When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.  Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.  (NIV)

This is the 7th psalm of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms

As one reads this verse look at your captivity as the bondage that sin had passed upon us and the freedom we have because of Christ. When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden God did not leave them without hope since he promised a seed to woman that would someday bruise Satan’s head. He did the same with Judah when they were carried away by the Nebuchadnezzar’s army to Babylon. He promised that a remnant would return. This is also true of us as believers today. We are free from the penalty of death because of Christ and have the gift to walk in freeness of life from this sinful nature by the power of the Holy Spirit. This walk is outlined for the believer in Galatians chapter Five.

The fruit of the Spirit The works of the flesh (sinful nature)

Love Fornication

Joy Uncleanness

Peace Lasciviousness

Longsuffering Idolatry

Kindness Sorcery

Goodness Enmities

Faithfulness Strife

Meekness Jealousies

Self-Control Wraths

Factions

Divisions

Parties

Envying

Drunkenness

Reveling

As I read the second half of verse two “Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” I have to go to the prophecy found in Ezekiel 37:28 “Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.” This is probably one of the prophecy that the writer of this Psalm was thinking of when he wrote this Psalm. We also as believers have this hope and promise of a new heaven and a new earth found in Revelation chapter twenty one. The beauty of this new heaven and new earth is that God dwelling is with man and he will live with us. The old order of things will be passed away. Who will make up this new environment? The answer is found in verse twenty seven. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” So until then, live a blameless life so that people around you can see that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and that the peace this gives you in your daily walk will also become the peace that they desire to have in their life.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.  The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.  Do well, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.  But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel. (NIV)

This is the 6th psalm of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms

As I consider verse three “for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil” I recall Ephesians 2:1-22 and Ephesians 6:11, 12. In Ephesians 2:1-22 Paul reminds us that our walk before coming to Christ was according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience. However; after coming to Christ, we are now fellow-citizens with the saints and belong to the household of God. However, because of our change in citizenship we are now in a battle against the world of our past. As Paul states in Ephesians 6:11-18 we must stand against the wiles of the devil. Our warfare is no longer a struggle against the things in our life that keeps us away from God, but it is against the principalities and powers of wickedness in the heavenly places. As our country moves farther away from God it becomes easier for the righteous to turn and use their hands to do evil. However, Christians must remember that in these times we must do well and remain upright in heart. Remember that it is the Lord who judges the ways of the wicked and banish them from his presence; and that the task we must seek is not judgment but to do well and be upright in heart. Our battle is against the principalities and powers of wickedness in the heavenly places not trying to correct the evils of this world. We are not of this world but like Abraham we are looking for the new heaven and the new earth.

If the LORD had not been on our side let Israel say if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,  when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;  the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging waters would have swept us away.  Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.  We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.  Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  (NIV)

This is the 5th psalm of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms

As I read this Psalm I reflect back to one of the darkest moments of my life. It was at this time in my life I had to make some major decisions. One of those decisions led to the creation of the website my5dailypsalms. Having been in a Christian environment all my life some of the greatest truths of the scripture escape me. One of these truth is how much the Word speaks to the individual who daily studies the scriptures.

In this 5th psalm of the Song of Ascents the psalmist focuses on the phase “if the Lord had not been on our side”. This psalm does not focus on victory, but on protection and the deliverance from evil. It was in my darkest moment that I realized that I had been fighting for the things in life that I desired and not the close relationship to God that He desires for my life. As I reflect upon this Psalm I realize how important the Bible as well as the great songs of the faith have been in my life. One of the greatest joys I had at church in my youth was the music and the lyrics of these songs. One of these song Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus written by Helen Lemmel reflects how our Christian walk should be like in this world:

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s a light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; over us sin no more hath dominion— for more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

The closer the relationship we have with God the farther the desires of the world will be in our life; however the closer the relationship we have with the things of this earth the farther our relationship becomes with God. So as we stay in His Word and reflect upon the great hymns of the faith we will realize that the things of this world will grow strangely dim as we grow in our relationship with Him.

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.  As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy.  Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.  We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.

 This is the 4th psalm of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms.

As I read this psalm today I realized how simple our prayers should be. With all the issues of life that we face daily we must realize in the end that it is only our tunnel vision that can get us pass the clutter that these issues place in our daily life. Jesus during his time on earth faced many of the same distractions that we face in our everyday existence. However, Christ ministry was only focused on one purpose and that purpose was the cross for the glory of God. Paul writes about this in Philippians chapter two verses five through eleven:

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Also from these verses in Philippians we observe that we need to be like Christ who took on the role of a servant and not that of the master. Therefore today no matter what happens in the daily events of your life focus your vision to God’s throne. Become a servant that God can use and obedient to Him. In other words learn the simple rule of trust and obey. Live a blameless life and God will open doors of opportunities for you to serve.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”  Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.  That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.  There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.  May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”  For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”  For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity. (NIV)

This is the 3rd psalm of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms.

As I read verse one I reflect back to my early years that I went to church as a young child. As a child church was a place of worship and this was an event that we treasured every Sunday. It was a day set aside to worship the Lord and to praise him. As a child I was sheltered from most of the problems of this world, and not aware of any of the issues that were in the world around me. I was allowed to enjoy life as a child.

I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD watches over you the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (NIV)

This is the 2nd psalm of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms.

This psalm shows us how much God watches over us. Yes we do have angels that attend to our needs, but it is the Lord that watches over us not his angels. Read Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not look down on these little ones.” “ For I tell you that their angels in heaven always look to the face of my father in heaven.” and you will see that it is God who watches over us not angels. The angels are looking to God for directions. With this in mind should not we also be looking to God for directions in everything we do as we walk the path of life that he has placed before us.

In a world of uncertainty ask yourself where is the answer to your problems and the issues you face in life? Do we really look to the Lord to meet our everyday needs? As I was reading Psalms 119 yesterday verse one introduces the reader to the true purpose of this Psalm. The purpose is to help and strengthen the one who wants to live a blameless life and who wants to walk in the way of the Lord.

This psalm helps illustrates the personal relationship an individual can have with God. The individual relationship that David had with God can be seem throughout his writings as well as the other authors of the Psalms. Yet it is not only an individual relationship that we share with God, but also a national relationship as seen by verse four of this Psalm. God does watch over the nations. This Psalm illustrates the importance of looking to God for deliverance. But what do we do then our nation as a whole rejects God ways? Christ gives us the answer is given in Luke chapter thirteen verses one through nine:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spoke also this parable; a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbered it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shall cut it down.

In these verses we are given two events, one political and one natural where Christ was asked the reason why these happened. His reply was simply, do not worry about why these events are happening, or what caused them, but instead make sure you repent. In other words we need to focus on our relationships with God and our fellowmen. The parable of the fig tree also shows how much the servant is willing to just do to save the tree under his care. This is the same care Christ has for us when we place ourselves under his leadership.

I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.  Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.  What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?  He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree.  Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!  Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.  I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

This is the 1st of the fifteen Song of Ascents psalms. This psalm can have a special meaning to those individuals who have faced a time in their life where the lies and deceitful actions of others has caused and created destructive circumstances in their life. In verses one and two the psalmist calls to the Lord in his distress with the request to deliver him from lying lips and deceitful tongues. One of the pitfalls I now realized in dealing with people who use deceptive practices is the idea that the truth will prevail. Verse two describes these people as having lying lips and a deceitful tongue. These people uses the same methods as Satan practices. Paul states this same type of description of the false prophets in the early church found in II Corinthians 11:13-15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”. The pitfall that we face is that we expect that truth will prevail over deceitful tongues and lying lips almost immediately. That is not the case. If this is true then the real question we must face is how we deal with people in our life you use lies and deceitful actions to get their way. The answer is not easy.

One of the issues I discovered is that people who used deceptive ways are cunnings. Psalm 64 describes their ways as a perfectly devised plan. So be careful in dealing with people in your life those that use lies and deceitful actions to get their way. It is better to turn the issue over to the Lord then to handle it yourself. This is the action that the psalmist is describing here in verse three when he states “What will he (the Lord) do to you and what more besides”. Leaving judgment in God’s hands may seem impossible at the time, however, this is the action that David practiced in dealing with people who use lies and deceitful actions to get their ways.

One of the timeless truths that comes from this psalm is the wonder of God’s grace in our life. By waiting on God to take action we will not only see righteousness prevail, but we can also experience the peace that his grace affords use. The words of the song He Giveth More Grace by Annie J. Flint described to us how boundless his grace ready can be.

1. He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision, Our God ever yearns His resources to share; Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing; The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
4. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again
5. So wait on the Lord and watch his grace grow in your life which will give you a much richer life.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.  But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them and so will all who trust in them. ⁹ O house of Israel, trust in the LORD -he is their help and shield.  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD -he is their help and shield. You who fear him trust in the LORD – he is their help and shield.  The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the LORD – small and great alike.  May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children.  May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man.  It is not the dead who praise the LORD those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore.  (NIV)

Praise the LORD.

In chapter one of his book Knowledge of The Holy, A.W. Tozer writes:

That our idea of God correspond as nearly as possible to the true being of God is of immense importance to us. Compared with our actual thoughts about Him, our creedal statements are of little consequence. Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God.

By studying God’s Word daily we get to look into his mirror of truth. It is amazing how the first impression of the people we meet are later changed as we grow to know the other person better. If we get pass the first impression our personal relationship with that person will usually deepen and grow richer. This is also true of our idea of God. This relationship grows once we learn the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom. In today’s reading the phrase fear of the Lord or fear the Lord is used in Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 115 and Proverb 23. So as a starting point in developing a better relationship with God ask yourself this question “What does the fear of the Lord mean to me?” Therefore as I study the Psalms and the rest of God’s Word I must start off with a fear of the Lord that looks at God as creator of this universe and a God that does whatever pleases Him.

Verses sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen gets us the focus of our praise. Our praise goes to the Lord of heaven, not to men on this earth. No matter how powerful a man becomes, no matter how rich a man becomes, no matter how famous a man becomes; he will die. Those who gods are created by man will die and go down in silence; however, we who extol the Lord will praise the Lord both now and forever. Yes, we have life eternal.

The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”   The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.  Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth.  The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.  He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.  He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head.  (NIV)

The writer of Hebrews refers to this psalm in Hebrews chapters six and seven. The Lord referred to this verse three times in the gospels (Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42).  He also warned the Jews that in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64 and Mark 14:62). Peter in Act chapter two and the author of Hebrews in chapter one refers to this psalm when addressing the work of Christ. The Lord used this psalm to redirect the Pharisees answer to his question “What do you think of Christ? Whose son is he?” When they answered “the son of David”, he referred them to this psalm, which he accredited to David. His question was “How is it then that David speaking by the Spirit calls him Lord? If then David called him ‘Lord’ how could he be his son?” To this, they could not answer him a word, nor did they ask him any more questions. Christ reference to this psalm was during his last week on this earth right before his death when his authority was questioned. In Matthew 26:24 Christ states “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him” and in Act chapter two Peter preaches that Christ is the one written about in this psalm.

Two facts to remember about this psalm: the Lord will judge the nations; however, He also has the role of priest after the order of Melchizedek. In I John 2:2 John writes of his actions in this position as being the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. So read this psalm in relationship to Psalm two and “kiss the Son, lest he becomes angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath may kindle in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings. Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works.  Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.  Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore.  Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.  He is Jehovah our God: His judgments are in all the earth.  He hath remembered his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac, and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance; when they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.   And they went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.  He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.  And he called for a famine upon the land; He brake the whole staff of bread.  He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant:  His feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in chains of iron, until the time that his word came to pass, the word of Jehovah tried him.  The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.  He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his substance; to bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.  Israel also came into Egypt; And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.  And he increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants.  He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.  They set among them his signs, and wonders in the land of Ham.  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his words.  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.  Their land swarmed with frogs in the chambers of their kings.  He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and lice in all their borders.  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.  He smote their vines also and their fig-trees, and brake the trees of their borders.  He spoke, and the locust came, and the grasshopper, and that without number, and did eat up every herb in their land, And did eat up the fruit of their ground.  He smote also all the first-born in their land, the chief of all their strength.  And he brought them forth with silver and gold; and there was not one feeble person among his tribes.  Egypt was glad when they departed; for the fear of them had fallen upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night. They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.  He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.  For he remembered his holy word, And Abraham his servant.  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with singing.  And he gave them the lands of the nations; and they took the labor of the peoples in possession:  that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise ye Jehovah.  (ASV)

This is an historical psalm that was written by David for the purpose of bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from the House of Obededom. To get a full understanding of this psalm read I Chronicles 16.  Reading this Psalm should reminds us of the importance of knowing the scriptures and the history of the Lord’s dealings with mankind.  Israel at this time was a nation that realize that their very existence was a providence make possible by God. We too should look at your life in such a matter.  In John 3:16, 17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.”  We see that the true purpose for the first coming of Christ was not to judge us but to provide salvation to us.  As I look back in my life I can truly see that I have a history of God making things happen in my life.  As I compare my life to David’s life I can now truly state as David did in Psalm 37: 23-25 “A man’s goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighted in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholds him with his hand.  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (ASV)