Letting God Take Care of It... and You

Psalm 69:24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
    and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
    let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
    and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
    may they have no acquittal from you.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
    let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
    let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

Like in many of his psalms, David was feeling the intense pressure of his enemies. They were out to get him and destroy him. The desire for revenge was strong, but he kept calling out to God and trusting Him to bring justice. Also of note in this psalm is that David called out to God not so much for his own relief, but that others who feared God who were watching would not get discouraged by his example, but even more fully trust in Him.

Let's Have a Parade!

 

Psalm 68
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
    between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
    the princes of Judah in their throng,
    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

In this psalm of David, he pictures the procession of God and His people into the Sanctuary in Jerusalem, but also His proceeding His people wherever they go throughout the world. The emphasis is on the power of God.  God always leads the way. His people are alive and thriving, young and active.  This processional is not just for Israel, but for all the peoples of the world to see the power of God, to come to Him, and to worship Him.  Do we see things the same way David does? That our God is most valuable and powerful, and that we should be excited to worship Him, serve Him, and draw others to Him?

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.)