a desired dwelling place

For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it."

Psalm 132:13-14

The Lord chose to be with Israel in a visible way through the temple worship in Jerusalem. In that sense He chose Zion as a resting place. Until that time, the worship of GOd had been mobile, conducted in a portable sanctuary in the tent of meeting known as the tabernacle.

But David had a vision for a permanent temple for worshipping Yahweh on Zion in Jerusalem. He drew up the plans. Solomon built the magnificent structure. It was a wonder of the ancient world. And God blessed the commitment with a promise to forever rest there.

Of course, this doesn't in any way diminish God's universal presence. There is today no temple on Zion. But God's promise is to "be there" still, even as He is everywhere. And He still deserves all the best that we can give Him in our worship. We must give Him His holy desire.

humility, contentment, & hope

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 

Psalm 131:1

This is a song about contentment. In verse two David says he is content in God's presence like a small child is content in the presence of his mother (Ps 131:2). He has weaned himself away from incessantly demanding answers and things from God and instead just rests in the presence of God.

This all began with an attitude of humility willing to let God handle the unknown. David did not demand from God what he did not know. He chose to let those deeper mysteries remain with God and in God's timing. David realized his limitations and leaned on God.

This contentment was David's hope. From it he calls all of Israel to always hope in God (Psalm 131:3). David had learned humility, simple joy in trusting God rather than demanding from God, and he called others to know the confident hope of a contented son.

reasons for hope

O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 

Psalm 130:7

Those who know God are never without hope. God's love is shown to us daily through our redemption. There is always before us the living hope in Christ that keeps us trusting Him despite the uncertainties that surround us. There is always hope, because there is always God. What a blessing to never take for granted.

This encourages me in a season where I am tempted to lose perspective on that hope. Life changes are hard both personally and among people that I love. I am pressed in by change everywhere I look right now... and it is not all change that I would say I wanted. Yet I know that the steadfast love of The Lord has not changed. My life changes. People change. Institutions change. Things break and decay and fall down. God is still steadfast in His love and His plentious mercies in redemption are unchanging!

"Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim, it's glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see --

O Thou Who changest not, abide with me."

affliction's song

The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. 

Psalm 129:4

This song is the cry of a soul afflicted by the evil actions of others. It is a sad but true fact of life that this sort of thing is a daily reality. People sin against us. They can be cruel, heartless and completely evil to us. But we have a resource and refuge. We can cry out to God.

When people are bad to us, God is still good. He can deliver us. He can free us. He can cut the cords even when we are being bound by the hatred of another person's actions.

The African-American church was born out of the evils of American slavery. It arose in affliction. Yet even today, worship in an African-American church is lively and free! The cords were cut by God's goodness and still show that freedom a century and a half later. God sets the captives free; God rewards the righteous because He is righteous.

4 blessings

The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! 

Psalm 128:5-6

There are four distinct blessings for the worshiper of The Lord. The first is that God would bless through worship. The "souvenir" of a trip to Jerusalem to worship at the temple was the real blessing of God upon the worshiper.

The second blessing was for Jerusalem itself to prosper, thus ensuring a lifetime of secure worship there. It is the blessing of continuous worship.

The third blessing was for a long life and a full family. It is the request to see healthy grandchildren and to know full circle the blessings of God in another generation.

The fourth and final blessing in Psalm 128 is for the peace of the nation. This is not so much a national security prayer as it is a hope for the true peace of God to pervade hearts and lives that obey The Lord and love His law.

the family & worship

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

Psalm 127:1

Two things stand out about this psalm. First, as a song of ascents it was meant to be memorized and sung by Israelite families as they pilgrimaged to Jerusalem for feast days. This explains the family perspective of this psalm, particularly its celebration of children and family in verses three through five. I envision parents singing this song with children in tow. Probably entire inter-generational extended families travelled together, singing of the blessings of family, children, and God's goodness to them.

Secondly, it was penned by Solomon. As such, it would have been a "new song" in its day. It must have been composed early in the history of the Temple then, showing us the "family-centeredness" of Israel's early Temple worship traditions. To worship God then is a family activity meant to bring all generations together before The Lord.

top ten: praise for great things

The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. 

Psalm 126:3

God's work, His care and His provision for us, is a source of unending joy. God is good and His love for us is always on display in the reality of the gospel. Jesus has provided eternal life AND abundant life. There is joy in knowing what God has done has forever changed us. And we are glad to be the recipients of God's good grace!

My "short list" of the great thing God has done for me:

1) He led my parents to Christ when I was 7 years of age.

2) He led me to understand and believe the gospel at that same time.

3) He surrounded me with solid gospel preaching and loving Christian influence.

4) He taught me through key relationships with other Christians.

5) He gave me a great Christian wife.

6) He blessed me with loving children.

7) He led me to serve in awesome ministry!

8) He gave me the chance to work among Christian leaders with integrity who challenge me to lead correctly and for the glory of God.

9) I am blessed to be able to provide for my family during difficult economic uncertainties.

10) I could add to this list substantially because God's goodness is profoundly abundant!

Surrounded!

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 

Psalm 125:2

I love the majesty and security of this poetic picture. I am a mountain man living in a semi-contented exile in the prairie lands! When I can spend time in the high countries, I can relate to this vivid imagery. Now I know that Judea is not the Rockies, but mountains are mountains, no matter how tall.

So as Israel marched up to Zion for feast days, approaching the high hills surrounding Jerusalem must have immediately incited hope of the worship that awaited them at the temple there. The mountains brought hope and security.

And God so surrounds His people. Hope in Christ is always around me. It is as close as the reading of God's Word. It is as dear as a favorite memory of a pleasant journey. It is as beautiful as a mountainous panorama.

escaped!

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 

Psalm 124:7

Psalm 124 celebrates deliverance. It is a song that knows oppression and attack from an enemy. But it reaches a joyful refrain when God delivers out of the teeth of the enemy. The trap that was set was horribly ineffective. God delivered in such a way that snares are broken and the escape was easy with Him.

A quick observation is that God still allowed the attacks and the traps. He did not take away the enemy, just the effectiveness of the attacks. God's people still felt the fear. God's people still had to trust in God. God's people still prayed.

This is one reason why I believe prayer is very important for me today. God does not take away opposition. He simply empowers us to withstand it and His truth will never be defeated even as it is attacked regularly. He will lead us out and we can escape by His grace. Even death is an escape from the snare! But we must pray precisely because the attack is real, even if nobody has ever succeeded in working against a sovereign God.

Cue Bill Maher

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud. 

Psalm 123:3-4

This prayer is still very appropriate in an age when New Atheists now wildly attack Christianity with all the subtlety of a mixed martial arts cage fighter. It's Thunderdome in the religious arena. And contempt for faith is a new kind of cool in this world.

This is scorn for God and contempt for His rule. And God will easily fend for Himself quite nicely, thank you. But we His people should pray for His strength, protection, and grace to permeate our interactions with those who oppose Him. Why? Because He will use us to make His case!

We are still the means God chooses to spread the message of salvation and love to the world. Even those who oppose God are people for whom Christ willingly and lovingly suffered. We may wind up doing the same for His sake. Jesus promised His disciples they would be persecuted. It's OK. God is in control. He is easily winning. No atheist attack alarms Him or ever diminishes His authority. The fighters are swinging at air. But He will have mercy on us when we are held in contempt for being His people.

worship... together

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" 

Psalm 122:1

Standing in the "tent of meeting"

sharing hearts, with happy greeting

we sing and pray

and bless the day

we gather to worship The Lord.

Joy in our hearts resounding

praises and songs among us sounding

we praise His name...

we share God's fame...

together in the house of The Lord.

Encouragement spoken from God's word

as directions is given from our Lord;

covenanting together as one

we live to see His kingdom come

glorifying our sovereign Lord.

Leaving assembly from where we gathered

into the world the gospel is scattered

in personal lives changed by gospel's grace

we serve God beyond the gathering place

together each one of us serving The Lord.

anticipating worship

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

Psalm 121:1-2

This is a "song of ascents". It was meant to be sung by worshipers as they made the trek to Jerusalem in order to worship at the temple. The city is built on a raised hill, so to go to Jerusalem was something of an upwards hike. The pilgrims looked to the hills of Judea as they journeyed. And even in the city, worshipers ascended the Temple Mount to worship.

To "look to the hills" was to anticipate worship. It was a way to long for God's presence and activity. To look for God's help by lifting eyes to the hills was a kind of prayer. And this psalm gives the built in answer to that prayer.

What the pilgrims sang about in anticipation of entering the temple was meeting with God Himself, Creator of all. The worship anticipaed an encounter with the mighty Creator God. The song hopes for just such a moment with the Almighty. It is real, and very powerful worship. And I can know it every time I open God's Word, let His Spirit speak to me in its understanding, go to God in prayer, and let Him transform me by doing what His Word says.

culture of lies

In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. 

Psalm 120:1-2

The damage done by liars is profound. In a universe governed by a holy, true God Who cannot lie, the existence of even one falsehood is an affront. And people lie all the time. The effect of compounded lies upon lies is staggeringly intense.

Lies exist for many reasons... none of them good reasons. We think we can protect ourselves by deceit. We often lie to keep from admitting a sin or a weakness. We lie to impress others. We lie to keep ourselves comfortable. All of those kinds of lies show our lack of faith in God.

The prayer to be delivered from lies and deceit is still daily prayed. We cannot act like God's children and lie. And we are left to navigate a world built on lies. We NEED God and His truth in order to successfully live beyond the distress our lying culture brings to us with every encounter.

my soul in the dust

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word! 

Psalm 119:25

Honest faith is real enough with God to admit when the soul is down. Christianity is for just those times. It isn't a fake optimism. It is real hope and strength. And for hope to be real, times need to be hard and the soul needs to be hurting... reaching for perspective.

Life is full of disappointments and pains. There are periods of time when sadness and difficulty attend our every move. And at those times we must fall upon The Lord and trust in His Word.

When my life feels like it has been drained from me, God's Word brings me life. When my hope is distant, God's Word is near. When sorrow is my strongest emotion, God's Word brings comfort. There may be moments of pain, but God's truth and the presence of His wisdom can ease the heartache. He can lift me up from the dust, reviving my soul by His Word! Amen!

God of Rescue

Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 

Psalm 118:5

I called on You;

You heard me.

I needed You, Lord

and You helped me.

I was bound in sin;

You cut me free.

I had done You wrong;

You forgave me.

I had no hope at all

and You comforted me.

I had no answers;

You answered me.

I was lost in the dark

and You saved me with light.

I could not move on

so You carried me.

I was dead in sin;

You resurrected me in Christ!

God's steadfast love for the world

Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 117:1-2

The shortest psalm, the shortest chapter in the Bible, reminds us that God loves all the people of the world. It is a call to worship issued to a world loved by God. It calls us to the global mission of worship. It is a mission-setting mindset in miniature.

The global focus could not be more clear: "Praise the LORD, all nations" and again... "Extol him, all peoples". "All" means everybody, without exception, worldwide. If you are a "people", you are in this call and experiencing to one degree or another the great steadfast love of The Lord.

God loves the world. God wants me to love the world. He wants me to make His name great through worship and the proclamation of the Word. He wants the gospel to move forward through the words and actions of His saints so His steadfast saving love is known worldwide!

I cannot repay.

What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. 

Psalm 116:12-14

Lord,

I cannot repay the great cost of Your love for me. My salvation came at the price of Jesus' life and death. It is secured in the reality of Jesus' own resurrection from the dead. My life is filled with the benefits of my great salvation. Even when some things in this life hurt and are very hard, nothing takes away the joy of such great salvation!

I come to You in Your Word and find direction, comfort, and sustaining strength. When life circumstances get strange or out of control, You bring stability. I will praise You for this. I will give my energies, efforts, and abilities that You have created in me for Your praise and glory. It is worth the cost because it cannot equal the gifts of Your grace that cost so much to You.

Amen

Help & Shield

O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 

Psalm 115:9

Sometimes I am

at the end of my rope

needing hope

barely holding on to a thread

and in my dread

I call out...

You are my help

Other times I am

being besieged

cut off at the knees

attacked by enemies

starting to bleed

I reach out...

You are my shield

how God gives

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.

Psalm 114:7-8

This psalm celebrates how God led Israel out of Egypt and into the Land of Promise. As such, it is very abbreviated, focusing on the power of God to save, not the history of rebellious Israel at that time. This song sings the mighty power of God in leading His people and giving them a land to possess for their own.

GOD DELIVERS FROM SLAVERY. He took Israel out of Egypt and set them free. No longer were they bound in slavery. They were freed to follow Him.

GOD GIVES A POSSESSION. He led Israel to possess the Promised Land. He kept a covenant with Abraham and made a new land covenant with the children of Israel.

GOD PROVIDES FOR NEEDS. In the wilderness God's people were fed. Water sprang from rocks at God's miraculous supply. His provision displays His caring love for His people.

Who is like The Lord our God?

Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 

Psalm 113:5-6

Dear God Whose perspective sits above the universe, I know that You see me and care for me. And in the mass of billions of human lives on planet earth, You see into the depths of my heart. You have that same perceptive gaze into every person who ever has lived, or ever will live. And You love us so much that You gave Yourself to us in Your Son, so much that He died for our sins so that we may know You.

Lord, no one is like You. No human can be. We did not make the universe. You, however, sit over it and could pinch it all between Your fingernails! So my worship must go to only You and not the things You have made. As I think about the rhetorical question of who is like You, I realize that there really is only You in my life.

I am amazed at the love of God in Christ. The God Who sees and knows every intimate detail of everything, (including my sins) that God is my Lord and my Savior. And my life is safe with Him! I will live my life in Him. Amen