Are you trusting in what is temporal or eternal?

 Psalm 33:1–22 (ESV): 

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! 

Praise befits the upright. 

2  Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; 

make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! 

3  Sing to him a new song; 

play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts. 

4  For the word of the Lord is upright, 

and all his work is done in faithfulness. 

5  He loves righteousness and justice; 

the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. 

6  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, 

and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 

7  He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; 

he puts the deeps in storehouses. 

8  Let all the earth fear the Lord; 

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 

9  For he spoke, and it came to be; 

he commanded, and it stood firm. 

10  The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; 

he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 

11  The counsel of the Lord stands forever, 

the plans of his heart to all generations. 

12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, 

the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! 

13  The Lord looks down from heaven; 

he sees all the children of man; 

14  from where he sits enthroned he looks out 

on all the inhabitants of the earth, 

15  he who fashions the hearts of them all 

and observes all their deeds. 

16  The king is not saved by his great army; 

a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 

17  The war horse is a false hope for salvation, 

and by its great might it cannot rescue. 

18  Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, 

on those who hope in his steadfast love, 

19  that he may deliver their soul from death 

and keep them alive in famine. 

20  Our soul waits for the Lord; 

he is our help and our shield. 

21  For our heart is glad in him, 

because we trust in his holy name. 

22  Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, 

even as we hope in you. 

Are you righteous and full of thanks and praise? 

If you love God and follow Him, then joy and gratitude should be what you display. It does not matter how you do it, what instrument you use, or the method or quality of your worship. Use whatever you can to praise Him; sing, shout, play music, speak, just ensure you are giving gratitude and praise to God. This is the encouragement David gives. No matter your circumstances, where you live or what is happening in your nation, God still deserves the glory. You can worship because you know that, ‘The counsel of the Lord stands forever’. Rather than reading the news and becoming afraid, or looking around and seeing desperation, danger and disaster, relying on world powers and their armies or clever plans to sort out the events of the world, let your security rest in the One who, ‘stands forever’. For He, ‘spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.’ What God says goes. He is secure, enduring and capable so He can be relied upon and trusted in when other people and things can't. He is firm and stable and has out-smarted any worldly intelligence. He knows what He is doing and why. This world adapts and changes, succeeds, inspires, rises, falls and can depress and demotivate. However, God’s words and actions stand firm and endure forever. Therefore consider what you are spending your time looking into and believing. Things of the world are temporal, things of God, eternal. 

The world and its views and values are fleeting, sometimes unsubstantiated and silly. God’s are unchangeable, reliable, considered and true. What views, values and events are you concerned with and focussed on? Are you more reliably researching the latest news story or the truths of the Bible? Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that people should not be aware of what is going on around them, what I am saying is do not let the things of this world out-trump the things of God in your life. Do not become persuaded, afraid, or despondent about the things going on around you, but rest in the power, majesty, capability and eternity of God instead! This psalm reminds us that kings, armies and war horses are powerless to alter; salvation, personal conflict, famine and starvation. No world power, or authority can resolve these issues. Only God can (v16-19). Therefore do not expend much of your time and energy on the things that really cannot help you, instead look to God. As He alone can provide the solution. He offers you salvation, forgiveness, internal peace and comfort and will provide and sustain you. Other sources may make big promises but they cannot alter the state of your soul let alone provide sustenance for the body. Trust in God, He can give you whatever you need. 

Strength, power, land, possessions and riches cannot do much to cause a nation to stand - consider the Roman Empire, Babylon or even the British Empire - all have once been considerable, powerful, strong world influencers, and now they are History. World influence and power exist for but a short time, but God’s will, His plans, influence, power and riches last forever! So why trust in temporal things?! Consider what you are building your life upon. Relying on and investing time and mental energy in world issues can be a distraction from worshipping God. Do you have a good balance? What are you influenced by and what develops your views and values?

When you delight and revel in the splendour of God you will learn that His strength, influence, power and love will never tire, run out or fade. God is the One that can sustain and protect as well as diminish and destroy. Therefore, ‘stand in awe of him’. Do not let other things blind you to His power and majesty, but stand firm in your faith in the One who ‘stands forever’. Set your mind to not be overcome by the things of this world, but in all ways and experiences, in every way, worship God. Remind yourself of who He is, what He has done and what He has promised and your fears and concerns will melt away as you realise the beauty and enormity of the Lord your God. 

Therefore; shout for joy, praise, give thanks, make melody, sing, play and shout to God, ‘For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness’.

Share your stories

 Psalm 34:1–22 (ESV):  

1  I will bless the Lord at all times; 

his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

2  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; 

let the humble hear and be glad. 

3  Oh, magnify the Lord with me, 

and let us exalt his name together! 

4  I sought the Lord, and he answered me 

and delivered me from all my fears. 

5  Those who look to him are radiant, 

and their faces shall never be ashamed. 

6  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him 

and saved him out of all his troubles. 

7  The angel of the Lord encamps 

around those who fear him, and delivers them. 

8  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! 

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! 

9  Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, 

for those who fear him have no lack! 

10  The young lions suffer want and hunger; 

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 

11  Come, O children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 

12  What man is there who desires life 

and loves many days, that he may see good? 

13  Keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking deceit. 

14  Turn away from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it. 

15  The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous 

and his ears toward their cry. 

16  The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, 

to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 

17  When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears 

and delivers them out of all their troubles. 

18  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted 

and saves the crushed in spirit. 

19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 

but the Lord delivers him out of them all. 

20  He keeps all his bones; 

not one of them is broken. 

21  Affliction will slay the wicked, 

and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. 

22  The Lord redeems the life of his servants; 

none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. 

'Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!' Corporate worship is good. We should be inspiring others into praising and honouring God. Throughout this psalm David is testifying about God, sharing something of what has done, not because he is boasting but because he wants others to be caught up in the excitement of who God is. So he tells them of God’s goodness to himself, specific ways God has come through motivating those around him to praise God with him. What a great example of how we should share breakthroughs, God’s provision, sustenance and power even in small things, as God is working there as well as in mighty miracles and dramatic turnarounds. David tells how God; hears the poor and humble, releases from fear, saves those who fear God, sends angels, provides, gives life, brings good, delivers, comes close to hurting people, and protects. David has experienced these things and he is telling us about it because he wants to inspire us to worship God. It doesn't matter if you feel like it, or are having a good or bad season, God is still doing these things and deserves your praise. David invites you to celebrate in the goodness of God to others, are you? And, are you sharing stories from your life with others to inspire them to worship God? 

When you consider your life, there are probably a fair few instances where you wonder where God was or what He was up to. You can reflect on all of the trauma, all of the blessings, or a fair mix of both. If you do the first two then your stories of celebration or commiseration will not inspire others to develop their relationship with God. Your stories of your life can and should inspire worship, faithfulness and obedience to God. 

If your stories are all of a depressing nature then you are certainly not testifying about the goodness of God in your life. You are probably failing to see it or appreciate it and you are not inspiring yourself or anyone to worship. If that is your circumstance then I encourage you to ask God where He is in those things. I guarantee that He is present and working, you just need to see it. It is trues that, 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous'. However the promise is that, 'the Lord delivers him out of them all.'! So, even if you feel stuck in a rotten situation, you can know that firstly, it is not surprising it is actually quite normal for someone who is following God, so you're clearly going right there. Secondly, that God can and will deliver you out of it as you are one of His children. So even in the difficulties and hardest times of your life God is seeking to do good to you, do you see it? If not, ask God to show you what He is doing and then you can thank God like David did, thank Him even for the small things like a new day, a kind word and provision. I am not saying that you should deny your troubles, certainly not, but, 'At all times' God is worthy of praise. Are you worshipping Him in every situation? 

On the other hand, if you are only saying how wonderful God is and how blessed your life is and not being real about the hardships, then how can anyone relate? Life is tough. People know that and are ok with that, you should be ok with that too and and able to admit it. It is not unrighteous to say life is hard. You can do that without losing faith as you know that God is always present and working. It is just you are suffering, 'the afflictions of the righteous' and life is not very pleasant right now. Don’t downplay your disappointment, grief, or frustration. You can be real and still honour God and inspire others to know Him and worship Him too. David strikes the balance brilliantly. He experienced much hardship, disaster and fear. He told God about his afflictions and prayed for relief, provision, guidance and salvation. When he was going through the tough times he had a rant and prayed hard without forgetting who he was or who God is. Then when the trials ended, which he knew they would, he praised God. He did not hide his shame, sin or difficulties, but shared his experiences to encourage others to worship. David knew that when God helps one of us out He helps us all, and so we should all be celebrating with joy together as we see the beautiful way God interacts in our lives. We can honour God with our stories, inspiring others to dig in, to breakthrough and to worship. We also should be motivated to worship God for His work in others’ lives too.

So, next time you are with a group of believers, how are you going to inspire worship?

End the pain of sin

 Psalm 32:1–11 (ESV):  

1  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 

2  Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, 

and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 

3  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away 

through my groaning all day long. 

4  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; 

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 

5  I acknowledged my sin to you, 

and I did not cover my iniquity; 

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” 

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 

6  Therefore let everyone who is godly 

offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; 

surely in the rush of great waters, 

they shall not reach him. 

7  You are a hiding place for me; 

you preserve me from trouble; 

you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 

8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 

I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 

9  Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, 

which must be curbed with bit and bridle, 

or it will not stay near you. 

10  Many are the sorrows of the wicked, 

but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 

11  Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, 

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! 

This psalm is a lesson not to hold onto guilt and sin. Instead of wrestling with the internal conflict, you can acknowledge your sin to God and be forgiven. It may seem a scary thing to do, but surely it is better than ‘groaning all day long’ and wasting away. 

David uses three words for wrongdoing in this psalm, showing that in whatever way you can get it wrong, he did it all! He had rebelled against God (transgression), he had gone away from the way of life he knew he should be on, he had not met the standard God required (sin) and had acted in a corrupt, twisted manner (iniquity). David’s confession was difficult because he had to realise the enormity of his actions. He had to acknowledge that he had fallen short of living a life that was acceptable to God, he had also wantonly turned away from what he knew was right in order to become corrupt through his decisions and actions. This shows the completeness of David’s wrongs. No wonder it was hard for him to accept let alone admit! It is no surprise that it took him a while to come to terms with it himself and then approach God with it. It can be the same for you can’t it? When you completely mess up, let yourself, others and God down, causing chaos, pain and corruption through your choices, it is hard to admit isn’t it? It is much easier and pleasant to try to justify yourself and make excuses for why you behaved that way, yet that does not deal with the internal distress that you experience, it does not lead to forgiveness or relief. It just leads to internal anguish and even physical suffering. Have you had enough of these results of your sin?

At this point in his life, David had become fed up with the internal anguish he felt about his wrongdoings. He had had enough of moping about and the incessant guilt that played around in his head. Have you ever felt the same? Where guilt dances around your mind and you feel ashamed and surrounded by accusation and pain when you have sinned? It is quite normal to feel that conviction and personal disappointment. Many others, including David have felt like that. He realised that even though admitting his sin felt like an enormous thing to do, that there would be no relief if he didn't. He knew he had done wrong in God's eyes and therefore if he wanted to make things right he had to be honest with God about it. It always feels awkward when you have to apologise doesn't it? Yet you know the relationship will benefit, but it is uncomfortable to acknowledge out loud what has happened and try to make amends. However, just like David in this psalm we can see that the faint glimmer of the hope of forgiveness and restoration is better than the internal and physical shame you bear. 

David was suffering physically as well as emotionally and mentally for whatever it was he had done. He knew the sin had separated him from God, and this was causing him anguish. Even though he knew he had to go through the emotional upheaval of confession, he hoped through admitting it and apologising, that God would hear and forgive. It is difficult to hear your sin out loud, to confess what you have done wrong. There’s an embarrassment, either because you know you should have done better or because you are ashamed to admit the truth of what you have done. It clearly took David a while to come to the point where he could even express what he had done wrong to God as he admits that, 'my strength was dried up' by the time he did so. David endured the discomfort of unforgiveness, guilt, shame and pain for some time before he had enough of it, before the pain outweighed the embarrassment.  Sometimes you too bear the shame for a long time because you try to hide or discount your wrongs due to fear or embarrassment. Yet you cannot escape your mind. You may not want to admit it, but you know that something you have said or done, or the motive in which you did something was wrong. This develops to cause internal discomfort and can lead to physical illness - David explains this well in this psalm. We know that David suffered for a while with being unforgiven as his, ‘bones wasted away’ and he had no strength left. That doesn’t happen overnight, he carried the guilt shame and internal anguish around with him for a while and it affected his body and mind. This can happen to you too when you fail to confess and repent of your wrongs. Sadly, sometimes people need to feel the guilt and shame and the detrimental effect this can have on body and mind before they’re able to approach God and know the relief and comfort of His forgiveness and restoration. David felt it. He eventually got to the point where he was more fed up with the pain of his error than fearful and ashamed of admitting it. 

Are you fed up with the pain and remorse of your iniquities? Do wish to receive forgiveness? If so, you can. You do not have to wait, you can know God’s forgiveness and restoration right now. You do not need to wait and suffer any more for what you’ve done wrong. David endured hardship and heartache before he came to God for forgiveness. His recommendation is that you can come to God any time, and sooner is better so that you do not suffer as much - you can experience forgiveness and relief right now!  David says, ‘I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity…..and you forgave the iniquity of my sin’. When you apologise to God, don't cover it up or leave anything out. If you want to know freedom and relief like David did be honest about what's gone wrong, how you're feeling about it and ask Him to forgive and restore you. God will do it.

God has dealt with any wrong you have done through His son Jesus. You do not need to suffer for it as Jesus already has, your suffering does not add to repentance. You can live free because Jesus took all the embarrassment, pain, shame, guilt and punishment upon himself as he died, so that you do not have to bear the weight of it. Are you accepting the forgiveness and freedom Jesus died for today? When you do you will know the relief, peace, joy and comfort of God’s forgiveness. Then you can, ‘Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!’

Is God's reputation on the line?

 Psalm 31:1–24 (ESV): 

1  In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; 

let me never be put to shame; 

in your righteousness deliver me! 

2  Incline your ear to me; 

rescue me speedily! 

Be a rock of refuge for me, 

a strong fortress to save me! 

3  For you are my rock and my fortress; 

and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 

4  you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, 

for you are my refuge. 

5  Into your hand I commit my spirit; 

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 

6  I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, 

but I trust in the Lord. 

7  I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, 

because you have seen my affliction; 

you have known the distress of my soul, 

8  and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; 

you have set my feet in a broad place. 

9  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; 

my eye is wasted from grief; 

my soul and my body also. 

10  For my life is spent with sorrow, 

and my years with sighing; 

my strength fails because of my iniquity, 

and my bones waste away. 

11  Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, 

especially to my neighbours, 

and an object of dread to my acquaintances; 

those who see me in the street flee from me. 

12  I have been forgotten like one who is dead; 

I have become like a broken vessel. 

13  For I hear the whispering of many— 

terror on every side!— 

as they scheme together against me, 

as they plot to take my life. 

14  But I trust in you, O Lord; 

I say, “You are my God.” 

15  My times are in your hand; 

rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

16  Make your face shine on your servant; 

save me in your steadfast love! 

17  O Lord, let me not be put to shame, 

for I call upon you; 

let the wicked be put to shame; 

let them go silently to Sheol. 

18  Let the lying lips be mute, 

which speak insolently against the righteous 

in pride and contempt. 

19  Oh, how abundant is your goodness, 

which you have stored up for those who fear you 

and worked for those who take refuge in you, 

in the sight of the children of mankind! 

20  In the cover of your presence you hide them 

from the plots of men; 

you store them in your shelter 

from the strife of tongues. 

21  Blessed be the Lord, 

for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me 

when I was in a besieged city. 

22  I had said in my alarm, 

“I am cut off from your sight.” 

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy 

when I cried to you for help. 

23  Love the Lord, all you his saints! 

The Lord preserves the faithful 

but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 

24  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, 

all you who wait for the Lord! 

This psalm seems to be a prayer of a disordered, troubled mind. One who is in imminent danger and is trying to figure out what to do and desperate for help. Urgently seeking God in the midst of the ‘terror on every side’. It appears that outside circumstances and internal thoughts are producing a time of great disturbance for the writer. For example at the start of the psalm it says, ‘Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me’. Asking God for refuge and protection, yet also knowing that God provides it shows the distress and disordered nature of his mind. David needs to know security and protection and so is asking God for it, yet he also knows that God IS those things already. What a natural, heart-felt response to a time of desperation and attack. David knows who God is and asking for Him to be who he knows He is, because at the present moment he is threatened and hounded and struggling to see God’s protection, guidance, security, and strength. This whole psalm demonstrates clearly the disordered, rushed prayer of desperation. Don't you find it comforting to have this written to know that it is ok when we pray the same way?! When you find circumstances overwhelming and distressing, it’s ok to speak out even if it seems jumbled. God can make sense of it and hears your heart. 

David flits from; calling for rescue to knowing God rescues, trusting in God, talking about how terrified he is, requesting God’s grace and acknowledging His goodness. This shows the devoted love of God that David has. Even when he is surrounded by enemies, is terrified and weak, he still acknowledges the presence of God and seeks Him for his rescue. David does not accuse God of having caused the situation or say that God has run off and left him. He still knows God is his refuge and rock. it is just David is aware that he is struggling to see that right now because of the turmoil and danger he is in. 

Yet, even in his terror and desperation David acknowledges that, ‘for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me’. David still trusts and looks to God for the way to go, the way to respond and live. He knows that God does and will guide him because David trusts in Him and God will help because God’s reputation is on the line if He doesn’t! As a known, committed follower of God, David recognises that God will be glorified through this situation. Are you aware of that in the midst of chaos and distress? That whatever is happening now is not the end of the story, but restoration and the glorification of God is waiting to be revealed?! What an expectation and assurance David has of God’s intervention, and of his standing with God. David has shown his commitment to following God in many different circumstances. He does so when things are going well and when things aren’t because even when situations change God doesn’t. God is still good, loving, strong, secure and helpful no matter what you are facing. Accepting this truth and trusting in Him as David does is the reality of living life as a follower of God. Being a committed christian means accepting the nature of God through every circumstance of life, leaning into Him, trusting and obeying Him even when it looks like life as you have known it is over. Then you too can build the same level of trust and dependence on God that David has. You can still be assured that even in the most terrible of situations that God will do you good for His name’s sake. 

So, consider the faith you have. Are you committed and assured of God's relevance and presence in all circumstances?  Are you living knowing that God’s reputation could be on the line if He does not rescue you from a time of trouble and distress? Will God restore you for his 'names sake'? Clearly God did rescue David. Later in the psalm he says, ‘The Lord preserves the faithful’. David’s dedication to following God paid off - he survived, was rescued and strengthened because he remained faithful. Do you remain faithful to God when the going gets tough? 

God rewards the committed, faithful follower, 'how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you' God will reward those who are loyalty and dedicated to Him. Not only will he rescue and protect you from trouble, but He will also share his goodness with you which he has even 'stored up'! How kind of God is that?! The question is, are you living in such a way to receive God's goodness and to expect His glorification in and through your life?