Psalm 138…

 

Psalm 138…

It was a long/short night…pain and dog…it seems like I just got to sleep and my dog was crying….

“Ben woke me up at four this morning…had thrown up on carpet, diarrhea in kennel, diarrhea on the way to outside door, which I walked in because it was dark….yuck, yuck

Gave him a bath, kennel a bath, carpet a couple of baths…everything in washer to soak…had had a short night because of pain…so all in all an interesting wake up…”

His Love Endures Forever  singing in my head…what God endures from me…not so hot either..”

Am not looking for any sympathy…real life happening…we all get to experience this and worse at times…

 So my psalm today was…138…

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;before the gods I sing your praise; 

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 

On the day I called, you answered me;my strength of soul you increased. 

( I thank you that you have answered me-and have become my salvation.

Ps.118.21)

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,for great is the glory of the Lord. 

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,but the haughty he knows from afar. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,you preserve my life;

( Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil,for you are with me;your rod and your staff,they comfort me.

Ps.23.4)

you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,and your right hand delivers me. 

( You prepare a table before me in  the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.

Ps.23.5)

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

( The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.     He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.     He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake.

Ps.23.1-3)

Do not forsake the work of your hands.

(Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. 

He will not leave you or forsake you.” 

It is the Lord who goes before you. 

He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. 

Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Deut.31.6,8)

Ps.138.1-8

Thank YOU….

Psalm 137…tormentors….

 Psalm 137….tormentors….

As I read this psalm, all I could see was pictures of the Holocaust, books I have read about those times…how the Nazis used and abused millions of people…of other countries who have done the same over the thousands of years up to present day…times really haven’t changed…there is evil and good all around us…the evil making fun of the good…

This is not a particularly uplighting psalm….but oh soooo raw…in the feelings of the writer…

But, it harkened back to Psalm 37 as well…the answer is there…”delight yourself in the Lord”…He is the defender…He knows the way…

Thank YOU….

 By the waters of Babylon,there we sat down and wept,when we remembered Zion. 

On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 

For there our captors required of us songs,and our tormentors, mirth, saying,“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

 How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? 

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,let my right hand forget its skill! 

Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,if I do not remember you,if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy! 

Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem,how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,down to its foundations!” 

O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! 

Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!

Ps.137.1-9

 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;be not envious of wrongdoers! 

For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 

Trust in the Lord, and do good;dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 

Delight yourself in the Lord,and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord;trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,and your justice as the noonday. 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,over the man who carries out evil devices! 

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 

For the evildoers shall be cut off,but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. 

In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 

but the Lord laughs at the wicked,for he sees that his day is coming.

Ps.37:1-10,13

Psalm 136….His steadfast love endures forever….

 Psalm 136….His steadfast love endures forever…

When I started reading this psalm, my mind kept singing this song by Michael W. Smith, “forever”…

“Forever" Michael W. Smith

Give thanks to the Lord, Our God and King

His love endures forever

For He is good, He is above all things

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm

His love endures forever

For the life that's been reborn

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Sing praise, sing praise

[CHORUS:]

Forever God is faithful

Forever God is strong

Forever God is with us

Forever and ever, forever [2X]

From the rising to the setting sun

His love endures forever

By the grace of God we will carry on

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Sing praise, sing praise

[CHORUS]

His love endures forever [8X]

Sing praise, sing praise

Sing praise, sing praise

Both have repetitive words…”sing praise”….”his steadfast love endures forever”….”forever”…

They ring over and over in our minds…making their point loud and clear…catchy…giving reason after reason of the “why”….

There is a phrase, “one more trip around Mt Sinai “…meaning that if we don’t learn a lesson on the first pass, we get around again…maybe the same lesson, or maybe in a deeper sense…repetition teaches…just as this psalm does…37 times in the Psalms alone…we don’t or may not have the same list to give thanks for…but we do have something…

 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

2Cor.9.15

 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1Thess.5.18

Thank YOU….

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the God of gods,for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who alone does great wonders,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who by understanding made the heavens,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who made the great lights,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

the sun to rule over the day,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

the moon and stars to rule over the night,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and brought Israel out from among them,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who divided the Red Sea in two,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and made Israel pass through the midst of it,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who led his people through the wilderness,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who struck down great kings,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and killed mighty kings,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

Siphon, king of the Amorites,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and Og, king of Bashan,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and gave their land as a heritage,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

a heritage to Israel his servant,for his steadfast love endures forever. 

It is he who remembered us in our low estate,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and rescued us from our foes,for his steadfast love endures forever; 

he who gives food to all flesh,for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the God of heaven,for his steadfast love endures forever.

Ps.136.1-26

Name…Psalm 135

 Name…Psalm 135…

Names, we all have them…nicknames, legal names, bad names, good names…those serious times when mom says our whole name to get our attention or when we know that we are in trouble…

We can change our names legally or not…but we can depend on God to keep his…

Thank YOU….

 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” 

And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ 

This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.

Exod.3.13-15

 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

Exod.9.16

 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Lev.19.12

 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you.

2Sam.7.26

 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.

1Kgs.11.36

 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job.1.21

 Let them praise your great and awesome name!Holy is he!

Ps.99.3

 Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord,give praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;sing to his name, for it is pleasant! 

Your name, O Lord, endures forever,your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.

Ps.135.1,3,13

I sing praises to your Name, Terry MacAlmon

“Verse 1]

I sing praises to Your name O Lord

Praises to Your name O Lord

For Your name is great

And greatly to be praised

I sing praises to Your name O Lord

Praises to Your name O Lord

For Your name is great

And greatly to be praised

[Verse 2]

I give glory to Your name O Lord

Glory to Your name O Lord

For Your name is great

And greatly to be praised

I give glory to Your name O Lord

Glory to Your name O Lord

For Your name is great

And greatly to be praised…”

Psalms 120-134…

 Psalms 120-134….

What song/songs comes to mind as classic? Ones that reach to your soul…The Hallelujah Chorus, Great if thy Faithfulness, How form a Foundation, Rock of Ages, …the list goes on…plus all the  wonderful more modern praise songs…

These psalms may have been sung by priests at a particular time, or by others at another time…all are titled, “A Song of Ascents”…with different subtitles…

120…Deliver me, oh LORD

121…My Help comes from the LORD..

122…Let is go the House of the LORD…

123…Our eyes look to the LORD, our God…

124…Our help is in the Name of the LORD

125…The LORD Surrounds His People…

126…Restore our Fortunes, oh LORD…

127…Unless the LORD a builds the House…

128…Blessed is everyone who Fears the LORD…

129…They have afflicted me from my Youth…

130…My Soul waits for the LORD…

131…I have calmed and quieted my Soul…

132…The LORD has chosen Zion…

133…When Brothers dwell in Unity…

134…Come, Bless the LORD…

A lot of favorite verses come from these Psalms…a few follow…

 In my distress I called to the Lord,and he answered me. 

I lift up my eyes to the hills.From where does my help come? 

My help comes from the Lord,who made heaven and earth. 

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!“May they be secure who love you! 

Peace be within your wallsand security within your towers!” 

To you I lift up my eyes,O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Our help is in the name of the Lord,who made heaven and earth. He who goes out weeping,bearing the seed for sowing,shall come home with shouts of joy,bringing his sheaves with him. 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,the fruit of the womb a reward. 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. 

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. 

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,who walks in his ways! 

But with you there is forgiveness,that you may be feared. 

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,like a weaned child with its mother;like a weaned child is my soul within me. 

For the Lord has chosen Zion;he has desired it for his dwelling place: 

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,who stand by night in the house of the Lord! 

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!Ps.120.1,Ps.121.1,Ps.121.2,Ps.121.8,Ps.122.6,Ps.122.7,Ps.123.1,Ps.124.8,Ps.126.6,Ps.127.3,Ps.127.4,Ps.127.5,Ps.128.1,Ps.130.4,Ps.131.2,Ps.132.13,Ps.133.1,Ps.134.1,Ps.134.2

I can just hear in my mind crowds of people walking toward Jerusalem, singing these psalms or even the priests singing as they ascend from the valleys to the top of the hills…the words echoing across the rocky slopes…dust rising, the sound of feet step after step, word after word…proclaiming the Truth of the LORD…

Thank YOU…

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Col.3.16

Psalm 119…firsts…

 

Psalm 119…firsts…

1. “Write a topic sentence…

2. Fill in the supporting details…

3. Write a concluding sentence…”, wikihow

This was how we were taught to write…long long ago in a far away place…how I despised the rewrites…the report writing, the sentence structure…the diagrams…I actually had to take remedial English is college along with many others…I learned more in one semester than 4 years of  high school or maybe I was more motivated…

Anyway, yesterday I just added the end verses of each 8 verse segments of Psalm 119…

Today, it is the first verses…”the topic sentences”…how the author praises, questions, declares, pleads…

The in-between verses are just as important…but I loved how he started each segment…and builds on them…

The love we cling to, the walk we walk, the Word made manifest, the promises God gives, the deliverance he claims…we can speak to God as the author did so long…as God hasn’t left …He is as present now as He was then…

Thank YOU….

 

 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,who walk in the law of the Lord! 

How can a young man keep his way pure?By guarding it according to your word. 

Deal bountifully with your servant,that I may live and keep your word. 

My soul clings to the dust;give me life according to your word! 

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;and I will keep it to the end. 

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,your salvation according to your promise; 

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

The Lord is my portion;I promise to keep your words. 

You have dealt well with your servant,O Lord, according to your word. 

Your hands have made and fashioned me;give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. 

My soul longs for your salvation;I hope in your word. 

Forever, O Lord, your wordis firmly fixed in the heavens. 

Oh how I love your law!It is my meditation all the day. 

Your word is a lamp to my feetand a light to my path. 

I hate the double-minded,but I love your law. 

I have done what is just and right;do not leave me to my oppressors. 

Your testimonies are wonderful;therefore my soul keeps them. 

Righteous are you, O Lord,and right are your rules. 

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!I will keep your statutes. 

Look on my affliction and deliver me,for I do not forget your law. 

Princes persecute me without cause,but my heart stands in awe of your words. 

Let my cry come before you, O Lord;give me understanding according to your word!

Ps.119.1,Ps.119.9,Ps.119.17,Ps.119.25,Ps.119.33,Ps.119.41,Ps.119.49,Ps.119.57,Ps.119.65,Ps.119.73,Ps.119.81,Ps.119.89,Ps.119.97,Ps.119.105,Ps.119.113,Ps.119.121,Ps.119.129,Ps.119.137,Ps.119.145,Ps.119.153,Ps.119.161,Ps.119.169

 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

Heb.12.28

Pslam119…

 Psalm 119….

https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/119.html

Matthew Henry’s commentary about Psalm 119, waxes eloquence about this long Psalm, the longest one…keying in on the meanings, the poetry, the descriptions, the Word spoken in 8 verse segments…

For whatever reason, I am just focusing on the last verse of those 8 verse segments…it just looked interesting… not that the whole is not…

Each exalts the Word, just as the whole psalm does, deals with how we personally view the Word, God…personally in heart felt meditation, God’s Love, his counsel, his righteousness …

 I will keep your statutes;do not utterly forsake me! 

I will delight in your statutes;I will not forget your word. 

Your testimonies are my delight;they are my counselors. 

I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! 

Behold, I long for your precepts;in your righteousness give me life! I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,and I will meditate on your statutes. 

This blessing has fallen to me,that I have kept your precepts. 

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

The law of your mouth is better to me-than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 

May my heart be blameless in your statutes,that I may not be put to shame! 

In your steadfast love give me life,that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. 

I have seen a limit to all perfection,but your commandment is exceedingly broad. 

Through your precepts I get understanding;therefore I hate every false way. 

I incline my heart to perform your statutesforever, to the end. 

My flesh trembles for fear of you,and I am afraid of your judgments. 

Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;I hate every false way. 

My eyes shed streams of tears,because people do not keep your law. 

Your testimonies are righteous forever;give me understanding that I may live. 

Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. 

The sum of your word is truth,and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 

I keep your precepts and testimonies,for all my ways are before you. 

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,for I do not forget your commandments.

Ps.119.8,Ps.119.16,Ps.119.24,Ps.119.32,Ps.119.40,Ps.119.48,Ps.119.56,Ps.119.64,Ps.119.72,Ps.119.80,Ps.119.88,Ps.119.96,Ps.119.104,Ps.119.112,Ps.119.120,Ps.119.128,Ps.119.136,Ps.119.144,Ps.119.152,Ps.119.160,Ps.119.168,Ps.119.176

Thank YOU…for your Word…your precepts, your testimonies…Your Truth…