Psalm 72 - Praying for Those in Charge

Psalm 72 is a prayer of David for his son Solomon. Since we don't have kings around these parts we may think that we don't relate to this psalm. But what's good for the king should be good for anyone who is in authority. You can start with the President, but keep going. Senators, congressmen, governors, state legislators, mayors, local sheriff and police officers.....

The prayer David had for Solomon has many things in it that we should use as a guide as we pray for all of those listed above (and others.)

I'm using the NIV and NLT for my thoughts below.

• Give your love of justice to the king and let him judge the people in righteousness.
• Let the poor always be treated fairly.
• Help him defend the poor.
• Help him rescue the children of the needy.
• May the king's reign be refreshing like Spring rain.

Even if the mayor or governor or president or whoever isn't someone you voted for these are things that you can pray for him or her. Now the whole part about "may the king reign forever" is NOT something you'll want to pray no matter if you voted for that person or not. Ha!

The Apostle Paul also gave instructions about praying for those in authority.

1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,

Psalm 71 - Random Thoughts

I need to blog something about Psalm 71 but my day started early. Not only did we lose an hour of sleep (I tried to go to bed early) but then we had deacons' meeting at 7:00 which means I got to church at 6:30 to get things ready for worship. Not complaining, just explaining.

Now, Aaron and Melissa and Cheryl and I are visiting.... so.... I'm going to read Psalm 71 to them and post our random thoughts. I won't put our names next to what we say - you know, to protect the innocent or guilty or whatever..... hahahaha.

First eight verses.

God is my rock.

My praise is always about Him.

Trust is built on a relationship.

It is through God's strength and protection that we are examples for others.

Verses 9-14

Our hope is in the Lord. He doesn't leave us.

We can always bring our worries and struggles to God and ask Him for help.

We always need His help - even in our old age.

Verses 15-24

God is always faithful.

I will always praise Him, sing, play instruments - because He has ransomed me and His deeds are righteous.

It's important to share your faith and teach the next generation.

God is always with us even in hard times and struggles.

God is our comfort.

My thoughts.
When we are young we need to pay attention to what God is doing in our lives - how even from the day we were born God takes care of us. When we are older we need to remember what He did in earlier times and share with those younger than us. They need to hear us praising God and know the reasons behind our praise so they will praise Him too.

In other words, that's a long way to say "One generation declares your works to another." Psalm 145:4.

Psalm 70 - Poor and Needy

5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.

Psalm 69 - Humble vs. Proud

Psalm 69 is one of the "Messianic" psalms. Here's a good article that talks about Messianic Psalms

But that's not what I want to blog about. I really like these verses.

32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.

33 For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.

I sometimes - well, a lot of times - get so irritated at these people that start naming and claiming stuff from God. They are so smug - proud - in how they talk. They think they've thought of just the right words to say that will make God do what they want Him to do. 

But what is written here in Psalm 69 is echoed throughout scripture.

2 Samuel 22:28 NLT

28 You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.

James and Peter both quoted Proverbs 3:34

James 4:6 NIV

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Jesus said, (same idea)

Matthew 5:3 NIV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If you have a biblical view of God - holy, almighty, omnipotent, glorious, .... the list goes on and on....

but anyway, if you see God for who He is you don't just start saying "in the name of Jesus..." and then tell God what you expect Him to do. 

Yes. We can come boldly to the throne of grace 

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The difference is that Hebrews is talking about approaching with confidence in God's grace and mercy. The proud have confidence in their approach. Does that make sense? I think it does. 

I don't know if I've expressed well what I'm trying to say, but I know that if you ask God to show you what He means by the verses above that the Spirit will show you. 

Psalm 68 - Bonus Post

Psalm 68

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 

6 God sets the lonely in families

All through scripture we see that God cares for - and wants us to care for - the widows and the fatherless. Here is how James words it. 

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress

God sets the lonely in families, but more often than not He uses US to care for the widows and the fatherless. Are there widows or widowers near you (church, neighbors, Sr. adult assisted living places) that you should adopt as part of your family? Are you one of the families that God wants to set a lonely person in?

Do you need to be a foster care family? An adoptive family? A family that provides respite? (which means you care for foster children for a weekend when the foster family needs help)

God is probably calling you and your family to be a family that He can set a lonely person in. Why wouldn't He call you to do that? 

Psalm 68 - Cue the Musicians!

A lot, actually it seems like most, of the psalms mention praising the Lord and/or singing God's praises. Psalm 68 is no exception.

3 But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.4 Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD — rejoice in his presence!

But this psalm goes further. It describes God going into His sanctuary.

24 Your procession has come into view, O God— the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.25 Singers are in front, musicians behind; between them are young women playing tambourines.

Singers and instrumentalists have always had a very important place in worshiping God. 

1 Chronicles 15: 16 David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.

In Ezra and Nehemiah we read about how they appointed priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers and temple servants.

AND.... we read in Job 38 that the morning stars (a choir) sang God's praises as the world was created.(I'm sure they were singing God's praises before creation.)

All of this to say, God loves choirs. When a person is part of a choir he/she is joining in a long line of singers and musicians that have been praising God since the beginning of time. The place of the singers is so important that they appointed singers when they appointed the priests and Levites and temple servants. 

I am so thankful for all of the singers and musicians who give extra time each week for rehearsals so they can present their best as they lead us in worship each week. 

Some of you reading this may need to join a choir - the one at Hilldale or the one wherever you attend church.

It is a high calling to be a singer or musician (instrumentalist) leading out in joyful praise to God. Are you following your calling? 

And....I guess I should say that even if you're not in a choir you should sing - whether you're any good or not - with the congregation as they sing. God is worthy of all our praise. 

Psalm 67 - All Peoples Praise - a Case for Missions

Some translations use "nations" some say "peoples." I think peoples is better because there are many people groups that aren't necessarily individual nations.

This psalm beautifully calls for all peoples to praise the Lord because of His saving power and because He rules with justice.

Reading this psalm reminds me of a book I read a few years ago. (And if I can remember the name of it I'll let you know.) The idea behind the book was that we should be involved in missions because God deserves and desires worshippers. As we share salvation through Jesus Christ we give people a reason to praise and worship God. Sharing the Gospel with all peoples leads to John's vision in Revelation.

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

We should be involved in going on mission as we have opportunity, but a cool thing that is happening now is that the nations are coming to us. Nashville and Clarksville have people from many different nations that are now a part of our communities. As God's people, we need to find ways to reach out around the world and in our own backyards.

And we should be praising God through everything we do.