Daily Problems

Psalm 40 helps us deal with daily problems and we all have them.  Not all problems are the same, but they are all challenging. This passage is so important for us today. 

David identified three serious problems in his life. First, is the problem of sin (vs. 12). David tells us of the overwhelming reality of sin in his life. “Innumerable evil surround me…iniquities overtake me…they are more than the hairs of my head.”  Past sins are easy to relive. The guilt can be stifling but, if we repent, God forgives. The Lord is the only one who can solve our problem. David knew it. Second, David’s enemies seek to destroy him. He pleads to God for help to drive them backward.  Haven’t we all felt that way?  Third, David faces ridicule (vs. 15). David turns it all over to the Lord. “Lord, please take care of this for me. I need you.” Haven’t we all felt helpless against enemies. Then, David thanks God for all his blessings and says it is his desire that all seek and magnify God (vs. 16).  Finally, David says what we all feel and think; we stand in need of God’s care because we all are needy. Not one of us is sufficient in and of ourselves. 

Those are the problems that David had to face. But how does he deal with them? He waits patiently on the Lord (vs. 1).  That can be hard because we want help now! When life’s dark days overwhelm, we do not feel like waiting. David says, I was sinking fast, but God saved him pulling him back to solid ground. David does what we would do; he breaks forth in a song of praise (vs. 3). As a result, others would be moved to trust the Lord also (vs. 4). People are watching us to see how we deal with the challenges of life. Will they see us wait patiently on the Lord and praise Him, or complain to the Lord? 

Next, David’s solution to his problems is to tell others all God has done (vs. 4-10). He cannot begin to list all God has done. They are just too many. How high can you count? Can you count high enough to list all God has done? If we are filled with gratitude for all God has done for us, it is impossible to keep quiet.  Look at how he describes God: God is righteous, faithful lovingkindness and truth. No wonder David proclaims the good news of righteousness. He can’t keep it to himself. 

Also, David finds a solution in prayer (vs. 11-17). David is saying, “Lord, you know me. You know my iniquities. You also know my enemies and how they seek to destroy me. Please defeat them. But, let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in You. Let your love and salvation continue.”

Action items:

1. All people have problems but not all people seek the answer from God.
2. No matter the problems, God is greater than the problems.
3. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. Seek God in prayer.

Psalm 124

“If the Lord had not been on our side…”. If. This wonderful psalm praises God for His protection and care when Israel had faced some dangerous times. While the specific context may be hard to place, it is a psalm of David – the man after God’s own heart who lived during some treacherous times. He faced battles against foreign armies. He lived as a fugitive, fleeing from King Saul. He faced a civil war against Saul’s son, and again later against his own son. He knew what it was like to live in dangerous times. 

Here in the psalm there are 6 powerful images given to describe the dangers David and God’s people faced: 

• An animal swallowing it’s prey (v. 3) 
• A flood submerging it’s victims (v. 4) 
• A torrent rushing over everything (v. 4) 
• Waters sweeping everything before them (v. 5) 
• An animal grinding it’s prey (v. 6)
• A bird entangled in a trap (v. 7) 

Rightly does David say, “Had it not been for the Lord…”. Don’t we say that. Were it not for God in our lives… Had God not been with us… Without Jesus… Can you imagine handling the storms of life, the tragedies that arise, the deep dark valleys of the shadow of death, the moments of searing pain and loss – can you imagine trying to live life without God? Who would we turn to in times of trouble? Who could hear us and perfectly understand? Who could provide a comfort that mends a broken heart? Who could provide hope, blessed assurance for a brighter tomorrow? Yes, family and loved ones help – but only in part. There is no strength, no comfort, no hope, no love that compares to what we have in God. Some live unaware of God’s presence and blessings (Matt. 5:45; Psalm 14:1). How empty, how miserable, how helpless life would be without God. 

David ends with a powerful testimony: “Our help is in the name of the Lord.” It’s thinking the thought, “If the Lord had not been on my side I would not have made it; but God is on my side and will continue to be, therefore I will praise Him!” We look to the past and say – “The Lord has helped me.” We look to the present and affirm, “The Lord is my help even this very day.” We look to the future and know, “The Lord will be my help forever.”  

Lord, creator of Heaven and Earth, I think today of all you have done for me in my life – the answered prayers, the comfort and reassurance through Your words, the daily strength, the hope through the resurrection – I know that without You I would utterly fail. I can’t imagine life without You – without leaning on You in times of need, pouring my heart to One who will listen, without Your wisdom, the comfort from Your presence. You have been my help and my strength in the days of my past – You are my rock and fortress this day – and I know that You will be with me in my days of need in the future. Life is worth living because You are in it – from everlasting to everlasting You are God. Thank You for helping me. Thank You for delivering me through those hard times. Thank You for always being with me. I praise Your wonderful name! 

The Shepherd And His Sheep

Psalms 23 is one of the most familiar and loved Psalms. It is a Psalm we turn to in moments of need. It is a Psalm that is not just for the cemetery.  It is a Psalm for life. We all want peace, satisfaction and contentment. Psalms 23 tells us we can have that. 

This Psalm is understood from the point of view of the sheep. David would be aware of the sheep and the shepherd. He has been a shepherd.  He knows what it takes to care for them. He also has been one of the sheep. In his life, he looks back at all God has done and provided for him.  He reflects how God has been present with Him. He remembers how God provided nourishment and satisfaction for thirst. He recalls God had restored him. David had faced death from a bear and lion. God protected him from a giant. Therefore, there is no need for him to fear. God walked through the valley with Him. God had been a comfort to him. God had provided direction to walk in the right path. Therefore, there is no danger. A table of great provision had been prepared for him like a special guest.  He had ben soothed by God and His cup was overflowing with gratitude toward God. There is only one thing to say, “Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Look at what the shepherd provides for his sheep:

• They did not lack a place to rest.
• They did not lack peace.
• They did not lack guidance.
• They did not lack assurance.
• They did not lack comfort.
• They did not lack honor.
• They did not lack protection.
• They did not lack abundance.
• They did not lack continual blessings.
• They did not lack security.

Action items:

1. Free of want and thirst, they could thrive. 
2. Freedom from wander and facing death alone, they could be at peace.  
3. Freedom from fear because of the presence of the shepherd, they could lie down. 
4. Provided with abundance like an honored guest, they were loved.  
5. Pursued by goodness and mercy, they would have a dwelling place forever.

I Repent Because I Love You

The second theme out of Psalm 119 is repentance. Maybe you’re a bit discouraged while you read through Psalm 119—and not just because it’s so long. After all, it can be spiritually distressing to read verse after verse basically about how much this psalmist loves rules. By the time you get to v. 164 and read “seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules” you might start thinking about the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 pretentiously “thanking” God for how absolutely fabulous he is at obeying all the rules. That kind of tone can be disheartening on an average weekday, particularly if you have not been fabulous at rule-keeping lately.

Don’t let it get to you. The difference between that Pharisee and the psalmist is this: the psalmist knows he is in fact sinful and desperately needs God’s grace. Despite all the ways he goes on about loving the law, there is also petition and repentance. The psalmist pleads for God’s salvation (vv. 41, 81, 123, 166, 174), and desires mercy (vv. 77, 156). He knows that life—his life—is not perfect. In fact, the psalm ends in the key of repentance: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments” (v. 176a).
So acknowledging sin and loving the law are fully compatible according to this psalm.

That is the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice for us. We cannot keep the Word of the Lord perfectly; He knows this and has provided a way for us to still gain His mercy and grace. It is through this action of acknowledgement and repentance. The asking of forgiveness and if you can be counted as one of His own He lovingly says, with out-stretched arms, welcome home child.

Psalms 127-128

These two Psalms fit together well. They point us to the blessing of family. He calls children a gift of the Lord (127:3), and compares them to arrows in the hands of a warrior (127:4-5) a source of strength and protection when trained and prepared. The wife is compared to a fruitful vine, a constant source of blessings (physical, emotional, spiritual)  to her home (like the woman of Proverbs 31) (128:3). His children are likened to olive plants – they may take a long time to mature and bear fruit, but patiently cultivated they can produce a crop that will last for centuries (128:3). 

The blessings for these families is conditioned in both Psalms – 

• “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it’” – 127:1
• “How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways” – 128:1
• “Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord” – 128:4

Homes that are a blessing to those in them are homes built by the Lord.

• Men who lead their homes with wisdom, conviction, and love 
• Husbands who cherish their wives, who constantly remind them of their beauty and worth, inside and out
• Homes where wives honor and respect their husband, whose loving support is a constant source of strength to her man. 
• Mother’s filling her children full – minds full of truth, hearts full of love, lives full of wonderful memories. 
• Children who know they are loved unconditionally by their parents, and by their God who made them – who are taught to love God and live lives that honor Him
• Homes that are filled with worship of God – songs of praise, prayers of thanksgiving are often heard here 
• Homes where God’s words are read, are shared, are respected and treasured 
• Homes that are busy in works of love – serving others around them, demonstrating kindness, sharing blessings that God has given them with others 
• Homes where rules are made and enforced with firm love, helping children learn and grow into the people God made them to be
• Homes that think, that speak, that focus on Christ – He is the heart of that family. 

I asked one of my children the other day, “Where are you going, and how will you get there?” Their answer – “I’m going to Heaven, and we’ll get there together.” Together. I couldn’t express it any better. The way we honor God through these amazing blessings, our mate and our children, is that we walk with Jesus, we live lives that honor our Creator, hand in hand – heart in heart, together we reach the goal of Heaven. Together. 

Wonderful Creator, giver of all that is good, You have blessed my life with abundant blessings. Were I to try to name all the good You have brought into my life, it would fill a lifetime trying to mention every gift. For that, I am so very thankful. Today I specifically thank You for the gift of my family. You have enriched my life with those I call my family, my mate, my children, my parents, siblings, and all extended members. Thank You for each of them, for the way they each have helped shape and mold where I am today. I ask You bless the home You have created, the family You gave me – help us to grow in our love for one another, and our love for You. Keep us safe and strong against the evil one. Help us, whether in the days of our youth, or in the days we grow old, to walk with You, and to journey home to Heaven together. For those in my family who are not who they ought to be, give them time and a soft heart to hear instruction and be pricked with the truth. Win their heart back Father. Let the words I speak and the example I set be one that blesses my family for generations to come. I can never thank You enough for these precious gifts. I can never thank You enough for the gift of Your Son. With all my heart I give You thanks!