Sing, Ascribe and let

 Psalm 96:1–13 (ESV): 

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; 

sing to the Lord, all the earth! 

 2  Sing to the Lord, bless his name; 

tell of his salvation from day to day. 

 3  Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvellous works among all the peoples! 

 4  For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; 

he is to be feared above all gods. 

 5  For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, 

but the Lord made the heavens. 

 6  Splendour and majesty are before him; 

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 

 7  Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, 

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 

 8  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 

bring an offering, and come into his courts! 

 9  Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness; 

tremble before him, all the earth! 

 10  Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! 

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; 

he will judge the peoples with equity.” 

 11  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; 

let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 

 12  let the field exult, and everything in it! 

  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 

 13  before the Lord, for he comes, 

for he comes to judge the earth. 

  He will judge the world in righteousness, 

and the peoples in his faithfulness. 

There seems to be some repetition in this psalm, with the instructions to ‘sing to the Lord’, then ‘ascribe to the Lord ‘and ‘let’. So we will focus on those three elements today as we study this scripture.

- ‘sing to the Lord’; a new song, all the earth, and bless His name. These are the aspects attached to the action of singing. It is a powerful thing to sing about something. Someone has thought about a tune, instruments and the lyrics and put them together to build something memorable and repeatable. Songs can help us recall things and change our mood, therefore is important to consider what you are singing about. The instruction here is to ‘sing to the Lord’, and you can sing to Him about multiple things; the earth, His qualities and salvation. You will never run out of things to sing about if God is your topic. Singing to God is far more powerful than singing about your favourite team or alongside secular music. The instruction in this psalm is to sing something new to God and to bless Him through song, and the whole earth somehow joins in this celebration of who He is. So, whenever you sing, consider who you are singing for and about, does it do good to God’s ears? Songs are an opportunity to declare God's glory, remind people of His marvellous works and to tell of His salvation. Is that what you do when you sing?

- ‘Ascribe to the Lord’ - ascribe means to regard something as being. When the psalmist says to ascribe to God glory and strength, it is not to say that we need to treat God as if He is glorious and strong, for He is. It is us who struggle to comprehend the reality and extent of His glory and strength. Therefore the encouragement is, even if you don’t feel it or fully believe it, practice thinking of God as glorious and strong. Keep telling yourself the truth that He is even when your circumstances, emotions or thoughts tell you something different. Keep applying the truth about God to your heart, mind and spirit, and inspire others to see it too. None of us will ever know on this Earth the extent of God’s glory and strength, so we need to keep reminding ourselves to 'ascribe' these qualities to God. As you choose to see God as glorious and strong, as verses 8 and 9 suggest, it will lead you to worship through generous giving and joy. Plus your eyes will be opened to see something more of how awesome God is.

‘let’ = allow, permit, give freedom to. The verses that repeat the word ‘let’, v 12-13, talk about allowing the different facets of creation express joy. You may wonder how we can do that, for we ourselves are created and have no control over the seas roaring, trees singing or the fields exulting. So, i think there are two messages in this. One is that when we look at the heavens, seas, fields and the trees, do you look at them and feel happy? Do they remind you of the One who made them? When the natural world looks beautiful or sounds terrifying, do you consider how awesome the One who made them is? That is how we can allow nature to declare it’s joy. By choosing to see God in and through it all and declaring His goodness in it. Take time to allow nature to declare God’s vastness, beauty, creativity and power to you. Do you ever do that? Do you just allow the complexity of a tree show you something of God’s ingenuity? Does the power of the waters signify God’s power to you, or what the roar of His voice must be like? I encourage you, take time to consider what God has made. Even just one flower, rock, or blade of grass. These things declare His joy, glory and strength, so take time to listen to what they can reveal of Our God. The other aspect of allowing nature to bring joy is, do you respect and protect the natural world? Doing your bit to tidy up creation, stop pollution, and not cause damage to what God has made allows these things to continue to bring revelation and joy for generations to come. This is how you can permit the skies, earth and seas continue to display God’s beautiful splendour, by ensuring that you do your part to appreciate and protect them. Allow them continue to show others the joy and beauty of God, for they too were created to worship. So let the trees continue singing, fields exulting and seas roaring, and join in with their praise to the Lord.

Forgiveness that never runs out

 Psalm 85:1–13 (ESV):  

1  Lord, you were favourable to your land; 

you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 

 2  You forgave the iniquity of your people; 

you covered all their sin. Selah 

 3  You withdrew all your wrath; 

you turned from your hot anger. 

 4  Restore us again, O God of our salvation, 

and put away your indignation toward us! 

 5  Will you be angry with us forever? 

Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 

 6  Will you not revive us again, 

that your people may rejoice in you? 

 7  Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, 

and grant us your salvation. 

 8  Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, 

for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; 

but let them not turn back to folly. 

 9  Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, 

that glory may dwell in our land. 

 10  Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; 

righteousness and peace kiss each other. 

 11  Faithfulness springs up from the ground, 

and righteousness looks down from the sky. 

 12  Yes, the Lord will give what is good, 

and our land will yield its increase. 

 13  Righteousness will go before him 

and make his footsteps a way. 

God not only provides one off salvation, but also offers forgivness and restoration to those who are His people but have gone astray, been disobedient and sinned. The sons of Korah recognise that God forgives completely. All sin is covered by Him, He leaves none left. Yet, our memories and behaviours do not always reflect this. We can still walk around as sinful people, or wearing the shame of a sinful past. Neither of these are necessary for this is known of God, ‘You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin.’

However, it takes time for you and I to walk free from some things. There are some wrongdoings or habits in our lives which we know God would want us to be rid of, but we have to put in some personal, painful effort to overcome them. It can hurt and be hard work to strive for freedom from sin. I am sure that this is why the psalmists say, ‘Let me hear what God the Lord will speak’. To overcome sin, wrongdoing and bad habits we all need encouragement, comfort, support and strength. Listening to God gives you that. I imagine this phrase was said pleading or in desperation, ‘Let me hear what God the Lord will speak’! When the desires of the flesh seem powerful and the voices of others tempting, ‘Let me hear what God the Lord will speak’! It is easy to hear what we want, what others say and to feel the cravings of the body, they can be consuming. So it is of great importance at those times to seek God’s voice by exercising discipline and taking time to hear Him. You may hear God speak through; recalling scripture, or reading it, praying, worshipping, speaking with a fellow believer or by being still. Just ensure that you position yourself so that you hear God’s voice during the difficulty. 

When you know you need to walk free from something you need God’s support. It takes a lot of strength to break habits, addictions and sin. Yet you are not on your own in this strive for freedom. God wants to to speak to you and encourage you plus He has restored and forgiven you already and He will revive you again. So approach Him about what is going on, ask for His forgiveness and for His strength. Let God speak to you, ‘for he will speak peace to his people’. In the midst of trial and temptation, how much do you need that peace?! The Holy Spirit can provide what you need, you just need to ask God to help you. You cannot break free of these things effectively in your own strength. It is a physical and a spiritual battle so you need God to help you. His is for salvation and restoration and He promises that, ’the Lord will give what is good’. Even if you keep failing in the endeavour for freedom, you can continue to ask God for forgiveness and freedom for He wants good for you, so keep persevering. God’s forgiveness and goodness never run out, even though it might seem like a long, painful journey to freedom. The battle may be long, but how long is it in comparison to God’s salvation and steadfast love that last for eternity?! 

Repentance and forgiveness are free and everlasting, keep reminding yourself of that. The great and marvellous truth is that God, ‘forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. You withdrew all your wrath’. ALL sin, ALL wrath is covered by the blood of Jesus. Past, present, future and repetitive sin are dealt with by the sacrifice of Jesus. You are not good enough or strong enough to get through these things alone, but God is. So trust Him to equip you in overcoming habits, addiction and sin. Let God speak His peace to you, and allow yourself to accept His forgiveness and restoration.

As this psalm acknowledges, God has dealt with sin once and for all, forever. I know that we all get caught in sin, addictions and unhelpful and unholy habits. This is an age old problem, the Israelites in the Old Testament recognised it, and Paul puts it so well in the New Testament, ‘I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 1 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.’ (Romans 7:19-19) Paul goes onto say that with our minds we can know the law of God and desire to follow it, but our bodies have sinful desires that we are battling against. He cries out, ‘Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!’ It is a real battle within yourself that you need to keep on fighting. People throughout time have had the same difficulties. So instead of concerning yourself with your wretchedness, think about Jesus, the peace and goodness of God, and imagine the glory and the relief when one day this battle is ended as you’ve become free! Paul’s advice is, ‘to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:6). This is not to say you should deny or ignore the fact that what you are doing is wrong - of course you should, you should repent and thank God for forgiveness and the strength to continue the battle. What Paul is saying though, is that you should spend less time worrying or ashamed about what you are doing wrong, and spend more time thinking about God - set your mind right. Think about what the Spirit of God has already changed within you, read the Word to see what else He can do. Put yourself in situations where you can, ‘hear what God the Lord will speak’ for ‘surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him’. Therefore when facing a stronghold in your life, grow in your understanding of the greatness of God, spend more time thinking about Him and His greatness than you do about the hardship. Pay attention to and focus on the goodness and grace of God, ‘set your mind’. You get to choose what you think about, so are you consumed with thoughts about sin, or thoughts about the enormity, love, grace, joy and forgiveness of God? 

Revenge

Psalm 70:1–5 (ESV):  

1  Make haste, O God, to deliver me! 

O Lord, make haste to help me! 

2  Let them be put to shame and confusion 

who seek my life! 

Let them be turned back and brought to dishonour 

who delight in my hurt! 

3  Let them turn back because of their shame 

who say, “Aha, Aha!” 

4  May all who seek you 

rejoice and be glad in you! 

May those who love your salvation 

say evermore, “God is great!” 

5  But I am poor and needy; 

hasten to me, O God! 

You are my help and my deliverer; 

O Lord, do not delay! 

Have you ever sought revenge?

I bet, like most of us you have. David does, in this psalm he is saying that he wants those who hurt him to be dishonoured, those who want him dead to be confused and ashamed, and those who mock him to be turned away in shame. He wants those who have troubled him to be hurt, to regret the way they have treated him. Yet he is not seeking revenge from his own hands. He asks God to do it. That takes a great deal of strength - to give the plotting, power and action of revenge over to someone else. It means you have to let go of the deep anger within and allow someone else to do what is fitting. Trusting them to act appropriately and to get the right result. Can you imagine how hard that must have been? 

Some of us automatically deal out revenge, or ‘payback’ as my kids call it, without even thinking about it. It is accepted and expected from the culture we are in. If someone hurts you - you get them back. What David did was very cross-cultural, but very much kingdom culture. He trusted God not only with his circumstances but to sort out those who were his enemies too, to give them what they needed and deserved.

I am sure you can relate to feeling hurt, annoyed, or even infuriated when people come against you. Especially when the hurt is unfair and unjustified. David felt like that, it is natural - everyone hates injustice when it is experienced in their life. God hates it too, so it is not a bad thing to feel like that. Yet allowing those emotions to control what you do next is a problem and can get you into trouble. I am sure David had learnt that from the experiences of his life, so in this situation he does not allow his feelings result in action from his own hands. This does not mean that he was inactive - he tells God about it and restrains himself as he bravely hands over his situation and emotions to God so that He can sort out the problem people. 

David does not follow the way of the World and seek his own revenge, but he considers the way of God instead and holds himself back. He restrains his power and tells God what he wants to happen then calls upon God to do something about it. This is displaying kingdom culture and wisdom. It is not easy, but it is the better way. It is not that he wasn't really bothered by what happened - David is passionately ranting at God - look at all the exclamation marks and how many times he asks God to hurry up! He is; frustrated, hurt and furiously angry about these people that are trying to get away with murderous intent. However David does not act in his own power, although he could. He is a king and successful warrior, so he could powerfully deal out revenge. However David knows a better and more successful way and that is to ask God to hurry up and sort them out! 

What strength David shows in his anger to demonstrate trust, restraint, patience and wisdom. For who is best equipped to sort out an injustice and to right a wrong? Surely one who has never committed a wrong and who can be temperate in their response, plus has all resources and strength in their hands. When we deal out revenge or punishment particularly when riled up, angry and agitated, it rarely goes well does it? Often we end up overreacting and make matters worse for ourselves as well as others. People can end up injured and imprisoned because they have sought revenge by their own hands. Therefore, David wisely allows his knowledge of who God is rule his ways and hands over these people into His hands to do what is fitting. Handing over situations, people and emotions to God when you’re frustrated and angry is a powerful and wise move. For a start, consider how much more God can do than you! He has all the resources, experience, knowledge and strength to sort these people out properly. He knows what they need. Plus, if you are part of His family, and have done nothing wrong, do you not think that your loving Father is going to fight on behalf of His kid? 

David knows that God is His Heavenly Father, yet he is fed up of being mocked and ridiculed, hunted down and slandered, so he has a good rant to God about it, asking Him to sort it out. When a child has a rough day, do they not go to their parents and complain about it? Seeking solace, guidance and a solution. If you are a parent, and hear that your child has been mistreated by someone else, what would you do? I am sure you would be more than willing to sort out an injustice out for them! Even the mildest parent can turn into a lion when their child is harmed. So, just as a child trusts their parent to help them when things get tough, you can trust your Heavenly Father to protect and fight for you when you are unfairly treated, threatened or harmed. You do not need to fight your own battles, and it is best if you don’t. You have an Almighty, everlasting, ever-loving Father who is more than willing and capable of bringing judgement and justice, So do not be afraid to call out to Him to be, ‘my help and deliverer’ and to ‘put to shame and confusion’ those who persecute you.

Praise is due

 Psalm 65:1–13 (ESV):  

1  Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, 

and to you shall vows be performed. 

2  O you who hear prayer, 

to you shall all flesh come. 

3  When iniquities prevail against me, 

you atone for our transgressions. 

4  Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, 

to dwell in your courts! 

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, 

the holiness of your temple! 

5  By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, 

O God of our salvation, 

the hope of all the ends of the earth 

and of the farthest seas; 

6  the one who by his strength established the mountains, 

being girded with might; 

7  who stills the roaring of the seas, 

the roaring of their waves, 

the tumult of the peoples, 

8  so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. 

You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. 

9  You visit the earth and water it; 

you greatly enrich it; 

the river of God is full of water; 

you provide their grain, 

for so you have prepared it. 

10  You water its furrows abundantly, 

settling its ridges, 

softening it with showers, 

and blessing its growth. 

11  You crown the year with your bounty; 

your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. 

12  The pastures of the wilderness overflow, 

the hills gird themselves with joy, 

13  the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, 

the valleys deck themselves with grain, 

they shout and sing together for joy. 

What do you praise and admire in life?

This psalm is full of the glory of nature, the peace that doesn’t make sense, provision, beauty, the joy of day and night, satisfaction, goodness and strength. The writer, David, attributes all these everyday things that we can admire and appreciate, to God. Every day each person can find things they appreciate and value, yet many do not recognise that the source of these marvellous things is God. If you think the mountains or trees are wonderful, the sunset and flocks of sheep beautiful, then consider how awesome the One who created and sustains those things is. 

What do you praise and admire - the creator or the created? 

David starts this psalm saying that to God ‘praise is due’. Nothing else on Earth should inspire praise like God does, but do you direct praise to Him, or do other things get your words of worth and wonder? It is easy to admire the fragrance and beauty of a flower, and wonder how it was put together and is held in place as it is both delicate, yet strong. Does your admiration stop there, or does your joy extend to give praise where it is due - to God? He is the one that deserves it. The flower did nothing to be there, nor did the sheep, mountains or trees, or even us as human beings. but there One who made and provides everything! To Him alone, praise is due. So, how do you praise, worship or honour such a God? Praise comes in different forms; thanksgiving, admiration, singing, dancing, music, prayer, and keeping your promises. Praise can be shown through living a noble, godly and grateful life, where you keep your word as well as through a joyful outpouring of lyrics. Praise is not just expressed through a verbal outpouring, but also a quiet spirit and a determination to be a worshipper through living life in a way that honours God no matter where you are or who you are with. Your behaviour, speech, attitude and activities can give God praise, and show the extent of your gratitude to Him, or not. So, are you giving God praise through your promises, lifestyle, words and actions?

God deserves to be praised and worshipped. You can see His goodness, power and love in all of the marvellous things He has made - these in themselves inspire awe, yet God hasn’t stopped there in His wonderful deeds. For this Almighty, majestic, powerful and delightful God, takes time to listen and speak to you! This busy, prevalent, masterful, creative, Lord and King deigns to listen to and answer you (v5). Don’t you think that is incredible?! When you speak with God, He responds. For God answers with, ‘awesome deeds’ and ‘righteousness’. How wonderful is that?! 

Yet, how often do you miss out on God responding? 

When you talk to God, particularly when you are asking something, what kind of response do you expect? It is good to consider this as you can miss His answer if you are not alert. God responds to you, He is not ignorant or too busy to reply, yet He answers in righteousness and awesome deeds - are you looking out for these things? God does not always do what you expect or what you want - sometimes you may not even like His answer. God sees beyond what you seek Him for and will do what is right no matter how you pray (He answers in righteousness remember?). Bear in mind that God may not always agree with you on the best course of action, so are you willing to see things God’s way instead of insisting on your own? For God’s response, if you are willing to wait for it, will be awesome and righteous (v5)! 

David is a great example for how to talk to God, and for waiting for God to respond. He got it right sometimes, and sometimes he got it wrong, just like the rest of us. He prayed about what was concerning him and He extolled the character of God whilst doing so. he always honoured God whether he understood what was going on or not, and he always had hope beyond his circumstances. As David set his mind to worship God even in trouble, difficulty, pain and unanswered prayer. Sometimes your answers, or what you need, can come by simply remembering the beauty of who God is. He has established mountains, He stills seas and calms the chaos inside of people, He has created morning and evening and keeps it all going, He waters the Earth and provides food and beauty and strength through it (v5 - 13). Just pondering about these things and imagining the strength, love, security and power that this takes can put your life and the issues you face into perspective. Surely, following a God like that is worth waiting for and depending upon. 

Therefore, today consider; how do you praise God? Do you praise God in your lifestyle and choices? Do you wait and listen for God’s response? Are you holding on for God's awesome deeds and righteousness, and watching out for them? 

God is ‘the hope of all the ends of the earth’ and to Him, 'praise is due'

Whose strength are you living in?

 Psalm 59:1–17 (ESV):  

1  Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; 

protect me from those who rise up against me; 

2  deliver me from those who work evil, 

and save me from bloodthirsty men. 

3  For behold, they lie in wait for my life; 

fierce men stir up strife against me. 

For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, 

4  for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. 

Awake, come to meet me, and see! 

5  You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. 

Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; 

spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah 

6  Each evening they come back, 

howling like dogs 

and prowling about the city. 

7  There they are, bellowing with their mouths 

with swords in their lips— 

for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” 

8  But you, O Lord, laugh at them; 

you hold all the nations in derision. 

9  O my Strength, I will watch for you, 

for you, O God, are my fortress. 

10  My God in his steadfast love will meet me; 

God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. 

11  Kill them not, lest my people forget; 

make them totter by your power and bring them down, 

O Lord, our shield! 

12  For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, 

let them be trapped in their pride. 

For the cursing and lies that they utter, 

13  consume them in wrath; 

consume them till they are no more, 

that they may know that God rules over Jacob 

to the ends of the earth. Selah 

14  Each evening they come back, 

howling like dogs 

and prowling about the city. 

15  They wander about for food 

and growl if they do not get their fill. 

16  But I will sing of your strength; 

I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. 

For you have been to me a fortress 

and a refuge in the day of my distress. 

17  O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, 

for you, O God, are my fortress, 

the God who shows me steadfast love. 

David acknowledges in this psalm that he has no power to protect himself or his family as he is surrounded by the enemy. They are like a pack of howling dogs surrounding him. Wherever he is, there they are lying in wait for him evening after evening. What chance does a lone man have against a pack of ’bellowing’ beasts that prowl around? How terrifying it must be to feel in such a position, to be surrounded by those desiring your demise with no chance of escape. To hear those howls and packs in the night, not knowing how near or far away they are, but hearing the bloodthirsty cries threatening death. What would you do; give up, try to hide, fight back, run away?

For David, this is happening night after night, so he cannot hide. The howling threats are heard constantly, yet why have these threats not been carried out? David has been in this situation for some time so he has had a chance to observe what is happening. He hasn’t reacted in a panic-stricken way, he hasn't run away, hidden or fought back, but has noticed what is happening and talks to God about it. He has looked on for long enough to realise that these people’s bark is worse than their bite. They are making a lot of threatening noise ‘bellowing’ about David’s demise in order to terrify, but they are not getting close enough to actually harm him. Therefore David does not take their bellows or howling seriously. In fact, he sees the funny side - what harm are the hungry dogs even if they growl and howl when they can’t get to him?! What problems are they really causing? They are just winding themselves up, getting hungrier, more frustrated and making a noise! David may be able to hear them and see their threatening behaviour, but he knows that he is safe. Why? 

Through this situation, no matter how natural it is to feel unsafe in the city at night with howling noises around him, David has seen that night after night he has been protected. He has encountered threats but come to no harm. He has been able to return home to sleep in safety, not because he has bodyguards but because God is his ‘fortress’. David has seen how God has been protecting him. Therefore he does not need to take the words, shouts or threats seriously because God is his strength and fortress. David is so confident, assured and safe that he knows that God is laughing at these enemies! (v8). 

When you feel attacked and surrounded by people wanting to bring you down, what is your response? Do you become terrified by their howling and their threatening behaviour? Or do you take time to consider, what power do they really have? People may say horrible things, restrict your privacy or  watch your movements, but what can they actually do to you? They may come against you and try to make life difficult for you, but they cannot ultimately change your life unless you let them. For, if you are one of God’s people, He is your strength and fortress, and He laughs at them, so you can too!

So, consider how you will handle the next situation where you feel got at, let down, surrounded and accused. Where is your hope and strength going to come from? Are you going to battle alone, hide in fear, run away or look to God as David did, and depend on Him to deliver you from the noisy dogs?

David, even though he was a warrior, a slayer of giants and a leader of an army, he had no power to fight these enemies.This is why David calls out to God, ‘O my Strength’. David acknowledges that all the strength, power and victories he has been through have come from God. David has no power or might in himself, it is God who has been the source of his strength. God defeated Goliath, the Philistines and countless other raiders and enemies, God just allowed David to be a part of it, and David allowed God to use him. So, in this current situation where David is surrounded and harassed, he knows God will once again be his strength and fortress. For he realises that the things he had previously overcome were because of God being his strength, and God hasn’t changed, just the situation has. God’s power never fails, never sleeps and never runs out. Your strength and power will though. 

So, what do you do when life gets difficult? Do you try to power through? Or do you involve God who is able to be your strength just as He was David’s? You don’t need to battle alone. The howling dogs are scary when you’re out at night by yourself. So don't try to deal with them by yourself, relying in your own strength. Instead of feeling harassed, scared and limited you can rest in the security of knowing God’s refuge and strength. Why rely on your own capabilities when you can have a strength that is so much more dependable and steadfast? A strength that has; defeated nations, created and sustained the world and brought salvation to all mankind. Surely this kind of strength can help in whatever situation you face!

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?

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’.

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?

Beating pride

 Psalm 30:1–12 (ESV):  

1  I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up 

and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 

2  O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, 

and you have healed me. 

3  O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; 

you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 

4  Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, 

and give thanks to his holy name. 

5  For his anger is but for a moment, 

and his favour is for a lifetime. 

Weeping may tarry for the night, 

but joy comes with the morning. 

6  As for me, I said in my prosperity, 

“I shall never be moved.” 

7  By your favour, O Lord, 

you made my mountain stand strong; 

you hid your face; 

I was dismayed. 

8  To you, O Lord, I cry, 

and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 

9  “What profit is there in my death, 

if I go down to the pit? 

Will the dust praise you? 

Will it tell of your faithfulness? 

10  Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! 

O Lord, be my helper!” 

11  You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; 

you have loosed my sackcloth 

and clothed me with gladness, 

12  that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. 

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! 

This psalm of David’s tells of a time of great restoration. He was very unwell at one point of his life, so much so that people were preparing for his death. He himself thought he was going to die and his enemies were enjoying watching his demise. Yet, God brought David back from the brink of life to be restored, healed and forgiven. 

David acknowledges that the reason God brought him so low was because he had become too self and worldly-reliant. He had thought, “I shall never be moved” - nothing can touch me, I am doing well, life is good and nothing can change that. He had begun to feel proud of his achievements and wealth and felt secure in those things. Each of us can be guilty of the same thing, can't we? Being satisfied in oneself and your accomplishments without recognising that it is all due to God’s favour, is pride. Pride is dangerous as you can become self-reliant, over-confident and selfish. A proud person is not good in community and takes glory and honour away from God. All of us have to overcome pride, no-one is immune to it. Maybe it’s pride in; achievements, monetary gain, wisdom, family, heritage or renown. Whatever you have the propensity to be proud in - WATCH OUT! Proverbs rightly says that pride comes before a fall. David’s story in this psalm is proof of that, and I am sure you can recount stories of others who took their eyes off of God, became confident in other things and have paid a hefty price for it. 

Honour and blessings are great and can come from other places than God. When this happens this can cause a mindset of self-sufficiency and self-worth to build that takes the focus off of God and what He has done. When this happens people fall disgracefully. David found that as he prospered his mindset shifted from one of total dependence and reliance on God to feeling like he could rely upon the power, responsibility, influence and wealth that he had built. He came to trust in himself, his role, and his stuff. So a time of terrible, degrading illness came to remind him who really was in charge. 

 By your favour, O Lord, 

you made my mountain stand strong; 

you hid your face; 

I was dismayed. 

In order for David to realise that God was the source of all he had, and who really is worthy of glory, honour and trust, God, 'hid' His face. God turned away. Why? Because how can you teach, influence or even bless someone that has become proud? It can feel like hitting your head against a brick wall. Sometimes the best help you can give is give them space so that they realise absence feels like. That's what God did with David, and what He may do to you if you get caught in the same spiral. God wants to give you favour, but if you deny Him and start to believe in your own power, authority and gifting how can He? You need to remember who is the one who has built these things into your life and who should be honoured and thanked for them. 

Thankfully, you can always repent and turn back to God when you realise that you've become trapped in self-sufficiency and self-worth, where pride has taken control. David repented and was miraculously restored both physically and spiritually as, ‘his anger is but for a moment, and his favour is for a lifetime.’ When you acknowledge that you have fallen into the sin of pride, and want to be free of it, you can be forgiven and restored. God only remains angry for a little while, but His favour and blessing can last the rest of your life! You just need to turn back to Him, acknowledge where you've gone wrong and accept His forgiveness. It doesn't even matter if you keep getting the same thing wrong, and it seems to take you a while to learn often making the same mistakes. God does not remain angry with a repentant heart. His desire is to have a relationship with you, to be your father and pour out his lavish love and gifts upon you so that you can enjoy them and use them to glorify Him. So at your next success, honour, encouragement, promotion and blessing remember to be grateful to God. Remember who has helped you get there and give honour to God for it. This will save you from pride and ensure that you're living in His favour for the rest of your lifetime!

Battles and Victories

Psalms 20 and 21 are linked in their structure and content, with psalm 20 being a call for God’s help for the king, and psalm 21 a response of gratitude for the victory God has granted him. Both psalms have similar styles and even phrases, but the intent of each is different. Psalm 20 was a song prayed over the king by the nation asking God to provide and succeed on his behalf, and psalm 21 although also a national response, is one of gratitude and worship to God. Having these psalms back to back highlights their similarities and the importance of prayer, both personal and corporate, whatever the circumstances. One was written for a time of preparation for difficulty and battle, and the next for the time of success that followed. It shows that it is important to pray both when things are tough, and times of success as it reminds us who really is in charge. It is also important to encourage one another in prayer and worship as these psalms inspire the king and the nation with the goodness and trustworthiness of God.

Psalm 21:1–13 (ESV):  

1  O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices, 

and in your salvation how greatly he exults! 

2  You have given him his heart’s desire 

and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 

3  For you meet him with rich blessings; 

you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. 

4  He asked life of you; you gave it to him, 

length of days forever and ever. 

5  His glory is great through your salvation; 

splendour and majesty you bestow on him. 

6  For you make him most blessed forever; 

you make him glad with the joy of your presence. 

7  For the king trusts in the Lord, 

and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. 

8  Your hand will find out all your enemies; 

your right hand will find out those who hate you. 

9  You will make them as a blazing oven 

when you appear. 

The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, 

and fire will consume them. 

10  You will destroy their descendants from the earth, 

and their offspring from among the children of man. 

11  Though they plan evil against you, 

though they devise mischief, they will not succeed. 

12  For you will put them to flight; 

you will aim at their faces with your bows. 

13  Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! 

We will sing and praise your power. 

David is likely to be the king referred to in this psalm. If it is him, we know was not a private individual as he was open and honest about his emotions - we see this through the psalms and through the recorded history of his life in the Bible. He exuberantly praises God without hindrance, he mourns and implores God to intervene in prayer and fasting - he is a passionate man who is not afraid to express his emotions or call upon God. So it is no surprise that this psalm sung by the nation tells us, ‘the king rejoices’, ‘how greatly he exults’! The king is not afraid to show his happiness, to exuberantly and abundantly praise God because of God’s goodness, protection, love, blessings and presence. Can you imagine how he would have responded after a battle victory and a song such as this? 

How do you respond when God has overcome for you? David and the whole nation have seen how God has had His hand in every victory. They acknowledge the kings joyous response and the answer to their previous prayer and song (psalm 20). It is with excitement that psalm 21 is written, an overflow of prayer and praise to the God that will overcome and destroy every enemy of the people of God! Does this not inspire you to pray and sing to God?! I wonder if this will inspire you to get to the next prayer meeting or next time of corporate worship. Powerful breakthroughs occur when God’s people come to Him in prayer and worship - are you getting caught up in that excitement? It is ok and actually good to allow yourself an emotional response to situations. You are allowed to cry, smile, laugh, dance and sing with feeling as you accept what God has done in your life. This psalm was written because the people of Israel and their king were excited and grateful for what God had done. There would probably have been music and dancing, tears and laughter as this psalm was sung - do you respond to God's influence in your life in joyous gratitude or is your response muted? The reason that Israel were so excited was because they realised that God had done several specific things that they had asked for and so they express their gratitude (V1-6):

God’s strength has brought victory

He answered prayer

Blessings have been received 

God preserved life

Glory, splendour and majesty have been given to their king

God’s presence is known

Of the above list, I am sure that you have experienced at least a few of these. When you have, what has been your response? Have your experiences inspired you to worship God and acknowledge His goodness amongst others or has your thankfulness been dulled? The nation of Israel did not keep quiet about what they had seen of God’s victories, they shouted, cried, danced and sang about it. This time they even responded by writing and singing this psalm together in recognition and gratitude to God. Do you allow your gratitude to overflow like David and the nation of Israel? It is not mature to deny emotions or fail to express them although it may be more socially acceptable. God did not design robots. He made humans. Humans with minds, hearts and emotions and He expects you to worship Him, 'with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength' (Mark 12:30-31). Do you? Do you get caught up in the excitement of what God has got you through in order to encourage and inspire others in their faith? Why would others want to follow God unless they see He has a very real, tangible impact in your life that is genuinely expressed through the battles and successes?

As a result of the battles Israel faced and overcame due to their trust in God alone, they say with full confidence, 'through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved’! You can have a story, a testimony and an assurance like that too! Remember what God has already done and so trust Him in every circumstance. Don’t forget to invite God into all of your current and future battles and successes, as when you do, you will know and experience the presence of God and his never-ending, enduring love. You will see greater victories than you already have. What a privilege to live a life like that! Secure in the knowledge that although battles will come, victories will follow when you depend upon God. Why not take some time to day to remember in prayer and praise God's victories in your life and think about how you share this with others to encourage them through their battles into victory.

Pray, Trust, Wait

 Psalm 18 is almost exactly the same as the song recorded in Samuel 22, so this song of victory must be important. It is written by David and seems to be a reflection over a period of time as it tells of several victories he has experienced. So it appears that this song was written whilst David was contemplating his life and acknowledging the amazing challenges and breakthroughs that he had lived through. This psalm is not an account of a single victory, situation or battle, but an accumulation of victories that David acknowledges came about because he called, ‘upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised’. 

6  In my distress I called upon the Lord; 

to my God I cried for help. 

From his temple he heard my voice, 

and my cry to him reached his ears. 

Through his life, and particularly through the psalms it is well documented how David called, waited, cried out, and trusted God in his life. When trials came, when he was sick and afraid of dying, when he was confused and harassed and in times of despair he cried out to God, always acknowledging that God is in control then he waited. He waited, continuing to pray, cry out and trust God until the saw God breakthrough in ways he could not have envisaged. David uses this psalm to collate some of his experiences and to demonstrate his gratitude to God. Sometimes God rescued David, other times he radically transformed the situation, at others he protected David as he went through the troubled times, he trained David, guarded him and gave him supernatural strength and ability. All because David followed Him. David’s dedication to following God meant that he trusted God. He went through times of; loneliness, despair, confusion, fear, steadfastness and hope just like the rest of us do. Yet even when he found life impossible, was harassed and hounded, he still relied and trusted in God. His faith never wavered. David’s situation changed many times, and the trials came in different forms, and each time David poured out his heart and asked God to intervene. Then he waited for God to respond. David saw these victories and can testify to God’s almighty power and goodness because he cried, prayed, trusted and waited. Do you have stories like that? 

He sent from on high, he took me; 

he drew me out of many waters. 

17  He rescued me from my strong enemy 

and from those who hated me, 

for they were too mighty for me. 

18  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, 

but the Lord was my support. 

19  He brought me out into a broad place; 

he rescued me, because he delighted in me.”

David prayed, poured out his heart, waited, implored and gave thanks consistently throughout his life. He had a lot of trouble, some self-inflicted, but most not, and he always turned to God. He always acknowledged and sought God no matter what the situation was because he knew that God can always help. No matter how impossible, scary or how huge the circumstance, David knew that there was something God could do about it. So he asked Him to intervene. Then he waited. David would tell God what was going on, how he felt, what he needed, and then he would trust God to work it out because he understood that God cares about His people and that He works for the good of those that love Him. Sure, David got frustrated and desperate, and probably fed up of waiting, but he did wait. When you are fearful, overwhelmed and distressed do you call out to God and await his deliverance? Or do you call to God, get impatient and try to fix things yourself? If you want to know God as your rock, fortress and deliverer like David did, you need to leave the situation in His hands and not take it back! You can have a testimony like David’s, but do you have the faith in God required and the patience to wait? 

46  The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, 

and exalted be the God of my salvation— 

47  the God who gave me vengeance 

and subdued peoples under me, 

48  who rescued me from my enemies; 

yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; 

you delivered me from the man of violence. 

Are you awaiting the reward of God, or are you trying to build your own? Whatever you can do in any situation cannot compare to the breakthrough and extravagance of God, but you need to be patient and wait for it. If you want some of the experiences of favour and victory that you read about, then you need to pray and wait. You need to be prepared to be uncomfortable. Trusting God as David did is scary. It means that you are not trying to do life your way or try to fix things by your own hands, but praying and waiting in desperate hope. All the while acknowledging that God loves you and will bring rescue, support and freedom, it just is unlikely to happen in your time frame or the way you want or expect it to.  Sometimes you cannot do much to change the situation you are in, you can try, but it ends up causing you more stress and discomfort in the long run. What you can do is keep, ‘the ways of the Lord’. That is your responsibility. This shows that you really are a child of God and are serious about living life with Him. Then, in time, when God’s glorious victory has come, you can also say, ‘the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness’! What a testimony that would be!

21  For I have kept the ways of the Lord, 

and have not wickedly departed from my God. 

22  For all his rules were before me, 

and his statutes I did not put away from me. 

23  I was blameless before him, 

and I kept myself from my guilt. 

24  So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, 

according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 

David cried and called out to God many times in his life, and look at the life he had! There were many ups and downs, but what is David known for? Being a mighty king? A warrior? Brave? descendent of Jesus? A man after God’s heart? A worshipper? There are many admirable qualities we see in David, and they are all because he devoted his life, not to; a country, job role, family or material goods, but because he dedicated his life to following God no matter what. Will that be your testimony? 

1  I love you, O Lord, my strength. 

2  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, 

my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, 

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

3  I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, 

and I am saved from my enemies. 

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

 Psalm 10:1–18:

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? 

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 

2  In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; 

let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. 

3  For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, 

and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. 

4  In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; 

all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” 

5  His ways prosper at all times; 

your judgments are on high, out of his sight; 

as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 

6  He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; 

throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” 

7  His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; 

under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 

8  He sits in ambush in the villages; 

in hiding places he murders the innocent. 

His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; 

9  he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; 

he lurks that he may seize the poor; 

he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. 

10  The helpless are crushed, sink down, 

and fall by his might. 

11  He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, 

he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” 

12  Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; 

forget not the afflicted. 

13  Why does the wicked renounce God 

and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 

14  But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, 

that you may take it into your hands; 

to you the helpless commits himself; 

you have been the helper of the fatherless. 

15  Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; 

call his wickedness to account till you find none. 

16  The Lord is king forever and ever; 

the nations perish from his land. 

17  O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; 

you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 

18  to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, 

so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. 

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 

Have you ever felt that this is true, that when you most need Him, God is hiding? If so, you will probably relate to David's words in this psalm. He too wondered why God seems so far off when trouble comes. So he rants to God about it, getting his concerns and fears off his chest by telling God about the harm and distress he sees going. He lets God that he sees it is not fair that those unable to help themselves are persecuted. Yet the powerful. greedy people who have no regard for God are successful and the cause of  oppression. As you consider the world today - has much changed?

The reason for a lot of suffering and oppression is often because those who do not follow God are getting their own way (v3). They are interested in what they can get out of life at whatever cost and do not care that others may be negatively affected by their pursuits. The wicked boast of their; lifestyle, riches, power and desires unhindered and seemingly unopposed. They have a disregard for others and for the concept that there may even be a God - they are the master of their own worth and destiny (v11 &13). Yet what they desire never seems satisfied and so they go further from God and descend into greater chaos, ignorance and sin. Their wicked desires can never be fulfilled. There will never be enough; money, time, entertainment, knowledge or physical pleasure to fulfil their lives, but they seek more and more and end up drowning in despair, chaos and sin. Yet they know not what they are doing - they do not realise that this endless unsatisfying cycle can stop when they begin to know God. These people are seen as wicked and determined in their sinful ways, and so they can be, yet, is it not actually sad that these people are missing out on satisfaction, hope and fulfilment? They are growing in sin because they do not know God and so they do not really know themselves nor the way to contentment and they don't know it. This is why David invites God to, ‘Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none’. David requests that God break the strength of the wicked so that the suffering of others may stop but also so that they can be called to account. The best solution David sees is that these 'evildoers' realise their wrongs and receive the full forgiveness of God. That is David's plea for the corruption that he witnesses - is that yours? Often we pray for the demise and destruction of the wicked and their schemes, but do you pray for the salvation and restoration of their souls? David prayed for their transformation, that God would so change them that no wickedness could be found in them. Has not God done that for you? Transformed your life from one of wicked intent to a life seeking to honour and obey Him? So, should you not join David as he yearns for the breaking of the strength of the wicked and for their salvation? Even the person furthest away from God has a need for Him they just haven’t found it yet. God has not yet broken their arm and called them to account, but He will. 

when David sees situations that are unjust and unfair he goes to God about it. He rants and pours out his experience and what he witnesses, then he lets God knows what he thinks and seeks God for a radical solution, knowing that God is king of it all. Instead of asking for the wicked to be beaten and diminished, he asks for their salvation. Instead of praying that the oppressed and poor will be elevated, he asks that God will strengthen, help, hear and do justice for them. How do you pray for those far from God and for those whom are suffering? 

David has come to realise that even when God seems to be doing nothing, God is aware. He is not actually hiding or closing His eyes to what is happening. God has His plan we don't know what it is. So we have to wait and trust Him knowing that God is good and that He cares for HIs people. When you next encounter a situation where you wonder what God is doing try praying like David - let God know what you see, remember who God is and pray for radical solutions like salvation and strength for, 'The Lord is king forever and ever' He has a longer-term vision than we ever could have asHe has reigned and will reign forever so do not worry, God has it all in hand.