Psalm 78  This psalm is a history lesson for the people of Israel.  "Listen, O my people, to my instructions."

Here are the words that should be taught to every child.. so that they will know God and praise Him. 
"But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done." 

v1- 7  God established a covenant with His people.  He gave them  the Law.  He commanded them to teach it to their children.  "That they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments." In other words, so that they can have a right relationship with Him.

But Israel failed to keep the covenant with the Lord.
They were stubborn and rebellious.
They did not "prepare" or put right their hearts.
They were unfaithful to Him.
They refused to walk in HIs ways.
They forgot His deeds.

So, the psalmist reminds them of what they have forgotten:
God " wrought wonders before their fathers", He displayed His power and strength -
He -
 "divided the sea"
" made the waters stand up like a heap"
" led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire."
"split the rocks" and gave them water.
"rained down manna upon them to eat"
"rained meat upon them like the dust"

And He did all this while they mumbled, whined, rebelled, and sinned against Him.
They failed to believe in Him and they did not trust Him.
He gave them the promised land.
He forgave them.
He had compassion on them.
He knew their weakness.

There came a time when their rebellion against Him resulted in filling God with wrath.
Then He sent them into captivity .
Yet even then, God did not abandon them.  He brought them back to the land and chose the tribe of Judah, His servant David, to shepherd His people.


God gave a specific set of Laws that were meant for every generation. ( Yes, including us)
The people of Israel failed to even come close to keeping these laws. ( Us too)
In order to once again be the people of the Lord they needed to remember their history.
Specifically, they needed to go over again all that God did in order that they could become a nation.
Every miracle needs to be acknowledged.
Every failure to believe and trust, needs to be confessed. 

The truth of Who God is needs to be remembered and praised. 
God understands our failures and weaknesses.
God will forgive our iniquities.
God will redeem us from the adversary.
God holds us accountable for our rebellion and unbelief.
God's wrath will not be held back forever.
God desires to lead us into His paths.

We must choose to follow Him. 

Father in heaven, praise to the everlasting God, the God Most High, who has given to us such a great salvation. Thank You for redeeming us with the blood of Christ. Thank You for forgiving our sins and making us Your own. Help us to be faithful and true to You always. Strengthen Your people, O Lord and help us to never forget how Great You are!  You are the God who does wonders and mighty works and You have not changed.  I put my trust in You.  I will follow You and obey Your word, by the power of Your Spirit in me.  Help me to do this Lord, in the power of the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Psalm 77

Verses 1- 10  draw a picture of the psalmists desperate situation - he was:
crying out to God
troubled
seeking the Lord day and night
reaching out his hands to the Lord
uncomforted
disturbed
faint
unable to sleep
unable to speak
trying to connect with God, but feeling rejected and unloved.

Had God rejected him?
Had He ceased loving him?
Were His promises broken?
Had God forgotten His grace?
Was He so angry that He was no longer compassionate?

v10 "Then I said, 'It is my grief, that the right hand of the Most High has changed,'"
God does not change, but in our infirmities, grief, and suffering, it seems that He has.

v11-20  The psalmist determines to remember the Truth about the Lord.
 He thinks of the deeds that God has done.
He ponders the works of God's hands.
He remembers that God's ways are holy.
He declares that no god is great "like our God". 
God is the "God who workest wonders."
God makes known His strength to us.
God redeems His people by His own power.
Even the waters of the ocean tremble before God.
The clouds, the skies, the lightning, and the whirlwinds.. obey Him.
The earth itself trembles before God.
God led His people through the sea,  " and Thy paths in the mighty waters, and Thy footprints may not be known.  Thou didst lead Thy people like a flock.." 

God left His footprints in the bed of the Red Sea as He led the people of Israel through to the promised land.  God, Who never changes, will surely lead us through grief, through illness, through problems, and through the uncertainties of life. 
He will not cease to hear us when we call out to Him... even if it doesn't seem like it.
He will not reject us or stay angry with us if we repent and obey Him.
His promises are always true.
His grace is always sufficient.
His compassion never fails.
He is faithful.
He is powerful.
He is strong.
He is worthy of our praise and worship.

Father in heaven, my Shepherd, who leads me in green pastures and beside still waters.  You will never leave me nor forsake me.  I praise Your Name.  Thank You for reminding me that You are unchanging.. always good, always in control,  always compassionate and full of grace.  You are slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  Your kingdom is glorious and full of Your majesty.  It is everlasting.  I cling to You, Lord.  Fill me with Your Spirit even now, that I might see Your glory.
Amen.

Psalm 76  Praise to the God of Jacob,  the Only True God who :

Is known in Judah.
Shelters in Jerusalem .
Dwells in Zion.
Breaks all the weapons of war.
Is "resplendent"!
Is more majestic than the mountains.
Who defeats every enemy.
With a mere word.. He shuts down every "rider and horse".

"Thou, even Thou, are to be feared; and who may stand in Thy presence when once Thou art angry?"

His judgement will be "heard from heaven."
The earth itself will fear and be "still".
God will once again rise in judgement, "to save all the humble of the earth".
Even the "wrath of man" will praise Him.

We need to fulfill our vows to the Lord.
We need to bring gifts "to Him who is to be feared".. the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

No prince or king can stand before the Lord God Almighty!

America needs to know that God is to be feared.  The sins of our country.. the immorality, the slaughter of unborn children,  the lies, the violence, the oppression against others.. these sins are stacking up against us as a nation.  God's wrath will fall upon us... is falling upon us even now.
God's judgement is absolutely just.  His anger is perfectly righteous.

Father in heaven, we hallow Your Name.  Your holy and wonderful Name. You are our Creator, our great and mighty Lord, Who rules over all heaven and earth and there is none like You.  You are the Judge and when You rise to judge, none can stand before You.  O how thankful we are for the mercy we find in Jesus Christ our Mediator and Savior.  How we pray for the lost, that they might seek refuge in Him.  For we know, that the time of judgement is drawing near and those outside of Your kingdom will be cut off forever.  May the fear of the Lord descend upon our country once again, Lord.  May Your Word run freely and spread rapidly throughout the earth that many more will be saved before it is too late. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
amen

Psalm 75

We give thanks to God and forever declare His praise because:

He is near. v1
He does wondrous works.
He judges the earth with equity. v2
He created, rules, and controls the whole earth and everything and everyone in it. v3
He has established righteousness and condemns boasting, pride, and wickedness.v4
He alone is exalted and no other should be. v6
He alone is the Judge. v7
He decides who is lifted up and who is put down!
He will distribute the cup of His wrath and the wicked will "drain" it and "drink down its dregs". v8
He will "cut off" .."the horns of the wicked." ( They will lose their strength )
He will lift up "the horns of the righteous." ( They will be given strength).

Father, Righteous Judge, You alone are King and Your reign is forever.  We declare Your greatness.
Father, may You be exalted over all the earth!  Thank You for being near to us when we call on You.
Father,  You decide who will be put down or lifted up.  In this election ahead of us, we see two people who are boastful, proud, and who have done wicked things.  Your word says that You judge with equity. You alone know their hearts and plans for our country.  Please put down the wicked and raise up the righteous for the sake of our nation and for the sake of Your people.  We pray in the Name of Jesus our Savior. amen.

Psalm 74  When the enemy strikes and devastation fills our lives and homes and families... when we feel as if God has forgotten us, abandoned us, and we can no longer find hope... then we must remember:

God is our King from of old.
He "works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth"( v12)
He can divide the seas.
He can break the heads of "sea monsters" ( v13)
He can crush monsters and use them as food for the creatures in the wilderness.( v14)
He can provide springs or torrents.
He can dry up streams. ( v15)
He owns the day and the night.
He controls the light and the sun. (v16)
He "established all the boundaries of the earth." 
He created and controls summer and winter. (V17)

Because God is God... we can rest in His power, trust His promises, and praise His name. 
The enemy will not succeed.
The wicked will not go unpunished.
The righteous will not be forgotten.
His covenants will be completed.
The afflicted and needy will praise Him.

Father, we choose to honor You and hallow Your name. We submit to Your rule as our King and desire that Your good, acceptable, and perfect will be done in us today.  All belongs to You, Lord, so we humbly ask for daily bread from Your gracious hand.  We pray for forgiveness for every sin and let go of all trespasses, all who have crossed the line, against us.   Lead us in Your paths today and deliver us from the evil enemy.  We ask this in the precious name of the Savior, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 73

Like the psalmist, Asaph, we must be careful to discern the truth.  God is good to those who belong to Him.

V2-12 -These verses describe the "wicked", those who seem to prosper and thrive in spite of their lack of fear of the Lord.
They are arrogant and prosperous.
They don't seem to suffer even when they die.
They are fat from rich food and wealth.
They seem isolated from the normal trials of life.
They are prideful.
They are violent.
They have vivid imaginations.
They mock others.
They oppress others.
They even mock God.
They seem to have it all.. and flaunt it before the believers.

It seems as if the people of God have been betrayed, for in spite of trying to remain pure and faithful, they suffer. Until...

v17- 20  "Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end."

There is a day of righteous judgement.  God has warned us that it will come.  Those who have denied Him, rebelled against Him, and refuse to repent, will face Him at His judgement seat.  And they will face His wrath.

God sets them in "slippery places."
He casts them "down to destruction". 
They will be "destroyed in a moment ".
"They are utterly swept away by sudden terror." 

This truth brings repentance to the writer - his jealousy and bitterness against the prospering wicked, is just as sinful as their sin.  "I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee." 

Turning back to the Lord, he proclaims his faith in God's goodness to him.
" I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand.  With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in  heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ( 23-26)

Those "far from" God will perish.  All the unfaithful are included here. 
"But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all They works."

Oh Father in heaven, be near to me, to us, who call on You and repent of our failures and bitterness and unrighteous judgements.  Forgive us and help us to be people who forgive others.  Lead us in Your ways that we might share the good news of Jesus to all we can.  I pray for those who are headed to destruction because of their unfaithfulness and wickedness.  O, God, our only Savior , have mercy on us.. on this nation.  Bring repentance and revival to Your people we pray in the name of the Glorious One, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Psalm 72 is titled " A Psalm of Solomon".   Here we have a description of a perfect King...

Although Solomon was given the gift of wisdom and knew these truths, he failed to fulfill these traits. Christ alone is the King of Righteousness.

Jesus has the "judgements" of God.
He has absolute "righteousness".
He judges perfectly.
He brings justice for the afflicted.
He brings peace to His people.
He vindicates the afflicted.
He saves the needy children.
He crushes the oppressors.
He endures for all generations.
He is like the rain, providing for the needs of His people.
His kingdom will flourish with peace and righteousness.
His rule extends over all the earth.
Every nation, tribe, and people will bow before Him.. from the nomad to the king,  from the wilderness to the farthest island.

Jesus "will deliver the needy when he cries for help.."
He comes to the aid of those who have no other help.
"He will have compassion on the poor and needy." 
He is our rescuer from oppression and violence.
Our blood is precious in his sight.
In the Kingdom of God there will be abundance forever.
His Name will endure.
He is call Blessed.
He "alone works wonders." 
"..May the whole earth be filled with His Glory."
Amen and amen.

There has never been, nor will there ever be a human king that can stand up to this standard.
We can only pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and that He will bring the hearts of our leaders into alignment with His will.

Father, we pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven .  We put our hope and trust in You, the only Righteous God and Your anointed Son, King Jesus.  May the whole earth be filled with Your glory. Amen.