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Thursday, April 27, 2023

Short Reflection from Psalms 20-41

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (AG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟘:𝟙

"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!"

Trouble is certain in our life. It will come and go. But there's a God in heaven who can help us go through the trouble. Prayers like this must be made for one another.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟙:𝟙

"O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad, And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!"

I am weak but God is strong. I am prone to fall but God is near to deliver.

My faith is wanting but He remains faithful. Like David, I am and must continue to be glad and rejoice in Yahweh!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟚:𝟚

"O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest."

David, the man after God's own heart had moments in his life when God seemed so far away from him. And some people pretend to act like they are always walking with God.

And some people gave up prayer so easily. Some people got upset so easily. David wasn't. He kept praying. I think everyone will pray if God answers all the time. Whether there's an answer or not a prayerful person keeps praying!

 

[7:50 pm, 23/01/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟛:𝟞

"Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Indeed, 3 decades of my life on earth have taught me that the goodness and lovingkindness of God is better than life. This truth is deeper than hell and higher than heaven. For God is over hell and heaven!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟜:𝟙

"The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it."

God hasn't forsaken the world. The world is not bad as we think. In a sense, a lot worse and better than we can ever know. 😃

It's God's creation, and He, still, is preserving it. It's not Satan's world. It's the Lord.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟝:𝟛

"Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed."

That's why it is good to wait upon the Lord! 👍

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟞:𝟚

"Examine me, O LORD, and try me; Test my mind and my heart."

Wow, do we have faith and integrity to say like this!?

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"For my father and my mother have forsaken me, But the LORD will take me up."

Friends, family may abandon us, but God shall not.

Parents, bf/gf, spouse may even abandon us, but God shall not.

Happy is he who finds delight in the Lord. He shall not lose what He treasures most—God.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟠:𝟝

"Because they do not regard the works of the LORD Nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up."

Positively, we must regard the works of the Lord. We must give Him glory. We must be thankful to Him. That's what Romans 1:18-23 is saying also.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟚𝟡:𝟙𝟙

"The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace."

Psalms is a wonderful book. It comforts us every time we read. Look at such verse.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟘:𝟡

"What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your faithfulness?"

Last time @___________ said that David is very cunning in praying like this. But it's true also.

Who says "cunning" is bad if it's right? 😎

Who says killing is bad? Killing harmful bacteria is good but killing a human being is bad. Cunning to cheat people is bad but cunning to please God is good. Something like that...!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟙:𝟙𝟝

My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me."

This is my prayer too for tonight. Only God is great enough to deliver!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him."

This is a good verse to tell an unrepentant person that the way of sin is hard and sorrowful.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟠

"Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,"

A good reminder for the people of God to keep walking with God.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟜:𝟙𝟡

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Troubles and Problems in our lives do not mean that we are abandoned by God, they are opportunities to rejoice in God and to glorify God.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟛

"But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, And my prayer kept returning to my bosom."

Wow! What a contrast! David loved them and they hate him. May we think for the welfare of people like David!

 

[11:37, 18/08/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟞:𝟙𝟘

"O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart."

This is my prayer this morning for myself and you all. Where are our strength, comfort, and joy if not the lovingkindness of God?

 

[12:01, 18/08/2022] S.R: 𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟟:𝟚𝟙

"The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives."

Have you borrowed anything from anyone and not paid/returned/gave back still? You are a wicked person.

Have you ever borrowed and given back in time? Still, you aren't a righteous person. Be a righteous person.

[The book of Proverbs says that everyone who borrows is a slave of a lender. Why do you want to be a slave of Axis bank Or SBI by taking a loan from them? Why not try saving now and buying later on? Why not wait on God? This is what this Psalm is talking about—to wait on God.]

What does the righteous do? They don't borrow. They aren't lenders either. They are givers. No matter what if you are righteous, you can be a giver.

I have not remembered myself borrowing money from others, and I hardly lend it. But I have given it to a lot of people, of course, not much, just a few rupees. 😃

Giving is not a matter of circumstances, it's a demonstration of who you are.

I don't mean to say borrowing money or taking a loan is a sin. It depends according to circumstances. There's even a Parable of the Talents in the New Testament. But what the Proverbs says "a slave" and the Psalm says "the righteous gives" still stand correct in all situations.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟠:𝟙

"O LORD, rebuke me not in Your wrath, And chasten me not in Your burning anger."

God disciplines whom He loves. God doesn't do so in wrath. He doesn't do so in full measure. If He does who can stand against Him? Still then, discipline from the Lord comes like abandonment or in His fury for a moment. David knew what it means to be a Christian (man of God) in this world.

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟛𝟡:𝟙𝟛

"Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again Before I depart and am no more."

Have you been feeling abandoned by God? Has your plan and dreams been shattered? Don't rebel against God by running away. Rather like David, ask God to let you smile again!

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟜𝟘:𝟚𝟞-𝟙𝟟

"Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God."

Remember, the saints of God in the Bible had moments when they had a ‘far away from God’ experience. A psalm like this should encourage us that "I am not alone; godly people faced such situations."

 

𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝟜𝟙:𝟙

"How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble."

There are a lot of helpless people and I don't seem to have helped them at all. But there are a lot of people who need help here and there, and those, I can understand.

Still, then, to help others even in times of difficulty is the intention I desire to think of.