Psalm 76-77 "God is known...."   When we truly know Him, when we see Him as He has revealed Himself,  we fall at His feet.
God is "resplendent"
He is majestic.
He is to be feared.
No one can stand in His presence.
His judgements cause the earth to stand still.
He is feared by princes and kings.
Water reacts in anguish at the sight of Him.
Thunder and lightning and rain are His.
The earth trembles and shakes.
He walks through the seas.
"Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?"

We need to see You, Lord God.  To see You in Truth. To worship You "in spirit and in truth".  To know You, really know You.   Our eyes are dim. Our hearts are veiled. We... I have such a small glimpse of You, and I want to know You more.  You are the King of Glory!  You are the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth. Open our eyes Lord! That we might fall on our faces and worship.
amen

Genesis 21
Sarah has Isaac, just like God told them.  But Hagar and her son are now sent away for good.  This breaks Abraham's heart, but God does not abandon them. He hears the boy's cry. (v17).  He opens Hagar's eyes ( v19), and He is "with the lad, and he grew; and he lived in the wilderness, and became an archer."
Abraham and Abimelech make a covenant. Abraham lives in this place which become Beersheba.
It is here that Abraham calls "on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God."
Abraham got a new perspective, a new revelation of Who God is, at the age of 100.   Never too late to get a fresh glimpse, a deeper knowledge, of Who our God really is!

Amen!!!!!

Psalm 78 The psalmist asks us to "Listen"!  This account is what we have heard from our parents and what we need to tell our children, so they can tell their children, so that every generation will know the "praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done."  We need to teach our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren the Word of God so, "That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."
There was a generation (perhaps more than just one?) that was "stubborn and rebellious".  A generation "that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God."   These people:
Turned back from battle. ( They let the enemy in)
Failed to keep the covenant of God. ( Were out of relationship with Him)
Refused to walk in the Law of God. ( Willfully sinned)
And forgot His deeds and miracles.
Over and over they tested God. They spoke against Him.  They angered Him.
"Because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation." v22  "They did not remember his power, the day when He redeemed them from the adversary." v42

At times they would remember and turn back, but "their heart was not steadfast toward Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant."  Again and again the nation of Israel rejected and rebelled against God.  Again and again He had compassion on them.  Up until the time of David, the writer tells of God's wonderful works in saving them, leading them, providing for them, and giving them a shepherd  to be their king.

Father,  help us to remember! Help us to be faithful to share Your praises, Your mighty works, Your power, through Your Word... so that our children and grandchildren, so that all the generations that follow us will put their trust and confidence in You!  So they will know You, Almighty God, Lord Most High! So that they will walk in Your ways, steadfast and faithful, all the days of their lives.  O Lord, may we not fail to have hearts prepared and spirits faithful to You!  May we not fail to prepare our children's hearts to know You and trust You!   You have given us, parents and grandparents, this vital responsibility to raise up a new generation to know and serve You.  Help us to listen and remember and obey!  You know, You remember that we are "but flesh, A wind that passes and does not return".  Even as I waft through this life,  sweeping through the lives of my loved ones, may I be faithful to lead them to You, Lord.  Make my life an instrument in Your Hand, to play a beautiful melody of Your great Love and Salvation, into the hearts of my children and grandchildren, so that they will come to You.  I ask this Jesus, in Your Mighty Name, amen.

Genesis 20  Interesting little chapter in the life of Abraham.  The promise of Isaac's birth within the next year has been given.  Sarah is old.  Abraham is older.  Again they move.  This time they are in the land ruled by Abimelech.  Abraham again tells them that Sarah is his sister, not his wife.  Again, she is taken to be the wife of another man.  Again, God intervenes.   Sarah is given back to Abraham. Abraham ends up with more goods and servants.  Abraham prays for Abimelech and healing occurs.
Why?  I don't know.  It doesn't make sense does it?  Abraham was in the wrong here.  God even agrees with Abimelech that he acted out of the "integrity of" his heart.   Yet Abraham actually is given the command to pray for Abimelech.  We would think that the one who deceived needs the prayer more than the one lied to, but that is not what happened.
God protects Sarah throughout this whole episode.   He keeps Abimelech from even touching her.  He leads Abimelech to give a thousand pieces of silver for "her vindication ".  She had obeyed her husband in telling them that she was his sister.  But at the end her reputation was cleared.   And we are told in the next chapter, "Then the Lord took note of Sarah as He had said and the Lord did for Sarah as He had promised." v1.

Lord,  teach us to trust You like Sarah did.  Thank You that even when we act in ways that are wrong, You are in control.  You are good!  May we remember this every moment. Amen

Psalm 79  The psalmist watches his land and his people, God's people, being destroyed.  The temple is defiled.  The city is ruined.  There are so many bodies they can't even bury them.  Israel is scoffed at, derided, and under reproach. They have been devoured and laid waste.   It is in this state of desperation that he calls out to God.  He prays:

 " Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy Name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy Name's sake. Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God'".  v9-10a

He appeals to God's compassion and to His justice.  He appeals to God's greatness and power.  He gives thanks and praise to be offered "forever". 

Jesus instructed His disciples to pray to His Father with similar thoughts.  The idea of "hallowing" or honoring His Name.  The petition for forgiveness of sins and the request for deliverance.   For the psalmist the prayer was quite personal and desperate.  But do we have that same passion?  We are blind to just how needy we are sometimes.  In a world such as ours we can go through our days oblivious to the fact that there is death all around us.  Those who are spiritually dead.  Those who are emotionally, mentally, and physically ruined.  They have no hope. They don't know that they can call upon the Name of the Lord for help and deliverance, for forgiveness and compassion. 

We don't necessarily want to pray for vengeance, or for God's wrath to be poured out against other nations.  But when our cities are attacked, when planes are made into deadly missiles, when evil nations develop nuclear bombs..... will we turn to the only real power Who can rescue us?  Will our appeal be the same as the psalmist... "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your Name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Your Name's sake."   

It is my prayer... every day.  Father, Abba, Let Your Name be honored and glorified.  Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done here on earth , as it is in heaven.  Give to us our daily provisions for life.  Forgive us for our sinfulness, we owe You a great debt that we cannot pay, thank You for paying that debt, Jesus!  We willingly offer forgiveness to those who have sinned against us.  Lead us into Your paths of righteousness and away from the temptations that would cause us to fall.  Deliver us from the evil one.  All glory is Yours. All power is Yours.  The Kingdom is Yours.  Be exalted forever. Amen

Genesis 18-19  The Lord comes to visit Abraham.  3 "men" stop by for a visit.  Abraham prepares a meal and they wait while it is prepared and eat together.  Interesting, isn't it?   What would you do if God stopped by and knocked on your door?   Not sure I would offer Him roast beef!

The Lord assures Abraham that Sarah is going to have a son.  It would happen soon.  Sarah is the one to laugh this time.  But He reveals a little more about Himself to them "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"   The answer to that would be "NO!"  

The Lord also reveals to Abraham that He will be destroying Sodom for the wickedness there.  Abraham appeals to God's justice and bargains for the city based on finding even 10 who are righteous.  But there are none that really qualify.  However, He spares Lot and his family for Abraham's sake.  Even then the angels had to grab Lot's hand and his wife's and daughters' hands and pull them out of the city! 

Lot's wife disobeys the order to not look back and she dies.  The girls are desperate and foolish.  They get their father drunk so that he will sleep with them and they can have children.  These turn out poorly and the nations of Moab and Ammon become enemies of Israel.  

Father, You are Sovereign Lord.  You know the reasons that things happened in the past and You know what will happen in the future.  We don't begin to understand.  I just pray that I will learn the truth of Your greatness and power in my world today.  "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"  No!

Peace on earth is not too difficult.  Truth and righteousness and justice in our nation... not too difficult for You! Salvation for stubborn hearts... not too difficult!  Let Your Kingdom Come!  Let lives be changed for the glory of Your Name, I pray. Amen

Psalm 80 The psalmist addresses God as the "Shepherd of Israel"; "Thou who art enthroned above the  cherubim";  and "The Lord God of Hosts."   He repeats his request 3 times, "...cause Thy face to shine upon us and we will be saved."   This phrase echoes the blessing that the Lord instructed Aaron and his sons to speak to the nation of Israel, found in Numbers 6:24-26:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace,"

This  blessing was to move Israel to "invoke My Name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them."  To invoke His Name, to put His Name on them, was to call upon His Name.  To seek His Face, O, this is what we need more than anything!  To turn our eyes towards Him,  to want Him looking at us with eyes of grace and compassion, to know that we are in His protective care.  Our Father, our Abba, Daddy wants us to turn from our busyness, from our self-effort, from our distractions and temptations, and look at Him.  For He will give us all we need.  No where else will be find help or life or satisfaction.  

I picture a small child, busy with playing or struggling with something difficult, who turns his head and looks up to his dad. And when he sees his father's face, looking at him, paying attention, and ready to encourage or help, or even rescue him... what relief, what joy, what security that child will know.  What love he will feel from his father and what love he will have for such a dad as that. 

This is what we can do with our Abba, our Heavenly Father, who is the Lord of Hosts!  Amazing!

Genesis 17  Abram is given a new name, Abraham, at the age of 99 when the Lord appears to him and establishes a covenant with him.  This covenant is different than any other.  First of all, it is and "everlasting" covenant.  It is a conditional covenant.  Abraham and his descendants were to "keep" the covenant by circumcising every male.  God's part of the covenant was to bless them, make them fruitful, and give them a land for their possession.  Although the Lord does command Abraham to "walk before" Him and to be "blameless", there does not appear to be any other conditions given to Abraham at this point.  
God also reveals the birth of Isaac which is to come and the fact that this covenant will be established through his line, not that of Ishmael.  Abraham and Sarah are past child bearing age at this point, so their natural response to this was to laugh.  God is not offended by this at all, in fact, He uses this to give a name to the promised son, Isaac, which means "he laughed".

Psalm 81  "...if you would only listen to Me!"   the Lord says to His people.  If we would only listen and obey, He would do mighty things.... subdue the enemy, punish the wicked, provide for every need, and satisfy every desire.  God is our strength,  He relieves our burdens,  He rescues us from trouble. But He commands us to have no "strange god"; to stop being stubborn and walking in our "own devices".  Listen to God.  Walk His ways.  Do what Abraham did, believe the promises and obey the commands.  Trust and obey.... the only way to be truly happy in Jesus!

Abba, Father,  I am listening and I will obey.  Have Your way in my life today. Amen

Psalm 82  God, the Creator and Possessor of Heaven and earth, takes His stand.  He comes to judge the judges.  They have been unjust.  They have shown favor to the wicked.  They had been appointed as rulers, as "gods", but they failed to understand their responsibilities.  Their job was to:

"Vindicate the weak and fatherless;"
"Do justice to the afflicted and destitute."
"Rescue the weak and needy;"
and "Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."

This is God's passion, to bring justice and help to those who are in the greatest need.  The weak, the afflicted, the poor and needy.   This is what He desires for us to do. This is His will, to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  To bring heaven to earth,  for His Kingdom to come, will only happen when His will is done.

As Micah wrote (6:8)  " He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you,  But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

This what Jesus Christ, the Savior, came to do.  He came to reveal that the religion of the Pharisees was unjust.  It favored the wicked ( themselves) but made it impossible for the poor and afflicted to even know God.  Jesus came to us, the weak, the fatherless, the destitute,  to give us true justice and great mercy.   He taught that all had come short of God's glory.  All of us were in need of being rescued. And then He provided the salvation, the deliverance, Himself.   Thank You Lord, for saving my soul!  Make me an instrument of justice to those in need, a source of help to those who are weak.
Use us today Lord!
amen

Genesis 16 Sarai and Hagar... and Abraham.
Was Sarai wrong to offer Hagar as a child-bearer for Abram?
Was Hagar wrong to despise her mistress?
Was Abram wrong for allowing Sarai to start this and then be angry?
Seems to me that they were all at fault for this mess.  But what astounds me is that the Lord didn't condemn any of them. He allowed Ishmael to be born, to become a father to many nations, that in the end would vex the nation of Israel!  And on top of that He revealed Himself to this poor slave woman.  He saw her.  He gave heed to her affliction.  He comforted her and sent her back to Sarai and Abram.  And He still allows Sarai and Abram to have a son.

Thank You Lord for being a God of justice and mercy.  Thank You that You see those who are afflicted and You take heed of us. Thank You that Your ways are not our ways, but even when we take things into our own hands and make a mess, You don't forget us and You don't forsake us.
You are so kind!  I love You Lord and I worship You alone.
Make Your Name great!
Bring Your Kingdom down!
Let Your will be done!
amen

Psalm 83 There have always been enemies who "make an uproar" against God.  They hate Him and exalt themselves. They hate His people and conspire together against them. Enemies who want to wipe out God's people... Israel and Christians.   The psalmist prays that God will "not be silent" and "not be still".  The ultimate purpose is that "they may seek Thy Name O Lord." and that they would know that "Thou alone, whose name is Lord, art the Most High over all the earth."  

As we pray, "Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name,"  we are asking the same thing.  That God would let all men fall on their faces before Almighty God, in their shame and humility, in their dismay at their own sinfulness,  that they would even "perish" - be undone,  die.... so that they might truly live.  To "hallow" God's name, to make it holy, is to sanctify it, to set it apart as a Name greater than any other.  When we seek His Name, we seek Him, the "Most High".  The only True God.  The One Who has created us, revealed Himself to us, and saves us from our greatest enemies, sin, self, and satan.  To not hallow His name, to not call upon Him in Truth, in humility and repentance, is to make "an uproar" against Him.  That is a dangerous place to be. For He will not be silent, nor will He be still.  There will come a time, in His providence, when "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord."  O what a privilege to be one of His people and gladly chose Him now!


Genesis 14-15  Abram rescues Lot, meets Melchizedek, and comes into a covenant with God.  God gave Abram a look into the future,  his descendants would be slaves in a different land for 400 years and then would return to possess the land of this promise.  Even though he had no children yet, Abram believed God.  God reckoned his belief "as righteousness".  The word "believe" in Hebrew is aman and it means to render firm or faithful, to trust,  to go to the right hand.  It is like Abram and God shook hands on it.  God "reckoned" - considered, valued,  computed righteousness to Abram.  This transaction established a partnership, a friendship, between God and Abram.

Father, thank you for being a God Who reckons belief/faith to be righteousness.  For we can not accomplish perfect righteousness on our own.  Only Jesus could do that.  But, You have reckoned us righteous when we come in faith to Him.  Thank You for such grace as this.  Thank You for extending Your Right Hand to us so that we can take hold and come into Covenant with You.
Lord, I know that You keep Your promises!  I know that You are God alone and that You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to provide salvation by His death on a cruel cross.  I put my faith in Him.  Thank You for reckoning me as righteous.  Marvelous Grace!  Amen