Psalm 61…David and Jonah…

 Psalm 61….David and Jonah…

I was reading this psalm this morning….the notes directed me to Jonah as a similar prayer..

1. Both have a specific appeal for help..

2. Both have a feeling of separation…

3. Both reference the temple or tabernacle…

4. Both speak of vows…

5. Both speak of praise or thanksgiving…

6. Both speak of refuge…

7. Both call on God specifically…

8. Both prayed in time of trouble…

Just thought it was interesting…Jonah was many years after David…and here I are many, many years after them both…and I could still pray the same prayers…

God hears my prayers just the same over the ages…they are just as relevant now …as God is the same in time, everlasting…just as current as He was thousands of years ago…and will continue to be…

Thank YOU…

 Hear my cry, O God,listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge,a strong tower against the enemy. 

Let me dwell in your tent forever!Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 

For you, O God, have heard my vows;you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 

Prolong the life of the king;may his years endure to all generations! 

May he be enthroned forever before God;appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! 

So will I ever sing praises to your name,as I perform my vows day after day.

Ps.61.1-8

 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,“I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,and he answered me;out of the belly of Sheol I cried,and you heard my voice. 

For you cast me into the deep,into the heart of the seas,and the flood surrounded me;all your waves and your billows passed over me. 

Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight;yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ 

The waters closed in over me to take my life;the deep surrounded me;weeds were wrapped about my head     at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;yet you brought up my life from the pit,O Lord my God. 

When my life was fainting away,I remembered the Lord,and my prayer came to you,into your holy temple. 

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you;what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

Jonah.2.1-9

Vain…Psalm 60

 Vain…Psalm 60

 Oh, grant us help against the foe,for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly;it is he who will tread down our foes.

Ps.60.11-12

I was struck the last two verses of Psalm 60…the word “vain”…

Reading the definition, whoa…

“Definition of vain

1

: having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements : CONCEITED

2

: marked by futility or ineffectualness : UNSUCCESSFUL, USELESS

vain efforts to escape

3

: having no real value : IDLE, WORTHLESS

vain pretensions

4

archaic : FOOLISH, SILLY

in vain

1

: to no end : without success or result

her efforts were in vain”

 Merriam Webster

Vain is found  58 times from Exodus to 1 Timothy, not all with the above definition…some using the use of God’s name in vain…

 “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.

Lev.26.14-20

Basically, reading through many of the references, seeking anything other than the true God, is vain, foolish, useless, of no value…nothing compares at any level…

 Unless the Lord builds the house,those who build it labor in vain.Unless the Lord watches over the city,the watchman stays awake in vain.

Ps.127.1

 “But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’

Jer.18.12

 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

Jer.23.16-17

 Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help;in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.

Lam.4.17

 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

Jonah.2.8

 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?

Mal.3.13-14

 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips,but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Matt.15.7-9

Etc..

Actually, I didn’t realize there were so many very harsh, imploring,  and convicting verses…just using that simple word “vain”…but when you realize that God’s desire is that none should perish, that we recognize Him for who He rightfully is…He wants our attention..He doesn’t want us to foolishly choose vain things over Him… frittering away the real for the false…

Thank YOU….

 

Wars…Psalm 59

 Wars…Psalm 59…

Reading this psalm this am, just reminded me of one of the wars raging in the world, Ukraine…

David wrote this psalm when king Saul “sent men to his house in order to kill him.” David turns for God for deliverance…

 “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil,and save me from bloodthirsty men. 

For behold, they lie in wait for my life;fierce men stir up strife against me.

For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,     for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.

Awake, come to meet me, and see!     You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.

Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah 

Each evening they come back,howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 

There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips—for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 

But you, O Lord, laugh at them;you hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for you,for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me;God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. 

Kill them not, lest my people forget;make them totter by your power and bring them down,O Lord, our shield! 

For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,let them be trapped in their pride.

For the cursing and lies that they utter,     consume them in wrath;consume them till they are no more,that they may know that God rules over Jacobto the ends of the earth. Selah 

Each evening they come back,howling like dogs and prowling about the city. 

They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill. But I will sing of your strength;I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,for you, O God, are my fortress,the God who shows me steadfast love.”

Ps.59.1-17

Hearing from various ones who are involved in ministry and helping the people of the Ukraine…there are many Christian organizations helping them, from food to medical supplies to counseling…Samaritans Purse was in the process of handing out 600,000 Operation Christmas Child Boxes when the war started…they turned to medical and food help…just one of the organizations that is working there…churches in neighboring countries collect food to take to shelters, to those who have been displaced because of the war… people have opened their homes….so much is going on that we don’t know about…the whole world is watching …and helping in various ways…

They, the Ukrainians, are not alone..they can pray the same words as David…as can anyone who calls on God as their fortress and refuge…strength…

Thank YOU…

Two of many articles of Christians in the Ukraine…

https://renew.org/christians-in-ukraine/

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity_in_Ukraine

Slime…

 Slime….

 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,

like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

Ps.58.8

I know Psalm 58 is a serious psalm…describing the wicked and how the writer wants vengeance, judgement…vindicating the righteous, knowing that God judges rightly….

But, reading about slugs in scriptures is just picturesque….

Having lived In the redwoods of Northern California, or in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, we had slugs….

Our first home was rather rustic, with hoses for water pipes, slanting floors, very old chunks of carpet, curtains for doors, add-on bathroom…but we had a roof over our heads, running water and electricity…a great start for newlyweds, college students…

But, we had slugs which felt at home as well…leaving their slimy trails on the old cracked linoleum as they made their way across the rooms…yuck…

My mother visited for Mother’s Weekend, staying with us…an adventure…as she used the old claw-footed tub, a slug made its way across the floor, leaving its trail across her slippers…she often told that story showing her slippers from which the slime would not wash away…

Our gardens often were infested with slugs…as they ate the tender plants at will…joke cans were sold with “slug slime”…teeshirts adorned with slugs and make believe slime were popular…

 

Moving to Nevada for grad school, jobs and raising our family, we did not miss the slugs at all…other critters became the enemy…

I just soooo appreciate the pictures in the Bible that makes it relatable…the writers talk of real things, creatures, real feelings, life events..a Real God…truth…

Thank YOU…

 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2Tim.3.16-17

 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. 

Your testimonies are my delight;they are my counselors. 

Make me understand the way of your precepts,and I will meditate on your wondrous works. 

Give me understanding, that I may keep your lawand observe it with my whole heart. 

Remember your word to your servant,in which you have made me hope. 

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;teach me your statutes!

Ps.119.1.119.24, 27, 34, 49, 69

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug

Psalm 57…be exalted…

 Psalm 57….

As I read this psalm early this morning, I had to stop and let the music written from it pour into my soul….

So here are the lyrics and two versions of the song…

May they bless you as they did me…cover the day with thanks… as David must have felt, praising God through his trials…

Lyrics ….

Be Exalted, O God Lyrics

“I will give thanks to Thee

O Lord, among the people

I will sing praises to Thee

Among the nations

For Thy steadfast love is great

Is great to the heavens

And Thy faithfulness

Thy faithfulness to the clouds

CHORUS:

Be exalted, O God

Above the heavens

Let Thy glory be over all the earth

Be exalted, O God

Above the heavens

Let Thy glory be over all the earth”

By Daniel Semsen

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6PaSuI1gig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ0Nk5-v88o

 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,for in you my soul takes refuge;in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,till the storms of destruction pass by. 

I cry out to God Most High,to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 

He will send from heaven and save me;he will put to shame him who tramples on me.Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 

My soul is in the midst of lions;I lie down amid fiery beasts—the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,whose tongues are sharp swords. 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

Let your glory be over all the earth! 

They set a net for my steps;my soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my way,but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 

My heart is steadfast, O God,my heart is steadfast!I will sing and make melody!     

Awake, my glory!Awake, O harp and lyre!I will awake the dawn! 

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;I will sing praises to you among the nations. 

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,your faithfulness to the clouds. 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!Let your glory be over all the earth!

Ps.57.1-11

Thank YOU….

I put my trust in You…Psalm 56…

 I put my trust in You…Psalm 56…

Reading through Psalm 56, brings pictures of times, reminders of life when “all” we could do was repeat…”I will trust in You”…

There seemed no other way, we couldn’t do anything our own, we saw no earthly answers…we just had to trust…

But, isn’t that what we are supposed to do anytime…not rely on our own strength..but we still try…we still come up with solutions, alternatives; plans A, B-Z….without asking for the wisdom the Word promises…

When God wants us to trust in Him….

 “Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long,for many attack me proudly. 

When I am afraid,I put my trust in you. 

In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me? 

All day long they injure my cause;all their thoughts are against me for evil. 

They stir up strife, they lurk;they watch my steps,as they have waited for my life. 

For their crime will they escape?In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! You have kept count of my tossings;put my tears in your bottle.

Are they not in your book? 

Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.

This I know, that God is for me. 

In God, whose word I praise,in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

What can man do to me? 

I must perform my vows to you, O God;I will render thank offerings to you. 

For you have delivered my soul from death,yes, my feet from falling,that I may walk before God in the light of life.”

Ps.56.1-13

Thank YOU….

"You Are My Hiding Place" Carol Cymbala

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say

I am strong

In the strength of the Lord

You are my hiding place

You always fill my heart

With songs of deliverance

Whenever I am afraid

I will trust in You

I will trust in You

Let the weak say I am strong

In the strength of the Lord

I will trust in You

Friends…

 Friends….

Reading Psalm 55 reminds me of friends…

David was lamenting of lost friendship…betrayal of trust…

 For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it;it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. 

But it is you, a man, my equal,my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together;within God's house we walked in the throng. 

My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;he violated his covenant. 

His speech was smooth as butter,yet war was in his heart;his words were softer than oil,yet they were drawn swords.

Ps.55.12-14, 20-21

It made me think of friendships over my life, I have  friends from elementary school, high school, college, from all the places we have lived, ones whom I feel I could still call on if need be, others in different parts of the world.I see them occasionally and regularly on Facebook or other media, encouraging one another…commenting on life, ministry, children, grandchildren, parenting, travels,and even the hard times…we connect at various levels…and I am so grateful for that…

There are friends who have betrayed our family as well, those who  turned their backs, or took advantage of our trust, friendship…those we lamented over, lost sleep over…the whys, the hows…those who broke a bond, covenant or contract with…those we found hard to forgive…

I am so glad we had a “Backup”…a God who was with us as He was with David through those times…

 But I call to God,and the Lord will save me. 

Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan,and he hears my voice. 

He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage,for many are arrayed against me. 

God will give ear and humble them,he who is enthroned from of old, Selah, because they do not change and do not fear God. 

…Cast your burden on the Lord,and he will sustain you;he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 

…But I will trust in you.

Ps.55.16-19Ps.55.22-23b

Thank YOU for the people You have brought into my life for a lifetime, a season….