by Allison Kohn
To be Published by Allison Kohn at Amazon
First draft
Unless otherwise indicated Scripture is taken from THE MESSAGE Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189 All rights reserved.
Dedication
To All Lovers of the Word
Acknowledgments
Thanks to all the Bible students and students of history that make their research available on the internet. Thanks to the writers that contributed to the Archaeological Study Bible and Bernard Grun’s Timetables of History along with other historical records that contribute to the understanding of the Scriptures. Thanks to all the people who report that they read these books and apply the truths in the Scriptures so that they can grow in the Spirit.
Other Titles by Allison Kohn
Fiction
The Baker Family Saga
Evelyn’s Anxious Bench
Dianna’s Source of Strength
Angels, Eagles, and Fire
Deep Trouble
Banner of Love
Love Like A Rock
Other Fiction
Are The Stars Out Tonight
Dream Interpreter
Non-fiction
O How I Love You
Running the Race As A Winner, The First Three Months
Evidence for the Existence of God
Conversations on the Torah
In The Beginning
Out of Bondage
Displaying Holiness
From Slaves to Soldiers
The Sermons of Moses
The Teachings
Meditations on the Gospels
The Taxpayer’s Account
The Testimony of the Beloved
The Outsider’s Welcome News
The Elder’s Good News
Revelation study
Birth Pangs, Not Death Throes
Paul’s Letters
Extraordinary Grace
The Road To Morality
Reconciliation
Freedom in Christ
Belief and Behavior
Joy, Humility, and Thanksgiving
The Preeminence of Christ
Living in Joyful Expectation
Counsel and Encouragement
Radical social Change
Other Letters for the Church
A Better Way
Preface
The psalms are sacred songs or sacred poems and many Christians have used them to learn to pray. Conversation with the eternal God of the universe – the Creator of the heavens and the earth – can be daunting and we can learn a lot about an intimate relationship with the Great Yahweh by making the Psalms our own. It is helpful to know who wrote the Psalm and the conditions under which it was written, but not completely necessary, because we can put ourselves into each one as the circumstances of our lives relate to the circumstances of the lives of the writers. Turning to them for devotions will help us to draw nearer to our God as we relate them to the circumstances of our lives and realize that we aren’t alone in our actions and reactions as we travel this earthly way.
Devoted to Praise
Day One
Psalm six
This is a Psalm of David. Maybe when he was hiding in a cave with the king and his army out to kill him. We don’t often find ourselves hiding in caves but sometimes we feel like – although we are yoked to Jesus and he has promised that his yoke is easy and his burden is light[1] – we are carrying a heavy load and don’t see how life could get any worse. We goof and our goof makes us feel guilty. Our guilt makes us feel depressed and we wallow in our weakness and doubt that God could love us. Our spiritual sense of defeat makes us feel like we’ve been beat up physically. When we cry out to God for deliverance from guilt and self-centered condemnation, we realize that he has already dried our tears and healed our spirits. God always listens and answers our prayers. And we know that all our enemies run in terror from the armor of God.
Prayer: Lord, I praise your name because of your great mercy and grace. I am a corrupted human being. You created me to reflect your image and I have marred that likeness, so I know that I don’t deserve it, but please do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be gracious to me, my God, because I am weak. My bones are shuddering with fear, as is my soul, and I need your healing power. Save me from my weakness because of your mercy and power. I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flooded my bed with tears, and my eyes are weak from sorrow. I don’t want to die from my sorrow, because I don’t see how anyone could praise you from the grave. Then I remember that you gave me eternal life, so I can praise you forever. Then you showed me that my foes were spiritual enemies that tried to destroy my emotions. You showed me that I can control my thoughts and desires; and I chased the evil spirits of discontent and fear from me in your power I turn my back on the evil spirits that tell me I can’t praise you from the grave. Even in death, you will never leave me. You accept my prayers. All my enemies are ashamed and stricken with terror. They turn back in sudden disgrace because I have your attention. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my cry for mercy, and accepting my prayer. I praise your precious, holy name.
Psalm Seven
Peter said that we shouldn’t be surprised when we have painful trials.[2]
Some trials are conduits for discipline. Discipline is important so that we can learn to be responsible and respectful. All people in civilized societies observe well-defined rules. Discipline promotes good human behavior and makes any society a more enjoyable place for everyone to live in. God’s discipline gives the ability to have self-restraint and allows us to behave in a consistently structured and self-controlled manner so that we can be vessels of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master. His discipline is for our benefit. He trains us so that we can share in His holiness. All discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful, but God’s discipline yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
When someone accuses us of doing wrong when we are innocent of the charge against us, it isn’t easy for us to tolerate. God can use that kind of a trial to teach us how to respond to unfair judgements. Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you will prosper and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Adonai’s servants their vindication is from Me.” It is a declaration of Adonai.” You have that promise while you are learning how God wants you to respond – and while God is using the trial to strengthen you spiritually. Your soul – thoughts and emotions – wants to respond in a destructive manner because it is still living in corruption, but God is helping you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Prayer: God! God! I am running to you for dear life; the chase is wild. If they catch me, I’m finished: ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions, dragged into the forest and left unlooked for, unremembered.
God, if I’ve done what they say— betrayed my friends, ripped off my enemies— If my hands are really that dirty let them get me, walk all over me, leave me flat on my face in the dirt.
Stand up, God; pit your holy fury against my furious enemies. Wake up, God. My accusers have packed the courtroom; it’s judgment time. Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel, throw out the false charges against me. I’m ready, confident in your verdict: “Innocent.”
Close the book on Evil, God, but publish your mandate for us. You get us ready for life: you probe for our soft spots, you knock off our rough edges. And I’m feeling so fit, so safe: made right, kept right. You, my God, in solemn honor do things right, and you keep my mind sharp to avoid evil.
Nobody gets by with anything. You are already in action—Sword honed on your whetstone, bow strung, and arrow on the string, Lethal weapons in your hand, each arrow is a flaming missile of your Word.
I see people who had sex with sin, and got pregnant with evil. The baby born from that union is a Lie-Baby.
I see a man shoveling day after day, digging, then concealing, his man-trap down that lonely stretch of road. I go back and look again—and see him fallen in his own trap – headfirst, legs waving in the breeze. That’s what happens: mischief backfires; violence boomerangs.
I’m thanking you, God, who makes things right. I’m singing your fame, my heaven-high God.
Psalm Eight
The name of our God, Yahweh – the Great I AM, reality behind all reality – is excellent over all the earth! He set his splendor above the heavens. He establishes his power out of the mouths of babies and toddlers. Because of his enemies, he silences the foe and the avenger with the babbles of those babies and toddlers. His foes are spiritual and the avenger is Satan.
Consider his heavens – the work of his fingers; the moon and the stars, which he established – and ask yourself why God even thinks about mankind or their children. Yet he made humans a little lower than the angels, and crowned us with glory and majesty! He gave us dominion over the works of his hands and put all things under our feet: all sheep – animals used for food and clothing – and oxen – beasts of burden – and every beast of the field, birds in the air, and fish in the ocean and everything passing through the paths of the seas. Adonai’s name is excellent over all the earth!
Prayer: God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble. I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry – the moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, and repeated to us your Genesis-charge. You made us stewards of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, birds flying and fish swimming whales singing in the ocean deeps.
God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.
Psalm nine
I will praise Adonai with my whole heart. I will about all his wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in him. I will sing praise to his Name, Elyon[3]! When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before my God. For he upholds my right and my cause. He sits on the throne, judging righteously. He rebukes the nations. He will destroy the wicked—blotting out their name forever and ever. The enemy will be finished, in ruins forever. Adonai will overturn their cities—even the memory of them will perish. But Adonai reigns forever. He established His throne for judgment and he judges the world in righteousness and governs the peoples justly. Adonai is a stronghold for the oppressed, a high tower in times of trouble. Those who know his Name trust him—for Adonai has never forsaken those who seek him. I will sing praises to Adonai, who dwells in Zion. I will declare His deeds among the peoples. He who avenges blood remembers. He will not forget the cry of the afflicted. Adonai is compassionate to me. He sees my affliction from those hating me, and lifts me up from the gates of death. I will tell all his praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, rejoicing in his salvation. The nations will sink into the pit they made. The net they hide will catch their own foot. Adonai is known for executing judgment. The wicked one is trapped in the work of his own hands. Selah[4] The wicked will turn to Sheol[5], as will all the nations that forget God. For the needy will not forever be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever. Adonai will arise and not let man triumph. The nations will be judged before our God. Adonai will strike them with terror. The nations will know that they are only human. Selah
Prayer: I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.
Everyday my enemies turn tail and run, they stumble on you and fall on their faces. You take over and set everything right. When I need you, you are there, taking charge.
You blow the whistle on godless nations; you throw dirty players out of the game, and wipe their names right off the roster. Enemies disappear from the sidelines, because their reputations are trashed, and their names are erased from the halls of fame.
You hold the high center, you see and set the world’s mess right. You decide what is right for us earthlings, and give people their just deserts.
You are a safe-house for the battered, and a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, I relax; I am never sorry I called to you. I will sing songs to you, my Zion-dwelling God, and tell your stories to everyone I meet: how you track down killers yet keep your eye on us, and register every whimper and moan we make.
Be kind to me, my God; I’ve been kicked around long enough. Once you’ve pulled me back from the gates of death, I’ll write the book on Hallelujahs. I’ll hold a street meeting on the corner of Main and First; I’ll be the song leader; we’ll fill the air with salvation songs.
The godless people are trapped in the very snares they set. Their feet all tangled in the net they spread. They have no excuse. The way you works is well-known and never fails. Your works are always good and do good. The shrewd machinery made by the wicked has maimed their own hands.
The wicked bought a one-way ticket to hell. No longer will the poor be nameless, no more humiliation for the humble. God, aren’t you fed up with their empty strutting? Expose these grand pretensions! Shake them up, God! Show them how silly they look.
And blessed be the name of Adonai from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm ten
There are times when we wonder if our God is avoiding us. We wonder where he is when we need him. We think he is standing far off and hiding himself in times of trouble. The wicked fiercely hunts the poor. Their pride makes them think the poor aren’t as good as they are and could be rich if they weren’t so lazy. We want them to be caught in the plots they have planned for others. The wicked person boasts about his or her soul’s desire as though they had a right to do anything it takes to get what they want. The greedy person curses, reviling Adonai. With his or her wicked nose in the air, he or she never seeks God. The wicked people tell themselves that there is no God. They believe that their ways are always secure and they haughtily disregard God’s judgments. The haughty wicked person snorts at all his or her adversaries and says in his or her heart: “I’ll never be shaken! From generation to generation nothing bad will happen.” The mouth of the wicked person is full of cursing, lies and oppression. On his or her tongue are trouble and iniquity. The wicked lie in ambush near communities and slays the innocent from his or her hiding place. The eyes of the wicked watch in secret for the helpless. He or she lurks in a hiding place like a lion in a thicket lying in wait to catch the helpless; and when the wicked catches the unfortunate one and drags the victim away in a net, the victim is crushed, brought down, and falls into the wicked person’s mighty claws. The wicked person says in his heart: “God has forgotten, he hides his face and will never see it.” We cry, “Arise, Adonai! O God, lift Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted.”
We wonder why the wicked one reviles God. Why he says in his heart, “God will never require anything from me.”
However, we know that God sees what they do. He does see our trouble and grief.The victim can trust Yahweh because he is the helper of the orphan and he breaks the arm of the wicked, and the evil one. God will call the wicked to account for his iniquity until no more wickedness is found. Adonai is King forever and ever! The evil nations will be wiped off his land. He hears the desire of the meek and encourages them. He listens and vindicates the orphan and oppressed so that earthly humans not terrify others anymore
Prayer: God, are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you? Full of hot air, the wicked are hot on the trail of the poor. Trip them up, tangle them up in their fine-tuned plots. The wicked are windbags, and the swindlers have foul breath. The wicked snub you, my God, with their noses stuck high in the air. Their graffiti are scrawled on the walls. It says, “Catch us if you can!” “God is dead.” They care nothing for what you think; if you get in their way, they blow you off. They think that they live a charmed life and tell themselves that they can’t go wrong. They think that this is their lucky year.
They carry a mouthful of spells, their tongues spit venom like adders. They hide behind ordinary people, then pounce on their victims. They mark the luckless, then wait like a hunter in a blind; When the poor wretch wanders too close, they stab him in the back. The hapless fool is kicked to the ground, the unlucky victim is brutally axed. He thinks you have dumped him, he’s sure that you are indifferent to his plight.
Time to get up, God—get moving. The luckless think they’re Godforsaken. They wonder why the wicked scorn you and get away with it. They wonder why the wicked are so cocksure that they’ll never come up for audit.
But you know all about it—the contempt, the abuse. I dare to believe that the luckless will get lucky someday in you. You won’t let them down: orphans won’t be orphans forever.
Break the wicked right arms, Lord, break all the evil left arms. Search and destroy every sign of crime. Your grace and order wins; and godlessness loses.
The victim’s faint pulse picks up; the hearts of the hopeless pump red blood as you put your ear to their lips. Orphans get parents, the homeless get homes. The reign of terror is over, the rule of the gang lords is ended. And blessed be the name of the Lord God from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm Eleven
When he was a fugitive from King Saul, David’s friends advised him to “Fly like a bird to your mountain, because – look, the wicked are bending their bows. and fixing their arrows on their bowstrings so they can shoot us – who are upright in heart – from the shadows.
David’s answer was, “I have taken shelter. in Adonai, so how can you say that to my soul – his emotions and intellect – should fear? David lifted his eyes to his Lord, Yahweh, to strengthen his faith in a time of testing. He knew the safest place to stand was in his deep-seated trust in God.
David was living the life of a fugitive. He was constantly hunted by King Saul and lived in constant danger, but he put his trust in God and stood his ground.
If you or I have a loaded gun aimed at our head today, our hope is not in our ability to run for cover. We can be too confident in our own perception of a situation. Remember, Job’s friend confidently said, “I will tell you, hear me; what I have seen I will declare”, but he was wrong. His motive was good and right, but the advice was wrong. God has promised never to leave us. He is right here and sees the loaded guns. And he knows how to see us through any awful situation.
The world may ask, as David’s friends did, “If our foundations are destroyed, what should the righteous do?” However, David knew – and we know – that Adonai is in His holy Temple. His throne is in heaven and his eyes are watching us. His eyelids observe the children of men. He shows consideration for the righteous; but his soul hates the wicked and people who love violence. He will rain down fire and brimstone on the wicked, and scorching wind is the portion of their cup. For Adonai is righteous. He loves justice. The upright will see His face.
When we are afraid of a secret attack because we fear the things, we can’t see, and are walking in fear, we must remember that God doesn’t ever topple off his throne and we are safe in him. God isn’t going anywhere, so we won’t either. When fear invades our peace, we can arrive at the answer of faith by spending time with the Yahweh. When we think about our problems, fear often crushes us, but when we pray about our problems, faith assures our hearts. We remember that Yeshua is praying for us. The source of David’s confidence was God’s position in his holy temple, not foolhardiness or self-reliance. With David, we put our confidence in a holy, all-powerful God. God sees every situation we are shocked to find ourselves in and he is looking out for us and taking care of us.
We don’t need to flee to protect ourselves, because God in heaven is watching us and sees how sinful the conduct of our enemies is. We know that God will punish the wicked and this truth will give us confidence while we are living through fearful situations. After all, if the ungodly persecute the righteous, how much more will the righteous God persecute the ungodly?
Fire and brimstone give the image of ultimate, eternal judgment, and what do we have to fear from humans destined for eternal judgment?
The image of the cup as a container of judgment reminds us of Jesus’ prayer in the garden.The cup Jesus dreaded was the cup that contained the wrath of God against sin, wrath that we deserved, but Jesus drank for us.
Prayer: I’ve already run for dear life straight to your arms, my God. So, I won’t run away now when someone says, “Run to the mountains; the evil bows are bent, the wicked arrows are aimed to shoot under cover of darkness at every heart open to God. The bottom’s dropped out of the country; and good people don’t have a chance”.
You,my God haven’t moved to the mountains; your holy address hasn’t changed. You’re in charge, as always, your eyes are taking everything in, your eyelids are unblinking, examining Adam’s flesh and blood – inside and out – not missing a thing. You test the good and the bad alike; and if anyone cheats, you are outraged. People who fail the test are out in a hail of firestones, drinking from a canteen filled with hot desert wind.
Your business is putting things right; my God, and I know you love getting the lines straight – setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall, we can look you straight in the eye. Thank you, my precious Lord.
Psalm Twelve
This psalm of David was written for the music director, on the eight-string lyre.
David cried out to, Adonai for help because he realized that no one godly exists, and he felt that the faithful had vanished from the children of men. He was depressed and could only see the bad in people. He saw that everyone was telling lies to their neighbors, and talking with flattering lips and a divided heart.
There days when you and I are so inundated by the evil of the world around us that we can only cry out of God for help. We listen to the news and forget that their job is to shock and terrify, so we are shocked and terrified by the evil of human beings.
Therefore, we say, with David, “May Adonai cut off all flattering lips—a tongue bragging big things. They say: “With our tongue we’ll prevail. We own our lips—who can master us?”
Our God, Adonai, says. “Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy, now will I arise. I will put him in the safe place—he pants for it.”
The words of Adonai are pure words—like silver refined in an earthly crucible, the are purified seven times. Our God will keep us safe. He will protect us from this generation forever. The wicked strut all around, while vileness is exalted by mankind.
Prayer: Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, all the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues.
Slice their lips off their faces! Pull the braggart tongues from their mouths! I’m tired of hearing, “We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world.”
You speak into the hovels of the poor, and into the dark streets where the homeless groan. You say, “I’ve had enough; I’m on my way to heal the ache in the heart of the wretched.”
Your words are pure words – pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of your word-kiln. They are pure on earth as well as in heaven. They keep us safe from the lies of the wicked, from the wicked who stalk us with lies, from the wicked who collect honors, and from their amazing lies. And blessed be the name of the most high God from this time forth and forevermore.
Devoted to Praise
Day Eight
Psalm Thirteen is a Psalm of David for the music director
He asked, “How long, Adonai? Will You forget me forever?
Sometimes we wonder if God has forgotten us – everything in our lives looks so black – and we ask God, with David, “How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I have cares in my soul – my emotions, and mind – and daily sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me? Our enemy is the enemy of our souls – Satan – and our battle is spiritual. We say, with David, “Look at me and answer, Adonai my God. Light up my eyes, or I will sleep in death. Or else my enemy will say: “I have overcome him!” Remember our enemy is Satan. Our foes are spiritual – envy, discouragement, fear, dejection, and several other emotions that try to get us down. So, with David, we are afraid that our foes will rejoice because we are shaken by our wayward emotions. Then we remember, and say with Davit, “But I trust in Your lovingkindness, my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing to Adonai, because He has been good to me.
Prayer: Long enough, God—you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.
Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.
I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.
Psalm Fourteen
For the music director, a Psalm of David.
The fool said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their deeds are vile. There is no one who does good.
Adonai looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, anyone who seek after God. They all turned aside, became corrupt. There is no one who does good
—not even one.
David was discouraged. He looked around him and saw the evil and God used his discouragement to remind you and me that there is none righteousness – no not one. However, we know that the gift of God is eternal life through Yeshua ha Mashiach – Jesus Christ – our Lord. So, when we look around us and see the evil on every side, we remember that God sent his Son to give us new life in him and when we are born into the family of God and cooperate with our Heavenly Father, we are being recreated in the image of his perfect Son.
David asked, “Will evildoers never understand—those who consume God’s people with as little thought as when they eat food—and never call on Adonai?”
People who are the victims of evil may live in dreed of the next blow, but we know that God is with the righteous and he will frustrate the plan of the evil one.
Adonai is the refuge of the poor. David trusted him to give Israel salvation out of Zion – the city of God. Zion is both a real and a spiritual place. Babylon, as the opposite of Zion, is a real place that is a symbolic, spiritual counterpart as the persecutor of God’s people and a city of evil. Mount Zion, the physical place, is on a hill just outside of Jerusalem’s wall. It has been associated with the Temple Mount, and the western hill; but the entire land of Israel has also been referred to as Mount Zion. David said that when Adonai restores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice, and Israel will be glad! The people of Israel are being restored to their homeland, but what is more important, many Israelis are being restored to their God. They, like every one born into this corrupted world, have been slaves to sin, but they are being born into the family of God and living in the glorious liberty of the children of God. We make this Psalm ours by remembering that God has triumphed over evil when Jesus died for our sins and rose to life the third day; and he will abolish evil when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.
Prayer: Oh Lord, I see the wickedness in the world around me and shudder. Bilious and bloated, the wicked blow hot air and say, “God is gone.” Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; and they poison rivers and skies. They sell counterfeit products and ideas as though they were genuine.
You stick your head out of heaven and look around for someone not stupid—even one person, seeking after you, but you couldn’t find any. A string of zeros was what you got. Useless, un-shepherded sheep, taking turns pretending to the Shepherd that they cared and understood. The ninety and nine mindlessly follow after the mindless fellow in front.
Don’t all these predators know anything, God? Don’t they know they can’t get away with this—Treating people like a fast-food meal over which they’re too busy to pray?
I know, and am glad, that night with nightmares is coming for them, for you take the side of the wronged. The evil ones can’t mess with the dreams of the poor, for you, God, make their dreams come true, and you are saving Israel. Thank you, my precious Lord. Yes. You, my God are around; and you turn life around. Turned-around Jacob skips rope, turned-around Israel sings laughter; and I jump for joy.
Psalm Fifteen
A psalm of David.
David asked Adonai who would be allowed to dwell in his tent and who would be allowed to live on God’s holy mountain. When I was a little girl, I wanted very much to now if I would ever be allowed to live with God. David answered that the one who walks with integrity, and does what is right, can live with God. That person has to be the kind of person who speaks truth in his or her heart, and does not slander with his or her tongue. A person who walks with integrity and does what is right does no wrong to his or her neighbor, and does not disgrace his or her friend. A person of integrity repulses a vile person and honors those who fear Adonai. A person of integrity who can dwell with God keeps his oath even when it hurts, and does not falter on the paths of righteousness. That person lends his money without usury, and takes no bribe against the innocent. In other words, a righteous person can dwell in the abode of God – but no one is righteous but God. The person who is righteous will never be shaken. So how do you and I get to be righteous?
Praise God, we traded our unrighteousness for God’s righteousness when we accepted his atoning sacrifice for our sins and stepped from death into life. We are sitting with Christ in heavenly places and practicing our position as we walk in the light with the Light of the world.
Prayer: God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list? We can walk straight, act right, and tell the truth by the power of your Holy Spirit. You say, “Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; and despise the despicable.” You tell us to keep our word even when it costs us, to make an honest living, and never take a bribe.
We will hold tight to your hand and walk the paths of righteousness with your help, following your lead. We will exercise the fruit of your Spirit and display your character to the world around us as we die daily to self and let you live through us. In Jesus precious holy name.
Psalm Sixteen
A Michtam of David. A Michtam can be recited at a house of mourning or a funeral; or just before the stars come out on Shabbat.
With David, we ask God to keep us safe, because we have found shelter in him in the past and know we always will. With David, we say to Adonai: “You are my Lord—I have no good apart from You.” As for the holy ones who are in the land, we recognize that they are noble—and we delight in them. As for those who run after other gods – like money, possessions, or ideas – theories – we know that the day is coming when their sorrows multiply. David said that he would not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor lift up their names with his lips. They were pouring out “drink offerings” to their gods in David’s day and today there are still people who “pour out drink offerings” to something or someone that they are dedicated to.
With David, we say, Adonai is my portion and my cup. Adonai is translated in English as the Lord. He casts our lot – he is the one who puts us where we are dwelling. Our boundary lines fall in pleasant places—our heritage is beautiful. We have inherited the peace of God that passes all understanding. Things that Satan sends into our lives to make us depressed don’t consume us when we praise God. His praises fill our hearts with peace and joy. When David said this, he may have been living in a cave – and he may have been living in a palace. He knew that God was with him so any dwelling places was beautiful. We know that, because God has put us where we are and is with us, that whether our dwelling place is a shack in unproductive dirt or a mansion with wide lawns – or something in between – that, because God has put us here and is here with us, it is beautiful. We can say, “I will bless Adonai, who counsels me. Even at night my heart instructs me. I have set Adonai always before me. Since He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
So our hearts are glad and our souls rejoice. Our bodies also rest secure because our God will not abandon our soul to the grave
nor let your faithful ones see the Pit. This was a prophesy of Jesus, but it is true of us because we are “in Christ Jesus”. When we made the decision to believe God about what Jesus did for us, we stepped from death into life and are safe in the arms of our Lord. He makes known to us the path of life where abundance of joys is in his presence, and eternal pleasures at his right hand.
Prayer: Keep me safe, my God, I’ve run for dear life to you. I said to you, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense. And the people I saw around me that I knew were living God-chosen lives made splendid friends – and still do. I won’t just go shopping for a god. Gods are not for sale. I’ll never treat god-names like brand-names. My choice is you, my God, Yahweh, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir! The wise counsel you give me when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I’ll stick with you; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. I’m happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell and that’s not my destination!
Now you’ve got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I’m on the right path – the paths of righteousness – and I love your ways. Thank you, Lord.
Devoted to Praise
Day Twelve
Psalm Seventeen is a prayer of David
He said, “Listen while I build my case, God, this is the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear. All of our prayers should be honest. God already knows what is in our hearts, but he wants us to say it out loud to him. Out loud doesn’t always mean we speak with our mouths. It means we don’t try to hide anything from God – or ourselves.
David asked God to show the world that he was innocent. He told God to examine him from inside out to even surprise him in the middle of the night. In other words, he opened himself to God and didn’t try to shut him out of any part of his thoughts, feelings, or actions. You and I will find our hearts are filled with peace when we are completely honest with God in every aspect of our lives. We must not try to get God to do things our way or the world’s way. We must, with David, try to do things God’s way, the way his Word says to go. With David, we must stay on the paths of righteousness – God’s trail. With David we say, “I’m putting one foot In front of the other and I’m not giving up. We call to God, because we’re sure of an answer from him.
David said, and we can say with him, “So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp! Paint grace-graffiti on the fences; take in your frightened children who are running from the neighborhood bullies straight to you.”
With David we ask our God to keep his eye on us; to hide us under his cool wing feathers, from the mortal enemies closing in – from the wicked who are out to get us – the enemies of our souls. Our enemy’s hearts are hard as nails, and their mouths blast hot air. They are chasing us, nipping at our heels, determined to bring us down, they are like lions ready to rip us apart, young lions poised to pounce. Peter said that the devil was like a lion seeking whom he may devour. David recognized him and so do we. With David, we say, “By your power, God: beard them! break them! By your sword, free me from their clutches; Barehanded, God, break these mortals, these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.” God’s sword is his word. He created the heavens and the earth by his Word, he holds it all together by his Word, and his Word is the sword that is living and powerful. It is sharp enough to separate the soul and the spirit and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
David said that he would like to see the bellies of his enemies swollen with famine food harvested and backed from the weeds they planted with second helpings for their children and crusts for their babies to chew on. He wasn’t talking about cute, cuddly, innocent infants, he was talking about the descendants of the enemies of our souls.
We, along with David, can plan on looking God full in the face. When we get up. We will see his full stature and live heaven on earth.
Prayer: Hear, Adonai, a just plea, listen to my cry! Give ear to my prayer I’m not lying about my need. My justification comes from Your presence. Your eyes alone see what is right and you have examined my heart. You searched me at night and though you tested me, you didn’t find anything because I resolved that my mouth will not sin. I asked you to live through me as I die to my self-interest and by your power and because you are my Savior, I can and you do. As for the deeds of mankind—by the word of Your lips I have kept out of the ways of the violent. I am walking on Your paths and my feet have not slipped because you are walking with me guiding my way. I called upon You, O God, because I know that You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech. Your loving kindness is wonderful, my Savior for those taking refuge at Your right hand. You rescue me from those revolting against me. Protect me like the pupil of your eye and hide me in the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who attack me— my enemies, who surround me. They shut their callous hearts and speak proudly with their mouths. Your children’s steps are surrounded by them and they are determined to throw us down to the ground, like a lion eager to tear its prey to pieces – like a young lion crouching in undercover. Arise, Adonai! Confront the enemy! Make him bow down to you! Deliver my soul from the wicked with the sword of your Word. Deliver me from those people whose only concern is earthly gain with your mighty hand, Adonai. Deliver me from men and woman of the world whose portion is in this life. May their children inherit more of the same and may the judgement continue to their children’s children.
Because I have your righteousness, I will behold Your face! When I awake, I will be satisfied with Your likeness.
Psalm Eighteen is a psalm of David the servant of Adonai. He chanted the words of this song to on a day that Adonai delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
He praised God for making him strong., and said he was the solid fundamental, basic, and reliable bedrock under his feet, the castle in which he lived, and his rescuing knight. Along with David, we can praise God because he keeps our spirituel feet anchored firmly on the paths of righteousness. He is the high mountain where we run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. He keeps us safe and secure in his love and mercy.
With David, we can sing to God, the Praise-Lofty, and find ourselves safe – saved from the enemies of our souls.
Sometimes we feel like the hangman’s noose is tight at our throats, and devil waters are rushing over us. We feel like hell’s ropes have us cinched tight, and death traps have every exit barred. We live in a hostile world!
Then we call to God to help us. He hears our cry from his lofty heights – our cry brings us right into his presence for a private audience!
We see Yahweh in his creation as the heavens declare his glory and the sky above shows his handiwork. We see God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature in his creation. Earth wobbles and lurches while huge mountains quake like aspen leaves because of God’s rage. We see him in the volcano – his nostrils flaring, bellowing smoke; and his mouth spiting fire. Tongues of fire dart in and out as God lowers the sky. The he steps down and under his feet a gulf opens. We see him riding a winged creature, swift on wind-wings and then he has wrapped himself in a trench coat of black-cloud darkness. Next through his cloud-brightness bursts spraying hailstones and fireballs. When he thunders out of heaven; gives a great shout, spraying hailstones and fireballs we know he is shooting his arrows. There is pandemonium as he hurls his lightnings. The secret sources of ocean are exposed, and the hidden depths of earth lie uncovered when our God roars in protest with hurricane anger at the evil that is unchecked in the world.
We can say, with David, “But me he caught—reached all the way from sky to sea; and pulled me out of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos, He pulled me from the void in which I was drowning.
These things hit us when we are down, but God sticks by us. God stands us up on a wide-open field. We stand there saved and surprised to be loved!
Our God, Yahweh, makes our lives complete when we get our act together and place all the pieces in his hands. He gives us a fresh start and now we are alert to his ways.
We must not take God for granted. Every day we must review the ways he works and try not to miss a trick; then we will feel put back together, watching our step.
We can say, with David, “God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
Good people taste God’s goodness, whole people taste his health, and true people taste his truth. The bad ones can’t figure God out. He takes the side of the down-and-out, but he takes the stuck-up take down a notch.
God floodlight our lives in an instant and now we are blazing with his glory. Through his power we can smash the bands of marauders, and vault the highest fences. What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him reaches him.
Is there any god like Yahweh?
Are we not at bedrock? Is not this the God who armed us, then aimed us in the right direction?
Now we run like deer; we are king of the mountain. God shows me how to fight the good fight of faith. He protects us with salvation-armor; and holds us up with a firm hand, caressing us with his gentle ways.
He cleared the ground under us so our footing is firm. When we can put our enemies down for good because I am armed well for this good fight of faith. God smashed the upstarts and made our enemies turn tail when he died on the cross.
We say, with “David, “The Lord lives! And blessed be my Rock, and may the God of my salvation be exalted.
We can say with David, “God set things right for me and shut up the people who talked back. He rescued me from enemy anger, he pulled me from the grip of upstarts, and saved me from the bullies. That’s why I’m thanking my God, all over the world. That’s why I’m singing songs that rhyme your name.”
Prayer: I love You, Adonai. You are my strength! You are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. I take refuge in you, my God. You are my shield, my horn of salvation, and my stronghold. I called upon you, Adonai, because you are worthy of praise. When I call on you, you rescue me from my enemies. Cords of death entangled me. Torrents of Belial overwhelmed me. Cords of Sheol coiled around me. Snares of death came before me. In my distress I called on you, Adonai, and cried to my God for help. From your Temple you heard my voice, and my cry before you came into your ears.
Then the earth rocked and quaked. The foundations of mountains trembled. They reeled because you were angry. Smoke rose from your nostrils and consuming fire from your mouth. Coals blazed from you. You parted the heavens and came down, with thick darkness under your feet. You rode upon a cheruv and flew. You soared on the wings of the wind. Dark waters, and thick clouds are your covering. Your thick clouds, hail and fiery coals passed out of the brilliance before you. You, Adonai thundered in the heavens, and gave forth your voice with hail and fiery coals. You shot your arrows and scattered them, you hurled lightning bolts and routed the enemy. Then ravines of water appeared. The foundations of earth were exposed, at Your rebuke, Adonai, at a blast of breath from Your nostrils. You reached down from on high
and took hold of me. You drew me out of mighty waters. You saved me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me—for they were much stronger than me. They came against me in my day of calamity, but you, Adonai, was my support. You brought me out to a wide-open place. You rescued me since you delighted in me. You, Adonai, rewarded me for my righteousness. For the cleanness of my hands, you repaid me. For I kept your ways, Adonai,
and did not turn wickedly from you, my God. All your judgments are before me. I do not put your rulings away from me. I also have integrity with you, and keep myself from my sin. So you, Adonai reward me for my righteousness,
for the cleanness of my hands in your eyes.
With the loyal You deal loyally. With the blameless You are blameless. With the pure You are pure, and with the crooked You are shrewd. For You save lowly people, but haughty eyes You humble. For You light up my lamp. Adonai my God, you shine in my darkness. For with You I rush on a troop, with you, my God, I scale a wall. As for you, my God, your way is perfect. Your word is pure. You are a shield to all who take refuge in you. You, Adonai, are the only God. You are my Rock and you gird me with strength and make my way straight. You make my feet like those of deer and you make me stand on my heights. You train my hands for battle, so my arms can bend a metaphorical bronze bow. You gave me the shield of Your salvation. Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness makes me great. You broaden my steps beneath me, so my ankles have not slipped. I pursue my enemies and overtake them, and will not return till they are wiped out. I will crush them till they cannot rise, till they fall beneath my feet. I fight against spiritual wickedness and rulers of darkness in high places, for You girded me with strength for battle. You made those who rose up against me bow down before me. You also made my enemies turn their backs to me. I cut off those who hate me. I will tell others that you, my God, Adonai lives! You, my Rock are holy. You are my salvation and I will sing your praises. You give me vengeance and subdue peoples under me. You deliver me from my enemies. Indeed You lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. Therefore, I praise You among the nations, Adonai, and sing praises to Your Name. Great victories you give, and show loyal love to you anointed.
Psalm Nineteen is a Psalm of David.
He said, “God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft is on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, and Professor Night lectures each evening.
Their words aren’t heard – with the physical ear, nor are their voices aren’t, but their silence fills the earth with unspoken truth everywhere.
God makes a huge dome for the sun. It is a superdome. The morning sun is like a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, or an athlete racing to the tape.
That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, melting ice, scorching deserts, and warming hearts to faith.
The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road for us to travel. The life-maps of God are right, and show the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate right down to the nth degree.
God’s Word is better than a diamond set between emeralds. You’ll like it better than better than red, ripe strawberries in the spring.
What is more, God’s Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure. Otherwise, how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool? We need God to clean the slate, so we can start the day fresh. We need our God to keep me from stupid sins, like thinking we can take over his work. Then we can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. Put these words in your mouth, and chew on them when you pray. God will accept them when we place them on the morning altar, because he is our God, our Altar-Rock, and the Priest-of-our-Altar.
Prayer: The heavens declare your glory my God, and the sky shows your handiwork. Day to day they speak, night to night they reveal knowledge. There is no speech, no words, where their voice goes unheard. Their voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the end of the world. You pitched a tent for the sun in the heavens. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his bridal chamber. It is like a strong man rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat. Your Torah, Adonai is perfect, restoring my soul. Your testimony, Adonai, is trustworthy, making my simple soul wise. Your precepts, Adonai, are right, giving joy to my heart. Your mitzvot, Adonai, are pure, giving light to my eyes. The fear of you, Adonai is clean, enduring forever. Your judgments, Adonai are true and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold, yes, more than much pure gold! They are sweeter than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward. How can I discern my errors? Cleanse me of hidden faults please, Lord. Also keep Your servant from willful sins. May they not have dominion over me. Then I will be blameless, free from great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Adonai, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Devoted to Praise
Day Fifteen
Psalm Twenty is for the music director, a Psalm of David. This is a blessing that we can use to bless those we love and those we don’t love – our families, friends, and enemies. Jesus said “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for the ones who mistreat you.”[6]
God answer you on the day you crash. The name Adonai, the God-of-Jacob, put you out of harm’s reach. Send reinforcements from his sanctuary, and dispatch fresh supplies from Zion. May he exclaim over your offerings, celebrate your sacrifices, give you what your heart desires, and accomplish your plans.
When you are victorious in Christ, we plan to raise the roof and lead the parade with our banners. May all your wishes come true!
That clinches it—help’s coming, an answer is on the way, everything’s going to work out.
There are people polishing their vehicles and others grooming their pets. The vehicles will rust, and the pets will eventually cease to be so we will trust in the Lord, our God. He will give you the desires of your heart when you take delight in the Adonai.
Prayer: Lord, we pray for the one on our heart, whether it is a family member, friend or foe and ask that by the power of your holy name you will set him or her up securely on high. Send him or her help from your Sanctuary and support from Zion. Remember all his or her good deeds, Grant him or her his or her heart’s desire and fulfill all his or her plans. We will shout for joy in his or her victory and lift up our banners in the Name of our God! We ask you to fulfill all his or her petitions.
We know that you, Adonai save your anointed and answer him from your holy heaven with the saving strength of your right hand. Some have material blessings but we remember your Name, Adonai our God. People who rely on material blessings have collapsed and fallen, but we rise up and support each other. Adonai, save the one on my heart. Answer us on the day we call!
Psalm Twenty-one was written for the music director and is a psalm of David.
With David, the king, we rejoice in the strength of Adonai. We delight greatly in his salvation. He granted David his heart’s desire and did not withhold the request of his lips. Selah means, “think about that.” We you and I are delighted in our God and are walking humbly with him – allowing him to direct our paths – he will give us our heart’s desire too.
David said that Adonai met him with the best blessings and set on his head a crown of pure gold. Gold represents purity and when we walk with our God, he gives us a crown of glory – he recreates us in the image of his dear Son so that we can reflect his glory with our lives. David asked God for life, and God gave it to him. God gave David length of days forever and ever. When you and I believed God – that he sent us his only begotten Son into the world so that whoever believes in him will not parish but have everlasting life – we stepped from death into life. He gave us life with length of days, forever and ever. With David, our glory is great through God’s salvation. Adonai bestows honor and majesty on us – eternal blessings gladden us with joy in his presence.
David, the king trusted in Adonai, and in the lovingkindness of Elyon he made a decision not to be shaken no matter what the circumstances of life brought him. You and I can decide to not let life shake us. We can decide to trust in Adonai – our Lord and Master. We can make the decision to trust in the loving kindness of Elyon – the Most High God. Our God’s hand will find all his enemies. His right hand will overtake those who hate him. He will make those who hate him like a fiery furnace at the time of his appearing.
In His wrath Adonai will swallow up his enemies and fire will consume them. He will destroy their offspring from earth, and their seed from the children of men.
Though they intended evil against him and devised a plot, they cannot succeed. God will make them turn their backs. He will aim his bowstrings at their faces.
Adonai will be exalted in his strength and we will sing and praise his might.
Prayer:
Your strength, God, is my strength. You helped me and I’m hollering Hosannas. You gave me exactly what I wanted; you didn’t hold back.
You filled my arms with gifts; and gave me a right royal welcome. I wanted a good life and you gave it to me, and then made it a long life as a bonus. You lifted me high and bright as a cumulus cloud, then dressed me in rainbow colors.
You pile blessings on me and make me glad when you smile.
It is no any wonder that I love my God.
I am sticking with the Best.
Imay have a fistful of enemies in one hand and a fistful of haters in the other, but You radiate with such brilliance that they cringe as before a furnace. Now the furnace swallows them whole, the fire eats them alive. You purge the earth of their progeny and wipe the slate clean. All their evil schemes, and the plots they cook up have fizzled out—every single one. You sent them packing because they couldn’t face you.
Show your strength, God, so no one can miss it. I am out singing the good news!
Psalm Twenty-two a psalm of David for the music director, on “The Doe of the Dawn,”. This is a prophetic Psalm and contains strong prophetic elements. It describes some amazing details of the cross of Christ.
Sometimes we feel forsaken by God. David cred, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” He felt that the words of his groaning were forsaken and distant from his salvation.
When Jesus – Yashua ha Mashiach – cried out those same words on the cross it was because he was the surrogate for all of humanity’s sins and God cannot tolerate sin. He was the Lamb of God – our sin substitute – who died on that cruel cross to pay for your sins and my sins.
David cried out because of his feelings just as you and I cry out to God because of our feelings. We can cry with David and say, O my God, I cried out by day, but You did not answer, I cried out by night, but there was no rest for me.
Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In You our fathers put their trust.
They trusted, and You delivered them.
They cried to you and were delivered.
In You they trusted, and were not disappointed.
Am I a worm, and not a human?
Am I a scorn of humans, despised by people?
We know that Jesus is speaking when David said the following and we can say it with both David and Jesus. “All who see me mock me.
They curl their lips, shaking their heads and say, ‘Rely on Adonai! Let Him deliver you!
Let Him rescue you—since you delight in Him!’ Yet God brought me out of the womb, and made me secure at my mother’s breasts.
From the womb I was cast on God—from my mother’s womb Yahweh has been my God.
I want my God to be close to me because trouble is near—there is no one to help. We can be much encouraged to know that Jesus suffered all that we suffer and understands what we are going through.
When David said that many bulls had surrounded him, he was foreshadowing the depth of agony on the cross.
Strong bulls of Bashan encircled me. In the Scriptures, Bashan is consistently linked to wickedness. People of stubbornness and strength were mocking and snorting They opened their mouths wide against Jesus like a tearing, roaring lion.
Jesus was poured out like water, and all his bones were disjointed on the cross. His heart was like wax—melting within his innards.
His strength was dried up like a clay pot, and his tongue clung to my jaws.
They laid him in the dust of death.
A band of evil me surrounded him.
A band of evildoers had closed in on him. They piercedhis hands and my feet. All his bones were disjointed and started out.
The spectators stared, they gaped at him. They divided his clothes among them and cast lots for his seamless garment.
But Adonai was not far off. He was Yeshua’s strength and he cried for his God to Come quickly to his aid and deliver his soul – mind, feelings, and desires – from the destroyers.
With Jesus, we ask God to save us from the enemy of our souls – from rulers and civil magistrates, who are powerful, cruel and unmerciful.
We will declare our Savior’s Name to our brothers and sisters.
We will praise him amid the congregation.
We will tell all those who fear Adonai, to praise Him!
All Jacob’s descendants, glorify Him!
We will tell all the seed of Israel to revere Him,.for He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the lowly one.
Nor has He hidden His face from him,
but when he cried to Him, He heard.
We will praise in the great assembly and fulfill our vows before those who fear Him.
The poor will eat and be satisfied and those who seek after Jesus will praise Adonai. their hearts will live forever!
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to Adonai.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
For the kingdom belongs to Adonai, and He rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship.
Everyone who goes down to the dust will kneel before Him—even the one who could not keep his own soul alive.
His posterity will serve him, telling
the next generation about our Lord.
They will come and declare His righteousness to a people yet to be born because He has done it!
Prayer: God, God, my God! Why did you dump me miles from nowhere? Doubled up with pain, I call to you all the day long. No answer. Nothing. I keep at it all night, tossing and turning. And you! Are you indifferent, above it all, leaning back on the cushions of Israel’s praise? We know you were there for our ancestors. They cried for your help and you gave it; they trusted and lived a good life.
And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm, something to step on, to squash. Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me and they shake their heads. They say,“ Let’s see how God handles this one; since God likes her/him so much, let him help her/him!”
And to think you were midwife at my birth, setting me at my mother’s breasts! When I left the womb you cradled me; since the moment of birth you’ve been my God.
Then you moved far away and trouble moved in next door.
I need a neighbor.
Herds of bulls come at me – the raging bulls stampede with their horns lowered, and nostrils flaring, like a herd of buffalo on the move.
I’m a bucket kicked over and spilled and every joint in my body has been pulled apart.
My heart is a blob of melted wax in my gut. I’m dry as a bone, and my tongue is black and swollen. They have laid me out for burial in the dirt.
Now packs of wild dogs come at me; and thugs gang up on me.
They pin me down hand and foot, and lock me in a cage—I’m a bag of bones in a cage, stared at by every passerby.
They take my wallet and the shirt off my back, and then throw dice for my clothes.
You, my God—please don’t put off my rescue! Hurry and help me!
Don’t let them cut my throat; don’t let those mongrels devour me.
If you don’t show up soon I’m done for—gored by the bulls, and meat for the lions.
Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
I’ll tell the God worshipers – sons of Jacob and daughters of Israel – to shout Hallelujah, and give glory to you. You have never let us down – never looked the other way when we were being kicked around.
You have never wandered off to do your own thing; you have been right there, listening.
Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I’ll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers.
Down-and-outers sit at your table and eat their fill.
Everyone on the hunt for you is here, praising you.
I will live it up, from head to toe and I won’t ever quit!
From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, and running back to you, my God.
Long-lost families are falling on their faces before you.
You have taken charge; from now on you have the last word.
All the power-mongers are before you —worshiping!
All the poor and powerless, too —worshiping!
Along with those who never got it together —worshiping!
Our children and their children will get in on this as the word is passed along from parent to child.
Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news—that you do what you say. Your promises are true.
Psalm Twenty-three – a psalm of David.
Yahweh is our shepherd; we shall not want. God uses sheep and their nature to describe us. Sheep are not very smart and, absent good leadership, have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. Sheep are defenseless against predators such as lions or bears. They needed a shepherd to lead them to water and pasture––and to guard them against a host of dangers. We have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. We are defenseless against spiritual predators like the spirits of anxiety, fear, and doubt. We need the Good Shepherd to guard us against a host of dangers.
He makes us lie down in green pastures. Sometimes the road is easy but even when it is hard and covered with jagged boulders, by resting in our God, we can lie down and rest and sleep, knowing that he is keeping the night watch.
He leads us beside still waters. There is peace in the midst of every storm in life because he is there saying to our souls, “Peace- be still.”
He restores our souls. When our minds are tormented with destructive thoughts, our feelings are trying to destroy us, and our desires are out of control – we can go to God and let his law restore our mind, feelings, and desires to correct thinking – bringing joy to our hearts, light to our spirituel eyes, and righteousness to our minds.
He guides us in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. God created us in his image to reflect his character to the world around us. When we walk with him on the paths of righteousness, we are guided to do the right thing and that makes life better for us and the world around us.
Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for God is with us: his rod and staff comfort us.
We can walk with our God through – not into – the shadow of death – not death itself – and not fear anything. God pulls us out of the ditches we fall into and guides us back on the right path when we lose our way.
God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. He shows our enemies that he is taking care of us and there is nothing that they can do to stop his care and protection for us. A feast will be spread before us, even while we are in the presence of those forces that oppose us.
He has anointed our heads with oil, our cups overflow. We are honored and dignified when we have our heads anointed with oil. Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit of God, and we have his abiding and protective presence. We are given even more than we need or can use.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the House of Yahweh forever.
Prayer: God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Devoted to Praise
Day Nineteen
Psalm Twenty-four is a psalm of David.
The earth is Adonai’s and all that is in it. He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may go up on the mountain of Adonai and stand in His holy place?
The person with clean hands and a pure heart. A person who has not arrogantly exalted self nor sworn deceitfully.
A humble person will receive a blessing from Adonai, and righteousness from God our Savior. Such is the generation seeking the face of Adonai.
Think about that Yahweh’s family.
Lift your heads up, you gates, and be exalted, you everlasting doors so that the King of glory may come in.
“Who is this King of glory?”
Adonai is the King of glory. He is strong and mighty. Adonai is mighty in battle!
Raise your heads, you gates, and open the everlasting doors so that the King of glory may come in.
“Who is this King of glory?”
Adonai–Tzva’ot[7]—he is the King of glory! Meditate on that, children of the living God.
Prayer: Adonai, my God, yours is the Earth and everything in it. Yours is the World and all who live on it. You built it on Ocean foundations and laid it out on River girders. Only the clean-handed and pure-hearted can reach up to you, you are so high above us all. Men who won’t cheat and women who won’t seduce can reach up to you. You stand by us and with your help we will triumph. You sent your precious son to give us his righteousness and because of that, we can draw ever closer to you.
I will tell everyone God-seekers, God-questers are victors. I will shout, “Wake up, you sleepyhead city! Wake up, you sleepyhead people! The King of Glory is ready to enter.” You are the King of Glory. You are God, armed and battle-ready.
I will cry to the sleepyhead city to wake up. I will cry to the sleepyhead people to wake up. I will tell them that the King of Glory is ready to enter.
You are this King of Glory. You are God-of-the-Angel-Armies: The King of Glory.
Devoted to Praise
Day Twenty
Psalm Twenty-five, a Psalm of David.
we, like David, can say that we will hold our heads high and look to God. He wasn’t going to do any hangdog skulking and we will take our que from him.
We can threw in our lot with God and know that our God won’t embarrass us or let our enemies get the best of us.
God won’t embarrass any of us who go out on a limb for him.
It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.
Our desire is to know how God works, to be schooled in his ways.
He will take us by the hand and lead us down the path of truth.
He is our Savior.
We will observe the milestones of his mercy and love rebuild, in our minds, the ancient landmarks!
God will forget that we sowed wild oats. He will mark us with his sign of love.
He plans only the best for us.
God is fair and just.
He corrects the misdirected and sends them in the right direction.
He gives the rejects of this world his hand and leads them step-by-step.
From now on every road we travel will take us to God.
We will follow the Covenant signs and read the charted directions.
We must keep up our God’s reputation. He has forgiven our bad lives. They have been very bad lives.
We must find out what God-worshipers are like. He tells us that those who worship him aim at perfection – the glory of God.
His worshipers settle down his promises and their children inherit a life acquainted with faith.
People who worship God are friends with God.They are the ones he confides in.
If we keep our eyes on God, we won’t trip over our own feet.
We call out to God for help when we are all alone and in big trouble.
When our hearts and minds are fighting each other we call a truce to this civil war we are having by calling out to God.
When we take a hard look at our lives of hard labor, then we ask God to lift this ton of sin from us.
God sees how many people have it in for us. He knows how viciously they hate us and he keeps watch over us and keeps us out of trouble. He won’t let us down when we run to him.
He uses all his skill to put us together – the broken pieces of our lives. We eagerly anticipate his finished product.
We look to our God to help us through and over the trouble strewn road we travel on.
Prayer:
To You, Adonai, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in You so I will not be ashamed and my enemies will not gloat over me.
Surely no one who waits for You will be ashamed.
But the treacherous without cause will be ashamed.
Show me Your ways, Adonai.
Teach me Your paths.
Guide me in Your truth, and teach me, for You are God, my salvation, and for You I wait all day.
Remember, Adonai, your compassions and your mercies—for they are from eternity.
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellion.
According to Your mercy remember me – for the sake of Your goodness, Adonai.
You are good and upright.
You direct sinners in the way.
You guide the humble in what is right and teach us your way.
All of your ways are lovingkindness and truth to those who you’re your covenant and your testimonies.
For Your Name’s sake, Adonai, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
You will instruct the person who fears you in the way we should choose.
Because I fear you, my soul abides in goodness and my offspring will inherit the land.
You make your covenant known to those who fear. My eyes are always looking to you, Adonai,
for you will pull my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart increase.
Bring me out of my distress.
See my affliction and my suffering,
and take away all my sins.
See my enemies, how many they are—they hate me with violent hatred.
Guard my soul and deliver me.
Let me not be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.
May integrity and uprightness protect me—for I wait for You.
Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles.
Psalm Twenty-six is a Psalm of David. He was praying while he was suffering, but his suffering wasn’t caused by his sin, so he prayed for vindication.
With David we can ask Adonai to clear our names when we are falsely accused, when we are living a morally pure and innocent life in our trust in Adonai and are determined to be steadfast in our trust.
We can ask Adonai to examine our inner thoughts and motives and show us if we are or are not blameless.
We can tell Yahweh that we are living a morally pure and innocent life in our trust in Adonai and are determined to be steadfast in our trust will never lose sight of his love. We can tell him that we will march in step with him and will never miss a beat.
We can tell Adonai that we don’t have any interest in hanging out with tricksters or palling around with thugs. We will shun the workers of evil and won’t deal with double-dealers.
With David, we can repeat the conviction that we are innocent of any reason that we should be receiving persecution. We have scrubbed our spiritual hands with the purest spiritual soap so we can gather in worship with Yahweh’s people. We can join hands with the others in the great circle that are dancing around your Yahwe’s altar singing God-songs at the top of our lungs and telling God-stories.
With David, we can declare our love for our God, Yahweh. When it’s time for spring cleaning, we don’t want to be swept out with the quacks and crooks – men with bags of dirty tricks or women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.
We can tell Yahweh that we will continue to live a morally pure and innocent life in our trust in him. We can tell him that we are determined to be steadfast in our trust will never lose sight of his love. We can tell him that we will march in step with him and will never miss a beat. We can tell Yahweh that we are singing his praises every chance that we get.
Prayer:
Vindicate me, Adonai, for I have walked in my integrity, and trusted in you without wavering.
Probe me, Adonai, and test me, refine my mind and my heart. for your love is always evident to me and I have walked in Your truth.
I have not sat with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I detest the company of evildoers, and do not sit with the wicked.
I will wash my hands in innocence, so I can walk around Your altar, Adonai, and hear the voice of thanksgiving while I proclaim all Your wonders.
Adonai, I love the House where You live, the place where Your glory dwells.
Do lump my soul with sinners, nor my life with people of bloodshed—in whose hands are wicked schemes, and whose right hand is full of bribes.
I will walk in my integrity. Redeem me and be gracious to me.
My feet stand on level ground.
I will praise you in the congregations of you family.
Devoted to Praise
Day Twenty-two
Psalm Twenty-seven a psalm of David.
We can say, withDavid, sinceAdonai is my light and my salvation there is no reason to fear anyone. God is all powerful – he has all the power. He is the stronghold of my life. Adonai holds my life together in his strength so there is no reason to dreed anyone. When evildoers approached me to do bodily harm both my adversaries and my foe stumbled and fell. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual enemies trip over the goodness of my God and stumble and fall.
Though the military police bang on my door, my heart will not fear.
Though war breaks out against me, even then will I be confident in my God.
I have asked one thing of Adonai,
and I will pursue it. What I want is to dwell in the House of Adonai all the days of my life, to behold his beauty and to meditate in on his character.
I know that in the day of trouble he will hide me in his shelter,
conceal me in the safety of His covering, and set me high upon his tower of strength. He raises me up so I can stand on mountains and walk on stormy seas. I am strong when I am on his shoulders because he raises me up to more than I can be.
My head be high above the enemies all around me the enemies of my soul – my intellectual, emotional, and moral being.
In his dwelling place – he dwells in me – I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy.
I will sing, yes, sing praises to Adonai.
He will hear me when I call with my voice, he will be gracious to me and answer me.
My heart asks Adonai to seek my face. I will seek the face of God – I will search out his character.
He will not hide his face from me.
He will not turn his servant away in anger.
He has been my help and will not abandon me or forsake me. He is the God of my salvation and though my even my father and my mother were to forsake me, Adonai will always be there for me.
Because of the enemies of my soul I need him to teach me his way,
and lead me on a level path.
He will not turn me over to the desire of my foes.
When false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence, I know that my God will strengthen me and I trust that I will see the goodness of Adonai in the land of the living.
I wait for Adonai. I will be strong, and my heart will take courage and wait for Adonai.
Prayer: My God, you are light, space, and zest. So, with you on my side I’m fearless. I am not afraid of anyone or anything.
When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces.
When I am overwhelmed, I’m calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool because you are my strength and my song.
I’m asking you for one thing – only one thing. I want to live with you in our house my whole life long.
I’ll contemplate your beauty; and I’ll study at your feet, the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world. It is the perfect getaway to the knowledge of you, far from the buzz of the traffic of the world.
You hold me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m offering anthems in my heart that will raise the roof of my soul.
I’m singing God-songs; and making music to you in my heart.
Listen, my God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs for you to be good to me and answer me.
When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied,
“I’m seeking him!”
So don’t hide from me now. I know that you won’t. You’ve always been right there for me; and I know that you won’t turn your back on me now.
You won’t throw me out, won’t ever abandon me. You’ve always kept the door open.
My father and mother may have walked out and left me, but you never let me go.
Point me down your highway, my blessed God and direct me along the well-lit paths of righteousness. Show the enemies of my soul that you are leading me.
I know that you won’t throw me to the dogs,
those liars who are out to get me,
filling the air with their threats.
I’m sure now I’ll see your goodness
in the exuberant earth.
Il stay close to you. I’ll take heart, and I won’t quit.
I’ll say it again, I’ll stay with you, my precious God.
[1] Matthew 11:30
[2] I Peter 2:20
[3]God Most High
[4] Think about that
[5] The grave
[6] Luke 6:27, 28
[7] The Lord of hosts
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