April 24
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LORD, WHY DO YOU CAST MY SOUL AWAY?
10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you?
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?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 88:10-18
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The ESV student bible notes on verses 10-12 “Do you work wonders for the dead?” If one were to die under God’s wrath, then he could not anticipate any experience of God’s wonders, or any chance to praise him. Darkness is the last word of the psalm. Yet the faithful know that there is no alternative but to keep seeking the Lord in prayer.
We can almost hear the lament and the loud emotions of the psalmist as we read this part of this song. He clearly knows the Lord very well as he mentions God’s steadfast love. Yet, we hear his desperate helplessness as his own friend and beloved have shunned him. I empathize so much with the psalmist as I recall a feeling of betrayal when our loved ones reject us and what we believe in. Despite the tone of desperation and hopelessness, we still hear his humble heart asking God assurance that he will be delivered and one day have peace instead of feeling overwhelmed and helpless. We clearly see the honesty in the turmoil he is going through as he lay down all his weaknesses and dejection to God.
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ADORATION: Praise the God who is full of Mercy and Compassion.
CONFESSION: Forgive me when I give in to my feelings and emotions.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving us a heart that can empathize with others.
SUPPLICATION: May we be honest to God with all the hardships and suffering we go through.
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REFLECTION
• Do you think God honors those who are honest with their emotions? Why or why not?
Category Archives: Psalm Blog
I CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE YOU ILMA’S VLOG
April 23
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I CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT 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.
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. – Psalm 88:1-9
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This psalm is a song written by the sons of Korah and an individual lament. It is suited for a person who is so overwhelmed with troubles that even his friends shun him, and who suspects that the Lord has rejected him as well.
This psalm speaks of my own heart these past days as I am confronted by so much uncertainties during this global pandemic. These sorrows are for the ones closest to me who do not know the Lord and has chosen a path that rejects Him and his word. I cry out day and night before the Lord. I feel God’s pain for those who turn their backs on him. I also cry for my weak flesh that sometimes succumbs to fear which leads to worries and anxieties over the consequences of wrong choices and sins that my family have also tied me up with. I plead the Lord to make me depend and trust Him especially when I am overwhelmed like this.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for He is sovereign and knows what’s best for us.
CONFESSION: Forgive me for worrying and not totally trusting you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving me a heart that seeks You alone Lord!
SUPPLICATION: May all believers look forward to the reward of heaven awaiting them.
May all unbelievers turn to God before it is too late.
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REFLECTION
• How can believers have an honest heart like the psalmist in this song?
THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH ILMA’S VLOG
April 22
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THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU ARE THE MOST HIGH
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,
10 Who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 Who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 So may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!
16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace,
18 That they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD,
Are the Most High over all the earth. – Psalm 83:9-18
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In this song, Asaph runs to God for rescue from the Gentiles who formed alliances to bring down the people of God. He recalls how God delivered them from the Midianites, Siserites and Jabinites at the Kishon river by crushing them and becoming dung for the ground. He particularly names their nobles like Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah and Zalmunna who wanted to take possession of God’s pastures. What a strategy to win! Running to God and reminding him of his great deeds for them in the past!
In the ESV study bible, the basic request is that these enemies would utterly fail in their scheme. The ultimate reason for Israel’s existence is to serve God’s purpose of restoring true worship and authentic human life among all mankind. Therefore, it is really for the good of these hostile Gentiles that they fail in their plan to destroy Israel.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord for all the mighty wondrous deeds he does for his people.
CONFESSION: The Lord is our rescuer, our strength and our fortress.
THANKSGIVING: Let us give thanks to a God who constantly protects the righteous.
SUPPLICATION: May all of the schemes of the enemy be exposed and destroyed so that there will be no more impediments in worshiping and giving God the glory.
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REFLECTION
• What are some of the tactics or schemes of Satan to destroy God’s people?
• What attacks from the enemy have you encountered lately? How did you respond?
O GOD, DO NOT KEEP SILENT ILMA’S VLOG
April 21
________________________________________ O GOD, DO NOT KEEP SILENT
O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
Those who hate you have raised their heads.3 They lay crafty plans against your people;
They consult together against your treasured ones.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
Let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”5 For they conspire with one accord;
Against you they make a covenant—6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;8 Asshur also has joined them;
They are the strong arm of the children of Lot. – Psalm 83:1-8
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The ESV study bible says that this is a community lament, responding to a situation in which God’s people are threatened by Gentile enemies who aim to destroy them. The psalmist, Asaph asks that God will make these enemies fail miserably, be put to shame and perish so that they might come to know the Lord. The Gentile coalition and their evil crafty plans in verse 4 tells us they want to annihilate God’s people so their names will never be remembered anymore. Facing such danger, the people urge God not to be silent.
It is interesting that during this time in history, the people of God ask God to move into action against the Gentile alliance who wants to crush the Israelites. This probably shows how much they know their God and exhibits dependence on him. Their confidence stems in knowing their God will do everything to rescue them. Do we have this kind of dependence on our Lord? Do we reflect on his character and his promises?
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ADORATION: Lord, I praise your steadfast love and surrender to your strength.
CONFESSION: Do not keep silent and allow evil to win over the enemy’s plot to destroy your people.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your promise to be with us always in every situation.
SUPPLICATION: May the Lord’s will prevail especially in transitions from major changes in our lives.
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop confidence in depending on God? What must we give up?
HEAR THE DESIRE OF THE AFFLICTED ILMA’S VLOG
April 20
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HEAR THE DESIRE OF THE AFFLICTED
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 10:10-18
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According to the ESV student study bible, as the wicked person oppresses the faithful, he assumes that God has forgotten them-that God is indifferent to their suffering. The faithful mention this to God, asking him to show the wicked that he has not, in fact forgotten his people (vv12-14). The ensuing verses call God to action and to confront the evil things done to those who are helpless. The fatherless and the oppressed were mentioned in verse 18 as in those times, the Old Testament law is full of warning about oppressing such people as the fatherless (Exodus 22:22 and Deuteronomy 10:18). The cry for God to deliver these oppressed people from evil is their faith that God is king forever and that He will keep his promise to his people.
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord, who is king forever and ever.
CONFESSION: Lord, help those vulnerable and weak people to be protected from evil.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving me an occasion to witness suffering so I can pray for those who are persecuted, oppressed and discriminated.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people continue to believe and hope despite trials.
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REFLECTION
• How can a plea for the vulnerable play a big role in their deliverance?
TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS ILMA’S VLOG
April 18
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TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS
10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty;
Yet their span is but toil and trouble; They are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
And for as many years as we have seen evil.16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
And your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
– Psalm 90: 10-17
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In this psalm, Moses pleads the Lord to have pity on his servants. In verse 15, he asks the Lord to show them mercy and replace all their afflictions with gladness. Before Moses’ time, people lived longer lives from 300-600 years, but because of people’s wickedness, God shortened the lifespan of humans which Moses refers to in verse 10. He longs for God to give his people wisdom how to live their short lives compared to their ancestors so that they can have a heart of wisdom. He desperately pleads God to have pity on his servants and bring back favor on them. Shouldn’t we all pray this psalm for all of mankind these days as we suffer God’s wrath for all of our sins of disobedience, rebellion, idolatry and unfaithfulness. Do you think this global pandemic is a call to remembrance of all God’s miracles in the past and how we need to bring our hearts to God in this short life?
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ADORATION: Praise the Lord who have created us and who is steadfast in His love.
CONFESSION: Forgive the whole of humankind for all of our sins; Free us from your wrath.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for calling our attention to repent and return to you.
SUPPLICATION: May all people confess that God is in control of all things.
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REFLECTION
• Why is Moses pleading God to teach them to number their days?
FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING ILMA’S VLOG
April 17
________________________________________FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. 3 You return man to dust
And say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight
Are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
Like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
In the evening it fades and withers.7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
By your wrath we are dismayed.8 You have set our iniquities before you,
Our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
– Psalm 90:1-9
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This community lament is written by Moses, probably during the time of Deuteronomy, as they were about to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. This lament is addressed to the next generation after Moses have led the people, which are their parents out of Egypt through the crossing of the Red Sea which was parted for them- and yet they rebelled, so God swore that they would not ever the land (Numbers 14:20-36). The psalm recalls how God have been their dwelling place in all these generations and admits their rebellion. As a consequence of such lawlessness, they are suffering the wrath of God.
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ADORATION: You are a God from everlasting to everlasting. You are the alpha and omega.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I unknowingly rebel against you.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for your faithfulness even though at times I am not loyal.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people remember what God has done for their ancestors and live in obedience to God’s laws.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it pointless to hide sins from God? What is the importance of confession and repentance in a believer’s life?
TEACH ME YOUR WAYS THAT I MAY WALK IN TRUTH ILMA’S VLOG
April 16
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TEACH ME YOUR WAYS THAT I MAY WALK IN TRUTH
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth;
Unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
And I will glorify your name forever.13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
And they do not set you before them.15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant,
And save the son of your maidservant.17 Show me a sign of your favor,
That those who hate me may see and be put to shame
Because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me. – Psalm 86:10-17
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David’s prayer manifests his wisdom and intimate relationship with the Lord in this psalm. He praises his Lord be declaring his Master’s wondrous deeds and how God is the only true God. His humble stance to ask the Lord to teach him is something that all Christians should emulate. He is full of steadfast love and David constantly pleads the Lord to keep him united to his God. A thankful attitude in verse 12 and counting his blessings on the ensuing verses is another evidence how his heart seeks and pursues God’s own heart always. No matter how the situation is, he can still get comfort and be at peace because in the past, the Lord had always helped and comforted him. He is sure that his God will never let him go without help and protection.
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ADORATION: Our God, is the best teacher to all of those who love him. Praise the Lord.
CONFESSION: Forgive me Lord, when I do not rely on your word for guidance.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for giving us access to Scriptures so easily when others don’t know about it.
SUPPLICATION: May all Christians walk in truth and love and in the Spirit.
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REFLECTION
• Why do Christians still not seek truth even when they are available to them?
YOU O LORD ARE GOOD AND FORGIVING ILMA’S VLOG
April 15
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YOU O LORD ARE GOOD AND FORGIVING
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
Abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
Listen to my plea for grace.7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord,
And shall glorify your name.– Psalm 86:1-9
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The ESV student study bible says that this is an individual lament of David in a situation win which a band of insolent men seek his life. It confesses of God’s goodness and mercy. He also acknowledges in verse 5 that his own sins may have contributed to his enemies’ plans. I love how David honestly runs to the Lord for help and acknowledging his neediness. His trust in the Lord is astounding and so is his deep knowledge of the character of the God he serves. He is confident that because of God’s goodness and mercy, he will deliver him from these men seeking to kill him. His humble heart has never failed to confess and admit his sinfulness, yet it never stopped him from depending on God and hoping that God will keep his promise to redeem and protect his beloved faithful servants.
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ADORATION: Praise be to the God who is the Good and full of forgiveness. Bless his heart.
CONFESSION: Lord, you are the God who saves and graciously grant mercy.
THANKSGIVING: Thank you for always being there for me especially when I need protection and deliverance.
SUPPLICATION: May all God’s people have a dependence and confidence in the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• How can we develop confidence instead of succumbing to fear in times of trouble?
• What do you think is David’s secret in asking boldly the Lord for help?