September 6
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PSALM 35 A PLEA FOR DELIVERANCE
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,“I am your salvation!”
4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life!
Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind
with the angel of the LORD driving them away!
6 Let their way be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the LORD pursuing them!
7 For without cause, they hid their net for me;
without cause, they dug a pit for my life.
8 Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction! – Psalm 35:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my Lord, please hear my cry for help
The enemy have constantly pursued me
You promised to rescue all those who are righteous
Please rescue me from all the enemy’s tactics
Have your angels encamp around me for protection
Do not let them succeed with their plan for destruction.
I plead you to grant me strength and courage
Deal with them fairly and free me from bondage
Let them not be victorious with their schemes
Deliver your faithful servant, come and rescue me
I leave to you the defense against such subversions
Only you my Lord can deliver me and grant me salvation.
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REFLECTION
• Why did the psalmist sound like asking God to curse the enemy?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 34 DO GOOD AND PURSUE PEACE
September 5
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PSALM 34 DO GOOD AND PURSUE PEACE
1 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. – Psalm 34:11-22
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Come to the Lord and he will show you how to revere him
He wants you to put a rend on your mouth and not speak out evil
The Lord favors those who are walking in righteousness
He cuts off those who continue to sin and walk in darkness
When the upright runs to the Lord for guidance and help
The Lord hears them, rescues and delivers them.
Do good and always pursue peace; abide always in Christ
Never let the world corrupt you to participate in conflicts
The Lord is near to those who are broken and poor in spirit
He gives favor to those who are oppressed and treated unjustly
The Lord watches over those who fear him; he never abandons them
Though they experience suffering, the righteous will never be without help.
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REFLECTION
• How can a believer pursue peace in the midst of a chaotic world?
PSALM 34 THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD HAVE NO LACK
September 4
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PSALM 34 THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD HAVE NO LACK
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. – Psalm 34:1-10
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you people of God, praise and bless the Lord always
Raise up the name of the Lord and shout out hallelujah
Seek the Lord and he will free you from all anxieties
Those who fear him will be protected and lack nothing
The Lord positions his angels on all those who fear him
They are shielded from the dangers surrounding them.
All you God’s people, experience the Lord’s goodness
They manifest God’s Spirit and are always contented
The wicked will always struggle with life and be hungry
But those who abide in the Lord will lack no good thing
Those who look to the Lord will never be ashamed
They will be radiant and will exude God’s light always.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer never succumb to fear or danger according to this psalm?
• What are the promises of God to his people mentioned in this psalm?
PSALM 33 BY GOD’S WORD, ALL THINGS CAME TO BE
September 2
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PSALM 33 BY GOD’S WORD, ALL THINGS CAME TO BE
Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! – Psalm 33:1-12
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The word of the Lord is powerful; with it he brings life
When he breathes on something, it comes alive
At the beginning of time, it was all darkness
Then he spoke his word, and there was brightness
Come, honor and shout out your praise to the God Almighty
Be grateful and thank him for all his creativity
He loves the upright and hates wickedness
Let everyone fear the Lord and give up darkness
The Lord’s guidance will forever stand firm
Seek the narrow road and heed his counsel
Blessed is he who serves the Lord our God
He grants him wisdom and the ability to love
Follow his word and you will never stray
Love the ways of the world and you will be derailed.
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REFLECTION
• Share a time when the word of God had been most powerful in your life.
PSALM 32 WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINS
September 1
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PSALM 32 WHEN WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINS
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you. – Psalm 32:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
We are all sinful but to those who don’t hide but confess it
The Lord doesn’t count his sins and he receives his blessings
For those who deny or keep quiet about their wrongdoings
Their bones waste away through their discontent and groanings
Those who continue to sin and follow the world’s ways
They will find themselves weak and dried up like the summer’s heat.
When we acknowledge our sins and confess it to the Lord
He forgives all our faults and guides us to overcome this world
When we don’t deny how we have displeased our Master
We are walking in humility; he’ll preserve us from troubles
The Lord is our refuge and strength, he is our deliverer
He guides and counsels us to follow his ways and become stronger.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when a believer doesn’t acknowledge his sins and confess it to the Lord?
PSALM 31 HOW ABUNDANT IS YOUR GOODNESS LORD
August 31
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PSALM 31 HOW ABUNDANT IS YOUR GOODNESS LORD
17 O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol.18 Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt.
19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged city.22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!
– Psalm 31:17-24
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My God, please forgive me for all my iniquities
Let me not be put to shame as the enemy attacks stealthily
Oh, how abundant is your goodness, O Lord, you give me refuge
In your presence, I will be covered by your love and be out of bondage
Blessed be the Lord for he hears my voice and pleas for mercy
He protects and shields me from all the tactics of the devil
Praise the Lord, for he has been steadfast in his love
Worship only the one true God; he is constant and doesn’t change
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind
He is the only one who exudes goodness and who gives life
Let your heart take courage and learn to wait on the Lord
He will grant you the strength and wisdom to overcome this world
The Lord is patient and gentle; he will never abandon his people
He pours out his blessings to all who fear him and is ever faithful.
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REFLECTION
• How has God shown an abundance of his goodness in your life?
PSALM 30 BY GOD’S FAVOR ONE CAN STAND STRONG
August 30
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PSALM 30 BY GOD’S FAVOR ONE CAN STAND STRONG
I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face; I was dismayed.
8 To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! – Psalm 30:1-12
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Without God’s grace, favor and mercy, life will be empty
We can overcome evil only when we give God all the glory
Do you think you can do anything through your own efforts?
It is God’s steadfast love that makes us strong and encouraged
He alone choses whom he will give his mercy and favor
There is nothing we can do to contribute to our salvation
Without God’s favor, we will be easily defeated
But by his grace and generosity, we can be victorious
Raise up your arms and bow down to your loving Lord
Declare his goodness and proclaim his gospel throughout the world.
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REFLECTION
• How should we respond to God’s generosity, grace and favor?
PSALM 29 THE VOICE OF THE LORD IS POWERFUL
August 29
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PSALM 29 THE VOICE OF THE LORD IS POWERFUL
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the LORD give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace! – Psalm 29:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Bring glory to our Lord who sits enthroned as eternal king
Only he alone deserves to be given all the honor and glory
You’ll hear the voice of the Lord manifest over waters in a storm
The lightning resulting in thunder shows his power as it roars
As the snow starts falling in an avalanche, you’ll hear his voice
As a volcano erupts and spews out lava, heed its powerful sound
The voice of the Lord is commanding and full of majesty
Bow down to his voice and acknowledge his sovereignty.
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REFLECTION
• How does God’s voice manifest in nature sounds? Why do we need to be reminded of his power when we hear the sounds of thunder in a storm?
PSALM 28 IN HIM ALONE I TRUST
August 28
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PSALM 28 IN HIM ALONE I TRUST
To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.
6 Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever. – Psalm 28:1-9
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, my God, I come to you to plead for help
Hear my prayer and do not be deaf
I cry out to you so you can deliver me from evil
Do not let me be dragged by the tactics of the devil
Let me never trust on anyone or anything else
Only in you do I give my faith and my confidence
Not even in my own strength will I rely
You are my strength so I won’t even try
Save your people and grant them your righteousness
Never let us perish from our inclination to wickedness
Be our guide, our shepherd who carry us forever
I put my trust in you alone for you grant us life eternal.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer only trust in the Lord alone?
PSALM 27 I WILL BE FEARLESS WHEN I SERVE THE LORD
August 27
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PSALM 27 I WILL BE FEARLESS WHEN I SERVE THE LORD
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
9Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.
– Psalm 27:1-10
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
If the Lord is my light and my salvation, what should I be afraid of?
He is the lamp to my feet and he is my stronghold
If the Lord is my Master and my Savior, why should I fear?
He is in control of his entire creation and he knows all things
My Lord has been gracious and asked me to seek his will
I will follow the path to righteousness for I will be lost without him
Lord, do not abandon me especially when I am surrounded by fools
Though my loved ones have left me, the Lord is always there and faithful
The Lord is my shield, my vindicator and my foundation
In him, I will not be moved by all the devil’s tactics and temptations.
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REFLECTION
• Can a Christian be full of fear according to this psalm?