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Psalm 12-17; Psalm 19-21<\/strong><\/span> Psalm 12 verses 1 & 2 are intriguing verses for me \u2013 \u201cHelp, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and insincere hearts.\u201d <\/em>Are there days when you feel like this?\u00a0 \u00a0I think there are some days when I do\u2026 but not too many.\u00a0 I guess I sometimes wonder about the state of my heart \u2013 or if I\u2019ve gotten enough sleep the night before \ud83d\ude42 \u2013 when I feel like this Psalmist does.\u00a0 It is interesting how this verse goes into people talking with \u201cflattering lips and insincere hearts\u201d.\u00a0 I do notice right away when that\u2019s happening\u2026 particularly the insincerity.\u00a0 Maybe this is something we should ask of ourselves \u2013 do we talk at times with flattering lips or insincere hearts?\u00a0 Or are we sincere people?\u00a0 I like that thought\u2026 being a sincere person.\u00a0 I pray that we all are and can become more and more \u201csincere\u201d in our dealings with each other and that we would just simply be sincere people.\u00a0 Are you a sincere person?\u00a0 Do you want to be sincere?\u00a0 Was Jesus a sincere person?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 13 is thought to be a prayer by David for recovery from a grave illness, based on verse 3: \u201cRestore the light to my eyes, or I will die.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Yet, even in the midst of this serious illness, David amazingly proclaims in verse 5: \u201cBut I trust in your unfailing love.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>How about you?\u00a0 When you are sick or in the midst of a very challenging or sad situation, do you trust in God\u2019s unfailing love?\u00a0 Always?\u00a0 No matter what is going on around you?\u00a0 Do you trust that God will ultimately restore the light to your eyes?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 14 could be seen at first glance as a discouraging Psalm\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Particularly as we look at verse 3: \u201cBut no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think it is important to keep in mind that there is truth in this verse (particularly if we ever start thinking we\u2019re \u201cgood\u201d and others around us are not\u2026).\u00a0 But also I think it\u2019s good to keep in mind that this verse was written before Jesus came to the earth.\u00a0 Jesus was perfect.\u00a0 And through His resurrection we are called toward greater holiness and ultimately perfect goodness once we meet Jesus face to face in heaven.\u00a0 Jesus gives us the hope spoken of in the closing of this Psalm in verse 7: \u201cOh, that salvation would come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel! For when the LORD restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you recognize the salvation that has come to us?\u00a0 Are you shouting for joy for this salvation?\u00a0 Are you rejoicing!?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 15 verses 1 & 2 today are awesome: \u201cWho may worship in your sanctuary, LORD? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?<\/em> Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.\u201d\u00a0 Psalm 15 was written for those that wished to have access to God in his Temple in Jerusalem.\u00a0 However, I do believe that today, through Jesus, anyone can worship God anywhere \u2013 in a church or in our homes or wherever we find ourselves.\u00a0 However, I do think there is truth in these Psalm verses in that we can worship God beautifully by living a blameless life (not perfect life \u2013 only Jesus was perfect this side of heaven \u2013 we will need to confess sins & repent), doing what is right, and speaking the truth from sincere hearts.\u00a0 I do believe these are acts of worship that demonstrate our friendship with God and our growth in becoming more like his son Jesus in our lifetimes.\u00a0 Do you seek to lead a blameless life?\u00a0 Do you seek to do what is right?\u00a0 Do you speak the truth from a sincere heart?\u00a0 Do you seek to worship God in some way each and every day?\u00a0 How?<\/span><\/p>\n Today we read Psalm 16, which I absolutely love!\u00a0 I could probably share with you some thoughts on just about every verse in this Psalm. Verse 1 tells us: \u201cKeep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that God will keep you safe if you come to Him for refuge? And verse 2 is so true: \u201cI said to the LORD, \u201cYou are my Master! All the good things I have are from you.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Everything good thing in our life \u2013 absolutely everything good thing in our life \u2013 comes from God.\u00a0 Do you believe this? Verse 3 reminds me to rejoice for and pray for our pastors and spiritual mentors: \u201cThe godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you appreciate your pastors \/ ministers \/ priests and spiritual mentors?\u00a0 And do you appreciate other godly people you know too?\u00a0 Are they true heroes?\u00a0 Do you pray for these folks regularly? If not, will you? <\/span><\/p>\n And verse 11 is a powerful closing to this Psalm 16 and perhaps a prayer for us to pray fervently: \u201cYou will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0Do you want to be shown the way of life from God?\u00a0 \u00a0Do you want to be granted the joy of God\u2019s presence?\u00a0 Do you want the pleasure of living with God forever?\u00a0 Have you prayed to God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit to give you these things in your life?\u00a0 Will you pray this prayer?<\/span><\/p>\n In Psalm 17 David appeals to God as Judge when he is being attacked by foes.\u00a0 Verse 7 is a great prayer and comfort! \u201cShow me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your strength those who seek refuge from their enemies.\u201d <\/em>Do you seek refuge with God from whatever might attacking you?\u00a0 \u00a0Do you believe that God will show you his unfailing love in wonderful ways?\u00a0 Have you been saved by God\u2019s strength?\u00a0 Have you sought refuge with God from your \u201cenemies\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\n Today we read Psalm 19, which is one of my favorite Psalms! In large part this Psalm is one of my favorites because one of my former pastors taught from this Psalm 3 a few years ago in such a powerful way. Have you had this type of experience? Where you hear a sermon on a chapter of the Bible and then that chapter becomes one of your favorites? I do hope that this One Year Bible experience will allow you to tune-in a little bit more whenever you hear your pastors or ministers or priests teaching you from the Bible in church. I know this is the case with me. Thanks to reading the Bible each day, I now have better context of what is being taught from the pulpit and it makes going to church a richer experience overall. I also now often catch some Bible verses in the worship songs or hymns we sing as well. And this adds a lot to my worship of God now through music. This year, as you go through the One Year Bible and as you go to church, will you tune-in to the sermons and the songs in church more than ever and look for and appreciate how they tie in to the Bible? <\/span><\/p>\n Back to Psalm 19 \u2013 I do encourage everyone to really read through and meditate on every verse in this Psalm of David and how this Psalm might be speaking to you this week. Please do take a few minutes to go through the Psalm twice if possible and really reflect upon it. You may even want to journal to God some thoughts or ideas or prayers that come to you through reading this Psalm. I find verse 14 in this Psalm to be so powerful \u2013 again in large part because one of my former pastors often sang a worship song that simply repeats this verse over and over again \u2013 and what a beautiful prayer it is for each of us to repeat over and over again as well: \u201cMay the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.\u201d<\/em> Are the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart pleasing in God\u2019s sight? Is God your Rock? Is God your Redeemer?<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Psalm 19 is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 20 is a prayer for a king as he goes out into battle \u2013 check out verses 1 through 5 again and you can imagine a group of people saying these words to the king.\u00a0 Maybe another way to read this Psalm, personally, is as a prayer for yourself as you go out into battle against a sin or a struggle in your life.\u00a0 And this verse 5 then is for you as you go into this battle: \u201cMay we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Amen! Let the banners fly soon in your life!<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 21 today follows up Psalm 20 and is a psalm of praise for victories granted to the king.\u00a0 I like the credit given to God in verse 1: \u201cHow the king rejoices in your strength, O LORD! He shouts with joy because of your victory.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The king is not rejoicing in his own strength.\u00a0 He is not claiming victory as his.\u00a0 He is giving credit to God!\u00a0 How about you in your life today?\u00a0 Do you give credit to God for the blessings and gifts he has given you?\u00a0 Do you shout for joy and rejoice simply because God is in your life?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Psalm 16 today reminded me of the fantastic Casting Crowns song \u201cThe Voice of Truth.\u201d\u00a0 This is such a beautiful song\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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