Psalm 102

 Psalm 102  "A prayer of the afflicted..."  At times we have experienced.. or will experience.. or are even now experiencing affliction.. and perhaps the words of this prayer ring really true to us; 

"Hear my prayer, O Lord! And let my cry of help come to Thee. Do not hide Thy face from me in the day of my distress; incline Thine ear to me; in the day when I call answer me quickly." 

The psalmist expresses the deep anguish of his suffering:

His days are "consumed".. finished.. 

His "bones have been scorched.. "

His "heart has been smitten.. " 

Mentally, physically, emotionally.. he has come to an end of himself.  He cannot eat. He cannot stop groaning. He is a shell of himself: "I resemble a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl of the waste places. I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop."   What a word picture he presents to us.. that we might feel the depth of his loneliness and pain. 

Enemies reproach, deride, and curse him.  We know the pain of being scorned or humiliated.. perhaps even cursed..  Peter writes, "Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  Our great enemy is behind every such attack.. 

Yet, the psalmist has agony deeper than the betrayal of an enemy.. he feels the "indignation.. the wrath" of God Himself.  "For Thou hast lifted me up and cast me away. My days are like a lengthened shadow; and I wither away like grass." 

It is all poured out.. all the groaning.. all the complaints.. all the grief... until he finally lifts his head and looks up... "But Thou, O Lord, dost abide forever; And Thy name to all generations."

The psalmist does not stay defeated.. but remembers his God who is victorious!

God will "arise and have compassion.. " 

He will be gracious.

He will command the nations.

"He will appear in His glory"

He will regard the prayers of the needy.

He will be praised by future generations.

He looks down from heaven... and He gazes upon His creation.

He hears our groaning.

He sets us free from death.. from doom..  "That men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion." 

The One who founded the earth and the heavens.. will endure beyond their destruction.   We are given a glimpse of a future beyond the life of the writer .. beyond us.. "Even when they perish.. and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will not come to an end." 

There is a Kingdom to come.. where we will all gather to serve the Lord forever.. where we will praise His name.. and tell of how He delivered us.. how He strengthened us.. how He established us.  Won't that be amazing!

Father in heaven, we know that even when we are suffering that You are at work.. When we are rejoicing.. You are at work.  No matter what we face today.. may we turn our eyes to You.. giving thanks and praising Your name. May we look for the clouds to part.. for the trumpet to sound.. for the day when everything is changed and we will be with You forever.  Prepare our hearts.  Save those who are lost.. in despair and without the Truth that brings hope and deliverance. Open our eyes to those who need to hear.. and give us words to speak that will bring others to You. Thank You for hearing us when we pray. May Your name be glorified in all the earth!  Amen. 

Psalm 101

 Psalm 101  This psalm of David is a declaration of his intentions.. as a man of God... as the king of Israel.  He has set a course for his life's work.. he has made a vow with every intention of heart to live this way.

The first thing.. the first priority for David, is to worship the Lord: "I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, to Thee, O Lord, I will sing praises."   May this be our first priority and promise.. that all else in our lives will fall into there rightful place. 

"I will give heed to the blameless way."  David declares... I will prudently, wisely, skillfully, intelligently, behave myself in a way of integrity and truth.. without spot, undefiled... "When wilt Thou come to me?" he asks,  perhaps admitting that he cannot do what he just said without the Lord's help.  

"I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart."  In the privacy of his own home.. where no other can see.. save God Himself.. David desires to walk uprightly.. simply.. completely as God calls him to do. 

"I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; "  Worthless.. without profit.. destructive.. wicked..evil.. ungodly.  ( And David had no idea about the invention of the television or the computer!)  It is a challenge to find anything decent these days on either of these devices.  Can we determine to follow David's example here?

"I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not fasten its grip on me."  David determines right up front that he will not allow apostasy into his own life.. no rebellion, forsaking, abandoning, or falling away from God's ways.  He saw what that did in Saul's life.. he wanted no part of that in his own.  

"A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil."  David desires truth.. in himself and in others. He determines to keep away from what is false and distorted and crooked. 

As a king.. a leader of the people of God.. David sets forth his agenda for those he governs.. 

He will punish a slanderer.. one who despises his neighbor. 

He will not endure those who are "haughty.. and arrogant". 

He will look to the faithful and the blameless. 

He will dismiss the deceitful.. the liars. 

He will destroy the wicked and "cut off from the city of the Lord all those who do iniquity." 

It is a far cry from the leadership of our days.. this decree of David the king.   We find few who determine to live with integrity, truth, and uprightness. We see the faithlessness.. the apostasy.. the rebellious attitudes.. the arrogance and wickedness all around us.  Like David, it is vital that we the people of God determine in ourselves to live "in the integrity" of our own hearts... through the power of His Spirit in us. 

Father in heaven,  we sing of Your love, Your mercy and grace, and Your faithfulness.  We come before You with thanksgiving, for You have given to us salvation through Jesus Christ.. our King who came to reveal grace and truth! We desire to live wholly for You, to walk in the power of Your Spirit, that we might please You in all our ways.. at home or outside the home. Fill us again, sweet Spirit of God, that we might proclaim the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus to a world of lost sinners for whom He was slain.  Open blind eyes.. break through hardened hearts.. and bring the good news of Jesus to this desperate world, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Psalm 100

 Psalm 100  "Shout joyfully... !"  This psalm of thanksgiving begins with an exhortation to shout.  It is interesting that the same Hebrew word that is translated here as "shout joyfully" can also mean to sound an alarm to "split the ears with sound".   This is no quiet murmur of thanks.. this is meant to be heard far and wide! 

The psalmist gives us another command.. "Serve the Lord with gladness."  Work at it.. like a bondservant.. labour in all you do "with gladness".. with glee.. with pleasure.. with full joy!  

"Come before Him with joyful singing." 

When we come before Him.. either in our "prayer closet".. or in a church pew.. may we come with glee.. with shouts of thanksgiving.. with "gladness"!

Why?  Because " ...the Lord Himself is God; It is He who made us and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture."   We belong to Him. The pasture belongs to Him.. everything and everyone belongs to Him.. and He is good! " His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations." 

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name."  Here are clear instructions as to how we come "before Him... "   

We know that Moses was given instructions to build a tabernacle.. a place where God would meet with His people. Surrounding the tent itself was a courtyard, and around the courtyard there were curtains that set it apart from common ground. The gates were the only entrance into this holy place. In the courtyard there was a great altar and a laver.  A place for offerings and a place for washing.    David wrote in Psalm 24 "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who can stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart." ( v3-4)  There seems to be a correlation there.. 

Entering into the Presence of God is not to be taken lightly.. God requires something of us.. clean hands and pure hearts.. a sacrifice is necessary.. and was provided "once for all".. "but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down and the right hand of God.. " ( Hebrews 10:12)  

This is why we come to Him with thanksgiving and praise!  Jesus Christ provided a "new and living way.. inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.. "  Therefore "we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus." (Hebrews 10:19-20)   The Hebrew writer reminds us that this is not an earthly tent or temple that we enter.. but  a "greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation and not through the blood of goats and calves but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.. " (Heb. 9:11-12).  We have received an unshakable kingdom.. hallelujah!  

One more word from Hebrews that echos Psalm 100  - " Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." (13:15)

Father in heaven,  You are a holy God who has made a way for us to come into Your Presence with joy and gladness... through Jesus Christ our Savior..  Thank You for this great and wonderful gift!  We come with reverence and awe before You, our Creator who has redeemed us from all sin.  We praise Your Name.  Equip us for "every good thing to do Your will.. working in us that which is pleasing" in Your sight, "through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  ( Hebrews 13:21)

Psalm 99

 Psalm 99 "The Lord reigns, let the people tremble.. "   This is the appropriate response to the reign of God.. trembling! 

His throne is higher than anything and everything!

His Presence is "great" and He is exalted!

His Name is "awesome".

He is Holy!

He loves justice.

He gives strength to His servants.

He "established equity.. and executes justice and righteousness." 

This is the God we worship!

It is the testimony of Moses and Aaron, that they called on the Lord and He answered.. that He forgave their sins.. that He avenged evil deeds.  And, most of all, that He is holy!

The psalmist invites us to come worship God.  May we do so with great joy!

Father in heaven, we exalt Your Holy Name. We give thanks to You and praise Your Name to all the earth!  The Lord is God alone! There is no other.  He alone created the heavens and the earth.  He is our Maker and we are His people.  He has revealed to us His salvation through Jesus Christ.. Emmanuel.. God with us.. who came to earth, setting aside His rightful place.. to become a sacrifice.. a Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world.  O how we praise You, Lord!  You are good. You are gracious and merciful.  You are abundant in lovingkindness.  You give help to us in our needs.  You comfort us in our grief.  You strengthen us in our weakness.  You hold us in Your mighty Hands.  You never leave us or forsake us. Thank You! May Your Name be exalted in all the earth, Lord Most High.  Our world is in desperate need of You.  Come and fill Your people with power from on high, that we might go out as witnesses to the Truth. Let Jesus Christ be glorified in the lives of His church today we pray. Amen. 

Psalm 98

 Psalm 98 We praise the Lord with singing..  "with the lyre.. and the sound of melody.. with trumpets and the sound of the horn... " 

The earth itself breaks forth in song to the Lord.. "Let the sea roar and all it contains.. the world and those who dwell in it.. Let the rivers clap their hands.. Let the mountains sing together for joy.. " 

We sing to the Lord "a new song, for He has done wonderful things. His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him. The Lord has made known His salvation;"

Our God reveals His righteousness.. His faithfulness.. and His lovingkindness to His people. And all on the earth "have seen the salvation of our God."  Though.. sadly.. not all will admit it. 

The psalmist proclaims this truth.. ".. He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with equity." 

Our God is "ready to forgive".. for He is good.. He is great.. His lovingkindness is abundant! But, He is also a righteous judge, holy and just.  Those who will not turn from evil.. those who will not call upon the name of Jesus for the salvation freely given.. will be judged.. with equity.. and will be cast out of His Presence.  They will find no joy.. no peace.. no love.. no hope.. 

God is God alone.  There is no other way than the way that He made.. through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to pay the penalty for our sins.. who rose again from the grave in victory over death.. and who ascended to heaven, to the right hand of the Father.. that He might make intercession for us.. prepare a place for us.. and come again to reign forever with us!  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Father in heaven, how we praise Your holy Name!  You are good and worthy of all honor and glory and praise. We come to You today, singing our songs of joy.. for You have done great things for us. You have given us such grace and mercy.. You have delivered us from our sins, set us free from death, and made us alive forever in Christ!  Thank You, Lord!  We ask for Your kingdom to come and for Your will to be done. We ask for Your Spirit to move in our homes, in our churches, and in our world.. to bring salvation to those who still walk in darkness. Let the Light of Your Countenance shine through Your people today. We are Your witnesses.. surrendered to Your purposes and plans.  May Your Name be lifted up in our lives today, Jesus!  Amen!

Psalm 97

 Psalm 97  This psalm exults the reign of the Lord Most High.  Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world.. " ( John 18:36)  The writer of Hebrews assures us, " Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude  by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." ( Hebrews 12:28-29) 

This is the Kingdom that we celebrate in Psalm 97 "The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad." 

We rejoice because " Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne."   Think of this.. what nation.. past, present, or future.. besides the Kingdom of God, has such a foundation?  Our country may be better than some.. or even than most, but we lack true justice and there are few that desire what is righteous. 

Our God will judge the earth with righteousness and justice.. and for this we will rejoice.  His "adversaries" will be burned up.  The "earth will tremble". The mountains will melt "like wax".  When He comes again, there will be no question that Jesus reigns.. "over the whole earth".  Hallelujah!

The psalmist encourages the wanderers to look to the heavens, for they "declare His righteousness".  Look to His people, who have seen His glory.  Be ashamed of the "graven images".. the false gods.. and "Worship Him" !

Our God is "the Lord Most High over all the earth.."  Therefore we exalt Him.  We hate evil. We find deliverance from the wicked. We find light and gladness in Him. 

".. give thanks to His holy name." 

Father in heaven, it is with grateful hearts that we come to bow before You and worship.. in spirit and in truth.  For You reign with righteousness and justice.. and Your Kingdom will never end.  Thank You for the promise of a kingdom that will not be shaken!  Our world has seen many "kingdoms" fall and many that have become corrupt and cruel. We pray for Your children, our brothers and sisters in Christ, who suffer even now at the hands of Your adversaries.. and ask that You would deliver them.. " preserve the souls of [Your] godly ones.. " Lord Most High!  We rejoice in You, giving thanks with sincere hearts.. with reverence and awe...  In Jesus' name we come and ask for Your glory to be made known in all the earth!  Amen. 

Psalm 96

 Psalm 96 - This psalm is first presented in I Chronicles 96.. at the time when the ark is brought to the tent that David had prepared.. when he appointed the singers to "celebrate and give thanks and praise the Lord."  

" Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day." 

This psalm gives us much to sing about! 

We sing of the good news.. 

We sing of His glory.. 

We sing of the wonderful things He does.. 

We sing because He is great!

We sing because He is to be feared.. 

We sing because He made the heavens!

We sing because of His splendor and majesty!

We sing because of His strength and beauty!

"Ascribe to the Lord.. " the psalmist instructs us.. give, bestow, appoint, apply.. "...glory and strength.. the glory of His name.."  As Jesus taught us to pray.. "Hallowed be Thy Name.. "  We are to honor His name, even as the commandment taught us.. and never take that Name in vain... in worthless ways. Give glory to His name!

"Worship the Lord in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the earth.. "  We are to mind the way we come before Him in worship. Not half-hearted.. not hypocritically.. not selfishly.. not proudly.. but with the clothing of holiness- humble.. contrite.. surrendered.. yearning.. repentant.. hearts. 

Let our testimony be "The Lord reigns!"  Let our exhortation be "He is coming.. to judge the earth."  For "He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness."  O how the world needs to know that He is coming and He will judge them rightly.. 

Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name in all the earth!  Let the nations bow before You.. to know that You alone are God.. that You alone can save.. that You alone reign forevermore!  We give thank to You for the Word that shows us how to worship in spirit and in truth. We offer up this song of praise, for You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory. "You are good and ready to forgive.. Abundant in lovingkindness.. there is none like You."  Father, we ask that Your Kingdom come and that Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Our good, good Father.. grant us daily bread.. forgive us our sins as we forgive others who have sinned against us. Lead us in Your ways and deliver us from evil. We are so needy.. and so thankful.  Be glorified in our attitudes, our words, and our actions today as we abide in Christ our Lord.  In His name we pray. Amen.