Take Two: Psalm 148-150, Proverbs 14

As we wrap up the psalms today, the last 3 all relate to a call to praise.

Psalm 148:1-5 calls on everyone and every thing to praise God, because He is the One who created everything. In vv.7-12 an other group is called on to praise God…because His Name alone is to be exalted (v.13).

Psalm 149 is a call to Israel to praise God. They are to rejoice in Him and praise Him, because He is their King (v.2). One element that is added in this psalm is the fact that part of “praise” to God…involves carrying out God’s will (as seen in executing justice in God’s Name ) (vv.6-9). While we most often think of praise as the singing and confessing of God’s greatness…we should remember that our obedience is an act of praise as well.

Psalm 150 is another psalm of praise.

NOTE: When you look at these as a whole, you get a clear picture that praise is not passive, but is very active. It is intentional, willful, sacrificial, and God-centered. Praising God is not about our preference, but about His honor and glory.

Proverbs 14:26 is the takeaway today. “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have refuge.”

TOMORROW we return to the NT to the Book of Ephesians. See you there!

Take Two: Psalm 145-147, Proverbs 13

Psalm 145 is a psalm of praise that recounts the goodness of God and responds accordingly.

Vv. 1-2 speak of unceasing praise to God…because of His Name. In Jewish thought, a man’s name and His character were deeply connected. So the reason fo the Psalmist’s praise is the character of God. Yes, God does great things…but they are done as an outworking of His character. Because He is merciful, gracious, just, righteous, faithful and good…God does good and great and gracious and just and righteous things…note the other way around.

God always acts according to His own counsel. He acts…because He sees fit to do so according to His wisdom. When God’s ways seem unwise, it is because we do not understand His wisdom…not because He is unwise.

I love v.6. Men will speak of God’s power and I will speak of God’s greatness. Apart from relationship, we cannot fully appreciate the greatness of God. We can be in awe of His power, but we cannot fully appreciate His greatness…which is more than power…it is wisdom and righteousness and mercy as well.

V.18 is the heart fo the gospel. God loves and is open and provides for those who call upon Him. There is no reason to believe that God will bless anyone who is estranged from Him. He may bless them…but man cannot claim to have trust or faith in the coming blessing…because all he deserves at this point is righteous judgment.

Psalm 146 blesses God for His abundant help toward His people. No one can be trusted all the time…except God who is above all.

Psalm 147 blesses God for His restoration. VV,2-3 speak of how He acts, according to His greatness and goodness…in blessing those whom He loves. He picks them up from their lowest places and restores them to Himself.

Vv.10-11 jumped off the pages. When God delights…He does not do so in our strength or in our ingenuity. We do not impress God. The largest church or the most money…or the most missionaries does not impress God. God is impressed by our faithfulness and dependence on Him.

God’s people are different that other people. God has chosen/elected His people and they live by a different code…with different rules and roles. We, His people, are not like the nations. This should not culminate in pride…but should cause us to be humbled in awe of His grace.

Proverbs 13:25 is the takeaway today. “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the stomach of the wicked is in need.”

Take Two: Psalm 142-144, Proverbs 12

Psalm 142 is a prayer for help from the Lord. It reflects on the time when David was hiding in the cave and reflects the heart of a great man when everything seemed to be against him.

In vv.1-2 we see his conduct in times of trouble. He cried aloud, made supplication (prayer requests), poured out his complaint and declared his troubles. When trouble was upon him, he cried out to the Lord. The Lord was his audience and his circumstance was the subject matter.

NOTE: The message to my heart revolves around how I respond when opposed or resisted. David went to God and was real with Him. He did not go to his neighbor. He did not ignore the situation and say “bless their heart,” they are just lost little enemies. He took the real complaint and concerns to God. David did not offer God some positive mental attitude pep talk…he poured out his heart. This is the conduct of a man and his Friend, or a man and his Master. It requires a real relationship.

David confessed God’s character. God is his refuge and is fully able to deliver him (vv.3-6). So, David has confidence in God’s deliverance (v.7).

Psalm 143 is another prayer for deliverance. David confesses the faithful and righteous nature of God (v.1). He declares that man is unable even to stand before God (v.2). He then confesses that, these things being true, his enemies have brought him low (vv.3-4).

NOTE: What you do not hear is David charging God with forsaking him. You don’t hear David asking God how He could allow this to happen. David understood that people are people and God is God.

Notice where David turned for encouragement…he began to look back at how God had worked in his past. He stepped back and looked at the God of history (vv.5-6).

David then asks for deliverance and asks God to not leave him too. It is as if David is confessing that he can endure the resistance of his enemies as long as God does not forsake him. At the same time, he asks God to give him victory.

Also, David not only prays for victory…but he asks God to guide and direct him (v.8,10). It is one thing to be delivered…it is another still to be embraced. Both were the request of David’s heart. And…notice how he ended: “For I am your servant” (v.12). No matter how God would answer and no matter that David’s circumstance was unchanged…he declared his devotion and commitment.

Psalm 144 is another prayer for deliverance and also a prayer for blessing. David confesses that his strength is in the Lord and it makes no sense…since man is nothing before God (v.3). Yet God provides (vv.1-2). David prays for God to intervene in the world and not only to deliver…but to bless.

NOTE: Seems like a prayer to emulate.

Proverbs 12:19 is the takeaway today. “Truthful lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment.”

Take Two: Psalm 139-141, Proverbs 11

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite psalms. It is a powerful acknowledgment of God’s power and presence. v.4 and v.5 leap off the page. God knows my words before they are formed. He encloses me on all side (which is a statement of security and protection).

v.12 struck me as well. Even the darkness of life is not dark to God. Both light and darkness are the same to Him. It is easy to think that our circumstances are God’s reality…but they are not. What we find difficult is no challenge to Him. Nothing challenges Him. He is all powerful and all knowing. He is Everywhere…all at the same time.

The psalm concludes with a prayer from the psalmist to God. Examine me, know me and lead me. This is the prayer of a man who desired to be perfect before God and recognized that only God could bring that about as he yielded to God’s wise and powerful hand.

Psalm 140 calls on God for protection and provision against the psalmist’s enemies. Recognizing just who God is, the psalmist asked God to guard him against the wicked and overthrow the wicked by His power. He appeals to the character of God in his request (v.12). He affirms his belief in the power of God as well (v.13).

NOTE: When I think about all of the causes and battles I take on for myself (and there are many), I am reminded that I would do well at times to simply step back on some of them and let God deal with them the way He desires to do. After all, He is good. He does care. He cares even if I am not involved because He is a defender of righteousness and justice. He desires for the wicked to repent…but He demands that justice be done. So, some battles need to move from my “to do” list to God’s. Lord, may that be true from this point forward.

Psalm 141 is a prayer for God to protect and to purify the psalmist. VV.3-4 caught me. The psalmist called on God to protect him from failure and sin.

NOTE: One of the greatest things a man can ever learn about himself is his own weakness. A man who is aware of his own weaknesses is not captive to them. He is able to seek help in overcoming or supplementing them. A man who does not know his weaknesses, is a fool and is bound for destruction. Self-awareness is essential in our lives.

Based on knowledge of his weaknesses and God’s strength, the psalmist yields his life to God and relies on Him fully to guard and protect (vv.8-10).

Proverbs 11:4 is the takeaway today. “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Take Two: Psalm 136-138, Proverbs 10

Psalm 136 is a beautiful praise for God’s goodness toward His people. His lovingkindness/ mercy endures forever. As I read it, I paused to consider how my conversations go with Him. Do I dedicate an entire conversation to simply praising Him for who He is? Or, do I want to share my needs and shortcomings with Him? Yes I am needy. Yes I fail. But this is not due to God. He is my only hope. And…my hope in Him is based not on my ability to move His heart with some lofty prayer…but on the fact that His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 137 is a reflection of the heart of those in captivity. V.4 caught me…”How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?”  To the Jewish man…Jerusalem represented the fulfillment of God’s promise and the manifestation of God’s presence. To know that one is in captivity apart from God’s presence and promise drives the happiness of daily existence away. The writer simply says…I will have no real joy until I return to Jerusalem.

Therefore, the writer prayed that those who held him captive would be destroyed.

NOTE: Now you and I know that it was ultimately God’s people who were responsible. Because of their sin, God raised up an oppressor. That being said, in the midst of persecution, their focus was on their oppressors. So, the writer asks for their judgment and destruction (vv.8-9).

Now think metaphorically with me for a moment. Place yourself in the Psalm and begin to long for the place of God’s promise and His presence. Long for heaven. Long for unbroken fellowship. Long for communion with Him. Now…look around at all those things that hold us captive…especially those which we have willingly invited into our lives due to our own actions. What is it we have embraced that impedes our unbroken fellowship? It is our captor. Is it materialism? Is it busyness? Is it strongholds of sin? Is it unwise behavior?

Now recognize that we cannot overcome that…so, ask God to take away those things that impede our relationship with Him. Ask God to destroy our strongholds. Pray that He would take away our distractions and draw us back to His promise…unbroken fellowship.

Psalm 138 is a response of thanks to God’s blessing. V.1 struck me. “I will give thanks… with ALL MY HEART. We cannot truly thank God with less. The second phrase too: “I will sing praises to You before the gods.” Catch that. I will praise God in the face of all of the false gods of my world. I do not reserve praise for my great God to only be given in my secret place. I proclaim Him from the rooftops and in the face of His enemies.

Proverbs 10:25 is the takeaway today. “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” The same whirlwind that destroys God’s enemies, vindicates God’s followers.

Take Two: Psalm 133-135, Proverbs 9

Psalm 133 speaks of the blessing of unity. The picture here…is exceedingly picturesque. Unity is not a good thing…it is an amazing, out of this world, blessed, anointed, crawl on your knees over a mile of broken glass just to get it, MUST HAVE thing.

The oil is a picture of blessing and anointing. What strikes me is the reminder that, as it relates to anointing, God initiates it. In other words, God provides the anointing but we do the preparation for the anointing.

NOTE: Unity is a key focus for me as of late. I have been pondering it…and the dynamics of unity. Here is what I have discovered so far. When God’s people relate to Him as they ought…and to one another as they ought…God brings unity because it glorifies Him. People don’t manufacture unity. They desire unity. Unity, however, is a byproduct of holiness. When we are holy, we become unified around the singular purpose of glorifying God. There is not unity apart from holiness.

Psalm 134 is a “greeting” or acknowledgement of those who serve at night. SOmeone was responsible for keeping the lamps burning before God day and night. As such, someone was on duty at night. What struck me was the way they were required to minister when it was just them and God. The people were in bed. No one was engaged in a religious service. Yet, there were those who served even in the night.

NOTE: Perhaps this is the greatest expression of genuine worship: what you do when no one is watching except God. Perhaps then…true worship (in a corporate sense) is what we do when we worship as though no one except God is watching. (READ IT AGAIN). Worship is not what we do when we are concerned with how others view us or when we do it for “show.” Worship is what we do when we are in the zone with God…as if there were no one else on the planet.

Psalm 135 is a psalm of praise to God. We praise Him because He is (vv.1-2). We praise Him because He is good (v.3). We praise Him because He has chosen us (v.4). We praise Him because of our confidence in Him (vv.5-6). We praise Him because of His actions (vv.7-13). We praise Him because of our future hope (v.14). We praise Him because He is not like other gods which are worthless (vv.15-18). We praise Him because in Him…we ARE (vv.19-21).

NOTE: Does this describe your praise?

Proverbs 9:9 is the takeaway today. “Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.”

Take Two: Psalm 129-132, Proverbs 8

I lengthened my read this AM by one psalm, so that I could get back in sync with pastor Jonathan…who stuck to the original plan…even through Psalm 119. (He’s the man!)

Anyway…

Psalm 129 is a SONG…meaning that structurally it contains a repeat in the first 2 verses and is poetic in its design. It would have been sung in the Temple or at a time of worship by the people. (Same structure as Psalm 124 and others).

The psalm speaks of God’s faithfulness to bring victory to his people over their enemies. While God’s people were persecuted, the simply waited and trusted God…who is righteous (v.4). God was the source and object of the hope that the people had.

Psalm 130 speaks powerfully of God’s forgiveness. I have often considered the truth of v.3. To think what it would be like to have God enumerate my sins, one by one, before me. What would it feel like to stand before the Lord if He listed every wrong action, thought, and motive? One thing is certain…there would be far less self-righteousness in the assembly! I think that most people who gather to worship feel that, in the big picture, they are not “all that bad.” Sure they may have sinned…but not as much as some others. While I pray that is true, I am painfully aware of my own sin…more than most. I am not certain that my sins in just the last 20 years could be listed in a single legal pad…

Thank God v.4 follows v.3! Our hope is not in our righteousness or ability to perform. Our hope is in the grace and graciousness of a Holy God who provides redemption and restoration.

Psalm 131 is a bit uncomfortable for those who like to maintain control. It is a confession of childlike dependence. The image is that of an infant that eats and is satisfied…who takes solace in simply resting on the chest of its mother. IN the same way…the people of God do not concern themselves with all of the extraneous events of the world…but simply rest as they lean against God.

Psalm 132 speaks of the temple and asks for God’s presence and blessing in it (v.8). It reminds of the burden of David’s heart to provide a worthy Temple and the covenant promise of God regarding David and his throne. (vv.1-5, 10-12). It speaks of God’s grace in choosing to dwell in Zion (as opposed to any place God could have chosen) (vv.13-18). It calls the people to meet God on His terms and to experience God as He is (vv.7-9).

NOTE: Beyond the physical place which cannot be overlooked…there is an attitude of reverence that is evident in the people as they would come into the presence of God. Nothing “flippant” about them or their approach. Just a reverent fear and excited disposition as they consider the encounter with God…because of His gracious election. Praise God for the continual hope in Him!

Proverbs 8:19 is the takeaway today. Wisdom states, “My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, and my yield better than choicest silver.” Understand that the subject is “fruit” or “yield.” It is the byproduct of “wisdom” applied. When we live wisely, the result are more valuable than any earthly possession or treasure.

Take Two: Psalm 126-128, Proverbs 7

Psalm 126 renders thanks to God for delivering His people from captivity. v.4 is a bit curious…so read it again. “Restore our captivity, O Lord.” The writer reflects how happy the people were when delivered. How they shouted for joy and blessed the name of God (vv.1-3). Then in v.4, he asks God to restore those who remain in exile. This…just before he pronounces his confidence in God’s actions (vv.5-6).

NOTE: While it was good for the psalmist to be restored (vv.1-3), he desired that for all of the people. Sometimes we can become satisfied with our own circumstance and even lose sight of the fact that others are lost and do not enjoy the blessings that believers do. (See Nehemiah 1 for another example of this). The psalmist’s heart here is more in line with the heart of Paul in Romans 9 than with the heart of many who thank God every Sunday for their salvation.

Psalm 127 is one of my favorites. In fact, I speak of it at nearly every wedding I do. Solomon writes this psalm as the wealthiest man around. He states that real wealth and blessing comes from God. It is foolish to think that one can provide for himself anything that compares to relying on God. No amount of human effort ever yields the produce that relying on God does.

NOTE: This is not to say that a man is to be lazy. Clearly that is spoken against throughout the Scriptures. It speaks of where we place our trust.

Psalm 128 speaks of the blessing that comes from fearing the Lord. When we recognize who God is and we live our lives accordingly, we experience the blessing of God.

NOTE: Some would question asking, “Why is it that I suffer when I fear the Lord? Do I not really fear Him or am I doing something wrong?” Bear in mind that blessing is relative. Certainly the psalmist articulates some blessings like a wife, children, and material benefit…but that is not the sum total of blessing.

Yesterday I was in a store in town and overheard a conversation of two men ahead of me. One asked if the other was hoping to move out of the “projects” into a different place. The second man replied that he had all he needed. He said that he had lived in worse and in better and he was content with what he had. In many ways…this man articulates the heart behind the psalmist’s writings.

One thing we know…our circumstance on this earth do not in any way compare to our circumstance in the life after this one. All those who fear the Lord WILL BE Blessed.

Proverbs 7:1 is the takeaway. “My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.” This is the basis for abundant like. When we know and hold closely to the wisdom of God, we experience the blessings of God. There is no other way.

Take Two: Psalm 123-125, Proverbs 6

Psalm 123 speaks of the relationship between God and His people. It is a picture of true humility before God. One can easily see that God is the point of the Psalm. The psalmist describes himself as a maid to a mistress or a servant to his master. He constantly watches him…waiting for instruction and prepared to attend to any desire of the master.

Sometimes, because of our human nature, we devolve to a state of placing ourselves in God’s place and Him in ours. We start to think that we are the center of the Universe and that God exists to attend to our prayers, meet our needs, provide our comforts, etc. However, the opposite is true.

NOTE: No one would ever just “say” that…but we demonstrate it by our focus and our expectations. Could you imagine a servant saying to His master, “I am angry with you. When I needed instruction…and a word of encouragement…you just weren’t there for me. So, I am leaving now. I no longer want to be your servant.” As ludicrous as that is…sometimes that is exactly the approach we take with God.

Imagine how much more peace comes when we relate to God according to our design.

Psalm 124 is a psalm of thanksgiving. The psalmist praises God. He points to the fact that the lives of God’s people would be dramatically different had God not been on their side from the beginning. It ends with the confession that “our help is in the name of the Lord…who made heaven and earth. (v.8). In other words, the only thing we rely on is the grace of God to sustain according to His covenant and faithfulness.

Psalm 125 recognizes God’s protection. He surrounds His people and guards them. Notice the imagery. God is compared to the mountains that surround Jerusalem. He is not a fence or a wall…those are erected by man. He is a great natural barrier that cannot be moved. It must be overcome if one is to get to God’s people.

NOTE: I wonder, at times, if we really trust God in this manner. Do we truly rely on Him as our protector? Do we let Him fight our fights? Do we find security in the fact that He is who He is…and He cares for us…or do we see a need to control all of our circumstances? As I answer that question…I find that I vacillate between trust and self-reliance far too often.

Proverbs 6:16-19 is the takeaway today. ”There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

Take Two: Psalm 120-122, Proverbs 5

After yesterday…I felt like reading 10 psalms today….3 just seemed short !

Psalm 120 contains a prayer for deliverance from those who accuse and malign. The writer knows what it is to be criticized and what it is to have others work against him. Notice though…that his defense was actually a surrender…to God (v.1). This is not to say that he never did anything to defend himself or that he simply “forgave and forgot.” It is to say that he realized that the change that occurs to win critics (or to remove critics from the equation) is one that comes from God.

Psalm 121 is a beautiful psalm of praise and acknowledgement that God is the writer’s help, security, and peace. Whenever I read it, I am reminded of the song a friend used to sing in church of this psalm to music. I love v.3…”He who keeps you will not slumber.” It is incredible to be reminded that the One in whom I trust is never unaware of what happens around me…even when I am.

Psalm 122 is a heartcry for peace in Jerusalem. Jerusalem as God’s holy city and the place of worship and meeting with God. Jerusalem as the hub of everything Jewish. Jerusalem as the centerpiece of God’s table. Jerusalem as the future ruling place of heaven’s king.

NOTE: Sometimes we get wrapped up in the “Kingdom” being otherworldly and forsake the responsibility to pray for this world and work toward peace here. (We also can fall off the bridge on the other side and turn our focus exclusively to this world in an effort to create a utopic society.) For this writer, Jerusalem represented the Kingdom. While we know that the Kingdom has a King and He is on His throne today…there are elements within His Kingdom that do not reflect His rule and reign. That is chaos. As with the psalmist, we should pray (and work) for peace (absence of chaos) in the Kingdom by ministering to and reconciling those who are in rebellion against the King.

Proverbs 5:21 is the takeaway. “For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths.” (If we truly understand this verse…accountability takes on a whole new meaning.)