May 14
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
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?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 44 REDEEM US FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR STEADFAST LOVE
May 13
________________________________________
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
________________________________________
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.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is being secretive to God counter productive for Christians?
• How can we seek God’s own heart like David did?
PSALM 44 LIKE SHEEP FOR SLAUGHTER
May 12
________________________________________
PSALM 44 LIKE SHEEP FOR SLAUGHTER
7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant. – Psalm 44:7-17
________________________________________
ON BEING RIDICULED AND DISGRACED by ILMA
When you are being ridiculed, do not agonize
Remember that Jesus’ was mocked by the Pharisees
Like sheep being led for slaughter, he didn’t say a word
He silently took all the taunting of this cruel world.
When you are being disgraced and made a laughingstock
Recall how many times Christ was whipped, tortured and spat on
Continue to endure the adversities you go through in life
It will bring you strength and your faith will shine like a light.
Press on to the progress you have already made
You won’t be given anything you can’t handle
The Lord our God has his purpose for letting you suffer
Be strong and firm in trusting him and do not cower.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important to cry out to God when you are being ridiculed or disgraced?
• What must we do when we are discouraged by persecution or being mocked?
PSALM 44 THROUGH YOU LORD WE PUSH DOWN OUR FOES
May 11
________________________________________
PSALM 44 THROUGH YOU LORD WE PUSH DOWN OUR FOES
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.
4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. – Psalm 44:1-3
________________________________________
THE LORD GIVES; THE LORD TAKES by ILMA
All you people of God, you have heard of all his majestic work long ago
Remember to declare his goodness and steadfast love to the world
When you face all kinds of trials and sufferings, you are not alone
When you win battles and attacks of the enemy it’s not your own
The Lord gives whatever pleases him; he also takes it at his discretion
Never forget that everything comes from the Lord, have no illusions.
The Lord’s ways are not our ways; we can’t always comprehend His plans
Trust only in God so you will be able to follow his will and his ways
Our strength and victory only come from the Lord; do not boast
Do not take credit for everything that you achieve, it is not yours
The Lord gives and the Lord takes when the timing is right
Keep your eyes focused on Christ so you won’t lose sight.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we avoid taking credit for anything we do since the Lord owns everything anyway and he is the Master and Maker of all things?
• How can we develop the habit of making God increase and us decrease mentioned in John 3:30?
PSALM 31 THE GOD WHO HEARS OUR PLEAS FOR MERCY
May 10
________________________________________
PSALM 31 THE GOD WHO HEARS OUR PLEAS FOR MERCY
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 31:21-24
________________________________________
THE LORD PRESERVES THE FAITHFUL & REPAYS THE PROUD by ILMA
To our gracious and generous Lord,
Let all praise and glory be to him
The Lord preserves the faithful
He repays the proud who constantly sins.
Our Lord hears the upright when they plead
When they cry out for help, he listens and heeds
Be strong all you faithful servants of the Lord
Let your heart take courage as you face this world.
To all the saints, love the Lord with all your strength
Our gracious God will give you your needs and keep you well
He will deliver you from the proud and the wicked
He will raise them up just like Christ was risen.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to ensure that we look up the cross and reflect on Christ’s resurrection when we feel discouraged and down?
• What promise of God is stressed on this psalm and why do we need to hold on to that?
PSALM 31 GOD’S ABUNDANT GOODNESS TO THOSE WHO FEAR HIM
May 9
________________________________________
PSALM 31 GOD’S ABUNDANT GOODNESS TO THOSE WHO FEAR HIM
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. – Psalm 31:18-20
________________________________________
GOD’S LOVE AND PROTECTION FOR HIS PEOPLE by ILMA
O Lord, I praise you for your majesty and glory
Without your love, I will be lost completely
Thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness
You shower your beloved servants with goodness.
You promise protection and deliverance to your people
My Lord, please silence all those liars who oppress the righteous
Hide us from all the evil schemes and plots of the enemy
Cover us with your presence so that their tactics will revert to them.
Your goodness and mercy filled our hearts with much expectancy
Let us take refuge in your steadfast love, grace and mercy
Fill us with your Spirit so we will have courage and wisdom
Help us to discern and expose evil so we can have much freedom.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we manifest our trust in the Lord in the midst of suffering and attacks of the enemy?
• Why is it important to lay on the throne of God all our concerns and the trials we face in life?
PSALM 31 – I HAVE BECOME LIKE A BROKEN VESSEL
May 8
________________________________________
PSALM 31 – I HAVE BECOME LIKE A BROKEN VESSEL
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many- terror on every side! –
as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand; rescue me
from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
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. – Psalm 31:11-17
________________________________________
AS THE ENEMY SCHEMES AGAINST ME by ILMA
Lord, come to my rescue as the enemy schemes against me
I have become a laughing stock and disgrace to my neighbor
Many have minimized me and treated me like dead
I hear them whisper all kinds of gossips and judgment
As they scheme against me and mock me incessantly
I ask you Lord, to deliver me from all the attacks of the enemy.
O Lord, I call upon you. Have mercy on your faithful servant
Let the wicked be put to shame and silenced and stopped
Make your face shine on your beloved servant; make haste to save me
As the enemy schemes against me, I slowly become discouraged
Strengthen me to exercise the authority you gave me to trample them
O my God, I trust that you will fulfill your promise of deliverance.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can you identify with David in this psalm as his enemy schemes against him?
• What did David do when he felt so discriminated and mocked by those people who seemed to have honored him before and currently mock him now?
PSALM 31 BE GRACIOUS TO ME IN TIMES OF GRIEF
May 7
________________________________________
PSALM 31 BE GRACIOUS TO ME IN TIMES OF GRIEF
6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away. – Psalm 31:7-10
________________________________________
A PLEA FOR GRACE by ILMA
My Lord, please hear my distressed soul
Be gracious to your servant who is in much sorrow
Please keep away all the idolaters from my life
They suck the energy out and snuff off your light
Set me free from those whose only concern is “self”
Change their hearts and reveal yourself to them
Let them know that their wickedness destroys
Grant me grace to overcome the enemy’s ploys
I trust you completely and stand on your steadfast love
I praise you and honor your name my Lord and my God
Replace my sorrow with the joy that only comes from you
Give me a heart that endures all things and forgives
Shower me with your wisdom and grant me patience.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why are prayers important especially when you are going through grief and sorrow and suffering?
PSALM 31 INTO YOUR HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
May 6
________________________________________
PSALM 31 INTO YOUR HAND I COMMIT MY SPIRIT
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. – Psalm 31:1-5
________________________________________
INTO YOUR HANDS I SURRENDER MY LIFE by ILMA
It is in you that I run for defence; you are my sanctuary
Hear out my plea for protection, deliverance and safety
Be that stronghold for me as I go through trials and adversity
The enemy has been constantly assaultive and combative
Lord, I plead you to shelter me under your wings for I am so tired
Be my rock of refuge and strength so I can be rejuvenated.
I need your comfort and deliverance so I can overcome evil
Take me out of their schemes and plans to destroy your calling
Into your hands alone will I surrender my entire life
You are the reason for my life and without you, I will expire
Never leave me or forsake me; I can do nothing on my own
Give me enough strength and let me focus on your firm foundation.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What does the writer mean when he said “Into your hands I commit my spirit?”
• Why did Jesus say the same phrase before he died on the cross?
• Why is it important to surrender all to the Lord?
PSALM 71 YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS O GOD REACHES THE HIGH HEAVENS
May 5
________________________________________
PSALM 71 YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS O GOD REACHES THE HIGH HEAVENS
19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again; from the depths of the earth, you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God;
I sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt. – Psalm 71:19-24
________________________________________
A GOD WHO REVIVES AND COMFORTS by ILMA
My Lord, I praise you with all that I am and all that I have
You have constantly guided and pulled me towards the right path
In all the years that I have lived, I have never felt alone
You were there in the midst of my most traumatic moments
Despite the enemy’s plot to bring me down and defeat me
You never allowed me to be overcome by the devil’s tactics
I bow down to you my Lord and my God who revives the oppressed
You always comforted me and never left me alone to be so depressed
Without you, my Lord, my life will be a total mess
Thank you for healing me from all the abuse and illnesses
All my life challenges built up my character and strength
It added much wisdom and grew my faith and discernment
My lips will only praise you constantly so you can be glorified
You are a God who revives and comforts the poor in spirit.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we faithfully worship the Lord for all that he has done for us?
• Why should we be thankful when we undergo trials and suffering?