<\/p>\n
Psalm 131; Psalm 133; Psalm 138-141; Psalm 143<\/strong><\/span> Psalm 131 verse 2 is a beautiful reflection!\u00a0 \u201cBut I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me.\u201d<\/em> What a great reflection and reminder to take 1 day a week as a Sabbath day of rest.\u00a0 A day to still and quiet yourself.\u00a0 Just like a small child is with its mother.\u00a0 Have you been still and quieted yourself recently?\u00a0 Why would David, the Psalmist, write about this?\u00a0 Why would this be a good thing to do?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 133 is a great short Davidic Psalm about harmony!\u00a0 \u00a0Verse 1 sets the pace of this psalm nicely: \u201cHow wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you consistently seek harmony in your interactions with others? Do you pray for peace?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 138 is an awesome Psalm of thanksgiving and praise to God from David!\u00a0 \u00a0You\u2019ll note that the word Temple is used in verse 2 \u2013 and of course the Temple was built by David\u2019s son Solomon.\u00a0 It is thought that David used the word Temple in reference to the tent holding the Ark of the Covenant.\u00a0 Some have also thought that this Psalm possibly was written after David\u2019s time, in the post-exile period.\u00a0 Either way, it is a beautiful Psalm of praise.\u00a0 Psalm 138 begins a final collection of eight \u201cDavidic\u201d Psalms, which are framed by songs of Praise in Psalm 138 & Psalm 145 \u2013 and Psalms 139 through 144 are six prayers.<\/span><\/p>\n In Psalm 138 today, verse 3 stood out to me \u2013 \u201cWhen I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that God answers your prayers?\u00a0 Maybe not exactly in the way you\u2019d expect, but that they are answered?\u00a0 Do you believe that God answers your prayers through encouragement and by giving you strength?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 138:7 stood out to me as well \u2013 \u201cThough I am surrounded by troubles, you will preserve me against the anger of my enemies. You will clench your fist against my angry enemies! Your power will save me.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus\u2019 power will save you in times of trouble?\u00a0 Or do you rely on your own power and maybe forget about Jesus during times of trouble?\u00a0 Will you rely on Jesus, realizing that only His power will ultimately save you?<\/span><\/p>\n Today we read Psalm 139! I LOVE this Psalm\u2026 and had somehow forgotten about it.\u00a0 Is this Psalm anyone\u2019s favorite Psalm out there?\u00a0 I would not doubt it if was.\u00a0 This is just an incredibly beautiful Psalm about how much God loves and cares for us.\u00a0 And just how well God knows us.\u00a0 Please read and re-read this Psalm this week if you can.\u00a0 And rejoice in how much God loves you and how much he knows you. Each of the verses in this Psalm are incredible.\u00a0 I\u2019ll highlight a few.\u00a0 Verse 3 \u2013 \u201cYou chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you believe that God charts out your path for you?\u00a0 Do you believe that God gives you true rest?\u00a0 Do you believe God knows where you are every single moment of your life?<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 13 & 14 \u2013 \u201cYou made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother\u2019s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous\u2013and how well I know it.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Do you believe that God was loving and caring and creating you in your mother\u2019s womb?\u00a0 Are you amazed by the complexity and wonder of the human body?\u00a0 Could it be anything other than the marvelous workmanship of a loving and creative and living God?\u00a0 (next two images below courtesy of <\/em>heartlight.org<\/em>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And verses 23 & 24 to close out the Psalm: \u201cSearch me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you consistently ask God to search your heart and mind?\u00a0 Do you confess to God what is not right in your heart and mind?\u00a0 What needs healing?\u00a0 Do you ask God to even point out to you things that you may not realize are destructive to you and others in your heart and mind?\u00a0 Do you believe that this process of confessing your sins to God and asking for forgiveness and healing will lead you along the path of everlasting life?<\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 140 is a prayer for deliverance from evil.\u00a0 And this Psalm certainly should be a good reminder of the Lord\u2019s Prayer, where we pray \u2013 \u201cLead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.\u201d\u00a0 What is the one thing that can truly deliver us from evil?\u00a0 Can we deliver ourselves from evil on our own?\u00a0 Or do we need something beyond ourselves for this deliverance?<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 7 in this Psalm gives each of us something to consider and should be an encouragement: \u201cO Sovereign LORD, my strong savior, you protected me on the day of battle.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0Do you believe God is your strong savior who will protect you from evil on the day of battle?\u00a0 Do you believe that perhaps every day is a day of battle?\u00a0 Do you believe that Satan or evil ever rests in attempting to tempt people?\u00a0 Should we pray for protection from evil on a very regular basis?\u00a0 The Lord\u2019s Prayer \/ Our Father is one great way to do this each day\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n From 1928\u2019s Book of Common Prayer: \u201cOur Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.\u201d\u00a0 Lord, teach us how to pray\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 141 is a beautiful prayer of David\u2019s \u2013 praying for deliverance from the wicked and their ways.\u00a0 Verse 4 is powerful \u2013 \u201cDon\u2019t let me lust for evil things; don\u2019t let me participate in acts of wickedness. Don\u2019t let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.\u201d <\/em>Is this a prayer you could incorporate into your prayer life?\u00a0 \u00a0What might be some examples of \u201cdelicacies of those who do evil\u201d?\u00a0 Will you pray to God to avoid these \u201cdelicacies\u201d and \u201ctreasures\u201d that will ultimately fail you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Psalm 143 verse 8 stood out to me today \u2013 \u201cLet me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I have come to you in prayer.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I read somewhere before \u2013 I think it was <\/span>Bruce Wilkinson\u2019s book \u201cSecrets of the Vine\u201d<\/span> \u2013 that many great men and women of our Christian faith connect with God in the morning through prayer, reading the Bible, and other quiet time activities.\u00a0 Bruce even suggested that this is the preferential way to go \u2013 to start your day by spending time with God in the morning, rather than at night.\u00a0 Because he said this would then transform the rest of your day \u2013 in terms of being more conscientious of our relationship with God.\u00a0 This does make sense to me \u2013 and in fact, I have started reading the One Year Bible now in the mornings, and it is a beautiful way to start the day! I like what this Psalmist says \u2013 \u201cLet me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning.\u201d\u00a0 And it reminds me that somehow, someway, it almost seems easier to me to connect with God in the morning.\u00a0 Actually \u2013 one other thing I used to do in the morning is read a page or two from <\/span>Oswald Chambers \u201cMy Utmost For His Highest.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 And I am thankful that I did this in the morning for a season.\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 Do you have some way that you connect with God in the morning?\u00a0 Are you able in some way to hear of God\u2019s unfailing love for you in the morning?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Psalm 139 reminds me of the beautiful song by Josh Wilson called \u201cBefore the Morning:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n