Psalm 140 “God, Our Strong Deliverer”

“Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men; who devise evil things in their hearts; They continually stir up wars. They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips.” (vv. 1-3)

Maybe you've heard the well-known Civil War story about the person who asked Abraham Lincoln whether he thought God was on the side of the Union or the Confederacy. Lincoln is said to have replied that he wasn't concerned about whose side God was on; he was far more concerned that he was on God's side.

David was definitely on God's side--so much so that he could pray that God would defeat the plans of his enemies and bring these evil people down to judgment. David looked to God as his strong deliverer to protect him in battle, vindicate his trust in God, and deal with the violent, evil, and proud men who were out to destroy him. In other words, he left it to God.

While our detractors are probably not as numerous or as dangerous as David's were, you and I still have our own persecution to deal with by those hostile to the faith. But, no matter what our circumstances are, like David, we have a strong “deliverer” in the Lord, who “shields our head in the day of battle"(v. 7).

I thank God for this reassuring aspect of His character, and rest in the fact that vindication is His.

The Truth:  “O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10)

Psalm 139 “God Knows Yet Loves Man”

“O lord, You have searched me, and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, You are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (vv. 1-6)

There is no better feeling in the world than to know you are completely known and completely loved. God already knows every horrible thing we’ve ever done or will do and yet still he loves us more than we will ever understand.

Sometimes it’s easier to believe that we aren’t good enough for God than to accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. But God loved us before we knew him, and had a plan to save us before we realized we needed saving. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What an awesome Heavenly Father we have. King of Kings, Lord of Lords, who knows how many hairs are on our heads right now (or not as the case may be), the unconfessed sin in our hearts, and loves us all the same. Knowing that, how can we not give our best for Him who has done so much for us?

The Truth: “And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

Psalm 138 “Confidence in God”

“Though I walk in the middle of trouble, You will revive me: You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand shall save me.” (v. 7)

David, "walked in the middle of trouble" during most of his life. And what God had done for him many times before, David expresses confidently (here in our text), He would do for him again; revive him, protect him, and defeat his enemies.

What great encouragement for us to confidently believe the same. I’m sure we could all look back over our lives and see how His Word has strengthen us, lifted us up, and provided us victory over our past troubles. Which gives us the confidence, like David, that God will continue to revive, strengthen, and deliver us in the future as well.

Therefore, like David, we can say with confidence, "Though I walk in the middle of trouble, Your right hand will save me."

The Truth: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Psalm 137 “Sorrow Turns to Joy”

“By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" (vv. 1-3)

Psalm 137 is a rather sobering Psalm; as the Israelite captives were ready to cross over the rivers leading into Babylon, they sat down and wept remembering Zion. To add to their grief, their captors were ridiculing them by asking them to sing one of the songs of Zion.

Music, especially singing, is a very important part of Jewish customs, traditions, worship, and life. Their songs are upbeat, very rhythmical, joyful, a part of almost every aspect of their lives. Plus, they really just love to sing. But as stated in Ecclesiastes, there’s a time to sing, and times when you don’t feel like singing, and if forced to do so, it just isn’t the same.

While being held captive, God’s people were thinking of the desolation of Jerusalem, and it was hard to sing of the joys of the land, of the blessings and prosperity, or the goodness of God while defeated, captured, and enslaved. And so while in Babylon, the songs were silent, until freedom and restoration came through the LORD.

I too have experienced this same loss of joy, this same feeling of sorrow, and lack of desire to rejoice in all things. A time when singing was just not something I could do. That morning, weeping, and lamenting were all I could manage – Until spiritual restoration came to my soul through Jesus Christ. Then, just as the time of captivity was ended for the Jews after 70 years due to their sin, and they returned to Jerusalem, so my captivity was ended and I returned to the LORD.

Oh how happy is the man who's joy is in the LORD.

The Truth: “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)

Psalm 136 “His Mercy Endures Forever”

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (v. 1)

This psalm begins and ends with the same thought: being thankful for God’s mercy. Throughout the entire psalm we find the repeated phrase, "For His mercy endures forever.” This phrase becomes the chores of the song, and is repeated in all twenty-six verses. The purpose of the psalm was to impress upon all who sang it a certain thought or idea. And by the time one would sing it through, the intended result would be a strong reminder that God’s mercy does truly endure forever.

The same is true for us in all situations, under all circumstances, “God’s mercy endures forever.” Take a moment to write your own psalm by making a list of God's blessings, protections, and provisions upon your life. Then at the end of each listing write the words "His mercy endures forever." Truly, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22.

Chapter-A-Day will continue on Friday in chapter 137 of the psalms. Hope you can read along. Have another "blessed day."

Chris

Psalm 135 “The Idols of Nations”

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak: Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” (vv. 15-18)

In contrast to the greatness of God, we see the idols of man are death, dumb, and blind. This scripture tells us that if you trust in them, you will become like them, taking on their characteristics. That is why it is so important to worship the true and the living God.

John tells us in 1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we going to be. But, we know that when He is revealed, we will be like Him." Serving the true and the living God is such a blessing. Every day has meaning, and His Word provides knowledge and direction for life.

How tragic to see men worshipping power, wealth, pleasure. Becoming like their gods, being obsessed by lust, greed, and position. Just look around and you will see it in every aspect of society; politics, business, sports, and unfortunately even in the church, as some men use their influence to acquire what they want as opposed to what God may want.

Just remember this, whatever you worship, you will become like it. So I guess the question is, “What do you want to be like?”

The Truth: "But we, with open face beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed from glory to glory into the same image."  (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Psalm 134 “Bless the LORD”

“Bless the Lord, all you which by night stand in the house of the Lord.”
(v. 1)

This hymn was composed for the night-watch of the Temple, for those that had gone to relieve the Levites who had been in charge during the day. In it, the psalmist calls upon those who stand by night to “lift up their hands in the sanctuary and bless the LORD” (v. 2).

Who among us today are the night-watch of the LORD? Who stands before Him in praise and prayer while the busy workers of the day are slumbering? Who seeks His blessing on the work of the past day, and the coming one? The sleepless suffers are God’s night watch, those who have been called to praise and prayer in the night, to lift up their hands and stand in the gap before the LORD.

What a blessing it is when men of the church commit themselves to stand in the house of the LORD by night. Sacrificing sleep to take a shift of prayer for the body of Christ and His church. The final verse of this psalm tells us, there comes back to those who stand by night, the assurance that the Lord (which made heaven and earth) shall bless (v. 3).

It is impossible for Him who made heaven and earth, not to bless the souls He created. Simply put, He cannot fail to bless those that bless. Indeed, their hearts, like sounding boards, reflect His own. Therefore, stand watch. Lift up your hands and bless the LORD.

The Truth: “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2)

Psalm 133 “Brotherly Love”

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.” (v. 1) 

This Psalm, composed by David, has it’s message motivated by the happy occasion of the ending of the civil war between the two houses of Saul and David. The psalmist, having felt the sad effects of discord and division, expresses the great blessing of reconciliation and unity.

It is so sad when the church, or members within it’s body become entangled into a “war” of sorts with others. The affect of division and discord not only hurt the church from within, but it also does great harm to its witness and ministry to others. 

We are all imperfect beings, and some discord and unpleasantness is sure to rear its ugly head from time to time in the church, as well as in our relationship with others. But, this is easily neutralized by the true brotherly love. May we remember, a church united in the earnest love of the Lord and for each other, is a well of goodness and joy to all those who dwell in and round about it.

The Truth: “Let brotherly love continue.” (Hebrews 13:1)