Category Archives: Spiritual Insights

Psalm 121- another psalm with promise

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Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going 
   both now and forevermore.

I go to the psalms when I need comfort.  When sleep eludes

me and the night is long and dark.

I go to the psalms when I am hungry for the presence of

the Lord.  When I need reassurance of His loving care.

I go to the psalms when I am confronted with the evil around

me and the evil that I often harbor inside me, as well.

I go to the psalms to find words of worship and praise- so that

the fullness of my soul may be given voice.

I go to the psalms when I am caught in a web of despair.

I go to find the Author and Answer of hope.

I go to the psalms- because therein are the words and the

Truth of our God displayed to fill the yearning of my heart.

The promise within the psalms are real.  They will be and have

been kept.  But they are not always for each individual to claim.

The promises in this psalm are meant for the nation of Israel-

God’s servant.  Israel- the bride He sought to make His own.

There is a study to go with this statement that follows the path

from the mountain with Abraham- to the altar of Jacob in Peniel

and on into the hills of Canaan.  It encompasses the battles on the

plains and the ascension onto God’s holy hill.

But that is for next week….

Psalm 91- Where do I dwell ?

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Psalm 91
Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
         And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
         And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
         Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
         To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
         Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
         The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
         I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
         I will be with him in trouble;
         I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
         And show him My salvation.”

This is one of those Psalms that people keep quoting to me when

troubles appear.  It is a psalm of comfort and promise- and makes for

good reading.  But I don’t read it the same way people quote it to me.

I don’t  see the promise made to believers.

My husband and I discuss Scripture, and this is one that we are in agreement

upon.  This psalm is speaking more of Jesus Christ and His position and

placement in God’s care during His earthly ministry.

Because – although I do trust in God’s providence and protection-

although I bow to His authority and throw myself upon His grace and

mercy- although I have been grafted into His family through the agency

of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice- I have to seriously consider the

question- “Where do I dwell?”.

This is the verse I am looking at today.  Verse one sets up the premise for the

rest of the psalm.  “ He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High”…

WHO is that?  It is Jesus Christ – and He alone who dwells there.

This is not about me.  It is not about us.

We dwell here on Earth.  We can keep our mind set on Jesus.  We can pray

unceasingly- rejoice in His presence in our lives and seek to do His will.

But- we dwell here. 

We can’t move into the Father’s house and expect Him to provide for our needs

and protect us from the consequences of our decisions.

He does protect believers who are fulfilling His will- sometimes.

And sometimes, believers who are in dangerous places- following

God’s plans- spreading the Gospel- sometimes they are killed.

Or imprisoned- or tortured for the sake of their belief in God.

We dwell here.  And God loves us. 

And sometimes, we are attacked by disease, and terror, and evil.

And sometimes, we die.

This psalm is not filled with promises of protection for believers.

It is about the relationship between God and His Son.

And it is beautiful and real and comforting.

Because we are part of that relationship-

and we are not alone.

Psalm 119-vv33—40- The Message

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33-40 God, teach me lessons for living
      so I can stay the course.
   Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
      my whole life one long, obedient response.
   Guide me down the road of your commandments;
      I love traveling this freeway!
   Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,
      and not for piling up loot.
   Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
      invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
   Affirm your promises to me—
      promises made to all who fear you.
   Deflect the harsh words of my critics—
      but what you say is always so good.
   See how hungry I am for your counsel;
      preserve my life through your righteous ways!

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Sometimes, staying the course is really hard.

Sometimes, it is downright scary trying to travel

God’s freeway.

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You are holding on, white knuckled, to the wheel-

and the Nor’easters of life are blowing hard against you.

 

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But you look over and the signs point to the cross.

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And in the midst of the storm-

You are reminded that Jesus Christ loves you.

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That is such a wonderful truth that the storm passes over-

and you are back on solid ground.

And somewhere between the Psalm and Chincoteague, you

have affirmed that this is the highway- or should I say that

God’s highway is the one we can always love traveling on!

(a special thank you to Allyson for her fortitude and courage

in doing the actual driving in these photos!)

Psalm 119- or parts thereof!

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Daleth

25 I am laid low in the dust;
   preserve my life according to your word.
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
   teach me your decrees.
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
   that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;
   strengthen me according to your word.
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;
   be gracious to me and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
   I have set my heart on your laws.
31 I hold fast to your statutes, LORD;
   do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
   for you have broadened my understanding.

I haven’t posted a psalm lately.  I’ve been away from home-

busy with holiday and preparations- not good excuses- but reasons

for my neglect.  Not posting doesn’t mean that I haven’t been thinking

about the Word and it’s relation to me.  And the psalm I have been

thinking about is 119. The longest- but divided into smaller portions that

make it easier to contemplate.-

And- quite honestly – I’ve been looking at it from the bottom up.

Running in the path of God’s commands is intriguing to me.  I AM NOT

A RUNNER.  I walk, I ride my exercise bike, I do low impact stretching and

yoga – but I don’t even consider running.  But running in God’s path- now, that

I’m interested in trying. 

I am no great bargain in the servant sense. These verses describe me pretty

well- laid low- found wanting- needing teaching- I’ve lacked understanding

and am prone to deceit. 

BUT- I have set my heart on God’s laws.  I’m holding fast to his statutes – and I’m

looking to Him to give me understanding and strength.

And by His grace- I’m running in the path of His commands.

Want to run with me?

Psalm 131- In the season-

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Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 My heart is not proud, LORD,
   my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
   or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
   I am like a weaned child with its mother;
   like a weaned child I am content.

3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD
   both now and forevermore.

New International Version, ©2010 (NIV)

Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing.  It is a season of hope.

I am humbling my heart and expectations.

Keeping my eyes on Jesus.

Looking at the sins of my heart and repenting of them.

Preparing my life for the Hope to appear.

Because He came as a baby-lived to be a man- sacrificed Himself to pay the debt of sin- and He is coming again.

“…put your hope in the LORD

both now and forevermore.”

Thanksgiving- Psalm 100

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Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 
   his faithfulness continues through all generations

A psalm for giving grateful praise.

Quite different from the giving of ungrateful praise

~Worship the LORD with attitude~

~Come before him with sarcasm and cynical remarks~

~Wonder whether He is indeed, God~

~Think about how we came to be~ and to whom or what we owe our allegiance.~

~Enter His place with misgivings and whining~

~complain and doubt His existence-

~question His integrity and endurance- doubt the sincerity of His loving-kindness.

Sometimes I’m guilty of the second rendering of the psalm-

I waver and doubt- my circumstances color the strength of my faith.

It takes a simple childlike faith or a mature tested one to come up to the Gates and enter into the court with true thanksgiving and praise.

I’ve graduated from the first and am approaching the second- so I have to look carefully at what I have to offer.  I want my thanks and praise to be as pure and true as the LORD GOD I’m offering it to.   And that takes some work- some prayer- some repentance- a renewal of faith.

Growing up in the Lord and adding to my faith is not easy.  Sometimes the steps are excruciatingly painful- sometimes they are just frightening- becoming His child is only the first step.  Becoming His grown up daughter is hard work- and learning to thank Him along the way has to become a daily discipline.

~but that’s the way it is~ in all the Steps on the Journey.

Psalm 113 – thankfulness for children!

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Psalm 113

1 Praise the LORD.

   Praise the LORD, you his servants;
   praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
   both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
   the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
   his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
   the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
   on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
   and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
   with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
   as a happy mother of children.

   Praise the LORD.

I love this psalm.  I’ve used it in devotions more times than I can recount.

It is a psalm of thanksgiving and praise.

It is a psalm of recognition of God’s involvement with His children. 

It is a psalm of hopes fulfilled.

And it has a happy ending!

(I LOVE happy endings!)

Last night I babysat for my niece and her husband.  They are foster parents and have two children in their care right now.  Two children- beautiful and loving- gifts from God.  One is nearly theirs- for good, by law- the other has not been placed- still in limbo -gifts from God.

Praying over and with these children awakened in me a desire to keep and protect BOTH of them.  I am amazed at the love poured upon these children by these parents.  The foster parents, also -gifts from God.

God is looking into the situation- stooping “down to look  on the heavens and the earth” – giving gifts in both directions- to the parents- to the children.

And to me. 

God is the Author of happy settled families.

Praise the LORD.

In the season of giving -gifts from God.

Psalm 125

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Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
   which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
   so the LORD surrounds his people
   both now and forevermore.

3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain
   over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
   their hands to do evil.

4 LORD, do good to those who are good,
   to those who are upright in heart.
5 But those who turn to crooked ways
   the LORD will banish with the evildoers.

   Peace be on Israel.

I grew up in a church that didn’t embrace what they called” the fallacy of eternal security”- or maybe they didn’t quite say it that way, but that is what they meant.  One needed to work out one’s salvation with fear and trembling.

There are many who back slide- the parable of the seed and the different plantings made it clear that there are those who appear to be believers who end up dried out and shriveled.  And then there is that dog that goes back to his vomit.  These were the arguments I heard throughout my youth.

And they made me nervous. 

I heard and read all the arguments and assurances on the other side as well.  To tell you the truth- I’m not much interested in arguing about it.

I know that I am surrounded on all sides by the grace and mercy of out Lord. 

I feel secure in His loving care.  I am trusting in Him to do good in my life because I belong to Him and am cleansed by the blood of Jesus and adopted into His family by His Son’s atonement. 

I grew up not wanting to be part of the uncertainty or the arguments.

And I read the Bible.

Now- I’m following the advice of Psalm 125-

relaxing in the LORD.

Psalm 134

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Psalm 134

Come, Bless the Lord
A Song of Ascents.

134:1 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord!

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

This is the ESV version of the scriptures.

I love this psalm for a lot of reasons- I am often awake for long periods at night.  And sometimes, it seems, that I am called to pray during these sleepless hours.  “Stand”ing ” by night in the house of the Lord”- Jesus said His Father’s house is a house of prayer- so I believe that I am one of those servants lifting up hands in the holy placem making supplication and blessing the name of the Lord.

I also love to sing this psalm- it is a great lead in to prayer and sets my heart and head into the right place to pray.

And I love that it includes a blessing from the Lord directed from Zion from our Creator.

It is also short and sweet but its message is deep- as a song of ascents it is a pilgrim’s song, ushering us into the presence of the Almighty.

I’m singing this song tonight- notice that it includes an invitation?

“Come”  as in join in!

Come and sing with me.

Psalm 98- Music of praise for the Most High!

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Psalm 98 (The Message)

Psalm 98

Sing to God a brand-new song. He’s made a world of wonders!

   He rolled up his sleeves,
   He set things right.
2 God made history with salvation,
   He showed the world what he could do.
3 He remembered to love us, a bonus
   To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love.

   The whole earth comes to attention.
   Look—God’s work of salvation!
4 Shout your praises to God, everybody!
   Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!
5 Round up an orchestra to play for God,
   Add on a hundred-voice choir.
6 Feature trumpets and big trombones,
   Fill the air with praises to King God.
7 Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
   With everything living on earth joining in.
8 Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!”
   And mountains harmonize the finale
9 A tribute to God when he comes,
   When he comes to set the earth right.

   He’ll straighten out the whole world,
   He’ll put the world right, and everyone in it.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Sing praise- sing praise!

Praising the Lord with song- clapping in applause for His salvation- joining in with creation in a brand-new song!

Sometimes we sing songs from our throats- often it comes from our hearts- and then there are the times when we intellectually agree with the theology of the song and it becomes a whole song of praise.

I am looking forward to this time when we join up with all creation- when fishie voices and ocean breakers fill out the choir along with the harmonizing mountains!  I want to be part of that jam session- singing my lungs out in a “tribute to  God when He comes.”

I love to sing praise songs. 

I love hymns, as well.

When I am really in need of worshipping, I grab a hymnal and sing my way through it until my voice is hoarse and I can close the last page. 

Worship and praise teams are good- they keep the whole congregation on the same page- they harmonize well- they teach the newest songs to the congregation- they usually look good and sound good- but really?

Really, I want to sing with the Creation Band.

So, once again, I say,

Even so, Come Lord Jesus!

Amen.