Your life matters

Jesus was born as a baby, to a real family, with real heritage and a list of forefathers, like yourself. Some were good godly people, some weren’t, some have impressive stories to tell, others seem to be just names in a list. Yet they were all related to The Son of God. They didn’t know it, but their life meant something special. They all had to live because of the the plan of God for The Messiah to come. If one person was missing, then Jesus could not have been born in this family line. Your life also means something, you matter. You are fulfilling something of the purpose of God just because you are breathing! God can do something through you and after you that is so special that it changes the lives and purpose of people to come. Are you living like your life matters? 

You exist now because God planned it. You have a part to play in the kingdom of God being displayed on Earth in your generation and for future ones. It doesn’t matter if you know your heritage ir not, but your life counts. All of the names in the list of Jesus’ genealogy, whether we know the story of their lives or not matter, so do you. 

As you read the genealogy of Jesus below, you may recognise some names, you may not, but be encouraged that they were all important. Without them, the next generation would not come, each person had a part to play in God’s purposes being fulfilled, and the birth of the Messiah, Jesus.

Matthew 1:1–17 (ESV): 

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. 

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. 

Isn’t it incredible how God plans things?! The beauty of the time line and number of generations between different stages of Israel’s history. All of it significant because of the salvation that God has always fought for for His people. There are generations of; captives, prophets, warriors, kings, men, women, rich, poor, working class, good men, evil men, foreigners (Gentiles), and Jews that led to the birth of Jesus. Jesus was descended from Abraham - the father of the nation, he was also born form the lineage that included women from other nations like Rahab and Ruth, whom had been grafted into the nation of Israel because of their love and respect of God. Even Jesus’ genealogy demonstrates God’s acceptance and elevation of people. It demonstrates His acceptance of those who were once far off, that they too can be loved and valued as part of His kingdom. It also shows quite simply that Jesus really was human! He was born into a family with a known history, a mixed one at that full of ups and downs, faithful and unfaithful people, probably like yours. All of these people are linked through blood to culminate in not just a great king’s life like David’s, but the son of David and the son of Abraham - the Lord Jesus Christ - The Son of God! 

Each person’s life previously had led to this moment, the birth of The Messiah, Jesus! The people in his heritage matter because they existed, Jesus’ geneaology proves that whatever your lineage, or place in the generations, God can redeem all things. Jesus descended from foreigners, prophets, exiles, kings, fathers, faithful and unfaithful people. You do not have to live the same life as your forefathers, you can redeem or build on what has gone before. God wants to demonstrate His love and power in and through your life and for the generations to come. Your life matters. You have the opportunity to re-write the history of your family if that is needed and to leave the investment of a story of faith for the future generations. So how you live and the choices you make today matter, what will your legacy be for the people who come after you? 

What do you trust in?

 Psalm 146:1–10 (ESV): 

Praise the Lord! 

 Praise the Lord, O my soul! 

 2  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 

 3  Put not your trust in princes, 

in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 

 4  When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; 

on that very day his plans perish. 

 5  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, 

whose hope is in the Lord his God, 

 6  who made heaven and earth, 

the sea, and all that is in them, 

  who keeps faith forever; 

 7  who executes justice for the oppressed, 

who gives food to the hungry. 

  The Lord sets the prisoners free; 

 8  the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. 

  The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; 

the Lord loves the righteous. 

 9  The Lord watches over the sojourners; 

he upholds the widow and the fatherless, 

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 

 10  The Lord will reign forever, 

your God, O Zion, to all generations. 

  Praise the Lord! 

What do you trust in?

Are there things and people that you trust in other than God? Material goods will break or rust, and people at some point will let you down. Nothing and no-one else can offer you the salvation you need. People may be able to help you out for a bit, even for as long as they live, but eventually their support will end and run out. What then? 

Only God is everlasting and ever-loving. His love, favour, grace, compassion, comfort and support will never die. He ‘keeps faith forever’! He executes justice and gives food to the hungry, He sets people free and heals, He lifts up those who are down, looks out for travellers and takes especial care of the fatherless and widow. Whatever it is you need God can provide - are you asking Him to? He never runs out, He never gets fed up of hearing your pleas, even if they are the same ones. His breath will never end, His plans will never fade or be forgotten. He will be there whenever you call upon Him.

Are you totally trusting in God? God has everything in His mighty hands. You don’t need to take responsibility for solving all of the issues and problems that you see, or depend on other people or things to solve the difficulties that you face. Instead you can trust God with them. God has the power, resources, knowledge, compassion and kindness that you need. In times when you feel unsettled, where do you run to? Is there a particular person that you call, or an activity that you do to try yo make you feel better? Have you tried praying and reflecting on who God is instead? For ‘Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God’. This does not mean that you shouldn't talk to people about what is going on, or never do anything other than pray, but what is your first response? Nothing and no-one else can bless your life and give you eternal hope like God can. So, ‘put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation’ but hope in the Lord your God who will reign forever. God has made all of creation, and He has kept it running for however long the world has existed for, He reliably causes the sun to rise and set each day, so He can take care of you and your life, and those you care about. Hope in Him. The 'Lord loves the righteous', think about those you love and what you would do for them, then consider that God loves you the same way, so why not trust in Him?

What rules do you follow?

As we begin to study Psalm 119 a couple of paragraphs at a time, we will see how every section exemplifies the brilliance of Scripture. If you allow God’s Word to have influence in your life, even when it is difficult, then you will be blessed. How wonderful it is for displaying God, giving direction, confidence, and building faith. The Bible is precious and beautiful, for it contains the very words of God, so read it carefully and in reverence, for it has the power to change your life.

Psalm 119:1–8 (ESV): 

Aleph

119  Blessed are those whose way is blameless, 

who walk in the law of the Lord! 

 2  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, 

who seek him with their whole heart, 

 3  who also do no wrong, 

but walk in his ways! 

 4  You have commanded your precepts 

to be kept diligently. 

 5  Oh that my ways may be steadfast 

in keeping your statutes! 

 6  Then I shall not be put to shame, 

having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. 

 7  I will praise you with an upright heart, 

when I learn your righteous rules. 

 8  I will keep your statutes; 

do not utterly forsake me! 

What a great understanding this writer has of the beauty of the law of God. They honour and respect Scripture, but also acknowledge that they struggle to know and obey it! Has anything changed in the thousands of years that have passed since this was penned?! The Bible is both beautiful and terrifying, as us humans continue the struggle to understand and diligently apply the statutes of God to our lives.

The person who can live their life in complete obedience to the Word of God will be blessed, as they know not the shame and repentance sin brings, but instead the favour of God poured out upon them. Yet how difficult it is to live that righteous life, but do not give! Continue to strive for obedience, practice righteousness and keep asking God for forgiveness that He will not ‘utterly forsake’ you. I love the honesty of these words, and the hope that it brings. Although we go wrong, we have opportunity to try again. God is so kind to give us the opportunity and reminders to change, no wonder the writer says, 'I will praise you with an upright heart'. Do you praise God because of His commandments and statutes? Knowing the standards and instructions of God can lead to praise as you recognise how holy, good and glorious He is. God lives to a standard of love and purity that you cannot attain, yet he still gives you the opportunity to live a holier life. He welcomes and forgives you time and again. He knows that you try, and He loves it when you desire to live His way and not your own, for in your obedience you demonstrate your love to Him. Faithfulness to God is important to Him and it should be to you too, plus, for you, it leads to blessing. Therefore keep desiring to love the Word of God and obey it. It does you good; it leads you out of sin, shows you the way of righteousness and blessing, and reveals the love and might of God throughout. There is no other written word that is as powerful!

Psalm 119:9–16 (ESV): 

Beth

 9  How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By guarding it according to your word. 

 10  With my whole heart I seek you; 

let me not wander from your commandments! 

 11  I have stored up your word in my heart, 

that I might not sin against you. 

 12  Blessed are you, O Lord; 

teach me your statutes! 

 13  With my lips I declare 

all the rules of your mouth. 

 14  In the way of your testimonies I delight 

as much as in all riches. 

 15  I will meditate on your precepts 

and fix my eyes on your ways. 

 16  I will delight in your statutes; 

I will not forget your word. 

The temptations for the young seem especially hard, and every generation does have different types of challenges as technology and expectations of society change. Yet The Word of God never changes. Therefore in order to keep your way pure, prevent confusion and constant changing of ideals, invest in the Word of God. Scripture has remained good, noble and pure since it was created. Seeking God and ‘guarding’ your behaviour according to God’s Word is only one way to live a life of purity and constancy. 

Be diligent in your search and desire for righteousness, read, learn, understand and apply the Word of God that you may figure out how to live life well. Do not settle for the standards of others, or society, instead, seek the statutes of the Kingdom of God, fix your eyes on God and His direction. Do not allow your own wants, others ideas, or cultural dynamics dictate your desires and behaviours, but ask God alone to ‘teach me your statutes’. If you want to learn how to live life well, there is only One who will tell you the way. He has been instructing people for millennia how to live a blessed life. Others will tell you a multitude of ways and ideas which may seem attractive, but will lead ultimately to discontentment, confusion and heartache. Only God will show you the right way to live. You have been given the best guide to living a good, pure and holy life - the Bible. Read it and follow it. Then you will see how to live a satisfied life of purity, delight and blessing

The lord of The Lord

Psalm 110:1–7 (ESV):  

1  The Lord says to my Lord: 

“Sit at my right hand, 

  until I make your enemies your footstool.” 

 2  The Lord sends forth from Zion 

your mighty scepter. 

Rule in the midst of your enemies! 

 3  Your people will offer themselves freely 

on the day of your power, 

in holy garments; 

  from the womb of the morning, 

the dew of your youth will be yours. 

 4  The Lord has sworn 

and will not change his mind, 

  “You are a priest forever 

after the order of Melchizedek.” 

 5  The Lord is at your right hand; 

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 

 6  He will execute judgment among the nations, 

filling them with corpses; 

  he will shatter chiefs 

over the wide earth. 

 7  He will drink from the brook by the way; 

therefore he will lift up his head. 

This psalm is a revelation that David had that there is a power and authority greater than any influence or position anyone can hold on Earth. He starts off by expressing, ‘the Lord says to my lord’, this indicates that David, even as a king, is in submission to someone higher, his 'lord'. David accepted and enjoyed that fact. For he knew that no matter how powerful, rich or renowned he may get, there is another greater than him in heaven. God revealed to David that there is a lord of the Lord. This is Jesus. 

I think it is amazing how God reveals himself to us. David dld not have the knowledge or understanding of what God had planned. He only had Old Testament scriptures to read to find out anything about God. So when God chose to speak to David the words of these psalm, it must have seemed incredible. David could not fully grasp what was being told to him, but we know can see that God spoke to David about His Son Jesus. God did not explicitly reveal what was to come, but he gave David indicators of what the future would hold. These things would have been strange to the ancient Israelite mind, however when David had this revelation of a lord of the Lord, he knew that this information was inspired by God and of importance so he wrote it down. Even though David could not fully understand it himself, he realised that what God was showing him was significant enough to make the effort to record it. This lord, God revealed, was to be a ruler, have power, be holy, bring judgement, be a priest ‘after the order of Melchizedek’ and sit at God’s side, yet drink water like the rest of humanity does. This revelation showed this lord’s humanity, humility and holiness, and Jesus fulfils each of these. 

What a revelation that David had! Here we are thousands of years later, reading in awe that God has been revealing his Son for thousands of years - even to people who cannot fully grasp what it means! David wrote this about one thousand years before Jesus was even born. Then, during his ministry, Jesus confirms these exact words brought to David - that he, Jesus, is the lord of the Lord, (documented in Matthew 22). Isn’t that incredible?! This writing was kept safe for that length of time, Jesus knew it, and we still get to read it 3,000 years later, plus we now understand it and can see how it points to Jesus! 

God has been revealing himself since the beginning of time and God speaks to His people. David, influenced by the Holy Spirit, wrote down this vision of the promised messiah. I am sure that most of what David wrote probably did not make much sense to Him. A lord of the Lord, people freely giving themselves to God, and being clothed in holiness. This would have been difficult for David and those of his time to imagine how this could be possible. For they lived at a time when Israel alone was the holy nation, the only people set apart for God, they alone were His people. So how can any person who chooses to; give themselves to God, become holy, and be one of His people? The Levites, the set apart priests were the holiest people you could get. Yet they had to go through rituals of cleansing to be sanctified, and that just lasted for a short time in order to perform their duties. So, how can there be people ‘in holy garments’ just because they ‘offer themselves freely’? This was so far beyond David’s experience and the Israelites that it must have brought confused hope as well as an awe of God. I bet those that read or heard these words at the time wondered how any of this could be possible. 

How privileged are we that we now live in those foretold days. We can approach God freely, no animal blood required, no cleansing rituals, no set appointments, dates, festivals, times or places. You can offer yourself freely today into the hands of God. You do not have to be from a particular background, culture or nation, or even particularly good, you can freely come into the presence of God and be made holy! For ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind’! The promise that God made to David, was that Jesus would come, and that people can come to him of their own accord and be made holy. You can do that today. You are invited and welcomed into His presence, always and whenever you like, because Jesus has made you holy. God has been planning and preparing for millennia that people like you and I can become holy, without sin, and become His family. Isn’t that awesome?!

Israelites, sheep and faith

 Psalm 95:1–11 (ESV): 

95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; 

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 

 2  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; 

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 

 3  For the Lord is a great God, 

and a great King above all gods. 

 4  In his hand are the depths of the earth; 

the heights of the mountains are his also. 

 5  The sea is his, for he made it, 

and his hands formed the dry land. 

 6  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; 

let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 

 7  For he is our God, 

and we are the people of his pasture, 

and the sheep of his hand. 

  Today, if you hear his voice, 

 8  do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, 

as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 

 9  when your fathers put me to the test 

and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 

 10  For forty years I loathed that generation 

and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, 

and they have not known my ways.” 

 11  Therefore I swore in my wrath, 

“They shall not enter my rest.” 

At the beginning of the psalm you may notice the repetition of the phrase ‘let us’. Yet this is not used to ask for permission to do something, but rather the Israelites are encouraging one another TO do something. They are calling each other to worship God. Reminding one another that God is Lord, He is Saviour and He is worthy to be thanked and praised because, ‘the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods’. There is no-one and nothing like Him. He is supreme. He alone created the deepest and highest parts of the world, no-one else has. He also made the seas and the land, all the expanse that we see, and that we do not - God crafted it all. Therefore how can any other power or person ever have authority over Him?! He is ‘a great King above all gods’. Other things may claim power, seem great, make great boasts or be assertive and convincing, but none can even stand before the great King of all. It is good for us to remind ourselves of this. and to encourage one another to worship the One who deserves it. It is easy to lose focus, get distracted or feel down about circumstances and so not feel like worshipping. At times you need other godly men and women to call you to worship to say to you, ‘let us sing’, ‘let us make a joyful noise’, ‘let us come into his presence’, and you need to do this for others too.. There is no reason great enough for you to withhold worship to ‘the Lord, our Maker!’. Who keeps you to account and keeps calling you to worship God? ’the Lord is a great God’ all of the time therefore you can sing, dance, pray, praise and be joyful always because that truth always remains. The fact the God is great is so powerful and strong a truth, that when you really think about it you cannot help but ‘make a joyful noise’!

God is the Maker, He not only made all of the Earth, but he also made you. Therefore He is THE God and He is YOUR God - the only One in supreme authority, plus He makes it personal, He is your God, for you and with you plus you can have relationship with Him. Yet the relationship is not equal - He is your shepherd for you are like a sheep before Him - helpless, fluffy and vulnerable. You need looking after, guiding, carrying, and even telling off sometimes. Do not be like the Israelites by becoming stubborn and hardening your heart (v8). You are vulnerable and weak before God, you do need Him. Do you allow God to guide, correct and carry you? Or are you too intent on doing things your own way? You were never meant to sort all your problems out or make all the decisions independently. A sheep that does that wanders off, gets lost and injured - they don't even know where the best grass is or where the dangers are, that's why they need the shepherd. The Israelites kept forgetting that they were sheep. God provided and guided them, and He urged them to be obedient, but they did not adhere to His words in the big or small things. Instead God says they hardened their hearts and went, ‘astray in their heart’. They didn’t do what they were told, they didn't follow their shepherd. Can the same be said of you? When you hear God’s voice, do you listen and obey, even when it is something you don’t want to hear? Or do you allow your heart to go astray as the Israelites did when they encountered testing times? 

Two notable times that we can see that happening are in Meribah and Massah. These were areas that the Israelites came to during their 40 years in the wilderness where they felt they were not adequately provided for by God as they had no water. This is a big problem. Humans cannot survive more than a couple of days without water. Plus they had cattle to care for, so they were rightly concerned about this. Their response was that they moaned at each other and complained that they had been better off in Egypt. They feared for their lives because they did not have the basics for survival. When that happens it is natural to be concerned and to try to find a solution as something essential is missing from your life. However, the Israelites did not seek their shepherd. They did not trust Him or turn to Him. Instead they complained to one another, then blamed Moses as their earthly leader. The Israelites did not pray. They did not seek God. They did not worship. Instead they moaned to one another about their situation, becoming increasingly fearful that they would all die. When Moses heard about it, he and Aaron approached God. This was their first response, unlike the people, Moses and Aaron demonstrated great leadership and loyalty to their shepherd and ‘great King’. They trusted that even when death stared at them, God could do something. So they prayed, and at both Massah and Meribah, they witnessed God’s miraculous solution as water gushed forth from a rock! These separate situations occurred almost 40 years apart. So we can see that God was giving the Israelites the chance to learn from their previous mistake and lack of faith. He was inviting them to have a different response, but they didn’t. Despite the amount of times that God had healed them, won their battles, guided them with fire and smoke, stopped their shoes from wearing out and provided manna for them each and every day. Despite these miracles, these proofs of God’s power and presence, the people failed to appreciate that God could fulfil every need. They still did not trust Him or surrender to Him. They failed to comprehend that God can do anything, you just need to ask! The Israelites happily accepted God’s daily blessings but seem to see them as something they had a right to, rather than seeing them as a beautiful expression of His love and care for them. Even though they had a lot to be thankful for, and a history of God’s provision and power, their response to this lack of water the second time demonstrated their lack of faith and trust in God. They had not learnt, they had not allowed the mighty miracles and the everyday blessings from God to influence their hearts or faith. The Israelites made the same mistakes and made the same complaints previous generations had. Yet God still provided. Two men had enough faith to approach God, Moses and Aaron. They talked with Him, and God provided, again, miraculously. God acted for the whole nation on the faith of two. Do not underestimate the power of prayer because it does not depend on who is praying, but on the One who hears!

God says of the nation of Israel, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways’. It was easy for them to enjoy the benefits of the safety and care that God gave on a physical level, but they did not have the internal security, confidence and joy of knowing God as their King and Saviour. On the surface they accepted that they were God’s people as part of Israel, but internally their thoughts, desires and mindset were not aligned with God and did not demonstrate any allegiance to Him. When times got tough they did not talk to Him about it. They did not trust that as He is Maker, King and Lord that He could and would do something about their troubles. They just complained. Are you the same? Do you follow God out of habit, duty, or because others do? The fruit of faith is seen when you encounter difficulty. What do you do when life gets hard? When people let you down, disaster occurs, or something life threatening happens, what is your first response? For that shows if you are a sheep faithfully trusting in your shepherd or not. Do you call out to God, let Him know what has occurred and invite Him to show up and change things, or do you go around moaning to whoever will listen? You could approach God, recalling that God has been great before, and trusting that He still is and will be again. This is what Moses and Aaron did unlike the rest of the nation. The people had not really given their lives to God, they only wanted Him to give them what they wanted. Yet they were not obedient, trusting or loving towards Him. Only Moses and Aaron trusted God. When there was a problem, they knew who to go to. They knew there was only One who could solve any issue and bring transformation, the ‘great King above all gods’. So they went straight to Him, and they were involved in some great signs, wonders and miracles because they were all in, are you?

I am poor and needy

 Psalm 86:1–17 (ESV):  

1  Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, 

for I am poor and needy. 

 2  Preserve my life, for I am godly; 

save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. 

 3  Be gracious to me, O Lord, 

for to you do I cry all the day. 

 4  Gladden the soul of your servant, 

for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 

 5  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, 

abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 

 6  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; 

listen to my plea for grace. 

 7  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, 

for you answer me. 

 8  There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, 

nor are there any works like yours. 

 9  All the nations you have made shall come 

and worship before you, O Lord, 

and shall glorify your name. 

 10  For you are great and do wondrous things; 

you alone are God. 

 11  Teach me your way, O Lord, 

that I may walk in your truth; 

unite my heart to fear your name. 

 12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, 

and I will glorify your name forever. 

 13  For great is your steadfast love toward me; 

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

 14  O God, insolent men have risen up against me; 

a band of ruthless men seeks my life, 

and they do not set you before them. 

 15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, 

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 

 16  Turn to me and be gracious to me; 

give your strength to your servant, 

and save the son of your maidservant. 

 17  Show me a sign of your favour, 

that those who hate me may see and be put to shame 

because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me. 

This psalm written by David shows his humility. Even though he is a strong, powerful, blessed king, he describes himself as, ‘poor and needy….your servant’. As a young man in his father’s house we can see how this would relate to David, but when he wrote this psalm as the anointed king of the nation of God, it can seem odd to try to comprehend. Yet, ‘poor and needy’ is how David describes himself in several of the psalms. As David considers and praises God, i think he recognises how poor and needy he is in comparison with Him. No matter the earthly riches, authority and reputation he has on Earth, what is it when you compare it to God? It is ‘poor’ and insignificant in comparison, and the level of capacity and capability is ‘needy’ indeed. David acknowledged this in a way many of us miss. 

It is not encouraged or desired by society to be known as ‘poor and needy’. In fact, those who are can be looked down upon and pitied so David does not go to people in his poverty or neediness. The only one David wishes to show his lack to is God, for what could man do? God can get to the heart of the deprivation that David feels. It must have been hard for him to relate to being king. From the lowly, overlooked position of a shepherd to a throne, it is not surprising that David felt like he didn't belong, that he wasn't prepared and that he didn't have enough within himself to perform his duties. Yet he was king because he went to the place we all need to when we feel insufficient for the task ahead of us - he went to God. The only one who can give life, salvation, grace, forgiveness, love, courage, hope and joy. These are the things you really need when you feel ‘poor and needy'.

As well as acknowledging the poverty and need in his own life, this psalm also glorifies God. In fact, most of it is a psalm of recognition of how wonderful God is. David recalls how God is good and forgiving, and always loves him - you can see the genuine relationship and delight David has with God. Yet he does not, even as king, consider himself at all powerful or in control in comparison to God, when he thinks about God, he realises how poor and needy he is! As much authority as David has, or as much influence, as many people or wealth he has at his fingers, when you match it up to the wealth, authority, power and capacity God has it truly is ‘poor and needy'. David honours God as the Almighty King. The One who can change any circumstance, the only truly God because no-one and nothing else can compare with what God can do (v8-10). 

In his humility, David asks God to show him what His ‘way’ is. Sometimes we can be so confused and distressed that we do not know what way to go, or what God wants from us in a particular situation. So even in this time where David is in need, he seeks God to show him how to live right to, ‘unite my heart to fear your name’. David knew that his emotions were all over the place, but even so he wanted to honour and serve God well in this season. So he asked God to help unite his heart with obedience to God. What is your response when you are in distress? To you accept your feelings and allow yourself to be mastered by them or do you, even then, in the midst of overwhelming disappointment and sadness decide to subject your emotions to God? This is what David did, and this is powerful. In an age when people do what they feel and follow their emotions, the people of God are not to do that but instead to seek God first. Above thoughts, desires and feelings, they are to invite God to restructure their hearts so that they can live their lives in truth. Is your heart's cry to God in times of difficulty;  'Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name'?

You are poor and needy. You will encounter disappointment and heartache, but you are not to be led by those experiences or emotions. For in your need you have an Almighty God, and Everlasting Father and a Faithful Friend you can call upon to uphold, strengthen, love and guide you. Will you call upon God in your times of need? At the end of this outpouring of love, praise and recognition of the greatness of God David declares, 'Lord, have helped me and comforted me'. Just through spending quality time with God, David has felt comforted, listened to and helped. The situation has not radically changed in the moments of this prayer, but offloading to God and showing that you are willing to do things God's way, not your own, allows God to minister to you. Relying on God gives strength, purpose and unites your heart. I wonder what His way is for you. Are you prepared to ask God to show you, and trust God to unite your heart?

His name is Great

 Psalm 76:1–12 (ESV):  

1  In Judah God is known; 

his name is great in Israel. 

2  His abode has been established in Salem, 

his dwelling place in Zion. 

3  There he broke the flashing arrows, 

the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah 

4  Glorious are you, more majestic 

than the mountains full of prey. 

5  The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; 

they sank into sleep; 

all the men of war 

were unable to use their hands. 

6  At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, 

both rider and horse lay stunned. 

7  But you, you are to be feared! 

Who can stand before you 

when once your anger is roused? 

8  From the heavens you uttered judgment; 

the earth feared and was still, 

9  when God arose to establish judgment, 

to save all the humble of the earth. Selah 

10  Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; 

the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. 

11  Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; 

let all around him bring gifts 

to him who is to be feared, 

12  who cuts off the spirit of princes, 

who is to be feared by the kings of the earth. 

Who are what are you scared of? Are you fearful of God?

You should be! No-one and nothing else should cause you to tremble like the almighty power and righteousness of God. The original Hebrew word translated to fear in this psalm means; awesome, terrible and to revere (have deep respect or admiration). Do you see God as awesome and terrible? Do you revere Him and live with the realisation that to cross Him is a terrible thing because of His unimaginable power, majesty and justice?

Throughout this psalm we are reminded of the fearsome nature of God because it is good to have a reverent fear of Him. He is holy, just and powerful, and so He could do anything and everything to you -we cannot even stand before Him (v7). He breaks our efforts of destruction, stops our actions and causes us to be unmoved when our intentions are not His (v 3-5). Do you live in fear of Him? He should be feared even more than the greatest powers and rulers on Earth because they too are fearful of Him (v12). God's awesomeness should cause you to live in respect of Him. His power, might and justice should cause you to consider carefully the choices you make because you do not want to suffer the terrible reality of disobeying God. Do you live acknowledging the greatness and awesome terribleness of God?

Part of your response to this God that is feared should surely be obedience to Him. As He is so terrifyingly awesome and worthy of respect and admiration, are you doing what He has told you to? If you don't, then do not be surprised if you suffer the fate of verse 5 which tells us that even the 'stouthearted' were stripped of everything they had, incapable of response (asleep) and unable to protect themselves. For who can protect themselves against the Almighty?! 

Are you living in obedience to Him? 

When he brings rebuke and discipline, and His Word shows how you should be living different, do you take notice and change your life, or do you carry on in your ways? If you do the latter then you do not truly understand the fearsome nature of the loving and powerful God that is instructing you! Look at the many experiences of the Israelites when they disobeyed God - He let them go. He exiled them. In this psalm we see how God prevents those against Him from being successful, he takes away what they have and 'cuts off the spirits of princes'. Is that what you want for your life? Do you want to experience living a life with God, or being put away from Him and His goodness because He has instructed you to live a more holy and obedient life but you don’t want to? It can be hard, sacrificial, involve change and discomfort, but isn’t that less terrible than being left to your own devices without God?

In the present age there is much emphasis of the love and kindness of God, His forgiveness and acceptance which are absolutely true. However this generous, kind, loving God is also fearsome. I think our culture does not do much to consider the fearsome nature of God, in fact it seems to be minimised and not appreciated. Yet it is still true. This psalm reminds us of the majesty, power, rebuke, anger, judgement and fearsome character of God. These are displayed in a positive sense as in this psalm the God of Israel is fighting for the people of God and Asaph recalls His righteousness and might. The Israelite's enemies are stunned and stripped as God brought victory. ‘Men of war were unable to use their hands’, ‘rider and horse lay stunned’, 'who can stand’, ‘the earth feared and was still’, ‘God arose to establish judgement’. This is the same God we worship. His character has not changed, He is still the God who can lay His enemies to waste and exile disobedient people. How are you living your life in recognition of this? 

Do not take the love of God, His grace and mercy for granted otherwise you could experience the fate of those who do not honour Him. Instead, acknowledge, accept and appreciate that this loving God is also fearfully awesome. Then work out how to dutifully revere Him in your life. Is there anything you need to be doing differently in light of acknowledging God's great and fearsome nature?

Why you should ask God to bless you

 Psalm 67:1–7 (ESV):  

1  May God be gracious to us and bless us 

and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 

2  that your way may be known on earth, 

your saving power among all nations. 

3  Let the peoples praise you, O God; 

let all the peoples praise you! 

4  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, 

for you judge the peoples with equity 

and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 

5  Let the peoples praise you, O God; 

let all the peoples praise you! 

6  The earth has yielded its increase; 

God, our God, shall bless us. 

7  God shall bless us; 

let all the ends of the earth fear him! 

In this psalm, the people of God are asking that God blesses them, not for their own benefit, but so that others see that God blesses His people and will praise Him as a result. Have you ever considered that you being blessed is an opportunity to witness about God’s goodness and favour?

God’s blessings are a great way to share God’s goodness with others, to those that follow God and those that don’t. It shows that you recognise where the good things in your life come from, and is a chance to share some great truths about what living a life with God is like. Through receiving, recognising, appreciating, and sharing the wonderful things God has done in your life, you can impact individuals, people and nations (v3-4) and inspire them to consider and honour God - isn’t that cool?! 

The purpose of the requested blessing in verse 1 is that God’s ‘way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations’. It is not about the comfort or wealth of the individual or the people of God, but so that they can witness that God loves and cares for His own. Showing that God fulfils His purposes, lovingly leads His people and has the power to save. The people of this world, your nation, town and household need to hear that. They need to see the power God has to save and that God is living and active on Earth through your life. So, when you are blessed, when you see good things in your life, do you openly give credit to God for them to others around you? The purpose of receiving a blessing from God is to show others who God is. Therefore, when you are blessed you should share the; joy, peace, contentment, breakthrough, healing, gifts, and deliverance that God has brought. As the reason for the blessing is not for your own comfort and enjoyment, but for God’s way to be known and His saving power released to others.

Almost every verse of this psalm starts with asking God to ‘let’ His people do something. They are requesting His favour, His help and permission to praise, be glad and be joyful. Have you ever asked God for those things? The people of Isreal clearly realised that it is pretty easy to find things to moan about - there are always things we can be disgruntled about, annoyed with, upset by, it doesn’t take a lot to find things you'd like to improve in life. So, instead of focussing on those things, ask God to 'let' you be joyful, and full of praise. Ask for gladness and joy in your life, and then you will be delighted to share about God’s favour, and you can invite others into it. What a difference that would make in this world where there is increasing depression, anxiety and fear. You can be cross-cultural, you can be happy, peaceful, glad, and joyful - just ask God to bless you. 

When you are blessed, when you are happy, don't you share the good news with others? When good things happen, when we are excited about it, we tell people don't we? Well, when you ask God to bless you, and He does, you can do the same - tell people about His goodness. By doing so you will have a part in inspiring people to follow God, changing the life of a person, many people and even the nations! That's what this psalm shows. By simply sharing about the blessings God has brought you, you can be a witness. By letting people know the impact God has in your life you will be sharing about God's saving power and encouraging people to ‘praise you, O God’. What a great privilege!

In order for this to happen, you need to ask God to bless you. It may seem a bit odd especially if you are someone who is grateful for the great things you already have, but if you want to have opportunities to demonstrate God's love, power and salvation to others, then you need to ask God to bless you so that you have stories to share. I already have many things to be grateful for, yet even so, I want to be a part of inspiring people to praise God, So I am going to start asking God to bless me. I do not know what that looks like, but I do know God can and will do it. Then I will have more stories to share about how wonderful God is and trust that the Holy Spirit will use these things to show His way on Earth and release His ‘saving power among all nations’. Are you with me? Will you start asking God to bless you so that, ‘all the people praise’ Him?

Bless our God, O peoples

 Psalm 66:1–20 (ESV):  

1  Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 

2  sing the glory of his name; 

give to him glorious praise! 

3  Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! 

So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 

4  All the earth worships you 

and sings praises to you; 

they sing praises to your name.” Selah 

5  Come and see what God has done: 

he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 

6  He turned the sea into dry land; 

they passed through the river on foot. 

There did we rejoice in him, 

7  who rules by his might forever, 

whose eyes keep watch on the nations— 

let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah 

8  Bless our God, O peoples; 

let the sound of his praise be heard, 

9  who has kept our soul among the living 

and has not let our feet slip. 

10  For you, O God, have tested us; 

you have tried us as silver is tried. 

11  You brought us into the net; 

you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 

12  you let men ride over our heads; 

we went through fire and through water; 

yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. 

13  I will come into your house with burnt offerings; 

I will perform my vows to you, 

14  that which my lips uttered 

and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 

15  I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, 

with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; 

I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah 

16  Come and hear, all you who fear God, 

and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 

17  I cried to him with my mouth, 

and high praise was on my tongue. 

18  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, 

the Lord would not have listened. 

19  But truly God has listened; 

he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 

20  Blessed be God, 

because he has not rejected my prayer 

or removed his steadfast love from me! 

This psalm is an outpouring of praise, gratitude and love for God, remembering the things of the past and acknowledging God’s power, steadfast love and commitment. It is a recollection of the mightiness of God, and His commitment to His people. I like this psalm because it encourages all of us to recall the victories of the past, to share those testimonies and remind one another of what God has done. This is so important as it helps us to remember the character and nature of God and develops hope, faith and joy in us. No matter the season of life you're in, this psalm and these reflections in your own life will do you good.

Maybe, at the time this psalm was written, the nation of Israel was a bit down, struggling, bored or a bit fed up, or maybe they were corporately celebrating (v1-12) and personally grateful for what had happened. Whatever the mood of the nation, or of your town or household, this psalm inspires, and encourages us to think about how lives have been impacted by the work of God. It is a clear celebration and reminder that, ’he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.’ God has not only been good to you, He has performed 'awesome deeds' in your life, it is good to remember and share about those.

Compared to the works of humans, no matter how amazing and inspiring they can be, God’s deeds are greater. He has invented the universe, given power to the wind, rain, sun and waves, He has caused people to walk on and through water, created animals and given them the power to speak, defeated untold enemies and broken down walls. These are just a handful of His mighty works from the Bible. You could list many more, plus those from your own experience. In my life, to list a few, I have seen; legs grow, backs healed, I have been healed of asthma, difficult situations have been broken, lives transformed, timely and unexpected financial provision, multiplication of food - that’s just from the top of my head, if I really thought about it I wonder how many more I could add to the list! What have you witnessed God do?

This psalm encourages us to think about the awesome deeds of God, because there are a lot, and sometimes we do not pause to consider them. If we did, we would be inspired and full of gratitude at being reminded of His greatness. Surely, life would seem happier and more hopeful if we paused to consider the greatness of God and continually reminded ourselves of God’s awesome deeds.  For, 'truly God has listened' and, 'he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!'. Have you ever had a prayer answered? Known His provision and love? 

Once you see and recall the great works of God, David tells says that your response for appreciating the wonderful works of our mighty God should be to, ‘Bless our God..... let the sound of his praise be heard’. So, go ahead, bless God, tell Him how grateful you are for the things He has brought about and how wonderful He is. No matter the situation of life you are in, what is going on right now or how you are feeling - You should praise God today. His praise should be heard from your lips for the things of old, as well as the mercies and joys of today and promises of tomorrow. God has done great things, and you know it, so today let your joy increase by remembering the love, mercy, and awesome deeds of our God!

Riches, power and wealth

 Psalm 62:1–12 (ESV):  

1  For God alone my soul waits in silence; 

from him comes my salvation. 

2  He alone is my rock and my salvation, 

my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 

3  How long will all of you attack a man 

to batter him, 

like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 

4  They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. 

They take pleasure in falsehood. 

They bless with their mouths, 

but inwardly they curse. Selah 

5  For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, 

for my hope is from him. 

6  He only is my rock and my salvation, 

my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 

7  On God rests my salvation and my glory; 

my mighty rock, my refuge is God. 

8  Trust in him at all times, O people; 

pour out your heart before him; 

God is a refuge for us. Selah 

9  Those of low estate are but a breath; 

those of high estate are a delusion; 

in the balances they go up; 

they are together lighter than a breath. 

10  Put no trust in extortion; 

set no vain hopes on robbery; 

if riches increase, set not your heart on them. 

11  Once God has spoken; 

twice have I heard this: 

that power belongs to God, 

12  and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. 

For you will render to a man 

according to his work. 

How often do you silently wait?

David says, ‘For God alone my soul waits in silence’. When waiting, most people; complain, sigh, drum their fingers, stomp, groan or mutter, which increases their frustration. David, however, waits silently. Peacefully and patiently standing by for God to answer. How often do you do that - sit in the discomfort of waiting? I imagine it is more likely that most of us rush off to find solutions, sometimes even with the attitude of - “well, I prayed about it, God didn’t answer so I did x, y and z”. This leads to frustration, a decline in faith, and stress. If you learnt to wait for God, I wonder what answers you would get and I wonder what you would learn in the uncomfortable silence. David learnt to allow his soul to be at peace whilst he waited for he realised that, ‘from him comes my salvation’. When you ask God things, do you wait long enough and quietly enough for God to bring you answers and salvation? 

‘’I shall not be greatly shaken’

Is this your testimony? Do the events of life, changes of circumstance greatly shake you? There is a difference between being shaken and greatly shaken. Being shaken is like being shocked, feeling off-guard, seeing the twist in the story and not being ready for it. Greatly shaken is like feeling like your whole world is falling apart. We can all get shaken, surprising and shocking things happen, how do they effect you? If you believe and trust in God, then the things of llifeg may shale you but you shouldn't become greatly shaken. If you do, consider what foundations your life is built upon. Are you trusting fully in God, or is there something else that you lean and rely on; family, money, job, position, health? These things are like ‘a tottering fence’, it doesn’t take much for them to let you down. Yet God is your rock, salvation and your fortress, so look to and depend upon Him, then you cannot be greatly shaken. A storm may come, the fence will fall, but a rock remains firm. 

‘If riches increase, set not your heart upon them’

When money comes, it is easy to get distracted. Jesus himself tells us, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!" (Mathew 19:24). An increase in money can easily become something that is relied upon. The world functions through money; you need it to buy; food, clothes, pay rent, bills, even fun and entertainment. So it is not easy to stop money having influence over your heart and mind, as you need it to function in this world. Times of blessing and abundance can breed danger for if you end up feeling happy and secure by having wealth, be careful that you haven't taken your mind and eyes off the One who has provided it. Money is fickle and will let you down, even if you feel like you have much. Instead put what you have in right perspective - just consider what you have in comparison to the riches of God! Your plenty is worth less than pennies to God, so look to Him, set your heart upon Him. Money is a resource, not a life source. So use it but do not allow your life to be built around it. God is the source of all things. So base your life, heart and mind on Him for money comes and money goes (just look at your bank account!). Yet God is stable and steadfast. 

'power belongs to God’

Do not waste your time, money or effort trying to gain influence or power, for the source of these things is God. If you want to know what power looks like - look at Him. Consider His power, and the way He uses it. God’s power sustains and loves His creation. Power exists in order to take care of and nurture what God has made - this was God’s mandate for man in the beginning that as humans we should take care of the Earth, this is the responsibility he gave humanity. So whatever power you have, consider, what do you use it for? Are you intentionally using whatever influence and power you have to take responsibility for loving God and His creation? If you are a follower of God, you have responsibility to look after God’s interests. Therefore any power, role or responsibility you are given on Earth, be mindful of how you use it. ‘Power belongs to God’, so ensure that the influence you have is subjected to Him first, and use it as He sees fit. Power is not to be used for selfish gain or vain motives, but all power belongs to God. Therefore if you have been entrusted with some, ensure you honour God with how you use it. For God can give power and He can take it away. It belongs to Him, not you, you haven’t earned it, you don’t deserve it, and you may increase or decrease in it as you go through life for it belongs to God, therefore be a careful guardian of the influence you have. whilst you have it.

In this psalm there are some strong challenges to how you live life, how you use and respond to events, blessings, power and authority. Is all of it submitted to God? Do you, like David, trust in God alone?

Careless talk costs lives

 Psalm 52:1–9 (ESV):  

1  Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? 

The steadfast love of God endures all the day. 

2  Your tongue plots destruction, 

like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. 

3  You love evil more than good, 

and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah 

4  You love all words that devour, 

O deceitful tongue. 

5  But God will break you down forever; 

he will snatch and tear you from your tent; 

he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah 

6  The righteous shall see and fear, 

and shall laugh at him, saying, 

7  “See the man who would not make 

God his refuge, 

but trusted in the abundance of his riches 

and sought refuge in his own destruction!” 

8  But I am like a green olive tree 

in the house of God. 

I trust in the steadfast love of God 

forever and ever. 

9  I will thank you forever, 

because you have done it. 

I will wait for your name, for it is good, 

in the presence of the godly. 

Do you feel sorry for the man that is spoken of as a devouring tongue? 

It is not a pleasant metaphor - to be compared to a tongue, particularly one which is deceitful, lying and destructive. Throughout scripture we are warned about the power and difficulty of taming the tongue. You can get caught up with ideas and words and end up saying things you do not mean, creating trouble you never intended when you do not take words seriously, or are negligent in controlling what you say. Words have power (see Proverbs 18:21). I am sure that you have been both inspired and hurt by others’ words. I am also sure that you also have inspired and hurt others in the way you have spoken. 

This psalm serves as a great reminder of the power of words and that you and I can get carried away by them. They can form your life and that of others. Words have power to build or destroy, they can effect a reputation and impact relationships. Words have power, therefore be careful how you use them. 

Doeg, the person referred to as the ‘tongue’ was not wise in how he handled the information and words that he had. Maybe he did not consider the full ramification of the words he spoke as he told Saul about David’s whereabouts and the help David and his men had received. Through sharing this information Doeg caused the deaths of many - he murdered the priest Ahimelech then slaughtered his family, 85 priests and the entire city where they lived. The situation snowballed because Doeg was not considered in what he said or to whom he said it. As a result of sharing information with Saul Doeg became a mass murderer, and now has a reputation of being a deceitful, lying, destructive tongue. 

We do not know what the man was like before. He may have been a faithful, valiant warrior, a strong father and a loving friend, but all we know is of who he became because of what he communicated in this situation. We see a the murderous, deceitful, selfish man. There is nothing good that we see in Doeg's reputation due to what he said and then what he did. From his report to Saul his life descended into further destruction. I wonder if he considered the ramifications of sharing the news of David' whereabouts. 

Do not let your life become a result of the effects of the unwise things you say. It is easy to get excited when speaking and get carried away by what you say until you say too much or something hurtful. Words can cause destruction and chaos, but can equally bring comfort and joy.  It is your responsibility how you use them and with what intent, as once spoken the words cannot be erased from those who hear them. You can bring about a clever little quip, a little exaggeration, hoping for a laugh or to impress, but where does that end up? How about promising with good intention, but not delivering? Even trying to relate to someone can end up with over sharing information and can be damaging. Maybe for Doeg it started because he wanted to impress Saul or get noticed amongst the many soldiers, advisers and leaders that surrounded the king, and so with no other thought than ambition told him this news. Yet much pain, suffering and death ensued from Doeg’s report. 

During the Second World War there was a campaign that warned, ‘careless talk costs lives’, we can see from this account of Doeg how true that is. Words are powerful, they can build up or destroy, they can breathe life into situations or death, so be mindful how you use them. Be considered in how you speak and what you say. Do not be carefree and careless; your reputation and the wellbeing of others depends upon the words of your mouth. 

David, on the other hand, considers the way he communicates. In this psalm he is not ranting to his friends, or anyone else, but he is bringing his thoughts to God. He knows the power of waiting on God and depending on Him to make right the situation. He sees the sin and deceit, but he does not desire to have an argument or battle with Doeg. He is assured that God has seen what has occurred and is equally assured that, in time, God will deal with it. David is content to wait for the actions of God rather than pursue his own vengeance. David reminds himself that the sinful who purposefully act against God and speak against His people are not going to reign in life for long. One day, and not too far off, their plans will cease to succeed as God has a plan for His glory to be displayed. Those, like Doeg, who,‘would not make God his refuge’ and who ‘sought refuge in destruction’ will end up being broken, uprooted, and a source of laughter rather than fear. One day this power, respect and authority will be destroyed as they have no protection other than the destruction they have caused. Whereas those who continue to honour, obey and love God can ‘trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever’. God’s love, character, goodness and longevity will never run out, it is available all day, every day, so rest and remain secure in that knowledge. In time, David was vindicated, he became king and ruled the nation of Israel well. This situation with Doeg just became a small part of the story of his life before that. I imagine that when David looked back at his life this instance was not one that featured largely in his memory. The same is true for you. The pain of today will not last for long. When people speak against you, their power and influence may last for a time but it cannot effect your identity or the promises of God in your life. Instead of holding concern for those things, bring them to God and allow Him to deal with it, and carry on living the life God has given you. One day, those who speak destruction over you will themselves be destroyed. Instead, you need to, 'trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever'.

How you live matters

 Psalm 49:1–20 (ESV):  

1  Hear this, all peoples! 

Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 

2  both low and high, 

rich and poor together! 

3  My mouth shall speak wisdom; 

the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 

4  I will incline my ear to a proverb; 

I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 

5  Why should I fear in times of trouble, 

when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, 

6  those who trust in their wealth 

and boast of the abundance of their riches? 

7  Truly no man can ransom another, 

or give to God the price of his life, 

8  for the ransom of their life is costly 

and can never suffice, 

9  that he should live on forever 

and never see the pit. 

10  For he sees that even the wise die; 

the fool and the stupid alike must perish 

and leave their wealth to others. 

11  Their graves are their homes forever, 

their dwelling places to all generations, 

though they called lands by their own names. 

12  Man in his pomp will not remain; 

he is like the beasts that perish. 

13  This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; 

yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah 

14  Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; 

death shall be their shepherd, 

and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. 

Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. 

15  But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, 

for he will receive me. Selah 

16  Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, 

when the glory of his house increases. 

17  For when he dies he will carry nothing away; 

his glory will not go down after him. 

18  For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed 

—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— 

19  his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, 

who will never again see light. 

20  Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. 

This psalm is a call for people to listen and learn, to consider life and death and what they are living for. I have considered this psalm and written it in my own words, hopefully this will help convey the meaning and give you insight as you read it:

Listen up because I am going to tell you some important and intelligent things. I am willing to listen and learn, considering what I hear and I want to share with you what I know.

Why should I be scared when trouble comes? When people lie, cheat and do wrong things? Or even worry about those who have more than I do, as they trust in material things? Nobody can really buy off another person, or pay off their debt of sin with money. No-one can pay God the debt they owe for their life. No matter how much wealth people may have or what they generously give, it will never be enough to make up for all they have done wrong. Sin has a hefty price that no-one can pay. There is no way anyone can buy their way out of trouble, out of hell (‘the pit’) and into heaven. It is impossible.

Even those with lots of money and material things see other people die without enjoying their riches. Whatever they seemed to have on Earth is quickly taken by others. It doesn’t matter if you are wise or foolish - everyone dies - and their things get left to other people. Whatever is accumulated in life doesn’t remain in your hands for long, yet death outlasts life! You have an eternity where you will not be on this Earth. This is true for every generation. It doesn’t matter if buildings, places or stars are named after you, you still die - Just like all the other animals. 

As for those silly people who go about falsely happy and confident, listening to the flatteries of those that approve of their lifestyle - They are like sheep appointed for the butcher! They are destined for death. Everlasting death. The land of doom and deep darkness is all that is awaiting them at the end of their earthly existence. In the end, it will be those who have lived good, godly, honest lives that will be in authority over them. As God will take care of and receive His people. He saves them from eternal doom and darkness. 

Therefore do not be frightened of those with riches or power, or of those who have many material goods and authority, for what do they take with them when they die? Their authority, riches and power don’t last long and are of no use to them once life is finished. They may consider how wealthy, happy and flourishing they are whilst they are alive, and others may admire and tell them how great they are, yet their soul will not see light after death. Once no longer living on Earth the riches and material things have no importance or value. It is the soul that lives on - where shall it go - to God or to ‘the pit’? So, do not act like one that has not been informed or who is unaware and silly, but take note and understand that we all die - what are you doing to prepare for that?

Hopefully. that re-write shows the powerful persuasion of this psalm. Those that wrote it recognised the importance of taking time to consider life and death and they wanted others to do the same. They remind us that life is short and death is long, so your priorities in life should reflect that reality. Your major investments should not be in the kingdom of Earth, but for the life that follows as that is more long-lasting and significant. You have an eternal future, are you preparing for it? Or are you busy accumulating experiences, wealth or relationships on Earth? There is nothing wrong with having and enjoying these things, but if it is all that you are focussed on and aim for, then when your life ends there’s not going to be much to take with you. There is not a problem with these things in themselves, but the way in which you view things is important. How you live matters. Your attitude, behaviour, values and beliefs have long-term effects. It impacts your experiences now, and after you breathe your last breath. Your values, beliefs and behaviour in this life determine your destination after death. There is more meaning to life than your wallet, relationships and reputation. Are you living with that mindset?

There needs to be an eternal edge to how you live. What you believe and live for has eternal impact. If you live now without any consideration for others or God then your eternal reality will be doom and darkness without God. 

As well as considering your enjoyment and achievements in life, you know one day your life will end. what are you going to be leaving when your numbered days are up? Is it going to be a fortune, reputation, your name plastered around different areas - things that will have no value or use to you when you’re not around any more and in reality, things that have little impact on those left behind. The money and memories may last a few years but they fade in time. Is it not worth investing your time, energy, effort and finance into something that will have eternal benefit to you and to others? 

In order to do that, you need a mindset that is not bound by life, but one that also considers death. You require an attitude that has an eternal mindset. A mindset that acknowledges the truth that life exists beyond your time on Earth. Do not be one of those that live for the here and now and for the speculative future they hope to enjoy on Earth - it is not guaranteed. Yet death is! Life is more than your existence on Earth. One day you will breathe your last. Yet did you know that life can be enjoyed after that? If you live your life following, believing, trusting and obeying God on Earth, then you will have an eternity to enjoy beyond the grave. 

The promise for this psalmist is that, ‘God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me’. For the one that considers and lives for God now this is a certainty. So consider today the kind of life you are living. God promises that you can be received by Him if you live this earthly life with Him and He will help you prepare for the life to come. If you are living with God now, then you’ll be choosing to live with God in the eternity that follows. You will avoid ’the pit’, darkness and eternal doom. How you live now matters. This psalm implores you to consider what you are doing with your life. As how you live now influences your final destination after death. So do not live , ‘in foolish confidence’ because now you know, you have been told. Instead you can live with God and be received by Him. What are you going to choose? 

What do you have hope and security in?

 What do you have hope and security in? 

Whatever it is that you trust or hope in, whether it be money, job, intellect, family, nature or health, at some point these things are going to let you down. One day there may be; a financial crisis, business may go bust, people will fail you, a natural disaster or illness will occur that destabilises your hope and security because they were never intended to give you the hope and security you need. The things of life that can be gained and enjoyed cannot be depended upon to stand the test of time and cannot be guaranteed and they do not last forever. They can be enjoyed and appreciated, but if they are aspects of life that you have security and hope in they are going to fail you as they cannot the tests and trials that life brings. It does not matter how much money you have if you get an incurable disease, and it does not matter how healthy you are if an earthquake destroys your town. Yet we can all rely on these things to help us and provide stability to life as they are tangible and seem attainable. It is a relief to have enough, an encouragement to have a prospering business and a happy family, and it is good to appreciate and value such things. Yet they do not make good sources of hope or security and they are certainly not very good gods. These aspects of our lifestyle were never meant to be all that your life is about. They should not be your only endeavour or end goal, and you need to be mindful how much of your time, talent and treasure is absorbed by such things so that they do not dominate your life. As when these aspirations fail you, or you fail to gain them, then what? Does your whole world crumble? Do you question your sense of self, your worth and purpose? If so, then these enjoyable elements of life have become far too important to you. One day beauty, money, health, family and friends will wane, and what will your hope and security be in then? Life does not need to depend on such fragile and temporal things. There is something else you can trust in that will never let you down. There is someone that will never fail you, and will always be there, that will give you eternal purpose and security that is not based on any of these fallible things - Almighty God. The creator and sustainer of the universe is willing and able to become your hope and security. The One who created all of the things you desire in life and outlives them all can provide you with; security, hope, refuge, assurance, confidence and belonging - forever.  Are you putting all of your hope and security in Him?

Psalm 46:1–11 (ESV):  

1  God is our refuge and strength, 

a very present help in trouble. 

2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, 

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 

3  though its waters roar and foam, 

though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 

4  There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 

the holy habitation of the Most High. 

5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; 

God will help her when morning dawns. 

6  The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; 

he utters his voice, the earth melts. 

7  The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

8  Come, behold the works of the Lord, 

how he has brought desolations on the earth. 

9  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 

he burns the chariots with fire. 

10  “Be still, and know that I am God. 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth!” 

11  The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

God can fulfil any need or desire that you have. He can conquer any battle you face. He has power over; nature, nations and cities! He is strong and capable to completely shatter and to build. God can bring you peace when ‘the mountains tremble’, He can be your refuge when ‘the nations rage’. Are you depending on Him? Is He your hope and security?

For ‘he utters his voice, the earth melts.’! What a powerful and beautiful truth - God just speaks and the earth can melt! Just as His voice brought light and life to creation, He can also speak to melt things away. This is true on a universal scale as well as an individual one. Whatever needs to cease or start in your life, God can bring it into being. He has the capability and the power to do it. Nothing is too small or too big for God - remember He reigns over nature, cities and the universe! So, what are you asking Him to challenge and change? 

Whatever you have had hope and security in before, can it even compare with this?!

Reading through this psalm reveals something of the power and nature of God. This is the God who also wants to be your Father and friend. You can have this Almighty and powerful God impacting your life, giving you permanence and purpose. You can know His strength and great love for you when you choose to follow Him and put your hope and security in Him. You can have; refuge, strength, confidence, assurance, peace, security, promises, a home, victory and His presence for all eternity if you choose to live a life knowing and honouring God. You can know and grow relationship with the One whose words cease and start things, with the One who is stable through every natural occurrence, who brings wars into insignificance and can melt the earth away. 

Can you really afford to live without Him? 

Other things in life that seek your time and attention cannot promise you all of this! They are nice to have and should be appreciated if you have them, but they will eventually let you down, disappoint and disillusion you. So why live your life relentlessly pursuing temporal matters that will falter and fail you, why live life for less when you can have the God of the universe as your hope and security?

Why not do as the psalmist tells us in verse 10; ‘Be still, and know that I am God’. That is a command to stop! Stop doing what you are doing, settle yourself down and remind yourself exactly who God is. God is enough, ‘behold the works of the Lord’ and see. He can sort out nature, He can conquer cities, and He can even cause the Earth to melt, so surely He is worth considering and pursuing in your life. Surely, it would be dangerous not to consider Him? So, today, take time to think about what you are chasing after in this life and if it is really worth it. Where is your hope and security? Then ‘Be still’, and consider God. 

What can you rely on and hope in Him for?

What are you ascribing to God?

 Psalm 29:1–11 (ESV):  

1  Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, 

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 

2  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 

worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness. 

3  The voice of the Lord is over the waters; 

the God of glory thunders, 

the Lord, over many waters. 

4  The voice of the Lord is powerful; 

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 

5  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; 

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 

6  He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, 

and Sirion like a young wild ox. 

7  The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 

8  The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; 

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

9  The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth 

and strips the forests bare, 

and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 

10  The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; 

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 

11  May the Lord give strength to his people! 

May the Lord bless his people with peace! 

This psalm is full of repetition, so there are several things that are emphasised. Firstly, of utmost importance is the fact that this poem is about ‘the Lord’. David repeats this 18 times throughout this psalm, so there is no excuse to not know whom it is about! David is calling all heaven and Earth to acknowledge the goodness, beauty, Lordship and strength of God and praise Him because of who He is. He calls us to ‘Ascribe to the Lord’ glory and strength. Ascribe is not a word we commonly use, but it means to assign or credit. So David is urging that God should be acknowledged with honour and given credit for His power. David calls upon not only humans to recognise this, but also the heavenly beings. So great is God’s majesty and strength, that all of creation should be called to marvel at it. From the Heavens to the Earth and everything in-between, God deserves credit and respect. 

God displays this glory and strength that he should be ascribed  simply through His voice! ‘The voice of the Lord’ is enough for God to show His might and majesty - isn’t that incredible?! This psalm shows that through His voice God commands; water, thunder, flames, shaking, cities, the environment and birth. God’s voice can break, strip and build things. Just by His word, God can do all this - is that not terrifying and awesome at the same time? What God speaks happens. He has authority, power and control over every situation and He can and does speak through them. What do you hear Him saying in the stillness, and in the storm? Are you listening out for ‘The voice of the Lord’ in your circumstances and through the nature and environment around you? The voice of the Lord can be heard in heaven and on Earth in the day to day - are you listening out for it? 

Not only should God be worshipped for His glory, strength and the beauty and power of His voice, but also because, ‘The Lord sits enthroned’. God remains seated in authority and power and never takes His eye off the ball. He is the one who speaks things into being and reigns over all heaven and all Earth, no matter the circumstances. If you are experiencing a storm or the still, God is still in authority and is speaking. He is still in command, He is still King. 

So today;

What are attributes can you ascribe to God?

How can you credit God with the glory and honour He deserves today?

Listen out for God’s voice - what is He saying to you?

Recognise God is still king - how does that give you peace and strength?