December 5
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PSALM 84 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE STRENGTH IS IN THE LORD
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.
– Psalm 84:1-7
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My entire being longs to be with you O Lord
Give me grace to be strong to overcome this world
O Lord of hosts, bless me to continue to praise only you
There are so many distractions in my life that hinders what is true.
Let me never rely on my own strength or understanding
Instead, give me remembrance of the Holy Spirit’s teachings
Remind me that your Son, Jesus was sacrificed to cleanse me of sin
Let it be engraved in my heart to be courageous to endure suffering.
Each time I get tempted to be self-reliant, prod me to sense your presence
Every occasion to think I am right, humble me so I can be reminded
Give me humility to find strength in you when I am weak and weary
Let me not fear struggles and suffering so I can grow spiritually.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it very vital for Christians not to be independent and proud people according to this psalm?
• Do you think self-reliance and independence is against God’s laws? Why or why not?
Tag Archives: ILMA BARAYUGA-DOHERTY
PSALM 83 THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU
December 4
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PSALM 83 THAT THEY MAY KNOW YOU
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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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, pay attention to the deeds of the wicked towards your people
You see and know all things; let them stop from doing more damage
They boast about things that they don’t really grasp or know
They think highly of themselves and give others a blow.
It is unthinkable how they make others suffer when they take control
Will you expose all their plans to manipulate so others can bow to their idols?
O Lord, how long will you let these chaos and conflict continue?
I plead you to rebuke them that they may know who is the most powerful.
Cover all those who take shelter in you from their evil ways and wickedness
Keep your people from their tactics and guide them towards godliness
Put them in their places so that they may know who you really are
Bless your faithful ones so that they may continually worship and praise you.
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REFLECTION
• Asaph’s psalm speaks of the unthinkable things that God’s people suffer from the enemies. What are the promises of God that Asaph asks God to fulfill in this community lament?
• Should we also pray like Asaph when we are overwhelmed by the enemy’s tactics?
PSALM 83 DO NOT BE SILENT LORD
December 3
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PSALM 83 DO NOT BE SILENT LORD
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. Selah
–Psalm 83:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, I come to you with trembling and fear
Do not be silent as the enemies conspire with one accord
They are determined to wipe out those whom you love
Hear my plea O God of my salvation, come to our rescue!
Do you not see how they have enslaved your people?
How long before you avenge us from their cruelty?
It is wearisome to watch the violence all around us
Will you continue to be quiet as they devour your people?
Those who hate you are all contriving to bring us down
Will you allow them to oppress and keep us in bondage?
Give us strength to endure all the persecution and suffering
O Lord, make haste to come to our aid and bring us deliverance.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it a good practice to plead the Lord when we are being pressed down with attacks from the enemy?
• How do you make sense of much suffering experienced by those who are persecuted for their faith? Is God silent when they are killed?
PSALM 82 WARNING TO JUDGES & RULERS
December 2
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PSALM 82 WARNING TO JUDGES & RULERS
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.”
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! – Psalm 82:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Let all those who have authority to exercise justice heed to God
For they are all accountable to the Most High, king of all
When they discriminate the fatherless and those who are destitute
They will be judged according to their prejudices and partiality
The Lord puts them in their positions to judge fairly
They have to protect especially the weak and the needy.
Be warned all you who are in positions of authority
Exercise your power to raise the level of equality
Rule and lead with God’s decree always in your mind
For the Lord holds you accountable; exercise wisdom
See that you don’t forget the fatherless and the weak
Remember in the end you will be judged by the Lord Most High.
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REFLECTION
• Who was the psalmist referring to in verse 1 when he said in the midst of gods he holds judgment?
• Why are Christians called to pray for rulers and all those in authority in 1 Timothy 2:1-2?
• Do you think Christians should be involved in politics? Why or why not?
PSALM 81 IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE
December 1
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PSALM 81 IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” – Psalm 81:11-16
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
If you don’t listen to God’s voice
You will always remain a fool
Those who defy the Lord will fail
They will be left alone without help.
God leaves the wicked in their own stubbornness
They will be unable to walk in the path of righteousness
If you continue to disobey and don’t listen to God’s voice
You will be on your way to disaster and not be blessed.
Those who are lawless will be lost and confused
The Lord will not tolerate the deeds of fools
But if you listen to his voice and follow his will
He will bless you and make you overcome sin.
If you continue to turn your back to God
You will find yourself being corrupted by the world
The wrath of God will fall on all who disobey him
They will not have any part of his kingdom.
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REFLECTION
• What causes a person to not listen to God’s voice?
PSALM 81 SING ALOUD TO GOD WITH JOY
November 30
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PSALM 81 SING ALOUD TO GOD WITH JOY
Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known: 6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket. 7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. – Psalm 81:1-10
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
All you people of God, sing out loud to him and rejoice
Raise a song, clap your hands, sound the trumpet to praise him
The Lord God had faithfully redeemed you out of your distress
He answered your prayers when you are desperate for help.
When you call on him for relief, he was there for you
He provides for all your needs and is always gracious
He wants you to worship only him and no other gods
But you rebelled and made other idols.
As a covenant people, you are to bow down to the Lord
Why have you turned your back on him and follow the world?
The Lord God who made heaven and earth rebukes the lawless
His wrath will be unleashed to all those who are rebels.
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REFLECTION
• In verse 4, it says that God commands his people to rejoice and sing aloud to him, do we always do this as our hearts worship him?
• Can a Christian worship God when he is depressed? Why or why not?
PSALM 80 LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON US THROUGH YOUR SON!
November 29
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PSALM 80 LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON US THROUGH YOUR SON!
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 80:15-19
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, have mercy on us, your people
We ask for forgiveness for being unfaithful
Let our weaknesses be turned to faith
May your glory be manifest and make us brave.
Be gracious to us O Lord and make your face shine on the righteous
Through your Son, we are redeemed from our sinfulness
Restore us from the consequences of our transgressions
Make us have a glimpse of your presence through your Son, Jesus.
We are overwhelmed by our enemy’s wickedness and oppression
Help us to remember your promise for freedom from discrimination
Have mercy on your people as they go through trials and difficulties
Grant us a heart that seeks you and give us ears to hear and eyes to see.
In your presence, we can triumph over our tendencies to be selfish
Make us prioritize you in all that we do so we can praise and give you glory
Bless our journey in this very corrupt and cruel world
Give us a love for the truth and courage to live by your word.
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REFLECTION
• Why was the psalmist Asaph asking God for restoration in this psalm?
PSALM 80 PRAYER FOR RESTORATION FOR GOD’S VINE
November 28
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PSALM 80 PRAYER FOR RESTORATION FOR GOD’S VINE
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, – Psalm 80:8-14
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord, have regard for your vine again as you did in the past
You delivered them from slavery from those foes
You have protected them before, why have you now left them exposed?
They are being preyed on by many different nations who don’t know you.
Lift up your light and have mercy on your covenant people
You promised your steadfast love on all those who are faithful
Forgive all those who have transgressed who belong to your vine
Remember how you cared for them in the past? Renew them now.
You established your vine and settled them in your promised land
Be with those who love you and revere your holy name
Keep them strong and be gracious and merciful to them
Give them anointing and blessing so they can give you constant praise.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the psalmist use the vine as a symbol for God’s people?
PSALM 80 RESTORE US AND LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON US
November 27
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PSALM 80 RESTORE US AND LET YOUR FACE SHINE ON US
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.
2Before 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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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
Hear me out O my Lord; let your face shine on us
Without your light, we will be in total darkness
The enemy makes a mockery of our vulnerableness
They have turned our honor into shame and stole our peace.
How long will it be until you silence them from their plots?
How long before your anger subsides, O my Lord?
Will you let your people be continually without help?
Make your face shine upon us so we can have strength.
Restore us from the aftermath of the wickedness we received
Make us like new again so we can be unhindered to give you praise
Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what your Spirit prods us to do
Free us from our cravings and desires so we can focus only on you.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some people think that restoration of our souls can be done by us?
• Why is it a good practice for Christians to plead God for restoration?
PSALM 79 LET YOUR COMPASSION COME UPON US LORD
November 26
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PSALM 79 LET YOUR COMPASSION COME UPON US LORD
8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities;
let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!
10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
be known among the nations before our eyes!
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
12 Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors
the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise. – Psalm 79:8-13
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O Lord come quickly to my aide; I am exhausted from the enemy’s attacks
Help me and save me from the hidden tactics that the devil brings about
Forgive me for letting the flesh take over me when I am blindsided
Grant me mercy and courage to get up from the sins I have yielded to.
Return back to the enemy all his schemes seven times more
Let me be aware of the existence of such plots even before it hits
May your grace be manifest in my heart so I can forgive them
I plead you Lord to let me be aware of all your angels around me.
Even though I am pressed down by these evil forces
I will continue to thank you and give you all the glory
Hear my groans for deliverance and give me strength
Help me get up from this fall and worship you even more.
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REFLECTION
• What is the psalmist referring to in this community of lament when he asked for compassion from the Lord?
• Should you be compassionate to those who do evil to you? Why or why not?