Calling Out as a Congregation

 

Psalm 44
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
    our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
    Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

This psalm is a congregational call with a solo.  (See verses 4-8) The people have heard of the "good old days" when God delivered His people, gave them victory, and blessed their land.  But now things are not looking so good. They are losing battles, business is bad, and people are discouraged. So, what do they do? They call out to God together: "We need You." They call out to Him to help, not based on how wonderful they are, but upon His steadfast love. He is the faithful God Who keeps His promises and helps the helpless who come with humility. May we be among those today who call out to Him together for His help, mercy, and grace.

Delight in HIS Way

Psalm 37
 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

As David looks back on his life and at the lives around him, he comes to the basic observation that God is good and faithful to His people.  He could tell how close someone was to God by seeing the character of God duplicated in their actions.  They are generous as God is generous. Their children rise up to replicate the same lifestyle.  It all begins when one determines in his heart and mind that he is going to delight, pursue, be fulfilled by doing what pleases God. Then everything falls into place, as God is faithful to us and we in turn are faithful to Him.

Let Them Say: "Great is the Lord!"

 

Psalm 35:

26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
    who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness

    and of your praise all the day long.

As hard as it was for David to be on the run, having both Saul and the Philistines out to get him, one of David's greatest struggles was those who spoke out against him - both to his face and behind his back.  Like Job, they rejoiced when he failed and talked as if he deserved it. What really kept David going was the righteousness of God, a righteousness of which he was able to partake. He wanted people to see that and in turn rejoice over it, joining with him in proclaiming how great God is. Is that how we want people to see us?

Knowing Who Really Rules

 Psalm 22:

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
    May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.

This psalm begins with those classic words: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? But quickly David comes to his senses and remembers to whom and about he is speaking: The Lord Most High.  This causes him to overflow with the praise due to Him.  David remembers he is not the King.  May we remember that quickly this morning and each and every day we rise.

The Lord: Our Rock of Refuge

 Psalm 18:25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
    but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
    and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Some of the Psalms are notable, if for no other reason than their length. We usually like the short psalms - a quick read for comfort or encouragement, but longer ones like this really point out the character of God. In this one, David reflects on years of God's faithfulness to him when he had been on the run, chased by Saul and Philistines alike. God had always been his refuge, watching over him and taking care of him in the darkest of days. (Read it all.)

What Is Your Leviathan?

 Job 41:25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
    at the crashing they are beside themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
    nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 He counts iron as straw,
    and bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
    for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble;
    he laughs at the rattle of javelins.

As God is talking to Job, he winds things up with one last challenge: "Consider what men find most fearsome." In the case of his day, it was the monster Leviathan. God proceeds with a chapter-long description of the invincibility of this enemy. No one can defeat him - except God. Leviathan is still under His rule. What is interesting is that the next chapter is the final one in the book of Job, when he repents and is restored. This final illustration from God is the one that turns the tide and resolves the conflict.  God alone can handle our greatest enemies.

God's Discovery Channel

 

Job 39:

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars
    and spreads his wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
    and makes his nest on high?
28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home,
    on the rocky crag and stronghold.
29 From there he spies out the prey;
    his eyes behold it from far away.
30 His young ones suck up blood,
    and where the slain are, there is he.”

As God is responding to Job to demonstrate how wise He is, in this chapter he describes many of the fascinating creatures He has made and special characteristics for which they are known. In each case he points out that there are so many things they are capable of that make us wonder. They are not because of anything man has taught them to do, but because He is the God of wonders.  The goal is not for us to be in awe of the creature, but of the Creator.  They do these things because He has designed them so. Like Job, we can miss so much of the wonder when we get caught up in ourselves. Stand back and watch the show.