May 22
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PSALM 135 THE FATE OF IDOLATERS
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them.
19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 135:15-21
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WHEN ONE MAKES IDOLS by ILMA
When one bows down to idols made by human hands
They are worshiping things that do not have life
They appear to have mouths but they are mute
Their ears are not able to hear and are devoid of sounds.
When one makes idols, they turn to objects that are lifeless
They become like what they bow down to and idolize
O you house of Israel, praise only the God who made you
O you house of Aaron and Levi, bless the Lord.
Let all who serve the Lord bless His holy name
Do not tolerate those who likes to compete with God
Stay away from idols and idolaters, they are enemies of God
They have no loyalty to anyone else but their own selves.
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REFLECTION
• Why is idolatry and having idols a big sin to our Lord God?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 135 THE LORD IS THE VINDICATOR
May 21
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PSALM 135 THE LORD IS THE VINDICATOR
8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
9 who in your midst, O Egypt, sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
10 who struck down many nations and killed mighty kings,
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown,
O LORD, throughout all ages.
14 For the LORD will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants. – Psalm 135:8-14
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GOD VINDICATES HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
The Lord God is faithful to defend and protect his people
He is full of compassion and never lets down his servants
Remember how the Lord punished the Egyptians
He also struck Pharaoh, the Amorites and the Canaanites
All the kings who competed with him were all defeated
To think they have power to compete with God, is foolishness
All you faithful saints, do not fear for God is your vindicator
The Lord keeps his promise to protect and rescue his loved ones
Your name, O Lord endures forever, it is the name above all names
We bow down to you alone our Lord Almighty, our majestic God
Keep us always dependent on you alone and be fearless
We praise you Lord for you are our defender and fortress.
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REFLECTION
• Why should believers not be quick to react or defend themselves?
• Why is defense of the self an open door for the enemy to attack a believer?
PSALM 135 THE LORD WHO IS GREAT AND IS ABOVE ALL GODS
May 20
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PSALM 135 THE LORD WHO IS GREAT AND IS ABOVE ALL GODS
Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD,
give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 who stand in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. – Psalm 135:1-7
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THE LORD DOES WHATEVER HE PLEASES by ILMA
Acclaim the Lord who is great and is above all gods
Servants of the Lord, give him all glory and praise
He is the Maker of all things in heaven and on earth
He is in control of all things; whatever he pleases, he does
No other gods can have the power to bring life
They have no ability to help people or shine their light
The Lord is all-knowing and all-seeing, he is above all
If you choose to follow him, you will not be tempted to fall
Trust in the only God who can deliver you from sin
He is faithful to protect you from the devil’s schemes
Trust in the Lord alone for he is steadfast in his love
Do only what please him so you can discern his ways.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to leave all things to the Lord?
PSALM 27 LOOK UPON THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD
May 19
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PSALM 27 LOOK UPON THE GOODNESS OF 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.”
9 Hide 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.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
– Psalm 27:7-14
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I SEEK THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD by ILMA
O my Lord, I cry out loud for your grace and response to my plea
I seek your presence O God; In spirit, I long to see your face
Though I cannot see you with my eyes, I ask you to be with me
Help me as many plots have come my way from the enemy
Even my own family and loved one have left me on my own
But I know that you are faithful and will never leave me all alone.
I believe that your goodness will always manifest in our lives
I will patiently wait on you Lord; you are my salvation and my light
Do not let me be overcome by evil and lead me to the right path
Keep me strong and let me trust you more when I am down
My Lord, you are my priority, let that be manifest in my life
I will seek the Lord alone; I will worship him with all heart.
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REFLECTION
• What did David mean when he said “Your face Lord, do I seek in verse 8?
• What did verse 10 means when he said that his parents have forsaken him?
• How often do you seek the presence of the Lord in your life?
PSALM 27 WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
May 18
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PSALM 27 WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
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. – Psalm 27:1-6
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THE LORD IS MY LIGHT & MY SALVATION by ILMA
Since I serve the Lord, He is my light and my salvation
There is nothing in this world to be fearful or anxious about
Whenever the enemy spits their venom on the righteous
The Lord will ensure his people are aware and cautious
Though the devil relentlessly attacks here and there
I will not be afraid; I will gaze on the Lord’s beauty
He will hide me in his sanctuary during times of troubles
He will watch over me, protect and encamp angels around me
The Lord is my fortress; no schemes of the devil will prosper
He will lift me up and ensure that I am out of danger
I will sing and praise the Lord with shouts of joy
He alone can deliver me; I offer him my heart and soul.
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REFLECTION
• Why should a believer not be habitually fearful?
• What should we do when we are pressed down by the enemy and feel crushed?
PSALM 113 WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD?
May 17
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PSALM 113 WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD?
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD! – Psalm 113:1-9
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WHY PRAISE GOD FOREVER by ILMA
There is only one true God, the Lord Almighty Father
He made heaven and earth and all things for his purpose
He made the sun and the moon, the day and the night
It is only fitting to praise him at sunrise and at moonlight
Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high?
He will always be there for his people when they need him
The Lord is the only one who can speak life to his creation
He also is the only one who can bring destruction
Give him all your blessings for he is steadfast in his love
He is patient and generous to forgive our misdeeds and wrongs
He is in control of all things and whatever he pleases, he does
When he closes a door for you, no one else can open it
He is generous to give and never gives up on his children.
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REFLECTION
• Why is praising God very important in a believer’s life? Share some reasons why you need to give God glory?
PSALM 73 GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART
May 16
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PSALM 73 GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART
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.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works. – Psalm 73:20-28
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THOSE WHO ARE UNFAITHFUL SHALL PERISH by ILMA
O Lord you are so faithful and continue to hold me close
You constantly guide those who lovingly serve you
Without your counsel, I will not understand things
The wicked continue to attack and wallow in sin
Let me stand on your promise of deliverance
Keep my eyes focused on your steadfast love
You are faithful to give protection to your children
The enemy seems to flourish with their wickedness
Lord, I plead you to protect and deliver your people
Let the unfaithful perish and stop all their schemes
Put an end to all those who do not serve and believe
I am grateful for your promises and I humbly receive.
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REFLECTION
• What should we do whenever we are almost feeling defeated by the enemy’s attacks?
PSALM 73 UNTIL I WENT TO GOD’S SANCTUARY
May 15
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PSALM 73 UNTIL I WENT TO GOD’S SANCTUARY
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! – Psalm 73:13-19
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DISCERNMENT COMES ONLY FROM GOD by ILMA
When you seek the Lord your God, your view changes
You begin to discern things you never used to see before
The world dictates different standards and priorities
Through the Word, we can observe what belongs to worldly systems
Do not be envious of those who live following this world
Be transformed by the renewal of your mind through God’s word.
All you people of God, set your mind on heavenly things
Gather riches in heaven so you can overcome sin
Feed on the Word constantly and discern what is good and evil
It is the only way we can align our hearts with God and beat the devil
Wear the armor of God so you can fight all the tactics of the enemy
Discernment comes only from the Lord; run to God’s sanctuary.
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REFLECTION
• Why is discernment only possible when we feed on God’s word?
• How can we grow the gift of discernment in our lives as believers?
PSALM 73 THE WICKED IS ALWAYS AT EASE
May 14
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PSALM 73 THE WICKED IS ALWAYS AT EASE
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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ON THE FATE OF THE WICKED AND THE PURE IN HEART by ILMA
The Lord is good and blesses those who are pure in heart
He also makes the sun rise on both the evil and the upright
The Lord also sends rain both on the just and the unjust
But he blesses the meek for they will inherit the earth.
It may seem that the wicked are enjoying their lives
But they will account for every word that they speak
Their homes may be full of riches and wealth
But their spirits may be suffering and in ill health.
The pure in heart may not have any comforts in this world
They have the fruits of the Spirit and have God’s word
So, do not envy the wicked who are seemingly wealthy
They are lacking in riches that are required to enter heaven.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Asaph seemed to be envious of the wealth and health of the wicked in the following passages?
• What do you think is going on in your heart if you have this kind of envy towards the comforts and riches of the unrighteous?
PSALM 44 REDEEM US FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR STEADFAST LOVE
May 13
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PSALM 44 REDEEM US FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR STEADFAST LOVE
18 Our heart has not turned back,
nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! – Psalm 44:18-26
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GOD KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART! by ILMA
Lord, why have you not come to my aide
You know every secret of my heart
We are bowed down by too much pain and affliction
Why do you allow your people to go through oppression?
Lord, you are the only one who completely know me
Rise up, come and help me from all of the attacks of the enemy
Do not let another day of evil consume my life
I want to live only for you and be your shining light
Remove all hardness in my heart and let it be like your own
Give me courage and peace to live my life for you alone.
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REFLECTION
• Why is being secretive to God counter productive for Christians?
• How can we seek God’s own heart like David did?