January 4
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PSALM 91-THE GOD WHO IS MY REFUGE AND FORTRESS
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
–Psalm 91:1-6
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In this psalm, the writer uses three titles of God namely in the first 2 verses:
• Most High (Elyon)- it means that no idol, god, or created being may be worshipped or exalted about the LORD because He is superior in every way.
• Almighty (El Shaddai)- conveys the idea God is an all-powerful being, able to control everything in the universe at all times.
• The Lord (Yahweh)- Yahweh is derived from the Hebrew word for “I AM,” it is the proper name of the divine person, coming from the verb which means to “exist,”
The psalmist introduces these titles in order to give reverence to the God whom he trusts and whom he considers his refuge and fortress.
According to Derek Kidner, the author of this psalm is unknown, but because it shares some of the themes of Psalm 90, some think the author is Moses. Some think it is David because it shares some common theme with Psalms 27 and 31. Whoever wrote this psalm have the same reverence as Moses and David have especially when addressing their Lord God.
Verses 1-6 enumerates promises of God to those who will abide in Him. In verse 1, we see the result of taking refuge in Him, we become very close to him, as if we are under his own shadow. You need to be close to someone for your shadows to intertwine and become one. Verse 2, gives us a picture of a fort that protects us from all harm and danger. Verse 3 promises deliverance or release from the tactics of the enemy and anything that will bring harm or death. Verse 4 describes how he protects us. Verse 5 promises strength and courage and verse 6 of his constant guidance and light. What rich psalm this is to remind us who we serve and how powerful he is to take care of us and to ensure we are protected.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to know God’s names and his promises?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
PSALM 131 – O LORD, I HAVE CALMED AND QUIETED MY SOUL
January 3
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PSALM 131 – O LORD, I HAVE CALMED AND QUIETED MY SOUL
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore. – Psalm 131:1-3
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According to various commentaries and bible study books, this psalm is a psalm of ascent or pilgrim psalm. The city of Jerusalem is situated on a high hill. Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one of the three main annual Jewish festivals traditionally sang these songs on the “ascent” or the uphill road to the city. According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of these Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.
Spurgeon notes that this psalm is both by and about David, expressing his humility, his confidence, and his commitment to perform the will of God. The Midrash pairs the phrases in verse 1 with specific events in David’s life that he could certainly have bragged about, yet he retained his humility.
David confesses that his heart is not haughty. In verse 1, he mentions that he does not busy himself with worldly things and anything that will draw attention to himself. In other words, though he had the position to do so, he stayed humble.
In verse 2, he likens his calm and quiet spirit with a weaned child with his mother. We get to see a picture of a baby dependent on his mother and contented that he is in her arms. What a great illustration of David’s dependency and contentment to his Lord God. In verse 3, he is exhorting Israel to have the same contentment and dependency on their creator and Lord.
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REFLECTION
• How can we stay humble and contented in the midst of success?
• How many of us who are in a position of power and wealth can say that they are content with their lives because they have the Lord as their top priority?
PSALM 13- HOW LONG O LORD? ILMA’S BLOG
January 2
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PSALM 13- HOW LONG O LORD?
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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Spurgeon comments “If the reader has never yet found occasion to use the language of this brief ode, he will do so ere long, if he be a man after the Lord’s own heart. Whenever you look into David’s Psalms, you may somewhere or another see yourselves. You never get into a corner but you find David in that corner.”
In verse 1, we hear David’s loneliness and exhaustion from the circumstances surrounding him. He is in anguish from the Lord’s absence. We know that David had fought so many battles and there are some victories he had won and that is probably because he felt the Lord’s presence then. But in the beginning of this psalm, we clearly hear despair. In verse 2, he felt very tired of being my himself and relying on his own strength. He sounded very much depleted from the constant battles he faced. I could very much identify with David in this ode “How long, O Lord?” Sometimes I feel shattered to pieces from being on guard against the enemy’s schemes. If I slacken off, I find myself being crushed. In verse 3, David cries out and pleads for God to make his presence felt. He feared sleeping because when he does, he might end up lifeless. When we are so exhausted, we are very vulnerable to feelings of abandonment and depression. He cries out to God to bring him light as he was in a very dark place. He pleads the Lord to rescue him as his strength diminishes.
I am amazed at the sudden surge of hope in verse 5 and 6. It is as if the Lord literally heard his plea while he was still crying out in verse 4. We see a sudden shift from depression to a desire to focus on God’s steadfast love. Then In verse 6, the decision to worship the Lord with gratitude seemed like God changed his perspective from despair to hope. Sometimes we fail to hear God’s reply because we are so immersed and consumed by our circumstances, but God is faithful and steadfast in his love.
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REFLECTION
• How do you identify with David’s crying out to God during times of exhaustion?
PPSALM 43 – VINDICATE ME, O GOD AND DEFEND MY CAUSE ILMA’S BLOG
January 1
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PSALM 43 – VINDICATE ME, O GOD AND DEFEND MY CAUSE
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! 2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. – Psalm 43:1-5
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Matthew Henry speculates that David might have composed this psalm when he was prevented from returning to the sanctuary in Jerusalem, either due to persecution by Saul or because of Absalom’s revolt. Some ancient Hebrew manuscripts have this Psalm 42 combined with Psalm 43.In this psalm, the writer sounds like saying out loud a soliloquy (speaking one’s thought aloud by himself). His emotions is on a roller coaster vacillating from anger & panic (v1) to depression (v.2) to optimism (v3) to rejoicing (v4) and back to depression then hopefulness at the very end of the psalm. Our emotions are very complex and changes often each moment. Sometimes, we suppress or avoid some of our emotions that do not fit in the stereotypes or that makes us uncomfortable. I think God gave us emotions so we can examine what is going on inside us. Oftentimes, we set it aside because we have tasks to do and roles to play. When we judge our emotions and not address what it presents to us, we fail to see what the Holy Spirit is teaching and delays our growth. In the first verse, we hear why the psalmist is agonizing. He was unjustly accused by ungodly people and being prevented from going in the temple where he wants to worship the Lord.
Evil lurks when oppression and persecution is present. Satan wants take control of anyone who loves the Lord. I marvel at the courage and strength exhibited in the verses when the psalmist wrote this. Despite the schemes of the enemy to put him down, he never gave in to the accusation. Instead, he ran so quickly to God even during the fear and panic that he experienced. He didn’t suppress the bad feelings, but allowed it to lead him to run to God who is his vindicator and defender. How amazing to know that we can allow ourselves to go through suffering and persecution because God will avenge us.
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REFLECTION
• How can laying down your agony and pain to God strengthen your faith?
THE MIGHTY ONE SPEAKS AND SUMMONS THE EARTH ILMA’S VLOG
May 31
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THE MIGHTY ONE SPEAKS AND SUMMONS THE EARTH
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth
From the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
Before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge!
7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
– Psalm 50:1-12
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This psalm talks about the day when God will summon all of his creation. He calls to both the heavens above and the earth, that all will give an account to him. He is the only judge who sees all things and we will all be answerable for all the things we did here on earth and if those who made a commitment to him have followed through what they have vowed to do. In this psalm, the psalmist focuses on God’s might and power. He made all things and knows everything. He owns everything and we are all but part of his creation. He can do to us whatever he pleases.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who is Supreme over all creation. He is the Maker of us all.
CONFESSION: Forgive me if I fail to bring you praise each day of my life.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your creativity and your provision to all of us.
SUPPLICATION: May we remember to always obey God because he values faithfulness.
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REFLECTION
• Will you be able to account for all you did when judgment day comes?
AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST ILMA’S VLOG
May 30
________________________________________AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST
As far as the east is from the west,
So far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
So the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; He flourishes like a flower of the field
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 To those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens,
And his kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the LORD, O you his angels,
You mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!– Psalm 103:12-22
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In this song, the psalmist describes how God’s mercy is so vast, as far as the east is from the west. He acts like a real true and caring father to all his children. He is compassionate to all who fear him. The psalm also speaks of God everlasting unconditional love for all his children. He knows all who love and fear him and he honors those who obey his commandments. The psalmist admonishes us all to praise the Lord and prays a blessing to all those who does his will and do the work of the Lord to bring everyone the gospel and make his kingdom come here on earth.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for his generous mercy and grace. Hallelujah.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord when I do not heed your word and will.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for all that you have given to all of your beloved children.
SUPPLICATION: May all those who serve the Lord remember to walk in spirit and truth.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God’s mercy is described “as far as the east is from the west?”
THE LORD IS SLOW TO ANGER ILMA’S VLOG
May 29
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THE LORD IS SLOW TO ANGER
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,3 who forgives all your iniquity,
Who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,5 who satisfies you with good
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.6 The LORD works righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.7 He made known his ways to Moses,
His acts to the people of Israel. 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.9 He will not always chide,
Nor will he keep his anger forever.10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. – Psalm 103:1-11
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The psalm praises the Lord for his holy name and for all the things he gives us. He forgives our sins, heals our diseases and rescues us from darkness. He grants all our needs and renews us especially when we are cast down or oppressed. He is merciful and gracious. What is good to remember is how God is slow to anger and how he abounds in patience. He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins, or else, we won’t be here right now. He is always after our good and ensures that we have all that we need so we can walk in his righteousness. Sadly, many of us, even those who claim that they are believers, do not choose righteousness or even consult the Lord. We have gotten so far away from God as we busy ourselves with things of this world. We haven’t paid back God’s faithfulness with the same devotion and fervor that he extends to us.
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ADORATION: Praise God’s holy name. His steadfast love endures forever
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I am quick to anger instead of being quick to listen and slow to speak.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for being slow to anger and being gracious and merciful to us.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers have a hunger to know God’s character deeper.
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REFLECTION
• How is knowing God’s character important to live a righteous and holy life?
DO NOT FORSAKE ME O LORD ILMA’S VLOG
May 28
________________________________________DO NOT FORSAKE ME, O LORD!
Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
And meditate treachery all day long.13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
Like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.
15 But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
Who boast against me when my foot slips!” 17 For I am ready to fall,
And my pain is ever before me.18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
And many are those who hate me wrongfully.20 Those who render me evil for good
Accuse me because I follow after good.21 Do not forsake me, O LORD!
O my God, be not far from me! 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
– Psalm 38:12-22
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In this psalm, the psalmist acknowledges the consequences of his sins. It is an examination of his heart. He sees that most of all the obstacles and sufferings and attacks from the enemy are all resulting from his iniquities and sins. It is astounding to hear someone who openly admits his sins and recognizes the consequences that follows because of the sins he committed. It is interesting to hear his humble plea to keep God’s promise not to forsake him. He sounds like he knows the Lord very intimately and calls upon his promises to be fulfilled in his situation. He knows the Lord very well as he can even intimately request action from someone he loves and someone who will never fail to rescue him as soon as he confesses his sin and ask for mercy for all his wrongdoings.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. He saves!
CONFESSION: Forgive me for succumbing to sin and never leave me alone, Lord.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for loving and undeserving sinner like me.
SUPPLICATION: May we humbly admit our sins and confess it right away before our Lord.
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REFLECTION
• What does humility and confession of sins do to a sinner’s life?
• Why is there a consequence to an act of disobedience to God’s commands?
REBUKE ME NOT IN YOUR ANGER ILMA’S VLOG
May 27
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REBUKE ME NOT IN YOUR ANGER
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation;
There is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.5 My wounds stink and fester
Because of my foolishness,6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
All the day I go about mourning. 7 For my sides are filled with burning,
And there is no soundness in my flesh.8 I am feeble and crushed;
I groan because of the tumult of my heart.9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
My sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
And the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
And my nearest kin stand far off. – Psalm 38:1-11
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This psalm is a plea for forgiveness and pardon from the Lord. It reveals the psalmist’s intimacy with the Lord. His honesty and humility is astounding as we hear him confess his sins and all his weaknesses. He acknowledges his nothingness before the Lord and he knows very well God’s character. He knows that he is supposed to be disciplined by God when he has disobeyed and done things against his will. He pleads the Lord to give him mercy and not bring his wrath over all the sinful things he has done. He knows that God hates evil and that he is a just God who punishes sinful acts. He has a contrite heart and I think that all believers should have this humility and repentance as soon as they are convicted of sin.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for disciplining his beloved people. He is just and loving.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I am not strong to decline temptations and obey.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your generous mercy and grace to sinful people like me.
SUPPLICATION: May all believers’ hearts seek God’s own heart and repent of sins.
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REFLECTION
• Why is a contrite heart essential in a Christian’s life?
KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL ILMA’S VLOG
May 26
________________________________________ KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL
12 What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves the crushed in spirit.19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.20 He keeps all his bones;
Not one of them is broken. 21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. – Psalm 34:12-22
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The psalmist reiterates the importance of keeping our tongues from speaking evil and from speaking lies and deceits. As we are living in the world, it may be difficult to stay pure and uncorrupted by the world system, but those who have committed themselves to the Lord are given the Holy Spirit so that it is possible to have victory over such temptation to let wickedness prevail. In this psalm, we are admonished to do what is right because God favors them and gives them all kinds of promises. He ensures that they are delivered from troubles. The Lord is compassionate to the broken-hearted and saves the crush in spirit. Despite all the afflictions that beset his people, the Lord keeps their bones intact and no condemnation befalls any of his beloved children.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who is a Promise-Keeper, a protector and a deliverer!
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I fail to be expectant of all your promises.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving me so much love, provision and deliverance.
SUPPLICATION: May all Christians be constantly reminded of God’s promises.
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REFLECTION
• How can we make a habit of focusing on God’s promises instead of troubles?