PSALM 32 The Joy of Forgiveness

Psalm 32 : 5   The Grail Translation
5       But now I have acknowledged my sins
         my guilt I did not hide.
         I said " I will confess my offence to the Lord."
         
Psalm 32 : 1    The Grail Translation
1       Happy is the man whose offence is forgiven
         whose sin is remitted.

Psalm (30) 31  Septuagint Greek
7        I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy
          for thou hast beheld my lowness
          thou hast saved my soul from anguish

Psalm (30) 31   The Grail translation
8        As for me I trust in the LORD
          Let me be glad and rejoice in your love

Psalm   (29) 30  The Grail Translation
3        O LORD, I Cried for your help
          and you, my God have healed me.

Psalm 103
4        It is God who forgives all your guilt
8        The LORD is compassion and love
          slow to anger and rich in mercy
11      For as the heavens are high above the earth
          so strong is God's love for the God fearing;
12      As far as the east is from the west
          so far does he remove our sins.

         The global church
         as a priestly people
         intercedes for all
         who seek the mercy of God.

Luke 15:10
...................there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
                   over one sinner that repenteth.

         We can give testimony of what Christ has done for us.
         From tears of repentance to the joy of forgiveness.
         Reconciliation is part of the joy of forgiveness.
         All who experience the joy of forgiveness
         also discover the peace and joy of forgiving,

Ephesians 4:32 KJV   Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
         forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake
                hath forgiven you.

         

PSALM 31 Confession

Psalm 31:5  Grail from the Hebrew
5     But now I have acknowledged my sins
       my guilt I did not hide.
       I said " I will confess my offence to the LORD.

Psalm 51  ESV
1     Have mercy on me, O God
       according to your steadfast love
       according to your abundant mercy
       blot out my transgressions.

10   Create in me a clean new heart O God
       and renew a right spirit within me.

We who endure tough stuff
continually need God's grace and deliverance.
He constantly lifts us out of the mire.

Christ walked among us.
He was crucified and  He rose so that we
could be delivered from eternal punishment.
We can be brought into the fold of God
and be given the gift of eternal life.

Christians sing Psalms 30, 31 and 32
in the light of what Christ has done for us.

Psalm 31: 9-10  ESV
9     Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
       my eye is wasted from grief,
       my soul and body also.
10   For my life is spent with sorrow
               and my  years with sighing
       my strength fails because of my iniquity.

Psalm 31:4  Jerusalem
4     Pull me out of the net they have spread for me,
       for you are my refuge;

People con become ensnared in the nets
 of their own circumstances , when the 
results of previous bad decisions pile up.

Psalm 31:1 and 6  The Grail Translation
1      In you, O LORD, I take refuge
        Let me never be put to shame
        In your justice , set me free........

6      Into your hands I commend my spirit
        It is you who will redeem me Lord.

PSALM 30 Tears of Repentance

Psalm (29) 30 REPENTANCE
Repentance means "Turning to God"  and away from that which
is displeasing to God. The act of repentance is accompanied by
sorrow from that which makes repentance necessary.
Mark 1:15
                  Turn away from sin and believe the good news.

John the baptist came preaching baptism and repentance
for the forgiveness of sins.                                          Mark 1:4

Because of human weakness, Christians "turn aside".
The faithful are called to continual conversion and renewal..

Psalm (29) 30 The Grail Translation from the Hebrew
5        Sing psalms to the LORD, you faithful ones,
          give thanks to his holy name
6        God's anger lasts a moment; God's favour all through life.

3        O LORD, I cried to you for help
          and You my God have healed me.
4        O LORD , you have raised my soul from the dead,
          restored me to life and from those who sink into the grave.

Turn to me O man and be saved says the Lord, for I am God,
There is no other, I am beside you, I call your name.

TEARS OF REPENTANCE

Psalm 30: 5  Jerusalem
5        in the evening a spell of tears
          in the morning shouts of joy. 

John 8: 31-32    34-35   Jerusalem
31      If you make my word your home
          you will indeed be my disciples;
32     you will come to know the truth
         and the truth will set you free.

34     In all truth I tell you
         everyone who commits a sin is a slave to sin
35     Now a slave has no permanent standing in the household
         but a son belongs forever.

Psalm 30:10  ESV
10      Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me !
          O LORD, be my helper !

With the LORD there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Psalm 25:11  ESV
          For your name's sake, O LORD,
          pardon my guilt for it is great.

With the psalmist we place ourselves in the group of the humble
who wait on God for everything and are conscious  of our state of sin.

PSALM 29 Ongoing Allegiance

Psalm 29:10 ESV
The LORD sits  enthroned  over the flood:
The LORD sits  enthroned as king forever.

"Enthroned";-  Sitting on a throne is a formal indication
of possession of an office invested with regal authority.

Adonai reigned over the flood,
Adonai will reign for ever.
Adonai  alone is King.

Psalm 29:11 ESV
May the LORD give strength to his people  
May the LORD bless his people with peace.

"His people";-  persons subject to the king
                         belonging to his nation,
                         those who owe the king their allegiance.

"King";- noble sovereign and ruler,
are titles of one who rules and governs ,
and who holds highest rank and authority

"Allegiance" ;- the tie of a subject to his sovereign.
From the point of view of the subject,
allegiance is the full recognition of the claims which
the king has to our respect and duty.

Psalm 96:10 
       Proclaim to the foreigners "Yahweh is king ! "
       The world is firmly established, it shall never be moved.
        He will rule his people with equity.

Psalm 97:1 ESV
       Yahweh is king!
            Let the peoples tremble!
       He sits enthroned between the cherubim!
            Let the earth quake. 

James 4:6-7
.......God opposes the proud , but gives grace to the humble
                       submit yourselves therefore to God.....

Matthew 6:33 NAB
Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness,
and all these things will be given you besides.

Hebrews 12:9 ESV
...we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and 
we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject
to the Father of spirits and live ?

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
for the greater glory of God

PSALM 29 The Name of God

Psalm 29:2  ESV
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name.

Israel was to  witness to the Name of God.
That does not mean that they were to let everybody know
that their God was called "Yahweh" .
They were not just to let everybody know the right name for God.
They were to witness to God's character , and who he is,
His nature , His power, and His substance.
When Christians baptize  people
in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
we act according to the command of the word of God,
in the authority of  THE TRINITY !!!
Genesis 1:3  ESV
And God said , " Let there be light "
         and there was light.                     
                 ......................... because God has that power and that authority.
Psalm 29:4  KJV
4     The voice of the LORD is powerful;
       The voice of the LORD is full of majesty
5     The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars;
       yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

8     The voice of the LORD shaketh  the wilderness
       The Lord shaketh the wilderness.

There can be no doubt about the sovereignty of the LORD.
Psalm 47:2 ESV
For the LORD,  the Most High, is to be feared,
      a great king over all the earth.

Who has the power ?
Who has the authority ?
Who has the power and authority of The LORD our God  ?

For Thine is the Kingdom,  and the power and the glory,
        for ever and ever.  Amen.

" In the name of Jesus"
means ;-  in the power and authority of
Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, and the only Saviour of mankind.
Mark 4:39  ESV
And (Jesus) awoke and rebuked the wind
and said to the sea " Peace,  be still ! "
And the wind ceased,  and there was a great calm.

We are able to attribute to God The Son
" the glory due unto his name"                    Psalm 29:2 NKJV
The Voice of God is remarkably powerful ,
so if you have in your heart someone who needs strength and peace,
acquaint yourself with Psalm 29:11 ESV
and know that this is the word of God .
Psalm 29:11 ESV
May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!

PSALM 29 The Voice of God

Psalm 29 1-2 English Standard Version.
Ascribe to the LORD,  O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness.

New English Translation of the Septuagint ( NETS ) version
Bring to the Lord, O sons of God,
Bring to the Lord glory and honor.

Psalm 89: 5-6-7 ESV
5    Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
           your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6    For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD ?
           who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD ?
7    a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones
           and awesome above all who are around him ?
8    O LORD God of hosts.

David's life is centered on God.
and his daily sustaining relationship with Him.
David became a "man after God's own heart" 1 Sam 13:14
In times of solitude and silence -- as a shepherd in lonely places
David spent days and nights with God.
His often solitary life was a life of prayer.

Psalm 42:8 ESV
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love
and at night his song is with me ,
a prayer to the God of my life.

In everyday life , we are to attribute to the Lord, the glory of his name.
We do this where we are, at home,  at work, and at leisure.
To actually ascribe greatness to the Lord
anywhere other than in a "church service",
would be a new adventure for many Christians.
The divine name "Yahweh" occurs 18 times in psalm 29.
which emphasizes that we are continually in His powerful presence.
The voice of the Lord is mentioned 7 times
which emphasizes that ( for those who listen )
the Lord speaks into our lives personally every day.
Our relationship with Him cannot be limited to a building or a meeting.
In our own everyday lives we stand with the whole body of Christ
in the Love of God the Father.
May the life of Christ within us , animate our days and direct our ways.
We are one in Christ with all those of the household of God
and all the heavenly host.

1st Thessalonians 5:16-17-18  ESV
Rejoice always,   pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances.
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The voice of the LORD continues to speak into the lives
of all who are putting this into practice. 
  

PSALM 28 The People of God

Psalm 28, first line ( E.S.V.)
               To You, O LORD, I call.
Psalm 28 is unequivocally addressed to Yahweh,  Jehovah ,
the self-existent, eternal, God of the Jews .  ( see STRONGS  H 3068 )

Psalm 28, second line  (E.S.V.)
                My rock be not deaf to me.
In Psalm 18 ( verse 44 ) the psalmist sings ;-
                 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock
                 and exalted be the God of my salvation.
and in Psalm 92 verse 15
                 ......the LORD is upright; he is my rock
                 and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Who God is, is paramount, because
at the heart of our prayer,
He is our God and we are his people.
Psalm 28 verse 1 refers to ;-  "those who go down to the pit"
Psalm 28 verse 9 refers to;-   "those who will be carried  by 
                                               the Good Shepherd , for ever"

David's choice is not to go down to the pit
but eternity in the arms of the Good Shepherd
In Psalm 28 verse 2 the psalmist sings;-
                   "when I cry to you for help
                     when I lift up my hands,  "
In this , Paul of Tarsus is at one with the psalms of David,
in 1st Timothy 2: 8
                               I desire then that in every place
                               men should pray lifting holy hands.....

We do need to cry to God for help                                     (verse 2)
The sting of injustice and pain caused by violence
needs to be taken  in prayer to the Lord, our strength and our shield (verse 7)
that He may deliver us from the wicked and from workers of evil (verse 3)
The people of God do not seek personal revenge in prayer,
We seek that painful oppression should come to an end.
Psalm 28:verse 5  "He will break them down and not build them up"
is a prophecy which tyrants should not ignore.

Psalm 28 verse 6  " Blessed be the LORD ! "
This line of praise is used in anticipation of answered prayer
by one whose heart is so full of trust that he is already singing
a song of thanks.
Psalm 91 verse 2 E.S.V.
It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD
to sing praises to your Name , O Most High.
Psalm 28 verse 8  E.S.V.
The LORD is the strength of his people
he is the saving refuge of his anointed .
and verse 9 is a prayer for all God's people
O save your people and bless your heritage.
Be their shepherd and carry them for ever.

PSALM 27 The Light of The Lord

Psalm 27:1   Revised English Bible
THE LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear ?

Ephesians 5:8-9  R.E.B.
Though you were once darkness,
now as Christians you are light,
Prove yourselves at home in the light,
for where light is, there is a harvest
of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Psalm 43:3 REB
Send forth your light and your truth
they will serve as my guide.

Psalm 36:9  REB
 for with you is the fountain of life,
and by your light we are enlightened.

1st John 1:5
......God is light, and in him there is no darkness.

Isaiah 60:1 AV
ARISE, SHINE ;  for the light is come,
and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Psalm 27:8 REB
"Come," my heart has said,
"seek his presence. "
I seek your presence, LORD;

Psalm 27:14 REB
Wait for the LORD; be strong and brave,
and put your hope in the LORD.

PSALM 27:13  REB
Well I know that I shall see the Goodness of the LORD
       in the land of the living.

1st Peter 2:9
......................you are a chosen people
                                    a royal priesthood ,
                                    a holy nation.
                                    God's special possession,
                      that you may declare the praises of him
                      who calls you out of darkness
                      into his wonderful light. 

We reflect on  Psalm 27 in the context  of the word of God
spoken elsewhere in the Psalms ( Ps 43 and Ps 46) and in Isaiah 60.
As Christians we look at Psalm 27 in the light of God's word in
the First Letter of Peter and the First Letter of John.
The People of God are supported by the Light of The Lord.
Although challenged by the darkness of evil,  In practice
God himself is our light and our guide into all truth;
And as we share the Light of the LORD,
  "light overcomes darkness "   ( Philippians 2:15 )

PSALM 26 Holiness

It is better to throw ourselves on the judgement of God

than to let ourselves be crushed by the judgement of others

1st John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness .

Romans 8:1  ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation

     for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This is the holiness and innocence we share before God.

Like the psalmist, our desire is to be upright

and sincere before God.

Our dedication is to God and to the will of God.

Psalm 26:3 NCV

For your kindness is before my eyes

and I am constantly guided by your truth.

Psalm 43:3 NCV

Send forth your light and your truth,

they will serve as my guide.

Psalm 86:11 NCV

Teach me to walk in your ways, O LORD

so that I may walk in your truth.

Hebrews 8:10 ESV

I will put my laws into their minds

and write them on their hearts .

We find joy in doing the will of God.
With His gentle prompting and strong enabling,

we continue to put this into action in everyday life.

Psalm 119:30 REV

30     I have chosen the the way of faithfulness  

         I have set your judgement before me.

31     I cling to your statutes , O LORD

         do not allow me to be put to shame.

32     I run in the way of your precepts

         for you have set my heart free.

Psalm 26:8 NCV

8      I love the place where you dwell, O LORD

        the place where your glory resides

12    My feet stand on level ground

        in the full assembly I will bless the LORD

We have chosen not to be motivated by self interest or evil and
we are looking forward to running in the way of God's precepts.

Now from the heart we make a vow of praise which we can fulfill
in the full assembly.

PSALM 24 The Will of God

Psalm 24:1-2  Revised English Bible
1    To THE LORD belong the earth and everything in it,
      the world and all its inhabitants.
2    For it was he who founded it on the seas
      and planted it firm on the waters beneath.

Just to put things in context, Psalm 24 is addressed to the
original chief executive and chairman, the Founder of the world.
All the inhabitants of the world are in his hands.
That is, totally inclusive.

Psalm 24:3-4  Revised English Bible.
3    Who may go up the mountain of the LORD ?
      Who may stand in his holy place ?
4    One who has clean hands and a pure heart,
      Who has not set his mind on what is false
      or sworn deceitfully.

The will of God is that each of us should have ;-
      "clean hands and a pure heart".
History has shown what happens to the individual
who sets his mind on what is false.
"I did it my way" has long been the boast of  self-interested,
 people who choose to defy the will
of God and choose a life of continual self indulgence.
People  with hearts open to God, who continually seek
 the presence of God, are those who know his will for today;
they will see the blessing of God in their own lives and in the lives
of those they pray for.
Reflective living is a prayerful way of seeking to do the will of God.

Psalm 24:5-6 Revised English Bible
5    Such a one shall receive blessing from the LORD,
      and be vindicated by God his saviour.
6    Such is the fortune of those who seek him.
      who seek the presence of the God of Jacob.

People have been selling "sectarian doctrine" for ages
as if it were an academic subject. But if people put their faith
in a doctrine as if it were the law, all they have is something academic.
Psalm 24:7 Revised English Bible
7      Lift up your heads , your gates.
        lift yourselves up your everlasting doors
        that the king of glory may come in.
When we lift up the gates and open the eternal doors to Jesus Christ
  he comes into our lives.
The contemporary meaning we give to " 24/7 " is quite appropriate..

Romans 7:6 Revised English Bible
But now, having died to that which held us bound,
we are released from the Law, to serve God in a new way,
the way of the Spirit, in contrast to the old way of a written code.

Our Good Shepherd is not a character in a book.
He is reigning in our heart, in our mind and 24/7 in our lives.

Psalm 24:10 Revised English Bible
10     Who is he, this king of glory?
         The LORD of Hosts, he is the king of glory.

PSALM 23 By Faith

Every verse in Psalm 23 is about  " me ".
           He leadeth me
           You are with me
           comfort me
           mercy shall follow me

the subject of all the verbs is "  I  " .
           I shall not want
           although I walk
           I shall fear no evil
           I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

the song is about my shepherd ,   my enemies
my head ,  my cup,   and, my  life.

Psalm 23 could not be more personal.
Psalm 23 is a personal statement of faith.
Psalm 23 is a personal assertion of faith.
and as it is written;-
              "The righteous shall live by faith"  Romans 1:17
              "The righteous shall live by faith"  Galatians 3:11

We each make our own choices and live according to our own faith.
We could go up a mountain and sing Psalm 23 to an empty hillside.
Or find an empty room and pray psalm 23 in private.
But when we discover people with whom we can sing Psalm 23
with the same fundamental conviction, it is more than edifying to do so.
Number adds strength to conviction because the more people who
think in the same way, the less force dissonance can generate.
The Prayer and Praise of those who are one in the Spirit,
actually diminishes the force of discord and enhances harmony.
In that sense the very strength of our personal faith lets us
participate in Psalm 23 in a way which brings down the strongholds
of the enemy.
Our cup of faith is running over.
It is very good to examine Psalm 23, thoughtfully and prayerfully
in the light of our own faith.
The version we often sing is from The Church of Scotland
PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE
1   The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want.
2   He makes me down to lie.
     In pastures green: he leadeth me
          the quiet waters by.
3   My soul he doth restore again;
         and me to walk doth make
     Within the paths of righteousness,
         ev'n for his own name's sake.
4   Yes , though I walk in death's dark vale,
         yet will I fear none ill:
     For thou art with me; and thy rod 
         and staff me comfort still.
5   My table thou hast furnished
         in presence of my foes;
    My head thou dost with oil anoint
         and my cup overflows.
6  Goodness and mercy all my life
         shall surely follow me:
     And in God's house for evermore
         my dwelling place shall be.           Amen.

PSALM 23 Psalm and Sandwiches

According to Psalm 23 we are at a great victory banquet
in the company of all those who share in the victory.
We stand in the benefit of Christ's victory, Jesus, the victory has won.
God, in whose presence our ancestors walked,
is the God who has continued to shepherd us personally
throughout our whole lives, even until today,
                                             even while we are at work,
                                             even while we are shopping
                                             even while we are singing !
God assures us in Psalm 32:8   ;-
        I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.
        I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

It is the very voice of God who speaks these words
and continues to carry them out every day.
For centuries people have been singing Psalm 23:1-2
from the Book of Common Prayer.
1    The Lord is my shepherd,
             therefore I lack nothing.
2    He shall feed me in green pastures.

The God of Joseph  is ;-
The God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day.                 Genesis 48:15

Psalm 23:2     " He leadeth me "
The psalmist witnesses to the present continuous action of the Lord God in his own life.
Psalm 23:4    "Thou art with me"
In verse four the psalmist gives witness to his ongoing experience of the Divine Presence
of Emmanuel , God With Us.  and of Jehovah Shammah,  The Lord Who is Present.

Ezekiel 34 AV
14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel
     shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture
     shall they feed upon the mountain of Israel.
15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

Today, members of the same flock walk in the presence of the same God,
and we are fed and shepherded by the same Shepherd..
This is the same God who Joseph described when blessing his sons
in Genesis 48:15      "God in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk,
                                     the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day."

Psalm 23 is a song of  Victory  for us and our God is serving a victory feast
with our enemies looking on !
How else can we have victory unless our God subdues our enemies?
How else can we enjoy the peace of victory?
God has delivered us time and time again
God is still delivering His people from all who hinder or harm the people of God.
and from all those who oppose the will of God,  The Psalmist knows.

Psalm 76:7      but You are to be feared,  who can stand against You ?
Psalm 23:4     Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
                        I will fear no evil      for you are with me......
.....and God is with us now.....and His name shall be called Emmanuel
                                                          which means God With Us .

PSALM 22 Prayer of Christ

Psalm 22:1 NASB
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me ?

The "Why" which Jesus uttered on the cross, quoted from Psalm 22,
is addressed to "my God".
This validates the Psalms as  a source for Christians.
What Jesus did for us on the cross, allows us to enter the sanctuary,
which , till then, had been restricted to the chief priest.
There is no higher priest than Jesus , priest forever after the order of  Melchisedec
If Jesus can pray the the prayer of David, Christians can be quite at
one with David in praying the psalms, the very word of God.

Psalm 31:5 NASB
Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O LORD God of Truth.

In prayer and in practice ,we Christians put ourselves into the hands of the Lord
who has demonstrated his love for us in the sacrifice of his redeeming action.
"My God" is a personal term which each of the redeemed may now use.
The address " My God " is confirmed by the words by which Jesus
taught us to pray...."Our Father"
The address "My God" is asserted in Psalm 22:1 and in Psalm 22:10
and again in Psalm 31:14 NASB
14  But as for me, I trust in You , O LORD,
      I say "You are my God".                                     Amen

.Psalm 22:16 NASB
A band of evildoers has encompassed me
they pierced my hands an feet.

Psalm 69:21 NASB
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Psalm 22:30-31 NASB
30      Posterity will serve Him
          It will be told of the LORD to coming generations
31      They will come and declare His righteousness
          To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Reading through Psalm 22 in several translations, one is aware
that the verses quoted here surely speak of Jesus Christ,( God become man)
on the cross of Calvary, and of the physical and spiritual action
of God The Son on our behalf.
In Psalm 22, David sets an example of how to match our plight
with our trust in God.  We affirm the character of God as most holy.
We can recall the trust which the people of God have previously shown,
identifying with them as God's covenant people.
In ourselves we may assume the humility of people who really need help
and are at a loss without God's enabling power.
            Keeping in mind our own relationship with God...........
Psalm 22:10 NASB  You have been my God from my mother's womb.
............helps us to constantly seek God's intervention
            in our own personal circumstances.
In verse 3 the psalmist reveals something of his attitude, his faith,
his experience , and the nature of his own worship .
Psalm 22:3 NASB   Yet You are holy.
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
             
             Today Jesus is enthroned in the praises of  all who worship in Spirit and Truth;-
             In Him we live (in Jesus) in Him we are, all that we are.

PSALM 21 Victory in God's Strength

Reading Psalm we find that there are half a dozen ways in which
 we can identify with the psalmist and with the subject of his prayer;-
Thanksgiving for help , aid , and enabling .
Thanksgiving for victory.
Praise for victory,
Unity with each other in praise and thanksgiving,
Unity in praise and thanksgiving on behalf of  king and country.
National praise to God  for victory in Yahweh's power,
Gladness that Yahweh's power is with the king and with the nation
even Glad with the joy of your presence {Psalm 21:6}

Our King is God the Son.
a crown of fine gold upon his head (Psalm 21:3)
indicates the splendor , glory , and duration
of the kingdom and authority of Christ.
Isaiah 9:6 RSV
....the government will be upon his  shoulder,
and his name will be called "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end.

Psalm 21:13 ESV
Be exalted , O LORD , in your strength!
we will sing and praise your power.

....for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever ....

We are God,s people, and citizens of the kingdom of God.
In the Psalms, our personal prayer stands as part of the prayer
of the community of the people of God, His covenant community.

2nd Peter 3:8    With the LORD one day is like a  thousand years
                           and a thousand years are like a day.

In the kingdom of God we stand before the throne
shoulder to shoulder with Abraham , Isaac and Jacob.
Our prayers rise in harmony with those of David.
David stands before the eternal God with Moses .
We lift up our hearts to God to whom Peter, James and John  are equally alive.
Every day we are grateful that God delivered the children of Israel out of bondage.
Every day we are grateful that our Saviour delivered us from sin and death.
Every day we stand in the full benefit of that.,
for the mercy which poured from his wounds still swirls around us.
The power and the glory of our God is undiminished.
"Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory"
This morning's prayer ;-" thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
is effective across the distance of the starry skies, and across the ages of time.
Psalm 21 speaks to us about the power of prayer and how far it reaches !
The heartfelt prayer at daybreak  responds to the heartbeat of Eternal God
who is present to every soul of every age.

!st Timothy 2:1 NAB
First of all I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings
be offered for all men.

Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we all ask or imagine
according to his power that is at work within us.......................

PSALM 20 Intercession for Victory

In intercessory prayer we ask God for something
on behalf of somebody else.
In England, people pray " God Save The Queen "
on behalf of the sovereign Queen and head of the Church of England
....."send her victorious"
,,,which are words of the national anthem.
Psalm 20 is an intercessory prayer for the King of Israel.
The people pray on behalf of the king
who is making a meal offering....a sacrifice.
They are speaking for him and praying for his victory..

Our King is Jesus, who has made an offering for us.
Our petition accompanies our King's offering.
We can pray with great faith because
we are praying for our King's victory over evil and death,
a victory which we know to be won.
Verse 5 anticipates our King's victory
which is the cause of our joy and celebration,
the joy and celebration of the people of God.
We speak of future victory as if it has already happened,
because " Jesus the victory has won "

Romans 8:11  ESV                                                                              Trinity
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life
to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Psalm 20:16 ESV
Now I know that the LORD will save [NRSV: help] his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven.

Psalm 20 :5 RSV
May we shout for joy over your victory.
Proverbs 2:7 NIV                                      Something in Store 
He holds victory in store for the upright.

Psalm 60:12 NIV
With God we shall gain the victory.

Psalm 108 13 NIV
With God we shall gain the victory.

Matthew 12:21-22 NIV                               God For Us
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will  not snuff out.
till he leads justice to victory.
In his name the nations will put their hope.    Jesus

1st John 5:5 NIV                                          
This is the victory that has overcome the world
5 Who is it that overcomes the world?
Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.      God with us

!st Corinthians 15:57 NIV                                                      
But thanks be to God!                                                      Living God
He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

PSALM 18 God For Us

Psalm 18 is numbered Psalm 17 in the Septuagint and in the translation
from the Latin Vulgate by Monsignor Knox; from these line are taken.
The Lord is our defender                     v2
The Lord is our stronghold                  v3
The Lord is our rescuer                        v3
The Lord is our hiding place                v3
The Lord is our safety                           v3
The Lord is our shield                           v3
The Lord is our weapon of deliverance           v3
and              our refuge                                       v3
The Lord listens to our voice                             v9
To-day The Lord stands by us                           v19
              and brings us out into freedom            v20
and in His great love, The Lord befriends us   v20
                                      brings deliverance to humble folk          v28
              and is the sure defence of all who trust in Him             v31
The Lord ;-  girds us with strength                                              v33
                      bids us go on our way untroubled                          v33
                      gives us freedom                                                       v35
His saving power is our defence                                                   v36
His right hand supports us                                                           v36
His tender care fosters us                                                             v36
Blessed be the Living Lord who is our refuge                            v47
                   and grants Victory to His anointed.                         v51

Each phrase here can be the subject of our prayerful reflection,   and worship.

Augustus M Toplady   1740- 1778

                                   Rock of Ages, cleft for me
                                   Let me hide myself in Thee;
                                   Let the water and the blood,
                                   From Thy riven side which flowed,
                                   Be of sin the double cure
                                   Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

If we look at Psalm 18 in the English Standard version, we read;-
                         31      For who is God, but the Lord?
                         32      And who is a rock, except our God ?--
Jesus--the rock from whom water and blood flowed.
                         46      The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,
                                   and exalted be the God of my salvation.

Believers to-day can sing the words of the psalmist, from their own experience.
                                    Psalm 18:46 KJV
                                    The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock;
                                     and let the God of my salvation  be exalted.

God with us is God for us,   The Living God .
                                     Psalm 42:2
                                     My soul thirsts for God
                                     for the living God.
                                     Jeremiah 10:10
                                     But the Lord is the true God
                                     He is the living God,
                                     1st Timothy 4:10
                                      We trust in the living God.
                       

PSALM 19 God is Glorified

The community which prays Psalm 19 is a faith community
involving fellowship in obedience.
 We contemplate Psalm 19 with a desire to observe the rule
 made explicit in the words we sing regularly..

 A modern Jewish translation of Psalm 19:15 reads;-

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations
of my heart, fulfill Your will,
Adonai,  my Rock and my Redeemer.

At every new dawn, this obedient, contemplative community
is addressed by our creator,  and every night, endless galaxies
display the majesty of our God, for all to see,

So here we have a whole community of people
who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
This is a people who give real priority to applying
the precepts of the living God to the social. political and moral
fabric of our community.

One nation under God would be the body of Christ made visible.
Each individual who is faithful to growing in grace
and in the knowledge of God
is a member of this obedient community.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, this is made possible.
It is because we seek first the Kingdom of God
and all these things are added unto us !
allelu   alleluia.
The source of spiritual  light in our lives is a witness.
The law of God which gives moral cohesion to our community,
is a witness.  Our steadfast love is a witness.
To us the Psalms are a gift and a source of physical, emotional,
and intellectual strength and spiritual transformation :
restoring the Spirit; making the simple wise, gladdening the heart,
and filling the eyes with light.....and that is just from Psalm no 19 !

Consistency in belief among members of the community
augments, strengthens our own attitudes
and reinforces the witness of the whole group, in which
The Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit are active together
in continuous creation.

Psalm 84: 12   NCV
The LORD GOD serves as our sun and our shield
the LORD showers us with grace and glory.
He does not withhold any good thing
from those who walk in integrity.

In the heavens  He has placed a tent for the sun. Psalm 19:5

The whole of the starry heavens is the tent of His presence !
When we walk in all God has given us,
   and walk in all God has done for us,
        God is glorified.

PSALM 19 Live to declare the Glory of God

Psalm 19:1  ESV
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Creation includes us. When things are right, our lives declare the glory of God.
Our eyes are very beautiful.  The living engineering of our eyes has megapixel
optical connections to our brain. Nowadays we can appreciate the wonderful
 precision and  refinement of our eyes. The glory of God can be seen in your eyes !
Just as the laws of physics are perfect,
  the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.                                          v7
His precepts are right, rejoicing the heart.                                                     v8
The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether                               v9.
More to be desired than gold, even much fine gold,                                       v10
sweeter than honey which drips from the honeycomb.

When our own lives and communities declare the glory of God,
only our own fallenness detracts from that.
God speaks to us in Psalm 19,
To be right with God is perfect for us.
We pray Thy will be done" with desperate passion
because anything less would fall short of the  glory of God.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote ;-
"Earth's crammed with heaven,
and almost every bush afire with God,
but only he who sees takes off his shoes,
the rest sir round and pluck blackberries.

In Psalm 19 ,  we are God's creation, we are even the burning bush.

Loving God and loving God's will,    is Christian.
Knowing that what God wants for us is the very best,
and wanting what God wants for us all,    is also Christian.
The beauty of the law of God and the sweetness of the will of God,
the preciousness of the purposes of God
is the lived experience of those who;-
Love the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
                                                                            Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart.
                                                                             Psalm 19:8      TLV
The laws of the LORD are true: each one is fair.
                                                                             Psalm 19:9b TLV
The rules of the LORD are true and righteous altogether,
the pure joy of which contrasts with the godless ocean
which laps around Christianity today
New tides of greed, perversion, cruelty and hatred lap higher up the beaches
beaches which Christians will continue to defend.
Of course we need to take the plank out of our own eye first.
When did our heart really rejoice because "the statutes of the LORD are right"
This week ? or last week ? When last did our eyes light up
because "the commandments of the LORD are pure"   ?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my rock and my redeemer.
                                                                               Psalm 19:14 ESV
We would enjoy singing these words in church if Boney M were in the choir.
Imagine the people of God coming together to put Psalm 19 into action in all our lives.

The Face of God

A Second Look at the Psalms,      The Face of God.

Psalm 32:8 KJV
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.

When we look into a person's face, their countenance is expressive of feeling and character.
The face of a clock reveals the time.
The expression of the face and eyes can be more instructive than a hand book.
But, to look into someone's face you have to come face to face with them.
To meet or encounter someone, to face them one to one, and look into their face,
is so much more than being in the same building or the same room.
"face to face" is even more than "presence"

2nd Chronicles  7:14  NKJV
14   If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear them from heaven, and forgive their sin
and heal their land.

There we have it; In seeking revival we are to humble ourselves and seek his face.

Psalm 27:8 RSV
Thou hast said, " Seek ye my face,"
    My heart says to thee,
"Thy face, LORD, do I seek."

Psalm 42 RSV
1  As a deer longs for flowing streams
    so longs my soul for you , O God.
2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When shall I come and behold the face of God ?

Psalm 105:4 RSV                                            1 Chronicles 16:11
   Seek the LORD and his strength                Look to the Lord and his strength
   seek his presence continually.                      Seek his face always.

Psalm 95:2 NRSV
  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
  Let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise !

1 Kings 13:6
  Entreat now the face of the LORD thy God
       and pray for me.

Lamentations 2:19 NRSV
   Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord.
   Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children.

Psalm 119:58
   I have sought your face with all my heart;
   be gracious to me according to your promise.

2 Corinthians 4:6  NRSV
For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"
who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.







          A Second Look At The Psalms.......    The Face of God

If someone is going to guide you with their eyes
you have to look into their face.

Those of us who love the Lord our God,
who are moved to seek His face,
will come to see the Glory of God
shining in the face of Jesus.

             JESUS CHRIST
                        is
          GOD INCARNATE
               and the only
                SAVIOUR
               of  mankind

We are looking to the LORD, seeking His face,
looking to His strength when we pray,
seeking His strength for the people for whom we pray.

1st Kings 13:6
Entreat now the face of the LORD and pray for me.

This is intercession to which we are called.
The place of such prayer is the face of God.
In what company do we find ourselves
when we seek the face of God ?

Psalm 24 verses 4-6 New Revised Standard Version

4,Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
and do not swear deceitfully.
5, They will receive blessing from the LORD,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6, Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Psalm 11:7 NIV
For the LORD is righteous,  he loves justice,
upright men will see his face.

Psalm 31:16 NIV
Let your face shine on your servant
save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 119:135 NIV
Make your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your decrees.

Psalm 4:6 NIV
.....Let the light of your face
          shine upon us, O LORD.

Psalm 67:1 NIV
May God be gracious to us and bless us,
          and make his face to shine upon us.

Psalm 80:19 NIV
Restore us , O Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us that we may be saved.

 We pour out our heart before the presence of the Lord
and lift our hands to him, and entreat the face of the Lord our God.
When we ask God to forgive our sin and heal our land,
we pray as the angels in heaven who always see the face of our Father in Heaven.
How often have we prayed in the company of angels ?
    

369 A Hiding Place

THOMPSON CHAIN REFERENCE STUDY BIBLE
Topic number 369 is  " A Hiding Place" and relates to  ;-
 divine overshadowing , divine refuge, and
a place of divine protection.

Psalm 17:8  New Catholic Version 2001
Guard me as the apple of your eye
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
and from the SAAS Orthodox Study Bible 2008
Keep me as the apple of Your eye
In the shelter of Your wings, You will shelter me
from the face of the ungodly who trouble me.

Psalm 27:5 N.C.V.
For he will hide me in his shelter in times of trouble.
He will conceal me under the cover of his tent.
from the A.V. .
....in the secret of his tabernacle he shall hide me.

Psalm 31:21 N.C.V.
You hide them in the safety of your presence
    from those who conspire against them.
You keep them safe in your shelter
    far from contentious tongues.

Psalm 32:7 N.C.V.
You are a place of refuge for me
     you preserve me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
and from the A.V.
Thou art my hiding place:
thou shalt preserve me from trouble..

Here is a prayer from the English Standard Version Study Bible 2008,
Psalm 36:7
How precious is your steadfast love, O God !
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 46:1 N.C.V.
God is our refuge and our strength
a well-proved help in times of trouble
From the A.V....a very present help in trouble.

In times of trouble, when we feel the need of God's protection,
we experience His presence. He is very close to us.

Psalm 57:2 N.C.V.
Have mercy on me, O God,   have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will seek shelter in the shadow of your wings
until the time of danger has passed.

Psalm 63:7-9  N.C.V.
7   I think of you while I lie on my bed
     and I meditate on you during the watches of the night
8   For you are my help,
     and in the shadow of your wings I rejoice
9   My soul clings tightly to you
     Your right hand holds me fast.



369  A Hiding Place   continued



Psalm 64:11  N.C.V.
The righteous will rejoice in the LORD
        and take refuge in him;

People who are faithful to His covenant....behave in this way !
Where else would New Covenant people want to dwell  ?

Psalm 91:1-4    S.A.A.S.Orthodox Study Bible
1     He who dwells in the help of the Most High
       Shall lodge in the shelter of the God of heaven.
2     He shall say to the Lord,
                                  "You are my protector and my refuge
        My God; I will hope in Him.
3     For He shall free me from the snare of the hunters,
       and from every troubling word"
4     He shall overshadow you with His shoulders
       And under His wings you shall hope;
       His truth shall encircle you with a shield.

                                    xxx
9    For You, O Lord, are my hope;
      You made the Most High your refuge.
                                    xxx

In verse 9  the voice of David seems to address our Lord

Psalm 119 :114  A.V.
Thou art my hiding place and my shield,
      I hope in thy Word

Psalm 143:9 NCV
Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD
             for in you I seek refuge.

Colossians 3:2-3 
2     Set your minds on things that are above
       not on things on the earth.
3     For you have died,
       and your life is hidden with Christ in God

HABAKKUK  3:4  from the Amplified Bible
       His Glory covered the heavens
       and the earth was full of His praise.
4     And His brightness was like the sunlight
       rays streamed from His hand, and there
       (in the sunlike splendor)
      was the hiding place of His power.

To take refuge in the shadow of his wings
is to put ourselves in a place of divine overshadowing
where there is great power,

Psalm 68:2 ESV
.........as wax melts before fire
       so shall the wicked perish before God

Psalm 46:6 ESV
........he utters his voice, the earth melts.

Psalm 97:5 ESV
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD
        before the Lord of all the earth.