Psalm 126

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

¹ When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
² 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.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
⁴ Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
⁵ Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
⁶ He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

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 are: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. This is in contrast to the works of the flesh (sinful nature) such as: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wrath, factions, divisions, parties, envy, murders, drunkenness, and revelings that we had as our nature before we turn our way from the works of the flesh to enjoying the fruit of the spirits. These fruits of the Spirit does not come by our works, but by our daily walk in the Spirit.

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 prophecies 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.

Psalm 125

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

¹ Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
³ 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.
⁴ Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.
⁵ But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.

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 good 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 good 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.

My desire is to be one that trust in the Lord and never be shaken by the events happening around me. Another characteristic found in this psalm is for the Lord to do good to those who do good and who have an upright heart. As one who is about to finish seven decades on this earth, I have seen how the pure in heart has been blessed. God does surround them and protects them.

Psalm 124

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

¹ If the LORD had not been on our side let Israel say
² if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
³ when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive;
⁴ the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us,
⁵ the raging waters would have swept us away.
⁶ Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
⁷ We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
⁸ Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

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 lead 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 truths 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 songs 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.

Psalm 123

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

¹ I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.
² 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.
³ Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.
⁴ We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.

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.

Psalm 122

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

¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
² Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.
³ Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
⁴ 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.
⁵ There the thrones for judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.
⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.
⁷ May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”
⁸ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”
⁹ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.

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.

There is comfort in being surrounded by those who have the same belief system as you do. However, as our country moves away from any association with God, I find it harder to be surrounded by those who have my belief system. And yet with a welcoming statement such as “How is it going this great and beautiful and wonderful day that God has given us” does open conversions about the Greatness of our God.

Is God in your everyday conversations? Do you let the world know how much he means to you? I may not be a preacher or a minister; but I will always be a witness to the glorious power of an ever-loving Lord in my life. I will let the world know Christ lives in me and the life I now live is a life that reflects Christ in my daily to daily activities.

Another theme of this psalm is Jerusalem and the house of David. The way that Jerusalem is praise in this psalm is the way I love to praise our country. We need to pray for our country and our leaders. When studying the kingdom of Israel under the first three kings (Saul, David, Solomon) we see the rise of twelve tribes to a strong nation, just to split into two nations soon after Rehoboam took over the kingdom from Solomon. As we look back to Lincoln’s Gettysburg address to the words that only eighty-seven years had passed from the creation of this nation that was engaged in a Civil War that was threatening to destroy this nation that was created under God of the people, by the people, and for the people. It did survive. Now we are approaching two hundred and fifty years as a nation. Hopefully we will have still look to God to look over us and protect us. May we use this psalm as an example to pray for our country.

Psalm 121

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

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
³ He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
⁵ The LORD watches over you the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

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 shouldn’t 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.

Psalm 120
A Song of ascents.

¹ I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.
² Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
³ What will he do to you, and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?
⁴ He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom tree.
⁵ Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
⁶ Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.
⁷ 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 use 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 do 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

So, wait on the Lord and watch his grace grow in your life which will give you a much richer life.

Psalm 119 is simple a poem about the law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statues, commandments, ordinances, word, judgements, and promises of the Lord. As one slowly reads these words we are reminded how important it is to stay in God’s Word.

Psalms 119

Aleph

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!

² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,

³who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

⁴Thou hast commanded thy precepts to be kept diligently.

⁵ O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping thy statutes!

⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all thy commandments.

⁷I will praise thee with an upright heart, when I learn thy righteous ordinances.

⁸I will observe thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly!

Beth

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word.

¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments!

¹¹I have laid up thy word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

¹² Blessed be thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes!

¹³ With my lips I declare all the ordinances of thy mouth.

¹⁴ In the way of thy testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

¹⁵I will meditate on thy precepts, and fix my eyes on thy ways.

¹⁶I will delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.

Gimel

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and observe thy word.

¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

¹⁹ I am a sojourner on earth; hide not thy commandments from me!

²⁰My soul is consumed with longing for thy ordinances at all times.

²¹Thou dost rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from thy commandments;

²² take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies.

²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me, thy servant will meditate on thy statutes.

²⁴Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.

Daleth

²⁵My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to thy word!

²⁶ When I recount my ways, thou didst answer me; teach me thy statutes!

²⁷ Make me understand the way of thy precepts, and I will meditate on thy wondrous works.

²⁸My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to thy word!

²⁹ Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me thy law!

³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness, I set thy ordinances before me.

³¹ I cleave to thy testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!

³²I will run in the way of thy commandments when thou enlargest my understanding!

He

³³ Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law and observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵ Lead me in the path of thy commandments, for I delight in it.

³⁶ Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to gain!

³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; and give me life in thy ways.

³⁸ Confirm to thy servant thy promise, which is for those who fear thee.

³⁹ Turn away the reproach which I dread; for thy ordinances are good.

⁴⁰ Behold, I long for thy precepts; in thy righteousness give me life!

Vav

⁴¹ Let thy steadfast love come to me, O LORD, thy salvation according to thy promise;

⁴² then shall I have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in thy word.

⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in thy ordinances.

⁴⁴I will keep thy law continually, for ever and ever;

⁴⁵ and I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought thy precepts.

⁴⁶I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be put to shame;

⁴⁷ for I find my delight in thy commandments, which I love.

⁴⁸I revere thy commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on thy statutes.

Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast made me hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction that thy promise gives me life.

⁵¹Godless men utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from thy law.

⁵² When I think of thy ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.

⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake thylaw.

⁵⁴Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

⁵⁵ I remember thy name in the night, O LORD, and keep thy law.

⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept thy precepts.

HHeth

⁵⁷ The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep thy words.

⁵⁸I entreat thy favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to thy promise.

⁵⁹ When I think of thy ways, I turn my feet to thy testimonies;

⁶⁰ I hasten and do not delay to keep thy commandments.

⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget thy law.

⁶² At midnight I rise to praise thee, because of thy righteous ordinances.

⁶³I am a companion of all who fear thee, of those who keep thy precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth, O LORD, is full of thy steadfast love; teach me thy statutes!

Teth

⁶⁵Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according to thy word.

⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in thy commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep thy word.

⁶⁸Thou art good and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

⁶⁹ The godless besmear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep thy precepts;

⁷⁰their heart is gross like fat, but I delight in thy law.

⁷¹ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yod

⁷³Thy hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments.

⁷⁴Those who fear thee shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in thy word.

⁷⁵I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.

⁷⁶ Let thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me according to thy promise to thy servant.

⁷⁷ Let thy mercy come to me, that I may live; for thy law is my delight.

⁷⁸ Let the godless be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on thyprecepts.

⁷⁹ Let those who fear thee turn to me, that they may know thy testimonies.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

Kap

⁸¹My soul languishes for thy salvation; I hope in thy word.

⁸²My eyes fail with watching for thy promise; I ask, “When wilt thou comfort me?”

⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten thy statutes.

⁸⁴ How long must thy servant endure? When wilt thou judge those who persecute me?

⁸⁵Godless men have dug pitfalls for me, men who do not conform to thy law.

⁸⁶ All thy commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!

⁸⁷They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken thy precepts.

⁸⁸ In thy steadfast love spare my life, that I may keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

Lamed

⁸⁹ Forever, O LORD, thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

⁹⁰Thy faithfulness endures to all generations; thou hast established the earth, and it stands fast.

⁹¹ By thy appointment they stand this day; for all things are thy servants.

⁹² If thy law had not been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget thy precepts; for by them thou hast given me life.

⁹⁴I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me; but I consider thy testimonies.

Mem

⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection, but thy commandment is exceedingly broad.

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love thylaw! It is my meditation all the day.

⁹⁸Thy commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation.

¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged, for I keep thy precepts.

¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep thy word.

¹⁰²I do not turn aside from thy ordinances, for thou hast taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are thywords to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

¹⁰⁵Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

¹⁰⁶I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe thy righteous ordinances.

¹⁰⁷I am sorely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to thy word!

¹⁰⁸ Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me thy ordinances.

¹⁰⁹I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget thy law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from thy precepts.

¹¹¹Thy testimonies are my heritage forever; yea, they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹²I incline my heart to perform thy statutes forever, to the end.

Samekh

¹¹³I hate double-minded men, but I love thy law.

¹¹⁴Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in thy word.

¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to thy promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for thy statutes continually!

¹¹⁸Thou dost spurn all who go astray from thy statutes; yea, their cunning is in vain.

¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth thou dost count as dross; therefore, I love thy testimonies.

¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Ayin

¹²¹ I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²² Be surety for thy servant for good; let not the godless oppress me.

¹²³My eyes fail with watching for thy salvation, and for the fulfilment of thy righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with thy servant according to thy steadfast love, and teach me thy statutes.

¹²⁵I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies!

¹²⁶ It is time for the LORD to act, for thy law has been broken.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love thy commandments above gold, above fine gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I direct my steps by all thy precepts; I hate every false way.

Pe

¹²⁹Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore, my soul keeps them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

¹³¹ With open mouth I pant, because I long for thy commandments.

¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is thy wont toward those who love thy name.

¹³³ Keep steady my steps according to thy promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep thy precepts.

¹³⁵ Make thy face shine upon thy servant and teach me thy statutes.

¹³⁶My eyes shed streams of tears, because men do not keep thylaw.

Tsadhe

¹³⁷ Righteous art thou, O LORD, and right are thy judgments.

¹³⁸Thou hast appointed thy testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.

¹³⁹My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget thy words.

¹⁴⁰Thy promise is well tried, and thy servant loves it.

¹⁴¹I am small and despised, yet I do not forget thy precepts.

¹⁴² Thy righteousness is righteous forever, and thy law is true.

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but thy commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴Thy testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep thy statutes.

¹⁴⁶I cry to thee; save me, that I may observe thy testimonies.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in thy words.

¹⁴⁸My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon thy promise.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice in thy steadfast love; O LORD, in thy justice preserve my life.

¹⁵⁰They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from thy law.

¹⁵¹ But thou art near, O LORD, and all thy commandments are true.

¹⁵² Long have I known from thy testimonies that thou hast founded them forever.

Resh

¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget thy law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to thy promise!

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek thy statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great is thy mercy, O LORD; give me life according to thy justice.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from thy testimonies.

¹⁵⁸I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep thy commands.

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts! Preserve my life according to thy steadfast love.

¹⁶⁰ The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinances endures forever.

Shin

¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of thy words.

¹⁶²I rejoice at thy word like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love thylaw.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise thee for thy righteous ordinances.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love thylaw; nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶I hope for thy salvation, O LORD, and I do thy commandments.

¹⁶⁷My soul keeps thy testimonies; I love them exceedingly.

¹⁶⁸I keep thy precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.

Tav

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before thee, O LORD; give me understanding according to thy word!

¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before thee; deliver me according to thy word.

¹⁷¹My lips will pour forth praise that thou dost teach me thy statutes.

¹⁷²My tongue will sing of thy word, for all thy commandments are right.

¹⁷³ Let thy hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen thy precepts.

¹⁷⁴I long for thy salvation, O LORD, and thy law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let me live, that I may praise thee, and let thy ordinances help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments.

Psalm 118
¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
² Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever.”
⁵ In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
¹¹ They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
¹² They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD‘s right hand has done mighty things!
¹⁶ The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
¹⁷ I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
¹⁹ Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
²² The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
²³ the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵ O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CAPSTONE is also found in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:7. In Matthew 21:42 Christ used it to sum up the parable of the wicked tenants. “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ” ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore, I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed”.

As I study the scriptures I realize that without Jesus there is no need for the Bible. Jesus is the story of redemption that is proclaimed throughout the entire Bible. If your foundation of understanding the Bible is not built on the cornerstone of Jesus then you foundation will be unstable. Christian organization therefore must bases it foundation on Christ.

The first and last verses of this psalm “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” is a testimony of one that has walked in the way of the Lord for a long period of time. It is easy to talk to other Christians about the Bible and the blessings as well as the tribulations we seem to face on our daily journey in life. However, our conversations with those that have not witness the love of Christ in their life seem to be short-lived. This is why it is so important to be a light that points others to Christ, by our actions. Our actions and lifestyle can often lead an individual to Christ, where our preaching to them will usually turn them away.

Psalm 117
¹ Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
² For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD.

This short psalm is everything a person really needs to know about God.

This poem was from a chain email, so I will pass it on all who look at this psalm.

God Lives Under The Bed

I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under the bed. At least that’s what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen,” Are you there, God?” he said. “Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed…” I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin’s unique perspectives are often a source of amusement.

But that night something else lingered long after the humor I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he’s 6-foot-2); there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and those airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cockier spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day’s laundry chores. And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That’s the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. “That one’s going’ to Chi-car-go!” Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn’t know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never as happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done,

Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others.

His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of arguing.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances,

Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry.

He is always transparent, always sincere.

And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child.

Kevin seems to know God – to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an “educated” person to grasp.

God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap.

I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances – they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God’s care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn?

After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I’ll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won’t be surprised at all!

Author Unknown