The Lord is Coming

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The LORD sends forth from Zion
    your mighty scepter.
    Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3 Your people will offer themselves freely
    on the day of your power,
    in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
    the dew of your youth will be yours.
4 The LORD has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand;
    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
    filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
    over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
    therefore he will lift up his head. – Psalm 110:1-7 ESV

This is a somewhat confusing psalm. It was written by David, but he appears to be talking about someone else. In the opening line, David writes, “The LORD (Yᵊhōvâ) says to my Lord ('āḏôn),” using two different Hebrew words that are translated in English as “Lord.” But who is David referring to, and what is the context of this somewhat cryptic psalm? Some scholars speculate that David is speaking of his own son, Solomon, who crowned David's successor while David was still alive. 

When it appears in all caps, the term LORD is a designation for Jehovah, the name of God. Adon is the Hebrew word for an owner, lord, master, or king. LORD is used three times in the passage, while Lord is used twice. But who is David referring to? Is he talking about himself or someone else? Are all the statements in this passage referring to him or another person? In the Hebrew culture, the term, The Lord, was understood to be a reference to the Messiah, the coming Savior of Israel. So in the psalm, David is referring not to himself, but to the future Messiah, God’s divinely appointed ruler over Israel.

Perhaps David believed his son Solomon would serve in that role. Like any father, David had high hopes for his son and longed for him to be the future deliverer of Israel. But what David didn't know was that this Spirit-inspired psalm was a prophetic vision concerning one of his future descendants who would rule in righteousness for eternity.

It is easy to see how David could have had his son Solomon in mind when writing this psalm. Years earlier, the prophet Nathan conveyed a message to him from Jehovah (the LORD).

“…the LORD (Yᵊhōvâ) declares to you that the LORD (Yᵊhōvâ) will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:11-16 ESV

David's son Solomon did build a house for God. He carried out his father's wishes and constructed the Temple in Jerusalem. But this grand accomplishment did not solidify his kingdom or prevent him from becoming unfaithful to the One for whom the Temple was built. Solomon was wise, wealthy, and powerful, but he also had an unbridled love affair with women. At one point, his harem included 300 wives and 700 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). This obsession with the opposite sex was in direct violation of God's decree. 

“The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.” – Deuteronomy 17:17 NLT

Solomon accumulated great wealth and many wives. 

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The LORD had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the LORD his God, as his father, David, had been. Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight; he refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done. – 1 Kings 11:1-6 NLT

So it is clear that the “Lord” referred to in Psalm 110 cannot be Solomon. He kingdom was not eternal. It came to an end because of his unfaithfulness. In fact, because of Solomon's idolatry and apostasy, the LORD split his kingdom in half. 

“Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. But for the sake of your father, David, I will not do this while you are still alive. I will take the kingdom away from your son. And even so, I will not take away the entire kingdom; I will let him be king of one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, my chosen city.” – 1 Kings 12:11-13 NLT

So, who is David referring to when he writes the following?:

The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem;
    you will rule over your enemies.
When you go to war,
    your people will serve you willingly.
You are arrayed in holy garments,
    and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew. – Psalm 110:2-3 NLT

This psalm is a prophecy concerning Jesus and His future role as the conquering Messiah. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David prophesied about the Millennial reign of Jesus, which would take place at His second coming. David knew there was a day coming when all the enemies of Israel and God would be completely destroyed by the King of kings and LORD of Lords, but he had no way of knowing it would be Jesus, the incarnate Son of God.

The book of Matthew records an incident between Jesus and the Pharisees, where Jesus used this very passage to point to himself.

Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

Jesus responded, “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’? For David said,

‘The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
    until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’

Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.  – Matthew 22:41-46 NLT

Jesus knew this Psalm predicted a future event that had not yet occurred. But there was no doubt in Jesus’ mind that Psalm 110 spoke of Himself. This Old Testament passage serves as a reminder to us that there is a day coming when Jesus, as the Christ (the Greek word for Messiah), will return to the earth to complete the plan of God for Israel and all mankind. Jesus’ work is not yet done. He currently sits at the right hand of the Father (Colossians 3:1), but when God is ready, He will send Jesus to finish what He began with His death and resurrection.

He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts.
He will punish the nations
    and fill their lands with corpses;
    he will shatter heads over the whole earth.
But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.
    He will be victorious. – Psalm 110:5-7 NLT

As a king, David saw this as a wonderful picture of victory over his enemies. He knew that someday God would give Israel complete victory over every one of their foes. David lived in a time when battle was a daily ordeal. He was surrounded by enemies and regularly confronted by war. There was never a day when someone didn’t want to destroy him or the nation over which he ruled. So the idea of final victory and perfect peace was appealing to him. And it should be to us as well.

Like David, we are surrounded by enemies who oppose God and His ways. They live for this world and are influenced by the Prince of this world, Satan himself. Every day, we do battle with our flesh, the world, and the devil. We are under constant attack. There is never a time when we can take a day off or remove our armor. We must be constantly prepared to defend ourselves because the war and the casualties are real. We see them in the form of broken marriages, rebellious children, addictions, depression, anxiety, and disease.

This psalm assures us that a day is coming when God will set all things right. His plan will be finalized. His Son, the Messiah, will complete what He came to do. In His first advent, Jesus came to provide a means of salvation for mankind. He made it possible for sinful humanity to be restored to a right relationship with God. Through the sacrifice of His life, He offered men and women a means by which they could escape the coming wrath of God against all who refuse Him.

But there is a day coming when Christ will return a second time, but not as Savior, but as a conquering King. He will do battle with all those who stand opposed to God and He will be victorious. The enemy will be defeated once and for all, and Christ will set up His kingdom on earth and rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem. There will be peace in the world for the first time since the creation of the world. Order will be restored, and shalom (peace) will be present again. 

The apostle John was given a vision of this fulfillment of the scene that David tried to describe.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. – Revelation 22:3-5 NLT

Jesus will return someday. He will complete the assignment given to Him by God the Father, and the glorious future David envisioned will come to pass. David did not live long enough to see it. Neither did Solomon. But the promise remains, and its fulfillment is assured because God is faithful and all-powerful. 

This is a Messianic Psalm. It predicts the coming return and reign of Christ on earth. It is short and sweet, painting the future rule of Christ in just a few lines. It establishes Jesus as a descendant of David and his Lord and Master. He is the Messiah.

This psalm should comfort all who call themselves Christ-followers. It is a reminder of how the story ends. Even though we see a lot of suffering in the world and even question how this whole mess will sort itself out, David reminds us that Christ still reigns and rules in heaven, and one day He will return and put all things right.

Jesus may have come as an innocent baby the first time, but He isn’t going to return that way. He will be the conquering king and warrior who defeats all the enemies of God and sets up His righteous rule on earth. That is not just a hope; it is a certainty. It will happen, and we can count on it. It is all part of God’s divine plan. When Jesus returns, He will judge the nations justly and righteously. He will make all things right. And that future hope should bring us present peace.

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity. – Matthew Bridges, “Crown Him With Many Crowns” (1851)

Father, in the midst of the daily battles of life it is so easy to get defeated by what appears to be a hopeless cause. It can be so easy to want to give up and give in. Our efforts seem to make no difference. The battles we fight don’t seem to be winning the war. But in the Psalm You remind us that the ultimate victory is Yours, not ours. David had to fight his battles, but he rested in the knowledge that You will one day bring about complete victory. Never let me forget that. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Uncomfortable But Honest Prayer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
    but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

6 Appoint a wicked man against him;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his prayer be counted as sin!
8 May his days be few;
    may another take his office!
9 May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
10 May his children wander about and beg,
    seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
    nor any to pity his fatherless children!
13 May his posterity be cut off;
    may his name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
    and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
15 Let them be before the LORD continually,
    that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued the poor and needy
    and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it soak into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,
    of those who speak evil against my life!

21 But you, O God my Lord,
    deal on my behalf for your name's sake;
    because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
    I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
    my body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they wag their heads.

26 Help me, O LORD my God!
    Save me according to your steadfast love!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
    you, O LORD, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!
    They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
    may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;
    I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,
    to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. – Psalm 109:1-31 ESV

One word comes to mind when I read a psalm like this: Uncomfortable, or maybe even shocking. I read it and am surprised that these words came from the pen of David, the man after God's own heart. But here they are for all to see and read in all their black and white glory.

May his children become fatherless,
    and his wife a widow.
May his children wander as beggars
    and be driven from their ruined homes.
May creditors seize his entire estate,
    and strangers take all he has earned.
Let no one be kind to him;
    let no one pity his fatherless children.
May all his offspring die. – Psalm 109:9-13 NLT

To say that David is feeling vindictive would be a mild understatement. He is incensed, and his words are incendiary. Remember, this is a song, and is addressed to the choirmaster. It was meant to be sung and performed as an act of worship. Yet, it is filled with shockingly blunt and surprisingly hateful petitions aimed at an unnamed enemy of David. 

Psalm 109 is what is known as an imprecatory prayer. It is a prayer for evil or misfortune to come upon someone else, usually an enemy. In the Bible, an imprecatory prayer is the prayer of a righteous man asking God to carry out justice by bringing punishment or destruction on those who have done evil and mistreated or abused him. A first read of this Psalm can be a little disconcerting.

David's requests are severe and seem motivated by extreme hatred. He is obviously upset and has been suffering greatly at the hands of this enemy. David doesn't disclose the identity of his enemy, but he wishes nothing but ill will against them. He makes it painfully clear what he wants God to do to them. He basically wants him dead, leaving his wife a widow and his children little more than beggars.

Is David wrong for praying this prayer? Is he letting his anger get the best of him? If so, why does God include this psalm in the Bible?

While David's requests may make us uncomfortable, we can probably relate at some level. We have all had similar thoughts concerning someone in our lives. Perhaps we never put those ideas into the form of a prayer, but we definitely conjured up images of those individuals getting their just desserts. We may not have been quite as harsh as David, but we likely wanted to see some kind of harm come to the one who had harmed us.

This is a purely human reaction. We want revenge and desire vengeance to be done. This is not necessarily wrong, especially if what was done to us is truly evil and sinful. But David knew something we all need to know: Vengeance is God's business, not ours. That is why David took his issue to God. 

Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
Let them see that this is your doing,
    that you yourself have done it, LORD. – Psalm 109:26-27 NLT

I think there is a point at which David knew that what this person had done to him was in direct opposition to the will of God. David had shown them love, and their response had been evil.

I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
    even as I am praying for them!
They repay evil for good,
    and hatred for my love. – Psalm 109:4-5 NLT

Their actions were sinful and ungodly, and David knew that God was opposed to everything they had done to him. So he took his case to the Lord, pleading for justice in the form of vengeance. He was familiar with God's declaration found in the Book of Deuteronomy.

“Is not this laid up in store with me,
    sealed up in my treasuries?
Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.” – Deuteronomy 32:34-35 ESV

This passage is part of another song, written by Moses near the end of the Israelites' 40-year journey from Egypt to the promised land. The elderly liberator and leader of God's chosen people is nearing the end of his own earthly journey and preparing the people of Israel for their conquest of Canaan. He would not be going with them, and so he pens this epic poem to remind them of their need to leave behind their apostasy and idolatry and obey God. His record of God's promise of vengeance was directed at the people of Israel, not their enemies. Moses was warning them that God would not tolerate their infidelity and unfaithfulness. Their successful conquest of the land would require obedience and obeisance, their willing submission to God's will. 

But David had a different kind of vengeance in mind that was not self-directed but other-oriented. He was asking God to vindicate him by turning the tables on his enemy and giving him a taste of his own medicine. Basically, David was asking God to let this man reap what he sowed.

It gets really uncomfortable for most of us when David starts asking for bad things to happen to the guy's wife and kids. This seems a bit extreme. But this does not mean David had unbridled hatred for the man's family. It only reveals David's understanding of how things worked in their society. These were the natural consequences of life in the culture of David's day. A man and his offspring were inseparably linked. The actions of one directly influenced the other. This man's sins and punishment would be felt by his wife, children, and ancestors. That was the way things worked in their society. So David is praying for the natural consequences of this man's deserved punishment.

David knew God hated sin and injustice, so his prayer was not inappropriate or sinful. He was simply expressing a hatred for sin that mirrored that of God. He wanted to see God's will done. Sure, he was not shy in expressing his own opinion as to what that will should be, but at the end of the day, he wanted to see God mete out justice and vengeance on someone he believed to be an enemy of God.

But what balances this psalm out is David's request that God express His love and faithfulness to him.

But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD,
    for the sake of your own reputation!
Rescue me
    because you are so faithful and good. – Psalm 109:21 NLT

David understood that God wanted to bless the righteous and punish the wicked. That is what this prayer is all about. It is a request for God to be God, and do what only God can do. Only God could rescue David and turn the evil that this person intended into a blessing. Only God could punish this individual justly and righteously, returning on him the kind of evil he had been dishing out.

Imprecations are effective only when we see sin from God's point of view and ask Him to deal with it according to His Word. David was simply praying back to God what he knew to be true about His character and His divine outlook on sin. David was praying for the kind of punishment for sin God had already expressed as proper and just.

The most crucial point is that David prayed with a pure, innocent heart. He had done nothing to deserve the treatment he had received. He was innocent, which is critical when praying an imprecatory prayer. Had David been guilty of mistreating this man, his prayers would have been improper and unheeded by God. But he stood guiltless before God and suffered unjustly, so he knew God would intervene. God protects His own. He defends His sheep.

David's prayer came from a firm understanding of who God was and what He stood for. This song is much more than an expression of hatred for his enemy. His prayer was driven by a desire to see justice done and for God to intervene.

I will give repeated thanks to the LORD,
    praising him to everyone.
For he stands beside the needy,
    ready to save them from those who condemn them. – Psalm 109:30-31 NLT

David wanted to see God's will done and His power manifested to all those around him. God's glory was David's foremost desire, and he was willing to wait on God to intercede on his behalf. He believed justice would be done, and he was ready to praise God even before the deliverance became a reality.

Father, give me a hatred for evil that is more powerful than my hatred for any particular individual and what they might do to me. May I learn to see any injustice done to me as an injustice done to You. This is more about You than me. May I learn to desire Your glory by seeing Your will be done – in my life and circumstances. Give me a greater understanding of Your hatred of evil and the manner in which You punish it, so that I might pray according to Your will and not mine. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Hope Is In Him

A Song. A Psalm of David.

1 My heart is steadfast, O God!
    I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre!
    I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
    I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
    Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
    give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

7 God has promised in his holiness:
    “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
    and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
    Ephraim is my helmet,
    Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin;
    upon Edom I cast my shoe;
    over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes. – Psalm 108:1-13 ESV

David is ready. He is prepared to face anything because he is strong and confident. But this psalm is not a boastful display of self-reliance but a confession of his hope and trust in God. He knows that with God's assistance, he can face any situation with confidence and peace.

With God’s help we will do mighty things,
    for he will trample down our foes. – Psalm 108:13 NLT

There is no enemy too powerful or problem too big for God. David has learned that fear is futile and pointless when God is on your side. Trying to take matters into your own hands is absurd when you have the God of the universe fighting for you. David's awareness of this fact causes him to sing God's praises. He can't help but express gratefulness for God's unfailing love and faithfulness.

My heart is confident in you, O God;
    no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart! – Psalm 1-8:1 NLT

He has witnessed God's deliverance in the past, and he is confident that he will see it in the future, all because of God's unchanging nature. God has promised to rescue His people "by His holiness" (Psalm 108:7 NLT). His very character assures that He will do what He has promised to do. He will come through. He will answer. David would have been very familiar with the words of Balaan recorded in the Book of Numbers.

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? – Numbers 23:19 NLT

But when the storms of life rage, it is easy to forget that God is faithful. When you find yourself surrounded by trouble, doubting that God will keep His promises can be tempting. Like David, we can question God’s presence and power.

Have you rejected us, O God?
    Will you no longer march with our armies? – Psalm 108:11 NLT

During those times of doubt and despair, we must remind ourselves that God is faithful. He rescues. He restores. He may not do it according to our schedule or how we would like it done, but He will act. In those moments when God appears inactive or unresponsive, we can be tempted to turn to someone or something else for help. I

Often, we are tempted to trust ourselves to come up with the solution we're looking for, despite our abysmal track record. But David knew better. In his experience, he had found all human help to be useless (Psalm 108:12b NLT). He had learned from painful experience that anything he turned to as a substitute for God eventually failed. But with God's help, he could do the impossible.

As king, David was responsible for protecting the people of Israel from their enemies. He was the warrior king who led the troops of Israel into battle against the Philistines, Moabites, and Edomites. David recites God's promise to defeat these perennial enemies of Israel.

“Moab, my washbasin, will become my servant,
    and I will wipe my feet on Edom
    and shout in triumph over Philistia.” – Psalm 108:9 NLT

Long before Israel began their conquest of the land of Canaan, Moses assured the Israelites that their efforts would be successful. 

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy.” – Deuteronomy 7:1-2 NLT

Hundreds of years later, David continued what Joshua and the Israelites had begun, and he was still trusting in the LORD for His success.

Now rescue your beloved people.
    Answer and save us by your power.
God has promised this by his holiness:
“I will divide up Shechem with joy.
    I will measure out the valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine,
    and Manasseh, too.
Ephraim, my helmet, will produce my warriors,
    and Judah, my scepter, will produce my kings. – Psalm 108:6-8 NLT

The land was theirs. Each of the tribes had received its allotment of territory but the enemies of Israel remained. This was not because God had failed to keep His word but because the people of Israel had failed to do what He had commanded. Moses had made God's expectations clear.

“…you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.” – Deuteronomy 7:2-4 NLT

But the Book of Judges reveals the truth about Israel's compliance with God's command.

…the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day. – Judges 1:21 NLT

When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not drive them out completely. – Judges 1:28 NLT

Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them. – Judges 1:29 NLT

Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol, so the Canaanites lived among them… – Judges 1:30 NLT

And the list goes on and on. By the time David ascended the throne of Israel, the 12 tribes had begun to intermarry with the surrounding nations, making treaties and alliances that directly defied God's command. But David remained committed to carrying out the LORD's divine mandate. Yet, he knew he could not do it in his own strength or without the LORD's assistance. 

This is a lesson only learned through experience. It can be taught, but it is rarely caught until we are forced to experience it firsthand. Relying on God takes guts. When everything in you says to take matters into your own hands, trusting takes faith. But as our understanding of His character grows, we become increasingly more confident and quick to place our trust in Him and Him alone. Then we can sing along with David, “My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
Wake up, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens” (Psalm 108:1-4 NLT).

Father, continue to teach me to trust You. Thank You that my heart is more confident in You today than it has ever been. I still have a long way to go, but You have never given me a reason to doubt You. The enemies of life remain. The threats against Your people are real. But You are always faithful and true. Your strength has not diminished. Your promise to fight for Your people has not been reneged or removed in any way. So, help me to trust You when times are tough. Keep me from turning to other sources of help and hope that can't deliver. Prevent me from relying on myself and trying to play god because my efforts are useless without You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Some Things Never Change

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry come to you!
2 Do not hide your face from me
    in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
    answer me speedily in the day when I call!

3 For my days pass away like smoke,
    and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
    I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning
    my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
    like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake;
    I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me;
    those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread
    and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
    for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;
    I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
    you are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion;
    it is the time to favor her;
    the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear
    and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD,
    and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 For the LORD builds up Zion;
    he appears in his glory;
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute
    and does not despise their prayer.

18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
    so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;
    from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD,
    and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,
    and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;
    he has shortened my days.
24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away
    in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
    throughout all generations!”

25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27     but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
    their offspring shall be established before you. – Psalm 102:1-28 ESV

This is one of those psalms most of us can relate to because we've all had times in our lives when we felt just as the psalmist did. He cried out to God, asking that his prayer be heard, but felt as if God had turned a deaf ear to his plight. Things were so bad that he couldn't sleep, had lost his appetite, and felt like everything was caving in on him.

My heart is sick, withered like grass,
    and I have lost my appetite.
Because of my groaning,
    I am reduced to skin and bones. – Psalm 102:4-5 NLT

Does that sound familiar? It does to me. The fact is, we all go through moments like that because we live in a fallen world. We are surrounded by hurt and heartache. People do mean things to other people. Difficulties and trials come, and almost always at the wrong time. It was true in the psalmist's day, and it is true in ours as well. Some things never change. Centuries pass, generations come and go, but the sinful state of humanity remains the same as it always has been.

Yet, while describing his life's dark and depressing circumstances, the psalmist breaks up his lament with the word “but.”

But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
    you are remembered throughout all generations. – Psalm 102:12 ESV

He recognizes that there is one other unchanging feature surrounding his life: The consistency and constancy of Yahweh. While his sorrow and heartache remained, he reminded himself that his God was still on His throne and in complete control of all the affairs of men.

For the psalmist, the Temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God. In the Holy of Holies, the glory of God rested over the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant. This manifestation of God's presence and power was meant to provide His people with assurance and confidence. It was in the Most Holy Place that God met with His people. But the psalmist describes a scene in which the Temple and the city of Jerusalem were in disarray and needed God's intervention. 

You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem—
    and now is the time to pity her,
    now is the time you promised to help. – Psalm 102:13 NLT

Something had happened. Not only was the psalmist's life in turmoil, but the capital city had also suffered some significant loss. Yet, the psalmist knew that God was still enthroned on high, and from His unique vantage point, He could look down on the sufferings of mankind and intervene. God could hear the groanings of the prisoner set free those doomed to death. God was not bound by time or limited in how He could deal with our difficulties.

The psalmist compares the brevity of his own life to God’s eternality.

He broke my strength in midlife,
    cutting short my days.
But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever,
    don’t take my life while I am so young!” – Psalm 102:23-24 NLT

Man is finite, but God is infinite and will outlast the world He created. He will be around long after we are gone. Unlike those He made, Yahweh's years will never end. He has no birth date or death date. And while our lives will end, God will still be there faithfully and sovereignly interacting with those who follow after us.

Suffering and God's sovereignty are part of life. When we think everything is out of control, we need to remind ourselves that He is not. He remains unchanged and unaffected by the affairs of life. His strength never weakens, His sovereignty never wanes, and His ability to hear and respond to the needs of His people never diminishes. God sits on His throne and rules over the affairs of men, whether we recognize it or not. So, despite his personal circumstances and the current conditions surrounding Jerusalem, the psalmist can say, “You are always the same; you will live forever.
The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence” (Psalm 102:27-28 NLT). 

No matter what happens in this life, God remains unchanging and reliable. He is always consistent, caring, powerful, and present, even when our circumstances seem to prove otherwise. God said of Himself, “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken” (Isaiah 54:10 NLT). He promises to show His children mercy. And Jeremiah, who was known as “the weeping prophet,” echoed his confidence in Yahweh's unwavering mercy and compassion.

For no one is abandoned
    by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
    because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
For he does not enjoy hurting people
    or causing them sorrow. – Lamentations 32:31-33 NLT

God is unchanging, and His compassion is unwavering. Even when He appears distant or disinterested in our circumstances, He is there and cares. He hears and answers. His power remains constant, and His plans for our lives remain firmly established and unstoppable.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

Father, help me to continue to learn to focus on You and not my circumstances. You are the unchanging one. You are the ONLY thing I can count on in this life. You are consistent and constant, faithful and unfailing. And Your eternalness reminds me that I have a secure future – forever. This life is NOT all there is. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The LORD of All the Earth

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
    before the LORD of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
    who make their boast in worthless idols;
    worship him, all you gods!

8 Zion hears and is glad,
    and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
    because of your judgments, O LORD.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
    you are exalted far above all gods.

10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
    He preserves the lives of his saints;
    he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous,
    and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
    and give thanks to his holy name! – Psalm 97:1-12 ESV

While this psalm is not the first to promote God's universal kingship and sovereignty, it appears to be predicting a future reign when Yahweh comes to rule on earth. The psalmist opens by placing his emphasis on the earth, not heaven.

The LORD reigns.
Let the earth be happy.
Let the many coastlands rejoice. – Psalm 97:1 NLT

The location of the LORD’s realm has shifted from heaven to earth, where His righteous rule will radically alter the political, social, and spiritual landscape. The LORD’s appearance will be dramatic and life-altering for all those who are alive when this epic event takes place.

Dark clouds surround him;
equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him;
on every side it burns up his enemies.
His lightning bolts light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of the whole earth. – Psalm 97:2-5 NLT

The psalmist uses figurative language to describe the LORD’s arrival on earth and paints a foreboding picture of divine judgment against all wickedness and unrighteousness. The imagery of dark clouds, fire, and lightning is meant to convey God’s power and holiness. It is the same language used by Moses to describe God's presence on Mount Sinai.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. – Exodus 19:16-20 NLT

Moses emphasized the LORD's arrival on Mount Sinai by stating that He descended on it in the form of fire. The LORD “came down on the top of Mount Sinai,” and His arrival was epic and frightening. Moses describes the impact of God's dramatic entrance on the people of Israel.

When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear.

And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” – Exodus 20:18-19 NLT

The psalmist seems to have had this event in mind when he penned the words of his song. He envisioned another display of divine glory and judgment as the LORD makes a second unforgettable entrance into the realm of men. His arrival will be impossible to miss and prove, once and for all, that He is the one true God.

The sky declares his justice,
and all the nations see his splendor.
All who worship idols are ashamed,
those who boast about worthless idols.
All the gods bow down before him. – Psalm 97:6-7 NLT

With the LORD’s dramatic appearance, all doubt in His existence and sovereignty will disappear. His arrival will be visible and so impactful that any further belief in false gods will be impossible to maintain. Their feasibility will fade in the light of His glory.

The apostle John was given a glimpse of this future event and he recorded what he saw in the Book of Revelation.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. – Revelation 19:11-16 NLT

But the prophets had predicted this event long before John penned his words. God had given them an insight into His future plans to send His Son to rule and reign on earth as the King of kings and Lord of all lords.

“On that day the Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the Lord who goes before them! For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.” – Zechariah 12:8-10 NLT

In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens
    and the proud rulers of the nations on earth.
They will be rounded up and put in prison.
    They will be shut up in prison
    and will finally be punished.
Then the glory of the moon will wane,
    and the brightness of the sun will fade,
for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion.
    He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem,
    in the sight of all the leaders of his people. – Isaiah 24:21-23 NLT

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:13-14 NLT

In the opening chapter of Revelation, John relays a message he received from Christ.

He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven.
    And everyone will see him—
    even those who pierced him.
And all the nations of the world
    will mourn for him.
Yes! Amen!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” – Revelation 1:6-8 NLT

The psalmist depicts an as-yet-future day when God will manifest His glory on earth again. But on this occasion, it will be the Son of God who makes a dramatic entrance into the world of men. Unlike His first advent, Jesus’ second coming will be marked by power and sovereignty. He will come to rule and reign over all the earth, and He will mete out judgment upon all those who stand opposed to His Kingdom and are unwilling to recognize Him as their Lord and Savior. But the people of God will rejoice when they see the arrival of their King and the inauguration of His earthly Kingdom.

Zion hears and rejoices,
the towns of Judah are happy,
because of your judgments, O LORD.
For you, O Lord, are the Most High over the whole earth;
you are elevated high above all gods. – Psalm 97"8-9 NLT

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will return one day and establish an earthly Kingdom over which He will reign for a thousand years. At the end of that time, another epic event will take place that will dramatically alter the universe by renewing God's creation and reestablishing His relationship with mankind once and for all. The apostle John describes this remarkable reality in the closing chapters of the Book of Revelation.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:3-4 NLT

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever. – Revelation 22:3-5 NLT

The psalmist had no way of knowing the details concerning these future events, but he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and foreshadowed their coming. And he closed his psalm with a call to worship God for His faithfulness, sovereignty, and holiness.

You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his faithful followers;
he delivers them from the power of the wicked.
The godly bask in the light;
the morally upright experience joy.
You godly ones, rejoice in the LORD.
Give thanks to his holy name. – Psalm 97:10-12 NLT

The LORD reigns, whether we recognize it or not. He is sovereign over all, whether we believe it or not. And one day, He will demonstrate the reality of His power and the scope of His sovereign rule when He sends His Son to right all wrongs and prepare the way for His presence to dwell among men for eternity.

Father, these truths are diffiicult to understand and even harded to believe. The world in which we live appears to be out of control and at odds with the idea of Your sovereignty. The majority of earth's population stands opposed to Your very existence and refuse to acknowledge Your right to rule their lives. Even as believers, we wrestle with doubts and question whether You are in control.. But this psalm reminds us that You reign at all times and You have a plan to renew and remake this world according to Your terms and in keeping with Your promise to make all things new. Help me keep my eyes on the prize and not get distracted by the cares and concerns of this world. Your Son is coming again and He will finish what He started. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The LORD Reigns

1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
    sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the LORD, for he comes,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness. – Psalm 96:1-13 ESV

This psalm is prominently cited in a song ascribed to King David when he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. As the centerpiece of Israel’s worship, the Ark represented the presence of God. During their days wandering through the wilderness, the Israelites were comforted by the fact that Yahweh's Shekinah glory rested above the mercy seat, which served as the lid for the Ark. So, when David relocated the Ark into his capital city, he wrote a celebratory song that reminded the people of Israel of the goodness and greatness of their God.

In penning the words to his song, David borrowed heavily from Psalm 96, incorporating some of its most memorable lines to encourage the heartfelt worship of Yahweh among his people. God's presence among them was not to be taken lightly or for granted. As the sovereign King of the universe, Yahweh demanded honor, reverence, and unwavering allegiance from His covenant people. Their obedience to His commands was not optional, and their steadfast devotion to Him alone was not up for debate. He had clearly communicated the terms of His relationship with the people of Israel, and He expected wholehearted compliance on their part. 

“I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” – Exodus 20:5 NLT   

If they wanted to experience Yahweh’s presence, power, and provision, they would need to be faithful. By bringing the Ark into Jerusalem, David was relocating God's presence into the heart of his capital and reminding his people of their complete reliance upon Him for all their needs. He alone could protect them from their enemies, provide for all their needs, and pour out forgiveness and redemption for their sins. Without Yahweh, they would be just another nation striving to preserve their existence in a world marked by hostility and mired in sin.

Psalm 96 opens with the words, “Sing to the Lord a new song.” This was a call for the people of Israel to praise Yahweh, not just for His past acts of deliverance but for His present activity in their lives. He was present and moving powerfully in their midst. The God who created the universe and delivered their ancestors from their captivity in Egypt was still moving mightily in their lives. That is why the psalmist states, “Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does” (Psalm 96:2-3 NLT).

As David celebrated the arrival of the Ark into Jerusalem, he used the words of Psalm 96 to encourage faithfulness among his people. He wanted them to understand their need for God and their obligation to declare His glory to the nations around them. Every time Yahweh moved among His people, they were to declare His majesty, power, and sovereignty to the surrounding nations. His glorious deeds among His people were to be a testimony to His greatness and evidence of His role as the one true God. That is why the psalmist addresses the pagan nations and calls on them to reject their false gods and worship Yahweh alone.

O nations of the world, recognize the LORD;
    recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.
Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!
    Bring your offering and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. – Psalm 96:7-9 NLT

But their acknowledgment of Yahweh depended on the Israelites’ faithfulness and willingness to declare His glory. If God's people don't see Him as active in their lives and refuse to declare His power and presence, the nations will continue to seek help and hope from false gods. God’s people were to declare, “The Lord reigns!” (Psalm 96:10 ESV). But this was to be more than lip service or pious-sounding rhetoric. It was to come from the heart and express their own personal experience. 

This psalm provides a glimpse of what it means to worship God. It is less an activity than an awareness of God's character and attributes. It is a recognition of who He is, what He has done, and what He will do because of His unchanging character. God is loving and kind. He is holy and righteous. He is powerful and completely in control. What He says, He will do. He can be trusted. He is reliable. Even when things do not appear to be going as expected, and God seems nowhere in sight, He is there.

His character is consistent with His behavior, and it is in keeping with His word. If we don’t understand who God is, we will never truly worship Him. The reality of HIS faithfulness allows us to be faithful to Him. If we view Him as untrustworthy, we will doubt and disobey Him. If we don’t believe His promises, we will never rest in them. And we will never be able to say, “The Lord reigns!” and mean it. Our testimony to God's goodness and greatness will become second-hand and lack personal evidence that He is alive and active in our lives. This lack of firsthand experience with Yahweh will weaken our testimony and fail to impress a lost and dying world that our God rules and reigns.

Our worship of God is fickle and feeble at best. It tends to be based on present circumstances. If things are going well, our God is good and worthy of praise. If things are going poorly, we begin to doubt Him and even complain about our lot in life. When we do, we portray Yahweh as a fickle, fairweather God who can’t be trusted or relied upon. 

Even when we worship Him, our efforts can portray a half-hearted commitment that paints God as an add-on to our lives rather than the sole focus of our affection. We turn worship into an activity that we only participate in on Sundays. Our devotion to Him is relegated to a worship hour and a particular music style. The entire endeavor becomes more about us than Him. We judge the effectiveness of our worship based on our personal tastes. If we enjoy our worship service of choice and like the music and the message we hear, we believe we’ve worshiped. But we can go through that process and never acknowledge God's lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness, truth, and strength. We can feel good, but leave without having grown closer to God. In essence, the worship service becomes more about us than Him.

This psalm reminds us that God is to be our focus. Not because of what He is currently doing for us, but simply because of who He is. He is God, and there is no one else like Him. He is God, and He is entirely trustworthy and true. He is God, and is all-powerful, and capable of doing whatever He chooses to do. If He is not doing what we THINK He should be doing, He has a very good reason. If He allows difficulty into our lives, He is not asleep, apathetic, or impotent; He has a plan.

Yahweh has made us, and we are His sheep. We belong to Him, and He knows what is best for us. But do we trust Him? Do we believe He is strong enough to meet any and all of our needs? Do we comprehend just how much He loves us? The psalmist reminds us that when God made a promise to David that his kingdom would endure forever, even the people's unfaithfulness and disobedience could not alter that promise's reality and reliability. God's word endures. His faithfulness is unfailing. His lovingkindness is everlasting. His truth never falters. His strength never diminishes.

Tell the nations about his splendor.
Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds.
For the LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise;
he is more awesome than all gods. – Psalms 96:3-4 NET

Father, so often I attempt to worship You in ignorance. I try to sing Your praises but I don't fully understand or appreciate who You are. I tend to sing only when I feel like it. I praise You only when You’ve done something for me. Yet You are worthy of praise all the time. You are loving, kind, righteous, holy, trustworthy, and powerful to save. Help me come to know You better so that I might better worship You rightly. Not just for what You do but just because of who You are. And may I be able to declare to the nations, “The LORD reigns!” and truly mean it because I have experienced it in my own life. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Right Response to a Righteous God

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

5 How great are your works, O LORD!
    Your thoughts are very deep!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
    the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
    and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
8     but you, O LORD, are on high forever.
9 For behold, your enemies, O LORD,
    for behold, your enemies shall perish;
    all evildoers shall be scattered.

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
    you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
    my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the LORD;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the LORD is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. – Psalm 92:1-15 ESV

In this psalm of thanksgiving, the unidentified author provides a litany of reasons to praise Yahweh. His exuberant song takes the form of a prayer, with his words spoken directly to the One whose blessings he enjoyed.  He expounds on the benefits of verbally declaring God’s unfailing love and faithfulness and proudly admits his habit of doing so regularly.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
    your faithfulness in the evening… – Psalm 92:1-2 NLT

In this eloquently written song of praise, the psalmist paints a clear picture of how the people of God should respond to Him. We will see life from a different perspective as we reflect on all that He has done in the past and all that He is doing around us in the present. As we read the Scriptures, we discover His character and learn about His great acts of goodness and righteousness toward His people over the years. Reflection on who God is and how He interacts with His people results in increased optimism and trust.

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
    I sing for joy because of what you have done.
O Lord, what great works you do! – Psalm 92:4-5 NLT

We are more apt to rejoice even when things do not appear to go the way we would like them to go, because we know and understand His character. Thanksgiving and praise come more readily and freely because we see life from God's perspective. He is powerful, loving, righteous, just, and causes His people to live fruitful lives even in times of difficulty.

We tend to forget that God is ruler over everything and everyone. As we survey the disturbing state of the world, it can sometimes appear as if God is somehow a powerless spectator to the events taking place or, worse yet, a disinterested deity who could do something about it, but chooses not to. But the psalmist reminds us that God reigns and rules on high.

But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever. – Psalm 92:8 NLT

God is in complete control, and He is all-powerful. Praise and thanksgiving come naturally when we genuinely believe these things about God. But when we doubt His power and majesty and don't recognize His faithfulness and love for us, we find it hard to thank Him in times of difficulty.

But where do we learn about God? How can we grow in our confidence in His character and power? One way is through the reading of His Word. As we read the Scriptures, we are given a glimpse into the incredible character of God as it is exposed in the stories of God's interactions with mankind. We see examples of His love, mercy, kindness, and righteousness, as well as His anger, justice, holiness, and hatred of sin. We also see God's redemptive nature. From the stories of the Old Testament, we learn that God longs to redeem and rescue His people from their slavery to sin and introduce them to the life of freedom He so graciously offers.

But the psalmist sees God's handiwork in his own life and declares his personal experience with God's power, provision, and blessings.

But you have made me as strong as a wild ox.
    You have anointed me with the finest oil. – Psalm 92:10 NLT

For the psalmist, Yahweh wasn't a distant deity who rarely entered into the affairs of men; He was a personal and intimate God who made His presence known in tangible ways.

My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
    my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents. – Psalm 92:11 NLT

The Bible is a picture of who God is. The stories are reminders of His character. He is the same today as He was then. But we can also learn of God's character as He works in and around our lives today. But we have to know what to look for. We can see His faithfulness and love as we encounter other believers who come alongside us in times of difficulty. Their love is an expression of His love. We can see God's power when we see marriages restored or sicknesses healed. We can see God's provision every time we eat a meal, deposit a paycheck, or pay a bill. He provides the means to do them all. We can see God's matchless mercy and grace every time we find ourselves falling into sin yet again. Despite our failure to remain faithful, we can go to Him and receive forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

Like the psalmist, we can see God in our lives, but we have to train ourselves to look for Him. When we learn to see Him, we will begin to thank Him, sing His praises, and declare His goodness and mercy. And the older we get, the more we will be able to look back on our lives and see the signs of God's presence and power on display. And while our life may feature moments of pain, suffering, and disappointment, we can sing His praises along with the psalmist.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. – Psalm 92:12-15 ESV

Father, it is good to give You thanks, but I confess that I spend far too much time complaining and far too little time being grateful. Yet, when I look back on my life, I see so many examples of Your love, mercy, grace, and power. You have given me much to be thankful for and I have no excuse for my ingratitude. I have been richly blessed and am totally undeserving of all that You have done. Thank You for your kindness, patience, unfailing love, and commitment to my well-being. Without You, I would be nothing. Help me to sing Your praises more regularly and joyfully so that others may know just how good and great You are. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

My God, In Whom I Trust

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.” – Psalm 91:1-16 ESV

The author of this psalm remains unknown, but his message is a familiar one that encourages trust in a trustworthy God. He opens his psalm with a reminder of Yahweh’s sovereignty (Most High) and power (Almighty), two divine attributes that should promote confidence and peace among the children of God.

His word choice is intentional and carefully designed to create an aura of calm and quiet contentment.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” – Pssalm 91:1-2 ESV

dwells – yāšaḇ – to remain, to sit, abide

shelter – sēṯer – secret place, protection, hiding place

abide – lûn – to stay permanently, to lodge (all night)

shadow – ṣēl – shade, protection, defense

refuge – maḥăsê – shelter from danger or storm, place of hope

fortress – māṣûḏ – stronghold, castle

Each word is intended to support the psalmist's message concerning Yahweh's trustworthiness. They are meant to be confidence-inducing and peace-promoting statements that flow from his own experience with God. He has found Yahweh to be a reliable source of strength, security, shelter, and protection, and he wants all those who hear the lyrics of his song to be reminded that they can expect God to deliver in their times of need.

For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection. – Psalm 91:3-4 NLT

The psalmist describes Yahweh as aggressively proactive, rescuing His children from every harmful circumstance and situation. Using the imagery of a mother bird protecting her young, he conveys God's instinctive inclination to shelter His children from harm. But God's response to His children's needs is more than mechanical or instinctual. It is based on His faithful promises.

The Hebrew word rendered as “faithfulness” in verse 4 is ĕmeṯ, and it conveys the idea of spoken truth. God had made a covenant commitment to protect and provide for the people of Israel for generations, and He was a promise-keeping God.

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? – Numbers 23:19 NLT

Since the days when Moses led the people of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt and guided them to the land of promise, he had reminded them of God’s promise to provide for and protect them.

“For the people of Israel belong to the LORD;
    Jacob is his special possession.
He found them in a desert land,
    in an empty, howling wasteland.
He surrounded them and watched over them;
    he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks
    and hovers over her young,
so he spread his wings to take them up
    and carried them safely on his pinions.” – Deuteronomy 32:9-11 NLT

“How blessed you are, O Israel!
    Who else is like you, a people saved by the Lord?
He is your protecting shield
    and your triumphant sword!
Your enemies will cringe before you,
    and you will stomp on their backs!” – Deuteronomy 33:29 NLT

The psalmist picked up on that theme and reiterated its powerful message to the Israelites of his day. While their circumstances had changed, their God remained the same. He was still powerful and reliable. He was trustworthy and true. His strength had not diminished, and despite their disobedience, His promises remained fully intact. He would do what He said He would do.

That is why the psalmist calls his people to replace their fear with faith.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished. – Psalm 91:5-8 NLT

They had no reason to doubt God's word, so there was no cause for concern. No matter what trial or difficulty came their way, they could trust in the promises of God. He would show up at just the right time and deliver His children in ways that defied logic and displayed His power and sovereignty.

The psalmist makes a promise of his own that almost comes across as hyperbolic or exaggerated in nature.

If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! – Psalm 91:9-13 NLT

It's doubtful that he was speaking from personal experience. These fantastic claims are not meant to be actual evidence of God's past actions; they are intended to convey the miraculous and sometimes inexplicable nature of His power. His point seems to be that, with God on their side, the Israelites were virtually invincible. They could look back on their storied past and recall times when God protected them from plagues, as He had done during their stay in Egypt. They could also recount the stories of their ancestors' trek through the wilderness and how God had provided for all their needs along the way.

“For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other alcoholic drink, but he provided for you so you would know that he is the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 29:5-6 NLT

The psalmist goes out of his way to paint a glowing picture of God's power and trustworthiness. The Almighty has a proven track record of delivering on His promises and providing His people with all they need to succeed in a hostile and sometimes deadly world.

And to strengthen his argument, the psalmist closes with a personal word from God Himself.

The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.” – Psalm 91:14-16 NLT

This psalm is not intended to offer the promise of a trouble-free life. He does not guarantee a heaven-on-earth experience devoid of sorrow, suffering, trials, or pain. Jesus Himself said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT). 

The apostle John wrote, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5 ESV). John’s emphasis on overcoming is not a promise of a victory-filled life free from obstacles or opposition. John himself was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel. The victory he promises is not an earthly one that manifests itself in triumph over every enemy and success at every turn. He isn't offering your best life now. No, he is focusing our attention on the final victory that Christ will bring when He returns to earth a final time and completes the plan of redemption He began at His crucifixion and resurrection.

As Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” But God has a plan in place that will ensure a future free from pain, suffering, sorrow, sin, disease, and death. It will come to fruition when His Son returns and it will bring the ultimate victory and fulfill every promise that God has made to His people.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:1-4 NLT

Father, You are trustworthy and true. You have proven it time and time again. The Scriptures are filled with stories of Your faithfulness. Our lives are living evidence of Your goodness and greatness. But sometimes we fail to see Your handiwork because we are looking for the wrong thing. We seek a different outcome from our trials than the one You have planned. We desire a trouble-free life when You are calling us to live a trust-filled life. You are always encouraging us to place our hope in You and not our circumstances. We are to judge Your faithfulness based on Your character, not the lack of trials in our lives. The truth is, You display Your strength through our weakness. You use difficulties to make us dependent upon You. Our trust tends to grow best when our need for You becomes greatest. Thank You for showing up when the times get tough. Thank You for displaying Your power in tangible ways. But more than anything else, thank You for being a promise-keeping God who will one day make all things right. You are not done but, because You are faithful, You will do what You promised. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Singing God's Praises

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands! – Psalm 90:1-17 ESV

This psalm is attributed to Moses, making it the oldest of all the psalms recorded in the Psalter. In this eloquent prayer, Moses addresses God’s faithfulness by focusing on His eternality. He is the ever-present Creator God who not only formed the universe but also faithfully cares for it.

For Moses, God’s eternal nature was a comfort and a concern. He knew God personally and had spent countless hours on top of Mount Sinai receiving instructions to pass on to the people of Israel. Moses had performed miracles in the power of God. He stood before Pharaoh and spoke on behalf of God. This former murderer and sheep herder had delivered the people of God from their slavery in Egypt and then led them across the wilderness to Canaan. During the 40 years he served as Israel's guide, judge, and counselor, Moses saw the power of God on display. He had witnessed God destroy the Egyptian army at the Red Sea. But he had also seen God punish His own people for their disobedience. The Almighty was a force to be reckoned with and not taken lightly or treated flippantly.

You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.
    They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
In the morning it blooms and flourishes,
    but by evening it is dry and withered. – Psalm 90:5-6 NLT

Moses had observed firsthand the wrath of God. He had been an eyewitness to God's destruction of Korah and his co-conspirators (Numbers 16:1-40). He had seen God consume Aaron's disobedient sons with fire (Leviticus 10:1-20). He was forced to stand back and watch as God inflicted his sister Miriam with leprosy (Numbers 12:1-10). From his perspective, God’s power was awe-inspiring and fear-producing.  

We wither beneath your anger;
    we are overwhelmed by your fury.
You spread out our sins before you—
    our secret sins—and you see them all.
We live our lives beneath your wrath,
    ending our years with a groan. – Psalm 90:7-9 NLT

Moses began his ministry of deliverance at the age of 40 and served another 40 years as Israel's God-appointed leader. During that time, he experienced all the ups and downs that come with leadership. He was constantly questioned, doubted, accused, ignored, and blamed. He endured a failed coup attempt. His leadership skills were ridiculed, his sense of direction was questioned, and his calling by God was regularly doubted by those he was supposed to lead. So, by the time he reached his seventies, Moses was a worn-out, doubt-filled man who struggled with a lack of confidence and a fear of failure.

Seventy years are given to us!
    Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;
    soon they disappear, and we fly away. – Psalm 90:10 NLT

Moses had been reluctant to serve as God's deliverer, but now that he had spent nearly half his life attempting to lead a stubborn people to the “land of promise,” he was worn out and questioning God’s reliability and his own competency. He felt alone and deserted. The people fought him at every turn, and it appeared as if God had abandoned him somewhere along the way.

O LORD, come back to us!
    How long will you delay?
    Take pity on your servants! – Psalm 90:13 NLT

Leading God's people was difficult work and came with few perks. Moses didn't receive many thanks or commendations along the way. The people were always quick to complain but rarely expressed gratitude for his selfless service. He labored and toiled without pay and little in the way of remuneration for his efforts. In his weariness and depression, Moses called out to God and begged for His intervention.

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
    so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
    Replace the evil years with good. – Psalm 90:14-15 NLT

When Moses received his calling from God on Mount Sinai, he had been reluctant to accept God's commission. He felt he was the wrong man for the job and was ill-equipped to pull off such a daunting task. But God assured him, “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12 NLT). Yahweh would go with him and before him. The great Creator God would lead the way and provide Moses all the power he needed to accomplish his mission. 

But decades later, Moses was running out of steam and losing motivation. The journey had taken much longer than expected, and the people of Israel proved to be far more stubborn and difficult to lead than Moses could have imagined. Yes, there had been victories along the way. God had stepped in and provided manna and quail when the people grew hungry. He had provided water when the people’s thirst caused them to complain. During their years wandering in the wilderness, their clothes and sandals had not worn out. Yahweh had provided for all their needs.

But as the people neared the end of their journey and Moses approached the end of his life, he was begging God to show up yet again. He desperately desired to see Yahweh demonstrate His power and display His glory one more time.

Let us, your servants, see you work again;
    let our children see your glory.
And may the Lord our God show us his approval
    and make our efforts successful.
    Yes, make our efforts successful! – Psalm 90:16-17 NLT

This song of Moses stands in stark contrast to another song he wrote decades earlier. Immediately after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, Moses penned the following words:

“I will sing to the Lord,
    for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
    into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
The Lord is a warrior;
    Yahweh is his name!
Pharaoh’s chariots and army
    he has hurled into the sea.
The finest of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.” – Exodus 15:1-4 NLT

Moses was stoked. His excitement was palpable and contagious. He had seen God perform an epic miracle, and he wanted everyone to know about it. But by the time we get to Psalm 90, Moses is a much older and wilderness-wearied man who had long forgotten the miracle of the Red Sea. For Moses, his best days were in the rearview mirror. The future was unsure, and the presence of God was in question.

But there is yet another song that Moses wrote. It came near the end of his life as he prepared to turn over the reins of leadership to Joshua. Moses was 80 years old and had spent half his life guiding the people of Israel from Egypt to Canaan. But despite his age, Moses was far from weak and not the least bit pessimistic. It is almost as if his prayer in Psalm 90 had been answered. Even in old age, he had a renewed sense of faith and hope in Yahweh.

“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
    Hear, O earth, the words that I say!
Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
    let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
    like gentle showers on young plants.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
    Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is!

“But they have acted corruptly toward him;
    when they act so perversely,
are they really his children?
    They are a deceitful and twisted generation.
Is this the way you repay the Lord,
    you foolish and senseless people?
Isn’t he your Father who created you?
    Has he not made you and established you?” – Deuteronomy 32:1-6 NLT

Even as he anticipated his death, Moses expressed his faith in Yahweh. His days had been numbered by God, and the end was near. Yet, Moses was not bitter or disappointed. He did not moan about his lot in life or express frustration over his inability to enter the land of promise with the rest of the Israelites. 

No, Moses encouraged the people of Israel to remember God for who He was and for all that He had done. He also reminded them to own their own rebellion and recognize their unfaithfulness to God. Over the last 40 years, Yahweh had given them what they deserved but had also showered them with unmerited favor and grace. They were about to enter the land of promise and enjoy all the blessings of Yahweh, and Moses wanted them to know that obedience would be a non-negotiable requirement.

So, he ended his last song with a call to rejoice in the Lord. He wanted the people of Israel to acknowledge God's goodness and greatness.

“Rejoice with him, you heavens,
    and let all of God’s angels worship him.
Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles,
    and let all the angels be strengthened in him.
For he will avenge the blood of his children;
    he will take revenge against his enemies.
He will repay those who hate him
    and cleanse his people’s land.” – Deuteronomy 32:43 NLT

Three songs written by the same man. But the greatest of the three is the last one because it reflects the faithfulness of a man who spent 80 years serving and worshiping Yahweh. As he approached the end of his life, he could still sing God's praises and call the people of Israel to remain faithful. 

Father, it is so easy to lose sight of Your faithfulness. Sometimes we can look back and see Your acts of power and mercy. But other times, we tend to forget and allow our thinking to become clouded and memories to become blurred. But You are always faithful. Your goodness and greatness never fade or falter. Your love remains the same no matter the circumstances. I want to be able to sing Your praises and I want to do so more loudly and joyously the older I get. May I have the perspective of Moses and be able to look back on my life and see Your handiwork woven throughout the fabric of my existence – from beginning to end. Because You are forever faithful. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Seeing Isn't Always Believing

A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

1 O LORD, God of my salvation,
    I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry!

3 For my soul is full of troubles,
    and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
    like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
    for they are cut off from your hand.
6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,
    in the regions dark and deep.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
    and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah

8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
    you have made me a horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9     my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O LORD;
    I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
    Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
    or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
    or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But I, O LORD, cry to you;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
    I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
    your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
    they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
    my companions have become darkness. – Psalm 88:1-18 ESV

The pessimism of this psalm makes most believers a bit uncomfortable. We might be able to relate to his rather refreshingly honest assessment of his condition because most of us have been there before. We’ve all experienced moments when life's circumstances overwhelm us, leaving us exasperated and perplexed. Overwhelmed by unexpected and inexplicable trials that seem to come in waves, we feel compelled to express our frustration and defend our integrity. In the face of unwanted difficulties, we cry, “Why?” 

O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me? – Psalm 88:14 ESV

Like the psalmist, we demand answers and explanations from God. We want Him to explain His seeming disinterest in our predicament or to justify His role in bringing it about. But we find the psalmist's unbridled and brutally blunt attacks on God go further than most of us would ever dare. He pulls no punches and displays no fear of offending the Almighty. In fact, he is unapologetic in blaming God for his circumstances.

You have thrown me into the lowest pit,
    into the darkest depths.
Your anger weighs me down;
    with wave after wave you have engulfed me. – Psalm 88:6-7 NLT

You have driven my friends away
    by making me repulsive to them. – Psalm 88:8 NLT

Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me.
    Your terrors have paralyzed me. – Psalm 88:16 NLT

You have taken away my companions and loved ones.
    Darkness is my closest friend. – Psalm 88:18 NLT

These are the words of a man who believes in God's sovereignty. In his spiritual worldview, Yahweh is in full control of everything, meting out blessings and curses as He sees fit. From the psalmist’s earthly vantage point, it appears as if he has done something to get on God’s naughty list, but he can’t imagine what it is. From his perspective, Yahweh’s anger is unjustified, and his suffering is undeserved.

While we know little about Heman, the author of this psalm, we can relate to his frustration. We might not dare to express our words as bluntly as he does, but we’ve all had moments when we wanted to put God on trial and cross-examine Him for His mismanagement of our affairs.

It's impossible to read Psalm 88 without thinking about Job's plight, which is recorded in the book that bears his name. According to the book's prologue, Job “was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil” (Job 1:1 NLT). This glowing assessment of Job was not just the opinion of the book's author; it came directly from God Himself.

“Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” – Job 1:8 NLT

According to God, Job was a righteous man whom He had blessed with wealth, an impeccable reputation, and a large family. But the story goes on to reveal that Satan questioned the source of Job’s allegiance to God. He accused Job of being a fair-weather God-follower who served for purely selfish reasons. 

“Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” – Job 1:9-11 NLT

Satan believed Job was in it for what he could get out of it. In other words, his faithfulness was motivated by selfishness. To prove his point, Satan proposed a test that he believed would expose Job as a fraud. In fact, he convinced God to sanction a series of life-altering disasters that would rob Job of everything he had, including his wealth, health, reputation, and children. When the dust settled, Job was left a broken and embittered man who felt betrayed and abandoned by God.

For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
    Their poison infects my spirit.
    God’s terrors are lined up against me.
Don’t I have a right to complain? – Job 6:4-5 NLT

Like Heman, Job believed in God's sovereignty, which made his suffering so difficult to understand. His well-meaning friends didn't make things any easier when they accused him of only getting what he deserved. From their perspective, Job’s suffering had to be tied to sin. He had done something to offend God and would continue to suffer until he confessed and repented. But Job rejected their logic and refused to accept responsibility for his circumstances. Instead, he blamed God.

Why won’t you leave me alone,
    at least long enough for me to swallow!
If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    O watcher of all humanity?
Why make me your target?
    Am I a burden to you? – Job 7:19-20 NLT

Both Job and Heman called on God. In their pain and suffering, they directed their questions to the One they believed was responsible and capable of turning their fate around.

O LORD, God of my salvation,
    I cry out to you by day.
    I come to you at night.
Now hear my prayer;
    listen to my cry. – Psalm 88:1-2 NLT

“You must defend my innocence, O God,
    since no one else will stand up for me.” – Job 17:3 NLT

Though Job and Heman lived centuries apart, they were kindred spirits. Both of these men were God-followers who clung to their belief in His sovereignty and held onto their hope that His love and compassion would come through in the end.  They feared death and longed for deliverance. Abandoned by their friends, they turned to Yahweh for help and hope.

But this psalm seems to end on a purely negative note.

You have taken away my companions and loved ones.
    Darkness is my closest friend. – Psalm 88:18 NLT

Unlike Job's story, Heman's plight has no resolution or happy ending. There is no last-minute reprieve or divine intervention that produces a storybook ending  At least Job got to see the salvation of the Lord.

…the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life. – Job 42:10-17 NLT

Yet, as Derek Kidner notes, Heman's story ends in darkness.

“With darkness as its final word, what is the role of this psalm in Scripture? For the beginning of an answer we may note, first, its witness to the possibility of unrelieved suffering as a believer’s earthly lot. The happy ending of most psalms of this kind is seen to be a bonus, not a due; its withholding is not a proof of either God’s displeasure or His defeat. Secondly, the psalm adds its voice to the ‘groaning in travail’ which forbids us to accept the present order as final. It is a sharp reminder that ‘we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies’ (Rom. 8:22f). Thirdly, this author, like Job, does not give up. He completes his prayer, still in the dark and totally unrewarded. The taunt, ‘Does Job fear God for naught?’, is answered yet again. Fourthly, the author’s name allows us, with hindsight, to see that his rejection was only apparent (see the opening comments on the psalm). His existence was no mistake; there was a divine plan bigger than he knew, and a place in it reserved most carefully for him.” – Derek Kidner, Psalms 73—150. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series

So, what are we to make of Heman's psalm? How do we apply this rather bleak and pessimistic “song” to our daily lives? Its lack of resolution should not surprise or disappoint us because we know God was not done with Heman. While we don't know the outcome of Heman's circumstance, we can rest assured that God was fully aware of its cause and its outcome. There is much in this life that we will never comprehend. Our earth-bound, limited perspective prevents us from seeing things as God does. When surrounded by darkness and unable to see any semblance of light on the horizon, we must trust that God knows all and sees all. Like Heman, when we see no way out, we must cry out to God for help. He may delay, but He will never refuse to hear and answer. The salvation we long for may not come as expected, but it will come. Our God is faithful, and His timing is perfect. But more importantly, our God is eternal and not limited by time and space. We demand answers now. We expect an immediate resolution to our present problems. But God operates on a divine schedule that always has the end in mind.

“Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:3-5 NLT

Father, in this life things don't always go as expected. Difficulties come. Pain and suffering are daily realities. Death is an unavoidable part of living in a fallen world. But You are never out of control or out of reach. You never turn Your back on us or fail to know what is happening at any given moment. And You always have a plan that is perfect, just, and righteous. I may know it or understand it but I can trust You with it. Help me to live with an eternal perspective that focuses on Your faithfulness and rests in Your promise to make all things new — in Your time. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Gracious God

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Testimony. Of Asaph, a Psalm.

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2     Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us!

3 Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

4 O LORD God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
    and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it;
    it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea
    and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
    so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
    and all that move in the field feed on it.

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
    Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15     the stock that your right hand planted,
    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
    may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
    give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
    Let your face shine, that we may be saved! – Psalm 80:1-19 ESV

Like the psalm that precedes it, this is a national psalm of lament, but it is difficult to determine the exact context surrounding its message. Some scholars believe Asaph is addressing the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. But if Asaph was a resident of the southern kingdom of Judah, his prayer in verse 3 would appear to place the timing of this psalm after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might
    and come to save us! – Psalm 80:3 ESV

Asaph seems to indicate that something has happened to the people of Judah, the residents of the southern kingdom. In verses 5 and 6, he describes the extent of their suffering, which he attributes to God's divine punishment.

You have fed us with sorrow
    and made us drink tears by the bucketful.
You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations.
    Our enemies treat us as a joke. – Psalm 80:5-6 NLT

Asaph’s reference to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh is intended as a not-so-subtle reminder that the nation of Israel used to be a unified whole. There had been a time under the reigns of David and Solomon when the 12 tribes of Israel were unified and dominated the political landscape of Canaan. Ephraim was the primary tribe in the north, the Benjamites lived in the south, and the tribe of Manasseh was located east of the Jordan River in the Transjordan. So it makes more sense to see this psalm lamenting Israel’s abysmal condition after the northern and southern kingdoms had fallen to the Assyrians and Babylonians.

It is interesting to note that Asaph opens his psalm with a reference to Joseph, the son of Jacob, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers. Under God’s sovereign hand, this young man ended up in Egypt and rose to the second-highest position in the land. His miraculous and meteoric rise to prominence was God-ordained and for the sole purpose of providing a place of refuge for his family when a famine struck the land of Canaan.

Asaph opens his psalm by addressing Yahweh as the “Shepherd of Israel” (Psalm 80:1 ESV), who leads Joseph like a flock. Joseph’s two sons, born to him in Egypt, were adopted by his father Jacob, and their descendants became heirs of the land of promise. Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the tribes mentioned in verse 2, were the descendants of Joseph’s two sons and, at one time, enjoyed a place within the unified nation of Israel alongside the tribe of Benjamin.

But sin had disrupted Israel’s peace and prosperity. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, behaved like a fool by fostering idolatry and apostasy in the kingdom. His actions resulted in God splitting the kingdom in half. From that point, the downward spiritual spiral continued in the north, south, and east, as all the tribes exhibited a penchant for unfaithfulness and a stubborn refusal to repent and return to Yahweh.

So, Asaph calls on God to step in and fix the problem.

Show us your mighty power.
    Come to rescue us! – Psalm 80:3 NLT

Asaph attributes their fate to God’s displeasure with them, but he never acknowledges their complicity and guilt. At no point does Asaph attempt to confess the sins of his fellow Israelites. Instead, he questions why God remains so angry and unwilling to answer their prayers for deliverance.

Asaph attempts to remind God of His past acts of kindness by chronicling how He had delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt and established them in the land of Canaan.

You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine;
    you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your land.
You cleared the ground for us,
    and we took root and filled the land.
Our shade covered the mountains;
    our branches covered the mighty cedars.
We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea;
    our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River. – Psalm 80:8-11 NLT

Those were the good old days, when the Israelites enjoyed the blessings of God. They had been fruitful and filled the land of Canaan. Under the leadership of David and Solomon, their numbers grew and their kingdom spread, making them a force to be reckoned with in the region. But all that had changed. The conditions in Israel were markedly different when Asaph penned this psalm because sin had brought the judgment of God.

Yet, Asaph never mentions their sin. He fails to acknowledge their complicity in their own demise, choosing instead to blame God.

But now, why have you broken down our walls
    so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?
The wild boar from the forest devours it,
    and the wild animals feed on it. – Psalm 80:12-13 NLT

While God had brought judgment upon the people of Israel, it had been as a result of their rebellion against Him. Asaph obsesses over the consequences they suffered and demands remediation, but he refuses to confess their guilt. He begs God to intervene and appears to try to shame God into action.

Take care of this grapevine
    that you yourself have planted,
    this son you have raised for yourself. – Psalm 80:14-15 NLT

Asaph freely admits that God had chosen Israel to be His treasured possession, but he couldn't understand why they were suffering so greatly. It made no sense. As the nation that bore His name, the Israelites should have been prospering and enjoying all the benefits of their privileged position. But, according to Asaph, they were like a vineyard that had been “chopped up and burned by” (Psalm 80:16 NLT) by their enemies.

So, Asaph asks God to reverse the trend and restore His people to greatness.

May you give support to the one you have chosen,
to the one whom you raised up for yourself. – Psalm 80:17 NET

In response to God’s miraculous deliverance, Asaph promises the renewed allegiance of the people of Israel.

Then we will never abandon you again.
    Revive us so we can call on your name once more. – Psalm  80:17 NLT

By referring to God’s name, Asaph appeals to God’s reputation. He knows that Yahweh holds His name in high regard and will not allow it to be tarnished by those privileged to bear it. He had warned the Israelites that their behavior reflected on His character.

“You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” – Exodus 34:14 NLT

He would not allow them to drag His name through the mud by their repeated acts of apostasy and idolatry, and that is the reason for their current state of deprivation and despair. All 12 tribes were guilty of worshiping other gods and had angered Yahweh with their refusal to heed His warnings and repent of their sins. But Asaph longs to see God redeem and restore them.

Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.
    Make your face shine down upon us.
    Only then will we be saved. – Psalm 80:19 NLT

He was right. God was the only solution to their problem. Their cities lay in ruins, and their economy was devastated. They had no king or army and no hope of improving their fortunes unless God stepped in. Asaph’s reliance upon God was commendable, but he failed to recognize the corporate need for repentance. The prophets made it clear that redemption and restoration were available but required repentance.

Seek the Lord while you can find him.
    Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
    and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
    Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. – Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT

God would later inspire Jeremiah to deliver the following message to the Israelites living in exile in Babylon. He wanted them to know that their captivity had an expiration date, but to enjoy His deliverance, they must exhibit repentant hearts.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT

Asaph was right to call on God, but neglected to call the people to repentance. God had promised to hear their prayers and restore their fortunes, but He required that they look for him “wholeheartedly.” God demanded their sold-out devotion to Him alone, instead of their usual brand of half-hearted, going-through-the-motions, on-again-off-again worship.

Yet, despite their failure to repent and return to Him in wholehearted devotion, God eventually released them from their exile in Babylon and restored them to the land of Canaan. Their covenant-keeping God graciously ended their captivity and arranged for a remnant to return to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. Yahweh proved to be faithful even when His people refused to keep their end of the covenant agreement. And, according to the Book of Ezekiel, God is far from done with His chosen people. The day is coming when He will perform a miracle of transformation that will ensure their unwavering devotion to Him.

“For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

“And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God. I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior.” – Ezekiel 36:24-29 NLT

Father, You truly are amazing. Your love never fails. You always keep Your word. Your grace is always undeserved. Your mercy never runs out. Your patience is inexhaustible. And Your plan for Your people is unstoppable. Despite us, You continually pour out Your blessings through Jesus Christ. You have made a way where there was no way. You do the impossible and accomplish the improbable. And we don’t deserve it. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Stop, Stand, and See

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

1 I cry aloud to God,
    aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
    in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
    my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
    when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

4 You hold my eyelids open;
    I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
    the years long ago.
6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
    let me meditate in my heart.”
    Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
    and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
    Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
    to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
    and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 When the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
    yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron. – Psalm 77:1-20 ESV

Asaph once again found himself facing a difficult situation that left him lying awake in his bed at night. In his suffering state, he attempted to cry out to the LORD, but received no answer. Sleep eluded him, and he had begun to lose hope. His prayers went unanswered, and his need for relief went unmet.

All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven,
    but my soul was not comforted. – Psalm 77:3 NLT

Wide awake and with the entire evening to consider his circumstance, Asaph began to question the very presence and compassion of God.

Has the Lord rejected me forever?
    Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
    Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he slammed the door on his compassion? – Psalm 77:7-9 NLT

Nothing made sense. His pain was real, and his cries for help were heartfelt, but God felt distant and disinterested in his plight. There seemed to be a barrier between him and God, preventing his prayers from reaching their destination and leaving him in a state of desperation and deep despair. In assessing his situation, he reached a far-from-positive conclusion.

“This is my fate;
    the Most High has turned his hand against me.” – Psalm 77:10 NLT

The NET Bible translates verse 10: “I am sickened by the thought that the Most High might become inactive.” His greatest fear was not his ongoing pain and suffering but the thought that God might not intervene. He couldn’t imagine life without God’s gracious intervention. He could recall past occasions where God answered his prayers for help quickly and compassionately. But this time, he felt as if he had been abandoned to suffer in silence and solitude, all alone and with no hope of relief.

Yet, Asaph refused to give up on God. He would not allow his current circumstances to determine his view of God’s faithfulness. His sleepless nights, unanswered prayers, and ongoing suffering were difficult but not determinative of God’s character. Sometime during his “dark night of the soul,” Asaph made a conscious decision to remember God’s past acts of deliverance rather than to dwell on His seeming absence.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
    and meditate on your mighty deeds. – Psalm 77:11-12 NLT

If Asaph couldn’t see God in the present moment, he would look for Him in the stories of the past. Raised on the epic tales of God’s deliverance of the people of Israel, Asaph had a storehouse of soul-stirring, faith-building reports of God’s power and provision. He had grown up hearing the well-documented and faithfully preserved stories of Yahweh’s faithfulness. In his next psalm, Asaph makes a promise to tell the next generation of the wonderous works of God.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
    stories we have heard and known,
    stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
    we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
    about his power and his mighty wonders. – Psalm 78:2-4 NLT

Asaph knew that God’s past acts of deliverance were meant to remind His people of His presence in the present. Yahweh would always be with them and would never abandon them, no matter how dark and desperate things might appear.

When Moses led the people of Israel to the promised land, he soberly reminded them to pass on the stories of God’s faithfulness to the next generation.

“For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?

“But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” – Deuteronomy 4:7-9 NLT

As Asaph lay awake in the darkness of his despair, he reached back into the distant past to shed light on his circumstances. Recalling the familiar stories of God’s faithfulness led Asaph to conjure a more accurate image of God’s character.

O God, your ways are holy.
    Is there any god as mighty as you?
You are the God of great wonders!
    You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.
By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. – Psalm 77:13-16 NLT

When Asaph needed a reminder of God’s power, he recalled one of the most amazing moments in Israel’s storied past. As the waves of despair and doubt threatened to overwhelm him, Asaph imagined the scene that took place on the shores of the Red Sea centuries earlier. The recently released Israelites found themselves facing the advancing Egyptian army and trapped against the impassable waters of the Red Sea. Caught between a rock and a hard place and facing certain death, the panicked Israelites lashed out at Moses in anger and fear.

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” – Exodus 14:10-12 NLT

But Moses responded with confidence and certainty, imploring them to trust in Yahweh, their deliverer.

“Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD [Yahweh] rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The LORD [Yahweh] himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” – Exodus 14:13-14 NLT

And Yahweh did rescue them.

…the LORD [Yahweh] opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! – Exodus 14:21-22 NLT

It was this epic event that Asaph focused on in his darkest moment. When faced with his own Red Sea moment, Asaph recalled the people's cries, Moses' words, and the Almighty's actions. Though he could see no way of escape or hear the voice of God, he could live vicariously through the lives of his ancestors and be reminded to stand firm, fear not, and see the salvation of the LORD. By looking back in time and recalling God’s past faithfulness to His covenant people, Asaph was encouraged.

When the Red Sea saw you, O God,
    its waters looked and trembled!
    The sea quaked to its very depths.
The clouds poured down rain;
    the thunder rumbled in the sky.
    Your arrows of lightning flashed.
Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
    the lightning lit up the world!
    The earth trembled and shook.
Your road led through the sea,
    your pathway through the mighty waters—
    a pathway no one knew was there!
You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
    with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds. – Psalm 77:16-20 NLT

Notice Asaph’s emphasis on God’s provision of a “pathway no one knew was there” (Psalm 77:19 NLT). When the Israelites reached the shores of the Red Sea, they had no way of knowing that their salvation would be through the sea, not around it. Their path of deliverance would be through the waters of despair and doubt. What they thought would be the source of their demise would be the pathway to their salvation.

Asaph could not understand the nature of his suffering. He found it difficult to see any light in the darkness that engulfed him, but his recollection of Israel’s Red Sea experience was just the encouragement he needed to not give up.

There were so many stories Asaph could have recalled that would have bolstered his faith. The chronicles of God’s power and provision were many, and they each provided a much-needed reminder to trust and obey. Asaph could have focused his attention on the story of Abraham and Sarah when God announced their son's pending birth.

“I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” – Genesis 18:10 NLT

They had waited six decades for this news, but when Sarah heard it, she scoffed.

…she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” – Genesis 18:12 NLT

But responded to Sarah’s doubt with a question of His own.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” – Genesis 18:14 NLT

This rhetorical question was meant to assure Abraham and Sarah that their God was faithful, powerful, and indomitable. Barrenness and old age were no match for God. An impassable sea was no problem for the God of the impossible. Asaph’s difficulties and the seemingly impenetrable darkness of his despair would fade in the light of God’s glory and goodness. All Asaph had to do was heed Moses’ advice: “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13 ESV).

Father, when things take a turn for the worse, I tend to allow my circumstances to distort my view of You. I let the darkness of life drown out the light of Your goodness, drawing faulty conclusions about Your love and faithfulness. This reminder from Asaph was much needed. In those moments when I can't see You, I need to recall the countless stories of Your past provision in my life. When those become cloudy and difficult to remember, I need to turn to Your Word and recount one of the many occasions when You delivered Your people from far worse situations than anything I have ever faced. You are good, gracious, powerful, faithful, constant, and always reliable. Never let me forget that nothing is impossible with You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Who Can Stand Before You?

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

1 In Judah God is known;
    his name is great in Israel.
2 His abode has been established in Salem,
    his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
    the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah

4 Glorious are you, more majestic
    than the mountains full of prey.
5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
    they sank into sleep;
all the men of war
    were unable to use their hands.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
    both rider and horse lay stunned.

7 But you, you are to be feared!
    Who can stand before you
    when once your anger is roused?
8 From the heavens you uttered judgment;
    the earth feared and was still,
9 when God arose to establish judgment,
    to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
    the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
11 Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them;
    let all around him bring gifts
    to him who is to be feared,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes,
    who is to be feared by the kings of the earth. – Psalm 76:1-12 ESV

In this psalm, Asaph sings Yahweh’s praises by reciting His matchless power and capacity to deliver His people from any and all enemies. Asaph mentions no specific act of deliverance, but instead, he gives a rather generic description of Yahweh’s past actions on Israel’s behalf.

God is honored in Judah;
    his name is great in Israel.
Jerusalem is where he lives;
    Mount Zion is his home.
There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy,
    the shields and swords and weapons of war. – Psalm 76:1-3 NLT

Yahweh had proven Himself to be faithful and trustworthy, having repeatedly delivered His chosen people from their enemies. From the day the Israelites entered the promised land under Joshua's leadership, they faced constant opposition from its inhabitants. Hostile nations, opposed to their presence and determined to prevent their settlement in Canaan, posed a threat to their very existence. Over the centuries, the Philistines, Moabites, Canaanites, and Ammonites waged war against the Israelites and attempted to intimidate and eliminate God’s chosen people. But time after time, Yahweh intervened, protecting those who bore His name and providing miraculous victories over the greatest of enemies.

Asaph could have given a number of examples to prove his point. In 701 B.C., not long after King Sennacherib and the Assyrians defeated the northern kingdom of Israel, the southern kingdom of Judah found itself the target of Sennacherib's wrath and ambition. Not satisfied with his acquisition of Israel, Sennacherib sent his troops into Judah, capturing many of its fortified cities and threatening to enter the capital city of Jerusalem. King Hezekiah attempted to buy off the Assyrians by offering tribute to Sennacherib.

King Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have done wrong. I will pay whatever tribute money you demand if you will only withdraw.” The king of Assyria then demanded a settlement of more than eleven tons of silver and one ton of gold. To gather this amount, King Hezekiah used all the silver stored in the Temple of the Lord and in the palace treasury. Hezekiah even stripped the gold from the doors of the Lord’s Temple and from the doorposts he had overlaid with gold, and he gave it all to the Assyrian king. – 2 Kings 18:14-16 NLT

Unwilling to accept Hezekiah’s offer, Sennacharib ordered his troops to surround the city and gave his emissaries a message to deliver to its inhabitants.

“This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength? Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me? On Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!

“But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!’ But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah? Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem?

“I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them! With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master’s troops, even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and charioteers? What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the Lord’s direction? The Lord himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’” – 2 Kings 18:19-25 NLT

This arrogant and self-assured king belittled the people of Judah and accused Hezekiah of having offended their God by tearing down all the pagan shrines in Judah. Sennacharib knew little about Yahweh and even less about the reforms that Hezekiah had instituted in Jerusalem. During his reign, Hezekiah had reestablished Jerusalem as the sole center of religious activity in Judah. He had actively dismantled and destroyed high places (bamot), sacred pillars, and Asherah poles, which were sites of pagan worship. He repaired and cleansed the Temple, re-establishing proper temple rituals and practices, including organizing priests and Levites into divisions for service. He also initiated a large-scale Passover celebration and invited the remnant remaining in Israel to participate.

Sennacharib mistakenly viewed these reforms as rebellion against Judah's God and viewed Hezekiah as being in no position to expect divine assistance. But he was wrong. 

Hezekiah would turn to the prophet Isaiah for counsel, seeking to know what God would have them do. They were outnumbered and powerless to stand against the Assyrian army. The message he delivered to Isaiah was far from positive or hopeful.

“This is what King Hezekiah says: Today is a day of trouble, insults, and disgrace. It is like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to deliver the baby. But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!” – 2 Kings 19:3-4 NLT

But Isaiah’s response was far more optimistic and revealed that Yahweh was not intimidated by the boastful words of the Assyrian king.

“Say to your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be disturbed by this blasphemous speech against me from the Assyrian king’s messengers. Listen! I myself will move against him, and the king will receive a message that he is needed at home. So he will return to his land, where I will have him killed with a sword.’” – 2 Kings 19:5-7 NLT

Yahweh had a plan, and Sennacharib was powerless to oppose it. In time, Sennacharib received news “that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was leading an army to fight against him” (2 Kings 19:9 NLT), and he prepared to abandon his siege of Jerusalem. But before he left he sent a final message to Hezekiah.

This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria. You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in their way! Why should you be any different? Have the gods of other nations rescued them—such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? My predecessors destroyed them all! What happened to the king of Hamath and the king of Arpad? What happened to the kings of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?” – 2 Kings 19:10-13 NLT

This arrogant, overly confident king would never return to Jerusalem. In fact, Isaiah delivered to Hezekiah a personal promise from Yahweh that assured His protection of Judah.

“His armies will not enter Jerusalem.
    They will not even shoot an arrow at it.
They will not march outside its gates with their shields
    nor build banks of earth against its walls.
The king will return to his own country
    by the same road on which he came.
He will not enter this city,
    says the Lord.
For my own honor and for the sake of my servant David,
    I will defend this city and protect it.” – 2 Kings 19:32-34 NLT

Asaph could have had this story in mind when he penned the words of his psalm, or he could have been thinking about Yahweh’s defeat of the Egyptian army at the Red Sea.

No warrior could lift a hand against us.
At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob,
    their horses and chariots lay still. – Psalm 76:5-6 NLT

The examples of God’s power and protection of His chosen people were endless. Asaph could confidently declare God’s greatness because the evidence was clear and compelling. Judah’s history was filled with examples of Yahweh’s miraculous interventions, and Asaph was confident that He would show up in the future.

You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God,
    and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude
Human defiance only enhances your glory,
    for you use it as a weapon. – Psalm 76:9- 10 NLT

No earthly king or nation could stand against the King of the universe. No potentate could oppose Yahweh and expect to succeed. That is why Asaph calls his audience to sing Yahweh’s praises because “he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him” (Psalm 76:12 NLT). 

Father, it is so easy to forget Your greatness and to doubt Your power. When things take a turn for the worse, our tendency is to question Your presence and to wonder whether You can or will deliver us from our problems. But as Asaph reminds us, You are sovereign over all and always ready to prove Your faithfulness by displaying Your matchless power in the most difficult of circumstances. King Hezekiah was surrounded and feared defeat at the hands of a poweful enemy, but You stepped in and did the unimaginable. You removed the threat without an arrow being shot or a spear being thrown. No battle was required and no lives were lost. Nothing is impossible for You. But how quickly we forget that reality when we allow our troubles to overshadow Your greatness and goodness. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Who Is Like You?

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
    incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
    to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
    from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O LORD, are my hope,
    my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
    you are he who took me from my mother's womb.
My praise is continually of you.

7 I have been as a portent to many,
    but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
    and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
    forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
    those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue and seize him,
    for there is none to deliver him.”

12 O God, be not far from me;
    O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
    with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
    who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
    and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
    of your deeds of salvation all the day,
    for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
    I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
    will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
    and comfort me again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp
    for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
    when I sing praises to you;
    my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
    who sought to do me hurt. – Psalm 71:1-24 ESV

The unknown author of this psalm has been trusting in Yahweh for a long time and has never been disappointed. His experience with relying on the Almighty has been positive, and he is more than willing to share it with others.

O Lord, you alone are my hope.
    I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth;
    from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
    No wonder I am always praising you! – Psalm 71:5-6 NLT

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
    and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. – Psalm 71:17 NLT

But old age has caught up with him, and his diminished strength has left him ever more dependent upon God’s help and hope.

And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.
    Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing. – Psalm 71:9 NLT

For years, this faithful servant has relied upon God to deliver him from difficulty and has used these divine interventions to sing God’s praises to anyone who would listen. He states, “My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection” (Psalm 71:7 NLT). Year after year, his loved ones and neighbors have been able to learn vicariously as they witnessed his repeated deliverance by God. His life has been a testimony to God’s faithfulness and a tangible example of what trust in God looks like.

But now, in the twilight of his life, his enemies are spreading the rumor that he has been abandoned by God. His latter years are filled with more turmoil than he can physically endure or emotionally handle.

As has been his custom, he takes his need to the LORD, begging Him to intervene.

O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced. – Psalm 71:1 NLT

Be my rock of safety
    where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me… – Psalm 71:3 NLT

No details are given to explain the nature of his predicament, but the intensity of his suffering is unmistakable. He is surrounded by wicked and cruel oppressors who whisper against him and plot his demise. They accuse God of abandoning him and leaving him an easy target for their evil plans. But despite their verbal attacks and life-threatening overtures, the psalmist continues to place his hope in the LORD.

O God, don’t stay away.
    My God, please hurry to help me.
Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers.
    Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me. – Psalm 71:12-13 NLT

In his frustration and confusion, the psalmist calls on God to avenge him and uses powerful language to communicate his preferred consequences for his enemies. He doesn't turn the other cheek or ask God to forgive them because “they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NLT). No, he asks God to mete out justice and show no mercy. In his pain and suffering, he can only imagine an outcome that results in God’s wrath being poured out in full. No other resolution makes sense.

Living long before Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount, the psalmist operated under the premise of reciprocal justice, better known as lex talionis (law of retribution). The Mosaic Law contained a clause that supported this idea.

If there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. – Exodus 21:23-25 NLT

But Jesus offered a different take on the law, declaring a higher standard for reciprocal justice.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” – Matthew 5:44-45 NLT

In his gospel account, Luke records a more nuanced version of Jesus’ radical message.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” – Luke 6:27-31 NLT

Paul jumped on the bandwagon in his letter to the believers living in Rome, a hotbed of anti-Christian sentiment that was rife with persecution against Christ followers.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.…Never pay back evil with more evil. – Romans 12:14, 17 NLT

Even the apostle Peter got in on the action, calling believers to live by a completely different code of conduct.

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do… – 1 Peter 3:9 NLT

Yet, despite his adverse conditions and less-than-compassionate outlook, the psalmist knew he could count on God to hear and respond, providing him with another opportunity to sing God’s praises.

But I will keep on hoping for your help;
    I will praise you more and more.
I will tell everyone about your righteousness.
    All day long I will proclaim your saving power… – Psalm 71:14-15 NLT

God had proven Himself trustworthy and reliable time and time again, and the psalmist remained confident that God would come through this time as well. In fact, he saw Yahweh as incomparably consistent in HIs actions. As far as he was concerned, God was one of a kind and had a proven track record of coming through at just the right time, and this occasion would be no different.

Who can compare with you, O God?
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
    but you will restore me to life again
    and lift me up from the depths of the earth. – Psalm 71:19-20 NLT

The psalmist’s line of thought mirrors the words of Moses, written centuries earlier. When considering Israel's unique relationship with God, Moses was prone to point out how His righteousness and accessibility went hand in hand. God was holy, yet wholly approachable.

For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? – Deuteronomy 4:7-8 ESV

The law and sacrificial systems made it possible for unrighteous men to enter the presence of a holy God. That is why the psalmist was fully confident that God would restore him and thoroughly prepared to return the favor with joy, praise, and song.

Then I will praise you with music on the harp,
    because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
    for you have ransomed me.
I will tell about your righteous deeds
    all day long… – Psalm 71:22-24 NLT

Old age may have diminished some of his physical faculties, but it had done nothing to curb his enthusiasm or minimize his trust in God. He would keep believing and hoping to the end because his God was trustworthy and true.

Father, the older I get, the more I understand what the psalmist is trying to say. Experience has proven that You are trustworthy and worthy of my wholehearted confidence. You have never given a reason NOT to trust You, so why would I beginnow? Give me the strength to rely on You even when things look bleak and dark. Help me to rest in Your sovereignty and trust in Your power to show up even when things are looking down. There is no god like You, and no other place I can turn in my times. of need. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Necessity of Neediness

To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
    O LORD, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion
    who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame
    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4 May all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
    say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
    hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
    O LORD, do not delay! – Psalm 70:1-5 ESV

Who knew David could be a man of few words, but in this psalm, we see him cut to the chase and make his point to God in record time. He doesn't beat around the bush, but instead comes out and tells God what he wants. "Please God, rescue me!" (Psalm 70:1 NLT), and he asks God to do it quickly.

Evidently, David's need was overwhelming, and he felt the need to demand immediate action by God. In a Psalm of so few words, it is interesting to note what David took the time to say. He expressed his need for God's salvation, his desire for justice for his enemies, and, most importantly, his awareness of his condition.

This was not the first time David felt compelled to call out to God in a moment of distress. In fact, this rather short psalm is almost a word-for-word copy of a section of another psalm he wrote.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God! – Psalm 4-:13-17 ESV

Davi can’t be accused of plagiarism because he authored both works, but he does borrow heavily from his previous psalm. In both cases, he states, "I am poor and needy." This short phrase speaks volumes about David's awareness of his condition. There is no hint of pride or self-sufficiency. His self-disclosing statement exhibits no sign of arrogance or hubris. Instead, it reveals a man who is painfully aware of his status and unashamed to admit it to God. 

David is the king of Israel who commands a great army and lives in a beautiful palace surrounded by wealth and opulence. But inwardly, David knows he is needy, destitute, and unable to meet his needs. Whatever his circumstance, David knows he can’t save himself; he needs God. So, he begs God to hurry to his aid without delay.

O God, hurry to me.
You are my helper and my deliverer.
O Lord, do not delay.– Psalm 70:5 NLT

The first step in seeing God work in our lives is recognizing our need for His intervention. We must come to grips with our deficiency and His sufficiency. But that is harder than it sounds for most of us. We tend to want to solve our problems and meet our own needs. When faced with difficulties, our initial reaction is to rescue ourselves and, if successful, pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. It is hard to help someone who refuses to see their need for help. But David had reached the point where he would no longer let pride stand in his way. He knew that God was his helper and savior. He understood that there was nothing he could do to solve his problem. He needed God, so he called to Him.

David knew from experience that those who call on God are seldom, if ever, disappointed. He had learned that dependence upon God was a sign of strength, not weakness. Confession of his own insufficiency may be hard on the ego, but it is well worth any pain his pride may have to endure. Calling on God in his time of need had always proven to be the right response.

May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you.
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May God be praised!”– Psalm 70:4 NLT

In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul shared a personal account about his own moment of crisis and need. Paul had just disclosed that he received “visions and revelations from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 12:1 NLT). He described being “caught up to paradise” where he “heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words” (2 Corinthians 12:4 NLT). Yet, despite these potentially ego-boosting experiences, Paul states that God graciously kept his pride in check.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 NLT

Paul provides no details concerning the nature of his “thorny” problem but states that he repeatedly begged God to remove it. However, he received the same response from God all three times.

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

And Paul’s takeaway from this ongoing “need” was amazingly positive.

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT

Paul learned to see his problems as divinely ordained opportunities to witness God's power in his life. His “weaknesses” proved to be positive and not negative. His insufficiency wasn’t a detriment but a blessing in disguise. This knowledge led him to make the seemingly contradictory statement: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” 

From a human perspective, Paul’s words seem illogical and irrational. However, when viewed through Paul’s understanding of God’s power and sovereignty, they make all the sense in the world. His message of strength in weakness and joy in suffering was a regular part of his personal story and became integral to his pastoral message. He delivered a similarly nonsensical life lesson to the believers in Rome.

…we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 NLT

Paul and David shared a common dependence on God’s power and provision. Both men knew that their insufficiencies were assets and not liabilities. They viewed themselves as little more than unworthy vessels through which the power of God flowed. Paul put it this way to his audience in Corinth:

…we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NLT

It is normal and natural to despise weakness. Nobody longs to be powerless, helpless, and hopeless. David cried out, “O God, please be willing to rescue me. O Lord, hurry and help me” (Psalm 70:1 NLT) because he wanted to be delivered from his distress. Three separate times, Paul asked God to remove his thorn in the flesh. But both men knew their weakness, while unenjoyable, was the perfect opportunity to see God work.

All those who believe in an all-powerful, loving, and compassionate God must recognize the reality of their own weakness and His strength. They must come to grips with their need for Him. There is no place for self-sufficiency in the life of the believer. Self-reliance is dangerous for a God-follower because it diminishes one’s need for His help. The confession, “I am poor and needy,” must precede the statement “You are my help and my deliverer” (Psalm 70:5 ESV). Failure to recognize and confess our own insufficiency will always diminish our dependency upon God. If we are capable, God becomes dispensable. But David and Paul would warn against such a self-reliant and self-delusional outlook. They would encourage us to sing the chorus to the old hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour.”

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

Father, it seems the longer I live the more I recognize my true neediness. I guess it is that I am slowly learning the valuable lesson that I cannot save myself. I am not smart enough or powerful enough to rescue myself from the troubles of life. I need You. Thanks for the daily reminders of my own neediness. Help me to keep turning to You for help. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Living Lessons

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David.

1 Save me, O God!
    For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
    and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
    with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head
    are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
    those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
    must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly;
    the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
    O Lord God of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
    O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
    that dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers,
    an alien to my mother's sons.

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
    and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting,
    it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing,
    I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
    and the drunkards make songs about me.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters.
15 Let not the flood sweep over me,
    or the deep swallow me up,
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant,
    for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
    ransom me because of my enemies!

19 You know my reproach,
    and my shame and my dishonor;
    my foes are all known to you.
20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
    so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
    and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for food,
    and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

22 Let their own table before them become a snare;
    and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
    and make their loins tremble continually.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
    and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
    let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
    and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
    may they have no acquittal from you.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
    let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
    let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

30 I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox
    or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
    you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the LORD hears the needy
    and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion
    and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36     the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
    and those who love his name shall dwell in it. – Psalm 69:1-36 ESV

Do you ever wonder why difficulty comes into your life? As a Christian, do you ever question why God would allow you to suffer at all? The presence of pain, persecution, and trials is difficult for us to understand, even as Christ-followers. As humans, we seem innately wired to run from trouble or to confront it head-on. Either way, we intend to escape it or remove it from our lives. Yet the reality of pain and suffering is one of the things we human beings all have in common. It comes in varying degrees of difficulty; some seem to suffer more than others. But no one gets to go through life completely untouched by sorrow, hurt, difficulty, trials, and the feelings of despair they bring.

Even as God’s anointed king of Israel, David was not immune to difficulty. In fact, long before his kingdom began, he found himself in dire straits, running for his life and spending his days living in the wilderness instead of a palace. Psalm 69 reflects the words of a man in deep trouble and up to his neck in difficulty. We don’t know the circumstances surrounding his situation, but it is clear that David is having a hard time. He says, “I am in deep water,” “I sink into the mire,” I am exhausted,” “I weep and fast,” and “I am in despair.”

Things are not going well for David, so he calls out to His God for help. He asks Yahweh to save him, rescue him, show him favor, and answer his prayer. He appeals to God’s unfailing love and mercy. David knows that God is his only hope. He fully understands that God alone can rescue him from everything happening to him. While David doesn’t enjoy what is taking place, he sees it as an opportunity to watch God work.

Don’t hide from your servant;
    answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!
Come and redeem me;
    free me from my enemies. – Psalm 69:17-18 NLT

I am suffering and in pain.
    Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. – Psalm 69:29 NLT

He knows this is a chance to witness the power of God displayed in and around his life. His pain and suffering provide a platform for God to display His power. And when God does rescue, David will have plenty of reasons for praise and thanksgiving. Not only that, all those who love and honor God will also have ample reason to be encouraged and emboldened to trust God.

The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
    Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. – Psalm 69:32 NLT

David knew his difficulties were simply temporal occasions for God to display His eternal power. Our trials are no trouble for God. He is not worried, dismayed, panicked, or fearful about the outcome. He simply wants to reveal His strength through our weakness. He wants to display His power through our impotence.

God loves to save. He longs to rescue. And when His children praise and thank Him for doing so, He is glorified and honored. When God rescues us, others are encouraged. When God intervenes on our behalf and we sing His praises to those around us, they are prompted to trust in God the next time they go through trials and difficulties. Our troubles become opportunities to witness God’s saving power. They provide us with real-life examples of God’s presence and power, and remind us of God’s love and mercy. When we thank Him for His salvation from trouble and tell others what He has done for us, He is glorified. And all who seek God’s help get encouraged.

Father, You long to intervene in our lives and You long to show Your power. You have chosen to do so through our weaknesses. You have determined to display Your glory through those events in our lives that reveal our own weaknesses. May we see those times as opportunities to see You work. And when You do, may we give You the glory and praise You deserve. So that others will be encouraged to trust You more. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

What’s God Done for You Lately?

To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.

1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2     sing the glory of his name;
    give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
    and sings praises to you;
    they sing praises to your name.” Selah

5 Come and see what God has done:
    he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
    they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
7     who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
    let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 Bless our God, O peoples;
    let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept our soul among the living
    and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
    you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
    you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
12 you let men ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
    I will perform my vows to you,
14 that which my lips uttered
    and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
    with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
    and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth,
    and high praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened;
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God,
    because he has not rejected my prayer
    or removed his steadfast love from me! – Psalm 66:1-20 ESV

What has God done for you lately? That should be an easy question for any Christ-follower to answer because the reality is that God is acting on our behalf in countless ways each and every day. But the sad truth is that we sometimes fail to see His activity in our lives. His seeming unavailability or absence can result in our failure to ask for His assistance or to expect His intervention So, we go it alone. We muddle on through life attempting to take on all our problems on our own and ignoring the availability of His power, grace, and mercy.

For many of us, our testimony is a dusty, faded photograph that captures an event that happened sometime in the distant past. It was momentous, life-changing, and an unforgettable experience, but it is still a fading memory. Much time has passed since our conversion experience, and we have lived more years than we would like to remember. Life has been filled with ups and downs, and, hopefully, we have grown in our knowledge and understanding of God. But if someone walked up and asked us what God had done for us lately, what would we have to say? How would we answer?

It would have been a simple question for David, and he would have had a ready response. He said, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me” (Psalm 66:16 NLT). David had a story to tell, a recollection to recount of what God had done in his life. And as we have worked our way through the Psalms of David, we have seen plenty of proof that David had ample stories to share of God’s goodness, grace, mercy, power, and provision. God was actively involved in David’s life. His response to the question, “What has God done for you lately?” would probably have been, “How much time do you have?”

In this psalm, David discusses the glory of God’s name.

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!
   Sing about the glory of his name! – Psalm 66:1-12 NLT

He expresses how glorious God is.

How awesome are your deeds! – Psalm 66:3 NLT

He invites others to “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” (Psalm 66:5 NLT). David recounts what God has done in the past for His people, but he also shares the more personal and up-to-date accounts of God’s activities in his own life. And that is the story most people want and need to hear.

A lost and dying world is looking for a living, active God who is engaged daily with those who worship Him. Our salvation story is significant, but God didn’t stop saving us at conversion. He is still redeeming, rescuing, refining, and restoring us each and every day of our lives. He is disciplining, teaching, and constantly forgiving us. He is leading, directing, healing, and patiently molding us into the likeness of His Son.

Like David, we should be able to say, “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!” (Psalm 66:5 NLT). Yes, we can recount the biblical stories of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt. We can regale others with the miraculous account of how He parted the waters of the Red Sea and allowed His people to escape their Egyptian pursuers. Most of us can recite the pertinent details about the battle of Jericho, David’s defeat of Goliath, or the thrilling account of Daniel in the lion's den. We can provide ample evidence of God’s former acts of deliverance in the lives of others, but are we able to answer the question, "What has God done for you lately?"

David could say, “I cried out to him for help” (Psalm 66:17 NLT), and testify that “God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer” (Psalm 66:19 NLT). David wasn't willing to live a vicarious faith, depending solely upon the stories of God’s activities in the lives of others. He wanted an up-close-and-personal relationship with God, filled with his own testimonies of divine deliverance, mercy, and grace. Most of David’s psalms are his recollections of what God has done for him. 

David never discounted or dismissed the stories of God’s past actions in the lives of His chosen people. Those well-worn tales of God’s deliverance were essential to his understanding of God’s character. But David was unwilling to settle for a God who lived in the ancient past. He needed an up-to-date, here-when-you-need-Him God whose presence and power were personal and palpable. David was willing to offer sacrifices to God for His well-documented actions on behalf of His people, but he was looking for more. He fully expected God to show up in his own life, giving him ample reasons to offer praise and a personal testimony to God’s presence and power.

We are each proof of God’s presence. Our daily lives should provide evidence of His love, grace, mercy, power, forgiveness, and, ultimately, of His existence. God is not silent or relegated to stories from the past. His power has not waned, and His miracles have not ceased. His capacity to intervene on behalf of His people has not diminished. So, what has He done for you lately? Like David, may we say, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.”

Father, You have given me ample stories to tell of Your presence in my life. Forgive me for not telling others. You have proven Yourself faithful to me time and time again, but I don’t always pass that news along to those around me. Place in me a growing desire to sing Your praises to all those willing to listen. Create in me a desire to talk You up on a consistent basis. May I become increasingly more a satisfied customer – the best advertising of Your power, presence and provision. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Down But Never Out

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
    preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
    from the throng of evildoers,
3 who whet their tongues like swords,
    who aim bitter words like arrows,
4 shooting from ambush at the blameless,
    shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5 They hold fast to their evil purpose;
    they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
6     They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
    For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

7 But God shoots his arrow at them;
    they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
    all who see them will wag their heads.
9 Then all mankind fears;
    they tell what God has brought about
    and ponder what he has done.

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult! – Psalm 64:1-10 ESV

When reading the Psalms of David, one could easily conclude that he regularly suffered from depression and debilitating states of melancholy. They feature recurring themes of suffering, heartache, loneliness, and the fear of personal assault and verbal attack. He can almost come across as paranoid and more than a bit pessimistic. Yet, a survey of his life as recorded in the Scriptures reveals that David lived much of his life with a target on his back. As a young man, he received the anointing of God’s prophet to serve as the next king of Israel. But for the next 13 years, he was forced to live as an exile because King Saul, the man he was supposed to replace, had placed a bounty on his head. David became accustomed to a life on the run, living in caves and trying to stay one step ahead of his pursuers. During those years, he was hounded, betrayed, defamed, and plagued by doubts about his anointing, God’s promises, and his own future. 

Even after becoming king and leading the nation of Israel to a period of prosperity and relative peace, David continued to endure personal attacks from both within and without. He was the warrior king who had to fend off Israel’s enemies and secure the land God had promised as their inheritance. Neighboring nations like the Philistines, Moabites, and Edomites were a constant source of conflict and concern. His entire reign was marked by internecine wars with the nations of Canaan.

According to 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18, David was highly successful in his military exploits because “the Lord made David victorious wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:6 NLT). However, David’s blood-soaked hands disqualified him from fulfilling his dream of building a temple for God.

“My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’” – 1 Chronicles 28:2-3 NLT

However, for David, the conflicts were not just external; they emanated from within his own household. After his illicit affair with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan confronted David and gave him a divine declaration of the punishment for his sin.

“From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

“This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.” – 2 Samuel 12:10-12 NLT

David’s family would become the epitome of dysfunction and disunity. His many wives produced a host of children and a perfect environment for jealousy, conflict, and sibling rivalries to thrive. His son Amnon ended up raping his half-sister Tamar. Because David failed to intervene and punish his son for his actions, Tamar’s brother Absalom took matters into his own hands and plotted Amnon's death. Rather than arrest his son for murder, David allowed Absalom to escape. Years later, Absalom returned to Jerusalem, only to plan a coup to replace his father as king. Embittered by his father's failure to mete out justice on Amnon and frustrated by his own exile for doing the right thing, Absalom displaced David as king and fulfilled the prophecy that Nathan delivered.

Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. – 2 Samuel 16:21-22 NLT

As these historical events suggest, David's life was anything but easy. While much of it was self-inflicted, some of the conflict he experienced was not his fault. He did nothing to incur Saul's wrath. He was not responsible for Israel settling in a land filled with hostile nations that opposed their presence and were obsessed with their annihilation. Even the discord within his own family was not something David purposefully planned. It was the result of his poor parenting and bad personal choices.

David lived a complex life that was fraught with difficulties and filled with constant pressure. He was a husband with more wives than he could handle. He was a father with a large mixed family that required more attention than he was prepared to give. He was king over a nation with more enemies than allies. In short, he was a man well acquainted with stress and more than familiar with worry, doubt, and fear.

That is why he starts this psalm out like so many others.

O God, listen to my complaint.
    Protect my life from my enemies’ threats. – Psalm 64:1 NLT

The context is less important than the content of his prayer and the One to whom it is addressed. David always took his problems to God. He doesn't list his enemies or provide the details of his complaint because he knows he doesn't need to. God already knows.

He simply describes them as an evil mob and a gang of wrongdoers with tongues like swords and a penchant for his destruction. Their threats appear to be more verbal than physical. They threaten, plot, spread rumors, discredit, and devise plans to do David harm. But rather than take matters into his own hands, David takes his problem to the LORD.  He calls on the Almighty to defend and avenge him against his enemies, and expresses his belief that God will act on his behalf.

But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,
    suddenly striking them down.
Their own tongues will ruin them,
    and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. – Psalm 64:7-8 NLT

David exhibits a strange mix of consternation and confidence. He was perplexed and frustrated by his circumstances, but fully confident that God was aware and capable of taking care of the problem. David thought like a warrior, using imagery reflecting his battlefield experience. He envisions God's actions as arrows flying through the air to pierce through the enemy's armor. When the time is right, the Almighty will unleash a deadly barrage of divine vengeance against David's oppressors and eliminate the problem.

Then everyone will be afraid;
    they will proclaim the mighty acts of God
    and realize all the amazing things he does.
The godly will rejoice in the LORD
    and find shelter in him.
And those who do what is right
    will praise him. – Psalm 64:9-10 NLT

For David, the presence of problems was an opportunity to see God's power on display. He firmly believed that God would intervene and, when the dust settled, all would know that a miracle had occurred. The wicked would get what they deserved, and the righteous would know that God was in control and on their side. God’s intervention would produce fear in the lives of the wicked and righteous alike. When all was said and done, everyone would know that God had shown up. His power would be evident, and His right to be praised would be obvious.

David was well acquainted with difficulties, but he was also well-versed in the faithfulness and power of God. Nothing he had experienced in life was too big for God to handle. No enemy was too strong. No family problem was too complex. No battle was too lopsided. No gossip was too damaging. David believed that “the godly WILL rejoice in the LORD.” If they take their needs to Him, they will never be disappointed. If they seek shelter and safety in His presence, they will never be rejected.

David believed in the fallenness of man and the faithfulness of God. He was able to hold those two contradictory ideas in tension because he believed that God's love ifor the righteous always wins out.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Once I was young, and now I am old.
    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
    or their children begging for bread. – Psalm 37:23-25 NLT

Father, I needed to hear this today. It is so easy to let my circumstances dictate my outlook on life and determine my concept of who You are. Like David, I am not immune from difficulties and I am certainly not free from sin. I cause a lot of my own problems by my own actions. Yet, You invite me to come to you with all my worries and cares and You promise to give me peace as You display Your power on my behalf. You have proven Yourself faithful time and time again in my life. Yet, with each successive problem that shows up, I keep doubting and fearing. Give me the strength to turn to You even when things don't turn out the way I expect them to. I want to see the trials of life as opportunities to see Your power on display, just as David did. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Obsessed with God

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life
    shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
    they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
    all who swear by him shall exult,
    for the mouths of liars will be stopped. – Psalm 63:1-11 ESV

David found himself going through another difficult “wilderness” experience that left him unable to access the Tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. The details of his predicament are not provided, but it is clear that he is longing to return to Jerusalem so he can worship God properly through the offering of sacrifices. Feeling isolated and alone, David describes his intense desire to experience God’s presence once again.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1 NLT

David was experiencing an intense sense of deprivation that impacted every area of his life. He felt like a man who had been deprived of water and was dying of thirst, but his need was spiritual, not physical. His soul was suffering from a lack of nourishment, and he could only satiate his longing for fellowship by reminiscing on his past encounters with God. 

I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you! – Psalm 63:2-3 NLT

David’s adverse circumstances only enhanced his longing for God and rekindled his desire to praise God for His goodness and greatness.

I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy. – Psalm 63:4-5 NLT

As David endured the spiritual deprivations that accompanied his dark night of the soul, he didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, he focused his mind on the faithfulness of God.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely. – Psalm 63:6-8 NLT

When all looked lost, David disciplined his mind to think about God's reliability. Throughout his life, he had discovered the reality of God’s dependability and sovereignty. Time and time again, the LORD had shown up in the most difficult circumstances, providing David with inexplicable victories and undeniable proof of His power and presence. David had learned that no problem was too big for God. That is why he could boldly state, “Those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals” (Psalm 63:9-10 NLT).

This rather dark portrayal of his enemies’ fate is actually a statement of faith in God’s sovereign power and sense of justice. David knew he could trust God to do the just and right thing. The wilderness moments of life would come and go. Enemies would appear when you least expected them. Trials would show up at all the wrong times. Feelings of isolation and loneliness would sap the joy from life and leave an insatiable spiritual thirst. But David was determined to keep praising God.

The king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced. – Psalm 63:11 NLT

Verse 6 reveals what set David apart from others. It is part of the reason he is described as a man after God's own heart. He boldly confesses, “I lie awake at night thinking of you, meditating on you through the night” (Psalm 63:6 NLT). Rather than fixating on his problems and lying awake all night, stressing out over his circumstances, David focused his mind on God. He filled his sleepless hours with thoughts about the One who was greater than his biggest problem and stronger than his fiercest enemy.

I wish I could say the statement in the above verse was true of me. But I rarely find myself lying in bed meditating or thinking about God. My sleepless hours tend to be spent focusing on everything I need God to do for me, but that is not the same. I often find myself demanding that God explain my less-than-enjoyable circumstances and give me a timeline for when He will do something about it. But David seems to be saying something completely different. Like a child lying awake in bed on Christmas Eve, anticipating the morning's joys, David finds himself immersed in the greatness and goodness of God Himself.

He says, “My soul thirsts for you, my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NLT). David is in the midst of trying times, living in wilderness environment, both literally and figuratively. He is miles from the Tabernacle and far from the presence of his own people. Even though he was surrounded by those who had aligned themselves with his cause, David still struggled with feeling alone and isolated. So he stayed up at night thinking about God’s power, glory, unfailing love, protection, mercy, and ultimate salvation. Even amid difficulty, David could sing about the goodness of God. He focused his attention on God instead of his circumstances. He determined to dwell on God’s character rather than worrying about the cares of the day.

David’s life was anything but easy, as Psalm 63 clearly illustrates. He still had enemies and was forced to deal with unpleasant and unexpected circumstances. He had reasons to worry, doubt, fear, and despair. But rather than let his attention focus on his problems, He set His mind on God. This is the same advice Paul gave the church in Colossae.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. – Colossians 3:1-4 NLT

Paul gave similar counsel to the church in Philippi.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8 NLT

Reflecting on the nature and character of God is the best way to get our minds off the worries of this world. Suffering should drive us to the One who can relieve it. Difficulty should motivate us to turn to the One who can do something about it. Trials should encourage us to turn to the One who can perfect us through them. Rather than lying awake at night worrying, wouldn’t it make more sense to spend our time worshiping the One who has proven Himself trustworthy, faithful, and loving?

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Help me to cultivate a habit of thinking about You instead of my problems. Teach me to focus my attention on Your goodness and greatness rather than the difficulties in my life. Forgive me for the many times I have lied awake at night worrying over things that unworthy of my attention and no match for Your matchless power. I tend to turn problems into idols, sacrificing my time and attention to them rather than You. Show me how to keep you enthroned on the throne of my mind so you can rule in realm of my heart. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Patiently, Expectantly Waiting

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
    from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man
    to batter him,
    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
    They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your heart before him;
    God is a refuge for us. Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
    those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
    they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
    set no vain hopes on robbery;
    if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;
    twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12     and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
    according to his work. – Psalm 62:1-12 ESV

In this psalm, David repeatedly refers to God as his fortress, rock, refuge, and salvation. As a man well acquainted with the fugitive lifestyle, David uses terms that evoke his days on the run from King Saul. During those difficult years of his life, David sought safety by hiding in caves located in the difficult-to-access terrain of the rugged Judean wilderness. Those inaccessible geographic locales had provided him with a sense of security and rest from Saul’s relentless campaign to have him killed.

But in this psalm, David describes God as his ultimate source of solitude, solace, and security. The short descriptor that opens Psalm 62 provides no context to explain what happened in David’s life that caused him to pen its words. Some have speculated that it was written after David abandoned Jerusalem after his son Absalom conducted a successful coup to replace him as king.

A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!”

“Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.”

“We are with you,” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”

So the king and all his household set out at once. He left no one behind except ten of his concubines to look after the palace. The king and all his people set out on foot, pausing at the last house to let all the king’s men move past to lead the way. There were 600 men from Gath who had come with David, along with the king’s bodyguard. – 2 Samuel 15:13-18 NLT

When Absalom entered Jerusalem and established himself as the new king, one of the first things he did was sexually violate the ten concubines David had left behind. He committed this heinous act under the advisement of Ahithophel, David's former counselor, who had taken part in the coup.

Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. – 2 Samuel 15:21-22 NLT

It is unclear whether this event prompted David to write Psalm 62, but it illustrates the perfect-storm conditions that would have led David to turn to God for help and hope. Even as David abandoned his capital, he was confronted by a relative of King Saul who decided to kick him while he was down. Shimei was still angry that David had supplanted Saul as the king of Israel and stolen the crown from the tribe of Benjamin.

“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” – 2 Samuel 16:7-8 NLT

When one of David's men offered to silence Shimei by cutting off his head, David expressed his consternation and confusion over the situation. Still, he refused to take matters into his own hands.

“My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.

The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River. – 2 Samuel 16:11-14 NLT

That last line is important because it states that David “rested” when he reached the Jordan. He and his entourage had walked the 21 miles from Jerusalem to the eastern border of Israel. But when they arrived, they found rest. The opening lines of this psalm reflect that this was likely far more than a physical form of restoration.

I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken. – Psalm 62:1-2 NLT

David had time to reflect on his circumstances and remind himself that God had seen him through far worse conditions in the past, and He could do so again. David was not underestimating the severity of his problem. He knew he was in trouble and refused to downplay the dire nature of his circumstance.

So many enemies against one man—
    all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
    or a tottering fence.
They plan to topple me from my high position.
    They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
    but curse me in their hearts. – Psalm 62:3-4 NLT

Yet, despite his doubts and fears, David decided to trust God for the outcome.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him. – Psalm 62:5 NLT

He placed his confidence in God and encouraged his discouraged followers to do the same.

O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:6 NLT

This psalm was written in the heat of the moment, when all felt lost and the future was uncertain. David had no way of knowing the outcome of his circumstances, but he was willing to trust in God's sovereignty and wait for God to do what only He could do.

For most of us, waiting on God is viewed as some kind of punishment or penance we must pay for our bad behavior. We view it as if God is somehow holding out on us, making us sweat and suffer as He delays in giving us what we want to teach us a lesson. But that perspective is based on a faulty view of God. He is not some petty deity using His power maliciously or malevolently to force us to do His bidding. He is a loving, patient, and merciful God whose actions are always driven by His care and concern for us.

If God were withholding what we needed to punish us or teach us a lesson, what kind of God would He be? Jesus pointed this out when He said, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11 NLT).

Does that mean we always get what we ask for, and does it come exactly when we expect it? Of course not. God is still God. He is all-knowing and aware of things that are beyond our ability to comprehend. He has a “big picture view” of things we don’t possess. He is not bound by space and time and knows the past, present, and future equally well. He is not limited by our decisions or bad choices but is in control at all times. At no point is God up in heaven wringing His hands in disbelief because He was somehow caught off guard by the events or circumstances surrounding our lives.

So David says, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him” (Psalm 62:1 NLT). I love how The Message paraphrases that verse: “God, the one and only – I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not?”

I’ll wait as long as he says. Why? Because He knows best and He has my best in mind. He is my hope and salvation. He is my help and source of healing. He has a plan for my life that is perfect and complete. So David reminds us, “O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8 NLT). Trust in him at all times. Not just in the good times, but at all times. Even when things seem to be going poorly. Even when it appears as if He is nowhere to be found. Even when everything goes against you and everyone seems to be deserting you. Wait quietly and trust Him. It is in those moments of waiting and trusting that we truly come to know who He really is. As we quietly, patiently wait, He reminds us of His love and then rewards us with His perfect answer at the ideal time. What we need is NOT the answer we’re hoping for, but the God who provides the answer. We need to know Him better. We need to trust Him more. We need to patiently wait and eagerly anticipate an answer because we understand the character of our God. His love never fails.

Father, thank You for the moments of waiting that come into my life on a regular basis. Thank You for teaching me to rely on You and not the world around me. May I continue to learn to wait patiently and expectantly on You because I believe You have my best in mind, in spite of what I see happening around me. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.