Ps 31 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. If God has ordered all things from before the foundation of the world then we must see that all troubles fall out in a succession of events. So the Psalmist describes his troubles in this way of creation. We lose our happy countenance , our bodies are in pain, and we react emotionally with anguish. All of our troubles in our lives are magnified. He is always describing his condition as consuming his life. Our sickness magnifies our sin and corruption.
Our personal suffering is spread to our relationship with others. When we are not able to take part in this world we are forgotten by others. The wicked use the opportunity to slander us. God wants us to describe our condition and our suffering. If God has spoken all things into existence then He has planned the times when we are not able to use our gifts for others. He can speak a word and we are restored.
The Psalms describe the condition of being successful and content. On the other hand they describe the condition of our suffering. The description is put in the context of Gods creations in our lives. We are given petitions and pronouncements of restoration. When we speak them we are being encouraged by speaking the re-creative language.God has put people in our lives as instruments of His recreation. We are taught not to trust in the worlds system. We must focus on recreation lest we become our own god and speak violence toward our neighbor. When we become our own god we are part of the problem and not the solution. We must be available to those who need their needs met.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
In you, O LORD , I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
The Lord is our refuge. In salvation we can go to a God who keeps us safe and sustains in all of life. Because Christ has satisfied the justice of God by His active and passive obedience to the law , our Father keeps us from the dangers of this world because He views us by that perfect righteousness. The Psalmist is describing this refuge in all of the experiences of fighting Israels wars.
Gods refuge is a strong tower that the Psalmist climbs where he can see the number of the enemies armies and know where they are attacking.
We cannot trust in the size of the military or number of the horses. We can only trust in Gods strength. When God leads us, we must see that we are unable to help. We must put all of our confidence in Gods understanding and ability.
We do not have the ability to know what troubles we are gonna face. We must look to God to free us from all the danger we are gonna encounter. When we have confessed that we do not have the wisdom of knowledge to avoid the troubles then we can put all of our confidence in God to keep us safe.5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD , the God of truth. The Psalmist makes a confession of dependence by putting his life into Gods hands.
God can be trusted as our refuge because He has created us. He shows his distrust of false gods because they curse the righteous. 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD God has made a covenant of blessing with us. We can put our lives in His hands knowing that He will be faithful , long suffering and gentle. He is the only one who can sustain us when we are weak and troubled.God can heal us of our sickness freeing us from our weakness. 8 You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
The Lord is our refuge. In salvation we can go to a God who keeps us safe and sustains in all of life. Because Christ has satisfied the justice of God by His active and passive obedience to the law , our Father keeps us from the dangers of this world because He views us by that perfect righteousness. The Psalmist is describing this refuge in all of the experiences of fighting Israels wars.
Gods refuge is a strong tower that the Psalmist climbs where he can see the number of the enemies armies and know where they are attacking.
We cannot trust in the size of the military or number of the horses. We can only trust in Gods strength. When God leads us, we must see that we are unable to help. We must put all of our confidence in Gods understanding and ability.
We do not have the ability to know what troubles we are gonna face. We must look to God to free us from all the danger we are gonna encounter. When we have confessed that we do not have the wisdom of knowledge to avoid the troubles then we can put all of our confidence in God to keep us safe.5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD , the God of truth. The Psalmist makes a confession of dependence by putting his life into Gods hands.
God can be trusted as our refuge because He has created us. He shows his distrust of false gods because they curse the righteous. 6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD God has made a covenant of blessing with us. We can put our lives in His hands knowing that He will be faithful , long suffering and gentle. He is the only one who can sustain us when we are weak and troubled.God can heal us of our sickness freeing us from our weakness. 8 You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
Ps 28 2 Hear my cry for mercy
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
When we pray to God we can be sure that He will speak. He will counsel us and lead us in the right path. God will give us wisdom. When the Psalmist says that we have a face to face relationship it is the attitude God has toward us displayed with a smiling face. He uses metaphors to show that God lowers Himself to our level in relating to us. God has a smiling face, speaks to us on our level and understands our weaknesses. Anytime the Psalmist experiences the troubles of this world , he describes them as God being silent.
Even though we trust in the covenant that God will never leave us or forsake us the Psalmist describes his fears and his troubles to God. If God is in control and fully able to protect us then He would expect us to accept it without complaint. But God encourages us to describe our feelings and our pains to Him. God promises to preserve our lives but here the Psalmist prays that God will not condemn him with the wicked.28 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
If God does not answer our prayers then we would experience the silence of the wicked. We cannot trust in our own ability to overcome the troubles of this world. The Psalmist expresses his dependence by asking not to treat him like the wicked. We can express a positive or negative petition. When we suffer in this life we may not have the strength to hold ourselves up We can be sure that God will carry us. 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
When we pray to God we can be sure that He will speak. He will counsel us and lead us in the right path. God will give us wisdom. When the Psalmist says that we have a face to face relationship it is the attitude God has toward us displayed with a smiling face. He uses metaphors to show that God lowers Himself to our level in relating to us. God has a smiling face, speaks to us on our level and understands our weaknesses. Anytime the Psalmist experiences the troubles of this world , he describes them as God being silent.
Even though we trust in the covenant that God will never leave us or forsake us the Psalmist describes his fears and his troubles to God. If God is in control and fully able to protect us then He would expect us to accept it without complaint. But God encourages us to describe our feelings and our pains to Him. God promises to preserve our lives but here the Psalmist prays that God will not condemn him with the wicked.28 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
If God does not answer our prayers then we would experience the silence of the wicked. We cannot trust in our own ability to overcome the troubles of this world. The Psalmist expresses his dependence by asking not to treat him like the wicked. We can express a positive or negative petition. When we suffer in this life we may not have the strength to hold ourselves up We can be sure that God will carry us. 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Ps 74 20Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill
the dark places of the land." We are saved into the family of Abraham.
God has made a covenant with us to bless and protect us. The Psalmist
teaches that we are required to be faithful to the covenant. But this covenant is not a two sided one. We are required to be faithful according to Gods grace. Our works are dependent upon being justified and redeemed by God. Where as from Gods side He puts Himself of display because He cannot accept our faulty covenant faithfulness. Christ became our representative in order for God to look at us as faithful. It is just as evil for us to speak of the covenant in our prayers as dependent upon our faithfulness as it is to be a covenant breaker. This is why the Psalmist forms his argument by petitioning God to be faithful according to His promises.
Ps 4 3Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him." When we are saved we are set apart unto God by His mercy and grace. 7 3 But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; We can call upon Him and He promises to respond 14 4Will evildoers never learn - those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD? The wicked do not call on the Lord. They have no thoughts of God because they have no saving desire.50 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Gods honor is more important than our trouble. He will hear us because His name must be honored.
Ps 30 10 Hear, O LORD , and be merciful to me;
O LORD , be my help."The Lord is our helper.
30 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. The Lord will listen to our cry for help. 22 19But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. We can move the Lord to help us. 22 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.The Lord helps us when there is no one else will. In my distress I called to the LORD;18 6 I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. He hears us when we cry for help.
O LORD , be my help."The Lord is our helper.
30 2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. The Lord will listen to our cry for help. 22 19But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. We can move the Lord to help us. 22 11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.The Lord helps us when there is no one else will. In my distress I called to the LORD;18 6 I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. He hears us when we cry for help.
Ps 5 7 But I, by your great mercy,
will come into your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD , in your righteousness
because of my enemies-
make straight your way before me.
Our path in this life is only successful because of Gods mercy, Because we walk in the path of Gods righteousness we cannot be successful according to our own efforts or goodness. The Psalmist teaches that Gods house is not just the Temple. God is holy because He controls and sustains the entire creation. We live in His house. His house is merciful. We are alive because God is merciful and He has accomplished every thing in Christ.
The Psalmist prays to God in the attitude of total dependence. If God does not lead us in His righteousness then we could not be sustained. The Psalmist expresses his total dependence on God by praying for the ability and not just the success. God makes us able by leading us. So the Psalmist approaches God in the words of creating the Psalmist ability. Lead me, do not let, let them, do not reject me, show me the way, etc. We walk in the way of mercy by the cry for ability.
The Psalmist describes these words of creation as "the cry" Gods righteous path is the display of His works on our behalf. The Psalms are Gods spoken pronouncements of His work in His house .He responds by crying out to God. He is always asking God to be merciful as he meditates on the Psalms.We must learn to pray short prayers asking God to meet every need.We must ask Him to help us at any time and the smallest request.
will come into your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD , in your righteousness
because of my enemies-
make straight your way before me.
Our path in this life is only successful because of Gods mercy, Because we walk in the path of Gods righteousness we cannot be successful according to our own efforts or goodness. The Psalmist teaches that Gods house is not just the Temple. God is holy because He controls and sustains the entire creation. We live in His house. His house is merciful. We are alive because God is merciful and He has accomplished every thing in Christ.
The Psalmist prays to God in the attitude of total dependence. If God does not lead us in His righteousness then we could not be sustained. The Psalmist expresses his total dependence on God by praying for the ability and not just the success. God makes us able by leading us. So the Psalmist approaches God in the words of creating the Psalmist ability. Lead me, do not let, let them, do not reject me, show me the way, etc. We walk in the way of mercy by the cry for ability.
The Psalmist describes these words of creation as "the cry" Gods righteous path is the display of His works on our behalf. The Psalms are Gods spoken pronouncements of His work in His house .He responds by crying out to God. He is always asking God to be merciful as he meditates on the Psalms.We must learn to pray short prayers asking God to meet every need.We must ask Him to help us at any time and the smallest request.
Ps 39 4"Show me, O LORD , my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life. 5You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah
We are made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. God is not working things out under the constraints of time. God sees the hidden things of the world. He has a complete understanding of us at all times. He sees every part of our body and soul. Gods has a complete understanding of the weaknesses of our body and soul. He has an intimate knowledge of every person because He designed us in eternity past and sustains and brings us to Himself. Compared to God's experience and eternal presence our lives are like one breath. We have a hard time understanding that our lives are fleeting. We are always distracted by our occupations in this life.
We must avoid the temptation to focus too much on this world. When we focus on our success in this world we are making a mistake by thinking that we will escape death. We are terribly dependent upon God to teach us to look away from this world. We do not really believe that our very breath is sustained by God. He must order trials in our lives so that we learn not to trust in this world. The Psalmist is always meditating on the things of eternity. He is always focused on forgiveness of sins, dependence upon God for every breath, and leaning on God to deliver him in every circumstance.We must seek to go from one deliverance to another until our final one. The Psalmist describes his life as progressing until his final deliverance. 14 Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more."
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life. 5You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah
We are made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. God is not working things out under the constraints of time. God sees the hidden things of the world. He has a complete understanding of us at all times. He sees every part of our body and soul. Gods has a complete understanding of the weaknesses of our body and soul. He has an intimate knowledge of every person because He designed us in eternity past and sustains and brings us to Himself. Compared to God's experience and eternal presence our lives are like one breath. We have a hard time understanding that our lives are fleeting. We are always distracted by our occupations in this life.
We must avoid the temptation to focus too much on this world. When we focus on our success in this world we are making a mistake by thinking that we will escape death. We are terribly dependent upon God to teach us to look away from this world. We do not really believe that our very breath is sustained by God. He must order trials in our lives so that we learn not to trust in this world. The Psalmist is always meditating on the things of eternity. He is always focused on forgiveness of sins, dependence upon God for every breath, and leaning on God to deliver him in every circumstance.We must seek to go from one deliverance to another until our final one. The Psalmist describes his life as progressing until his final deliverance. 14 Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more."
Ps 119 Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law." When we suffer because of physical or emotional trauma we must focus on Gods perfect work that He accomplishes through His law., We must realize that Gods work does not depend upon us. God never fails even though we are weak. God has ordered all of our days from before the foundation of the world. So God has planned the times when we are gonna suffer in this life. Our trials in this life force us to focus on God by word and Spirit. When we meditate and pray our suffering drives us to be more attentive to the illumination of the Spirit. God will speak to us.
When we suffer our prayers are more passionate. We have no where else to turn. The suffering causes us to be needy and weak. God has made us for Himself. He draws us to Himself to find relief in our suffering. We feel like there is only one person who really listens to us.We need to lean on God in dependence and get our hope from His voice. So the Psalmist is saying that he must focus on a God who has everything in control. God is in the process of bringing all of creation into unity.
When we suffer our prayers are more passionate. We have no where else to turn. The suffering causes us to be needy and weak. God has made us for Himself. He draws us to Himself to find relief in our suffering. We feel like there is only one person who really listens to us.We need to lean on God in dependence and get our hope from His voice. So the Psalmist is saying that he must focus on a God who has everything in control. God is in the process of bringing all of creation into unity.
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