January 30
________________________________________
PSALM 108
7 God has promised in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes. – Psalm 108:7-13
________________________________________
PSALM 108 WITH GOD WE CAN TREAD DOWN OUR FOES
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
It is God who decides what to do with each one of us
He can divide peoples and nations for his own plans
You need not fear when you are overcome by foes
Be wise and do not rely on humans to save you
Only with God can we crush our enemies
He is in control and have power to defeat them
When troubles come and you feel anxious or distressed
Run to the throne of God, and he will give you rest
Never rely on your own strength or you will fail
Only the Lord can save you; trust him and be faithful.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think it is easy to rely on ourselves and other humans instead of giving full dependence on God?
Monthly Archives: January 2023
PSALM 108 A STEADFAST HEART FOR THE LORD
January 29
________________________________________
PSALM 108
My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me! – Psalm 108:1-6
________________________________________
PSALM 108 A STEADFAST HEART FOR THE LORD
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Praise the Lord who made heaven and earth
Exalt the God who is steadfast in his love
He is faithful to protect and deliver his people
The Lord is generous to give all without reproach
Let us all give thanks to a God who provides all our needs
He is full of grace, mercy and forgives a repentant heart.
Seek the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
Abide in him and you will bear fruit and overcome sin
Do not waver in your faith and feed on his word always
A steadfast heart for the Lord is one that trusts him completely
It never doubts the goodness and steadfastness of his love for his people
It reveres the Lord and fears displeasing him and is never lawless.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can a believer constantly have a steadfast heart for the Lord?
• What must he or she do to stay pure and holy for the Lord?
PSALM 107 GOD’S CARE FOR THE NEEDY AND THE OPPRESSED
January 28
________________________________________
PSALM 107
39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright sees it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD. – Psalm 107:39-43
________________________________________
PSALM 107 GOD’S CARE FOR THE NEEDY AND THE OPPRESSED
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When you are being discriminated and oppressed, be consoled
The Lord sees and knows what you are going through
When the Israelites were put down and abused
The Lord pours his disapproval and made them confused.
Remember how Jesus suffered from the hands of the wicked?
If you are being oppressed for believing in him, have strength
Your reward in heaven will be more than enough to bear it all
The Lord will never abandon you and allow you to be defeated or fall.
To all those who are needy and poor, do not be distressed
Didn’t God make you rich in faith and heirs of his kingdom?
Just like how he raised the needy out of their affliction
He will also elevate you when you are in destitute conditions.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why shouldn’t we be anxious when we are being oppressed or discriminated according to this psalm?
• Why do you think the world looks down on the poor and the needy?
• What are our the promises of God to the oppressed and needy?
PSALM 107 ONLY BY GOD’S BLESSING CAN WE MULTIPLY
January 27
________________________________________
PSALM 107
31 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish. – Psalm 107:31-38
________________________________________
PSALM 107 ONLY BY GOD’S BLESSING CAN WE MULTIPLY
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Who can boast of anything they own or possess?
Isn’t the Lord the giver of all things good?
He is the only one who knows what we need
Even before we ask it, he already has provided it.
Only by God’s blessing can we multiply
Without his anointing, no one can flourish
Let us thank the Lord for his generosity and provision
Without his steadfast love, we will all be starving and lacking.
Everything we have is a gift from the Lord, who is our source
Be grateful for every little or big thing that he has given you
To think that you can provide for your own is displeasing to God
Count all the blessings that he has allowed for you to have.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important to constantly remember that without God, we cannot multiply? What happens when we forget it?
PSALM 107 THE WORD HEALS AND DELIVERS
January 26
________________________________________
PSALM 107
20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven. – Psalm 107:20-30
________________________________________
PSALM 107 THE WORD HEALS AND DELIVERS
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord is steadfast in his love for all his people
He protects them from their destructive nature
The Lord provides for all of their needs and hears their cries
When they are in trouble, he delivers them and gives them a way out
The greatest gift God gave his people is his word
The word guides them how to navigate this world.
It is wise for his people to feed on his word to stay righteous
When one feeds on the word, he will be well and nourished
The word of God can heal and bring light into a darkened heart
It can change the way you think and transform your entire life
Be guided and disciplined by the word, so you can fear the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; be hungry for his word.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Share an experience how the word of God healed or delivered you from your sinful nature. Why is it important to feed on God’s word regularly?
PSALM 107 WHEN ONE REBELS AGAINST GOD’S WORD
January 25
________________________________________
PSALM 107
10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.
17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
– Psalm 107:10-19
________________________________________
PSALM 107 WHEN ONE REBELS AGAINST GOD’S WORD
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The word of the Lord is alive and is profitable for guiding and teaching
When one rebels against his word, that man will experience much suffering
When the Israelites during Moses’ time disobeyed God’s words
They sat in darkness and became prisoners of their desires and lusts.
The word of truth disciplines the chosen people of God
It is their guard and protection against evil and all things bad
Lawlessness and idolatry open the door to wickedness and sin
Chaos and confusion follow when one goes against God’s will.
Do not test the Lord your God who is your deliverer
When you do, you will experience unfathomable emptiness
When one rebels against the truth that can save you
You are foolish to turn your back on what is righteous and good.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How did God react in his people’s rebellion in this psalm? What happened to them?
PSALM 107 GOD SATISFIES THE LONGING AND HUNGRY SOUL
January 24
________________________________________
PSALM 107
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things. – Psalm 107:1-9
________________________________________
PSALM 107 GOD SATISFIES THE LONGING AND HUNGRY SOUL
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O you faithful servants of the Lord, continue to thank him for his goodness
He is steadfast in his love and he provides for all your needs; stay righteous
When you encounter troubles and trials, he is always there to guide and direct you
Do not turn your back on the Lord, for he is devoted to have your hearts renewed
Come to him and seek him always and make sure you depend only on him
He is pleased whenever you acknowledge your weaknesses and stay away from sin.
Be loyal to the Lord and stay hungry and thirsty for him just as a deer pants for water
The Lord satisfies the longing soul; when you are hungry for him, he sets you free
He comes close to all those who come close to him and gives them favor
Let all the saints continue to worship and glorify the Lord who is Giver of all
When you feed on his word and follow his will, you will be content and satisfied
Praise and exult the Lord who is the only one who can fill your empty life.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What does it mean have a longing, thirsty and hungry soul for the Lord?
PSALM 106 WHEN GOD’S ANGER IS KINDLED
January 23
________________________________________
PSALM 106
40 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.42 Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power.
43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.
45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
46 He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.
47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen! ”Praise the LORD! – Psalm 106:40-48
________________________________________
PSALM 106 WHEN GOD’S ANGER IS KINDLED
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When the anger of the Lord is provoked, watch out! It will bear consequences
Do not test the Lord your God; he will not tolerate evil; he disciplines whom he loves
When the Israelites continued to defy his laws, the Lord gave them to the nations
Despite all of God’s provision and deliverance, they continued to be rebellious
When God’s anger is kindled, he is still faithful, he will keep his promises
He is full of love and mercy and he listens to his people’s pleadings
Even at their most detestable acts, the Lord is still compassionate
God is love, he will not go against his nature, he will be empathetic
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength
Do not let your cravings and nature get in the way of your love for him
When God’s anger is kindled, you will experience pain and suffering
Do not let your sinful nature prevail, worship the Lord who is your Redeemer.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why shouldn’t we allow God’s anger to be kindled according to this psalm?
PSALM 106 ON SERVING IDOLS AND YOKING WITH THE WICKED
Quote
January 22
________________________________________
PSALM 106
32 They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
33 for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.
34 They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them,
35 but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
36 They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37 They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
38 they poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
39 Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds. – Psalm 106:32-39
________________________________________
PSALM 106 ON SERVING IDOLS AND YOKING WITH THE WICKED
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Serve the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
And your life will be blessed and you will resist the foe
Give up all distractions and idols that keep you from serving the Lord
The Lord wants undivided attention; he wants you to make him first
Keep yourself unstained by the world and its systems of wickedness
God wants you to be pure and holy, walking constantly in righteousness
Idols are traps that keep you away from worshiping the Lord
Satan wants to make sure that you serve him instead of the God that is true
Keep your lives holy and undefiled by the corruption and chaos around you
If you depend on God to keep you pure for him, he will be faithful to save your soul.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What were the consequences of the sin of idolatry in this psalm?
PSALM 106 ON GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING
January 21
________________________________________
PSALM 106
24 Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
25 They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.
28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
29 they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
31 And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever. – Psalm 106:24-31
________________________________________
PSALM 106 ON GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING
A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Counting our blessings is a way to worship the Lord
Grumbling and complaining is dishonoring to God
When the Israelites whined and despised the land they were given
They began to rebel and ignore God’s voice and provisions
They provoked the Lord to anger with their unfaithfulness
They forgot their covenant promise to a Lord who is full of grace.
When we grumble, we fail to see the gifts that God has provided
Dissatisfaction is an open door for greed and more transgressions.
Let us give up whining; instead, let us be contented
Let us not focus on what we don’t have but what we can give
To grumble is to rebel and be dissatisfied with God’s goodness
Let us replace discontent with worship and thankfulness.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we catch ourselves when we begin to grumble and complain?