle. In the midst of all these things that we are going through we can know for sure that God will be gracious to us and bless us because He loves us. What a glorious thought. It is God's desire that His way be known throughout the earth, and He shows that through creation and the earth. God's salvation though must be shared. I've accepted the fact that God does not elect people for salvation for a reason, and that reason is His and His alone. For what greater glory could we bring Him if we asked that he save the soul of one more person? God blesses us, He truly does.
2 That Your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
It is so joyous when we can call on God's attributes because we know that they are true of Him. For no one else can we say the same thing because we are all so fickle. In the midst of all these things that we are going through we can know for sure that God will be gracious to us and bless us because He loves us. What a glorious thought. It is God's desire that His way be known throughout the earth, and He shows that through creation and the earth. God's salvation though must be shared. I've accepted the fact that God does not elect people for salvation for a reason, and that reason is His and His alone. For what greater glory could we bring Him if we asked that he save the soul of one more person? God blesses us, He truly does.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Psalm 66
Psalm 66
Praise for God's Mighty Deeds and for His Answer to Prayer.
For the choir director. A Song. A Psalm.
1Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
2Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
3Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.
4"All the earth will worship You,
And will sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name." Selah.
5Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
6He turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through the river on foot;
There let us rejoice in Him!
7He rules by His might forever;
His eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8Bless our God, O peoples,
And sound His praise abroad,
9Who keeps us in life
And does not allow our feet to slip.
10For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11You brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
12You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.
13I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall pay You my vows,
14Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was in distress.
15I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts,
With the smoke of rams;
I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats. Selah.
16Come and hear, all who fear God,
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
17I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
18If I regard wickedness in my heart,
The Lord will not hear;
19But certainly God has heard;
He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
20Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer
Nor His lovingkindness from me.
2Sing the glory of His name;
Make His praise glorious.
3Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!
Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You.
4"All the earth will worship You,
And will sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name." Selah.
5Come and see the works of God,
Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.
6He turned the sea into dry land;
They passed through the river on foot;
There let us rejoice in Him!
7He rules by His might forever;
His eyes keep watch on the nations;
Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8Bless our God, O peoples,
And sound His praise abroad,
9Who keeps us in life
And does not allow our feet to slip.
10For You have tried us, O God;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11You brought us into the net;
You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.
12You made men ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water,
Yet You brought us out into a place of abundance.
13I shall come into Your house with burnt offerings;
I shall pay You my vows,
14Which my lips uttered
And my mouth spoke when I was in distress.
15I shall offer to You burnt offerings of fat beasts,
With the smoke of rams;
I shall make an offering of bulls with male goats. Selah.
16Come and hear, all who fear God,
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
17I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.
18If I regard wickedness in my heart,
The Lord will not hear;
19But certainly God has heard;
He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.
20Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer
Nor His lovingkindness from me.
i was talking to joyce and remembered that it was my day to post yesterday. sorry girls for screwing up the schedule. you can still post today ash.
lately i have been wrestling with darkness. the kind that tempts us to ask the questions what if? what if God doesn't exist? what if i'm just not meant to be loved? what if this happened instead? what if i did this? its so easy to sink into despair without really sinking. i'm paddling furiously even when God's got me in a lifeboat. sounds ridiculuous, but that's what we look like when we don't trust in Him.
lately my darkness has been dissipated by bursts of joy. this morning, my heart wasn't right as i walked to campus, but i found myself fidgeting in class because i became overwhelmed with an urge to love people.
this psalm's like a burst of joy from the heart put into words. its like he's saying "hey...worship God!" "look at what God has done in my life!" "listen to me about my God!" God is so real girls. His care for us in our lives is very real. were it not for His sustaining our every breath, we would drop to the ground breathless, dead. Blessed be our great great God.
lately i have been wrestling with darkness. the kind that tempts us to ask the questions what if? what if God doesn't exist? what if i'm just not meant to be loved? what if this happened instead? what if i did this? its so easy to sink into despair without really sinking. i'm paddling furiously even when God's got me in a lifeboat. sounds ridiculuous, but that's what we look like when we don't trust in Him.
lately my darkness has been dissipated by bursts of joy. this morning, my heart wasn't right as i walked to campus, but i found myself fidgeting in class because i became overwhelmed with an urge to love people.
this psalm's like a burst of joy from the heart put into words. its like he's saying "hey...worship God!" "look at what God has done in my life!" "listen to me about my God!" God is so real girls. His care for us in our lives is very real. were it not for His sustaining our every breath, we would drop to the ground breathless, dead. Blessed be our great great God.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Psalm 65
Psalm 65
1Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Each of us will one day come to give an account before God. Either we inherit wrath, or we receive grace.
3Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
It is indeed such a blessed thing to know Christ, for only then can we experience true satisfaction. What a generous gift!! This is true love; being an heiress of God is such a divine blessing! Has that transformed every inch of our lives, as it should?
5By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
How ungrateful, demeaning, and undeserving I am to question God's providence in my own life, when he has provided and enriched his people from the beginning of time. We are actually the richest of all people-- so blessed that we can never NOT take anything for granted.
10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
^ how cute!!
13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Ahh.. what a beautiful psalm. i think God really did this so divinely.. ive been thinking and questioning more about my future, forgetting that it is GOD's future, and that i'm such a blind little bloodbug. i was thinking, concerning weeder classes, what if i'm a weed?! but i know God never intended for me to feel like a weed-- maybe something just a bit higher up, like a sunflower. but he loves us more than the lilies, so i guess probably an animal instead of a plant.. a human?!?! but "human" has such a negative connotation--it's riddled with all the struggles, the pain, the complications that we undergo because of our own folly. no, i would rather be a lily or a sunflower. but then again, God's will is God's will, and i am not a sunflower, but a human, and i have been granted the gift of consciousness and reasoning, and my only hope for my life is that my thoughts and my heart will be set on Christ, the one true solid foundation.
and it is pleasing to him.
(ashley: i feel that way about missions too, sometimes, that my faith isnt strong enough to withstand a normal American life or the pursuit of the American dream, that it seems so easy and romantic just to be able to live a simple life in the chinese farmlands, eating rice every day and ministering to the people--trusting God with everything. i wonder.. would God bless us for it? in a way it may be a way we can give up everything we have for Christ--truly making it cost us everything, but if it's not God's will, then we surely would not survive..
irene: consider this a divine revelation-- my xanga
sarah and joyce: hehehe)
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Psalm 64
Psalm 64
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from that noisy crowd of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;
they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, "Who will see them [a] ?"
6 They plot injustice and say,
"We have devised a perfect plan!"
Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly they will be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All mankind will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him;
let all the upright in heart praise him!
my turn again :) Reading this passage makes me wonder about evil people. The bible talks about evil people all the time but I don't think i've meant anyone evil in my lifetime. I know we're all evil becuase of sin but someone lacking the conscience that God gave all of us, someone who has evil plan and evil snares spoken about in psalms. We've grown up in a relative society when all evil-ness can be traced by to some psychological incident/environment/problem. And we are supposed to delight in the fall of the wicked but can we rejoice in hell? eternal torment? I get so upset over the pains of this world and yet can any of it compare to hell? Can famine and murder, war, and rape compare to hell? And I have determined that this God who condemns men to hell is a good God. Therefore I must see all the pain of this world and still determine that he is good. It is so hard. My eternal pains have returned-pains for world suffering but then so much more for the damned. How do we survive with such a pain, such a knowledge? Will we all go mad? Still thousands of Christians before us have lived with this pain and so will we. And in the midst of it all we must still "rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him," for the psalmist says, "let all the upright in heart praise him!"
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from that noisy crowd of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;
they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, "Who will see them [a] ?"
6 They plot injustice and say,
"We have devised a perfect plan!"
Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly they will be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All mankind will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.
10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him;
let all the upright in heart praise him!
my turn again :) Reading this passage makes me wonder about evil people. The bible talks about evil people all the time but I don't think i've meant anyone evil in my lifetime. I know we're all evil becuase of sin but someone lacking the conscience that God gave all of us, someone who has evil plan and evil snares spoken about in psalms. We've grown up in a relative society when all evil-ness can be traced by to some psychological incident/environment/problem. And we are supposed to delight in the fall of the wicked but can we rejoice in hell? eternal torment? I get so upset over the pains of this world and yet can any of it compare to hell? Can famine and murder, war, and rape compare to hell? And I have determined that this God who condemns men to hell is a good God. Therefore I must see all the pain of this world and still determine that he is good. It is so hard. My eternal pains have returned-pains for world suffering but then so much more for the damned. How do we survive with such a pain, such a knowledge? Will we all go mad? Still thousands of Christians before us have lived with this pain and so will we. And in the midst of it all we must still "rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him," for the psalmist says, "let all the upright in heart praise him!"
Psalm 63
1O God, (A)You are my God; I shall seek You [a]earnestly;
My soul (B)thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a (C)dry and weary land where there is no water.
2Thus I have (D)seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3Because Your (E)lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4So I will bless You (F)as long as I live;
I will (G)lift up my hands in Your name.
5My soul is (H)satisfied as with [b]marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers (I)praises with joyful lips.
6When I remember You (J)on my bed,
I meditate on You in the (K)night watches,
7For (L)You have been my help,
And in the (M)shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8My soul (N)clings to You;
Your (O)right hand upholds me.
9But those who (P)seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the (Q)depths of the earth.
10They will be (R)delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a (S)prey for foxes.
11But the (T)king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who (U)swears by Him will glory,
For the (V)mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.
God made us for himself. and its so amazing how that has all been perverted, and how my heart is so deceived into thinking i "need" something, and then i'll be okay. its for God that we really need, and God knows that. like ashley says, im really tired of all my sin and all this fleshiness that keeps me from remembering, searching for God with all my heart. pretty much everything is foolishness and empty. David understands that its right to thirst, hunger after God. because God is God, and he doesnt change. God please get this into my life.
My soul (B)thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a (C)dry and weary land where there is no water.
2Thus I have (D)seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3Because Your (E)lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4So I will bless You (F)as long as I live;
I will (G)lift up my hands in Your name.
5My soul is (H)satisfied as with [b]marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers (I)praises with joyful lips.
6When I remember You (J)on my bed,
I meditate on You in the (K)night watches,
7For (L)You have been my help,
And in the (M)shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8My soul (N)clings to You;
Your (O)right hand upholds me.
9But those who (P)seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the (Q)depths of the earth.
10They will be (R)delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a (S)prey for foxes.
11But the (T)king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who (U)swears by Him will glory,
For the (V)mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.
God made us for himself. and its so amazing how that has all been perverted, and how my heart is so deceived into thinking i "need" something, and then i'll be okay. its for God that we really need, and God knows that. like ashley says, im really tired of all my sin and all this fleshiness that keeps me from remembering, searching for God with all my heart. pretty much everything is foolishness and empty. David understands that its right to thirst, hunger after God. because God is God, and he doesnt change. God please get this into my life.
Psalm 62
1 My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assail a man, that you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; in balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath. 10 Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
11 Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God; 12 and lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work.
I've been trying to preach the gospel to myself since coming back from Resolved, its only been a couple days but I hope that it brings me greater amazement of the Cross upon which Christ died to save me from the wrath that God so righteously holds for me. I'm trying to think about how I glorify God and do His work when I'm not specifically doing ministry work. Like how is my walking to class, reading for class, going to diner, how is all of that for the glory of our great God. I was telling Joyce yesterday that I want to go on long term missions after I graduate before I start teaching, but then Sarah was talking about how missions might be the easy way out for her. It might be the same for me too, there are so many distractions around that my thoughts are hardly ever concerning God only and on missions how could I not think only about God. But that just forces me to think about God. I think it was CJ who said that people lose their Christian habits because they don't do them out of conviction from Christ in the first place. Like how Victoria talks about making her faith her own, maybe thats why I struggle so much when I go home, because I rely on all you guys to keep me accountable, to keep me thinking and striving for God. I hope heaven comes soon, but in the meantime I'll try and figure this out.
3 How long will you assail a man, that you may murder him, all of you, like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? 4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position; they delight in falsehood; they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; in balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath. 10 Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
11 Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God; 12 and lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work.
I've been trying to preach the gospel to myself since coming back from Resolved, its only been a couple days but I hope that it brings me greater amazement of the Cross upon which Christ died to save me from the wrath that God so righteously holds for me. I'm trying to think about how I glorify God and do His work when I'm not specifically doing ministry work. Like how is my walking to class, reading for class, going to diner, how is all of that for the glory of our great God. I was telling Joyce yesterday that I want to go on long term missions after I graduate before I start teaching, but then Sarah was talking about how missions might be the easy way out for her. It might be the same for me too, there are so many distractions around that my thoughts are hardly ever concerning God only and on missions how could I not think only about God. But that just forces me to think about God. I think it was CJ who said that people lose their Christian habits because they don't do them out of conviction from Christ in the first place. Like how Victoria talks about making her faith her own, maybe thats why I struggle so much when I go home, because I rely on all you guys to keep me accountable, to keep me thinking and striving for God. I hope heaven comes soon, but in the meantime I'll try and figure this out.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
psalm 61
Psalm 61
Confidence in God's Protection.
For the choir director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.
1Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
4Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
5For You have heard my vows, O God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.
6You will prolong the king's life;
His years will be as many generations.
7He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
8So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day.
Give heed to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
4Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
5For You have heard my vows, O God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.
6You will prolong the king's life;
His years will be as many generations.
7He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
8So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day.
1Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.
it is so easy for me to push God aside when the day is busy. unlike David, when my days gets busier and busier, i do not cry out to God. i cry to myself...i cry to other ppl...and only when there is no one to go to do i cry to God. it is subtle, but in the way that he asks God to hear his cry, he shows faith that God does listen. to pray we need to have faith in the One who we are praying to. God listens. God cares. do we believe?Give heed to my prayer.
2From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
when my heart is faint...overwhelmed with whatever keeps me from finding joy in Him, do i call God...knowing that even from the ends of the earth...i can call on Him? the answers that i look for, i will never find if i look in myself...but with a God-centered, God-focused, God-ending view...i will be able to see my life in light of eternity.
3For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
soul...remember the times that God provided refuge for you. remember the times that He strengthened you against the evil one.
4Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.
to be with God would be far better. do i long to be with God forever. not to be without pain and suffering and unhappiness forever...but to be WITH God forever so that being with Him means that there is no pain and suffering and unhappiness.
5For You have heard my vows, O God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.
You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.
what is my inheritance? what are my vows? i have committed myself to God. and my inheritance is to enjoy Him forever. to love Him is to obey His commandents. my joy is in salvation.
6You will prolong the king's life;
His years will be as many generations.
His years will be as many generations.
those who love the Lord will truly live. life will yield much blessing, even if to the world it doesn't seem that way, and death will serve as the door.
7He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.
for once He has opened my eyes to Him. i am ever before Him. i see Him in everything. like a father watches his little child walk in a room filled with dangerous things, so our heavenly Father watches over us...He steadies us with lovingkindness and truth. truth lights our paths...grace and mercy through Jesus Christ has already conquered our sin. thus we are preserved in the dangerous and deadly world.
8So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day.
That I may pay my vows day by day.
so...i will praise God. that i will choose to follow after Him every day. day by day. daily take up my cross and follow after Him. to be His disciple. to enjoy Him forever and glorify Him by being satisfied in Him. soul, praise your great and awesome God.
Psalm 59
Psalm 59
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.
For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.
1(A)Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
(B)Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
2Deliver me from (C)those who do iniquity
And save me from (D)men of bloodshed.
3For behold, they (E)have set an ambush for my life;
Fierce men [a](F)launch an attack against me,
(G)Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD,
4(H)For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me
(I)Arouse Yourself to help me, and see!
5You, (J)O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to (K)punish all the nations;
(L)Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.
6They (M)return at evening, they howl like a (N)dog,
And go around the city.
7Behold, they (O)belch forth with their mouth;
(P)Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, "(Q)Who hears?"
8But You, O LORD, (R)laugh at them;
You (S)scoff at all the nations.
9Because of [b]his (T)strength I will watch for You,
For God is my (U)stronghold.
10My God (V)in His lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me (W)look triumphantly upon my foes.
11Do not slay them, (X)or my people will forget;
(Y)Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, (Z)our shield.
12On account of the (AA)sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be (AB)caught in their pride,
And on account of (AC)curses and lies which they utter.
13[c](AD)Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;
That men may (AE)know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah.
14They (AF)return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go around the city.
15They (AG)wander about [d]for food
And growl if they are not satisfied.
16But as for me, I shall (AH)sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall (AI)joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the (AJ)morning,
For You have been my (AK)stronghold
And a (AL)refuge in the day of my distress.
17(AM)O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my (AN)stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.
A last few hours before my midterm and I know so little its pretty frightening. Maybe God will finally teach me the lesson I knew he'd have to give eventually while I study to the end like this-to not procrastinate! I seldom feel that I do procrastinate until of course the last day or so when, then, I know I really could've made more time to study. Even so, "But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength. Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress." I'm not being chased by a half mad king who wants to kill me but still feels like this applies to me. I like how even the destruction of the men is for God's glory, "that men may know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth." Not so that he can feel comfortable or anything about him but because God is great enough and because God should display his own glory. I'm off! a run to the finish line. 5 hours till judgement..
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.
For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when Saul sent men and they watched the house in order to kill him.
1(A)Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
(B)Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
2Deliver me from (C)those who do iniquity
And save me from (D)men of bloodshed.
3For behold, they (E)have set an ambush for my life;
Fierce men [a](F)launch an attack against me,
(G)Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD,
4(H)For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me
(I)Arouse Yourself to help me, and see!
5You, (J)O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to (K)punish all the nations;
(L)Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.
6They (M)return at evening, they howl like a (N)dog,
And go around the city.
7Behold, they (O)belch forth with their mouth;
(P)Swords are in their lips,
For, they say, "(Q)Who hears?"
8But You, O LORD, (R)laugh at them;
You (S)scoff at all the nations.
9Because of [b]his (T)strength I will watch for You,
For God is my (U)stronghold.
10My God (V)in His lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me (W)look triumphantly upon my foes.
11Do not slay them, (X)or my people will forget;
(Y)Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,
O Lord, (Z)our shield.
12On account of the (AA)sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
Let them even be (AB)caught in their pride,
And on account of (AC)curses and lies which they utter.
13[c](AD)Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;
That men may (AE)know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth. Selah.
14They (AF)return at evening, they howl like a dog,
And go around the city.
15They (AG)wander about [d]for food
And growl if they are not satisfied.
16But as for me, I shall (AH)sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall (AI)joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the (AJ)morning,
For You have been my (AK)stronghold
And a (AL)refuge in the day of my distress.
17(AM)O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
For God is my (AN)stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.
A last few hours before my midterm and I know so little its pretty frightening. Maybe God will finally teach me the lesson I knew he'd have to give eventually while I study to the end like this-to not procrastinate! I seldom feel that I do procrastinate until of course the last day or so when, then, I know I really could've made more time to study. Even so, "But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength. Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress." I'm not being chased by a half mad king who wants to kill me but still feels like this applies to me. I like how even the destruction of the men is for God's glory, "that men may know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth." Not so that he can feel comfortable or anything about him but because God is great enough and because God should display his own glory. I'm off! a run to the finish line. 5 hours till judgement..
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Psalm 58
1Do you indeed speak righteousness, O [a]gods?
Do you (A)judge [b]uprightly, O sons of men?
2No, in heart you (B)work unrighteousness;
On earth you (C)weigh out the violence of your hands.
3The wicked are estranged (D)from the womb;
These who speak lies (E)go astray from birth.
4They have venom like the (F)venom of a serpent;
Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,
5So that it (G)does not hear the voice of (H)charmers,
Or a skillful caster of spells.
6O God, (I)shatter their teeth in their mouth;
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
7Let them (J)flow away like water that runs off;
When he (K)aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.
8Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along,
Like the (L)miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun.
9Before your (M)pots can feel the fire of thorns
He will (N)sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.
10The (O)righteous will rejoice when he (P)sees the vengeance;
He will (Q)wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11And men will say, "Surely there is a (R)reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who (S)judges on earth!"
hi guys.
G6d's rea33y teach5ng 0e a36t these days. teach5ng 0e h40535ty and t5s *retty hard. b4t 5ts g66d, ca4se 5 2n6w that G6d has 0y 5nsterests 5n 05nd and he 36ves and cares f6r 0e en64gh t6 d5sc535ne 0e. the rea3 st4ff 5s hard, b4t the rea3 st4ff 5s tr4e and 3asts. 50 rea33y exc5ted f6r res63ved. 5 h6*e that y64 g4ys are t66 and G6d 4ses th5s c6nference t6 draw y64 g4ys c36ser t6 h50se3f. 5 cant s3ee*. s4re3y G6d 5s g66d and d6es what he *3eases. and what he *3eases 5s g66d. 50 exc5ted and 16yf43 t6 see h6w these tr5a3s w533 gr6w 0e and 0a2e 0e 06re 352e Chr5st. when 5 see 0yse3f 5 see st4ff that 5s n6t 6f chr5st, 352e *retty 04ch everyth5ng. b4t G6d 5s ta25ng th5ngs 5nt6 h5s 6wn hands. *ra5se G6d. he 5s s6 g66d. and that w533 3ast.
Do you (A)judge [b]uprightly, O sons of men?
2No, in heart you (B)work unrighteousness;
On earth you (C)weigh out the violence of your hands.
3The wicked are estranged (D)from the womb;
These who speak lies (E)go astray from birth.
4They have venom like the (F)venom of a serpent;
Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,
5So that it (G)does not hear the voice of (H)charmers,
Or a skillful caster of spells.
6O God, (I)shatter their teeth in their mouth;
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
7Let them (J)flow away like water that runs off;
When he (K)aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.
8Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along,
Like the (L)miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun.
9Before your (M)pots can feel the fire of thorns
He will (N)sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.
10The (O)righteous will rejoice when he (P)sees the vengeance;
He will (Q)wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11And men will say, "Surely there is a (R)reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who (S)judges on earth!"
hi guys.
G6d's rea33y teach5ng 0e a36t these days. teach5ng 0e h40535ty and t5s *retty hard. b4t 5ts g66d, ca4se 5 2n6w that G6d has 0y 5nsterests 5n 05nd and he 36ves and cares f6r 0e en64gh t6 d5sc535ne 0e. the rea3 st4ff 5s hard, b4t the rea3 st4ff 5s tr4e and 3asts. 50 rea33y exc5ted f6r res63ved. 5 h6*e that y64 g4ys are t66 and G6d 4ses th5s c6nference t6 draw y64 g4ys c36ser t6 h50se3f. 5 cant s3ee*. s4re3y G6d 5s g66d and d6es what he *3eases. and what he *3eases 5s g66d. 50 exc5ted and 16yf43 t6 see h6w these tr5a3s w533 gr6w 0e and 0a2e 0e 06re 352e Chr5st. when 5 see 0yse3f 5 see st4ff that 5s n6t 6f chr5st, 352e *retty 04ch everyth5ng. b4t G6d 5s ta25ng th5ngs 5nt6 h5s 6wn hands. *ra5se G6d. he 5s s6 g66d. and that w533 3ast.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Psalm 57
1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. 2 I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah.
God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they dug a pit before me; they themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah
7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, a harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. 10 For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds. 11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth.
David shows a lot of faith in all of his psalms, I think through all my midterms and studying God is teaching me to have faith in Him. He will provide time for me to study, energy to get me through the day, and ultimately the grade that I get. Its hard to give this to God because our work is integrated in it so much. Its not completely out of our hands, yet we know that God is in control of everything. I cant wait until RESOLVED!!
God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they dug a pit before me; they themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah
7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, a harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. 10 For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds. 11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let Your glory be above all the earth.
David shows a lot of faith in all of his psalms, I think through all my midterms and studying God is teaching me to have faith in Him. He will provide time for me to study, energy to get me through the day, and ultimately the grade that I get. Its hard to give this to God because our work is integrated in it so much. Its not completely out of our hands, yet we know that God is in control of everything. I cant wait until RESOLVED!!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Psalm 56
Psalm 56
Supplication for Deliverance and Grateful Trust in God.
For the choir director; according to Jonath elem rehokim. A Mikhtam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
1Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me;
Fighting all day long he oppresses me.
2My foes have trampled upon me all day long,
For they are many who fight proudly against me.
3When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
4In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid
What can mere man do to me?
5All day long they distort my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They attack, they lurk,
They watch my steps,
As they have waited to take my life.
7Because of wickedness, cast them forth,
In anger put down the peoples, O God!
8You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle
Are they not in Your book?
9Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call;
This I know, that God is for me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
In the LORD, whose word I praise,
11In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12Your vows are binding upon me, O God;
I will render thank offerings to You.
13For You have delivered my soul from death,
Indeed my feet from stumbling,
So that I may walk before God
In the light of the living.
Fighting all day long he oppresses me.
2My foes have trampled upon me all day long,
For they are many who fight proudly against me.
3When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
4In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid
What can mere man do to me?
5All day long they distort my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6They attack, they lurk,
They watch my steps,
As they have waited to take my life.
7Because of wickedness, cast them forth,
In anger put down the peoples, O God!
8You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle
Are they not in Your book?
9Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call;
This I know, that God is for me.
10In God, whose word I praise,
In the LORD, whose word I praise,
11In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12Your vows are binding upon me, O God;
I will render thank offerings to You.
13For You have delivered my soul from death,
Indeed my feet from stumbling,
So that I may walk before God
In the light of the living.
i am sorry girls for yet another late post. seems that of late i have been forgetting many things, but thank God that i have been seeing Him more. i can't relate to the context of the psalm...why david wrote it...he was captured by his enemies, but i can relate to being ensnared by the evil one. he would tempt me to despair, to give up, to complain, or question my great God, but God sustains my faith in Him. my trust is in God, who shall i fear? if i live, He lives in me. if i die, i will go to live with Him. it says that God knows all the tears that i cry...all the struggles that i am going through now...but in light of what He has done for my soul, i can still and always give Him thanks. exhausted, but thankfully sustained by our great God.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Psalm 55
Psalm 55
1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Hey girls! I'm writing from home right now. This psalm is quite interesting--the speaker seems to be going through a very specific kind of persecution. Verse 13 implies that he was betrayed by a friend, and verse nine, "destroy and divide their tongues" alludes to the tower of Babel. The remarkable thing about this psalm, and a lot of other psalms, is that praise to God's faithfulness is mixed right in with lamenting. It begins with a petition in verse one, and ends with an expression of trust in God in verse 22. It's such a reminder of how our lives may be--we face sorrow, and we mourn in that, but yet we still are to bring our requests to God because we know that he is faithful and will sustain us and "never permit the righteous to be moved." Ofttentimes my life is so imbalanced--when I'm sad, i let it get to me and my praise to God decreases. But this psalm is yet another example of how our praise should not be affected by whatever trials we may be enduring--we should praise God even more!!
Yesterday was a blessed day.. finally I think God is putting me at peace with a lot of things, and I like our fellowship a lot :]
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Psalms 54
Prayer for Defense against Enemies.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Is not David hiding himself among us?"
Save me, O God, by (A)Your name,
And [a]vindicate me by (B)Your power.
2(C)Hear my prayer, O God;
(D)Give ear to the words of my mouth.
3For strangers have (E)risen against me
And (F)violent men have (G)sought my life;
They have (H)not set God before them. Selah.
4Behold, (I)God is my helper;
The Lord is the (J)sustainer of my soul.
5[b]He will (K)recompense the evil to my foes;
(L)Destroy them (M)in Your faithfulness.
6(N)Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will give (O)thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good.
7For He has (P)delivered me from all trouble,
And my eye has (Q)looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.
There is the same, very typical progression we've seen in so many pslams: "Save me O God"-->"for strangers have risen against me" -->"He has delivered me from all trouble." I see this and I think of Israel's need for a Savior, of all our desperate need for Jesus Christ. Things were much more physical then with the laws, sacrifices, and wonders of God but David has caught the heart of it. Its not just that God will do good things for you if you obey him but that God is a good and mighty God and therefore should be praised. David gives sacrifices willingly from the overflowing gratitude of his heart-not simply bc the law tells him to and so he will not be consumed by holy fire. We don't come to God just because if we do we're saved from hell (though people do) but much more--we recognize our great need for a savior and we see how good and mighty is our God. You miss so much if you miss this
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Is not David hiding himself among us?"
Save me, O God, by (A)Your name,
And [a]vindicate me by (B)Your power.
2(C)Hear my prayer, O God;
(D)Give ear to the words of my mouth.
3For strangers have (E)risen against me
And (F)violent men have (G)sought my life;
They have (H)not set God before them. Selah.
4Behold, (I)God is my helper;
The Lord is the (J)sustainer of my soul.
5[b]He will (K)recompense the evil to my foes;
(L)Destroy them (M)in Your faithfulness.
6(N)Willingly I will sacrifice to You;
I will give (O)thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good.
7For He has (P)delivered me from all trouble,
And my eye has (Q)looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.
There is the same, very typical progression we've seen in so many pslams: "Save me O God"-->"for strangers have risen against me" -->"He has delivered me from all trouble." I see this and I think of Israel's need for a Savior, of all our desperate need for Jesus Christ. Things were much more physical then with the laws, sacrifices, and wonders of God but David has caught the heart of it. Its not just that God will do good things for you if you obey him but that God is a good and mighty God and therefore should be praised. David gives sacrifices willingly from the overflowing gratitude of his heart-not simply bc the law tells him to and so he will not be consumed by holy fire. We don't come to God just because if we do we're saved from hell (though people do) but much more--we recognize our great need for a savior and we see how good and mighty is our God. You miss so much if you miss this
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Psalm 53
Folly and Wickedness of Men.
For the choir director; according to Mahalath[a]. A Maskil of David.
1(A)The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God,"They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
(B)There is no one who does good.
2God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is (C)anyone who understands,
Who (D)seeks after God.
3(E)Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.
4Have the workers of wickedness (F)no knowledge,
Who eat up My people as though they ate bread
And have not called upon God?
5There they were in great fear (G)where no fear had been;
For God (H)scattered the bones of him who encamped against you;
You (I)put them to shame, because (J)God had rejected them.
6Oh, that (K)the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores His captive people,
Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad
this is talking about salvation, when God restores His captive people, Let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. im thinking that joy is not always an emotion, as wise people say. its sometimes just a deep seeded confidence, trust in the truth. sorrowful, but always rejoicing. the joys we feel are so small in comparison to the joy we have in Christ.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Psalm 52
1 Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long. 2 Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. 3 You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking what is right. 4 You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.
5 But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, 7"Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire."
8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the hose of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. 9 I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.
I boast a lot in what I know. In essense I talk a lot, I find ways to interject any bit of knowledge that I can into a conversation. Though in a way I am just trying to keep conversation going, or just say something random because I am, I am in no way boasting in the Lord. One of our Ateam devotions the other week was about humility, Steve brought up Colossians 3:17 and how God is jealous for His own glory. While we may be humble in the sense where when people thank us we just kind of shrug it off and say that it wasnt really that hard or dont even really say anything, we are not being humble in the sense that we arent forwarding the attention to the one who deserves it, God. So if I can try and relate this back the the psalm, why do we just say all these useless things, in a way boasting the evils of this world, when we should be praising God with every single word that comes out of our mouths. "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1 At the same time I think the first verse is trying to say something about the mightiness of man and his boasting, it doesnt last! The lovingkindness of God endures allllll day long. And in light of the last couple verses, we trust in God because he is forever and ever and has shown Himself to be good, He is the only one who we can trust because all people are deceitful in nature. We give thanks to God because He has already demonstrated that He is worthy of our praise. And we wait because we know Gods character from the Bible and know that He gives us all we need to be sustained.
5 But God will break you down forever; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent, and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
6 The righteous will see and fear, and will laugh at him, saying, 7"Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and was strong in his evil desire."
8 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the hose of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. 9 I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.
I boast a lot in what I know. In essense I talk a lot, I find ways to interject any bit of knowledge that I can into a conversation. Though in a way I am just trying to keep conversation going, or just say something random because I am, I am in no way boasting in the Lord. One of our Ateam devotions the other week was about humility, Steve brought up Colossians 3:17 and how God is jealous for His own glory. While we may be humble in the sense where when people thank us we just kind of shrug it off and say that it wasnt really that hard or dont even really say anything, we are not being humble in the sense that we arent forwarding the attention to the one who deserves it, God. So if I can try and relate this back the the psalm, why do we just say all these useless things, in a way boasting the evils of this world, when we should be praising God with every single word that comes out of our mouths. "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1 At the same time I think the first verse is trying to say something about the mightiness of man and his boasting, it doesnt last! The lovingkindness of God endures allllll day long. And in light of the last couple verses, we trust in God because he is forever and ever and has shown Himself to be good, He is the only one who we can trust because all people are deceitful in nature. We give thanks to God because He has already demonstrated that He is worthy of our praise. And we wait because we know Gods character from the Bible and know that He gives us all we need to be sustained.
Monday, February 5, 2007
psalm 51
Psalm 51
A Contrite Sinner's Prayer for Pardon.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
1Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18By Your favor do good to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18By Your favor do good to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
God has shown Himself sovereign to me this whole past week. the fact that my day would land on this psalm is kind of crazy because i am looking over numbers right now and just read how Moses interceded for the people by asking God to show His power in His lovingkindness by forgiving the people and not killing them with a pestilence. God doesn't do us favors. He does things for Himself. what we might call selfish is glorious with God. the fact the God forgives us for His Name's sake is glorious. He does not forgive me to show partiality but out of want to glorify Himself. my transgressions are blotted out by the greatness of His compassion...His character has nothing to do with me...the person who receives the compassion.
i have been thinking of late about how the reason why you hurt over those you love the most is because the more you love someone...the more personal your actions become to them. and with God...just looking at our testimonies...we know that He is a personal God. He wants an intimate relationship with us. He loved us even after we prostituted ourselves to our sin...like Hosea's wife. that is why David says..."against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight." i am learning to not see things personally for my own sake, but to take things personally if it has something to do with Christ. God takes things personally because it is personal to Him. we are the creation of the Creator.
David goes on to say that even though he was born into sin...conceived in sin, the story doesn't end there. God desires truth deep in our souls...truth that helps us understand Him. and only God can clean us. only God can redeem us. only God can give us real joy. He can exchange our dirty hearts and create a clean one in its place. He can renew our loyalty to Him and Him alone.
in studying the OT, we've already come upon the tabernacle. a lot of the punishments ended in the people being cast from the community. hell, in a similar sense, is illustrated in this punishment because the person was not only an outcast but cut off from worshipping God whose presence was in the tabernacle. if God took His Holy Spirit from me...if we are the temples of God and God's presence was taken from me...i would die. if i were not allowed to worship God...the one thing i was created to do...i would die. again, David brings it back to God because he says that by restoring the joy of salvation, he will be able to teach others about God. see a pattern? everything is done for God. my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness...my mouth will declare Your praise.
bloodguiltiness. God used sacrifices to show that our sin cost blood. but it says the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. the sacrifices were meant to compel the person who offered the sacrifice to humble themselves before the Lord and repent. the pharisees just stopped at the actions. now we know that it is the heart behind the action that is what matters. if your heart is right before the Lord...your actions will follow. in the end God will establish His kingdom...and then all will be perfect. we will all be able to "sacrifice" offerings to Him perfectly.
girls...there is so much love for self that we must still fight. even when i pray...oftentimes i am praying about myself...not praying about myself for God. just for myself...to myself. our redemption cost us blood...what a good reminder it was to remember that we have been redeemed. that love was the motivation behind the payment of a ransom. that the ransom was a life. and that life was glady laid down so that i might live. what a great God we have!
i have been thinking of late about how the reason why you hurt over those you love the most is because the more you love someone...the more personal your actions become to them. and with God...just looking at our testimonies...we know that He is a personal God. He wants an intimate relationship with us. He loved us even after we prostituted ourselves to our sin...like Hosea's wife. that is why David says..."against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight." i am learning to not see things personally for my own sake, but to take things personally if it has something to do with Christ. God takes things personally because it is personal to Him. we are the creation of the Creator.
David goes on to say that even though he was born into sin...conceived in sin, the story doesn't end there. God desires truth deep in our souls...truth that helps us understand Him. and only God can clean us. only God can redeem us. only God can give us real joy. He can exchange our dirty hearts and create a clean one in its place. He can renew our loyalty to Him and Him alone.
in studying the OT, we've already come upon the tabernacle. a lot of the punishments ended in the people being cast from the community. hell, in a similar sense, is illustrated in this punishment because the person was not only an outcast but cut off from worshipping God whose presence was in the tabernacle. if God took His Holy Spirit from me...if we are the temples of God and God's presence was taken from me...i would die. if i were not allowed to worship God...the one thing i was created to do...i would die. again, David brings it back to God because he says that by restoring the joy of salvation, he will be able to teach others about God. see a pattern? everything is done for God. my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness...my mouth will declare Your praise.
bloodguiltiness. God used sacrifices to show that our sin cost blood. but it says the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. the sacrifices were meant to compel the person who offered the sacrifice to humble themselves before the Lord and repent. the pharisees just stopped at the actions. now we know that it is the heart behind the action that is what matters. if your heart is right before the Lord...your actions will follow. in the end God will establish His kingdom...and then all will be perfect. we will all be able to "sacrifice" offerings to Him perfectly.
girls...there is so much love for self that we must still fight. even when i pray...oftentimes i am praying about myself...not praying about myself for God. just for myself...to myself. our redemption cost us blood...what a good reminder it was to remember that we have been redeemed. that love was the motivation behind the payment of a ransom. that the ransom was a life. and that life was glady laid down so that i might live. what a great God we have!
Psalm 50
Psalm 50
1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
4He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
5Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
6And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.
18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
22Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Hey Girls!!! God is so good and faithful and merciful and gracious and loving to us..Saturday, February 3, 2007
Psalms 49
1(A)Hear this, all peoples;
Give ear, all (B)inhabitants of the world,
2Both (C)low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3My mouth will (D)speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be (E)understanding.
4I will incline my ear to (F)a proverb;
(G)I will express my (H)riddle on the harp.
5Why should I (I)fear in days of adversity,
When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
6Even those who (J)trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7No man can by any means (K)redeem his brother
Or give to God a (L)ransom for him--
8For (M)the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever--
9That he should (N)live on eternally,
That he should not [a](O)undergo decay.
10For he sees that even (P)wise men die;
The (Q)stupid and the senseless alike perish
And (R)leave their wealth to others.
11Their [b](S)inner thought is that their houses (T)are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have (U)called their lands after their own names.
12But (V)man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.
13This is the (W)way of those who are foolish,
And of those after them who (X)approve their words. Selah.
14As sheep they are appointed (Y)for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
And the (Z)upright shall rule over them in the morning,
And their form shall be for Sheol (AA)to consume
So that they have no habitation.
15But God will (AB)redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
For (AC)He will receive me. Selah.
16Do not be afraid (AD)when a man becomes rich,
When the [c]glory of his house is increased;
17For when he dies he will (AE)carry nothing away;
His [d]glory will not descend after him.
18Though while he lives he (AF)congratulates himself--
And though men praise you when you do well for yourself--
19He shall (AG)go to the generation of his fathers;
They will never see (AH)the light.
20(AI)Man in his pomp, yet without understanding,
Is (AJ)like the beasts that perish.
We hold onto our money, our homes, our clothes, everything we have as if we deserve them. Our entire lives are geared towards wealth: study hard in elementary, junior high and high school so you can get into a good college so that you can get a good career and make a lot of money and retire wealthy. But what an empty empty life. I was really struck by what the psalmist said about the uselessness of wealth. "No man can by any means (K)redeem his brother or give to God a (L)ransom for him-- for (M)the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever-- That he should (N)live on eternally, that he should not [a](O)undergo decay." Nothing we do can save another's soul, least of all our wealth. Salvation can never be bought. All around everyone is living as if their materials can save them and put eternity in them. The Israelites named their land after themselves to gain eternity though generations but even the land, overwrought by Romans, and the people, of which only 2 tribes remain, are lost. It's good to remember how evanescent we really are and how fleeting our world, and to question where we truly place our faith.
Give ear, all (B)inhabitants of the world,
2Both (C)low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3My mouth will (D)speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be (E)understanding.
4I will incline my ear to (F)a proverb;
(G)I will express my (H)riddle on the harp.
5Why should I (I)fear in days of adversity,
When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
6Even those who (J)trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7No man can by any means (K)redeem his brother
Or give to God a (L)ransom for him--
8For (M)the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever--
9That he should (N)live on eternally,
That he should not [a](O)undergo decay.
10For he sees that even (P)wise men die;
The (Q)stupid and the senseless alike perish
And (R)leave their wealth to others.
11Their [b](S)inner thought is that their houses (T)are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have (U)called their lands after their own names.
12But (V)man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.
13This is the (W)way of those who are foolish,
And of those after them who (X)approve their words. Selah.
14As sheep they are appointed (Y)for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
And the (Z)upright shall rule over them in the morning,
And their form shall be for Sheol (AA)to consume
So that they have no habitation.
15But God will (AB)redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
For (AC)He will receive me. Selah.
16Do not be afraid (AD)when a man becomes rich,
When the [c]glory of his house is increased;
17For when he dies he will (AE)carry nothing away;
His [d]glory will not descend after him.
18Though while he lives he (AF)congratulates himself--
And though men praise you when you do well for yourself--
19He shall (AG)go to the generation of his fathers;
They will never see (AH)the light.
20(AI)Man in his pomp, yet without understanding,
Is (AJ)like the beasts that perish.
We hold onto our money, our homes, our clothes, everything we have as if we deserve them. Our entire lives are geared towards wealth: study hard in elementary, junior high and high school so you can get into a good college so that you can get a good career and make a lot of money and retire wealthy. But what an empty empty life. I was really struck by what the psalmist said about the uselessness of wealth. "No man can by any means (K)redeem his brother or give to God a (L)ransom for him-- for (M)the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever-- That he should (N)live on eternally, that he should not [a](O)undergo decay." Nothing we do can save another's soul, least of all our wealth. Salvation can never be bought. All around everyone is living as if their materials can save them and put eternity in them. The Israelites named their land after themselves to gain eternity though generations but even the land, overwrought by Romans, and the people, of which only 2 tribes remain, are lost. It's good to remember how evanescent we really are and how fleeting our world, and to question where we truly place our faith.
Friday, February 2, 2007
psalm 48
Psalm 48
The Beauty and Glory of Zion.
A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1(A)Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,In the (B)city of our God, His (C)holy mountain.
2(D)Beautiful in elevation, (E)the joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion in the far north,
The (F)city of the great King.
3God, in her palaces,
Has made Himself known as a (G)stronghold.
4For, lo, the (H)kings assembled themselves,
They passed by together.
5They saw it, then they were amazed;
They were (I)terrified, they fled in alarm.
6Panic seized them there,
Anguish, as of (J)a woman in childbirth.
7With the (K)east wind
You (L)break the (M)ships of Tarshish.
8As we have heard, so have we seen
In the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God;
God will (N)establish her forever. Selah.
9We have thought on (O)Your lovingkindness, O God,
In the midst of Your temple.
10As is Your (P)name, O God,
So is Your (Q)praise to the ends of the earth;
Your (R)right hand is full of righteousness.
11Let Mount (S)Zion be glad,
Let the (T)daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments.
12Walk about Zion and go around her;
Count her (U)towers;
13Consider her (V)ramparts;
Go through her palaces,
That you may (W)tell it to the next generation.
14For such is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will (X)guide us [a]until death.
my heart loves this psalm. it shows what we're made to do, give glory and praises to God. see how great God is and give him what he rightfully deserves, and praise truth. its the right thing. whenever we don't we're exchanging the truth for a lie. and for what? that lie that we think is better than God. im so grateful to you guys that you guys always point me back to the truth, even though the truth isnt what i always want to hear. thank you for considering my soul and the truth more important than just hearing empty words that deviate from the truth, because thats the way it should be. the more i look at myself and the more i look deeper into me, it just gets more and more depressing, but maybe thats a good thing because if i was deluded into being satisfied with myself, it would be harder to come to Christ. it makes me want to run to him and be like, AH i've tried to save myself and nothings working, please help. its so hard to remember that i am a child of God because of Christ's sacrifice and because of his righteousness. i keep looking at myself and feeling so discouraged. i used to read in the Bible, "be holy for i am holy" and think that was a mistake because who can do that? but i realized the other day, things like that make running to Christ the only option. what else could you do? God's holy wrath toward sin is real, but he was merciful and just to make a way for sinners to come back to him. For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Psalm 47
1 O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy. 2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth. 3 He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. 4 He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
5 God has ascended with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. 8 God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
This psalm feels really loud, with all the shouting and singing and trumpeting. How could we be anything but loud when it comes to our Lord, the Lord who chose our inheritance for us. The Lord who gives us HEAVEN, His throne, where He resides and reigns over us. How do we be loud for the Lord? Thats something that I struggled with today as some of my non-christian friends from high school visited me at the GOC table. Yea we just had a conversation consisting of small talk, but I wonder what was going through their minds, and what should've been going through mine in order that I mightve shared with them the glorious gift of heaven that they can receive through belief in Jesus Christ.
Today I had what I consider a pretty good day. And as a result of that I find myself not thinking about God and my dependency on Him as much, its not that I sought Him any less, but that because I was not in some sort of despair my heart did not cry out for Him. Oh that I would turn to the One who gives us EVERYTHING at every point of the day, how insiginificant are the matters that were on my mind today and how weak is my heart to go astray so easily from seeking after the one true love that I know I have secured.
5 God has ascended with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm. 8 God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
This psalm feels really loud, with all the shouting and singing and trumpeting. How could we be anything but loud when it comes to our Lord, the Lord who chose our inheritance for us. The Lord who gives us HEAVEN, His throne, where He resides and reigns over us. How do we be loud for the Lord? Thats something that I struggled with today as some of my non-christian friends from high school visited me at the GOC table. Yea we just had a conversation consisting of small talk, but I wonder what was going through their minds, and what should've been going through mine in order that I mightve shared with them the glorious gift of heaven that they can receive through belief in Jesus Christ.
Today I had what I consider a pretty good day. And as a result of that I find myself not thinking about God and my dependency on Him as much, its not that I sought Him any less, but that because I was not in some sort of despair my heart did not cry out for Him. Oh that I would turn to the One who gives us EVERYTHING at every point of the day, how insiginificant are the matters that were on my mind today and how weak is my heart to go astray so easily from seeking after the one true love that I know I have secured.
Psalm 46
Psalm 46
1God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
8Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10"Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
1God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
8Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10"Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
i just got back from studying with patricia. while i was there...nikki burst in the apt and asked if we could help her. the pipes had busted over one of the fire alarms and the sprinklers were going off. it definitely woke me up. i got some good studying done. =)
you know what i need to appreciate more about the bible? how it is supernatural because it is literally not from this world. its funny how easily i can get absorbed in my own world. when i'm going through hard times i can only think about myself. the "world" that i know is only ucla...i stopped watching the news two years ago. and then even when i am not at ucla...i see life from my own experiences. i love how this psalm lets us peer down from a very high spot so that we might see what we are in the eyes of God. God created this earth. God was not created. God looks down on us and we are like grasshoppers in His sight. no matter what happens in this world...no matter what happens to our world...we will not fear because we have a relationship with the CREATOR. how mind boggling is that? that we have THE connection with THE ONE who is in control of all things. how small is my faith...
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
i want to stop to pray, to meditate, to sing, and just take a break from the world so that i might think more about God. not just think about Him but to KNOW that He is God. to taste more of God's glory and to be consumed by it. no other God but our God.
you know what i need to appreciate more about the bible? how it is supernatural because it is literally not from this world. its funny how easily i can get absorbed in my own world. when i'm going through hard times i can only think about myself. the "world" that i know is only ucla...i stopped watching the news two years ago. and then even when i am not at ucla...i see life from my own experiences. i love how this psalm lets us peer down from a very high spot so that we might see what we are in the eyes of God. God created this earth. God was not created. God looks down on us and we are like grasshoppers in His sight. no matter what happens in this world...no matter what happens to our world...we will not fear because we have a relationship with the CREATOR. how mind boggling is that? that we have THE connection with THE ONE who is in control of all things. how small is my faith...
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
i want to stop to pray, to meditate, to sing, and just take a break from the world so that i might think more about God. not just think about Him but to KNOW that He is God. to taste more of God's glory and to be consumed by it. no other God but our God.
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