Author: Dana Hagstrom

Psalm 137 – Despair

Read Psalm 137

What was your impression of this psalm?

After reading all of the psalms of ascents (psalms 120-134), this psalm was clearly written before the exile. The psalms are not necessarily ordered chronologically by date.

What is striking is the psalmist desire to never forget. He is even giving God “permission” to harm him should he “forget Jerusalem.” Jerusalem was more than a place or a home town to these people. It represents God, the place where God resides. So his plea to never forget includes not forgetting God.

You can almost share in the despair of the psalmist. He describes two memories that are really haunting him. Sometimes even bad memories can be used to help us, but most times not. Here, he is recalling how hard it was to obey and play his music amidst the pain.

His comment in verse 4, “But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land?” Think of what we know today about our call to make disciples of all  nations. Those in captivity had the opportunity to do just this. In a pagan land, who better to need to know of God’s love and deliverance?

I’ve had times where it’s hard to feel like worshiping amidst the pain or struggle. It is in those times I had to dig deeper than normal. When I am able get past the “going through the motions”, I have entered into truly intimate worship.

The psalm’s third section recalls the day they were taken. It would be like reliving a nightmare over and over. But in this case, the nightmare is real. I’m guilty of doing this, playing in my head over and over again something bad that happened. It can cripple you. Don’t do it!

Here the psalmist is using it to help him remember, to help him stay angry at his captors. I would suggest that this is not healthy. It can suffocate you when you are captive to your own memory.

What were your impressions of this psalm? Have you ever held on to a memory that maybe you shouldn’t have?

Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for the freedom we have to worship you. I pray for your followers around the globe who are being held captive to worshiping you. May we not forget that you are in control, and our time here on earth is limited when compared to the eternity we can spend with you. Help me to focus on the joy that my salvation brings. Help me to not dwell on the negative. Shield me from the evil that surrounds me that I can stand strong as a warrior of faith. You are my God, and I will not forget you! Thank you for the peace that you bring to my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 136 – Give Thanks

Read Psalm 136

This is one of my favorite psalms to read responsively. His faithful love endures forever. What a promise! Forever is a long time, and knowing we are loved by God forever is an incredible honor and blessing. If you are struggling today, use it as a comfort! You are loved.

This psalm elicits joy for the reader. Anytime we are reminded of the mighty God we serve. He is a God active among his people.

Verse 23 stands out to me today. “He remembered us in our weakness.” When we are weak, our God is still strong. He is still in control. We can call on him and rely on his strength.

But what else stands out to me is we need to GIVE THANKS! We need to have a grateful heart that overflows with gratitude to God. Many times we look at our own accomplishments and fail to give thanks to the creator who blessed us for that task.

The psalmist remembers what God has done for his people to help him feel the gratitude. We can do that, too. Think of all the times you have felt rescue from God. Maybe it was an escape out of a dangerous situation, or the ability to overcome a temptation, or clarity when you were making a decision. God is active and working in our lives, behind the scenes, and we need to call him out and give him thanks!

Let’s pray. Father it’s sometimes hard to feel like giving thanks even though I know you more than deserve my gratitude. For loving me without end is in and of itself means for celebration and thanksgiving. Cleanse my heart today of this heaviness and release me from these chains. Restore my joy so that I can be my best for you. May your glory radiate from me again. I trust you. I give you thanks!  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 135 – Above All

Read Psalm 135

This psalm reminds us of the greatness of God. It’s common in Scriptures to have a piece of history retold in another completely different book. Sometimes even a New Testament passage may take us back to the Old Testament. (After all, we can’t have the New without the Old.). I think it’s powerful when we read of those remembrances, and this psalm is full of them.

Powerful and affirming. This really did happen, and God shows us his power in these examples. His power is still alive and well and available to us. Maybe we need to remember how powerful he is?

We might be going through something really hard. It’s during those times that we struggle to even open our hearts to God’s message. Our minds can be so full of uncertainty, sadness, hurts, what ifs. It is so easy to beat ourselves up for something that is really out of our control.

Control. I have issues with it, do you? Do you like to have things work out just the way you want? What happens when there is adversity? What happens when your cozy little world turns upside down?

When those times come, it is important to rely on the one with the power. Our God. Verse 5 reads, “I know the greatness of the Lord—that our Lord is greater than any other god.” (A little different than in the graphic above, but worth repeated out loud several times.) Our God is great and worthy to be praised. We need to be ready to praise him no matter what’s happening in our lives.

If you’re having a hard time focusing due to a situation that is out of your control, ask God to help. Ask him to calm your heart. Ask him to help you set aside this struggle so that you can spend time with him. You’ll be amazed at how quickly he will respond. He wants to spend time with you.

Let’s pray. Father, help me to set aside what is distracting me today. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. You are a great God, and you deserve my whole heart. Calm my fears and help me trust in your provision. Walk with me and show me who needs a touch from you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 134 – Praise

Read Psalm 134

This may be the shortest reading yet. It’s the last in the series “songs of the ascents”. The people are returning to their homeland. This will be the first time most, if not all, see their land. For years, family members have kept the memory alive. It’s possible there have been some embellishments, too. Much like our “fish stories” of today. Each time our stories are told, the facts get a little bit more amplified.

But the focus here is praise, or bless, or thank, all synonyms for the tone of this psalm. There is a call to bless the Lord, and a request that the Lord bless his people. The identity of the “who” in this psalm has been up for debate.

I’d like to see this as a pattern for us to follow. God has delivered us, and what is our response? We should give him praise and blessing. As would be human nature, we will also turn around and ask for continued blessing or help in another endeavor or plan.

Thank first, ask second. We should always focus on the supremacy of the Lord and what he has done for us first. Maybe that’s all we do is spend time lifting up the name of the Lord. Certainly never as an afterthought.

Before any petition for help, rescue or provision, we need to be on our knees in gratefulness.

Think of your own situation, maybe at work. Is there a co-worker who is always nagging or asking for things but never thanks or lifts up those around him/her? Are you that person who expects everything to be given to you, yet fall short in giving thanks?

Think on that for just a moment. Think of a time when someone shared something of great importance with you. Did you take this information, treasure it, and give that someone your adoration and praise? Were you truly grateful?

When we are overflowing with thanks, our gratefulness easily takes the form of praise. When we spend time worshiping God, that is why we often recall God’s history, the mighty things he has done for his people, for us. It helps us to sing praise when we focus on our thanks. The trick is praising and worshiping when in the middle of our trial, not yet delivered. All the more important to sing praise with a grateful heart.

What does your prayer life look like? Is it one of rejoicing for all that the Lord has done?

Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for your many blessings on my life. Many go unseen, and I thank  you for those, too. May I always have a heart full of gratefulness to you and to those in my life who pour into me, share with me, lift me up. Thank you for the people you have brought into my life. May you use me to be that light for those needing light. Help me to listen for your voice and your leading. It is perfect. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 133 – Harmony

Read Psalm 133

Harmony in music is a beautiful blending of different tones, played simultaneously, to give the music a richness and sophistication not found with just a single note being played.

Harmony among people can be just as beautiful. The psalmist describes it as wonderful and pleasant. When God’s people are in harmony, there is a unity. We all have the same goal, to be more and more like Jesus.

Unfortunately unity is not constant. We have all been at odds with someone during our life. Maybe a disagreement left a wedge or differing viewpoints have caused tension. It’s a sad truth that people hurt people. You may have hurt someone without even knowing it. Just as likely, you may have been hurt by someone who had no intention of doing so.

To have harmony in a relationship is a beautiful thing indeed. How we do we handle it when our relationships are not harmonious, when dissonance and hurt take over?

Having served several churches over the years, I remember praying time and again for harmony and unity. Certain individuals would seem to thrive on stirring the pot, so to speak. There is one in every crowd, a church is no different.

Because people are people with their own ideas, experience, desires, and expectations, it is impossible to please everyone all of the time. That may be one of the hardest lessons I have had to learn over the years.

When things are going well and people are getting along, there is harmony. As soon as something happens to shift that, it is no longer wonderful and certainly not pleasant. It would seem that God’s intention for us is to live in unity, in harmony with one another.

The psalmist reminds us that harmony is precious. Harmony is refreshing. Indeed it is. As something that is precious, we need to care for it. I see here that keeping harmony should be a goal for each of us.

Are you struggling with issues of unity today? Are you feeling connected and in harmony with those you love?

Let’s pray. Lord you call us into relationship with you. Thank you that that is a safe place for us. Cleanse my heart of distractions and voices that do not speak your truth. I pray that you will help restore my relationships that are less than harmonious. Prepare our hearts for your reconciliation. Thank you that you are our mediator and guide. May I follow in the footsteps you lay before me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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