June 3
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PSALM 89 THE HIGHEST OF ALL KINGS
19 Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
“I have granted help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21 so that my hand shall be established with him;
my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth. – Psalm 89:19-27
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STAND ON GOD’S PROMISES by ILMA
When things are rough, there is one thing to do
Look up to the promises of our dearest Creator
He has assured help to all those who are faithful
The Lord has chosen Christ to come from his own people
Our heavenly Father has established his kingdom through David
The king was given anointing and strength to crush the enemy.
So much blessings were granted to all those whom he has chosen
God’s steadfast love and faithfulness manifests in all his servants
The Lord promised protection and victory against the enemy
There is nothing to fear when evil plots seem overwhelming
He will crush the foes and strike down all those who harm them
The Lord is the rock of our salvation, He has total control and power.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for God’s people to always look up and stand on all the promises He gave to us?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 89 THE CREATOR AND OWNER OF ALL THINGS
June 2
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PSALM 89 THE CREATOR AND OWNER OF ALL THINGS
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
12 The north and the south, you have created them;
Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
– Psalm 89:8-18
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EXALT THE LORD AND BE EXULTED IN HIM by ILMA
O Lord, I bring you all the praise and glory; You are worthy
You created all things for the purpose of giving you glory
Your commands are based on justice and righteousness
Help us to choose and walk towards the path to uprightness.
Blessed is the Lord who lights the lives of his chosen ones
Exalt the Lord so you can be exulted and share your joy
The Lord is your strength and your shield, your true vindicator
Praise and worship him; He alone is your source and Redeemer.
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REFLECTION
• How can exalting the Lord make you exulted?
• How is praising God the way to eternal life?
• What happens when we praise ourselves instead of God?
PSALM 89 A GOD GREATLY TO BE FEARED
June 1
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PSALM 89 A GOD GREATLY TO BE FEARED
I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him? -Psalm 89:1-7
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AN INCOMPARABLE GOD WORTHY OF PRAISE by ILMA
Who else can compare with a God whose steadfast love endures forever?
Who among the heavenly beings can even come close to a God who is majestic?
Let all people give praise to an incomparable God who made all things
Let the whole creation bow down to Him who has the sole sovereignty
Praise and give glory to the one who established a covenant with David
The Lord promised an offspring from his lineage to rescue God’s people
Let us sing and shout out joyfully for he has been faithful to his promise
Lift up your hands and sing a song to declare his goodness and majesty.
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REFLECTION
• What can you observe from these beginning verses of the psalm written by Ethan the Ezrahite?
• Why was this considered a community lament? What where they weeping about in this song?
PSALM 88 O LORD, WHY DO YOU CAST MY SOUL AWAY?
May 31
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PSALM 88 O LORD, WHY DO YOU CAST MY SOUL AWAY?
13 But I, O LORD, cry to you;
in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O LORD, why do you cast my soul away?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness.– Psalm 88:13-18
________________________________________WHEN DARKNESS SURROUND ME by ILMA
When darkness surrounds me, I feel your absence
Why have you hidden your face from me; I feel helpless
O Lord, I cry out to you as I suffer these terror
Why have you allowed me to be swept over?
Fear envelopes my whole being when I don’t have your presence
I plead you to deliver me from all these betrayals from my friends
I trusted these people, shared all my gifts and formed bonds with them
But the wicked have used my generosity use it to supply their needs.
When darkness surrounds me, I feel restrained and fearful
Hold my hand so I can follow you to the path for the faithful
Why have you abandoned me Lord, come to my rescue
Bring back that Holy Presence so I can have my mind renewed.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it so easy to wallow in our feelings? How can we combat this fleshly desire to cater to it?
PSALM 88 ARE YOUR WONDERS KNOWN IN DARKNESS?
May 30
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PSALM 88 ARE YOUR WONDERS KNOWN IN DARKNESS?
8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
you have made me a horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9 my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O LORD;
I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? – Psalm 88:8-12
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MY EYES GROW DIM THROUGH SORROW by ILMA
My Lord, I cry out to you as I am in this chasm of darkness
You have allowed my closest friends to continue their wickedness
I feel so isolated and trapped in this silence that you give me
My eyes grow dim through the pain, sorrow and adversity
How long will you let me suffer Lord, have I not been faithful?
Lord, I call on you daily and yet they continue all their ridicules
Have mercy on me and let me feel your presence again
Show the enemy that their tactics are all in vain
I will not survive this world if your presence is ambiguous
Give me strength to continue to overcome this darkness
Lead me to a place where your assurance of your love is present
Deliver me out of this pit where I cannot experience your presence.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the psalmist sound so desperate and depressed in this individual lament?
• What was the cause of the psalmist’s grief when he wrote this psalm?
• Why is it important not to dwell on our feelings as this psalm illustrates?
PSALM 88 LET MY PRAYER COME BEFORE YOU
May 29
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PSALM 88 LET MY PRAYER COME BEFORE YOU
O LORD, God of my salvation,
I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
for they are cut off from your hand.
6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,
in the regions dark and deep.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah– Psalm 88:1-7
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I COME TO YOU LORD WHEN MY SOUL IS FULL OF TROUBLE BY ILMA
I come pouring out my anguish and distress to you my Lord
Hear out my plea for I am overcome with troubles in this world
Day in and day out, so many forces go against my quest for peace
There is so much corruption around and an abundance of injustice
How long will you let me be marinated in such wickedness?
I cry out to you Lord, deliver me from such unrighteousness
Give me courage to face the wrath that you have laid upon me
All those who used to be my friend have become an enemy
I have been weak and am overwhelmed with much sorrow
Help me to rely on you alone and not worry about tomorrow
Grant me wisdom to never lose hope no matter how grim it is
I believe that you are always there to deliver me and overcome sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it wise to go to the Lord when you are beset by troubles and pain?
PSALM 120 DELIVERANCE FROM LYING LIPS & DECEITFUL TONGUE
May 28
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PSALM 120 DELIVERANCE FROM LYING LIPS & DECEITFUL TONGUE
In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O LORD,
from lying lips,
from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you,
and what more shall be done to you,
you deceitful tongue?
4 A warrior’s sharp arrows,
with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long have I had my dwelling
among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace,
but when I speak, they are for war! – Psalm 120:1-7
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DELIVER US FROM LIARS AND DECEIVERS by ILMA
Lord, look, I am surrounded by many liars and deceivers
They inched their way to your family of believers
In my anguish and agony, I come to you for rescue
Help your people to detect right away what is askew
Do not let their cunning schemes develop or progress
Lord, hinder their plans to make your saints transgress.
Free me Lord! I have lived with many unbelievers and liars
I am so exhausted by their baits and sly plans to attack
Punish the wicked people whatever it takes to protect the faithful
I plead you to deliver us from all the tactics of Satan and his demons
Grant your people peace even in the midst of war and suffering
Cover us with your love; give us resilience to face these adversities.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it the responsibility of Christians to stay away from liars and deceivers?
PSALM 47 GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
May 27
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PSALM 47 GOD IS KING OVER ALL THE EARTH
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! – Psalm 47:1-9
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SHOUT TO GOD WITH LOUD SONGS OF JOY by ILMA
Exult and hail our God, who is King over all the earth
He alone is to be revered and praised; he is the only true God
Raise your hands to praise your Maker; he made you in his own image
Shout out loud and give glory to the Most High; he is ruler of all age.
Sing hallelujah; clap your hands, sound your trumpets
God is sovereign and he reigns over all realms
All things belong to God; he created every creature on earth
All must praise him; a God who is generous and full of steadfast love.
All you people of God, do not forget to worship and give him thanks
He has dominion over you and all things in heaven and on earth
Pledge your allegiance to the only one who can give you deliverance
He promises eternal life to all those who fear and give him reverence.
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REFLECTION
• How can singing and shouting out loud to God be a manifestation of worship?
• Why do you think God created music? What is its purpose?
• What can you say about the modern worship in our current age in the Evangelical, Pentecostal and other denominations?
• Do you think God is glorified in the modern Christian songs of praise?
PSALM 80 HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE LORD
May 26
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PSALM 80 HAVE REGARD FOR THIS VINE LORD
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.
14 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine, 15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! – Psalm 80:8-19
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LET YOUR HAND BE ON THE RIGHTEOUS by ILMA
O Lord, we come to your throne for deliverance and vindication
These evil people have trampled on us and kept us in oppression
Look down from heaven and see; your people are unjustly treated
Let your hand be on the righteous and avenge your faithful servants.
The enemy has spitted its venom on all the righteous people of God
Have regard for your faithful ones Lord, let them not be overcome
Give us life and courage so we can call upon your name continuously
Restore us O Lord God of hosts, shine your face on us constantly.
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REFLECTION
• Who is the vine that is constantly mentioned in this psalm by Asaph?
• Why was the psalmist pleading God to have regard for this vine in verse 14?
PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
May 25
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PSALM 80 STIR UP YOUR MIGHT AND COME TO SAVE US!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,
stir up your might and come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors,
and our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!
– Psalm 80:1-7
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RESTORE US AND LET YOUR FACE SHINE O LORD by ILMA
O Lord, hear me out as I plead you my cause
You are the Lord Almighty, the God of Hosts
Come and bring to your people restoration
Let me feel your presence during this period of depression
How long will you be angry at your people’s prayers?
Please do not cut us out from your loving presence.
Let your face shine upon us, O just and merciful God
Without your face shining on us, we won’t have joy
We have been drowning in tears and feeling abandoned
Grant us grace and have your presence be manifest
Forgive us all our sinful nature and give us strength to hold on
Rejuvenate your people and help us to endure and press on.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God was angry at his people as mentioned in verse 4 that even their prayers were rejected?
• Share an experience when you have felt God’s anger or disapproval of a prayer you pleaded him to answer.