Psalm 140  David records this prayer.. and I am reminded that there is truly nothing new under the sun..  He speaks of "violent men".. of those who "devise evil things in their hearts".. who "continually stir up wars."   They have sharp tongues. Poisonous words. Wicked purposes.  They hunt and trap the innocent.  We understand those images.. because we turn on the news.. and there they are!

Let us join David in this prayer. 

v1 "Rescue me".. he prays.  Pull off.. deliver.. strengthen.. equip.. arm us.. for we have a violent enemy. 

"Preserve me"..  guard, maintain, conceal us.. for we live in the midst of evil men.. and women. 

v4 "Keep me".. protect us.. regard us.. hedge us about with Your hands.. out of the hands of the wicked. 

"Thou art my God; Give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle."(v6-7)    Paul wrote about putting on the full armor of the Lord ( Eph. 6:10-17).. and it here we discover the "helmet of salvation".. It is Jehovah Adonai.. the self-existent and self-sufficient.. infinite and perfect One who covers our heads. Hallelujah!

By this we can have confidence and hope and can proclaim along with David:

V12 "I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.  Surely the righteous will give thanks to Thy name; The upright will dwell in Thy presence. " 

Father in heaven, You see us and know us perfectly.  You are before us and behind us.. encircling us with Your blessed Presence.  Hear our prayers and renew our strength.. that we might "stand firm against the schemes of the devil."  Your Word tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the evil ones.. the "spiritual forces of wickedness".  Therefore, we take up the armor that You have provided.. truth, righteousness,  the gospel of peace, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.. taking the helmet of salvation that You have given to cover our heads. Let us persevere and be encouraged in the grace that You have poured out on us. Thank You, Lord of heaven and earth. Be exalted in all things... in all of Your people.. in every nation. Amen. 

 Psalm 139  This psalm of David is a favorite of mine.. and probably of many others as well.  Here we are reminded of the greatness of our God.. His omnipresence and His omniscience.. and His intimate relationship to every one of His children. 

Verses 1-4  tell of how deeply God knows us.  Think of this, just this moment.. He knows if we are sitting or standing.  He knows what we are doing and what we are planning to do.. and what unexpected things we will do today.  He knows what we are going to say.. before we say it!  

Verses 5-12 tells of God's constant Presence -  He is ahead of us and behind us.. at the same time! There is nowhere we can go that He isn't already there..  up in the heavens, down in the ground, across the sea.. He is with us.  It doesn't matter if it is night or day.. makes no difference to Him.. "Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, and the night is as bright as the day." (v12)  He is with us. He sees us. He knows what is going on in our lives.. and no matter what He will hold us is His hands. (v10)

Verses 13-18  proclaim a great truth.. God made each of us.. from scratch!  He "knit me together in my mother's womb".  Our bones.. our muscles.. our organs.. that little hearts that started beating before we were completely formed... every drop of blood.. every nerve and every cell.. shaped and prepared for the life that He designed. He had it all written down already.. before we even took our first breath.   No wonder David writes, "How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand." 

Verses 19-22 are a response to these amazing truths of God's power and presence.. wickedness has no place before the Holy One.  David prays for the end of wickedness.. the end of God's enemies.  He chose to be on God's side and to "hate those who hate" the Lord. 

Verses 23-24.. David then reflects upon his own life.. knowing his own sinfulness and failures.. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." 

Father in heaven, like David, we come before You and humble ourselves in Your holy Presence.  You know us.. deeply.. intimately.. perfectly.  You know us.. body, soul, and spirit.  You are ever with us and we do not.. can not.. and don't want to .. hide from You.  We confess our sins and trespasses before You and thank You for the forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Truly, Lord, we ask for You to lead us in Your ways.. fulfill Your plans and purposes for us. Draw us even closer to Your heart.. hold us fast! May we rest in the Truth that You have given us.. that You know us.. that You are always with us.. and that You think of us.. and in all that... You are good.  Thank You. All glory and honor and praise we lift to You. Amen. 

 Psalm 138 This psalm is titled "Thanksgiving for the Lord's Favor" in my Bible.  

Think about that word, "favor".  One meaning according to my dictionary is "friendly or kind regard; good will; approval; liking".  This takes me back to another Tozer statement, "The whole outlook of mankind might be changed if we could all believe that we dwell under a friendly sky and that the God of heaven, though exalted in power and majesty, is eager to be friends with us."  ( from The Knowledge of the Holy).  He desires to.. and does show us favor. 

Certainly David understood and believed this with all his heart.. and so he gave thanks and lifted up his voice to praise the Lord.  "I will give Thee thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to Thee before the gods. I will bow down towards Thy holy temple and give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth." 

David was thankful for the Word of God that was "magnified"..  for the amazing promises of God made to him.  He was thankful for answered prayers... for spiritual strength.. for God's compassion and intervention on his behalf. 

David trusted the Lord to exalt the lowly and to bring down the haughty.  He trusted God to revive him in troubles.. to save him from his enemies... to accomplish His purposes for him.  

David trusted in the everlasting lovingkindness of the Lord.. yet prayed, "Do not forsake the works of Thy hands."  This speaks to me of his utter dependence upon the love and favor of the Lord. 

As followers of Christ we are also "favored" by the Lord. We can trust in His lovingkindness, in His compassion and mercy towards us. We can trust that He has a plan for each of us and will accomplish His purposes as we abide in Christ.  Let the Word of the Lord be magnified in our hearts and let us give thanks "with all [our] hearts"!

Father in heaven, as we come before You in the Name of Jesus, through the grace that You have poured out.. have lavished on us.. we give thanks for Your unmerited favor upon us.  We will praise Your Name in all the earth.. before any and all who come our way.  Help us to do so with the boldness and strength that You have given us by Your Spirit who lives in us.  Do not forsake us.. the work or Your hands!  Revive us.. lead us.. fill us.. and use us.. for we are Yours.  May we be "vessels of honor.. sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." (2 Tim. 2:21) Let Your light shine in our hearts... "give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ ... this treasure in earthen vessels"... to the praise and glory of Your Holy Name. ( 2 Cor. 4:5-6)   We ask this in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Psalm 137  This song turns us from the previous ones which were full of praise and thanksgiving.. for it is one of sorrow and grief.  It recalls the tears shed in captivity.. the grief over the loss of Jerusalem, the beautiful city.. devastated by the enemies of Israel. 

There is no praise or thanksgiving in this psalm. There is not even a prayer except for verse 7  "Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, who said, 'Raze it, raze it.'"  The psalmist goes on to bless the one who would repay Babylon for the evil it accomplished. 

How do we relate to this psalm?  We do not have this kind of grief.. but we do experience sorrow in our own lives. We may have experienced our own sort of exile.. separation from home.. from loved ones.. and even at times.. a feeling of separation from God. 

Perhaps what we can gain from this psalm is that this kind of lament.. pouring out the grief in our hearts.. is just as important as the songs of praise and thanks.. for it is reaching out to the heart of our Lord.. looking to Him.. trusting Him with our sorrows. 

Again, I  turn to Tozer's writings.. "Nothing that has occurred or will occur in heaven or earth or hell can change the tender mercies of our God. Forever His mercy stands, a boundless, overwhelming immensity of divine pity and compassion. As judgement is God's justice confronting moral inequity, so mercy is the goodness of God confronting human suffering and guilt. Were there no guilt in the world, no pain and no tears, God would yet be infinitely merciful; but His mercy might well be hidden in His heart, unknown to the created universe. No voice would be raised to celebrate the mercy of which none felt the need. It is human misery and sin that call forth divine mercy." ( From The Knowledge of the Holy.)

Father in heaven, even as we walk through the valleys at times, may we lay hold of Your great mercy made available to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.  May we truly believe that You are a merciful God who loves us with unending love.. Who has compassion on us.. even if we bring suffering upon ourselves.  Fill our hearts with faith and hope... May we "fix [our] hope completely on the grace to be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13) Thank You for being patient and kind... our God of great love and grace. Help us to stand convinced that You have a plan.. that You will fulfill Your purposes for each of us. Help us to know without doubt that You will turn our mourning into dancing! You are faithful. You are good.  Thank you and praise Your Holy Name. Amen. 

 Psalm 136  This psalm echos the thoughts of Psalm 135.. but punctuates it with the phrase, "For His lovingkindness is everlasting".. repeated in every verse.  The psalmist had exhorted the people to praise the Lord.. for His goodness.. His greatness.. His compassion etc.  Now, we are called to give thanks for those same characteristics found in our God.. "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good;" 

We are thankful.. thankful for the goodness of our God.. thankful that He is "God of gods" and "Lord of lords."   We are thankful for His "great wonders".. for the skillful creation of the heavens and the earth.  We are thankful for the Word that tells of His power to move nations.. to redeem His people.. and to pour out justice on those who do wrong. 

But... most of all we are thankful for He "remembered us in our low estate."  That He "rescued us from our adversaries".. and that He provides all that we need for life. 

"Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." 

Tozer wrote this, "From God's other known attributes, we may learn much about His love.  We can know, for instance, that because God is self-existent, His love had no beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because He is infinite, it has no limit; because He is holy, it is quintessence of all spotless purity; because He is immense, His love is an incomprehensibly vast, bottomless, shoreless sea before which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest eloquence retreats confused and abashed."  ( From The Knowledge of the Holy)

Yes, we give thanks to the God of heaven.. for His lovingkindness.. His great boundless love.. is everlasting. 

Father in heaven,  bind our hearts to Yours with this perfect love.  We cling to You. We delight in You. We are so very thankful for Your love poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 Psalm 135  "Praise the Lord!"  The psalmist first addresses who should praise the Lord... His servants, those who "stand in the house of the Lord", those in the courts..( v1-2)...  all of Israel.. all of the priests.. all those who "revere the Lord.. " ( v19-20)

Then, the psalmist tells us why we should praise the Lord..  

He is good.  His name is lovely.  He has chosen His people "for Himself". Tozer writes this in his book,  The Knowledge of the Holy .. "The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people."   Yes!  This is every reason to praise His Name!

He is great.  He is above any other "god".  He does what pleases Him. He rules over all the earth.. including the clouds, the winds, the lightning and the rain.  He rules over mankind.  He revealed His power over Pharaoh and all of Egypt.. over the Amorites and "all the kingdoms of Canaan".  He gave the land to Israel.  Tozer wrote about the omnipotence of God.. "God possesses what no creature can: an incomprehensible plentitude of power, a potency that is absolute."  He goes on to write, "All the power required to do all that He wills to do lies in undiminished fullness in His own infinite being."  This is the God we praise!

He is judge.  He will show compassion to His people.  He is both the God of perfect justice and the God of infinite mercy!  Praise His name!

No idol can do what God does.  They cannot speak.. cannot see.. cannot hear.. cannot breathe.  They are empty and useless and those who make them.. become like them. He alone is good.. He alone is great. He alone is worthy of all praise. 

This is why we praise His Name and revere Him and bless Him.  

"Praise the Lord!" 

Father in heaven, we look to You, the Holy and Almighty God who created all things. You are Lord of all. We thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word and through Jesus Christ the Son.  We praise You for You are good.  We sing praises for You are great in every way.  We bow before You because You are sovereign and exalted above all things.  Thank You for being merciful and friendly towards us. Thank You for choosing us to be Your people.. for sending Your Beloved Son to make a way for us.  All glory and praise and honor we give to You. Amen. 

 Psalm 131  A child's heart.. innocent of the arrogance that comes all too soon.. uninvolved with the complications of life.. unworried about the things that are "too difficult".. composed.. quieted.. comforted.. secure in his mother's arms..   This is the picture of one who places his "hope in the Lord". 

Father, we would have such trust in You.. waiting.. resting.. hoping... in You. 

Psalm 132  David desired to build the temple.. he did everything he could to prepare for it, but was not allowed to be the builder.  That would fall upon the shoulders of Solomon. But, Solomon failed to keep the covenant.. and so did his son.. and his grandsons.. and every generation after them.  Yet, the promise to  David.. for a "son" to "sit upon his throne forever".. was kept after all.. in Jesus Christ.. Son of David, King forever.   For this reason.. the "godly ones will sing aloud for joy."  He is our "living hope"!

Psalm 133 Brotherly love.. unity.. is precious.. it is a blessing.. it is "like the dew of Hermon, coming down the mountains of Zion."  Refreshing.. life sustaining.  God given.  Found in the One who is our only hope. 

Psalm 134  The final psalm of Ascents... a blessing... a fervent prayer.. praise to the Lord "He who made heaven and earth." 

To these prayers.. we say "Amen".

 Psalm 125  Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth,  surround us.. "from this time forth and forever."  May we not be moved. May we persevere through every step we take on this journey through life. Remove the "scepter of wickedness" from our land. Let the righteous ones.. believers in Christ Jesus.. do right.  Do good to us and keep us upright in heart.  Let us know Your peace. 

Psalm 126  Lord God, Deliverer and Redeemer,  You have done great things for us and we are glad.  Glad in the Truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ who restored us to fellowship with You, our Father and God.  Lord, if we sow with tears.. let us reap with "joyful shouting".. because of Your goodness to us. 

Psalm 127   Lord God, Builder of our houses.. all we do on our own.. is vanity.  Only as Your perfect will is done will we see blessing and fruitfulness.  Thank You for the gift of children.. even if we don't have a quiver full.. each one is precious to us and precious in Your sight. Thank You. 

Psalm 128  Father God, we are blessed as we walk in Your ways with fear and awe.  Thank You for food to eat, for homes to shelter us, and for families to love and care for.  Thank You for the gift of grandchildren.  Bless them with a hunger and thirst for You.. to walk in Your ways and to have thankful hearts.  May they thrive.. may they be rich in kindness.. in compassion.. in faith.. in love.. and in hope... in the Truth of Jesus Christ the Lord!

Psalm 129  Father God,  You are righteous. We bless Your holy Name. 

Psalm 130  Father in heaven,  hear our voices as we cry out to You.  Hear our prayers for forgiveness and for restoration.  We wait on You and put our hope in Your Word.  Your lovingkindness is everlasting.  With You there is "abundant redemption".  Hallelujah ! Thank You!

In all these psalms.. we lift up our hearts to You. Draw us nearer. Fill our lives and thoughts with the wonder of Your love and grace towards us.  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Psalm 124  In this journey through life.. people may rise against us.  Anger may be kindled. Waters may threaten to engulf us.  We may feel like our very souls are being swept away... but, we can say, with David.. "Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.."   The Lord is on our side.  He is our help.  He made the heavens and the earth.. there is no limit to what He can do.  

Thank God! 

Father,  I am weary and troubled.  But You never grow weary.. never slumber.. never quit.  I struggle, but You are never moved.. never changing.. always good.  My soul may be discouraged.. but  You will keep my soul. You are my help, my deliverer, my protector, and my God.  Surround me. Do good.. to me.  Help me.. for I can do nothing on my own.. but You do the impossible.  Thank You for the grace and mercy that You have poured out to us in Christ Jesus!  It is through the crucified and risen Savior that we come to Your throne and ask for help in times of need.  Praise the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth who hears us.. sees us.. and loves us with everlasting love. Amen. 

 Psalm 121  " I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." 

The mountains are beautiful and majestic and awe-inspiring... but they cannot help us on this pilgrim journey.  They make our paths difficult.  Yet, they are a testimony of the greatness of our God.. the Lord who spoke them into being. 

This is the God I serve.. the God who sees me struggling and who is keeping me from falling down. The God who never falls asleep.. even when it feels as if He's not paying attention. 

"The Lord is [MY] keeper; The Lord is [MY] shade.."  He has promised to protect me through the heat of the day and the cool of the night.  He will "protect [ME] from all evil." 

"HE WILL KEEP [MY]  SOUL"  

 He "will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever." 

I needed to hear this Word today.  To remember that I am not alone in this pilgrim journey.  He will not abandon me.. even when I am doubting.. even when I am troubled... even when I am hurt or angry.  I have a great God whose "lovingkindness is everlasting."  His mercies are new every morning.  His compassions will not fail. 

"Sing for joy to God our strength.." Psalm 81:1 

"Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to Thee I cry all day long. Make glad the soul of Thy servant. For to Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For Thou art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee. Give ear, O Lord to my prayer; and give heed to my supplications!" ( Psalm 86:3-6)

Amen. 

 Psalm 120  This psalm begins the Songs of Ascents, the songs sang along the way as the pilgrims headed to Jerusalem for the appointed feasts. 

The pilgrims begin their journeys in a place of trouble..  yet, also in faith... "In my trouble I cried to the Lord, and He answered me."  What was the trouble?  Lying, deceitful, war-loving enemies. "Woe is me... too long has my soul had its dwelling with those who hate peace..."  the psalmist cries. 

As pilgrims along the journey of life.. we have run into our share of lying, deceitful and unpeaceful people. We no longer trust the words of the media.. or politicians.. or even certain "religious" leaders.  We grow tired of the troubles that are around us.. the lies.. the hatefulness.. the violence.. and the impurity. 

Like the pilgrims headed to Jerusalem, let us proclaim this truth.. " I cried to the Lord, and He answered me."  He has a destination in store for us and He will get us there. We put our trust in Him every step along the way and keep on singing.. and praying.. and waiting on His deliverance. 

Father in heaven, we look forward to the day when there will be no more troubles.. no more lies.. no more war.  We trust in You, that You will hear our prayers and bring us Home.  May we run the race set before us, rejoicing in Your faithfulness and provision.  May we rest in the Truth that You never leave us or forsake us, but that You give us peace that passes all understanding in Christ Jesus.  Whatever troubles we face today.. may we remember that You have given us a shield of faith.. and let us use it! In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

 Psalm 119:113-176  The psalmist continues this psalm of praise and love for the Word of God.  His prayer is that he will understand and keep the laws and commandments and  not be ashamed.  The Word has influenced every decision he has made.  It has sustained him through every difficulty he has faced. 

Throughout this psalm, including these last verses, the writer has lifted up many pleas.. pleas that we would do well to use in our own prayer lives... 

v116 "Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope."

v117 "Uphold me that I may be safe, that I may have regard for Thy statutes continually." 

v122 "Be surety for Thy servant for good; do not let the arrogant oppress me." 

v124-125  "Deal with Thy servant according to Thy lovingkindness, and teach me Thy statutes. I am Thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies." 

v132 "Turn to me and be gracious to me, after Thy manner with those who love Thy name." 

V133 "Establish my footsteps in Thy word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me."

v154 "Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Thy word." 

v169 "Let my cry come before Thee, O Lord; give me understanding according to Thy word." 

v173-174 "Let my tongue sing of Thy word, for all Thy commandments are righteousness. Let Thy hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Thy precepts. I long for Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy law is my delight.... " 

The psalmist ends this prayer with one final plea... "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy commandments." 

This reminds me that even with all my good intentions.. with all my best efforts.. I cannot do anything on my own... It is ALL of Jesus.. His grace, His power, His wisdom, His goodness... It is abiding in Him and He in me.. It is "this salvation"  through the cross of Jesus Christ.. that is my hope... a living hope that leads me.. for He is the way, the Truth and the Life. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father, fill us with Your holy Spirit.. and let Your Word transform our thinking. Grant us understanding and lead us in righteousness. Forgive us our sins.. keep us in Your truth.  Thank You for loving us, for giving us these Words of life, and for showing us Your great mercy.  Let Jesus Christ reign in every area of our lives.  And, when we go astray, seek us and help us to come back in repentance and humble submission to Your perfect will. We ask these things in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Psalm 119:57-112    "The Lord is my portion.." the psalmist writes... my allotment, my inheritance... Jeremiah made this same statement in Lamentations 3:24 "The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I have hope in Him."  This statement in Lamentations follows those well know verses.. "The Lord's lovingkindnessses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness." (v22-23) 

Because of Who the Lord is.. the Almighty God who has revealed Himself in His Holy Word.. we can have hope.. and that hope is made know to us through the Word.  As Peter wrote, we have been born again to a "living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."   A living hope - an anticipated expectation of Life.. through Jesus Christ who is the Living Word.  

This is the reason that the Psalmist writes about the excellencies of the Word.  This is why he vows to keep it; that he longs to know it; that he values it above all silver and gold. 

The Word is:

the promise of hope and grace

the source of help and salvation

the way of discernment and knowledge

the fountain of goodness and truth

It brings comfort and faithfulness. 

It is "settled in heaven" and "continues throughout all generations." 

It is a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path". 

It is the "joy of my heart". 

This is the message of Psalm 119.  May we not miss it.. It is a long psalm.. It is repetitious.  But it is rich in truth that we need to grasp even more. Do we know its value? Do we long for its sweetness? Do we treasure it like the psalmist did?  

Father in heaven, Giver of life and truth, thank You for the Holy Word that has been preserved for us, down through many generations. Thank You for opening our eyes to the delights of Your Word. Teach us more.. grant us the grace to pursue it and to walk in it every moment of every day.  We ask this in Jesus' name. amen. 

 Psalm 119:41-56

The psalmist has determined to put his trust in the Word of the Lord.  It is his hope for salvation and guides his steps in all he does. But, he realizes that this is a commitment that must be made.. day by day and hour by hour.. so he continues to pray for the "lovingkindnesses" of the Lord:

.. so that he can answer those who reproach him.. v42

.. so that "the word of truth" will be continually in his mouth. v43

.. so that he can keep the law continually.. v44

.. so that he can walk "in liberty"... v45

.. so that he can speak of God's word "before kings" and "not be ashamed".. v46

The psalmist continually delights in God's Word..  "which I love" he says, " And I will meditate on Thy statutes." 

The Word of God has brought hope and comfort and revival ( v49-50) to the psalmist in the midst of derision by others.  He makes the Word his song and meditates on it through the long nights... "This has become mine.." he proclaims. (v56) 

Father in heaven, help us to make this lifelong.. continual commitment to read, study, meditate on and delight in Your Word until we can also say.. "This has become mine."  Your Word is altogether wonderful and a vast treasure!  May we really understand how vital it is to abide in Your Word. May we abide in Jesus and the Word.. keeping Your commandment to love one another.. bearing much fruit for Your glory. Let Your Word be in our hearts, on our lips, and reflected in every area of our lives, by the power of Your Spirit who lives in us and teaches us all truth through the Word.  We ask this in the Name of Jesus, the Living Word. Amen. 

Prayers from Psalm 119

 Psalm 119: 17-40   "Deal bountifully with Thy servant.. " the psalmist prays. ... Treat me well. Do good to me.... that I might "live and keep Thy word."   It is only with the Lord's help that we can keep His word.  It is all God's work.. to open our eyes.. "that [we] may behold wonderful things from Thy law."

Do we have such a hunger for God's Word.. to hunger and thirst for righteousness that we might be filled? Then we must long for His word.. delight it in.. plead for understanding of it.. choose to walk faithfully in all that we learn from it.  Let us say with the psalmist, "I cleave to Thy testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I shall run the way of Thy commandments, for Thou wilt enlarge my heart." v31-32

Father, teach us Your ways(33) . Give us understanding.(34) Make us walk in Your paths.(35) Give us delight in Your word. Turn our eyes away from vanity.(37) Establish Your Word in us. (38) Revive us again. (40) We ask, as the psalmist asked, and put our trust in You to faithfully do what only You can do.  With thanksgiving we bring these requests to You, in the Name of the Living Word who became flesh to dwell among us.. to die for our salvation and Who rose again to glory, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

 Psalm 119:1-16  This psalm is focused solely on the Word.. in every possible way, the psalmist directs our thinking to the riches, the delights, the necessity, and the power to God's Word:

We are blessed when we walk in the ways of the Lord, which are  found in His law, His precepts, His statutes, His commandments, and His judgements.   In other words,  every part of God's Word has purpose and value, every part is necessary to righteous living.  It is through God's word that we seek Him.. and find Him.  It is  because of God's word that we can find Life at all.   Let us give thanks for His wonderful Words of life!

v 9  The psalmist has discovered and now determines to live according to God's word.  His prayer reveals his understanding that he cannot keep it on his own.. "Do not let me wander from Thy commandments." he prays. He treasures the word.. but that is not enough.. "Teach me.." he pleads.  He speaks the word.. he rejoices in the Word.. He meditated on the word.. " I shall not forget Thy word". 

He is determined. He is dedicated. He is diligent.  

Oh that we may also have such desire for God's word! I am reminded of Peter's words in his 2nd epistle.. " Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love."

Father in heaven, keep us abiding in Your Word.. help us to be diligent... like the psalmist.. to study, to meditate on .. and to intentionally live each day according to Your Truth.  We know that it is only by the power of Your Spirit that we can do this.. so come and have Your way in us this day.  May the desire of our hearts be like that of the psalmist.. that we not forget..that we might not wander.. but that we  might treasure Your word in our hearts that we might not sin against Thee.  In Jesus' name we ask this. Amen. 

 Psalm 117  Two verses..to praise the Lord... 

Who should praise Him?   "..all nations" and "all peoples". 

Why?  " For His lovingkindness is great toward us."  His "truth.. is everlasting". 

Psalm 118 continues these thoughts..  adding not just praise but thanks.. "For His lovingkindness is everlasting." ..  God's kindness, beauty, favor, mercy, pity, and goodness.. are without end. 

The psalmist adjures Israel to declare this truth. He exhorts the house of Aaron .. the priesthood.. to declare it. He encourages all "who fear the Lord" to say it too.  That's us! 

The lovingkindness of the Lord is everlasting!  Why is that so important for us to say?  How often.. if ever.. do we actually say it? 

The emphasis here in these two psalms indicates that this is a key characteristic and truth about God that we need to remember.. to praise.. to give thanks for..  The psalmist goes on to give us examples of this everlasting lovingkindness... 

v5  Because of God's lovingkindness.. we can call upon Him in our distress and He will answer us!

V6 Because of His lovingkindness. we do not have a to fear any man.. for God is for us!

v8 Because of His everlasting compassion.. we can always take refuge in Him!

v10-13  No matter of our circumstances.. no matter how dire the situation.. God's lovingkindness will not fail.. He will help us.. 

v14 Because of His everlasting lovingkindness.. we can declare "The Lord is my strength and song and He has become my salvation." 

v15 Because of His lovingkindness we can shout for joy! We see how He comes like an army on our side!

"The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly."   the psalmist gives emphasis to this truth.. and we are again reminded that it is the Lord Jesus who is at the right hand of the Father on high. He came like an army to do what no army could do.. defeating every enemy.. ascending into glory... seated at the right hand of God.. our Mediator who forever shows us the lovingkindness of God. 

The psalmist goes on to tell us how the Lord disciplined him.. but did not hand him over to death.  Instead, He gave him life.. opened the way of righteousness.. and became his salvation.  

"The stone which the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes."    This we know refers to Jesus.. and as we read in Luke.. Jesus came to fulfill every word that was spoken about Him..  Oh, Let us praise the Lord for His lovingkindness is everlasting !  It is completely and perfectly displayed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

V24-27 "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."   What day?  The day when Christ became the chief cornerstone.. the day He came to save us from our sin.  The day He came to give us light.  Hallelujah!  What a Savior!

"Thou art my God, and I give thanks to Thee; Thou art my God, I extol Thee. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting." 

Amen and amen! 

 Psalm 116   Perhaps this psalm would make a good new year's resolution.. a proclamation of faith to start out the beginning of another year in the life of us pilgrims.. 

Let us start by declaring our love for the Lord.. "because He hears... [our] voices and [our] supplications." v1

Let us declare our intentions to "call upon Him as long as [we] live." v2

Let us testify of how He  rescued us from the "cords of death".. when we were in "distress and sorrow". v3

Let us praise His name.. for He heard our cries and saved our lives!  "Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. "v4-5

Because God "preserves the simple".. He brings us low.. He gives us rest.. He deals bountifully with us. v6-7

Because of His grace.. we are rescued from death.. He has dried our tears.. He has kept us from stumbling. v8

Let us vow to "walk before the Lord in the land of the living."  v9

Let us "lift us the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. " v13

Let us pay our vows.. offering sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise in the midst of the people.. in the congregation.. in the courts.. in the city.. v14

Let us act as the servants of God that we are.. knowing that He has freed us from the bonds of sin and that when the day comes that He calls us home we can be assured that "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." v15

Father in heaven, Holy and Almighty Creator, and Gracious God.. thank You for giving us Life in Jesus Christ our Savior.. for because He lives.. we have life eternal.  We praise You and determine to live for You this new year.  Help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Help us to walk in faith and to live fruitful lives of service to the glory of His name.  Anoint us by Your Spirit that Your perfect, acceptable, and good will can be known and accomplished in our simple lives.. for all power, glory and honor belongs to You.  Let Your Words abide in us and us in You this day.. this year.. we pray... in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. 

 Luke 22 -24

The passover/last supper
The Garden of Gethsemane
The betrayal
The arrest
The trials
The Cross 
The tomb
The resurrection!
The ascension . 

Luke recorded the sequence of events that changed the world.  Every part of it was for one purpose - "For I tell you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in Me.. " (22:37)  Jesus said.  He told the two on the road to Emmaus, "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter His glory?"( 24:26)  All of Scripture, from "Moses and with all the prophets" had prophesied that these things would take place.. and when they did.. the people could have known.. had they believed "in all that the prophets had spoken."  A third time in these 3 chapters Luke records what Jesus has to say about Scripture.. "These are My Words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. "(24:44)

Why doubt?  Jesus stood before His own disciples and they were so stunned that they couldn't even see the Truth before their eyes.  How hard it was for them to believe the Word.  How hard it is for us too sometimes.  Yet, Jesus tells us that it is necessary.. and He sends us "the promise of My Father"  to cloth us with "power from on high".. to believe, to repent, to understand the Scriptures, and  to proclaim the truth.. "in His Name to all the nations." 

Great Father in heaven,  may we not be slow of heart to believe Your word.  Fill us again.. continually with Your Spirit to lead us into Truth. Remove our doubts.. open our eyes. May we truly know the greatness of the salvation that is found in Christ Jesus...The Son of God who became flesh.. to dwell among us.. that He might die on a cross, shedding His blood for our sinfulness.. His body broken for us.. for me.  Thank You Jesus, my Lord and King, for You patiently lead me into the Word of Truth that I might begin to understand the greatness of this salvation.  All glory and honor and power are Yours. Praise God! Amen.