PSALM 35 In Time of Persecution

We pray for the people of God in various parts
of the world, who are experiencing discrimination and
segregation, malpractice and injustice, oppression
and persecution, forced confession and torture.
In many countries ,underprivileged Christians suffer
underprivileged housing, underprivileged education,
underprivileged medical care  and underprivileged
job opportunities .
Yet, not only do we turn to God to seek refuge in Him,....
He is with us in our situations and we can see that
God will always be with us.

God's people fast and pray for our oppressors.
Psalm 35 : 13 The New Jerusalem Bible
But I, when they were ill, had worn sackcloth 
   and mortified myself with fasting,
praying ever anew in my heart,
   as if for a friend or brother; ...... 

We pray as servants of God (Psalm 35:27)

Matthew 5:44 NJB
But I say this to you, Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you;

But unprovoked persecution of Christians
continues today in the face of prayer and
in spite of the generosity of Christian aid.
Our oppressors do not see the manifestations
 of  God that we see.
Psalm 35:5-6 NJB
5   May they be like chaff  before the wind,
with the angel of Yahweh to chase them 
May their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of  Yahweh to hound them.

    God is not mocked !

Psalm 34:7 NJB
The angel of the LORD encamps
     round those who fear him.
         and delivers them.

We have spent our lives praying that the LORD'S will be done.
 Here in psalm 35 we must leave things in the hands of God
In the face of pain, rape, forced marriage and bombed churches.......
            O LORD, THY WILL BE DONE
            ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN,
,,,,,,and it will be so.
Terrorists, extremists, and  suicide bombers
will face the judgement of God.                        AMEN.

PSALM 34 Taste and see

May every person come to live in the context of Your presence, LORD.

Psalm 34:18     The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.

May we all be awake , physically, mentally and spiritually
to your presence, God with us.

Psalm 34:3       O magnify the Lord with me 
                                 and let us extol his name together.

In grateful joy we bless the Lord at all times (v1)
mentally,  with our thoughts,
physically, with our mouth and voice,......
and,   one in the Spirit.

Psalm 34:8      Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.
Gustate et videte quoniam sauvis est Dominus beatus vir qui sperat eo.

In the end "to  taste and see that the Lord is good"
is to experience the life of Christ within us.
For as we invite God into our lives,
we surrender ourselves to Him.
and we begin  to "taste Him"
 and to experience Him for who He is;-
our Creator, Redeemer and enabling Counselor.
The giving of one's self to the Lord
is a permanent thing.
From the moment we ask Jesus to come into our heart,
our life is for evermore bathed in the light of Christ's presence.

Psalm 34:5  Those who look to Him are radiant.

We are bathed in the light of Christ's presence.

1 Peter 2: 1,2,3 N.I.V.
1      Therefore,  rid yourselves of all malice 
        and all deceit , hypocrisy, envy and 
        slander of any kind.
2     Like newborn babies , crave  for  pure
       spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up
       into  your salvation----
3     now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

This psalm is all about our personal life with God.
The very name Immanuel indicates God's everlasting
intent to be God-With-Us .
The invitation to "taste and see" indicates God's intention
that this should  be our personal experience .

Psalm 34 N.I.V.
15   The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous

22   no one will be condemned who take refuge in Him.
                                  

PSALM 33 Family of God

In Psalm 32, gratitude is expressed for being admitted to a
community of forgiveness and reconciliation.
In Psalm 33, there is comfort in being able to trust that
the Lord's plans are beneficial for us individually, and
for all humankind.
The Lord's victory is victory for each of us and  victory
for every community which put's it's trust in Him, and in the
working out of His purposes in heaven and on earth.
We pray;
 Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

In Psalm 33, we enter a community of Joy, because we are
a blessed nation whose hope is in His loving kindness.
We are a community of people where every heart rejoices in Him.
.
Psalm 33:21 N.A.S.B.
For our hearts rejoice in Him
because we trust in His holy name.

2nd Corinthians 6:16  + 18 NASB
For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
     "I will dwell in them and walk among them
       And I will be their God
       and they shall be my people.
18   And I will be a father to you
       And you shall be my sons and daughters to me.
       Says  the Lord Almighty.

Those who are begotten of God, are children of God.
For us the gates of God's kingdom are open
for we are the family of God.

Psalm 33:22 NIV
May your unfailing love rest upon us ,O Lord
even as we put our hope in you.

Human plans can easily come to naught, but
God's plans are eternal.

Psalm 33:10-11 NASB
       The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
       He frustrates the plans of the peoples,
       The counsel of the LORD stands forever
       The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
       Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.

The Lord brings the counsel of nations to nothing.      Ps 33:10
Come out from their midst and be separated            2 Cor 6:17
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord                 Ps33:12
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation.                                                               1 Pet 2:9
Not every generation has the choice not to be bound
to those nations which will be brought to nothing.

PSALM 33 The Counsel of The LORD

Psalm 33  (32)  The Grail Translation
6        the word of the LORD   is faithful
          By God's word  the heavens were made.
          By the breath of his mouth all the stars.
9        God spoke ;  it came to be.
          God commanded;   it sprang into being
11      The counsel of the LORD  stands forever
          The plans of God's heart  from  age to age
21      Our hearts find joy in the Lord
          We trust in  God's holy name. 

The "Word of God" is the will or purpose or plan of God.
The scriptures are "The word of God"
and Jesus is the "Word of God"

Reading  Psalm 33 , we are reminded of  
the creative power of the word of God .
God's spoken word brings galaxies into being.
The will, purpose and plan of God, stands from age to age.
We can trust His authority and power, because his will for us
is  wholesome, caring, and full of sacrificial love !

Psalm 33:10
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing
He makes the plans of the people to no effect
Psalm 33:11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever
The plans of His heart to all generations.

Down the centuries, whole communities of people have laboured
in obedience to their national leaders, building what was to become
...famous ruins.
The Teotihuacan in Mexico, Pompeii in Italy, The Acropolis in Greece
Machn Picchu inPeru,  The Pyramids of Giza and Carthage in Tunisia.
As Robert Burns pointed out "the best laid plans of mice and men
gang oft a-gley...often come to nothing.

But those in the counsel of the Lord are themselves added
Isaiah 28:16  ... to a precious cornerstone of sure foundation.

Ephesians 3:20-22   .....built on the foundations of the apostles
and prophets, with Christ  Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone
21, In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become
a holy temple of the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built
 together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

No wonder the people of God, come to trust in God's Holy Name.
In His power and authority, the plans of God's heart are established
and come to fruition from age to age.
Psalm 33 encourages us not to take our own counsel
but to accept the counsel of God.

Our God is still called Wonderful Counselor and has never stopped being
our Wonderful counselor.
The church is most alive today where He is in practice
The wonderful counselor of His people.
         

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.