Psalm 3.
Happy New Year, everyone! This is my first blog of the year and I would just like to take a moment to acknowledge everyone who read our blogs through 2021. I was set to have the last blog of the year last year but ended up handing it off to my wonderful colleagues as I waded through pageant and covid madness. As a result, I didn’t get to say goodbye to all of you who stuck with the blogs through the year and gave their feedback and support. Now we are back, wonderfully going through the Psalms, and I want to say thank you for then and for now – it has been and will continue to be an epic journey through which we’ve been bound up in Christ tighter than ever, so let’s praise God for that! Observe: This Psalm of David was written as or after David was in flight from his son Absalom, titled Save Me, O My God. It is made up of three parts; a strophe, an antistrophe, and an epode, each of which are ended with the word Selah. The strophe lays out David’s cries of anguish and despair as he surveys the many thousands of his people who threaten and surround him, hurling insult and curse upon him as he runs. The antistrophe is a declaration of the security David has in the Lord who is his glory and the lifter of his head; “I cried aloud to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy hill.” David continues in the epode the assurance and trust he has in God, saying that he lay down and slept, waking again only because the Lord had sustained him and that he will not be afraid of the many thousands who have come against him. He continues his pleas for the Lord to save him, ever affirming and praising Him as the only one to whom salvation belongs. Interpret: I absolutely love the Psalms. I’m so excited to be spending a whole year really spending time on them, too. There’s something so potent and real about them, especially once you get used to the type of language that was used at the time! Something I particularly enjoy about Psalms as a whole is that, with the exception of just a couple, they all end affirming the goodness of God, His care for those who run to Him, and always find ways to praise Him no matter what. We see all of these elements on full display in only 8 verses. This Psalm, like all the rest, should serve as a pattern for our own prayers. In Psalm 3, the comfort and peace in the midst of turmoil are what stand out most of all; David fluctuates quickly between help me, God and God’s got me, I’m going to be OK. I can hardly imagine anything more human than that! David does not shy away from acknowledging his trouble before God, nor does he seek to refine his woes. He cries out in dismay, astonishment, and also tells what others are saying about him which no doubt has all sorts of layers of betrayal, for these venomous people are slandering his very soul; those who once loved him! They are planting seeds of doubt and try to chip away at his confidence in God as well which is salt in the proverbial wound. He turns around in this time of severe hardship and praises God for His steadfast care and promise. That description of God being the lifter of my head strikes me as deeply loving and intensely caring; like a father comforting his troubled child. The praise and worship David gives here is not only good and rightly placed, but also acts as a means by which he preaches to his own doubt and turns his eyes on God when he would likely have felt every right to sink inwards instead. David also grounds himself in his daily reality instead of succumbing to drifting along in existential dread and anxiety; he reminds himself of the utter sovereignty of God who gives each and every one of us our next breath and heartbeat from His own hand. Even something as routine as sleeping and waking in the morning serves in the moment as a reminder that David only woke because God has sustained him and purposed him for the day’s work ahead. He then extrapolates that simple truth to a larger foe, saying “God is faithful and sovereign to sustain me in every way; each breath of mine is precious to Him, therefore I will not be afraid of those countless thousands who seek to come against me!” He calls upon the name of the Lord to rebuke his enemies, praising Him as the only one from whom salvation and blessings flow. Apply: If you don’t know what’s wrong, what to pray, or even how to pray at any given time, read a Psalm. Read them with a pen and notebook in hand and be ready just to copy down any verse(s) that stir in your heart as a quiet act of prayer and worship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in you as you talk with God. Write out all of your feelings and fears, your hopes and petitions, and most of all your praise and thanksgiving. Take note of each little blessing throughout your day, each area of trouble in which God has sustained you, and you’ll never have enough pages on which to write your thanksgiving. David sought the Lord when faced with a vast host of hostile people, yet still found time to glory in the most essential, unnoticed acts of grace and mercy of God! Not only did he thank God for delivering him from thousands, but for waking him in the morning and sustaining him through the night. Not only should we praise God for this major event or that, but for the food, warmth, and shelter He has given in this day. I’m convinced that the Christian who takes much for granted has the least for which they are thankful, and that is a great shame. We praise God and give Him thanks not only because He is the only One worthy and deserving, not only because it is supposed to be our default way of life, but because in doing so we set our eyes outward instead of inward. Petty grievances and even larger wounds are swallowed up when we are face to face with Christ. The edges of hardship and bitterness are softened; depression and anxiety lose their strength; peace and comfort bloom in the most harsh environments; deserts give forth springs of refreshing water; most of all, we become more and more in love with Him! Our priorities are set straight and we can fall into joyful rest no matter our situations or enemies, moving from strength to strength and glory to glory because we live on every word that comes out of the mouth of God. We give ourselves up only to find ourselves secured and restored because of Jesus. That is the power of praise and thanksgiving, and my greatest encouragement to you (and myself!) as we look ahead at this New Year. Prayer: Father God, thank you so much for sustaining us over the past year and seeing us through such turbulent times as these. Thank you for caring not only about our bigger issues but being at our side, lifting our heads when we are downcast; for the Holy Spirit and the Prince of Peace. We are sorry for our many sins, errors, omissions, and guilt, and for exalting our self above you. Please forgive us our many trespasses. Help us to forgive others and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, that we may decrease and see you increase. Teach us to love you more than anything else. We pray all these things in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. Song: The Lord Is My Salvation (Shane & Shane) January 5th – Les Kovacs Psalm 2
Observe: The psalmist gives us a unique perspective of looking at God seated upon His throne, looking down at the kingdoms of this earth. And what does God see? He sees the kings of the earth setting themselves against Him and His Anointed One, the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees their vain plotting, shaping this world according to their will and desires. They want to break away from the Lord’s control upon them, and live according to their own ways. But, God on His heavenly throne, laughs at their pitiful efforts to make their own power seem to prevail over God’s. He rebukes them and tells them that He has installed His own King on His high mountain. To this King, God will give the nations as His inheritance. This King, whom God calls His Son, will rule over all the ends of the earth He will break the reign of the earthly kings and rulers shatter them like pottery. The psalmist warns the earthly kings to beware. They should turn from their ways and serve the Lord with fear and trembling. He warns them to “Kiss His Son”, or their ways will lead to destruction when His wraths flares upon them. But He blesses those who take refuge in Him. Interpret: Psalm 2 is one of those psalms where you don’t have to dig too deep to find the gold. It’s the only place in Scripture that I have found where we’re told that God laughed, but it’s not the fun-loving kind of laugh that makes you feel good. No, this is a scoffing kind of laughter as He watches prideful earthly rulers follow their own wicked will, thinking that God won’t see what they’re doing, or that God doesn’t really care what they do, or that He just isn’t more powerful than they are in this world. Or worse, that He doesn’t actually exist. That’s what the scoffers say, anyway. That’s what the mockers think. However, God in His great patience and lovingkindness continues to warn them to turn from their evil ways because His Son, the Anointed One, will bring destruction and punish all who refuse to acknowledge His authority over all the earth. God’s willing ness to wait until the appointed time to act shows great restraint, power, and mercy on His part. The psalmist closes by promising a blessing to those who trust in the Lord and take refuge from the ways of the world in Him. Application: This psalm was written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. According Acts 4:24-25, King David wrote Psalm 2, possibly as a continuation of Psalm 1. So, there were 28 generations between the time this Psalm was written and God's Anointed One set foot upon this earth as Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Man. Yet the Holy Spirit declared through David that Jesus would defeat the rulers of this world, and bless those who turned to Him. King David saw the rebellion of the nations against God. He looked at the chaos of the world in his day and said that even though the nations have rebelled against God, He is sovereign, and that we must submit to Him while there is still time. Yet, even in his day, the kings of the earth rushed madly about to serve any god except the one true God. Are our governments today any different? How many modern nations even proclaim the existence of God? Countries that may have honored God in the past do nothing more than give lip service to Him today. Countries whose laws were founded upon Biblical principles, seem to be rushing away from His Holy Word and Laws of God under the guise of separation of church and state. Governments are slowing eroding away the Biblical foundations of our nations. Although Jesus was, and still is, mocked, ridiculed, and blasphemed by people, God will not allow His Son to be stripped of His crown. Though our nations rebel and our earthly governments rage against Him, God has still raised Him up, exalted Him, glorified Him, and set Him upon The Holy Mountain (v 6). In spite of anything that mere mortals may do, there will come a day when those rulers will be forever sorry (v 12). So, is there any hope for the kingdoms, the nations, of this world? Yes, there is. It is in order to give us hope that God has inspired such psalms as this to be included in His Holy Scriptures. In verses 10 through 12, the psalmist urges the rulers of this world to serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling, that He might bless those who find refuge in Him. God sees all of creation from its beginning to its end, not from some minute vantage point somewhere in middle like we do. All the plotting, planning and accumulation of power by the rulers of the earth really is plotting in vain, because in the end, Christ will rule, and every nation will bow down before Him. As individuals, we too are called to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Left to our own devices and hopelessly condemned before God because of our sins, we look to Christ as the only One who can restore us to a right relationship with God the Father. Questions: Do you still make plans without asking the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Do you rely on your own wisdom and strength to carry out those plans? Or do you bend your will to the Lord's? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for Your mercy when we forget our place as Your adopted children. Forgive us and guide to us to seek Your will in every interaction we have with the people we meet, and in every circumstance we encounter, so that we may reflect Your glory, and Your love for all of creation. In the mighty and merciful name of Jesus, Amen. Song: King Jesus – Matt Redman https://youtu.be/cKYzdRGQ-L8 Psalm 1 Lynne McCarthy 1/3/22
Observe : This psalm (and the entire book) begins with a beatitude, ‘blessed’ (= ‘happy’) to describe the life of one whose decisions and actions result in blessing. This person chooses (in heart and mind) not to walk in the ways of sinners, stand in the company of the wicked, or sit scoffing at those for whom faith in God is foundational. This person finds true joy and life in absorbing the word of God. The image of a tree (the Tree of Life; the tree whose leaves heal the nations in the new Eden (Rev. 22)) planted by clear, flowing water, ideal conditions to grow and flourish, portrays this person. In contrast, those who reject God’s word cannot expect to be grounded and strong but are lightweights, blown around by every wind of change and trend, finally simply disappearing, while the person tree-grounded in the Lord and His word will flourish for a long, long time. Interpret: Derek Kidner writes that Psalm 1 was perhaps especially composed to be an introduction to the book, aspects of Wisdom literature in making right choices and the company one keeps. The bad advice one accepts, the wrong ways one chooses, and mocking that hardens against repentance show three ways to abandon the Lord’s company. The entrance to the law of the Lord is concisely presented, with good results for those who choose to walk in it. The first stanza of this poem reminds us of the “sit, walk, stand” of Ephesians (2:6; 4:1; 6:11); in Watchman Nee’s book of this title he illustrates the position of the believer towards God. In the Psalm, the believer runs from these positions held by those who defy Him. The contrasts are simply presented but striking: law of the Lord vs wicked counsel; growth vs. dryness; grounded vs. windswept. The images are glorious: a deep-rooted, fruitful tree, living organism, flowing water, seasonal fruit, long-lasting leaves (for healing the nations in Revelation 22); we see Isaiah’s delightful vision where “the trees of the fields will clap their hands” at the Lord’s presence; and in Jesus, bearing eternal-life fruit on that terrible tree, for our salvation. Studying and applying what is learned from Scripture produces fruit that nourishes and blesses. Apply: This short, powerful Psalm introduces us to the practices of the Christ-way of life: what to avoid, what to embrace. The basis is in knowing Scripture (the Law of the Lord), reading it often. Maybe we can’t ponder “day and night” as the exemplary person of the Psalm, but we can turn to it, often. In it we find wisdom, direction, solace, joy, the Way, the Truth, the Life. Sharing with others what the Spirit reveals expands the wonder of God’s Word and work within and among us. Avoiding “occasions of sin” via others, what we read and hear, where we go, and what we speak, will keep us growing and bearing fruit in season. This is where corporate prayer comes in; heartfelt confession in worship services or directly to others; accepting with gratitude the forgiveness of God and others, or where we are enabled to forgive. As we absorb the Word, these practices become part of us. Ask: If I think carefully, how and where do I sit, walk, stand? Am I firmly planted in the Word so I can offer good fruit to those starving for real food? This new year, with the hope of real transformation, how will I bear fruit? Pray: Lord, I love this tree! And, I want to love Your Word. Let me determine, day by day, to put aside my doings and turn to Your Word’s nourishment and life, to share with others who sit, walk or stand in other places than Yours. Draw them to Yourself, Lord Jesus, so they too may live. Songs: Everything He Does Shall Prosper - Psalms Project Psalm 1 - Poor Bishop Hooper Psalm 1 - Sons of Korah |
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