November 8
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PSALM 73 HUMAN KNOWLEDGE VERSUS DISCERNMENT
13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. – Psalm 73:13-22
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Do you try to figure things out by yourself?
Do you think that if you worked hard, you can be cleansed?
You can do daily task of purifying yourself, but it is all in vain
The cleansing of your soul is the work that only God can do.
Why do you keep on understanding what only God can?
Why do you keep on thinking hard what you can’t understand?
Have you not discovered that the more you analyze, the more you are paralyzed?
Wouldn’t discernment be better than your quest for knowledge?
Human understanding is limited but God’s revelation is boundless
What good is it to keep on understanding and finding answers?
Doesn’t this futile activity just hinder us from hearing God’s Spirit?
Why keep on wanting to know what God has kept secret?
Go to the throne of the Lord and he will give you discernment
Fear the Lord and you will begin to be wise and be enlightened
Rely on your own understanding and you enter the door to disaster
Ask the Lord for discernment and you will see his view and prosper.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think it is very easy to overthink and rely on our own understanding things in this world? How can we avoid this work of the flesh?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 73 ON THE WAYS OF THE WICKED
November 7
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PSALM 73 ON THE WAYS OF THE WICKED
Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.
11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
– Psalm 73:1-12
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord is good to those whose hearts are pure and right
He despises the wicked for they are full of evil and lies
They wear pride as their garment and flaunts it around
When you hear them speak, deception and confusion abound
They mock the Almighty and think that they are powerful
They continually feed their flesh and they follow no rules.
All you people of God, be warned and do not envy the wealthy
For their god is money and they engage in all kinds of idolatry
Do not get lured by the ways of this world, they are temporary
Instead, gather riches in heaven for they are everlasting and eternal
Serve the Lord your God alone, for he is your Master and Deliverer
Praise and thank him for every good thing that you have been given.
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REFLECTION
• In verses 2-3 Asaph warns us of envying those who are proud and wealthy, why is this caution very important especially for us who serve the Lord?
• What are the ways we can fight the urge to be envious of someone?
PSALM 69 THE LORD HEARS THE NEEDY AND THE OPPRESSED
November 6
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PSALM 69 THE LORD HEARS THE NEEDY AND THE OPPRESSED
32 When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the LORD hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it. – Psalm 69:32-36
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When you are desperately in need and imprisoned by your flesh
Run to the throne of God, for he will never abandon his children
The Lord hears the needy and all those who are oppressed
He knows you inside and out and can understand your distress
Let your loyalty be to the God who can give you provision
He alone can free you from bondage and grant you salvation
The Lord is your shield and your protector; he is your fortress
Do not doubt his power and might or you’ll fail the test.
The Lord refines all those who belong to him
He gives them strength and grace to overcome sin
Let all God’s creation give him the adoration
All you God’s people, sing joyfully and give him exaltation
He deserves all your praise and thanksgiving
Let your children worship the God who is Almighty
The offspring of his servants shall inherit his legacy
The Lord provides for all the needy and the oppressed.
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REFLECTION
• What is the greatest assurance you can take away from this psalm?
• Why is depression not an option for Christians based on this psalm?
PSALM 69 DELIVER ME LORD FROM SINKING IN THE MIRE
November 4
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PSALM 69 DELIVER ME LORD FROM SINKING IN THE MIRE
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters. 15 Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17 Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!
19 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you. 20 Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. – Psalm 69:13-21
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Lord, I pray that you hear me whenever it is acceptable for you
In your steadfast love, grant my mind to be renewed
Deliver me from sinking in the mire as I am pulled down by the enemy
Never let me go so I can triumph over them and have victory.
Do not hide your presence from me Lord, I will not make it without you
Remind me to always be awed by your deeds and help me live in the new
Draw near to me as I come near to you my Lord and my salvation
You know every step of the enemy, help me to overcome temptations.
Answer my prayer Lord for I am in deep distress right now
Be with me as I go through the bottom of the mire
Only you can pull me out of this deep trouble
Help me not to get drowned in this bottomless rubble
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REFLECTION
• What kind of mire are you sinking in right now that you want the Lord to pull you out from? Why is pleading the Lord a good practice to do in this situation?
PSALM 69 SAVE ME FROM MY ENEMIES AND MY FOLLY
November 3
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PSALM 69 SAVE ME FROM MY ENEMIES AND MY FOLLY
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal must I now restore? 5 O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.
6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.
7 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.
9 For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12 I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
– Psalm 69:1-12
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my God, save me from my own folly and from my enemies
I am overwhelmed by all their attacks, Lord, help me
Forgive me for all my transgressions and weaknesses
I need your deliverance from all that keeps me in distress
Let not all those whom the enemy uses prosper
Equip me with your grace, give me courage
Save me from all those who plot evil schemes
Let me never succumb to my nature so I can avoid sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to come to the throne of God when the enemy attacks us?
• What did David mean in verse 6? Why did you think he said this?
PSALM 68 THE GOD WHO GIVES POWER AND STRENGTH
November 2
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PSALM 68 THE GOD WHO GIVES POWER AND STRENGTH
28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—
he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God! – Psalm 68:28-35
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my Lord, the God of my salvation, hear my plea
I come before you to give you honor and praise
You have manifested your power over all your creation
Hear my prayer for strength to overcome all temptations
Help me see beyond my weaknesses and fears
You are the God who gives us power and strength.
No other gods can grant us such boldness and courage
Let me focus on giving you all thanksgiving and praise
Never let us be defeated by the enemy’s strategies
O Lord, we praise you for you are the God Almighty
When I was weak, you became my strength
When I was oppressed, you freed me from them.
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REFLECTION
• How can we have power and strength when we are surrounded by forces against us?
PSALM 68 THE LORD WILL STRIKE THE ENEMIES’ HEADS
November 1
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PSALM 68 THE LORD WILL STRIKE THE ENEMIES’ HEADS
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,
the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. – Psalm 68:21-27
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The Lord God is faithful; he is a promise keeper
He is steadfast in his love and he is full of mercy
But the Lord hates evil and everything that stands for it
He will never allow his people to be beaten up by them
The Lord will strike the enemies’ heads as he vowed
Do not be afraid of these wicked plots for you are with the Lord.
Blessed be God amongst the congregation of believers
Raise your voices to him, all of those who are his children
The Lord is your protector; the world will not triumph
God will defend you and ensure that you win over evil
Abide in him always and you will witness his promises fulfilled
He will never forsake all those who love him and stay faithful.
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REFLECTION
• What assurance can you stand on in this psalm?
PSALM 68 BLESSED BE THE LORD WHO DAILY BEARS US UP
October 31
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PSALM 68 BLESSED BE THE LORD WHO DAILY BEARS US UP
11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands;
the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious,
that the LORD God may dwell there.19 Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD,
the Lord, belong deliverances from death. – Psalm 68:11-20
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When you are troubled and discouraged, run to the throne of God
The Lord gives his word; it enlightens and guides your path
What life brings may seem like a heavy burden
But the Lord bears us up in all our struggles
Praise the Lord in his holy dwelling; he is our God of salvation
He alone is in control of everything in all his creation.
Blessed be the Lord, who daily guides and protects us
He never fails to provide for all our needs and for our growth
He gives us the ability to overcome all challenges
He is also the one who transforms and makes us courageous
Give your Lord all the thanksgiving and honor he so deserves
He is full of mercy and will never turn his back on his people.
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REFLECTION
• How is looking up to God the only solution to all our struggles?
PSALM 68 THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE JUBILANT WITH JOY
October 30
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PSALM 68 THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE JUBILANT WITH JOY
God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire,
so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God;
they shall be jubilant with joy! 4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD; exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. – Psalm 68:1-10
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The way of the righteous is always blessed by the Lord
The Lord is faithful to reward those who go against the world
They will have an abundance and they will never perish
They view things with much gratitude and they flourish
The upright is always rejoicing in the Lord who provides all their needs
They do not rely on their own strength but only on God’s Spirit
Come together, all you people of God and praise him
He is the only dwelling place that your sins can be cleansed
Rejoice in the Lord and your hearts will be overflowing
Give the Lord all your attention and you will be abounding.
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REFLECTION
• Why is a glum and depressed Christian an oxymoron?
PSALM 67 MAY GOD GRACIOUSLY SHINE HIS FACE UPON US
October 29
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PSALM 67 MAY GOD GRACIOUSLY SHINE HIS FACE UPON US
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him! – Psalm 67:1-6
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Hear O Lord our exaltation to your name most holy
You have made all things so you will be given all the glory
Show yourself in all your creation so all the people will praise you
They will magnify your works that are unparalleled with any other gods
Let all the nations sing joyfully and give the Lord thanksgiving
Without his steadfast love, we will have nothing.
May God’s gracious face shine upon all his beloved people
May the Lord light the paths that we tread and keep us all faithful
May God bless us with much fervor and love for all that he cherishes
May all the ends of the earth see the Lord’s power and goodness
May his name be known throughout all the corners of the world
May his presence be felt especially amongst the oppressed and poor.
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REFLECTION
• What happens to us when we don’t long to have God’s face or presence shine upon us?