Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 13-21

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟛:𝟙

"How long, O Yahweh? Will You forget me forever?

  How long will You hide Your face from me?"

Psalm 13 has only 6 verses, in which David's anguish spirit is expressed with a lamentation of "How long?" 4 times (v1-2). Spurgeon suggested it can be called a Howling Psalm because of that!

However, like all lament Psalms even in this short 6-verse Psalm, David managed to pray (3-4) and experienced the peace of mind in God (5-6).

Hmm! Too much howling before God. Short prayer for Deliverance. And instantaneous peace in this short Psalm, interesting!

Prayers can be short and still be genuine and effective! 😇 We don't need to pray for 3 hours early in the morning like Luther 🙂

 

ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟙𝟜:𝟙

"The wicked fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They act corruptly, they commit abominable deeds;

There is no one who does good."

There's a preacher in Shillong who says that April 1 is an Atheist Day because they are fools! 😂

BTW, the Bible has 3 types of fools and the Hebrew Bible uses different words for them, which many English Bibles do not differentiate.

I am quoting from LSB (a new translation that will be released next year). LSB translated uniquely for each of those words, as "Fools" "Ignorant Fools" and "Wicked Fools" bringing out their nuances. My only complaint is that they should have made them a compound word with the hyphen "ignorant-fools" and "wicked-fools" because those who don't refer to their Hebrew Bible will think that the first word is an adjective, a new word. So, whenever we see them, let's remember it's just a one-word.

So, even in this Ps. 14:1, "wicked fool" is "wicked-fool"

And this fool is not an ignorant-fool or a simple-fool, he may have a high IQ, he may be a professor in a university, a doctor, or a CEO. But he is a fool, a wicked-fool, because he deceives himself, living on his own, not honoring God.

Some people are simple-fool, ignorant-fool, and wicked-fool combined! 😬 May we never meet such people!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟝:𝔸 ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕕.

1 O Yahweh, who may sojourn in Your tent?

  Who may dwell on Your holy mountain?

2 He who walks blamelessly, and works righteousness,

  And speaks truth in his heart.

3 He does not slander with his tongue,

  Nor does evil to his neighbor,

  Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,

  But who honors those who fear Yahweh;

  He swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 He does not put out his money at interest,

  Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

  He who does these things will never be shaken.

Very clear, very nice, very short! One of the must-memorize Psalms!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟞: 𝕄𝕚𝕜𝕙𝕥𝕒𝕞 𝕠𝕗 𝔻𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕕

1 "Keep me, O God, for I take refuge in You.

2 O my soul, you have said to Yahweh, “You are my Lord;

  I have no good without You.”

3 As for the saints who are in the earth,

  They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight."

Interpreters across the centuries have wrestled to understand what "Mikhtam" means, and is still uncertain. Well, many have decided to understand it as "gold." If so, then, this is a Golden Psalm, and yes so because of its content.

v3 is remarkable. David would not have a great fellowship with God only, he delighted in God's people also.

He who says he loves God but does not love God’s children [Christians] does not really know what he is saying.

He who says he loves Christ and does not love Christ’s bride [Church] does not know what he is saying!

A godly man loves God and loves His saints! We Christians, all of us, are the saints of God, btw.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟟:𝟛

"You have tested my heart;

  You have visited me by night;

  You have tried me and You find nothing;

  I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress."

What a testimony, confession of innocence and piety!

C. H. S wrote that David would not be a man after God's own heart if he hadn't been a man of prayer. MSB mentioned that there are 17 prayer points embedded in this Psalm 17.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟠:𝟛𝟛-𝟛𝟜

33       "He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,

           And sets me upon my high places.

34       He trains my hands for battle,

           So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze."

A high school friend of mine said that Bible could not possibly be the word of God because of such verse as 34. He wanted a lovely God.

The word of God continues to offend people. Indeed, it's a stumbling block for some, and a stone that will crush them.

Blessed are the ones who do not stumble upon this stone but come to seek refuge under it. And sing "Rock of Ages, cleft for me; let me hide myself on Thee!"

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟜

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."

Another great psalm to commit to our memory! If you are a family man (or when you are) encourage your children to memorize some Psalms by heart.

At least for this Psalm we already have the song! What a wonderful ending to this Psalm. I've used this verse in many of my prayers! And would love to hear more from others as well!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟚𝟘:𝟟

"Some boast in chariots and some in horses,

           But we will boast in the name of Yahweh, our God."

David prayed for the Davidic king or Davidic general of the army of the people of God that God will grant him victory. And so resolved to trust in God, to stick with God, and to fight with God!

It is consistent with how he had fought Goliath. He didn't go with armor or chariots; he went in the name of Yahweh!

Many had misunderstood the story of David and Goliath. Ps. 20:7 is a great supplementary declaration to that story! That it is the fear of God in a person and the power of God that brings victory!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟛

"Be exalted, O Yahweh, in Your strength;

           We will sing and praise Your might."

Psalms 20 and 21 are closely related. Technically, they are called Royal Psalms. They’re about a Davidic king, a blessed man, faithful, and God will establish his kingdom!

While Psalm 20 is a prayer before the battle, Psalm 21 is a praise for the answered prayer! Btw, it's longer! We often pray and pray, but hardly give enough thanks to God for answered prayers. We give credit to this and that. How long do we pray and how long do we praise? Hmmm!