Psalm 73:1-23
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. 7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. 8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. 11 And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches. 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. 16 When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me- 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes, so, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. 22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.
Psalm 73 is the start of Book III and is known as a psalm of trust with some features of the wisdom psalms. The psalm is unusual in that it tells a story about the Psalmist Asaph's struggle with envy, doubts, and his faith in God. Asaph was the leader of one of David's Levitical choirs. He collected Psalms 73-83 but may not have written all of them. The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 the temptation to be envious of the wicked (v. 1); #2 a description of the wicked (v. 4); #3 the realization that the end of the wicked is the balancing factor (v. 15); #4 the psalmist's regret over his uncertainty (v. 21); #5 a renewed resolve to trust in God alone (vs. 25, 26); #6 the destruction of the wicked (v. 27); #7 a renewed trust in God (v. 28).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 73:17 "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." It was when the Psalmist entered the "sanctuary" that his mind and vision were renewed. The word "sanctuary" in Hebrew is the word miqdash, mik-dawsh'; or miqqedash, mik-ked-awsh'; (Exod. 15:17). It means a consecrated thing or place, especially a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum. It is translated - chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary. Reading Exodus 25:8 helps us understand why the "sanctuary" was so important: "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them," as you can see from this verse God desirous to dwell among His people. The word "dwell" in Hebrew has the idea of lodging. In other words, God wants to permanently hang out with us so that we know what is on His heart.
Before understanding Psalm 73:17 we need to see that two strong themes wind their way through the verses prior to verse 17: #1 the wicked prosper, leaving faithful people wondering why they bother to be good, and #2 the wealth of the wicked looks so inviting that faithful people may wish they could trade places. But these two themes come to unexpected ends, for the wealth of the wicked suddenly loses its power at death and the rewards for the good suddenly take on eternal value. What seemed like wealth is now waste and what seemed worthless now lasts forever. Only God can bring about this conversion of heart, soul, and mind. The Good News: this can happen by confessing who Jesus is - Romans 10:9 (KJV) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." As a result of being saved you now become a dwelling place for God to "lodge" with you. I close with the reminder that Paul gave to the Corinthians Church:
1 Cor. 3:16-17 (KJV)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Cor. 6:19 (KJV)
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
I pray that your heart would be converted today so that you can be clear in mind and vision. God does not want you to dwell on the wicked but rather lodge with Him and His provision.
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 74:1-23
A Contemplation of Asaph.
1 O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed- this Mount Zion where You have dwelt. 3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; they set up their banners for signs. 5 They seem like men who lift up axes among the thick trees. 6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once, with axes and hammers. 7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. 8 They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them altogether." They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. 9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet; nor is there any among us who knows how long. 10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? 11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. 12 For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. 14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. 15 You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. 16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. 17 You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. 18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. 19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. 20 Have respect to the covenant; for the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. 21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. 22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. 23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; the tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.
Psalm 74 is known as a lament psalm. The psalm is a powerful presentation of Hebrew poetry that describes God's action in the past and the desire of His people for Him to act in the present.
In some ways, Ps. 75 may be regarded as the Lord's answer to the difficult questions of Ps. 74. The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 a community lament over a foreign invasion (v. 1); #2 a community complaint that there appears to be no hope (v. 9); #3 a recounting of God's historic victories against evil powers (v. 12); #4 a petition for God to remember His covenant and deliver His people (v. 18); #5 a call for God to act on His own behalf against His enemies (vs. 22, 23).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 74:10 "O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?" 11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
Before the psalmist finds hope and comfort in rehearsing God's mighty power in the past on behalf of His people, he ask 3 questions. #1 How long will the adversary reproach, #2 Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever, #3 Why do you withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? From our perspective, God sometimes seems slow to intervene on our behalf. But what might appear slow to us is good timing from God's perspective. It's easy to become impatient while waiting for God to act, but we must never give up on His Sovereignty. When God is silent and you are in deep anguish, follow the method in this psalm. Review the great acts of God throughout Biblical history; then review what He has done for His people. This will remind you that God is at work, not only in history, but also in your life today. Like the Psalmist, it may be OK to ask the question but make sure you follow up with reminding yourself what God has done already. For instance, He divided the Red Sea by His strength to make an easy route for the Jews escaping from Egypt. Then when the Egyptian sea serpents, that is, Pharaoh's soldiers, tried to follow, He caused the waters to return to normal and drowned the hosts of the enemy. He crushed the heads of Leviathan, the monstrous crocodile that symbolized Egyptian power, and the corpses of the soldiers, washed up on the shores of the sea, became food for the vultures and beasts of the desert. He broke open springs and brooks in the wilderness, and dried up the Jordan so the people could enter the Promised Land. Day and night are under His control, and the sun, moon, and stars serve by His appointment. It was He who arranged the geography and topography of the earth, and the seasons are controlled by Him.
I pray that you would take time to declare and praise the mighty acts of God. He is GREAT and GREATLY to be PRAISED.
Psalm 145:4 (KJV)
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
Psalm 150:2 (KJV)
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Love in Christ,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 75:1-10
To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." a Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1 We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. 2 "When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. 3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. special rtab Selah 4 "I said to the boastful, Do not deal boastfully, and to the wicked, Do not lift up the horn. 5 Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck. " 6 For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is fully mixed, and He pours it out; surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down. 9 But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 "All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted."
Psalm 75 is known as a psalm of praise that contains a lively interchange between the people, the psalmist, and the Lord. In some ways this psalm may be regarded as God's answer to the questions presented in Psalm 74. The structure of the psalm is as following: #1 the people's praise of God for the sense of His presence (v. 1); #2 God's announcement of His sovereign determination to judge the earth at the proper time (v. 2); #3 the people's declaration that God is the true Judge (v. 6); #4 God's declaration of His intention to bring final judgment (v. 10).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 75:1 "We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near." The idea of Giving "Thanks" in this verse indicates public acknowledgment of God. No matter what we think should be going on, it is always good to give thanks. The bottom line is that God will act when He is ready. Children have difficulty grasping the concept of time. "It's not time yet" is not a reason they easily understand because they only comprehend the present. As limited human beings, we can't understand God's perspective about time. We want everything now, unaware that God's plans and timing are better. When God is ready, He will do what needs to be done, not what we would like Him to do. We may be as impatient as children, but we must not doubt the wisdom of God's timing. We must wait for God to reveal His plan. We can't take matters into our own hands but rather we must learn from this psalm to "give thank...for [His] wondrous works." God Himself is ready to intervene on the part of His people and show His wonderful works to the people of God. All God's wondrous works declare that He is near to deliver His chosen ones and to punish His foes. All His mighty miracles give proof that He cares.
I pray that you would rest in God's timing today by turning your focus on giving thanks and praise to the ONE who cannot fail.
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 76:1-12
To the Chief Musician. On Stringed Instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1 In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. 2 In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion. 3 There He broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle. special rtab Selah 4 You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted were plundered; they have sunk into their sleep; and none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands. 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. 7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. special rtab Selah 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. 11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
Psalm 76 is known as a psalm of praise with a strong focus on the fear of God. This psalm praises God for His awesome power. It was most likely written to celebrate the defeat of Sennacherib's army after he invaded Judah (2 Kings 18:13-19, 37). The psalm has four movements: #1 a celebration of the center of worship in Jerusalem (v. 1); #2 a celebration of the victories of God against His enemies (v. 4); #3 a description of the fear of the earth at the anger of God (v. 7); #4 an exhortation to the righteous to worship the Lord (vs. 11, 12).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 76:11 "Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared." The Hebrew word for "vow" is the word nadar, (naw-dar'). It means to promise (positively, to do or give something to God) :- (make a) vow. In light of the inexpressible greatness and glory of the Lord, the people of Judah are exhorted to make vows to the Lord their God, and to pay them. Therefore the psalmist is instructing the righteous in the true worship of the sovereign Lord of creation. Make vows: These are vows of praise, sacrifice, and faithful living (Ps. 61:5, 8; 66:13; Heb. 13:15). The Psalmist explains that as one who might bring presents to a king (Psalm 72:10), so the righteous should bring their gifts to God; the ultimate gift being the dedication of their lives to the service of God. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
I pray that you would have a fresh awareness that God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for you. He wants you to be transformed and renewed in your mind, so that you are living to honor and obey Him. Because He wants only what is best for you, and because He gave His Son to make your new life possible, I pray that you would joyfully give yourself as a living sacrifice for His service.
In His Service,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 77:1-20
To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 I cried out to God with my voice- To God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. special rtab Selah 4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? 8 Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? special rtab Selah10 And I said, "This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? 14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. 15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. special rtab Selah 16 The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. 18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. 20 You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Psalm 77 is known a lament psalm from a troubled believer. It is marked by a sense of inward trouble and reflection. Key terms in the psalm are the verbs "to remember" and "to meditate." The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 a cry to God (v. 1); #2 doubts (v. 4); #3 a question: Has God forgotten? (v. 7); #4 focus on the goodness of God (v. 10); #5 remembrance of the incomparability of God (v. 13); #7 remembrance that God is Lord of the sea (v. 16).
The verses that stand out to me today are Psalm 77:11-12 " I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds." Remembering and meditating on God's miracles and faithfulness sustained Israel through their difficulties. They knew that God was capable and trustworthy. In this psalm Asaph cried out to God for courage during a time of deep distress. It was when the Psalmist began to remember and meditate on God's works that a shift takes place in verses 11 and 12. The source of Asaph's distress (v. 4) was his doubt (vs. 7-9). He pled, "I cried out to God for help." But in Psalm 77:13-20, the "I" is gone. As Asaph expressed his requests to God, his focus changed from thinking of himself to worshiping God: "You are the God who performs miracles" (Psalm 77:14). Only after he put aside his doubts about God's holiness and care for him (vs. 13-14) did he eliminate his distress (v. 20). As we pray to God, he shifts our focus from ourselves to him.
I pray that when you meet new trials in your life that you would learn to review in your mind how good God has been to you, and this will strengthen your faith. The truth is, the more you learn to remember and mediate, the greater your peace and fruitfulness.
Love in Christ,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 78:1-72
A Contemplation Of Asaph.
1 Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. 5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; 6 That the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, 7 That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments; 8 And may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God. 9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God; they refused to walk in His law, 11 And forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them. 12 Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap. 14 In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance like the depths. 16 He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 But they sinned even more against Him by rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. 18 And they tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy. 19 Yes, they spoke against God: they said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, He struck the rock, so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?" 21 Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, 22 Because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation. 23 Yet He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 Had rained down manna on them to eat, and given them of the bread of heaven. 25 Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; and by His power He brought in the south wind. 27 He also rained meat on them like the dust, feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; 28 And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. 29 So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them their own desire. 30 They were not deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their mouths, 31 The wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of them, and struck down the choice men of Israel. 32 In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days He consumed in futility, and their years in fear. 34 When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God. 35 Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, and they lied to Him with their tongue; 37 For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. 38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; 39 For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again. 40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! 41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43 When He worked His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan; 44 Turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink. 45 He sent swarms of flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. 46 He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust. 47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He also gave up their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to fiery lightning. 49 He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, by sending angels of destruction among them. 50 He made a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the plague, 51 And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, the first of their strength in the tents of Ham. 52 But He made His own people go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; 53 And He led them on safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And He brought them to His holy border, this mountain which His right hand had acquired. 55 He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them an inheritance by survey, and made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God, and did not keep His testimonies, 57 But turned back and acted unfaithfully like their fathers; they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked Him to anger with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their carved images. 59 When God heard this, He was furious, and greatly abhorred Israel, 60 So that He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He had placed among men, 61 And delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand. 62 He also gave His people over to the sword, and was furious with His inheritance. 63 The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not given in marriage. 64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation. 65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a mighty man who shouts because of wine. 66 And He beat back His enemies; He put them to a perpetual reproach. 67 Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. 69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He has established forever. 70 He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; 71 From following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. 72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Psalm 78 is known as a wisdom psalm as it relates the early history of Israel in a dramatic poetic wavering between reports of the faithfulness of God to His people and of their periodic outbreaks of stubbornness, willfulness, and rebellion against Him. With his great command of Scripture, Asaph expresses an intense desire that the present generation not repeat the failures of so many past generations. The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 the lesson of the past works of God in Israel's history (v. 1); #2 an exhortation for each generation to teach the next (v. 5); #3 the rebellion of the people of Ephraim (v. 9); #4 God's marvelous salvation of Israel in the Exodus (v. 12); #5 the people's complaints (v. 17); #6 God's anger against the ungrateful people (v. 21); #7 God's judgment through the quail (v. 26); #8 the continuing unbelief of the people (v. 32, 33); #9 the people's remembrance of God's true character and God's remembrance of the people's weaknesses (v. 34); #10 God's faithfulness and the people's unfaithfulness (v. 40); #11 Israel's sins during the period of the judges (v. 56); #12 God's victory over Israel's enemies (vs. 65, 66); #13 God's choice of Judah, Jerusalem, and David (v. 67).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 78:4 "We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done." This verse reminds us of our responsibility to carry on the message of God's love and power. Asaph explains that the teaching was designed to be passed from one generation to the next, so that each generation would contribute to the praises of the Lord. The phrase His strength and His wonderful works means "His extraordinarily wonderful works." Just as our parents passed down to us a record of the past, so we are obligated to pass on to the next generation an account of the Lord's extraordinarily wonderful works. Simply put, God commanded that the stories of His mighty acts in Israel's history and His laws be passed on from parents to children. This shows the purpose and importance of religious education?to help each generation obey God and set their hope on Him. It is important to keep children from repeating the same mistakes as their ancestors.
In 1 Cor. 10:5-12, Paul used this classic story of Israel's unfaithfulness to warn the early Christians to be faithful.
"........ [6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. .......... [11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
I pray that you would have opportunity today to boast in God's strength and His wonderful works that He has done. The truth is if you want to have a good day you need to be about what you were created for: Rev. 4:11 (KJV)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 79:1-13
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance; Your holy temple they have defiled; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps. 2 The dead bodies of Your servants- they have given as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those who are around us. 5 How long, Lord? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, and on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8 Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for Your name's sake! 10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let there be known among the nations in our sight the avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed. 11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are appointed to die; 12 And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord. 13 So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations.
Psalm 79 is known as a lament psalm and it was written in response to an attack on the city of Jerusalem and the sacking of the holy temple. In these respects this psalm is similar to Ps. 74. It is possible that the event behind the psalm was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians; however, it may have been an earlier, less final devastation. The development of the psalm is as follows: #1 a lament for the devastation of Jerusalem (v. 1); #2 a call for God to punish the enemies of Judah and Jerusalem (v. 5); #3 a plea for forgiveness and deliverance (v. 8); #4 a prayer for God to help His people and judge their enemies (vs. 11, 12); #5 a vow of praise in anticipation of the Lord's deliverance (v. 13).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 79:13 "So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations." Sheep of Your pasture describes the Israelites. God's care for the Israelites was so great that they were called His sheep (see also 77:20; 95:7; 100:3). The people vowed to bring thanks, or public acknowledgment (35:18; 105:1), and praise to God forever and to all generations. That is, we will make arrangements that the memory of these gracious acts will be transmitted to future times; to distant generations. This was done by the permanent record, made in the Scriptures, of these gracious acts of God, and by their being carefully preserved by each generation to whom they came. No work has been more faithfully done than that by which the records of God's ancient dealings with His people have been preserved from age to age - that by which the sacred Scriptures have been guarded against error, and handed down from one generation to another. The enemy has done all it can to try to eliminate the Word of God, but with no avail. God continues and will continue to have a people that will show forth the praises of God.
I pray that you would be a part of that remnant that would give thanks to God and show forth His praises to your generation.
Singing His Praises,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 80:1-19
To the Chief Musician. Set to "The Lilies." a Testimony of Asaph. A Psalm.
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up Your strength, and come and save us! 3 Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will You be angry against the prayer of Your people? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in great measure. 6 You have made us a strife to our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! 8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it. 9 You prepared room for it, and caused it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with its shadow, and the mighty cedars with its boughs. 11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea, and her branches to the River. 12 Why have You broken down her hedges, so that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit? 13 The boar out of the woods uproots it, and the wild beast of the field devours it. 14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts; look down from heaven and see, and visit this vine 15 And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. 17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. 18 Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
Psalm 80 is known as a lament psalm that is marked by two metaphors for Israel in its relation to God: #1 the flock of the Good Shepherd; #2 the vine of the True Vinedressor. Both of these metaphors are used by Jesus of His people in the New Testament (John 10; 15). This is one of Asaph's psalms (Ps. 50; 73) and is set to the tune "The Lilies" (Ps. 45; 69). The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 a call for the Shepherd of Israel to restore the distressed (v. 1); #2 a complaint concerning the Lord's anger against His people (v. 4); #3 the metaphor of a vine (v. 8); #4 an appeal for God to return, revive, and restore Israel (v. 14).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 80:3 "Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!" The Shepherd is pleaded with to restore His wandering sheep. The Psalmist acknowledged one smile from the Lord God of hosts and Israel shall be saved. Three times the writer calls on God to "restore us." Before restoration can come we must experience repentance, turning away from sin. Repentance involves humbling ourselves and turning to God to receive His forgiveness. As we turn to God, He helps us see ourselves, including our sin, more clearly. Then, as we see our sin, we must repeat the process of repentance. Only then can we constantly be restored to fellowship with God. Cause Your face to shine is reminiscent of the priestly benediction, "The Lord make His face shine upon you" (Num. 6:25).
If every there was a prayer to be prayed it is this one found in Psalm 80:3, 7, 19. The salvation that is needed in this generation and the generation to come can only be found in Yehovah 'elohiym tsaba' (The Lord God of host).
I pray the priestly benediction over you today:
"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26).
Love in Christ,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 81:1-16
To the Chief Musician. On An Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. 2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute. 3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob. 5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony, when He went throughout the land of Egypt, where I heard a language I did not understand. 6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets. 7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. special rtab Selah 8 "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! 9 There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god. 10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 "But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. 12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. 13 "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. 16 He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you."
Psalm 81 is known as a psalm of praise that turns into a psalm of admonition. In this psalm the voice of the Lord Himself is heard. The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 a call for the people to praise the Lord (vs. 1, 2); #2 a command for the people to celebrate the New Moon festival (v. 3); #3 the Lord's report of His deliverance of His people (vs. 6, 7); #4 the Lord's admonition concerning idolatry (v. 8); #5 the Lord's description of Israel's failure to obey Him (vs. 11, 12); #6 the Lord's lamentation of Israel's failure to obey (v. 13).
The verses that stand out to me today are Psalm 81:11-12 "But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. 12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels." The people's stubbornness to obeying God led to their punishment. God identifies the root of the people's problem as their own stubborn heart. They wanted to follow their own ways and refused to listen to the Lord. The truth is God let the Israelites go on blindly, stubbornly, and selfishly, when they should have been obeying and pursuing God's desires. God sometimes lets us continue in our stubbornness to bring us to our senses. In other words, He does not keep us from rebelling, because He wants us to learn the consequences of sin. He uses these experiences to turn people away from greater sin to faith in Him. The Hebrew word for "heed" is the word shama`, (shaw-mah'); It means to hear intelligently. God wants us to shama` His Word so that He can bless us with the fruit of obedience. God had provided in His covenant that He would restore the people of Israel if they would listen to Him and return to Him (Exodus 23:22-27; Leviticus 26:3-13; Deut. 7:12-26; Deut. 28:1-14). Today, the church of Jesus Christ is promised fellowship and relationship is we will "hear".
Rev. 3:20 (KJV)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev. 3:22 (KJV)
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
I pray that you would hear the Great Shepherds voice. He wants to lead, guide and provide for you today.
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 82:1-8
1 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? special rtab Selah 3 Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. 5 They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable. 6 I said, "You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High. 7 But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes." 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations.
Psalm 82 is known as a wisdom psalm. As a wisdom writer, the poet Asaph uses the language of Job 1, Psalm 110, and Isaiah 6 as a teaching device to present a morality tale. Asaph describes the wicked judges of all time gathering before God and His angels to give an accounting of themselves. The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 God's call for the judges of the earth to appear in the heavenly assembly (vs. 1, 2); #2 God's review of His commands to the judges of the earth (vs. 3, 4); #3 God's hearing of the complaint of the oppressed (v. 5); #4 God's announcement of His judgment on the judges of the earth (vs. 6, 7); #5 the prayer of the people of the earth for divine justice (v. 8).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 82:6 "I said, "You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High." This verse calls the rulers and judges of Israel "gods" and "sons of the Most High." They were called gods because they represented God in executing judgment. The fact that God calls them gods and children of the Most High does not grant them immunity from judgment. They will be subject to the same treatment as other men, and fall like one of the princes. Actually the degree of their punishment will be greater because of their greater privilege.
Our Lord quoted verse six in one of His confrontations with His enemies (John 10:32). They had just accused Him of blaspheming because He claimed equality with God. Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, I said, "You are gods"? If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God?" John 10:34-36 records Jesus using this passage to defend his claims to be God. His argument was as follows: if God would call mere men "gods," why was it blasphemous for him, the true Son of God, to declare himself equal with God? The Jews understood perfectly that He was claiming equality with God, and they sought to apprehend Him, "but He escaped out of their hand." (John 10:39).
This verse reminds us that even though you can represent the Most High God in the world it does not guarantee you a free ride. The calling goes deeper than just what we say, we need to represent the LORD on the earth by how we live and what we do.
I pray that you would know the grace of God that can enable you to walk the talk.
Ephes. 3:7 (KJV)
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Love in Christ,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 83:1-18
A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! 2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more." 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot. special rtab Selah 9 Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera, as with Jabin at the Brook Kishon, 10 Who perished at En Dor, who became as refuse on the earth. 11 Make their nobles like Oreb and like Zeeb, yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, 12 Who said, "Let us take for ourselves the pastures of God for a possession." 13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind! 14 As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, 15 So pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm. 16 Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord. 17 Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; yes, let them be put to shame and perish, 18 That they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 83 is known as a lament psalm in which most of the focus is given to the wicked. When we read the strong words in this psalm, we need to keep in mind that the intent of the psalmist Asaph is to vindicate the glory of God. The psalm's structure is as follows: #1 a call for God to speak out in judgment on the wicked (v. 1); #2 a recital of the acts of the wicked (v. 5); #3 a recital of God's acts of judgment in the past (v. 9); #4 a call for God to judge the wicked (v. 13).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 83:4 "They have said, ?Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.'" Surrounding Judah were pagan nations that sought Judah's downfall. The psalmist prayed that God would blow these nations away like chaff before the wind until they recognized that the Lord is above all rulers of the earth. The title Most High is often used in the Psalms to speak of God's control over all the nations of the world (47:2; 78:35; 97:9). Sometimes we must be humbled by adversity before we will look up and see the Lord; we must be defeated before we can have the ultimate victory. This has been the case for God's people throughout the ages. The truth is God is a jealous God that will not allow His people to have any other gods before Him (Exodus 34:14). However, because of God's faithfulness to His people throughout the centuries we learn of God's way of escape. For example in 2 Chron. 7:14, Solomon asked God to make provisions for the people when they sinned. God answered with four conditions for forgiveness: (1) humble yourself by admitting your sins, (2) pray to God, asking for forgiveness, (3) seek God continually, and (4) turn from sinful behavior.
On May 28, 1967, Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of the United Arab Republic, said, "We plan to open a general assault on Israel. This will be total war. Our basic aim is the destruction of Israel." When war broke out on June 5, the United Arab Republic was joined by Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Sudan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. The attempt of this confederacy to drive Israel into the sea was unsuccessful. In six days the war was over. Israel was the undisputed victor.
For many Bible lovers, Psalm 83 took on new meaning after the Six-Day War. And perhaps it will have further fulfillments before Israel's claim to the land is irrevocably settled by the coming of the Lord Jesus to reign as King.
I pray that you would allow God to fight your battles for you because He cannot be defeated. Trust Him to be your defender, provider, and sustainer today!
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 84:1-12
To the Chief Musician. On An Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young- even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. special rtab Selah 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! special rtab Selah 9 O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalm 84 is known as a psalm of Zion. This psalm celebrates God's presence in Jerusalem, the city where His temple was built. Today we can draw near to God, without going to Jerusalem, for God is near those who trust in His Son (Matt. 28:18). This psalm was composed by the sons of Korah (see Ps. 42; 44; 85; 87; 88). There are six movements: #1 the expression of the desire to be at home in Zion (vs. 1, 2); #2 the blessings of being at home in Zion (vs. 3, 4); #3 the blessings of those who make pilgrimages to Zion (v. 5); #4 a prayer for God's attention in Zion (vs. 8, 9); #5 the joy of being at home in Zion (vs. 10, 11); #6 the blessing of trusting in God (v. 12).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 84:11 "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. In this verse we can see that the Lord God is a sun providing illumination through the darkness, and a shield for protection against the scorching heat along the way. The Lord will give grace along the way for every time of need, and then He will give glory at the end of the journey as He welcomes His redeemed children into His eternal home. As a matter of fact the pilgrimage (spoken of in verse 5) has the assurance that He will lack nothing between here and heaven for no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. God does not promise to give us everything we think is good, but He will not withhold what is permanently good. He will give us the means to walk along His paths, but we must do the walking. When we obey Him, He will not hold anything back that will help us serve Him. In other words, if it's good for us, He won't withhold it; if He withholds it, it isn't ultimately good. "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32).
I pray that you would experience God's great love for you today so that you would know Him as the One who fills you with grace and strength.
Love in Christ,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 85:1-13
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm Of the Sons of Korah.
1 Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. special rtab Selah 3 You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. 4 Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. 5 Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? 6 Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? 7 Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation. 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.
Psalm 85 is known as a psalm of trust. The setting for the psalm appears to be the restoration of the people of God following a great catastrophe-perhaps the Babylonian captivity. With this psalm, the people prayed for a revival of their spirits and a renewal in their land. The ultimate fulfillment of their prayer would be in the coming glorious kingdom of the Savior Jesus. This is one of the psalms composed by the sons of Korah (see Psalm 42; 44; 84; 87; 88). The structure of the psalm is as follows: #1 a celebration of God's favor on the land (v. 1); #2 a petition for restoration and revival (v. 4); #3 an expectation that God will act soon (vs. 8, 9); #4 a description of the restoration (v. 10).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 85:6 "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" The psalmist was asking God to revive His people, bringing them back to spiritual life. chayah, (khaw-yaw'); is a primitive root meaning to live, whether literal or figurative. Spiritual dryness results inevitably in a loss of joy. Broken fellowship means that the believer's song is gone. In other words, rejoicing cannot co-exist with unconfessed sin. So here the prayer goes out: "Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" The Spirit's renewal causes the song of the Lord to arise again. Every great revival has been accompanied by songs of praise and worship. God is capable of reviving both churches and individuals. He can pour out His love on us, renewing our love for Him. If you need revival in your church, family, or personal spiritual life, ask God to give you a fresh touch of His love.
I pray that God would fill your heart with song today.
Ephesians 5:19 (KJV)
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 86:1-17
A Prayer of David.
1 Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You! 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry to You all day long. 4 Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. 6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. 9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. 10 For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. 12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. 13 For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, the proud have risen against me, and a mob of violent men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. 15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. 16 Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. 17 Show me a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 86 is known as a lament psalm that expresses David's prayer of concern for his state of being, as well as joy in the One who alone is merciful. This psalm is the only one in Book III of the Psalms that has David's name in the title. The structure is as follows: #1 a call for God to deliver David from distress (v. 1); #2 a call for God to hear David's prayer (vs. 6, 7); #3 a statement that there is none other like God (v. 8); #4 a petition for God to teach David about Himself so that he can praise Him forever (v. 11); #5 a comparison of the assaults of the wicked with the character of the Lord (vs. 14, 15); #6 a renewed call for God to show His goodness to David in his distress (vs. 16, 17).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 86:10 "For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God" The truth is "There is none like the, LORD." The God of the Bible is matchless! All human-created deities are powerless because they are merely inventions of the mind, not living beings. The Lord alone is "worthy. . . to receive glory and honor and power" (Rev. 4:11). He is irresistible, therefore impossibilities to others may be expected of Him: "You alone are God." God is "great," therefore great things may be expected of Him. He is unsearchable; therefore "wondrous things" may be expected of Him. Although people believe in many gods, there is only ONE who is doing wondrous things!
I pray that you would take time to give HIM the praise do HIS wonderful name. He is great and greatly to be praise, He is only doing wondrous things, blessed be His glories name forever!!!
Singing His Praises,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 87:1-7
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song.
1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! special rtab Selah 4 "I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: this one was born there. " 5 And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her." 6 The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples: "This one was born there." special rtab Selah 7 Both the singers and the players on instruments say, "All my springs are in you."
Psalm 87 is known as a Psalm of Zion. This psalm is also known to be evangelistic as it anticipates the New Testament mission to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:18). This psalm is one of the collection from the sons of Korah (Ps. 42; 44; 84; 85; 88). It has three movements: #1 a description of God's love for the city of Zion (v. 1); #2 a description of the citizens of Zion coming from all nations (v. 4); #3 a celebration of God's salvation (v. 7).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 87:2 "The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." In other words, God has a special love for the place where His name is worshiped. The verb loves includes the idea of choice (see Deut. 6:5) as well as emotion. God chose Jerusalem; and He also has an enduring affection for the city. City of God may also be translated "city of the True God." The Psalm makes it clear that God Himself established Zion or Jerusalem as the center of true worship. He ordained Solomon to build a temple there so that He could live among the Israelites (1 Kings 6:13). Zion is holy because of God's declaration (1 Kings 11:13; Isaiah 2:2,3), His promise, the worship given Him there (1 Kings 8:14), the future work of the Savior there (Matthew 21:4), and the future rule of the King there (Revelation 21). Prophetically speaking, Zion would become the place where more and more people from other nations would come to worship the living God. This whole chapter is a prophetic sign of the coming of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that gospel being spread throughout the world.
I pray that you would be encouraged knowing that God has a plan and purpose for your life today. Stay in fellowship with HIM and you will not miss out on what HE has planned. He is GOOD and is about ultimate GOOD for your life. TRUST HIM with all of your HEART.
Blessings,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 88:1-18
A Song. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to "Mahalath Leannoth." a Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.
1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. 2 Let my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. 3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. 4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength, 5 Adrift among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, and who are cut off from Your hand. 6 You have laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths. 7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. special rtab Selah 8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot get out; 9 My eye wastes away because of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You. 10 Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? special rtab Selah 11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13 But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You. 14 Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? 15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth; I suffer Your terrors; I am distraught. 16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me; Your terrors have cut me off. 17 They came around me all day long like water; they engulfed me altogether. 18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me, and my acquaintances into darkness.
Psalm 88 is known as lament psalm and also one of the most melancholic of all the psalms. In this psalm there is no sign of relief or comfort. The title ascribes the psalm to the sons of Korah (Ps. 42; 44; 84; 85; 87), more specifically to Heman the Ezrahite. Heman is identified in 1 Kings 4:31 as a gifted wise man, and in 1 Chronicles 15:16 as one of the musically gifted Levites who ministered in worship during the time of David. The structure of the psalm is: #1 an opening prayer for deliverance (vs. 1, 2); #2 Heman's impending death (v. 3); #3 a complaint about the Lord's attack on Heman (v. 6); #4 God's delay in coming to the aid of Heman (v. 9); #5 Heman's desperation as he senses no deliverance from the Lord (v. 13).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 88:13 "But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You." It appears that when writing this, the psalmist was close to death, perhaps afflicted by disease, and forsaken by friends. But he still would not stop crying out every morning in pray. And in the morning - That is, each morning; every day. My first business in the morning will be prayer. A true-child of God is known by his continuing to cry out to God; a hypocrite is great at a spurt, but the genuine believer holds on till he receives an answer. He realizes that he has no where else to turn.
I pray that you would never give up crying out to the LORD no matter what it may look like on the outside. God is at work in your life to accomplish ultimate good if you will trust HIM. Hope is not that far off if you do not cave in to the pressure around you.
Romans 5:3-4 (KJV)
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Love in Christ,
Alan J. Schrader
Psalm 89:1-52
A Contemplation of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens." 3 "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to My servant David: 4 Your seed I will establish forever, and build up your throne to all generations. " special rtab Selah 5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord; Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints. 6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord? 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them. 10 You have broken Rahab in pieces, as one who is slain; You have scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm. 11 The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them. 12 The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. 13 You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. 17 For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. 18 For our shield belongs to the Lord, and our king to the Holy One of Israel. 19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, and said: "I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. 20 I have found My servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed him, 21 With whom My hand shall be established; also My arm shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague those who hate him. 24 "But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, and in My name his horn shall be exalted. 25 Also I will set his hand over the sea, and his right hand over the rivers. 26 He shall cry to Me, You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation. 27 Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him. 29 His seed also I will make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30 "If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments, 31 If they break My statutes and do not keep My commandments, 32 Then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. 35 Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: 36 His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; 37 It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky." special rtab Selah 38 But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed. 39 You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. 40 You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin. 41 All who pass by the way plunder him; He is a reproach to his neighbors. 42 You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice. 43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and have not sustained him in the battle. 44 You have made his glory cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. 45 The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame. special rtab Selah 46 How long, Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember how short my time is; for what futility have You created all the children of men? 48 What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? special rtab Sela 49 Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, which You swore to David in Your truth? 50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of Your servants how I bear in my bosom the reproach of all the many peoples, 51 With which Your enemies have reproached, O Lord, with which they have reproached the footsteps of Your anointed. 52 Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen.
Psalm 89 is known as a praise and lament psalm. It celebrates God's covenant with David (2 Sam. 7) and then laments how David's descendants had not remained faithful to the provisions of that covenant (see 2 Sam. 7:14). Yet even in the face of unfaithfulness, this psalm reaffirms God's faithfulness to His covenant and its ultimate fulfillment in David's greater Son, the Messiah (v. 33). The structure of the psalm is: #1 praise to the Lord for His everlasting covenant with David (v. 1); #2 a celebration of God who established His covenant with David (v. 5); #3 a review of the covenant with David (v. 19); #4 consternation at a time of national distress (v. 38); #5 a complaint to the Lord to provoke Him to remember His covenant and restore the fortunes of His people (v. 46); #6 an appendix of blessing (v. 52).
The verse that stands out to me today is Psalm 89:34 "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips." In light of Israel's continual disobedience throughout history, this is an amazing promise. God promised that David's descendants would always sit on the throne (Psalm 89:29), but that if the people disobeyed, they would be punished (Psalm 89:30-32). Yet, even through their disobedience and punishment, God would never break faith with them (Psalm 89:33-34). Israel did disobey, evil ran rampant, the nation was divided, exile came?but through it all, a remnant of God's people remained faithful. Centuries later, the Messiah arrived, the eternal King from David's line, just as God had promised. God had promised to make David the mightiest king on earth and to keep his descendants on the throne forever (2 Samuel 7:8-16). But Jerusalem was destroyed, and kings no longer reign there. So these verses can only look forward, prophetically, to the future reign of Jesus Christ, David's descendant. Psalm 89:27 is a prophecy concerning David's never-ending dynasty, which will reach its fulfillment and highest expression in Christ's future reign over the world (see Rev. 22:5). All that God promises, He fulfills. He will not take back even one word of what he says. God can also be trusted to save us as he promised he would (Hebrews 6:13-18). God is completely reliable. Great is His Faithfulness!!!
I pray that you would be encouraged today knowing that our God is a Covenant Keeping God. What He promises, He is determined to complete, fulfill, and accomplish. Remember His Word: "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips."
Serving the Faithful One,
Alan J. Schrader
