August 17
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PSALM 17 O LORD, YOU HAVE TRIED MY HEART AND HAVE TESTED ME
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips. I have avoided the ways of the violent.5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 12 He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.13 Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,14 from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure: they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. 15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. – Psalm 17:1-15
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, hear my plea, I have kept my mouth from lies and deceit
Please test my heart for I have followed your will and have done what’s right
You know everything about me, my thoughts, action, words and heart
Keep me in your gracious love so I will never stray from you or depart
I am not always strong especially when the enemy prowls like a lion
I get ambushed when I am weak; help me get on your path and obey
Deliver me from the unrighteous and let your word be the sword of my spirit
I look forward to behold your righteous face, you give me hope I embrace it
Keep your children from all the corruption in this world, sanctify them
Grant us grace and an abundance of your constant mercy and love.
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REFLECTION
• Do you come to God to ask him to examine your heart and test you?
• Why do you think some people resist being tested by God?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 16 IN GOD’S PRESENCE THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY
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August 16
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PSALM 16 IN GOD’S PRESENCE THERE IS FULLNESS OF JOY
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also, my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, I run to you for safety; you preserve me
I am nothing apart from your love and righteousness
Without your presence, life is full of troubles and darkness
It is only by your Spirit that we can have joy in fullness.
Because I have set the Lord always before me
I shall not grumble, crave for worldly things or live in discontent
The Lord gives me wisdom and leads me in the right direction
Without his guidance, I will perish and live in chaos and confusion.
My Lord is true to his word, he will never abandon his people
He makes me know the path to life and gives me his blessings
Therefore, my heart is joyful and my whole being rejoices
I shall worship the Lord all the days of my life; I shall sing him praises.
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REFLECTION
• Can someone who doesn’t know or serve God have a fullness of joy? Why or why not?
PSALM 15 WHO CAN COME BEFORE THE LORD
August 15
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PSALM 15 WHO CAN COME BEFORE THE LORD
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
and does no evil to his neighbor,
nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved. – Psalm 15:1-5
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Who can come before the Lord?
Who can stand before him?
He who is faithful to keep his laws
They are those who bring him glory and praise
They do not tell lies or defend themselves
They are those who don’t easily get offended
They are patient, kind, loving and humble
They do not easily succumb to sin or stumble.
He prays and confesses his sins regularly
The world can never deceive him easily
Who can come before the Lord, our God?
They are those who do not conform to this world
They are those who love their neighbors as themselves
He who are honest and live in blamelessness
They are those who walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh
They take the path that is narrow and not wide.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think is David’s intention when he wrote this psalm?
PSALM 14 THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
August 14
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PSALM 14 THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?
5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. – Psalm 14:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
There is none who does good, not even one
Because of our sin nature, we turn away from God
We become proud and fools when we think we are wise
Only the Lord can grant us wisdom to live righteous lives.
No matter what we do, God sees our actions from above
We are only lying to ourselves when we think we are good
When we pride ourselves in what we can accomplish
We are not acknowledging God’s providence and generosity.
Every good gift comes from our heavenly Father
Thank the Lord for his provision; without it, we will suffer
Praise his name forever for he is our salvation
Depend only on him or you will live in an illusion.
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REFLECTION
• What is the danger of not acknowledging God in one’s life?
• Why do you think some people think that they have no need for God?
PSALM 13 MY HEART REJOICES IN YOUR SALVATION
August 13
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PSALM 13 MY HEART REJOICES IN YOUR SALVATION
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me. – Psalm 13:1-6
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I cry to you O Lord, please do not forget me
Sometimes I feel like you have hidden your face from me
Come to my rescue especially when my soul is unstable
When the enemy attacks, I get anxious, tired and grumble.
How long will you come to my rescue O Lord?
Light up my path so I can have courage to overcome this world
My foes mock me and think that he can overpower me
You are my deliverer; free me from fear, worry and sin.
I will sing to the Lord because of his steadfast love
His love endures forever and in him, my heart exults
Answer my plea O Lord, that I may bring you glory
Without your help, I will live life in fear and stay selfish.
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REFLECTION
• What can dependence on God do to you and the relationships you have?
• Why is it essential for you to reach out and pray to God when anxious?
PSALM 12 THE LORD CUT OFF ALL FLATTERING LIPS
August 12
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PSALM 12 THE LORD CUT OFF ALL FLATTERING LIPS
Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
6 The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O LORD, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man. – Psalm 12:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Help us O Lord, for the holy ones are perishing
Most men lie and utter words that are flattering
No one speak the truth anymore, they are telling lies
The Lord cut off all those lips who utter lies and destroy lives
Those who boasts and speak evil things will be judged
O Lord, keep your children from being preyed on
Everywhere we look, the wicked prowls like a lion
Ready to devour and consume his chosen victim
Only your words are our shield, are pure and true
Help me utter only what comes from you and the truth
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think flattering lips are an abomination to the Lord?
• Why are the godly and righteous a novelty in our world today?
PSALM 11 ANTIDOTE TO FEAR
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August 11
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PSALM 11 ANTIDOTE TO FEAR
In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul,
“Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
they have fitted their arrow to the string
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5 The LORD tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;
fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face. – Psalm 11:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
When fear comes unexpectedly, run to the Lord for shelter
He is the only One who can bring peace in the midst of terror
The enemy attacks the upright by creating havoc and chaos
But the Lord is our stronghold and our shield who protects the righteous
Never forget that the Lord sits on his throne in heaven, full of majesty
His steadfast love doesn’t stop; he is in control, he is Almighty
The Lord tests the righteous and gives them strength and endurance
He refines all those who love him and gives them patience and tolerance
Our loving God hates the wicked and all those who loves cruelty
They will receive his judgment and will be punished severely
For our heavenly Father hates all kinds of evil and wickedness
He will vindicate and deliver all those live in righteousness
So, when you experience doubt and fear, run to the Lord
Exercise your faith for it removes all fear that is rampant in this world.
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REFLECTION
• What do you think was happening in this psalm when David wrote this?
PSALM 10 A PRAYER TO DELIVER THE HELPLESS FROM THE WICKED
August 10
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PSALM 10 A PRAYER TO DELIVER THE HELPLESS FROM THE WICKED
6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” 7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; 9 he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. 10 The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. 11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” 12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.13 Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. 16 The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
– Psalm 10:6-18
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
The wicked plot all kinds of mischief against the righteous
They curse and oppress them in their innocence and weakness
The evildoers stealthily watch and prey on them
He lurks like a lion ready to devour his found victim
O Lord, please do not forget these people who are helpless
In your steadfast love, you will never let the vulnerable perish
O Lord, hear the cries of the afflicted; incline your ear to them
You are a just God, do justice to the oppressed and fatherless
Please strengthen their hearts and deliver them from the wicked
Do not let the unrighteous get away with their schemes to strike terror
Keep your people out of their evil tactics and plots to make them fearful
O Lord, you are our refuge, our fortress, our strength and our vindicator
Keep us away from the haughty, the arrogant and all the manipulators.
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REFLECTION
• How to do we protect ourselves from the evil schemes of the wicked?
PSALM 9 THE LORD IS A STRONGHOLD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
August 9
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PSALM 9 THE LORD IS A STRONGHOLD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence.4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. – Psalm 9:1-14
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
I will sing praise to the Lord and remember all his wonderful deeds
I will rejoice and be glad and glorify the only true God, the Most high
When the enemy plots to destroy those who live in righteousness
The Lord is their stronghold in times of troubles and weaknesses
He comes to the rescue of all the oppressed and unjustly treated
The Lord delivers them, heals and comfort all those who are afflicted
He does not forget the cry of those who are faithful to him and his word
Praise our Lord God Almighty, he sits on the throne watching over the world
Our Lord God punishes all wickedness, he judges the people with uprightness
He hates evil and won’t allow it to triumph; he crushes all forms of wickedness
Run to the Lord for refuge for he is our strength and stronghold in troubled times
He is the strong foundation for all those who love, trust him and follow his lead.
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REFLECTION
• Share some experiences that proved God is our stronghold in times of trouble?
• Why is it important to sing praise and remember God’s marvelous deeds?
PSALM 8 MAJESTIC NAME OF GOD
August 8
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PSALM 8 MAJESTIC NAME OF GOD
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! – Psalm 8:1-9
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord my God, your name is above all else in all creation
How majestic is your name; it can bring us salvation
What is man that you even care for his welfare and his whole life?
You gave him authority over all the things and all creatures you made
When I bask at your beautiful and wondrous nature, I am in awe
Your name is the only name that can make us bow down
No other name can have this power over any person
It is the name that can conquer and overpower forms of evil
Praise the Lord and glorify his holy and majestic name
He alone has authority over all the earth and the entirety of his creation
Glory to the most majestic name; praise the Lord who created all things
The name of the Lord is to be worshipped and adored in all the earth.
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REFLECTION
• Why is praising the name of the Lord something a Christian ought to always do?