January 14
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PSALM 124- DELIVERANCE FROM THE FOWLER’S SNARE
If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say—2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us,3 then they would have us
up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; 4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; 5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! 7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
– Psalm 124:1-8
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According to ESV study bible commentary, this psalm is a thanksgiving hymn for the community for a time when God’s people have been under threat but have been delivered. David was oozing with gratitude for the Lord’s presence in all that they have encountered with the enemy. He always acknowledged God and attributed all the victory, protection and deliverance to his Lord who never leaves his side. In this psalm, he also mentions a flood that they were spared from and how they were delivered from those who were running after them. He described the deliverance like a bird that escaped the snare of the fowlers. That it is the Lord who is Creator of all, who made that deliverance possible. Spurgeon’s sermons on the Snare of the fowler mentions that “The prince of the power of this world, the spirit which still worketh in the children of disobedience is like a fowler, always attempting to destroy us. First, the fowler’s snare is intimately connected with secrecy. Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird. Therefore, the fowler carefully covers up his trap.”
Isn’t this psalm a good reminder for us today as we continue live in this corrupt world? This world is Satan’s playground. If we can only see Satan’s schemes with our own eyes, we will surely never let go of God’s armor. Satan is invisible and yet his schemes are very real. When we suddenly experience anxiety, paralysis, doubts, accusations, divisions, conflicts, we might be falling into the snare of the devil. He is always on the lookout for an open door in our minds and hearts to devour us. Let us remember that our help is in the name of the Lord, who created all things. We need to run to him for protection and deliverance so that these invisible traps that the enemy constantly put in our lives will be exposed. Let us not be hindered in our walk with the Spirit so we can grow in the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• How can we continue to keep walking in the Spirit amidst the traps of Satan?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 127- WITHOUT THE LORD EVERYTHING WE BUILD IS FUTILE
January 13
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PSALM 127- WITHOUT THE LORD EVERYTHING WE BUILD IS FUTILE
Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. – Psalm 127:1-5
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This psalm is a song of ascent, which were a collection of 15 Psalms that were traditionally sung by Hebrew pilgrims, who ascended the uphill road to Jerusalem to attend annual festivals in the Temple. Some say that Solomon wrote this psalm, but other scholars think that David wrote it for his son, Solomon.
This psalm focuses on building and guarding a house or a dwelling place. It may also refer to the home or family life. In verse 1, the writer emphasizes the importance of God’s blessing in building a home or a dwelling place. In other words, when we build our house or family life without God’s involvement, we are doing it in vain. If you were to start a family and you do not know or serve the Lord, it will not last long. No wonder many marriages break down because they are building a home or family without including God in it. Without a strong foundation, a house will collapse. Without God, no marriage or family will thrive.
Solomon talks about “anxious toil” in verse 2. It is living life for the sake of life itself and not honoring God. People who do not acknowledge the Lord in their work is ingratitude. They won’t have contentment and peace without being thankful, our work is in vain.There is also a mention of the importance of depending on God for protection and not on human effort because when we count out God on this aspect of our lives, we will be depending on our own strength and not on His grace. Solomon expounds on these useless things we do in life in the book of Ecclesiastes. The psalmist also mentions the blessings of having children. It is a gift from God to have children. Sadly, many people fail to acknowledge that they are a gift and treat their own children as their property. Parents are vessels so that the children that are given to them will be trained to glorify the Lord himself. It is their responsibility to bring them into the praising of God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to remember that without God, whatever we do is futile?
PSALM 93 – THE LORD’S MAJESTY AND POWER
January 12
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PSALM 93 – THE LORD’S MAJESTY AND POWER
The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. 4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the LORD on high is mighty! 5 Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore. – Psalm 93:1-5
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This psalm is a royal psalm and sources say that the author is unknown, although some suspect that it may have been David who wrote it. Hermann Gunkel categorized ten psalms by their subject matter of kingship as royal psalms. Specifically, the royal psalms deal with the spiritual role of kings in the worship of Yahweh.
The psalmist describes the Lord God as robed in majesty and has strength as his belt. According to Boice’s commentary, “Majesty is a hard idea to define, but it has to do with dignity, authority of sovereign power, stateliness, and grandeur. It is the proper characteristic of earthly monarchs, who have often gone to great lengths to enhance the impression of their majesty by multiplications of trappings of power. But it is supremely the attribute of him who is the Monarch over all and who does not need to multiply the trappings of his power.” God didn’t need anything else to adorn him because He himself is the beginning and the end and he is the source of everything and the Creator of all. He alone has the power to make anything just by his spoken word and his command. He can make anything and destroy it anytime he wants to. No one else has that kind of power. God’s kingdom is well established and firm and no other kingdoms is at par or can even come close to his sovereignty. All earthly thrones cannot have that same power as God has. They are all inferior to the Lord’s might and majesty.
In verse 4, the psalmist describes the sounds produced by the splashing waves of the sea that may seem so powerful; yet God himself created the sea. He can control it and his voice is mightier than the sounds of the waves splashing. He is in control of everything and he can do whatever he wants done to his own creation.
The writer ends this royal psalm with a note of praise to God’s decrees and commands. God’s laws are all reliable and beneficial to all who worship the majestic and one an only true God.
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REFLECTION
• How did the psalmist honor and acknowledged the Lord’s majesty in this psalm?
PSALM 70 – HASTEN TO HELP ME O GOD FOR I AM POOR AND NEEDY
January 11
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PSALM 70 – HASTEN TO HELP ME O GOD FOR I AM POOR AND NEEDY
Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! 2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” 4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay! – Psalm 70:1-5
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Martin Luther comment on this psalm as “This prayer is the shield, spear, thunderbolt and defense against every attack of fear, presumption [and] lukewarmness…which are especially dominant today.”
When you hear the urgency in the first verse of this psalm, you wonder why David would hasten the Lord to deliver him. We know that during his lifetime, David had so many enemies who were in pursuit to kill him. The rush is not about demanding his God to do something for him, but it is about his complete dependency on Him. It is almost like a child who would run to his parents for safety. It sounds like a helpless person wanting to be helped by someone whom he knows would surely come to his rescue. We hear intimacy from the way he addressed his Lord. David sounded so sure that God will do something about the plea because he is faithful to Him. How many of us Christians have this confidence in God? Sadly, many of us resort to relying on our own strength and try to solve our problems instead of running to our Lord God.
David even prays for the enemy’s confusion and shame. Boice comments on this verse as “The kindest thing we can pray for people who do wrong is that their plans will fail, for it may be that in their frustration they will see the folly and true end of evil and be reached for God.” The expression Aha! Aha is an exclamation of ridicule according to Easton’s bible dictionary. When David mentions this, he was emphasizing how these wicked people scornfully mocked him.
He ends this psalm with a praise of God, proclaiming how great He is and acknowledging his neediness and weakness. He also declares him as his only deliverer and help. Who can say “no” to such confident plea for deliverance? Do you think God will ignore the request of someone who knows him and trust him so well?
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REFLECTION
• Do you have an intimate relationship with God that you can ask Him anything just like how David asks Him?
PSALM 53 THERE’S NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
January 10
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PSALM 53 THERE’S NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God 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 fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
4 Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? 5 There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. 6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. – Psalm 53:1-6
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This psalm is identified as a maskil of David. Most Bible translations suggest that maskil is a literary or musical term. Most likely, it relates to the purpose of specific psalms or how they were performed or recited. Certain Bible translations have rendered the word in English, referring to it as “a contemplation” or “insight”. It sounds like a soliloquy in a theatrical literary form where the character is thinking aloud while contemplating.
The psalm focuses on fools who don’t believe in God. The psalmist describes them as worldly and loves to engage in detestable evil acts. They can not do anything right. He describes a picture of how God watches over this man whom he created in his image and yet they haven’t been able to live in purpose that he made them to be. Everyone has sinned and have become so tainted by evil. In verse 3, David repeats again the phrase “There is none who does good, not even one.” It is a good reminder for all of us that we are all sinners. In verse 4, David gives his insight on fools who are ungrateful and never acknowledge the Giver of life who provides for all their needs. Isn’t this so true for most of us, even those who claim they are believers? We forget to count our blessings, thus we become fools ourselves.
In verse 5, David further illustrates the fear that is so prevalent in those who reject God. They fear anything and everything because God has left them to the sins they love to do. When they deny God’s existence, they are rejected by God as well. David mentions how God protects his people from such fools who doesn’t acknowledge God. He gives them shame and makes them live in that humiliation. In verse 6, once again, we hear David ends on a hopeful contemplation of the restoration that God promised to his people.
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REFLECTION
• How is this psalm reminding you of man’s fallen nature?
PSALM 1 – DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
January 9
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PSALM 1 – DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the
wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
– Psalm1:1-6
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The psalmist gives us a distinction between the wicked and the righteous. He clearly illustrates the manifestation of righteousness in a man. They do not follow the system of the world. They do not tolerate sin but expose them instead. They do not take part in mockery of others or in doing unjust things. They take pleasure in the commands and statutes of the Lord and reflect on it day and night and obey them.
The psalmist gives a picture of the righteous. He likens them to a tree that are near streams of water. They are always bearing fruits in its season. They do not scorch or its leaves never dry up because of the water supply that feeds in its root system. It is healthy because of the proximity to water source which is the food of the tree.
Verses 4-6 describes the wicked. The psalmist illustrates that evil people are like chaff which are the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain. They are very easily blown away. It gives us an image of a very unstable object that easily gets blown by the wind. It is opposite to the description about the tree planted by the river bank that is so solid in its foundation because of the deep root system. The wicked are shallow and easily swayed and blown away by any movement around it. They are very fickle and unstable. In verse 5, it describes that the wicked cannot stand the judgment. They cannot stand truth because they are full of lies and thrive only in corrupt and worldly ways. They cannot follow the way of God since they are so full of themselves and only concerned with satisfying their cravings and pleasures. What is interesting to know is that the wicked are clueless to the truth because they have been blinded by their own desires and unrighteousness. They cannot get the filters of selfishness out of their minds and hearts. God destroys the ways of the wicked but blesses and prospers the righteous.
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REFLECTION
• Why is wisdom and fruitfulness reserved only for the righteous people of God?
PSALM 143-MAKE ME KNOW THE WAY I SHOULD GO
January 8
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PSALM 143-MAKE ME KNOW THE WAY I SHOULD GO
Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD I have fled to you for refuge. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! 12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant. – Psalm 143:7-12
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In this psalm, David continues to ask God to show him the way that he should go. At the beginning of this psalm, we hear David getting discouraged and exhausted from the many attacks of the enemy on him. In verses 1-6, we hear his despair and anguish that seemed as deep as Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane just before he was about to die.
In verses 5-6 (previous to these verses) we hear a shift from despair to hope. In verse 7, he continues on to plead God to manifest his presence to him. His request to end his isolation in verse 7 is a manifestation of his humility and his dependence on God. He almost declares that without God, he will be like those godless people. Verse 8 is a declaration of his trust in God and how he longs for his lead and guidance to him so he can face all these trials and sufferings.
I love that he says “Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” It is a complete reliance on him. How many of us Christians actually exhibit this kind of dependence and trust and submission to God? We often act on our own will. It is automatic for us to do what we know or what we think is good for us. In verse 9, David reminds God once again of his promise for deliverance from the enemy. Verse 10 declares God as his teacher and that without God’s instructions, he will never be able to obey his will. It shows how David lives under the grace and mercy and will of God. He asks God to show him how to live in this world. In verse 11, he beseeches God to deliver his soul from being corrupted by the world. In verse 12, he reminds God again of his promise for vindication and deliverance from his enemies.
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REFLECTION
• Why is asking God to tell you what to do and where to go an important habit that all believers must include in their daily walk with the Holy Spirit?
• What happens when we rush into doing things without consulting God’s Spirit?
PSALM 143 -MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU LIKE A PARCHED LAND
January 7
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PSALM 143 -MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU LIKE A PARCHED LAND
Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness. 2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. -Psalm 143:1-6
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In this psalm, we witness David deeply discouraged and longing so much for the Lord’s presence and deliverance. As he cries out and pleads God to grant him mercy, we hear how intimate he is with God. Verse 1 declares that God is full of faithfulness and righteousness. While David is feeling so beaten down, he never forgets to praise his God by declaring to the Lord himself his own attributes. He pleads God in verse 2 not to judge him for he knows that he is sinful and that no one is righteous before the Lord. According to Van Gemeran, David seemed to anticipate the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:10 (quoting Isaiah), There is none righteous, no not one; and Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Verse 3 is stating the condition of his soul. David seemed so exhausted at the pursuit of the enemy and how he is feeling so defeated and totally crushed in his spirit. He likens this deep depression into those who have long been dead: lifeless and without peace and joy. When we hear David speaks how his spirit is faint, doesn’t it remind us of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was about to die?
I myself feel David’s anguish during this time of exhaustion from the enemy’s attacks and ploys. When we are constantly targeted by the fiery arrows of the devil, we can physically, emotionally and mentally be drained and depleted. When we are betrayed, manipulated and tricked by those people closest to us, yet do everything they can to make our lives so miserable, we can be so worn out. I recently feel the effects of being marinated in constant attacks for over a decade. It has made me focus on the dark side of things.
In verses 5-6, we hear a shift of emotions from despair to hope as he ponders on God’s goodness from past battles he won. He declares his need for God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to cry out to God in our deepest agony?
• What can praying do for us who are in deep emotional turmoil?
PSALM 91-GOD’S PROTECTION TO THOSE WHO HOLD FAST TO HIM
January 6
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PSALM 91-GOD’S PROTECTION TO THOSE WHO HOLD FAST TO HIM
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he
knows my name.15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” – Psalm 91:11-16
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In the last verses of this psalm, we are given an actual illustration of God’s protection to those who love Him. In our world today, there is a fascination with heavenly beings especially angels. We see sculptures, paintings and even jewelry or small figurines of angels. The bible gives us a clearer image of these heavenly being. In 2 Samuel14:17, it says that they can discern good and evil. In Hebrews 1:14, they are described as ministering spirits to those who inherit salvation. In Luke 20:36, they are called God’s children. In Revelations 14:6, we are given a picture of them flying in midair who had the purpose to proclaim the gospel to those who live on earth-to every nation, tribe, language and people. After hearing what the bible has to say about these heavenly beings, we can now begin to picture how God assigns all these angels to guard all those who belong to Him. In verse 12, it is clearly depicted that they will bear you up. In other words, they will lift you up and make sure, not even your foot is harmed by anything, not even a stone. What a comfort to know that even though we don’t see them, they are there to ensure we are protected. In verse 13, this is almost prophetic and refers to Jesus, who crushes the serpent and the young lion. In other words, those who believe in the Lord, will have authority over these wild creatures and these animals will never hurt them at all.
The following verses are more assurances of God’s love because he promises deliverance and protection to all those who know his name. Verse 15 sounds almost like a caress from God that soothes our whole being. He will answer us when we are in trouble. He will come to liberate or free us. In verse 16, is another promise of long life and satisfaction and contentment to those who belongs to him. What a faithful lover!
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REFLECTION
• How has God manifested his protection on you all these years that you have served him?
• Why is it important to be reminded of the protection that God provides us?
PSALM 91-PROMISE TO THOSE WHO MAKE THE LORD THEIR DWELLING PLACE
January 5
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PSALM 91-PROMISE TO THOSE WHO MAKE THE LORD THEIR DWELLING PLACE
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
– Psalm 91:7-10
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The following verses reminds me of the picture of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. I remember watching the movie “Ten Commandments” starring Charleton Heston and Yul Bryner. It was so dramatic, the clouds was so dark gray and the as soon as the sea was parted and the Israelites were crossing, they were singing worship and praising the Lord as they were crossing the parted sea. Kodak Film only started producing colored movies in the 1950s and this was one of the first movies filmed so magnificently. The effects of the clouds and the sea was so amazing that I can clearly remember how awed I was with the Almighty God who ensured that his people were protected. Verse 8 says that no matter how much obstacles and suffering and attacks of the enemy come your way, it will not come near a point of crushing you. It may feel like it sometimes, but God is faithful to his character and promises. He will be our protector and defender.
Matthew Henry comments on verse 9 on “see the recompense of the wicked” as : people shall see, not only God’s promises fulfilled, but his threatenings: “ Then let sinners come unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer’s name; and encourage others to trust in him also.”
Verses 9-10 reminds those who have chosen to make God their sanctuary and their protection that nothing will harm them, which parallels Luke 10:9 verse which says “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” Sadly, many of us Christians fail to remember and stand on this promise.
It is such a gift to find a YouTube video of that 1956 movie Ten Commandments of the parting of the Red Sea. It is spectacular to watch God’s power and might and His unfailing protection to all his people and how He manifests his love for all those who are enslaved.
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REFLECTION
• How can we constantly remind ourselves of the power and love of our Lord God Almighty?