In praise and prophecy for Jerusalem

 Read Psalm 87.

This is song praises the city of Jerusalem.  Not only was it a place of God's choosing, but in those days it was the center of world-wide worship of God because the Temple was there.  Sitting on mount Zion, it looked beautiful.  The psalmist looked forward to the day when this will be a peaceful ("salem") city for the nations. 

In that day, people will say wonderful things about Jerusalem.  Folks will be proud to have been born there.  It will be the fountain of blessings to all.

When will that happen? 

The Bible explains that one day Jesus will return to rule and reign for 1,000 years from Jerusalem.  Psalm 2 describes how the God the Father will establish God the Son as king on Zion's hill.  He will "make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession."

And, one of the rewards for those who place their faith in Jesus now is that we will rule and reign with Him.

"Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!  Over such the second death has no power but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years."
(Revelation 20:6)

 

3 Essentials to Prayer

 Read Psalm 86.

Interesting, how many of the Psalms were written as a result of a threat.  We do our best praying when we realize that we cannot help ourselves and must cast our complete dependence upon God.  Follow David's thoughts as he asked the LORD to intervene.  These are essential components to seeing our prayers answered.

1. The condition of David.
The prayer came from a confident, yet humble heart.  His confidence was based upon his position and practice before God.  In verse 2, he said, "I am godly."  In other words, he did nothing wrong to bring this trouble.  He felt helpless in his ability to deliver himself.  He needed the LORD to act on his behalf.  He asked God to hear him, to spare him, to extend grace to him, and to teach him.

2. The commitment of David.
He recognized that there was still much to learn about being all that God wanted him to be.  His desire went further than the immediate help and asked "teach me."  How precious that part of the prayer must have sounded in the ears of the LORD!  What did he need to learn?  "Unite my heart to fear your name" (v.11).  James wrote that a double-minded prayer will not be answered (James 1:5-8)  The evidence of one with a whole heart for the LORD includes living according to God's truth and giving glory to His name (vv.11-12).

3. The character of God.
The basis of this entire prayer is the essence of who God is. 
-"good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love" (v.5)
-"There is none like you..."  "You alone are God." (vv.8, 10b)
-"All the nations you have made..." (v.9)
-"You are great and do wondrous things." (v.10)
-able to deliver souls from eternal torment (v.13)
-"merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (v.15)
-able to show favor, help, and comfort (v.17)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

 

Revive us Again

 Read Psalm 85. 

At some point in the past Israel suffered great loss.  The psalmist admits that this happened because of their sin.  But once the sin was dealt with, God restored, or returned, their losses to them. 

Now, feeling God's displeasure, even anger, they were in need of another restoration. 

What is the problem?

1. Sin breaks fellowship with the LORD.

2. Sin brings discipline from the LORD.

3. Sin causes us to lose our joy in the LORD. 

What is the cure?

"Let me hear what God the LORD will speak." (v.8)

Ignoring what God has to say is the first step toward sin.  Knowing and responding to what God has to say is the first step in restoring fellowship with Him.  When we acknowledge that God is right and we are wrong, we find "He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) 

What are the results?

-Restoration means we can bask in the love of God.

-We recognize His faithfulness to us.

-We live again doing what is right.

-We enjoy peace with God.

-His blessings will be upon our work.

What are you thinking on the way to Worship?

 Read Psalm 84. 

For most of us, Sunday mornings are a rush to get ready and leave.  Once there, we look for a good parking spot, quick greetings with a few people, and find a seat.  We hope the music and preaching are to our liking. 

Contrast that thinking with this Psalm.  Verses 5-7 indicate that this was a song worshipers would sing as the traveled up the mountain to Jerusalem in order to worship at the temple.  The attitude is they could not wait to get there. 

1. It was a time to sing.

The singer was excited about getting to the place of worship; not because of the building or others who would be around, but because they going to formally appear before and meet with God Himself. 

2. It was a time to pray.

Intercessory prayer was offered for the king.  God appointed and anointed their national leader.  The people depended upon the LORD to work through him in order to lead them to do what is right. 

3. It was a time to serve.

Having the privilege of standing at the door of the place of worship could not be matched at any price. 

4. It was a time to be blessed.

The sun speaks of God's provision.

The shield refers to God's protection.

The favor of God opens doors of opportunity.

The honor of God is how we are treated when we walk into His opportunities. 

God does not withhold good things from us.  He loves to bless those live for Him. 

Now, enjoy the service.

Praying for those against You

Read Psalm 83. 

Asaph began with a call for God to let His voice be heard.  The enemies of Israel were conspiring to attack and "wipe them out as a nation."  However, with heavenly insight, he realized that these "crafty plans" were not only against Israel but truly this was a spiritual battle. Those surrounding nations were demonically energized to be haters of God (v.5). 

Throughout the Bible, when God's people were taunted, challenged, belittled, or attacked, a godly leader verbalized the battle behind the battle.  It was not Pharaoh against Moses, but Pharaoh against God.  It was not Goliath against David, but Goliath against God.  It was not the Prophets of Baal against Elijah, but the false prophets against God.  It was not the wizards of Babylon against Daniel, but them against God.  In each instance, the antagonists paid for their actions with their lives. 

But here, the psalmist prayed differently.  Yes, he wanted God to avenge Himself, even shaming them and bringing them down in disgrace.  But notice two other parts of his prayer that have eternal significance. 

1. So "that they may seek your name." (v.17)

Asking God to destroy an enemy is one thing.  Or, he could have wanted the LORD make them sorry for what they did.  But, asking Him to bring them to repentance reveals a godly perspective on his part.  When people seek the LORD with a repenting heart, life-change will take place. 

2. So "that they may know that you alone...are the Most High over all the earth." (v.18)

The reason people hate God is first and foremost an attempt to get rid of their guilt.  There is no real cure for guilt other than the forgiveness of God.  He alone offers spiritual cleansing of the conscience through the shed blood of Jesus.  When people come to faith in the LORD, He receives the honor and glory due His name.

Who judges the Judges?

 Read Psalm 82. 

Human judges are placed in a weighty position.  They make decisions that immediately impact the lives of others; sometimes one person, sometimes an entire nation.  Since all authority ultimately comes from God (Romans 13:1), human judges are to be His representatives on earth meting out decisions in alignment with His word and wisdom. 

When Asaph assessed the judges of his day, he saw a lack of understanding and accountability.  In this curious song, the writer imagined a time when God would sit in judgment of these judges.  He even wrote what God would say to them.  In balancing the scales of power in a culture, human judges are to protect at least these four groups of people:

1. The Weak

These are folks who are low on the totem pole of society.  Financially, they have no strength of resources to fight the opposition, either due to loss or threat. 

2. The Fatherless

Orphaned children have no parents to defend them and protect them.  Without judicial decisions, they may become easy prey to every kind of abuse. 

3. The Afflicted

People who have been brought down physically, financially, or otherwise in an unjust manner need intervention by a legal authority. 

4. The Destitute

Not only have these experienced losses, but they have nothing left.  With no means of protection or help, they seek justice. 

In John 10:34, as the religious leaders attempted to stone Jesus to death, He quoted verse 6. 

Judges are human.  Mistakes are made.  But when there is deliberate disregard for God's word, when financial or political bribery tilts their decisions, or when partiality of any kind is shown, there is One is heaven who will indeed one day sit in judgment of the judges.

Taking time to Listen

 Read Psalm 81. 

It was a time to celebrate.  Everyone, by statute, was to gather at this time to loudly sing and play on the instruments.  Most believe this took place at the Feast of Tabernacles.  God had answered prayer in the past!  They called on Him and He delivered Israel from the slavery of Egypt.  

But after all He had done for them, they turned aside from obeying the LORD. 

It was a time to listen.

Three times (verses 8, 11, 13), the Psalmist speaking on behalf of God, called the people to listen to what God had said to them.  Inexplicably, they gave themselves to strange gods and false teachings.  He chose not to strike them dead, but instead some of the most chilling words in the Bible are used, "So, I gave them over to their stubborn hearts."  (See also Romans 1:26, 28).  He left them to go their own way and suffer the consequences of their own making.  This is the essence of sin. 

It was a time to return.

"Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways."  This call to live for the LORD comes with promises of blessings.  The LORD wants to protect us from those who would do us harm.  The LORD wants to provide for us so that we may be fulfilled in life. 

It is stubborn rebellion in the heart that keeps people ever seeking and never experiencing true satisfaction.  No one else and nothing else can satisfy the true longing of the heart but God Himself.