Be Still…

Read Psalm 37

This is a little bit longer psalm, but there are so many nuggets here.  I don’t know about you, but I underline favorite passages in my Bible, write notes, make asterisks, and even use highlighter.  Then as I read the passage over and over, I can see what spoke to me on a previous occasion.  I always love when I find pen notes surrounding a certain verse.  This psalm has lots of notations!

My take away from today’s psalm is don’t worry about the wicked, for they will soon be destroyed.  Instead concentrate on being godly, for the godly are taken care of by God and have a secure future.  And what does being godly mean exactly?  We could try to define it in our own terms and understanding, but perhaps a better way would be to go back to the psalm and see what attributes we find there.

Verses 3, 4, 5, 7  and 8 are truly the beautiful picture of what we should do to be godly.  How we should think, who we should trust, what we should do.  How are you doing on the “godly scale”?   It’s not a contest, but I think it is something we should focus on.  Our reward for godly living is a future greater than we can imagine, and verse 23 and 24 are a beautiful promise of what God is doing for us now.

While we are to encouraged to be godly and not evil, we can’t help but look around our world today and see evil running rampant.  It’s hard for me to imagine God “laughing” (v. 13) at this, but then their judgment is coming, and that is a matter between them and God.  We do sometimes feel separated from the atrocities of war and religious battles as we hear of Christians around the globe being persecuted.  This psalm is a good reminder that God is in control and the evil will not prevail forever.

So what can we do in our own personal life to be more godly?  Are there ways we can be of help to those suffering persecution?

Let’s pray.  Lord, I pray protect for all your followers today, especially those in harm’s way.  It’s a scary world, and I pray for your peace to flow to those cowering in fear.  Help them feel safe in your fortress and may they call upon you for the shelter only you can provide.  May we all find rest in your arms as we strive to trust you fully and stir in us the yearning to be your godly followers.  In  Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 36

This psalm starts out with a very descriptive glimpse at the wicked, who they are, what makes them tick, etc.  Do we sometimes fall into that category?  I’d like to think if I do, it’s by accident more than by intention.

The focus of the psalm does an about face then in verse 5, and the focus is on God and his unfailing love, faithfulness and abundance of character and provision.  What contrast to the wicked and how tragic for the wicked they not know or experience such majesty.

For me, verses 5-6 are so familiar form a praise song.  I love seeing familiar words in Scripture.  But today the verse that speaks to me is verse 9, “For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.”  Everything comes from God and his light is the best path to follow.  When we are surrounded by darkness, we need to look for the light, it will show us the way and keep us strong.

Do you fear the wicked?  Do you worry that you will get sucked in to the darkness?  I’m not sure I can say I “fear” the wicked, my struggle is that I want to help them see the truth and find the majesty they are missing. Have you watched someone you know gravitate from the light and dabble in darkness?  Maybe they’ve kept a foothold in the light, yet they are dancing around in the dark.  How can we help them find their wings to fly back to God?

Let’s pray.  Lord you are so good and your light is so sweet.  There is such comfort in the shelter of your wings.  I thank you and praise you today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm  35

Here we go again!  The psalmist is really focused on needing God to rescue him, wanting revenge on the opposition, and feeling a bit overwhelmed or perhaps forgotten.  How often, when we are bullied, do we wish for retaliation on our bully?  If not us being bullied directly, when we see unfairness around us, how do we feel toward those causing the injustice.  We don’t often feel the strength to do it ourselves, just as the psalmist, he is calling on God to oppose, block, humiliate, disgrace, turn them back, make their path dark and slippery, etc.

And then, we have the “then”.  What the psalmist promises he will do in response to God’s action, as if the action has to  happen, and “then”…  It will be “then” that the psalmist will rejoice and praise.  I wonder, is the writer saying he cannot or will not praise unless and until provision or revenge comes?  This psalm is focused on self and what happens to “me”.  Isn’t it true of humanity as well?  We are so easily focused on what’s in it for “me”, or how does this affect “me”?

God will act as God sees fit, not always how we want him to act.I think we need to be looking out for others, too.  We need to be looking for a need to fill, and then, by the grace of God, fill it.

Let’s pray.  Lord help me overcome my feelings of anger and frustration with those around me who are acting in ways that frustrate me or hurt me or others.  Bless them and give them a clean heart with focus on you, the only truth and way.  Help me to reach out to those in need, sharing my faith and trust in  You.  Lord I want to be a world changer in your name.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read Psalm 34

I was really taken today by the form of this psalm and how each verse seemed to have an echo of meaning in it between thoughts.  Some were almost like “here’s another way to say it” and others were like “or this is what I mean”.  In any event, I thought it was clever and put together. The theme, too, was clear – praise–>fear–>trust in the Lord, he will take care of you.

What verses resonated with you today?  Three jumped out at me, verses 1, 8 ans 22.  We should praise the Lord at all times, in good and in bad, the Lord remains the same.  We just need to taste and see that the Lord is good.  For as the psalm promises, we will have joy when we take refuge in him.  And finally, the Lord will redeem those who serve him.  There is such joy in that truth.  We will be redeemed.  

Find a verse that speaks to you, and then as you read through it, the first time put the emphasis on the first word.  The second time, emphasis on the second word, and so forth.  This is something I like to do with shorter verses because each time I emphasize a different word, the meaning of the same verse tends to change a bit and deeper meaning can be realized.  So much wisdom in today’s reading.

Let’s pray.  Lord, I love how your word is so perfect in its lessons for us. You used just the right people to bring your message to life for us.  Help me find opportunity to share your greatness with someone this week so that they, too, can rest in your promises with the assurance and trust only you can provide.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Psalm 33

So many good word pictures and strands of thought bound together here. Again we have a psalm of praise, a response to the goodness of God and what he does to protect and rescue us, those who believe, follow, trust and fear.

Did any of the verses speak to you today?  For me, it was the very first verse, “Let the godly sing with joy to the Lord.”  Not sing with perfect voice, harmony or such, but with joy!  Joy is a condition of the heart, and it can be ours when we are tune with our God.  Doesn’t God deserve our songs of praise, a “new” song of praise?  Indeed he does.  We worship our God with our songs of praise, the way we live, with the words that we speak.  God’s unfailing love fills this earth — we all need to remember that amidst all the negativity.  All of that is only clouding the truth!

I love how this psalm applauds God!  By speaking it so, this magnificent world came to be.  That is a mighty God who is in control.  With such majesty isn’t it only fitting that we should have a reverence and fear of our God?  The promise here is that God watches over those who fear him.  We can certainly put our hope in a God like that.

Let’s pray.  Heavenly Father your magnificence and power overwhelm me. That you would care for and protect me makes my heart overflow.  I pray for those around me who do not yet know you and your provisions.  Help me to reflect you today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.