Psalm 23

It is the most famous Psalm in the book of Psalm.  It is a song.  Everything about it is peaceful.  It is read at funerals, baptisms, and weddings.  It brings comfort and peace.  Read the words again and let it sink in.  There is nothing more to say.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.
 ⁴ Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.
 ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

Reminding Us

Psalm 22:16 -18

 ¹⁶ Dogs have surrounded me;
       a band of evil men has encircled me,
       they have pierced my hands and my feet.

 ¹⁷ I can count all my bones;
       people stare and gloat over me.

 ¹⁸ They divide my garments among them
       and cast lots for my clothing. 

Throughout the Old Testament, there are many references to Christ and all that he goes through.  This may or not be one of them.  If not, it is a striking similarity.  I love how God reminds us again, and again of what he will do for us.  How Christ will love us enough to endure the most humiliating and horrific actions so we won't.

²⁵ From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
       before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

 ²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied;
       they who seek the LORD will praise him—
       may your hearts live forever!

 ²⁷ All the ends of the earth
       will remember and turn to the LORD,
       and all the families of the nations
       will bow down before him,

 ²⁸ for dominion belongs to the LORD
       and he rules over the nations. 

Praise always surrounds whatever God does for us.  So today, don't forget to praise him for what he did for you.

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Concerned Parenting

Psalm 21 shows a lot of confidence that King David had in God.  Do we have that kind of trust?  Probably not.  I can say that I trust in God, but how do I show it?  Do I sit around, doing nothing, waiting for God to "give" me insight or direction?  Where would this message come from?  Would I get it from reading the scriptures?  That is a yes, but for a specific task?  Am I to take a situation and make a Bible verse or verses fit around it? 

The Junior High at Monroe, specifically the 8th grade class is reading a book I deem questionable.  I am in the middle of email teachers and the principal to find out more before I judge what is actually being done and how the book is being taught.  I usually have found that if I ask a lot of questions and talk to the teachers and staff, I can discern what is an issue and what is just chatter of the kids.  Timm has told me some things in this book that I am surprised to find.  I won't mention anything about them here, but I have actually talked two at least two other children in other English classes and I am hearing the same thing from all of them.  "It's awkward."  "It's disturbing."  "...we have to be mature about this."  That raised my eyebrows and my need to question this.  It may end up being nothing.  But, I want a few things noted to the school.  a) I am aware of what is going on in the school and in classes, and b) I will ask questions and be involved in my child's academics. 

This also may be no more than what happened in the movie Footloose.  That is where a teenager from the city came to live in a small rural town in mid-Bible-belt America.  Loud music and dancing were outlawed because teens were killed coming home from a concert they snuck out to see.  I don't want to see myself as the person who starts an uproar, but I don't want the children of my community to be exposed to things that they may not be ready for.  I am going to read this book for myself too, because I want to fully understand what message this book is sending.  It may be just a few pages of thought-provoking nothing, but it may be something I want to thoroughly talk to Timm about.  I want to make sure God's ways are also seen and how this book is fiction and nothing more.  But it is cause for concern.  I just need to make sure that we make the right decision for our son.

 ⁷ For the king trusts in the LORD;
       through the unfailing love of the Most High
       he will not be shaken. 

This verse is what I will hold on to this week as I go through this.  I trust the Lord; He will love me no matter what and I will stand firm.  Wish me luck!

Are You Battle Ready?

Psalm 20

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 ¹ May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
       may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

 ² May he send you help from the sanctuary
       and grant you support from Zion.

 ³ May he remember all your sacrifices
       and accept your burnt offerings.
       Selah

 ⁴ May he give you the desire of your heart
       and make all your plans succeed.

 ⁵ We will shout for joy when you are victorious
       and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
       May the LORD grant all your requests.

 ⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
       he answers him from his holy heaven
       with the saving power of his right hand.

 ⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
       but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

 ⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
       but we rise up and stand firm.

 ⁹ O LORD, save the king!
       Answer us when we call!

I don't know if I am right, but this sounds like a song that would be sung to the soldiers that are getting ready to go out to do battle.  This may be to send them off with the confidence of the Lord.  How often do we face something with this kind of confidence?  The assurance that God will be there for you with you feel in trouble or the certainty that God saves his chosen people is not likely to come up to our minds at first.  Maybe the people sending them off knew that and sang this song for them to boost their spirits.  

I love verses 7 and 8.  Some people put their faith in tangible items, but our faith should be in the name of the Lord.  When the enemies fall, Christians will rise.  We as go through our "fights" today, remember that battle is already won if we have put our trust and confidence in God.

Qualities of God

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 ¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
       the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

 ² Day after day they pour forth speech;
       night after night they display knowledge.

 ³ There is no speech or language
       where their voice is not heard.

 ⁴ Their voice goes out into all the earth,
       their words to the ends of the world.
       In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

 ⁵ which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
       like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

 ⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
       and makes its circuit to the other;
       nothing is hidden from its heat.

 ⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
       reviving the soul.
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
       making wise the simple.

 ⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
       giving joy to the heart.
       The commands of the LORD are radiant,
       giving light to the eyes.

 ⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
       enduring forever.
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure
       and altogether righteous.

 ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
       than much pure gold;
       they are sweeter than honey,
       than honey from the comb.

 ¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.

 ¹² Who can discern his errors?
       Forgive my hidden faults.

 ¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
       may they not rule over me.
       Then will I be blameless,
       innocent of great transgression.

 ¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

       be pleasing in your sight, 

    O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

 

What a powerful psalm.  The qualities of God are described in this chapter. 

 

1. The glory of God shows the honor due him.
2.  The work of his hand tells he is the Creator.
3. Verses 2 through 6 talks of God's light shining like the sun that nothing is dark in him.
4. He is perfect, trustworthy, right, giving life to our souls, making his ways simple to understand, and being a joy-giver.
5. God's commands are radiant, pure and righteous.
6. His ways are more sought after than gold and much more pure.
7. His commands are sweeter than honey. 
8. Lastly, the Lord is our Rock and Redeemer. 

Praise be to God!

iFellowship Wednesday!

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