Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 94-99

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

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟜:𝟙𝟠-𝟙𝟡

"If I should say, “My foot has stumbled,”

Your lovingkindness, O Yahweh, will hold me up.

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,

Your consolations delight my soul."

I'd like to agree with Spurgeon that this psalm is appropriate to follow after Ps. 93, which painted for us the sovereignty of God, and here, the Psalmist is asking God to judge the wicked.

As I read this Psalm, the thought division is obvious. The psalmist addresses God regarding the wicked v1-7. Then he addresses the wicked in v8-11. And then he reflects upon God and preaches to himself in v12-23. Oh! How we ought to preach to ourselves often!

And in the spirit of this Psalmist, v18-19 stands out to me as I read this evening, not because this is my experience these days, but because of the statement of faith the Psalmist professes! Everyone experiences the first line of each verse, but only deep contemplation on God will help us experience the accompanying lines. They expressed the same situation with contrasting emotions.

Or as Spurgeon puts it again, "The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay!" May Yahweh be our joy and stronghold!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟝:𝟞

"Come, let us worship and bow down,

Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker."

This is one of the Psalms I have read it publicly many times before the start of the church service. How captivating this Psalm is!

I think I even learn a song by Don Moen taken out from this Psalm. Perhaps this Psalm was written by David because Heb. 4:7 quoted it to be, but I won't die defending his authorship!

We often find ourselves grumbling and complaining when situations are not going our way. Well, the Psalmist encourages us to worship God instead of hardening our hearts.

Complaining is easy, but worshiping God in an uneasy situation is what godly people do. Complaining does not help. Even Job, who btw, was the perfect candidate to complain found himself talking too much when God decided to interrogate him.

Thus v6. Let's bow down, oh, even let's kneel down before Him. Because God is our God, and we are His people. He is doing everything for our own good.

Hengstenberg called this verse 6 to be "the beating heart of the Psalm."

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟞:𝟛

"Declare His glory among the nations,

His wonders among all peoples."

Spurgeon called this Psalm a "Missionary Psalm." Indeed, remember to read this in mission Sunday or event!

W. H. Gould called it the "millennial anthem" because of the beauty of this Psalm!

Even TMAI released a Devotional Book in December 2019 with its title taken out from v3 "Declaring His Glory Among the Nations," I am honored to be asked to contribute 4 chapters!

Indeed, Gospel is for the whole world, yes, even for those beggars in the streets of Delhi! I haven't known anyone who has reached out to beggars and homeless of Delhi with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I haven't attempted so far on my part!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"Hate evil, you who love Yahweh,

Who keeps the souls of His holy ones;

He delivers them from the hand of the wicked."

The saints of God are known not only for their love but for what they hate. In the Scripture, God is known for His love as well as for His hate. [That's why ‘smart’ people like Christopher Hitchens say that Yahweh is not great at all!]

If we love good, we hate evil. If we love righteousness, we hate wickedness. If we love holiness, we hate sin.

Phinehas speared through the bodies of Zimri and the Midianite woman, and God made a covenant of peace with him for that.

Samuel hacked Agag into pieces. Paul anathematized those who preached another gospel.

True love hates evil!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟠:𝟜

"Make a loud shout to Yahweh, all the earth;

Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises."

Who doesn't love the hymn of Isaac Watts, ‘Joy to the World’? It is taken out from this Psalm.

Spurgeon called this Psalm a "Coronation Hymn." Hengstenberg observed that this is the only Psalm among the 150 that is simply entitled "A Psalm" and Andrew Bonar observed as if this is the Psalm of the Psalms. Because it is about the coming King!

The mood of this Psalm is gladness and noises of celebration. It has almost nothing to do with the wicked, not even the punishment of the wicked, because God's joy is greater than any suffering experienced. However, v9 ends with a little hint on the punishment of the wicked.

A few weeks ago, I was terribly annoyed with a housefly that disturbed my sleep again and again. I tried to hunt it down many times many ways but with no success. I thought to myself that the day I catch that fly, I will not only kill it but crash it into a gel or burn it to ashes.

One day, I managed to thump it down to my floor, lying dead in one piece. Well, I no longer wanted to smash it to gel, nor to burn it into ashes. I was just glad that my ordeal was over.

The coming of Jesus is a matter of joy for who He is to us than what He will do to the wicked. It's a celebration indeed!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟡

v3. "Let them praise Your great and awesome name;

  Holy is He."

v5. "Exalt Yahweh our God

  And worship at the footstool of His feet;

  Holy is He."

v9. "Exalt Yahweh our God

  And worship at His holy mountain,

  For holy is Yahweh our God."

This psalm is rightly called HOLY, HOLY, HOLY PSALM! The thrice Holy Psalm. The theme of this Psalm is the Holiness of Yahweh! Repeated thrice as a refrain.

The Holiness of God demands our worship, our exaltation of Him.

If the Holiness of God fills us with dread, remember He is a Forgiving God v8.

But if His forgiveness makes us think that God is just nice to forgive all our mistakes, remember no sins go unpunished v8.

God forgave Moses, Aaron, and Samuel but punished them as well (v6-8).

In one of our Bible Reading Groups, we made a commitment to update regularly. Some didn't. I forgave them and still required them to pay fine, ₹100. How do I forgive? By not expelling them but letting them continue.

My dad forgave all the mistakes I did in my childhood, but he had beaten me black and blue many times.

Forgiveness without punishment is: I am forgiven of my sins and am spared from the eternal wrath to come!

Here on earth, there will be consequences for everything we do, but there's mercy for those who trust Him!

David was forgiven, but God killed his child! On and on....

God is indeed Awesome. v3.

Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 90-93

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

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟘:𝟙𝟜

"O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,

That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Who does not love this Psalm? I have heard a lot of people quoting v12, and I'm sure most people remember this Psalm by that verse. However, v14 stands out to me tonight!

First, this is the oldest Psalm ever written. It's by Moses. Moses contrasted the frailty of man's life to the eternal existence of God. Even if I could live a thousand years, I will never have enough wisdom to live securely than to dwell in the everlasting God. He remains secure.

And I would never live even 200 years, perhaps 70, and therefore, the wisest thing for me is to seek wisdom from God to live this short life in the most meaningful way. And the most meaningful life for me is, like the Psalmist, to enjoy God all the days of my life. I love the way how he prayed, "Satisfy us" It was a prayer, a request to God, not a commandment Moses was giving to his congregation. Oh! How man needs to find satisfaction in God!

My thirst, my hunger, like David is after God's mercy. That doesn't mean I have no inclination to sin. And btw, whenever we sinned, I am sure it was sin we thirsted after and committed it to be quenched.

O satisfy my being with Your mercy, O Yahweh!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟙:𝟙-𝟚

 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to Yahweh, ‘My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!’”

This Psalm is loved even by Satan. He misapplied v11-12 in tempting Jesus to jump down.

The theme of this psalm is similar to Ps. 90 — God is a dwelling place. And the Jewish Rabbis attributed this Psalm also to Moses.

If God is my dwelling place, and I am under His protection, then surely v7 follows: a thousand, ten thousand may fall around me, but I shall be secured. And God has affirmed that truth in v15-16.

Is it just a poetic style that this Psalm ended with the word "My Salvation" in the last line of the last verse? No. Even the Hebrew Bible ended like that!

In this world, God has not promised us peace and prosperity, but rather a persecution and hatred from worldly forces. But God has promised us eternal life, and deliverance from the wrath to come. Ten thousand will fall, we shall not.

Even in this present world, God has shown us His protection; we are still being preserved by His power. Or else, left to ourselves, we would have lost our salvation a long time ago, and would have clenched our fists against God and have cursed Him. But God preserves our faith in Him.

Indeed, I cannot even jump out from the hands of Jesus who holds me fast. Nor Satan [who is much more powerful than me] can snatch me away from the love of God.

Even in my personal life, in a personal situation, I have experienced the physical protection of God. Others may interpret it differently in their life, but in "my" life, and in "my" walk with God, staying safe and sound without panic when ten thousand (actually millions) are dying of coronavirus in Delhi and the world, makes me love this Psalm.

There is security, safety, and satisfaction in dwelling in God.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟚:𝟜

"For You, O Yahweh, have made me glad by what You have done,

I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands."

This Psalm is so appropriate and wonderful to sing on the Sabbath day, that some Jews claimed that Adam sang this Psalm on the 7th day of the creation week! Well, I disagree, it's impossible! Sorry, Jews!

C. Wordsworth rightly observed that Yahweh is mentioned 7 times in this Psalm, and so, it's all the more fitting to be sung on the Sabbath day.

I think even Hillsong's Darlene Zschech composed "My Jesus My Savior" from this Psalm, particularly v4. What a wonderful Psalm this is!

The psalmist praises God for His wondrous work. It's a wondrous work of Creation, Providence, Justice, and Salvation. All in the manner of His lovingkindness and His faithfulness. Yes, I praise God for the same reason.

v6 says that a senseless man and a fool do not understand the works of God. I'd be this person when I don't thank God, even when I see the wicked springing up like the grass.

Because God has a greater plan for those who dwell in Him — to flourish like a palm tree, like cedars of Lebanon, which are far more beautiful than grass, of course!

Thus v4, Personalizing, "me" "I" the psalmist sings unto God.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟡𝟛:𝟜-𝟝

"The rivers have lifted up, O Yahweh,

The rivers have lifted up their voice,

The rivers lift up their pounding waves.

More than the voices of many waters,

Than the mighty breakers of the sea,

Yahweh on high is mighty."

One of the shortest 2 Psalms in Book IV, and it's about the unparalleled majesty of God. And surely, we can quickly say "Amen" when it's about God's power!

Notice the repetition, "the rivers have lifted up" 3 times. The real challenge looming. Who does not fear the raging waves, tempest, and tsunamis? We even used it as a metaphor to express our calamity in life.

God once destroyed the world, not by anything but by a flood. Rivers lifting up is the imagery of chaos, injustices, wickedness, blasphemies, rebellions, going on.

Well, God is not in panic. He is sitting peacefully on His throne (v2). He is mightier than Tsunami or any overflowed river!

Yes, the rivers have lifted up. The noises of the raging waves are deafening! There will be "Peace! Be still" for those who are in the boat of Christ!

Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 84-89

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

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟜:𝟙𝟘

"For better is a day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

I would choose to stand at the threshold of the house of my God

Than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

There are some scripture portions I have committed to memory just because I happened to hear such and such people telling it to be their favorite Bible verse.

Well, in SSEU days, I heard that this was one of the favorite verses of @______ if she forgets now, most probably she was lying then! 😆😂

Well, Spurgeon called this Psalm ‘The Pearl of Psalms.’ I notice the repeated word "Blessed" (4,5,12), which serves as the division of this Psalm.

Oh! The joy and satisfaction of worshipping and finding rest in God's House. Unfortunately, many people in our times are thanking Coronavirus for social distancing.

Forget about entering the house of God. Forget about sleeping or sitting comfortably. Even to stand by the door is better than anywhere, definitely better than Mumbai or Los Angeles!

He even was envious of the sparrows that they got to live in the temple. I remember Jesus telling the disciples that God's care for us is greater than the sparrows!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟝:𝟟-𝟠

"Show us, O Yahweh, Your lovingkindness,

And give us Your salvation.

Let me hear what the God, Yahweh, will speak;

For He will speak peace to His people, to His holy ones;

But let them not turn back to folly."

Another beautiful lament Psalm of trust. Moving from Past tense to present tense to future tense. From plural us to individual me.

Indeed, what's everything without the lovingkindness of God? What do we want to hear from an angry God, if not the word of peace!

Many seek love from here and there. Many want to hear about this and that. Yet God has demonstrated His love for us on the cross. There I find love and peace to live on. And there must I drink for my strength every day!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟞:𝟚, 𝟙𝟙

"Keep my soul, 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕒 𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖;

O You my God, save Your slave who trusts in You."

This is the only Davidic Psalm in Book III. It's a Psalm of Lament, but interestingly, it's not lamenting about his sins, rather he declares that he is a holy one! Wow! I think of Apostle Paul, who also said that his conscience doesn't convict him of any sins to condemn himself! What a life to imitate!

How does one achieve this? Well, I see other features of David's life. He lives in fear of God. It's the fear of God that makes us holy! So, in v11,

"Teach me Your way, O Yahweh;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕟𝕒𝕞𝕖."

David is praying to increase the fear of God in him. I remember Paul Washer said, "Listen to me. Listen to me" (in his high-pitched voice), "Pray, ‘Increase in me to fear You,’ that's it!" It’s my prayer too, that Yahweh will increase in me to fear Him!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟟:𝟝

"But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;

And the Most High Himself will establish her."

What a privilege those born of Zion have! v3 goes on to say that Zion is the city of God, chosen by God, favored by God above all cities on earth.

I don't know what that privilege looks like. [If I were an American, I would have lots of privileges which I as an Indian don't have.] But it must be great!

As I reflect upon how God chose a city to be His, I also remember how He chose me to be His child. 1John 3:1 called us the children of God. And one day, a child of God will surely dwell in the city of God having all the privileges of the city and of the son!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟠:𝟙

"O Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and throughout the night before You."

Students of Psalms have rightly pointed out that this is an unusual Psalm because lament psalm usually ends with a note of confidence (expressing trust or calling to trust, or praising Yahweh), but Ps. 88 ends with a kind of a complaint against God.

However, v1 reveals that it is a prayer of someone who [continually] trusts God in times of unending misery. New day, new week, new month didn't bring him a different situation. God seemed to set against him. Yet he kept trusting God and kept praying for God's lovingkindness (v11)!

Do we worship God for His blessing? If God slays us, will we still worship Him? Job said He will, and did worship God throughout his prosperity, suffering, and vindication! And this psalmist too. And so will I! Help me, God!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟡:𝟙

"I will sing of the lovingkindnesses of Yahweh forever;

From generation to generation I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth."

The last psalm and the 2nd longest psalm of Book III. How fitting it is!

God's promise to David is aborted. But how could God do that? He is not a man to be unfaithful to His covenant even if the whole world be found unfaithful. The Psalmist laments this situation, but with confidence in God.

He begins and ends by praising God. And this praise is from such a situation where God seems to have abandoned His people. Indeed, if this psalmist can worship God in confidence in such a situation, we can worship God in all situations, because God's lovingkindness endures.

I am glad that I was taught a song taken out from this psalm, especially verse 1 when I was 8 or 9 years old, and I still remember it. It's a wonderful hymn of praise. I also remember "Blessed be the name of the Lord" which is taken out from Job's confession in times of his adversity. Songs of praise from adversities are powerful. Also, the hymn "It is well with my soul" which Spafford wrote following a family tragedy!

Faith shines brightest and most beautiful in adversity, it looks so!

Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

Bible Reading Reflection from Psalms 78-83

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

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟟𝟠:𝟙𝟡

"Then they spoke against God;

They said, “𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝙶𝚘𝚍 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊 𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜?"

The biblical canon is arranged in a beautiful structure. Asaph has been experiencing a lot of things from the beginning of this Book III.

In Ps. 73-77, he has recounted a lot of struggles he has as a believer. Will God do something to wicked people? Will God vindicate the righteous? Can God do wonders and demonstrate mercy as he had done before?

And now in Ps. 78, he moves from self-contemplation to teaching. From a philosopher to a teacher. In v1, he calls people to listen to him! As if to say: Don't teach until you have done your homework/research 🙂

He recalls how Israelites questioned the power and goodness of God (v19), and how they were stiff-necked even when God stooped down to answer even their stupid question by providing them with what they were asking.

Well, God can! And will always be powerful and faithful. And God destroys the wicked (v66) and preserves the righteous (v70-72).

Asaph wants his people to know the goodness of God, that they may not envy the prosperity of the wicked and be like the world (like their rebellious fathers v8) but to set their hope in God v7, because He will remain good, powerful and faithful to preserve them!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟟𝟡:𝟝

"How long, O Yahweh?

Will You be angry forever?

Will Your jealousy burn like fire?"

This Psalm is related to Ps. 74. Last time, I mentioned, there's no mention of any personal or national sin in Ps 74. Here's, the difference, in this Psalm, v8-9 is the confession of sins.

It's a Psalm of Lament, "How Long?" ESV Study Bibles notes that this is the most occurring question (nearly 20 times) in the whole collection of Psalms.

Have you ever lamented? Godly people always lament. Do you know that there's even a lamentation in heaven? Revelation 6:9-11. Those dead souls, who have received white robes, cried out with a loud voice, "How long, O Lord?" And of course, godly lamentations always lead us to hope v13, because their lamentations, their imprecatory prayers are made for His name's sake v9.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟘:𝟛,𝟟,𝟙𝟡

"O God, restore us

And cause Your face to shine upon us, that we would be saved."

Three times it's repeated as a refrain. And what a prayer for mercy!  Begging God to be gracious to them again.

A wonderful word picture of "Shining Face". Nobody wants a gloomy face. Somebody should compose a song on this refrain! v18 indicates that the people had turned away from God, and enemies were plundering them like a wild boar in a vineyard.

It's the mercy of God and the grace of God that strengthen us to stand firm in our faith!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟙:𝟙-𝟛

   "Sing for joy to God our strength;

   Make a loud shout to the God of Jacob.

   Lift up a song of praise, strike the tambourine,

   The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.

   Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

   At the full moon, on our feast day.

Oh! Indeed, Uncle Asaph. Enough of lamentation from Ps.73 till Ps.80, it's time for jubilation. It's right to lament but we must also proclaim God's faithfulness. Asaph was not calling for celebration because everything around them has suddenly changed, but because of the testimony of the past!

Circumstances hardly change, but our mood can change, let's remember that!

And interestingly, Asaph also reminded the people of their sins and rebellion (v11-16).

It's like inviting for a birthday party and lashing them out of their past sins, which of course we never do, but God does! True happiness, true worship is based on our confession of God's faithfulness. And God's faithfulness is magnified when we confess who we are before God. The undeserving ones being called to a party should obviously be jubilant and be praising God.

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟚:𝟛-𝟜

Give justice to the poor and the orphan;

Justify the afflicted and destitute.

Protect the poor and needy;

Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked."

This Psalm is like Ps. 2. God shall judge the rulers of this world. In the end, justice will be served. Social injustices around us, what can we do? Well, I would like to advise as I always tell the environmental activist, first deal with it in our context. Or in the word of our Lord, let's remove the enormous plank from our eyes, and then we will first see clearly; then second, we will be able to remove the tiny speck from others' eyes. And that not my kneeling [BLM], not by tweeting, not by the slogan, not by marching rallies, but by being saturated with the Gospel.

How can man oppress one another? Both are created in the image of God! In the universe of God, Elon Musk's wealth is nothing; Einstein's brain is nothing; Alexander's prowess is nothing; Caesar's popularity is nothing. They look huge to common people, but they are like a bucket of water (and ours, a spoonful) in the mighty ocean. Even a million buckets of water will not make a difference in the earth's ocean.

In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the king despised the servant who wasn't willing to forgive his own servant when the King had forgiven him. God despises those who oppress fellow humans! Christian leadership is not even lording over others.

In this fallen world with my unredeemed flesh, sometimes I am the oppressor in some situations and the victim in some situations! And that's everybody!

 

ℙ𝕊𝔸𝕃𝕄 𝟠𝟛:𝟜

"They have said, ‘Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation,

That the name of Israel be remembered no more.’"

ɢᴏᴏᴅʙʏᴇ ᴜɴᴄʟᴇ ᴀsᴀᴘʜ! Thank you for your 12 Psalms! Your Psalms are my prayers too.

That's the end of the eloquent writer singer Asaph! And this last Psalm is a fitting ending. He prayed for the deliverance of Israel from all her enemies. Even today, some of the leaders of the Arab nations are calling for wiping away Israel, to annihilate them. It was attempted many times. Yet Asaph's prayer was definitely being answered. There are no Canaanites, Edomites, or Philistines now, but Israel remains to testify that Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting.

Asaph’s prayer is to testify that Yahweh is the Most High over all the earth (v18) that nations will come to know Him. And indeed, we have come to know Yahweh.

Asaph’s prayer is God-centred in contrast to most of our self-centred prayers. And evangelistic too!

𝚃𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚣𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙶𝚘𝚍'𝚜 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎, 𝙰𝚖𝚎𝚗!