I've now submitted the first track from the Ephesians album to the various music stores!
Chatting with lots of people about it, trying to get wisdom and council, the consensus seems to be to release one track every three weeks, which will work out to the whole album being out after one year.
At that point, the suggestion is to re-release everything as a single album.
Now it's time to get going on my next album. I'm thinking that should be Philippians, but welcome your suggestion!
The Ephesians album can now be purchased from my website (it's not in stores yet, though). As an introduction, I've made it "Pay What You Want," so there's no reason why your friends can't get their own copy.
I haven't decided how I'm releasing it to the stores yet. Some people tell me it's better to release it in smaller chunks - such as five songs on four separate releases, spread out over the year. Apparently this keeps the momentum going for my music.
I don't know much about marketing, so please feel free to chime in if you have any thoughts on this, or on anything else related to my music.
The bottom line: I would like more people to learn and love God's holy word; to be influenced and changed by it; to know it, and live by it!
For this week, instead of a Psalm, I've put together my live performances of the Philippians songs into a single video. If you saw the Ephesians video like this, you'll know what I mean.
Naturally, this makes for a longer video than we usually have, so I'm hoping you'll come watch it this morning at 8am. We can chat in real time and catch up, share prayer requests, and fellowship with one another.
In Psalm 35, David asks the Lord to give his enemies a little bit of what they've been giving him. He urges God to reveal the true character of these malicious people; to humble them, to shame them, to give them a taste of their own medicine! He asks God to come to his defence and to actually be his salvation; to save him!
When I read these types of scriptures, I'm tempted to identify with David. I begin feeling justified in my anger to those I see as enemies. I am reassured, and even placated by thinking that God will undo them in some way. I imagine Him validating the purity of my motives and intents, and ruining those who would stand against me.
There are a couple of problems with that, though. Firstly, we live in the New Testament era, and so are trying to love our enemies. Jesus taught us to be kind to those who mistreat us. Secondly, as I grow in faith and humility, God has given me a glimpse into the nature of my own heart. I know I am not pure in motive.
So then, how does one interpret such an imprecatory Psalm? What value does it have for a Christian?
I like thinking of these verses as prayers that have received surprising answers. David asked God to be his salvation, and we ask God the same thing; and so our loving Father sent Jesus to save us!
This is an important point that we Christians should remember when reading the old testament. Just because it contains stories of vengeance, calls for destruction, and injustice on display, this does not validate us behaving in these ways. Jesus revealed the true nature of the Father, as the many prophets before him did: God is love.
When we call out to God (as David did in this psalm), and ask for His intervention in challenging situations, we may find our own hearts changed. We begin seeing the part we play in the difficulties, or God may even give us insight into the struggles our enemy faces. I've noted a compassion for difficult people grows in me, as I seek to emulate the God of love.
As David sings, "You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and needy from those who despoil them."
Hello dear patrons and friends!
I've finally completed our Ephesians album! I think the title will be "Scripture Songs: Ephesians"-what do you think of that?
I've sent it off to the engineer who is "mastering" it, making it sound optimum on as many devices as possible. Then I'll be uploading it here for you, and submitting it to the stores.
Thank you SO much for helping to make this happen. Next stop? I'm not sure! Maybe Philippians? What would YOU like to see?
<3
Jason
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“Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’” I've been considering this first line of Psalm 53 lately, to understand what it really means. It could certainly be taken as offensive, and it might even be a little unclear. For example, are we to understand it to say that if one does not believe in God, this makes her a fool? Or is it telling us that a fool will not believe in God?
I have known foolish people who believe in God, and I've also known atheists who don't seem foolish. Many of this latter group are genuinely trying to live a delusion-free life. They feel like they are being more honest and truthful than the rest of us, since they are putting away superstition and facing the meaninglessness we see described in Ecclesiastes. To their credit, they are at least pursuing integrity!
So how might it be understood that foolishness and godlessness go hand in hand?
Let's pause here, and consider the ancient Jewish people. They often failed in their pursuit of God, and so He would send prophets to direct them. These prophets would affirm that God doesn't want sacrificial animals nor blood on the altar, as much as he wants justice to the overlooked, the poor, and the needy. His way is the way of love!
When we really know God, we begin to see how important love is to Him. It's how He defines himself! He represents all that is true, fair, kind, gentle, just, and perfect.
Considering this, who better to believe in when building an infrastructure of wisdom, than the source of all love? You might say that by turning one's back on this loving Source of justice, one reveals a heart focused on hateful destruction.
It's still harsh, but for what other reason would you reject the ideal Archetype of truth?
Oh, Lord, let us be wise in understanding, and may we please you as we seek to emulate your ideals in the world!
I've been listening to a podcast recently called "Recovering Evangelicals." A friend of mine hosts this talk, and he interviews different people. I find it quite engaging, challenging, and interesting!
A couple of these conversations sparked an idea in my mind: to try having a Zoom meeting with some of my supporter friends, to fellowship with each other, and get to know one another - just a short meeting to begin, and maybe longer in the future if people like it.
This may not interest you at all, but if it does, I invite you to join me at 7 p.m. EST, at the following link.
Jason Silver is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Patron Meet Up Experiment
Time: Nov 11, 2021 07:00 PM America/Toronto
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75355536607?pwd=L3BiK0xmUDFqOXZOVW5sRkkyOTh6UT09
Meeting ID: 753 5553 6607
Passcode: 4WnP6R
Giving thanks is such an important aspect of living life. We all know it intuitively, but yet somehow struggle with regularly doing it.
Out of curiosity, I did a quick web search on the benefits of gratitude. I was surprised to learn that you don't need to be religious to recognize its importance! There are measurable mental benefits, which you can read all about on a number of medical websites: from a healthier heart, to decreased depression, increased happiness, strength in adversity... the list goes on and on!
From the WebMD site:
"Gratitude is a feeling that might come to you spontaneously, but it's also a daily practice that you can cultivate. Choosing to count your blessings and taking the time to be grateful for good things in your life can have far-reaching positive effects."
This article also recommends saying Grace before your meals, even if you don't believe in God! At some point I hope they realize how ironic this is.
In any case, we all have much to be grateful for: if not our health, our families, or a warm place to sleep, we can at least thank God for life itself! We can thank God for the air we breathe, the water which satisfies our thirst, the warm sun on our faces, or a cool breeze on our neck.
Life is full of beauty, and we can be thankful for the way we feel when we see a child playing, or the flood of emotions we experience as we watch the sunrise.
I pray that as you become more grateful for these blessings from God, you'll experience Him in a greater way, and enter into true worship!
When my boys were young, about four and ten, we went on a long walk up the Escarpment Rail Trail in Hamilton, Ontario. Joanne dropped us off at the bottom, and agreed to pick us up at the end. This former railroad is a six kilometre climb up the side of the Niagara Escarpment, but I don't think I fully realized that the distance and climb compounded the effort — especially for little kids!
We were only about halfway along, when our legs began to complain. I carried my youngest on my shoulders periodically, but we needed another strategy to get our mind off our achy muscles.
To help make the time pass, we started chanting a little singing game: “My feet hurt — I see a rock! My feet hurt — I see a tree! My feet hurt — I see a crow!” Each of us took turns naming different things we saw along the way, and weren't allowed to name the same thing twice.
Psalm 128 is one of the Songs of Ascent, and it is meant to be sung by travellers as they climb their way to Jerusalem. Three times a year, worshippers would visit the temple in order to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. As they journey, they would sing of how blessed it is to walk in the way of the Lord!
You'd expect the lyrics to recount the story of Passover, when God rescued his people from the tyranny of Egypt, or maybe some other tale from the other two feasts. Instead, worshippers are directed to consider how their faithful devotion leads to blessing! The examples of blessing used in this Psalm are just the beginning of how God rewards those who walk in His ways!
As we tire on our travels through life, can we keep our mind on the simple blessings God so richly provides? Yes, it often seems like a steep upward climb, but what if I recognize the blessings God has given me as a reward for my faithfulness as a follower?
The Lord bless you! May you see prosperity all the days of your life!
If you search for the origins on Google, you'll see that it comes from Latin, where "re" and "fugere" mean "back" and "flee" respectively. The words "fugitive" and "refugee" are related, and the sense of those words helps you get an idea of the original source word.
One of my favourite sites, Etymonline.com has this to say:
"shelter or protection from danger or distress," late 14c., from Old French refuge "hiding place" (12c.), from Latin refugium "a taking refuge; place to flee back to," from re- "back" (see re-) + fugere "to flee" (see fugitive (adj.)) + -ium "place for."
I can agree enthusiastically that God is my shelter and protection from danger and distress. He is my hiding place. I'm a refugee, a foreigner on this earth.
From time to time one hears naysayers downplay religion and faith, and especially Christianity perhaps, as being a "crutch." The insinuation is that if one was strong, if one was able to stand on their own two feet, then they wouldn't need religion.
I don't mind saying I'm weak. I'm the first to agree that I cannot stand on my own. I've proven to myself that I make poor choices when left to my knee-jerk ways.
Does that make me crippled, inferior, in need of a crutch? Absolutely. And what better refuge that a God of love, the creator who calls himself our Father?
1. I've renamed my channel on YouTube from "Jason Silver" to "Be Still: Scripture Worship Songs." I'm hoping that this makes it less about me and my personality, and more about God and his glory! I'd love to hear from you about whether you think this is a good or bad idea.
2. My friend Sean Patterson has submitted some electric guitar parts for three of the Ephesians songs (he's got a John Mayer style), and I've just about finished mixing them in. I also am soon to receive guitar parts from my friend Fritz Kraai, and steel guitar parts from my uncle, Clair Abrams. You can download this latest version here.
3. My back is improving slowly, I think, but I'm still in a lot of pain. It's getting depressing, and hard to go about my daily tasks. Please don't let up in your prayer for me.
4. Everyone in my household is struggling with various things, so please continue to lift myself, Joanne, Grace, and Rose before our loving Lord Jesus.
Psalm 119:105-112 sings, "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." I really like the image of life as a journey, and I agree that we navigate this journey best when we illuminate it with God's Word.
Over the last couple of weeks, I've been having some interpersonal struggles. In typical human fashion, I've found myself villainizing the other person, and assuming the worst about their motivations. But I didn't see anything wrong with that until just recently.
What changed? I exposed myself to the truth of God's word.
For some time now, I've established a daily habit to read a portion from the Bible. I invite God's light to illuminate my heart, and He has done so time and again! Recently, God shone the lamp of his Holy Scriptures onto my attitude toward this relationship. God has exposed my sin to my conscience!
We are all brothers and sisters, and none of us are perfect, especially not me! I need to work diligently to be at peace with everyone, bathing them in the same grace in which I have been washed!
I have not come to this revelation on my own! God's Holy Spirit has put a finger on a part of me that belongs to the old way of life. This "old man," needs to be crucified with Christ, so the "new man" of the Spirit can be resurrected through Christ's love!
I invite you to immerse yourself in the ways of God, and expose yourself regularly to the correcting influence of Holy Scripture. Don't look at it as "self-help," but see it as it really is: God-help!
I pray that you allow God to speak to you through his word, so that he might direct your paths!
Psalm 59 has its share of angry requests to God, asking him to destroy enemies, and "Consume them in wrath!"
When anyone reads these “negative” Psalms, full of vengeance, which are so against other-nations and peoples, it's pretty common to question why they're even included in the scriptures. They don't seem to reflect the teaching of Jesus: to show love for one's enemies, or to pray for those who persecute us.
But my wife, Joanne, pointed out something insightful this morning. She reminded me that these are common responses which most of us feel when we've been hurt, persecuted, or otherwise mistreated! We'd love to put people in their place, and to seek vengeance ourselves for the wrongs done against us. Oh, to give that person a “piece of my mind!”
But what we ought to do, is to tell God about our pain, and to ask him to protect us. That's exactly what the Psalmist is doing, and it's precisely why these Psalms are so important.
Isn't it comforting to know that King David, and so many others in history have struggled through difficult things just like we have? It's also reassuring to know that God welcomes our cries to him! He stands ready to protect us and to defend us, and yes, He even vindicates us.
Perhaps each of us can recall times when we felt like someone was trying to undermine our reputation? It should comfort us to know that God welcomes our cries for help, understands our situation perfectly, and perhaps even more importantly, has experienced this pain himself.
Thanks so much for your faithful and patient support as I work to get these Ephesians scripture songs through the recording process.
As I may have mentioned before, for this album, (unlike the Psalms albums), I've decided to find other musicians to play drums, and electric guitar. I hope that by including other godly musicians in the project, the depth and quality of the final project will be that much better.
My dear friend Dave Edwards submitted all the drum tracks this past weekend, and I've just completed an initial mix for you to download.
Continue praying with me that this work will create reverberations throughout the earth, for His glory!
This psalm contrasts God's immortality against our own temporary lives. The psalmist muses on our physical frailties. He says humans are like a dream, or like dust blown by the wind. We are here for such a short time, and then we die and are forgotten by the earth. God, however, has always been here, even before He formed this world, and “the mountains were brought forth!”
Two of my next-door neighbours have died in the past few months. Both of them were young dads with children still in school. Reflecting on the brevity of life, I am brought face-to-face with my own mortality, and I'm reminded to appreciate the blessing of each drawn breath!
Even in the mourning loss we feel, many of us sense an opportunity to reset. We're gifted with a fresh perspective. We may decide to live our life in a more enthusiastic way. Not only that, but we may stop procrastinating, and adjust our focus to the people we love, or to making a difference in the world, instead of being preoccupied with the tyranny of the urgent.
In other words, we see time differently.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “We have eternity in our hearts.” I think this means that there is something inside us, like an innate fingerprint, or a legacy from heaven itself, which hungers for never-ending life. When we see time differently, perhaps we are waking up to who we really are! Perhaps we are coming closer to seeing time the way God sees it.
In this light, can we view the curse of death as a path to restoration? After all, it helps us to realize what is really important in life. Spiritually, we have echoes of God's lasting love imprinted on our hearts. We are not really of this world. We belong somewhere else! Furthermore, we have a mission to stop procrastinating and to make adjustments, so that our focus is love. Then we can make a difference in the world!
Through it all, God is God, from everlasting to everlasting! I pray that our lives will reflect our changed hearts!
This last poem of the Psalms wraps things up nicely. Not only does it end the final five Hallelujah-psalms; not only does it complete the last Book Five from the collection; but it also concludes the whole book, ending with the same number of verses as it started with, back in Psalm 1.
With such symmetry in editorial design, is there something we are meant to conclude from Psalm 150?
To discover this key, we must understand the structure of the whole book. We can see it has an intentional design. Over the course of each of these songs, poems, and laments we can observe a parallel to the Torah - the first five books of the Old Testament. We learn about praise, about God's expectation for righteousness, about the temple of God. We're taken through the tragedy of the exile, and we hear foretelling of the coming messiah. It's all there, in poetic and symbolic form.
We may also infer that God does not expect us to ignore the pain of our lives, but instead, to look forward to His promise and continue to praise him despite our suffering! Through faith, hope, lament and praise we gradually become the people of God, bringing about His justice in the world, and glorifying him for his mercy and grace!
Therefore, Psalm 150 can be seen as the completion of our hope, and the peaceful conclusion of our lament. We can now join God in His mighty firmament, worship him in His sanctuary, lift our instruments in praise, and join with everything that has breath to glorify our God in heaven.
Psalm 150 is a call for us to exalt in our God for all that he is and all that he does. Will join me?
There's something about intimacy that is both wonderful, and terrifying! I've heard the word intimacy defined using a cute little catchphrase, a type of explanatory homonym: Into-Me-See.
Can you imagine wanting others to see into you? In a day and age when we are virtually connected to one another, I sense a growing hunger in the people around me for meaningful, tangible connections. Many of us want to invite people to see into us, and we long to know and to be known! Despite this hunger, the fear of having our selfish and hateful parts exposed to others, keeps many of us from connecting in the very ways we desire.
Perhaps a good proving ground for this kind of personal interconnection is to open ourselves to the knowledge and love of God! As it says in Psalm 139, He knows everything about us, and still he loves us! He sees our thoughts, even the evil ones; He knows our motivations and desires, even those which are selfish and destructive; and yet his love stands waiting. He sees us when we're active, he watches us while we sleep. Before we decide how we'll respond, God knows exactly what we'll say. This isn't because he controls us, but because his knowledge of our innermost person is so complete!
I've found that when people are interested in my life, I naturally become interested in theirs! A great way to find a friend is to be a friend! So what are we waiting for? God is pursuing us, and wants us to respond to his love! What a friend we can have in Jesus!
When we open our eyes to His all seeing, never-ending love, we can lower the walls of fear. We cannot hide from Him, so we're mistaken if we think God may discover some evil, unspoken part in us. He already knows everything that's there, and he's ready to take us by the hand and lead us to hope. He's ready to embrace us and hold us tightly in his love!
And that love changes everything!
Dear Lord, see into us, we pray. And give us courage to build intimacy with you too!
Some people, who don't believe in God, are quick to insist that a good and loving creator would not make a world with pain and suffering. Since there is pain and suffering, therefore, God cannot exist.
I can see their point. There does seem to be an awful lot of evil in the world. If I started recounting it now, going over each affliction, discomfort, and misery, I'm sure despair would follow close behind. Why does He permit children to die of cancer? Why is there hunger in the world?
In this dispute, we need to choose a perspective. Shall we recall what God isn't doing, or what God is doing?
The writer of Psalm 136 chooses the latter, and is convinced that everything God does is a result of his never-ending, faithful love.
And so, he makes a list, and concludes each line with the same mantra: His steadfast love endures forever! Beginning with God's goodness and character, he moves through God's supremacy and power, oversight and protection, favour and generosity, concluding with His constant provision. This writer reiterates that every blessing is a consequence of God's boundless love.
As I read this psalm, I find myself concentrating less on the first part of the verse, the “what,” and instead focusing on the “why,” God's love! It truly is the answer to every discussion. It can become the response to all of our worry, all of our prosperity, all of our insight, and even all of our pain: His steadfast love endures forever.
Are you able to adjust your perspective, to open your mind to the idea that all God's actions are motivated by His love? Whether blessing or pain, joy or sorrow, each shall end with the same conclusion: His steadfast love endures forever. And therein lies peace.
Many of us get glimpses of our own short-comings from time-to-time. When it happens, I think we immediately distract ourselves from the reality of our inadequacy. We don't want to dwell on it.
And why would we!? It doesn't seem beneficial to frequently criticize oneself, and others may start thinking we're just “looking for sympathy,” or “fishing for complements.”
And yet at the core of Christian belief, we have a requirement to admit we are sinners, saved only by God's grace and mercy. Somehow we must acknowledge our inner deceit and faithlessness, at the same time as we recognize our heritage as children of the King of heaven! I think this is harder than it seems.
It's not enough to make a general confession of sin. If we are to recognize our genuine need for grace, then we must fully realize our falseness. The deceit of my heart may be vastly different from yours! If you are as cunning as I am, you have probably erected many sophisticated methods to avoid pain. You may have constructed ways to attempt meeting your heart's hunger, while masking it as a selfless act.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else / And is desperately sick; / Who can understand it?”
Alas, the answer is clear: only God can understand and see through our true motivations. Without inviting him in to clean house; without asking him to see if there is any wicked way in me, I am likely doomed to repeat my folly forever.
You might think, at the outset, that this honest appraisal takes courage -- but you would be wrong. It takes faith. Courage, by definition and word-origin, comes from the self, the heart. Faith is given us by God, and faith leads us to trust in His goodness. You see, we won't be destroyed by this vulnerable honesty, because only God can destroy, and he chooses not to.
In Psalm 38, David owns his sin in a profoundly personal and intimate confession. He's been blest with a unimpeded view of his wicked and godless heart. Rather than hide this pain from himself and attempt to conceal it from God, he groans before the Father, imploring forgiveness and healing.
Is your heart trying to convince you that you're not so bad? I invite you to ask for eyes to perceive, like David, into the foul and festering reality of your soul.
How do we make known God's deeds among the people? And why might it be important for us to do so?
The simple act of telling others about the way God has worked within us can have an amazing impact. We don't need to worry about convincing other people to follow God. We shouldn't stress about having the right words. We needn't plan out a route for them to follow to salvation, nor wonder if we can lead them down the path as they seek God themselves. Rather, we simply tell of how he's worked in our lives. Our simple testimonies about our lives in faith are astounding in their simplicity, and strangely attractive all on their own!
For example, consider the following phrases. Do you see how extraordinary they are in their ordinariness?
"I was so worried about what I'd say to my co-worker, but after praying about it, it was like God just gave me peace. Whatever happens, it's all within his loving oversight."
"It might seem silly, but when I misplaced my wallet, I just said a quick prayer. It was like God led me right to where I left it!"
"I get anxious in social situations, and the only thing that seems to relax me, is to give it to God. I'm still anxious, but somehow He sees me through!"
"As a married couple, we've had our ups and downs, but what's kept us stable through it all is our shared faith in God."
"We usually make decisions as a family, based on what seems more loving to others. We may never be rich in money, but God has provided a more meaningful kind of wealth as a result!"
You will certainly have your own stories to demonstrate the ways you live by faith. Don't underestimate how powerful the simple work of God is in our lives! There is no better pursuit than magnifying the glory of God to all the earth!
Have you ever noticed the way stories seem to pique your interest? For example, a speaker might be droning on in a boring sermon or speech, when suddenly, he interjects a story about the time he did this, or that; or the person who once told him something. It's surprising to me how engaged I become, when I listen to a personal story!
Whatever the reason we share this aptitude, there's an important lesson about telling one's story which is hidden in Psalm 34: you can help draw people to God, and save them from their fears, by telling your story!
David lays out all the reasons for his strength and courage. He describes the grounds for his radiance and joy! He invites people to taste, and see for themselves, to try it on for size, and see that the Lord is good!
David certainly had reasons to fear. Pursued on one side by king Saul, threatened on the other by king Abimelec of Gath, he took to feigning madness, or hiding in caves, always on the run from danger. But throughout his life-journey, David put his faith in God. In this Psalm, he encourages people to try that way of life too! He says, “Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord! Those who seek him, lack no good thing. They have no want. Their faces will never be ashamed. They will be delivered from all of their fears.”
I hope you can see a path to evangelism through David's story. We don't need to hold all the answers, or get into arguments about science and theology. We just have to say, “taste, and see for yourself.”
Power and control are often the focus of much discussion in this world. Demonstrators on the street complain about the distribution of racial or gender power; tech giants compete for power over our personal information; the news media insists we need to fear the abuse of power by political and corporate influences. This maelstrom of competition becomes fodder for conspiracy stories and online social media arguments.
It seems like the perfect time to take a step back, and to consider the real source of Power: He who created all, who knows all, and who is in all. What is the nature of His power? According to the scriptures, and highlighted in this Psalm, God's throne - in other words, his power and authority - has its very foundation in righteousness and justice.
What do we mean by these words? For one thing, the Kingdom of God does not look at all like the kingdom of man. It is not best described by power, but by doing what's right! Those who live in His Kingdom concern themselves with providing justice to those who are victims of mishandled power. Those who live in His Kingdom come to the defence of those abused at the hands of the wicked.
This psalm is a perfect answer to any of us who doubt God's power. Israel has been carried off into exile, the temple has been defiled, worship has ceased! Where was God?
The question isn't whether He is powerless in such evil circumstances; rather, the question is about our own, individual alignment with God's ideals. As the psalmist continues, he describes all of creation rejoicing in God's righteousness! In fact, these characteristics are set up as the basis of all worship, and the cause for all thanksgiving.
Even better, this psalm includes an invitation for not just the people of Israel, but for all of the nations of the world, to join in worship of God.
This motivates me even more than usual, to worship and adore our powerful Father in heaven.
In Psalm 64, as David voices his complaints to God, listing the destructive deeds of his political and personal enemies, I'm reminded of how unfair and harsh this world can be. Sorrow grips us all. The impact of death has been felt by everyone, and there truly are enemies who would tear us down. But, behind them, the real Enemy would love to destroy our faith. He hates us.
He's the one who motivates the secret plots of the wicked, and the scheming of evildoers. He's the one who, as King David writes, encourages wayward people to ambush the blameless, and lay secret snares to entrap us.
But for every bitter-word-arrow, God shoots right back in our defence! Though the evil aim "suddenly, and without fear," David says God will use their very own words to shake them with horror!
What can we take from this? The "turn the other cheek" side of me is hesitant to embrace the idea of God's retribution on my behalf. But it is good news, for we can be confident that he loves and protects us.
God is our rescue. He sees every slight against us, and fights evil that justice be done. Despite our pain and sorrow, we can know that we are not alone. In spite of how things may appear, God will match every suffering with perfect justice.
So, righteous people -- brought to this state by your faith in Jesus' perfect sacrifice -- rejoice in the Lord! Take refuge in Him! For He loves you.
In today's culture, unity is given special attention, though it may be only lip service. In the name of unity, we are asked to agree with lots of different, and often contradictory ideas. In the pursuit of unity, we are fed a doctrine of acceptance. Failing to agree with someone's point-of-view, is now seen as an assault against them personally.
For the world to be united, we are asked to abandon our uniqueness, and instead, embrace conformity.
But is that really unity? How can we truly accept one another when we reject even our own distinctiveness?
It's interesting to me that the words "unity" and "unique" both have the same root. They both mean "the state or property of being one." I've come to believe that when we're true to our unique selves, we're most able to be at unity with others. It's not about conforming, it's about expressing our God-given diversity in love.
In Psalm 133, David sings, "how very good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Is he espousing a monoculture of agreement, or is unity more complex and beautiful than simple uniformity?
He says unity is like precious anointing oil, which flows down from the hair, to the beard, to the collar. This perfumed oil is fragrant, it's generous; overflowing! It's liquid, and able to lubricate many disagreements and differences. And this oil is like the priestly oil, able to bring healing and forgiveness and direct us toward salvation.
Such power, to be found in unity!
David says unity is like the dew from the high, arid mountain of Hermon. This dew brings sustenance to all the plants and animals. Flowers bloom, life flourishes because of this living water. Because of unity.
How reminiscent of Jesus' words. In the Gospel of John, he prayed that his followers would be one. "May they be brought to complete unity," he asked, "to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
You see? Unity is a product of love, and from it flows love. Lord, help us to embrace our unique selves, in you.
After completing the music for the book of Psalms, I felt a bit lost! I'd been so wrapped up in the project for the previous five years, I had enjoyed the effort of creating new music weekly, and had made so many new friends via YouTube, Patreon, etc! I didn't want to let it just dwindle away.
So I decided to just keep writing scripture songs, and am really happy that I did!
If you've been following my "Piano Hands" project on YouTube, you've seen Philippians, Ephesians, much of Galatians, parts of Romans, John, and other books slowly come together. It's been exciting for me, albeit a little raw and unrefined I suppose, compared to the psalms project.
This week I took all of the "Piano Hands" live music recordings, and placed them together into one long video. I've animated the scroll of scripture through the Bible, and the final video is released today.
My hope is to create an anticipation for the studio recordings of Ephesians, which is nearly complete! I would ask you to please comment, share, and tell your friends!
To my supporters and friends, I want you to fully appreciate how important you've been to me through this effort. Your encouragement, enthusiasm, and financial assistance has been invaluable! THANK you!
When I was a child, I remember hearing my parents and grandparents refer to the past as the "good ol' days." Now, as a 52 year old, I recognize the temptation to look back on the past and idealize the memories I have. Like a typical old man, I seem to recall that children were more polite, people had better morals, everyone went to church, things moved more slowly, and you could trust the mainstream media. This fantasy list could go on and on.
Even Aristotle and Socrates have been attributed with commenting on the disrespect, foolishness, and immorality of youth in their era, and the following writing from Peter the Hermit in 1274 AD seems especially relevant:
"The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behaviour and dress."
Notice that in verse five of Psalm 143, David also refers to the days of old, but with an important distinction. Instead of bemoaning other people, he fondly recalls the deeds of God. He remembers the way God worked in his life, or perhaps in his ancestor's lives, and this creates a thirst in himself to worship and seek the Lord.
I need to apply David's insight and wisdom to my own life. If the past was actually so much better, the responsibility for that lies at our own feet. Do we ponder God's deeds in the past, and hunger for His steadfast love? Do we pray for His direction? Do we ask Him to teach us, and seek His will in our lives?
Oh Lord, we are your servants, and like David, we long to see your face. At times it seems like there are none living who are righteous, not even ourselves. Lift our souls, and help us to put our trust in you.
I love words. It's a thing that interests me, for some odd reason. I enjoy discovering the history of a given word, and tracing it's change over time. I'm especially interested in words that experience a flip in meaning, becoming their opposite definition!
What about the word, "righteous?" In the sixteenth century, English speakers said rightwise, combining the words right and wise.
I suspect that the phrase "self-righteous," has caused those outside of the church, to think differently about this word. A non-believer might think of so-called righteous individuals as self-centered, or even arrogant. Maybe there is an assumption that such people are deceitful: hiding their own sins; too proud to admit it; judging of those they meet; and even controlling of their friends and family.
However, Psalm 1 may help us to see righteousness differently. It contrasts two different types of people: one who lives rightly, against one who does not.
Rather than following in the footsteps of sinners and scoffers, who delight in their own pleasure, or triumph in their own wisdom, we are told that the righteous person takes delight in the law of the LORD.
We would do well at this moment, to think about definitions. What does it mean to delight? What do we mean by the law of the LORD?
Delight is a sign of pleasure, so let's consider what makes a person happy or excited. This is an insight into the heart. If personal pleasure is our goal, then unfortunately, this is an indication that we are selfish, self-centered individuals. If being with our family or friends delights us, this can be better, but still falls short. Rather, we are told we are right when we delight in this "law of the LORD."
This law isn't just the things one may or may not do. In this phrase, we are meant to understand the law, as the things which God has devised to make us happy. The law of the LORD is the manual for right living.
So a blessed man – in other words, a happy person, ponders and contemplates these good-life instructions. He or she does not just hear it and forget it; he thinks about it. Like a tree by the water, this rumination becomes like a nourishing wellspring of life within one's soul.
In contrast, the ungodly, who do not benefit from the way of right living, are on a path to destruction. We are told that in the end they shall perish.
Lord God, help us to meditate on your word day and night! May we truly become right-wise!
When you are facing troubles in your life, when you're stressed out, or if people seem to be against you, where do you go for help?
Some people go to friends. Some others might try do build up their own defences, creating protective walls to keep people out. Still Others retreat to addictive behaviours. I know I tend to sleep when I'm confronted with difficult and challenging situations.
In this Psalm, David is hiding from King Saul, deep within a cave. Saul, in his fits of jealousy, seeks to destroy the young David. Based on outward appearances, it seems like the cave has become his refuge. But that's not what David says! He calls God his refuge! Cave or not, David is safe in the hands of God! Though the metaphorical lions are waiting to devour him, he cries out to God for mercy, and plainly states that his trust is in God's saving power.
What lesson can we take from this? How can we use David's experiences as a template for our own faith? I see two strategies here.
First, when we're afraid, worried, overwhelmed, depressed, challenged, or tormented we can begin to think differently about safety. Rather than look to our own power and strength, or trust in the "cave" that seems to be shielding us - whatever that might be - what would happen if we thought of God as our protector? Not a backup plan, but a first-defence?
Second, David stated his trust in God's ability to save him; he rested in God's unshakable love and faithfulness, but he also expressed his love, praise, worship, and thanksgiving to God. He doesn't just ask for mercy, he immediately thanks God for providing it!
In my opinion, there are far more reasons to worship than there are to worry. So much of our stress will drain away, if only we change what we are focusing on. So let's turn our attention to God and to his steadfast, loyal love!
Psalm 146 is the first of a final series of five Psalms referred to as the “Hallelujah Psalms.” Coincidentally, this is also the first of the Psalms which I set to music, back in 1993.
From this chapter onward, we put aside the laments of desperation and grief, shame and doubt, victory and defeat, and instead place our focus on praise. It's a beautiful way to end the collection, and it's also a chance to consider afresh why one should praise God.
This Psalm tells us that we should praise God because He is trustworthy, while princes of this world are not.
Here in Canada, we aren't really governed by royalty, exactly. But I have observed people placing their trust in a different, more contemporary type of prince: politics. Some even seem to become quite agitated as political leaders come and go, or as rules and freedoms change.
At risk of stating the obvious, human leaders are limited in both their power, and their insight. We should not place our hope in them. Politicians are mortals, like you and me, and they are sadly deficient when compared to the ideal that God represents!
They may be generous, or even pursue righteousness, but they are not eternal, and so can not make truly insightful judgments: the type of decisions that take the whole picture into account.
But God has always existed, and will continue to exist after we are gone. His constancy of love means every one of his decisions is just. As the Psalmist sings, he seeks to free those locked in any kind of prison, even of their own making.
Do worldly leaders truly pursue what is just? Is their primary motivation to set us free, or to make us whole? If these are the types of things they wish for, can we trust their agendas and purposes?
The Psalmist reminds us that God cares for the strangers and outcasts, the orphans and the widows, the homeless and the destitute.
It doesn't matter who is sitting on the power throne of earth. Like Jesus said, whatever we do for the least among us, we do for him. May we be his hands and his feet! Let this be our act of worship!
When I have been camping in the wilderness, and need to make a small trip late at night, a problem sometimes presents itself. Somehow, without the benefit of electric lighting, I must unzip the tent, and then make my way across strange ground. In these instances, colliding with a tree, or tripping over a fallen log are the dangers most often on my mind.
But as I read Psalm 40, I get a window into the types of obstacles which King David might have encountered on his blind travels: the desolate pit, and the miry bog. These are vivid images which perfectly compare walking with living.
We've discussed some of David's missteps before, and here we see him full of thanks for God's mercy, and newly equipped with a song of praise. He recognizes that God is the one who rescues him, and he is driven to tell the world.
In my opinion, these are exactly the right responses. First, we praise, and second, we tell.
In order for us to do either of those two things, however, we must first reflect. How has God guarded your steps? Perhaps you can look back and see His straightening of your path at a time when you were lost, and walking the wrong way? Maybe you didn't cry out for help until you'd already stumbled, and in His mercy he reached down and helped you back to your feet?
These are just two examples, but each of us have our own stories. I encourage you to call them to mind, and give God your praise for his faithful leading. And, like David, do not stop there. Tell of his wonderful deeds. When we tell others, we lead them away from their false gods, their misplaced trust, and we direct them into the arms of Jesus.
Here I am, Lord. I delight to do your will! Help me to not hide your saving help within my heart, but rather to speak of your faithfulness and your salvation before the whole world.
Did you know that the first verse of Psalm 110 is the most oft-quoted verse in the New Testament? One person counted 27 separate references. So why all the excitement, you ask?
In this Psalm there are references to the coming messiah, who David calls Lord. It is foretold that he will lead his forces on the holy mountain, he will shatter kingdoms, execute judgment, and fill the entire world with corpses!
Pretty gruesome, yes, and one can see why the Jewish people expected their saviour to be a political figure, not a spiritual figure.
But the crux of meaning occurs in that first verse, where David calls the messiah, "Lord." Also, upon closer reading, one might notice that verse four refers to the messiah as a priest: "'You are a priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.'"
So that leads us to another important question: who was Melchizedek? He is first mentioned way back in Genesis, chapter 14, and seems to be distributing a holy communion: "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.'"
You can see why the New Testament writers were eager to make the connection between Jesus and the foretold messiah! But it doesn't stop there! I was surprised to learn that the name Melchizedek originates from the combination of two Hebrew words: melek which means 'king,' and tsedeq which means 'righteousness.' Additionally, Salem means 'peace.' So this Melchizedek was the King of both righteousness, and the King of peace! That sounds like someone we now know as Jesus, does it not?
Jesus himself quoted this Psalm in Matthew 22:43-45 and in Mark 12:36-37. He also highlighted that David called the Messiah "Lord" - recognizing that the Messiah was greater than David himself.
Jesus' disciple Peter quoted it on Pentecost, explaining how David prophesied the deity and ascension of Jesus in Acts 2:34-35.
Paul referred to the verse in 1 Corinthians 15:25, explaining the rule and dominion of Jesus the Messiah.
The author of Hebrews quotes it twice, in Hebrews 1:13 and 10:13. In the former he shows the superiority of Jesus the Messiah over any angel, and in the latter, uses it to explain the rule and dominion of Jesus the Messiah.
So as you worship through Psalm 110, picture Jesus himself, and remind yourself of the new Kingdom he brought to this earth. Now we can live in a kingdom of love and grace, forgiveness, and hope!
What parts of the world are out of reach for God? Are there places on the earth, or in the universe for that matter, to which God cannot reach? If a regime is evil, for example, or if the people in a land are all atheists, does that limit the Lord's oversight and control?
Obviously, if God is the maker of all things, including all that is in heaven and earth, and if he is truly all knowing and all present, then nothing is beyond him, by very definition!
And so, with enthusiasm, David composes this song of praise and prayer, affirming his personal loyalty to the God whose faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. He lists the various regions and cities around him, like Shechem, the Valley of Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, Moab, Edom, and Philistia! Over each of these places God reigns in glory and triumph, including over the despised Philistines and Moabites!
This confidence in God's goodness is what leads David to a life and attitude of worship. It gives motivation to the music of his heart! It gives David a reason to rise before the sun, and, in his own words, “Awake the dawn!” He promises to be a voice to the nations, testifying to the goodness of God!
David was loved by our Father in heaven, and in fact, his name means beloved! I believe his steadfast, steady heart for worship and song is part of the reason God loved him so much.
Join with me, and with David, in lifting up the name of our God, and in awaking with the dawn to join the choirs of nature in their praise and adoration!
We may not be living in the trials of those ancient people of Israel, who had their temple overrun, their holy places desecrated, their priests slaughtered, killed and fed to the birds; but there is a different type of desecration we all face as God's people. Every day we endure taunting of a more subtle kind.
I'm not one to get up on a soapbox concerning the evils of the world, but let's face it: to be a Christian in many places on earth nowadays is to be mocked. We are all lumped in with the very worst legalistic, and hedonistic representatives of our faith; (and I use that word "representative" in a sarcastic manner).
One example, we see it regularly on television shows: the pastors are most often portrayed as having grievous, hidden sins; the average church goer is shown as naive and blind to the truths of the world; Christian men are shown as impotent and absent; Christian women are shown as busy-bodies, or fatally submissive. These caricatures seem to give permission for the nonbeliever to stand in judgement of all Christians everywhere for their general "silliness."
O God, your new holy temple, the people, are being defiled. We have become a taunt to our neighbours, mocked and derided by those around us. Will you be angry forever? Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"
We look forward to the day when we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise!
Have you ever seen videos from the YouTube channel, Living Waters? In these clips, an Australian named Ray Comfort interviews people on the street. He asks them whether or not they believe in God; if they think they're good people; and ultimately, where they'll spend eternity.
In many of these encounters, men and women confidently assert that they are essentially, good people. They're certain that God will accept them just the way they are.
Then Ray asks them about the ten commandments. He invites them to consider whether or not they have ever lied, or stolen, or used God's name in vain. He asks them to recall if they have lusted sexually, or always have honoured their mothers and fathers. As he carefully walks them through these self reflections, I perceive a change in their facial expressions. Something comes over them, as if they suddenly realize they're not as innocent as they had been telling themselves.
It's very moving to see into their hearts: watching their eyes widen slightly, their shoulders stiffen, their movements suddenly very still, or the corners of their mouths tighten. I feel as though I am having a spiritual moment, as the Holy Spirit exposes to them, the darkness of their own hearts. It's beautiful to watch these cavalier individuals humble themselves, and lovely to see them accept their need for God's mercy and grace.
In Psalm 51, we peer through such a window into King David's own heart. Rather than erect a system of self-justification, he humbly makes a very personal confession. He owns his sin.
You may not recall the circumstances of David's moral failure, but he penned these lines after the prophet Nathan confronted him. David had seen a beautiful woman from afar, lusted after her, found out she was married, and yet took her to his own bed. When she became pregnant, David tried to cover up his wrong doing, and ultimately had her husband murdered.
Though your sin may seem minor in comparison to David's, it is just as detestable to God. And like David, it is critical that you open up your heart, and own your sin. Confess. Without that repenting, you will be like David, miserable in your state of unconfession.
Many of us grieve over the consequences we face when we sin. But how many grieve over the sin itself, as David did? As it says in verse 17, "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Lord, give us hearts that beat in unison with Yours.
After reciting a long list of complaints and discomforts, persecutions and abuses, how many of us can truthfully say to God, "But I trust in you."
I once heard the well-known television host, Dr. Phil, say something that has forever stuck with me. He said that when we interject a "but," into a sentence, we're really telling the listener to ignore everything else we said before that word. For example, "I'm really sorry, BUT..." or "I really like you, BUT..." or "I enjoyed that meal, BUT..." It reminds me of the saying, "Sorry, not sorry."
My point is not whether or not this is always true. Rather, in this portion of Psalm 31, note how the psalmist hinges his difficulties on the word "but." I think he is making a special effort to stress his dependence on God, despite terrible misery and adversity. It's like he's telling God, none of my complaining is that important to me. What I really want you to know, is that I trust you.
This could be a pattern for all of us! We don't need to pretend that everything is fine. God doesn't expect us to hold a stiff upper lip, nor an artificial smile. We don't need to carry on in a fake manner, while our life is crashing down upon us! Rather, we need to hinge our attitude on trust: God is good, and everything is in His hands.
I suspect that even when we don't feel particularly confident in God's protection, by just reminding ourselves in word and song, "but I trust in You," we can anchor ourselves in hope. Our face will shine with His glory, and He will save us in his faithful love.
In Psalm 26, King David lists all the things that he thinks set him apart from others; the qualities which make him righteous in God's eyes. He pleas to God for vindication, hoping to convince God that he is worthy of justice.
It's a common perspective; we all do it, and we'd all be wrong.
You see, to God, our most valiant efforts to be a good person are nothing near his requirement of purity. If it seems unfair that God should hold such an ideal, then you really don't understand the intense holiness which God represents. His holiness is like the hottest refining furnace — it's his very essence! Who can stand next to it, without being burned away?
He has made His character clear to us throughout the Bible. Even the most trivial sin represents a chasm between perfection and imperfection. We're bent toward failure, and there's nothing any of us can do to change that fact.
So rather than argue our case, trying to tweak our resume to put us in the best light, we need to come to Him through the agency of Jesus! God came to earth as man, lived the ideal human life, and in doing so, created a route for us to follow. We stand behind him, looking over his shoulder into the face of God himself.
So own your sin! Be honest about your failings. Confess to God and to man that you have given up trying to be the ideal, and instead put your life under the headship of Jesus. In that simple act you become righteous by proxy!
But it doesn't stop there. Believe it or not, when Jesus takes up residence in our being, we start to act like Him. We start to love like Him. We start to hate sin like He does! We become transformed into "little Christs," i.e., Christians.
God, help us to be truthful with ourselves, to confess our sin, to welcome Jesus into our homes, to be transformed by the power of your Holy Spirit!
Reading through Psalm 89, one may begin to wonder why God didn't seem to keep his promises to David. For example, David was told that he would be made the firstborn, and that he would become the highest king of earth. Obviously David was the youngest of his own family, and never the firstborn. Also, during his reign, there were many other kings from greater empires.
Are these discrepancies meant to draw our attention to someone else? Who do we know of as the King of kings? Who else can we recognize as being from David's line, and who rules over all things? Nobody fits that description better than Jesus Christ, David's own descendant.
In a sense, our offspring and descendants are a continuation of our own lives. Though our time on this earth is short, many of us hope that our children, and our children's children will do many great things! We may imagine our progeny contributing to a better world. What greater blessing could God possibly bestow on David, than to make his own offspring into the King of earth and the King of heaven?
Though this song doesn't include verses three and four, in those, God promises to David that, “‘Your seed I will establish forever, And build up your throne to all generations.’” Truly, through Jesus, David's line is now established forever, and his throne is as long as the heavens! That's a promise kept!
Like David, I try to seek God with all of my heart, and I want to please him in everything I do. Though I may face struggles, I can trust God to keep his promises to me, for he is faithful!
If you're facing hardship and doubt, be confident! God's steadfast love will never end! He will keep his promises, and protect his faithful followers. Let's trust Him!
When King David penned the lines of Psalm 63, he was in the wilderness of Judah. From that arid, desert waste, I imagine he would be more familiar with thirst than most of us ever have been. And in this state, he describes his longing as 'soul thirst,' saying that his flesh faints for God, as if God himself was life-giving water!
What a model for us! Perhaps this realization, that God should be the most important focus of life, is what made David so loved by God?
I also want to be a man after God's own heart. I want to behold God's power and glory! I want to know - with the kind of knowledge borne of experience - that God's steadfast love is better than life! And yet, I notice a tendency within myself to look for life-satisfaction in earthly, temporal things.
I recently spoke with a young person, who described the apps on their phone as 'time-wasters.' I can identify with that, as I have also wasted time. But aside from calling into question the appropriateness of wasting time, I also see an inclination within me to look for gratification and contentment in things which never satisfy.
Rather, I should go to that Well who is the source of all satisfaction; namely God himself.
While escaping his enemies, David fled to the wilderness to hide, and yearned to meet with God in the holy temple. But unlike David, we don't need to long for something so out-of-reach. Now, since Christ, there is no 'sanctuary,' no 'holy of holies,' no building in which God dwells, to which we must go in order to see and feel his power. Actually, the temple of God is in each of our hearts as we make room for Him, and give Him a place to take up residence.
The next time we find ourselves craving, perhaps we should put our phones, and other distractions away. Maybe we should prepare the temple of our hearts for the rich feast available to us in God.
Take a minute, and reflect on this: do you have anything in your life that takes up more of your time or attention than it should?
Some examples that come to mind are exercise, work, friends, food, and even less obvious things like stress or worry!
The reason I ask you this, is because today's psalm addresses idolatry. In a poetic manner, we're asked to consider the futility of worshipping idols. In ancient times these manufactured gods may have had eyes, ears, and feet, but they could not see, hear nor walk.
We may not live in an era where people worship statues, but we have other blind and deaf obsessions to which we give our time and adulation. The most common of these focuses seems to be money and fame.
Our modern-day sacrifices at the altar of success are little different than the actions of idol worshippers. Too often we are giving our best time and attention to status, power, wealth, notoriety and even the pursuit of pleasure. Social media has increased our ability to compare ourselves to others, and so many of us are more aware than ever before of what we don't have, and what we could have.
Did you know that studies have shown a direct correlation between time spent on social media, and depression? I suspect that these apps stir up feelings of jealousy and discontent as we contrast our own situation against the glossy version which our neighbours portray. But worshipping at these man-made temples will only increase our thirst for something more. They will never truly satisfy.
Rather than putting our trust in these blind and deaf gods, we should trust in the Lord. Only He will be our help and shield! He blesses both great and small, and we will find our lives more full when He alone becomes our focus of worship.
Behind the tapestry there is a weaver, behind the clock there is a maker, and behind this beautiful and terrible world is a God who has made all that we see, all that we feel, all that we know. Behind the curtain is the One who made even what we can't see, and won't feel, and may never know.
The great Creator has crafted a world which is full of both beauty and terror, pleasure and pain. Like a fellowship of adventurers, we must make our way through these forests of fear, following the path he's marked for us, which lead to the ancient doors of the Promised Land.
No being on earth is suited to this quest.
We desire God's blessing, we seek vindication against those who would malign us. But not one of us have the pure heart and guiltless hands needed to ascend the mountain of holiness. We stand at the gates, and may not enter in. Though we call out various passwords and enchantments, only One may enter.
The gates watch, like ancient sentinels for the True King, who in his sacrificial demeanor, and humble authority, whispers a command. The Lord, strong and mighty will enter these ancient doors, and we will follow Him into His glory. All the hosts of heaven are with him in his power and majesty, and we will join together in a victorious song, and ultimate battle against the evil forces of darkness.
Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors!
That the King of glory may come in.
We've all been subjected, at one time or another, to the authority of someone who chose to "lord" their power over us. One might even say that these leaders act like gods: at their word, laws change and rules bend.
It may seem like they get away with their bad behaviour, however the writer Asaph, in Psalm 82, describes a council meeting in which these "lords" are all held to account. In the ultimate Supreme Court, the true, righteous God asks them: how long will you pervert justice? How long will you favour the wicked?
His criticism of their leadership is clear: justice should be impartial! Give justice to the weak, the lowly, the abandoned, the forgotten, and the poor!
This echos 2 Chronicles 19:6-7, where King Jehoshaphat of Judah gave similar wise instruction to judges in his time. He said, “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
Despite being written thousands of years ago, this Psalm is as relevant as ever. It seems we humans have difficulty in positions of power. God reminds us, that though we are His children, we are all mortals, and shall someday die. What is implied, is that judgement awaits each unjust ruler as well!
If you are suffering under the weight of injustice, then take solace in these words. God is on your side! He will repay those who misrepresent his cause!
In Psalm 60, David describes his experience of defeat, after retreating from battle. I sense a strong discouragement as he sings of his failure against the enemies of Israel. "O God, you have rejected us," he sings, and later, "Have you not rejected us? You do not go out with our armies."
Despite such disappointment, David does not question God's ability to save! It doesn't appear as if he even questions God's love. "Answer us, so that those whom you love may be rescued," he sings! He recalls God's promises to help give victory to Israel. He pictures the way God will divide up these opposing countries and subdue them in their arrogance.
When God seems to abandon me on my battlefields, do I come before Him with the same faith? Do I believe He loves me, or begin to suspect his character? Do I recall His promises, or doubt his goodness?
Most of us decide to take things into our own hands, by manipulation, scheming, or politics. But not David! He writes, "Human help is worthless, but with God we shall go bravely! It is HE who will tread down our foes."
On what front are you facing an enemy? What battle have you lost, to which you should bring the weapon of faith?
It's kind of perfect for me, a Psalm about guarding one's mouth. I have a tendency to say things I shouldn't. I often blurt out arrogant judgements of other people, and I don't always watch what I say. Like David, I need to call out to the Lord, that He would set a guard at my mouth, and keep watch over the door of my lips.
While I take consolation that beloved King David prayed about the same struggles that I face, there may be something else important to note: this prayer shows that David was more concerned about the evil lurking within his heart, than he was about the evil evident in others.
It's so important to look at ourselves honestly, and to take steps to address the weakness in our character. It can be humiliating to admit our inadequacy, embarrassing to confess our deceit. But like David, we should value inner consistency. David didn’t want the same mouth that offered "prayers like incense," to then be used for lies, or "any evil thing."
In his humble honesty, David welcomed correction. He saw the chastisement of an upright person as better than the blessing of an evil person! He also knew that he would be faced with temptation — he referred to these as the delicacies offered by evildoers — and prays for escape from such seduction.
Oh Lord, we pray you will protect us from the allurement which this world promises. We ask you to reveal the parts of ourselves that we have not yet offered to you. May we guard our tongues, address the evil in ourselves, and seek refuge in you.
Help us to turn our eyes toward your ways, we pray, in Jesus' name.
The cry to God, from a persecuted people, does not fall on deaf ears. The cry to God, from your heart to His, is heard, and answered. He loves the orphans, the widows, the prisoners. He loves the outcast, the broken, the needy. He loves the hungry, the hurting, the helpless.
Our cries are heard! In his compassion, he blesses us, and saves us from our distress. Look back and remember how you were rescued. Recall how God saw you through your pain. Then you'll be able to join with Psalm 81, by shouting for Joy to the God of Jacob! You will raise a song; you will sing aloud; maybe even blow a trumpet at the new moon!
Do you see how important this is? We must remember the ways God has saved us! Consider this: how has He been present in your difficulties? At what point in your past have you seen God's hand moving to help you?
Do not stop listening to his voice. Submit yourself to Him! Walk in His ways, and he will rescue you, and provide for all of your needs.
One of the most challenging aspects of life on this planet earth, is loneliness. I can be in a crowd of people, even laughing with my friends, yet sense a nagging isolation in my heart. I want to be known intimately, even though such vulnerability can terrify me. I want to be understood, even though I do not understand myself. I want to be celebrated for who I am, despite the tendency to berate myself for my failings and shortcomings.
I know you can relate! It's the one desire we all share — the one longing we all have; to be known truly, and deeply.
Yes, intimacy can be threatening. So we get good at hiding our true selves from others — perhaps even from ourselves. It's scary to be seen plainly and purely, to have our best shielding and strongest defence mechanisms rendered ineffective, and yet we all secretly want it.
Isn't it wonderful that we can never erect a defence against God's love? As the Psalm says today, "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit, and when I rise; you discern my thoughts, and watch over me all day!"
He sees into us completely. He sees through us entirely. He knows our shame, He knows our joy, He KNOWS us. And still, he loves us. His love isn't dependent on getting our act together. His love isn't conditional on our response, or our success, or even on our behaviour.
Have you ever found yourself under the authority of a misguided leader? Have you ever wondered at your own motivation as you lead others? Sometimes there is a disconnect from what a person says, and what a person does. Today's Psalm is a good example to follow in the pursuit of loyalty and justice.
Intuitively, we all know that directors should have an organization's best interest in mind, and that they should avoid personal agendas which will only undermine a group's purposes.
In Psalm 101, King David speaks to God about his plans as King. He acknowledges that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things, and affirms his commitment to a path of loyalty and justice.
What is most remarkable to me, and I suspect most unusual for many politicians, is David's commitment to personal integrity. He says he will walk with integrity of heart, in his house — which I read to mean, even when nobody is looking! On the surface, it appears that he understands that to be a good leader, one must not only be a good example, but be principled in character. He commits to avoid that which is base and degrading; he promises to shun the work of those who abandon God; he vows to be unfamiliar with the ways of evil.
Unfortunately, David was not able to uphold his commitment. King David murdered Uriah, the Hittite, so that he might take Uriah's wife as his own.
Without the inner life-change available through the work of Jesus on the cross, we are all at risk of failing in loyalty and justice. When Jesus changes our hearts, we will become genuine on both the outside and the inside. Then you will be able to actively protect those around you from slander, from disdain, and from deceit! You will align yourself with righteous people, and reject those who love evil!
Let us recommit to integrity of heart, and invite the Holy Spirit to change us from within.
