PSALM 130:5-6 His Master's Voice

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits
and in his word I hope.                                   Psalm 130:5 ESV

Many  schools of spirituality meet here.

Behold , as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their  master
as the eyes of the maidservant to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God.            Psalm 123:2 ESV

Ready to spring into action, the eyes and ears of the sheepdog
focus on his master.
Everybody who cares, listens to the word of God in scripture--
eagerly and studiously--it is part of who we are.
But the psalmist and his soul wait for the Lord.
Like sheepdogs wait for their master's bidding.

My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.          Psalm 130:6 ESV

PSALM 129 The Family of God

According to psalms 127 and 128,  your wife and children
are your community;-
"your children like olive shoots around your table"
"Your children are a heritage from the Lord"
The future prosperity of your community is related
to your children's children.
Yet this family of God is afflicted.
Since biblical times the community of God's people
has been persecuted.
Being  against "family values" the enemies of Zion
try to include adultery, gambling, binge drinking
money lending, pornography, prostitution,
abortion and homosexuality, human trafficking ,
drug dealing, extortion and perversion
 as part of the acceptable norm of society.
What has changed over the centuries ?
The enemies of the children of God make the innocent
children of the family of God their cowardly target
for violence, injustice and sin.

It would be better for him to have a great millstone 
fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the
depth of the sea.                                                      (Matt 18:6)

Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth.
let Israel now say
Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth.
Yet they have not prevailed against me.             Psalm 129:1-2 ESV

PSALM 127-128 Joy In His Ways

Psalm 127 : 1   (Latin 126)  New Catholic Version 2002
If the LORD does not build the house,
those who construct it labour in vain.
If the LORD does not guard the city
those who keep watch over it do so in vain.

The parallel verses of the original Hebrew poetry
still serve to give emphasis and to make the
verse more memorable.

Three passages share the same "eating" figure of speech.

Psalm 127:2  AV        It is vain..........
                       to eat the bread of sorrows.

Psalm 42:3                 My tears have been
                       my meat day and night.

Psalm 128:2               thou shalt eat
                       the labour of thine hands.

As we make our bed, so must we lie on it.
Doing things "My way" may not be as beneficial
for ourselves and those who depend on us,
as doing things " His Way ".
Even  striving , in ones own strength
....as in building a house or guarding a city....
unless we are in harmony with God's intentions
we may be striving in vain.
On the other hand Psalm 128 shows us that those
who walk in His ways "shall eat the labour of thine hands"
From our own experience eating potatoes from
our own garden or tomatoes from our own glasshouse,
is very pleasing. In fact eating things we have baked
or cooked, is a joy.
Scripture shows the contrast between doing things
" My Way" in comparison to doing things "In His Ways".
Clearly this happiness depends on "marching on"
and even  "running in the LORD'S WAYS.

Like Psalm 1, Psalm 128 also promises that walking in
God's ways will make us happy and blessed.

Psalm 127:2 Tree of Life Version
for He provides for His  beloved ones
even in their sleep.

Job 11:18 NIV  
You will be secure, because there is hope.
You will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Psalm 128:1 NIV
Blessed are all who fear the Lord
who walk in His ways.

Psalm 128:4 NASB
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the Lord.

PSALM 126 Joy in the Harvest

God's people are a witness to the heathen.
Psalm 126:2b
said they among the heathen
"The LORD hath done great things for them"
The heathen give praise to God because they have
heard and seen the saving and liberating power
of our Lord, and because the mighty acts of God
have demonstrated the Lord's power, both in
nature and in history.
Psalm 98:3   All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God. " Make a joyful noise
unto the LORD all the earth"
Which is an invitation to all, to join us in praise.
5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy
6  Going they went and wept casting their seeds
    But coming they shall come
    with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
(From the Latin English interlinear text of David Mawson)
And those who  pray in tears may well ask that their tears
shall be "like streams in the Negeb"
irrigating the desert when it is time to sow,
for verse 5 says you will reap with shouts of joy,
and verse 6 says you will bring in the sheaves
with shouts of joy,...and  there will be joy among
the angels of God.

PSALM 125 Hearts In Tune

In Psalm 25, we can find seven identifying characteristics
of Christians to-day . That can be helpful for people trying
to identify who is Christian. We can also check to see if we
exhibit all the characteristics ourselves.

those that be good,                                                               v4

those who are upright in heart                                             v4

who's hearts are in tune with the LORD JESUS               v4 NLT

Those who trust in the LORD JESUS                                 v1

The righteous                                                                         v3

The Godly                                                                               v3 NLT

His People                                                                               v2

In addition to which, Psalm 125 tells us that we are secure,
that we cannot be moved and cannot be shaken and
like Mount Zion, we abideth for ever
and will endure forever.
Peace be upon Israel.

PSALM 124 OUR HELP

Had He not been on our side.

Psalm 124:6-8 J.P.S.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who did not let us
   be ripped apart by their teeth.
7 we are like a bird escaped from the fowler's trap
   the trap broke and we escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD
   maker of heaven and earth.

We have come through many dangers, toils and snares

1 Were it not for the LORD, who was on our side....
4.....the waters would have carried us off,
   the torrent would have swept over us;

Thanks to God we escaped like a bird
but children died of cold last week.
Children died of hunger this week.
They did not escape the teeth of cold or hunger.

Every child should receive good healthcare
every child should receive good education,  good accommodation ,
access to clean water, a healthy ample diet, the care and support
of a loving family.

Matthew 25:40 KJV
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these
my brethren , ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:45 KJV
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to 
one of the least of these, yo did it not unto me.

We are not expected to do much in our own strength.
Our help is in the name of the Lord
maker of heaven and earth.

There are no second class citizens in the body of Christ.
To ensure the good of all children is in the love of God
There should not be any second class healthcare
There should not be any second class education
there should not be any second class accommodation
There should be no hungry children,or cold children
or frightened children or scorned children
or exploited children, or trafficking of children
or adults. .

Let us appreciate that our help is in the name of JESUS
by who's grace we have come this far,
and that we have survived as long as we have
because God has a plan for our life, 

PSALM 124 Barak

The words "Praise the Lord"  serve a social function of
calling people to participate in adoration of the LORD our God.
Baruk.....praise     Barak......to bless God
Baruk sentences explicitly grounds praise in a concrete reason.
The baruk sentence is the most original and immediate
form of the praise of God, the simple joyous response to a
definite act of God which has just been experienced.
Psalm 124:6
Blessed be the LORD who has not given us as pray to their sharp teeth.
Exodus 18:10
Blessed be the LORD who has delivered us from the Egyptians.
Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the Lord.who made heaven and earth.
Concrete experience of God's intervention evokes praise.
A spontaneous response of gratitude, given what God has done,
is truly prayer.
In ritual practice or formal setting, only genuine reflection or meditation
on God's action,
could bring the same personal gratitude into the prayer.
One could meditate on Psalm 72:18
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel
who alone does wonderful things.

PSALM 123 An urgent prayer

Psalm 123 is a prayer for the community that suffers
from the proud who have ease at the community's expense.
Psalm 123:4 NRSV...Our soul has had more than its fill
of the scorn of those who are at ease,
of the contempt of the proud.
Still today in many countries, a large percentage of the
population lives in poverty and suffers violence and scorn
from " those at ease".
Even in the richest countries, the privileged publicly exhibit
scorn for those lacking equal access to the best healthcare.
Equal access is not available to the best education,
and public provision of homes is sneeringly described as
"social housing"
Psalm 123:1-2 The Orthodox Study Bible
I lift my eyes to You
Who dwell in heaven
Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hands of their masters
As the eyes of the maidservant
look to the hands of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the Lord our God.
People of faith who feel at ease today, may well pray
for those members of their own community....
the one body of Christ......
for many stand urgently in need of this prayer.

Of Men and Angels

We were made " a little lower than the angels",  Psalm 8:5
In what sense are we lower than the angels?, in strength ?
in power?,  in rank or authority?
Psalm 91:11...he will give his angels charge over you
to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 103:20-21 stresses the strength of the angels, adding
that they are acting in direct response to the commandments
of God , listening to His very voice.i.e. in His authority !
The angels are personally concerned for us,
and have a knowledge of our actions and attitudes !
Luke 15:10....I tell you, there is joy in the presence 
of the angels of God, over one sinner who repents.

But, speaking of our state in the next world, the Lord Jesus tells us;-
we shall neither marry nor be given in marriage,
Neither can they die any more:
for they are equal to the angels;
and are the children of  God,
being the children of the resurrection...Luke 20:36 KJV

PSALM 122 Jerusalem

The angel of God is mentioned in Psalm 34:7  ESV
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and delivers them.

In Psalm 35:4-8 is a prayer that  the angel of God
will not only defend the people of God,
but drive away and persue persons and forces which
threaten the life and honour  of God's people.

So, when in psalm 122, the word of God tells us to pray
for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying, not only for the
peace of unity, but the peace of security.

Psalm 122:6-7 ESV
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
May they be secure who love you !
Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers.

In the KJV Psalm 122 verse 6 is first a command
and second a prophecy.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
they shall prosper that love thee.

This is the word of God. It is addressed to all who hear or
read or sing it.  To pray for the peace of Jerusalem is to
align ourselves with the will of God.

PSALM 121 Assurance in the Spirit

Exodus 19: 3-4
Israel encamped before the mountain
while Moses went up to God.

Exodus 34:4-5
4 Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first
And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai.
5.the Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him.

Moses definitely went up the mountain where he had a personal
encounter with The Lord Our God.

Psalm 121:1-2 in metre
I to the hills will lift mine eyes
from whence doth come mine aid.
My safety cometh from the Lord
who heaven and earth hath made.

Psalm 123:1  ESV
To you I lift my eyes
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Psalm 121:5 NRSV
The LORD is your guardian
your protector at your right hand.

The psalmist knows that the Lord our God,
enthroned in heaven,
is God-With-Us at our right hand.

To lift up the eyes
frequently means;- to direct and make known
our desires to God in prayer.

Matthew 17:1-2
Jesus took Peter,  James, and John and 
led them up on a high mountain by themselves
and He was transfigured  before them.
His face shone like the sun and his clothes
became as white as the light.

Mark 6:46 ESV
And after he had taken leave of them
he ( Jesus ) went up on the mountain to pray.

We might well lift our eyes to the hills
with the psalmist.
When I go up the mountain with Jesus,
to pray,
my help cometh from the LORD
who heaven and earth hath made.

The believer who has the faith to proclaim and sing
this psalm in Spirit and truth may bring comfort and
assurance to those who hear it in times of trouble.

PSALM 120 PRAYER

Psalm 120  ( Psalm 119 in the Vulgate)  is a good prayer for Christians
who have to live as a minority in countries where they are violently oppressed.
When we  as Christians are "sent out into the world" (a hostile environment ),
this psalm is our prayer on our pilgrimage towards the New Jerusalem.
     The formula for a curse is in Ruth 1:17  1Sam 3:7 2sam 3:35  1Kings 2:23.
"May the Lord do such and such to you and more besides"
In Psalm 120 the curse formula is used;-
"What will He inflict on you and more besides"
The psalmists curse is that the shafts of God's arrows of truth(Psalm 64:8)
will prevail over the harmful arrows of the liar's sharp tongue,
And that the hot coals of judgement will come upon the wicked.

The roots of the broom bush were made into charcoal which produces an intense heat;-
to be cast upon the wicked as in Psalm 140:11.

Historically Christians have endured "a long exile" while their lands were
overrun by Saracens , Vikings, Nazis, Communists and other Godless governments.

Meshech refers to the ancient people of Northern Asia Minor
( Today Turkey, the remains of the Ottoman empire)
Kedar refers to tribesmen of the Arabian desert, regarded as barbarian and ungodly
people  by their victims, since the days of king David
to the days of the ISIS Caliphate.

Psalm 120:7
When I speak of peace they are ready for war.

These are words which could have been spoken by ;-
Clement Richard Attlee and Benjamin Netanyahu.

In all societies  "the Godly" bring peace
The wicked sow discord and adversity.

When we prayerfully review any situation,
we can often discern who is bringing peace
and who is sowing discord.

Psalm 120    NAB
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
O Lord, deliver me from the lying lip, 
from the treacherous tongue.
What will he inflict on you, with more besides,
O treacherous tongue?

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is;- (Galatians 5:22-23)
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness
gentleness and self control 
against such there is no law.

Psalm 62:2-3  NAB
2   Only in God is my soul at rest
             from him comes my salvation
3   He only is my rock and my salvation,
             my stronghold;
     I shall not be disturbed at all.

PSALM 119 Desire God's Will

When we desire to know God's will, are we facing decisions
for which we want directions from God ?
Or do we strongly want to know what God wants because
 we believe that what  He wants will be the best for everybody ?
The psalmist reveals his strong motivation to be in harmony
with God's purposes and live in God's preferred way.

The psalmist had enough fear of God
to adjust his lifestyle accordingly.
He chose not to walk in the counsel of the wicked
nor to live the way of sinners.

Psalm 119: 97-105 NIV
97     Oh, how I love your law !
         I meditate on it all day long.
98     Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
         for they are ever with me.
99     I have more insight than all my teachers,
         for I meditate on your statutes.
100   I have more understanding than the elders,
         for I obey your precepts.
101   I have kept my feet from every evil path
         so that I might obey your word.
102   I have not departed from your laws
         for you yourself have taught me.
103   How sweet are your words to my taste
         sweeter than  honey in the mouth !
104   I gain understanding from your precepts;
         therefore I hate every wrong path.
105   Your word is a lamp to my feet
         and a light for my path.

Charles Spurgeon, in his exposition of psalm 119:97-104,
wrote;- "Familiarity with the word of God breeds affection
and affection seeks greater familiarity."
Spurgeon wrote ; "our teachers are not always to be trusted.....
when even our pilots err, it behooves us to follow closely the
 chart of the word of God, that we may be able to save the vessel.

     True hearts are not indifferent to anything that contradicts
the will of God. Today every Christian needs discernment to
 distinguish the wholesome will of God from falsehood and error.

Jesus Christ is supreme wisdom, boundless goodness and infinite love.
He can neither be deceived nor will He deceive us.

Colossians 3:24  NIV
It is the Lord Jesus you are serving.

Colossians 4:2   NIV
Devote yourselves to prayer being watchful and thankful.
Proclaim the mystery of Christ.
6  Let your conversation be always full of grace......

In humility we should stand in the will of God
consecrated to the Lord our God.

PSALM 119 Deliverance from human oppression

Psalm 119:134   NRSV
                                       Redeem me from human oppression.

Psalm 120:2      NRSV
                                       "Deliver me, O LORD,
                                       from lying lips,
                                       from a deceitful tongue."

Psalm 142:6     NRSV
                                       Give heed to my cry,
                                            for I am brought low.
                                       Save me from my persecutors,
                                            for they are too strong for me.

Psalm 3:7-8     NRSV
                                     Rise up, O LORD !
                                           Deliver me, O my God !
                                     For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
                                           You break the teeth of the wicked.
                                     Deliverance belongs to the LORD;
                                           may your blessing be on your people !

Psalm 59:1-2  NRSV
                                   1  Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
                                       protect me from those who rise up against me.
                                   2  Deliver me from those who work evil;
                                       from the bloodthirsty save me.

Psalm 17:13   NRSV
                                       By your sword deliver my life from the wicked.

Psalm 119:133-135  NRSV

                             . . . . .never let iniquity have dominion over me.
134                                Redeem me from human oppression,
                                      that I may keep your precepts.
135                                Make your face shine upon your servant,
                                      and teach me your statutes.

                    In order to be totally in harmony with the will of God,
                    with His way, with His order,
                    totally in harmony with His plans for society,
                    and for the future of the world,
                    the psalmist asks;- to be delivered from human oppression,
                                                  and to be taught God's statutes. . . . . . . .

The above verses are the word of God and are appropriate to be prayed by and for
the people of the Lord who are suffering oppression, persecution, violence and
other works of evil. Several verses in Psalm 17 may be spoken into such situations.

Psalm 17: 7,8,9,13,  NRSV
7     Wondrously show your steadfast love,
       O Saviour of those who seek your refuge
       from their adversaries, at your right hand.
8     Guard me as the apple of the eye;
        hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9      from the wicked who despoil me,
        and from my deadly enemies who surround me.
13    Rise up, O LORD confront them, overthrow them!
        By your sword deliver my life from the wicked.

PSALM 119 Give me life

Psalm 119:25  NIV
I am laid low in the dust 
         preserve my life according to your word.

give me life STRONGS  2421            your testimonies  STRONGS  5713
keep alive,                                         God has spoken !
suffer to live, 
preserve alive

Psalm 119:37  ESV
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things
         and give me life in your ways.
give me life STRONGS 2421            in your way   STRONGS 1870

Psalm 119:40  ESV
Behold, I long for your precepts;
          in your righteousness give me life
your precepts STRONGS 6480       give me life   STRONGS 2421
what God has appointed to be done.

Psalm 119:88  NIV
Preserve my life according to your love,
          and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.
give me life STRONGS  2421         the testimony of your mouth STRONGS  6310   5715

Psalm 86:2  NIV
Guard my life for I am devoted to you.

Psalm 119:107  NLT
I have suffered much, O LORD,
          restore my life again , just as you promised.
give me life STRONGS 2421       O JEHOVA,  STRONGS 3068      by your word STRONGS 1697

Psalm 119:149  NLT
In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry;
in your justice, save my life.
by your judgement STRONGS 4941      give me life  STRONGS 2421
According to your law   ENGLISH
According to your torah   HEBREW
According to your instruction  TRANSLATION

Psalm 119:154 NIV
Defend my cause and redeem me,
preserve my life according to your promise.
give me life STRONGS 2421     by your word STRONGS 565

Psalm 119:156 NLT
Lord, how great is your mercy;
in your justice, give me back my life.
give me life STRONGS 2421     and redeem me STRONGS 1350

Psalm 143:11 TLV
For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness bring me out of this distress.

PSALM 119 The psalmist's "hours"

Psalm 119:55 NKJV     I remember Your name in the night O, LORD. 

                  62               At midnight I will rise

                                     to give thanks to You.

                  97               Oh how I love Your law!

                                     It is my meditation all the day.

                  147             I rise before the dawning of the morning

                                     And cry for help.

                  148             My eyes are awake through the night watch

                                     That I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 134:1-2 NKJV

                                     Behold, bless the LORD

                                     All you servants of the LORD

                                     Who by night stand in the house of the LORD

                                     Lift up your hands in the sanctuary

                                     And bless the LORD.

                  

PSALM 119 Meditation

PSALM 119 NKJV    
Verses relating to meditation and the will of God.

15     I will meditate on Your precepts
         And contemplate Your ways.
23     Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24     Your testimonies also are my delight
         and my counselors.
27     Make me understand the way of Your precepts
         So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
38     Establish Your word to Your servant.
48     My hands also I will lift up
         to your commandments which I love
         And I will meditate on Your statutes.
78     I will meditate on Your precepts.
97     Oh, how I love Your law!
         It is my meditation all the day.
99     For Your testimonies are my meditation.
103   How sweet are Your words to my taste.
105   Your word is a lamp to my feet
         And a light to my path.
148   My eyes are awake through the night watches
         That I may meditate on Your word.
162   I rejoice in Your word
         As one who finds great treasure.

PSALM 119:160 Discerning TRUTH

Psalm 119:160 KJV
Thy word is true from the beginning:
and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

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

The word  of the Lord is a source of life that never languishes,
 because it is fed by infinite truth that continues for ever,
 therefor, it can never be exhausted
no matter how many drink from the life giving fountain.
                                                                                          NCV footnotes.
There are people who are quite dead to the truth of God.
You can tell who they are.
they do not rise up to praise God.
There are homes where the loving kindness of God
is not declared,
where the faithfulness of God is not proclaimed,
because the truth of His loving kindness and faithfulness
is not known or appreciated or accepted !
Are God's wonders known in such darkness?

There are people who are quite alive to the truth of God.
You can tell who they are..
Their lives are full and overflowing with the joy of the Lord.
Their homes are places of love and healing.
There are believers who are strong witnesses
for all the wonderful things which God has done in their lives.
Their hearts are a place where the saving justice of Jesus
is known and shared.
Rise up and praise God.

Psalm 140:13 NLT
Surely the godly are praising thy name
for they will live in your presence.

Psalm 119 NLT
11     I have hidden your word in my heart
         that I might not sin against you.

16     I will delight in your principles
         and not forget your word
17     Be good to your servant 
         that I may live and obey your word.
18     Open my eyes to see
         the wonderful truths in your law.

79     Let me be reconciled
         with all who fear you and know your decrees.

105   Your word is a lamp for my feet
         and a light for my path.

114   You are my refuge and my shield:
         your word is my only source of hope.

PSALM 118:22 According to Peter and Paul.

Psalm 118:22 GNB
The stone which the builders rejected as worthless
turned out to be the most important of all.

Luke 20:17 GNB
Jesus looked at them and asked,
"What, then, does this scripture mean?
     "the stone which the builders rejected as worthless
       turned out to be the most important of all !"

Acts 4:11 GNB
Jesus is the one of whom the scriptures says
"The stone that you the builders despised
   turned out to be the most important of all.

Ephesians 2:20 NLT
Together we are his house, built on the foundations of the apostles
and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
We are carefully joined together in him
becoming a holy temple for the Lord.

The reference in Ephesians 2:20 is to psalm 118:22
which in the King James Version reads;-
The stone which the builders refused 
is become the head stone of the corner.

1 Peter 2:4-7 GNB
4 Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people
   as worthless but chosen by God as valuable.
5 Come as living stones, and let yourself be used in building
   the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests 
   to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God
   through Jesus Christ
6 For scripture says ;- 
"I chose a valuable stone which I am placing in Zion
  and whoever believes in  him will not be disappointed"
7 This stone which the builders rejected as worthless
   turned out to be the most important of all."

                TRINITY
The believers, the church, as members of the royal priesthood
offers its worship, prayer and service   in the Holy Spirit , to the Father
through  our Lord Jesus Christ the High Priest.
Jude offers words to define the church in the context of the Trinity.

JUDE 1-2  GNB
To those who have been called by God,
who live in the love of God the Father
and the protection of Jesus Christ.
May mercy , peace , and love be yours
in full measure.

PSALM 118:6 According to Paul

Hebrews   13:6   NIV
God has said,
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence
"The LORD is my helper; I will not be afraid
What can man do to me?

PSALM 118:6 NIV
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD
        and he answered  by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid
        What can man do to me ?

PSALM 117 (118) Septuagint.
   The Lord is my helper;
   and I will not fear what men shall do to me.

Psalm 118: 8-9 NIV
8   It is better to take refuge in the LORD
        than to trust in man.
9   It is better to take refuge in the LORD
        than to trust in princes.

With Paul we say;-"The LORD is my helper".