Sing to the Lord a new song ~ Bob Caldwell

The Source of a New Song

  "I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You."

Psalm 144:9

Like David, our new song will come from the depth of grateful hearts that have experienced God's ongoing divine interventions.

The obvious shallowness of much of what is called "Christian music" is the result of having nothing to really praise God for. There is little personal experience with the glory of God in the lives of those whose only goal is a hit song.

David is the example of someone whose daily life was not lived in a "lab" but in a place where he could experience real life. David wrote praise to God in songs rooted in his personal discovery of God's divine training. He learned how to win on the battlefield, overcome liars, and see in real life God's financial prosperity (v. 1-2 7-8, 13-14).

Some of the best worship songs are sung alone to God. But don't worry if it's a "hit" in His eyes. It's enough. For what more could you wish?

He is Great

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable."

Psalm 145:3

"All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You."

Psalm 145:10

The greatness of God is best discovered by taking the time to test His word of promise in your own life. When your life needs grace, take God at His word and make it your own. When you need compassion, begin to praise Him in expectation of how great the compassion will be when you fully embrace it. When God says He is good to all, then act like it. God does not wait for perfection to do something great in our lives. He is waiting for faith in who He has declared Himself to be.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

But by acting in faith in God's character, your very life becomes a psalm of praise about how great He is and how great are the things He will do for those who trust Him.

Trust in Whom?

"Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help."

Psalm 146:3

The sooner we learn that our faith in man is misplaced, the better. Let us love all, friend or enemy. But to trust in them is to play the fool. The best of us can never compete with the ability and faithfulness of God. Man's best plans can easily perish while God's plans cannot be moved.

God deals best with the human struggles we all must face in a fallen world.

We are good at creating injustice, poverty, and the like. God is at His best in taking the results of our sin and bringing His greatness to it. Let Him bring His thoughts and plans to every trouble we face in this world of sin. If you do, you will find yourself, like David, praising God until you breathe your last breath.

Psalms 144
~A Psalm of David

1 Blessed be the LORD my Rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle—

2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.

3 LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

4 Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.

5 Bow down Your heavens, O LORD, and come down;
Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.

7 Stretch out Your hand from above;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
From the hand of foreigners,

8 Whose mouth speaks lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song to You, O God;
On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You,

10 The One who gives salvation to kings,
Who delivers David His servant
From the deadly sword.

11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,
Whose mouth speaks lying words,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood—

12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth;
That our daughters may be as pillars,
Sculptured in palace style;

13 That our barns may be full,
Supplying all kinds of produce;
That our sheep may bring forth thousands
And ten thousands in our fields;

14 That our oxen may be well laden;
That there be no breaking in or going out;
That there be no outcry in our streets.

15 Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

Psalm 145
~A Praise of David

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.

9 The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
And Your saints shall bless You.

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.

20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

Psalm 146
~The Happiness of Those Whose Help Is the LORD

1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!

2 While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,

7 Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.

8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.

9 The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

10 The LORD shall reign forever—
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!

Psalms 144

There is a close relationship between this psalm and Psalm 18. The psalmist may have reworked some of the images and thoughts of the earlier psalm into a new petition.

v. 1 Blessed be the LORD my Rock – Compare with Psalm 18:2: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress." Fortresses were usually constructed on high rocky crags; David had a "rock" in the wilderness that he repeatedly fled to when pursued by his enemies. Many Bible scholars think this may have been the almost impregnable rock of Masada, near the Dead Sea.

Who trains my hands…my fingers – The Lord put David through many trials and tests to make him into the warrior he needed to be. David recalls several instances from his time as a young shepherd when he appeals to Saul to let him go out to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 17:34-37). The hand holds the sword; the fingers pull the bow string.

v. 2 my people – There is better textual evidence for "the peoples," i.e. the nations opposed to Israel. "It is God who… subdues the peoples under me" .

(Ps. 18:47)

v. 3 – This verse is a strong echo of Psa. 8:4. The psalmist expresses that he is fully aware that he has no "right" to demand God pay heed to him; it is pure mercy on God's part.

LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?

v. 4 Man… a breath…, a passing shadow – Humankind is not even as substantial as breath on a cold day; we are just "shadows".

v. 5 what is man, that You take knowledge of him? – recalls Ps. 18:9

v. 6 arrows – i.e. lightning bolts

v. 7 Stretch out Your hand from above – Literally "shoot out" Your hand; the same verb that referred to God "shooting out" His arrows of judgment against the poet's enemies in the previous verse.

great waters – The "waters" are a common image in the psalms for threat, danger and death.

From the hand of foreigners – i.e. those who do not worship the true God

v. 8 whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood – Perhaps the hand of the deceivers who raised it in a false pledge of loyalty or peace.

v. 11 Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners – Repeats the last two lines of verse 8, like a grim drum cadence pounding home the duplicity of David's enemies.

v. 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth – Begins a new section of the song; it pictures the overflowing blessings of peace and prosperity that come from God's intervention and gift of victory.

plants grown up in their youth – i.e. young saplings

That our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style – The young women are as shapely as the ornate carved columns decorating the palace.

v. 13 That our barns may be full – Reflects on the blessings of agricultural bounty: full granaries, plenty of produce, full flocks with thousands of sheep grazing in the open countryside.

v. 14 That our oxen may be well laden – i.e. cattle fat with young

no breaking in – i.e. no breach in the defensive walls of the city

or going out – i.e. in chains, being led into captivity

no outcry in our streets – i.e. no shouts of terror at the hands of an enemy army

v. 15 Happy are the people who are in such a state – summarizes the blessings that come upon a nation or people that follows God's path Psalm 145

Psalm 145 begins a series of six praise psalms. They are, along with Psalm 100, a traditional part of Jewish morning prayers (Shacharit).The psalm is an acrostic; each verse (including v. 13; see note below) begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

a psalm of praise – This is the only psalm thus titled. Its theme is the kingship of God (v. 1). Verse 11 spells out the conditions in His Kingdom.

v. 1 I will exalt you, my God, O King – The theme of God's kingship has a very central place in the faith of Israel and later Jewish tradition. The beginning of the "blessings" (birkot) of traditional Jewish prayer repeats the refrain:

"Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe."

v. 2 praise – hallel (Heb.) the psalmist piles up synonyms for "praise"

Your name – God's name is the virtual "summary" of all His virtues and glorious attributes.

v. 3 unsearchable – its depth cannot be fathomed

v. 4 One generation…to another – The Biblical pattern is for God's message to be passed on from the older to the younger, generation for generation (Deut. 6:6-8).

v. 5 wondrous works – Verses 4-7 lines up four synonyms for God's action into creation and human history: "Your mighty acts" / "Your wondrous works" / "Your awesome acts" / culminating in v. 7: "your great goodness."

v. 6 men shall speak – Signals a switch to third person tense. The psalmist is showing that it is not just his voice that is raised in praise to God. He is part of a huge chorus.

v. 7 They…shall sing – probably in the community at worship in the Temple

v. 8 The LORD is gracious – recites the revelation of the divine glory to Moses on the mountain in Exodus 34:5

v. 9 The LORD is good to all – This is the point of truth that Satan always attempts to attack and obscure:

God is good… to all… always!

v. 10 all Your works – all creatures

saints – righteous ones

v. 12 His mighty acts …the glorious majesty of His kingdom – God does not simply act randomly; His every move into creation and human history is aimed at the redemption of His lost creation, the establishment of His eternal kingdom of justice and right.

v. 13 an everlasting kingdom – Major ancient Hebrew manuscripts include a second half with this verse: "The Lord is faithful in all His words, And holy in all His works." (It constitutes the letter "n" of the acrostic.) The NIV includes this line in the main text of the psalm; the NKJV notes the textual issue but relegates the verse into a footnote.

v. 15 eyes of all look expectantly – emphasizes the dependence of all living things on God's gracious hand

v. 16 every living thing – God's care is directed to His entire creation. While humankind has a special place in His heart, His love is limitless toward all He has made.

v. 18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him – The "nearness" of God has a very prominent place in the faith of Israel; God is not "far away" or preoccupied.

v. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him – Desire, meaning pleasure. Pleasure as such is not evil; in fact God wants to satisfy our deepest longings. It is our misguided and self-centered striving to satisfy ourselves that is the root of sin. The old Westminster Catechism captured the idea with its first question:

"What is the chief end of man?" Its answer: "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

v. 20 preserves – guards" (against evil)

all the wicked He will destroy – The Bible spells out the grim fate of those who choose willfully against God's grace.
 
v. 21 the praise of the LORD…His holy name – The concluding verse of the psalm neatly recapitulates the theme introduced at the beginning. This "envelope" structure is a common feature of Hebrew poetry. Psalm 146

Psalm 146 is the second of the six "praise psalms" concluding the Psalter. It, along with the next four, begins and ends with "Hallelujah!" (Also true of Psalm 111-117.)

It celebrates God's caring and compassionate concern for His world and humankind.

v. 1 Praise the LORD! – Literally "Hallellu-Jah!"

v. 2 While I live – while I exist (Heb.)

while I have my being – while I breathe

v. 3 princes – the highest human resource

in whom there is no help – "who offers no rescue"

v. 4 His spirit – breath (Heb.) an interesting play on v. 1: "as long as I have breath, I choose to praise God for…(v. 4), even princes will someday, as they descend into the grave, no longer have breath"

he returns to his earth – part of the judgment pronounced upon humankind by God (Gen. 3:9)

his plans – that which one had decided to do in the future

v. 5 the God of Jacob – Whenever God is described as "Jacob's God" it should be a great encouragement to us: Jacob the schemer, the weasel, the fearful; but also Jacob the one who called upon the God of his fathers and finally became "God's man," not in his strength but in his weakness.

v. 6 Who made – the list is meant to imply that God has made everything

Who keeps truth – faithfulness to His promise

v. 7 executes justice for the oppressed – makes a representative list of those in need or who are oppressed by other human powers

v. 9 the strangers – those who were not Israelite citizens

the fatherless and widow – the two most vulnerable groups in ancient society

turns upside down – i.e. twists out of shape. In ancient times, a straight and level road was a great thing; twisting and contorted roads were dangerous both from natural danger and the attacks of robbers.

Prayer Focus

"Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help."

Psalm 146:3

It is a hard lesson to learn, God, that we really cannot trust anyone in this world except You. If we have not yet learned this lesson, bring us through it so that we may learn to lean wholly and solely upon You. If we have learned this lesson, keep our hearts tender, Lord, so that we may forgive those who have failed to help us in our need.

Arabian Peninsula
 
The government is taking radical steps against Christianity in Iran that it has not never taken in the history of Iran/Persia. There is going to be intense attack and persecution against Christians.

Prayer Points

• for the building and house churches as they are under great attack and persecution
• for the believers in Iran and all of the open hearts in Iran who are thirsty to hear the Gospel

Pray as David prayed ~ Bob Caldwell

The Battle

"Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; Preserve me from violent men, Who plan evil things in their hearts; They continually gather together for war."  

Psalm 140:1-2

To deny we live in a treacherous world is like denying that we breathe. Our enemies may change, but life without them is impossible. For David, his enemies were men who sought to destroy him out of jealousy and envy. Others opposed to David were gripped by greed and a lust for power. But the list of our enemies does not end with those who have their share in fallen nature.

We ourselves can become our own worst enemy. The lust of our flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of life seek to destroy what God seeks to do in restoring us to His image. 

Then there is our archenemy, the devil, who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy.

But there is another, this fallen world. That spirit fosters rebellion against God from within everything from manmade religion to politics. This is a fact of life in a fallen world.

Therefore, pray as David prayed. Seek divine intervention. Put on the whole armor of God and stand. And in standing, accept nothing less than ultimate victory.
 
Where to Turn in the Battle

"But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute."

Psalm 141:8

The psalmist sees two battles before him. First, there is his own sin with which he must struggle. Here he has sinned through words. Secondly, he faces a battle with wicked people, people who tempt him to respond in such a way that will cause him to fall into their trap. On both fronts he wisely looks to God for help.

Surely David's tongue is not the only one that has gotten anyone into great trouble. Nor are we faultless in how we deal with our enemies. At times we run in fear, and at times we fight in the energy of our own folly and sin. Instead, make it your aim to be led by the Spirit. Before you speak or before you act, be one who looks to God for guidance. This one principle of a life in the Spirit that could save you loads of money, time, heartache, and sin.

Our Strength in Time of Trouble

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me."

Psalm 142:3

At times, life in a fallen world appears to leave us standing alone in the face of an all-encompassing flood of trouble. King David's biography, we read in the scriptures, confirms his life to be a series of such circumstances. But David never let such a vision of his life end there. He is the one who has left us an amazing heritage of living faith; he ultimately never saw himself alone before the flood. "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living" was his firm conclusion (v. 5).

Yes, in real life, in a tough world, in the land of the living, he found God as his refuge and God as his hope. David's hope in God was so sure that in the face of a flood of overwhelming troubles he boldly proclaimed to God, "You will deal bountifully with me" (v. 7).

Though all may seem lost, when our God is put in the center of the troubles of life, we can be assured His bountiful blessing!

God's Grace to Overcome Condemnation

"Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous."

Psalm 143:2

David finds himself in an extremely trying situation. Without God's divine intervention, he is sure to be overcome and destroyed. He feels crushed under the weight of his troubles with a dark shadow of despair hanging over his head (v. 3-6).

He cries out to the only one he knows who could help him; he cries out to God. But in that moment, he is struck with his own unworthiness. If God based His help on how much David deserved it, David knows he is doomed. He turns first to God for grace for his own life. If God entered into judgment with David, he knows he will surely be condemned, left alone to face his painful struggle.

Therefore he pleads for grace first for himself (v. 2) and then rehearses within his soul the kindness God has given him in years past. This honest approach in seeking God replaced the unbelief that otherwise would have overcome him. If God helped him based on his own righteousness, he was surely doomed.

But boldly David can expect God's help. He is sure God will teach and lead him because God is kind and good. In a crisis, we have all had Satan accuse us, tell us we are unworthy of God's help. Write this psalm upon your heart and you, like David, will win over both the devil's condemnation and the troubles that may weigh heavy upon your soul.

Psalms 140
 ~ To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men,

2 Who plan evil things in their hearts;
They continually gather together for war.

3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent;
The poison of asps is under their lips. Selah

4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men,
Who have purposed to make my steps stumble.

5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set traps for me. Selah

6 I said to the LORD: "You are my God;
Hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further his wicked scheme,
Lest they be exalted. Selah

9 "As for the head of those who surround me,
Let the evil of their lips cover them;

10 Let burning coals fall upon them; 
Let them be cast into the fire, 
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;
Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him."

12 I know that the LORD will maintain
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence. 

Psalm 141
~ A Psalm of David.

1 LORD, I cry out to You; 
Make haste to me! 
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.

2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works

With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

5 Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.
For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.

7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.

8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord;
In You I take refuge; 
Do not leave my soul destitute.

9 Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.

Psalm 142
~ A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

1 I cry out to the LORD with my voice;
With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.

2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.

3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.

Inn the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me.

4 Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul.

5 I cried out to You, O LORD:
I said, "You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.

6 Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.

7 Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;

The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me."

Psalm 143
~ A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.

2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.

4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

7 Answer me speedily, O LORD;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.

10 Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.

11 Revive me, O LORD, for Your name's sake!
For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.

Psalms 140

Chief Musician – the head of the musicians in the Temple

…of David – l'david (Heb.) can mean "composed by," "dedicated to," or "in the collection of"

This short psalm of supplication focuses on the character of evil people and the prayer of the psalmist that they will be defeated, their evil boomeranging back upon them.

v. 1 Deliver…from evil men // preserve…from violent men – A typical Hebrew double parallelism: "deliver" is fine-tuned to "preserve;" "evil men" is further clarified as a "violent man."

v. 2 in their hearts – The Scripture is clear: evil begins in the inner life (James 1:14-15).

they continually gather together for war – The aggressiveness of the evil person is in focus here.

v. 3 They sharpen their tongues like a serpent – Picture the evil person by reference to several body parts, culminating in the "hands", i.e. the part of the body that finally carries out the final evil act of violence against the righteous.

v. 4 to make my steps stumble – i.e. to "trip him up"

v. 5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords – The poet lays together several images of hunting; he is being relentlessly pursued by his enemies.

v. 6 I said to the LORD: "You are my God" – The focus of the psalmist begins to shift from his adversaries upward to the Lord.

v. 7 You have covered my head in the day of battle – In open battle the head is, of course, the most vulnerable and exposed part of the body; hence the many varieties of helmets from ancient times.

v. 9 As for the head of those who surround me – The poet, picking up the idea of the "head" from verse 7, prays that the evil of the wicked will be turned back upon them.

v. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them – the description of the destruction of Sodom (Gen. 19:24-25)

v. 11 a slanderer – "man of the tongue"
 
v. 12 the LORD will maintain – restates the poet's trust that God will, indeed, defend the oppressed and attacked Psalm 141

This is another short psalm of supplication.

of David – l'david (Heb.) can mean "composed by," "dedicated to," or "in the collection of"

v. 1 LORD, I cry out to You… give ear to my voice – This phrase immediately identifies the psalm as a supplication – a prayer of request and entreaty to God.

v. 2 incense …the evening sacrifice – The poet calls up images that associate his prayer with the rituals of the Temple.

the lifting up of my hands – Formal (i.e. Scriptural, memorized) Jewish prayers in the biblical period were often spoken standing and with the hands raised.

v. 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth – The psalmist expresses through his prayers his concern that he not move to the side of the evildoers, either deliberately or as a reaction to their attacks upon him

v. 4 do not let me eat of their delicacies – The evildoers are pictured as a "party group," gathered around the drinks and delicious appetizers; the poet prays that he won't be suckered in to joining them in sin.

v. 5 Let the righteous strike me – The psalmist is willing to accept strong correction from those who are on God's way.

v. 6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff – A difficult verse to interpret. Perhaps it refers to the practice of executing convicted criminals by throwing them off of a cliff. In this case, then, the sense is: May the rulers of the wicked experience the final judgment for their evil.

v. 7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave – Another difficult verse; the NIV tries to untie the knot by making the verse a quote of what the wicked rulers from v. 6 say of their fate. This is a possibility.

v. 8 Do not leave my soul destitute – This verse does not mean: "Don't let me be depressed!" Rather, it means that God does leave the life of the psalmist exposed to attack by the evildoers.

v. 9 snares…traps – The prayer that the plans of the wicked to attack the righteous will "boomerang" on their own head is a well-known theme in the psalms (Ps. 140:5-6). Psalm 142

The heading of this urgent prayer of supplication (see v. 1) references a frightening incident in the life of David recorded in 1 Samuel 24.

Contemplation – maskil (Heb.) There is no precise and certain meaning known for this term. It may mean a meditation on instruction.

v. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me – The idea in Hebrew is: "When my spirit collapses in on itself…"

then You knew my path – At the moment of deepest discouragement, the poet reflects on the fact that all of his troubles are NOT unknown to God, who knows his entire path from beginning to end.

they have secretly set a snare for me – As in its close neighbors, metaphors from the theme of hunting (traps, snares, etc.) appears in this psalm (Ps. 140,4-5; 141:9, 10).

v. 4 on my right hand… there is no one…no one cares for my soul – The psalmist feels completely deserted. In the Psalms, the "right hand" is the direction from which help comes; hence the particular sense the poet has of being deserted.

v. 6 Deliver me from my persecutors – These are the ones who "secretly set a snare for me" (v. 3).

v. 7 Bring my soul out of prison – The poet may literally be trapped in prison (v. 3) or be using the image of entrapment to express his predicament.
 
The righteous shall surround me – Instead of being encircled by enemies, God will deliver him and put him in the midst of the worshippers of God. Psalm 143

v. 1 my prayer…my supplications – This immediately identifies the psalm as a prayer of supplication, a plea for God to act into the life and situation of the psalmist.

In Your faithfulness… and in Your righteousness (answer me) – These two qualities of God's character, His consistency ("faithfulness") and His absolute moral reliability ("righteousness") will define how He answers our prayers.

v. 2 in Your sight no one living is righteous – Better translated, "no living being" comes close to the moral purity of God.

v. 3 the enemy – those persecuting and pursuing the poet

He has crushed my life…made me dwell in darkness – i.e. in the realm of the dead

v. 4 my spirit is overwhelmed …my heart… is distressed – Note the increasingly tight focus in the poetic parallel: spirit : overwhelmed // heart : distressed.

v. 5 I remember the days of old – The psalmist meditates on God's mighty acts that has delivered him or God's people in the past.

v. 6 My soul longs for You like a thirsty land – God's merciful presence is to the poet like the promise of rain in a parched desert.

v. 7 My spirit fails! – The poet is at the end of himself.

the pit – sheol (Heb.) the realm of the dead

v. 8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning – The psalmist pleads with God, that after the "dark night" of his soul, the "sunrise" will come and he will experience God's deliverance and mercy.

I lift up my soul to You – The poet picks up the idea of his "outstretched hands" in prayer from verse 6 and says, "My soul is in my hands, lifted up to You in prayer!"

v. 9 In You I take shelter – The idea is that God "covers" the psalmist with His love and protection.

v. 10 Teach me to do Your will – i.e. that which is pleasing in Your sight

Your Spirit is good… lead me in the land of uprightness – Better translated, "Let Your good Spirit lead me on to level ground."

v. 11 Revive – "re-give me life"

bring my soul out of trouble – i.e. out of the narrow place in which he finds himself

v. 12 all those who afflict my soul – "the enemies of my life" (Heb.)

Prayer Focus

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me."

Psalm 142:3

There are always those who seek to do us harm, Lord. Sometimes because we follow You and sometimes because they don't follow You. Guard our paths today, Lord, and keep us from falling into traps laid by enemies as well as friends. Guide our steps, Lord.


Christian Childbirth Classes

It has been exciting to watch the Lord grow the Christian Childbirth classes from being just Calvary members, to an incredible outreach. Pregnant couples now come from all over the valley. The majority of class members are not familiar with Calvary, including couples that are nonbelievers, believers, those at risk, those with normal pregnancies, etc. It is amazing to see the Lord showing His truths through devotions, prayer, and fellowship.

Prayer Points

• that the Lord would continue to expand the borders of this outreach as well as bringing in our own church family
• that the nonbelievers would see the truth of Jesus and be drawn to desire a relationship with Him
• that God would be glorified through this ministry

You may find yourself losing everything ~ Bob Caldwell

Judgment's End Goal

  
"By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it."

Psalm 137:1-2

When the Jews found themselves in foreign lands, it was common for them to gather by a nearby river for Sabbath worship. This passage refers to those captives who had been taken to Babylon. The Babylonian captivity had been God's judgment in response to Israel's decades of sinful rebellion against Him.

We can see in the psalmist's words that God's judgment had accomplished its intended goal. What Israel once took for granted, they now longed for. They wept at having to worship so far from Zion, the Temple Mount.  If you find yourself distracted by the cares of this life with little heart left for the things of God, beware. You may find yourself losing everything that has replaced God. A loss that sometimes is the only way left for God to awaken the love we have lost for Him.

Seek Him first and you will gain all other things. Seek first all other things, and in the end you will lose both.

God's Word Backed by God's Name 

 "I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." 

Psalm 138:2

David speaks from experience when he declares, "For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." David discovered, as few have, what amazing things stand behind the "name" of God. He saw God's grace in choosing him to be king of Israel. He saw God's good in the years of chastening God brought him through to prepare him for his calling as king. David discovered through all he experienced, a list of virtues that are alone found in the perfection of God. God's love, holiness, power, forgiveness, and sovereignty are examples of things David knew firsthand.

David came to see that all of the main aspects of God's glory represented in His name were at His disposal to assure the fulfillment of His promise. Like David, our hope in God's Word has carried many of us through the most turbulent of waters. Because of this unreserved confidence in God's word of promise, David boldly declares in the midst of a great trial that God will surely revive him. God will stretch out His hand to overthrow the enemies of his soul. Those who know and hope in God's character, which is great in its perfection, will also surely see God's word of promise fulfilled beyond human understanding.

The Searching Light of God

 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139: 23,24

David's desire that God would fully search the depths of His inner being, the rightness of his way of living, as well as the origins of his anxieties reaffirms why David had such a passionate heart after God. No matter what evil God saw in him, He would also lead David out of his sin to the golden path that leads to life everlasting. David proved the saying, "Though God knows all about me, He loves me still." David was not afraid to face himself as God saw him because he knew two vital things about God. First, he knew God already knew everything about him anyway so why hide what cannot be hidden? This is why he begins his psalm describing the complete length, depth, height and width of God's knowledge (v. 1-16). Secondly, David knew that in spite of the wickedness of his fallen nature, God's thoughts toward him were precious thoughts of love (v. 17-18). This is the basis for each one of us to fully accept the all-knowing eyes of God.

Let this knowledge of God give us the confidence to face all that God already knows about us. God will not only help us face the cancer of sin that eats away at what we were created to be (the image of God), but He will also lead us onto a path of abundant life. God will do all this for each of us because David is not the first nor last for whom God holds countless precious thoughts. This includes you!

Psalms 137
~Longing for Zion in a Foreign Land

1 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.

2 We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.

3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How shall we sing the LORD's song
In a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
Let my right hand forget its skill!

6 If I do not remember you,
Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth—
If I do not exalt Jerusalem
Above my chief joy.

7 Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom
The day of Jerusalem,
Who said, "Raze it, raze it,
To its very foundation!"

8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed,
Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!

9 Happy the one who takes and dashes

Your little ones against the rock!

Psalm 138
~A Psalm of David.

1 I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.

5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.

6 Though the LORD is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Psalm 139
~For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"
Even the night shall be light about me;

12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

20 For they speak against You wickedly;
Your enemies take Your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms 137


This psalm was composed after the brutal conquest of the nation of Judah in 586 BC, with its bloodcurdling massacres when the towns and cities fell one after another to the conquerors, accompanied by pillage, rape and unspeakable cruelty. Much of the population was dragged off to Babylon in the subsequent mass deportations.

v. 1 By the rivers of Babylon – Babylon, located in a fertile plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, had a sophisticated canal system that connected the two water sources. The Judean exiles were located along these streams; the prophet Ezekiel, for instance, received his first vision "among the exiles by the Kebar River [canal]" (Eze. 1:1).

of Babylon – The Hebrew text reads: "…Babylon – there! (sham, Heb.)

We sat down – Emphasizing the strangeness and foreignness of their location. The "there" is repeated again for emphasis at the beginning of v. 3.

v. 2 We hung our harps – Probably similar to what we know as "Irish harps," which are small enough to be carried by hand. The exiles "hung it up," they were not in any way inclined to make music in the midst of the situation.

upon the willows – literally, "poplars;" the trees growing beside the canals


in the midst of it – i.e. in the midst of Babylon

v. 3 there – See note on v. 1.

those who carried us away captive – our captors

those who plundered us – The memory of the pillaging of Judah and Jerusalem was still fresh in the poet's mind.

saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" – The captors or "plunderers" wanted to be entertained; this is a common occurrence among conquering armies.

v. 4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land? – What their tormenters considered quaint "folk songs" of Zion (v. 3) were, for the exiles, sacred worship songs; it was totally out of place to sing them for a crowd of rowdy and perhaps drunken captors.

v. 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! – Right hand and tongue (v. 6) are, of course, the key to playing the lyre. The poet is saying: If Jerusalem is not at the center of my thoughts, may I be cursed.

v. 7 Raze it, raze it – The final three verses are a livid "anti-prayer" by the psalmist, asking God to repay the gloating enemies of Judah with their own coin with which they treated the defeated nation. The final scene of the attack when the enemies took the capitol ("the day of Jerusalem") replays itself before his mind's eye.

the sons of Edom – i.e. the Edomites, a neighboring people descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. They allied themselves with the attacking Babylonians, screaming for the city's total destruction during the final attack.

v. 8 Happy the one who repays you as you have served us! – i.e. happy is the one who pays you back in kind. The poet sees quite accurately, though, that whoever "draws the sword shall die by the sword" (Matt. 26:52).

v. 9 the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock! – This blood-curdling curse is the anguished cry of someone who has probably seen unspeakable cruelties during the final hours of the battle for Jerusalem. Are these only words of personal vengeance and vindictiveness or is there more to them? In ancient times, children were often viciously murdered at the successful conclusion of a siege (2 Kings 8:12, Is. 13:16, Hosea 13:16; Nahum 3:10).

Psalm 138

This thanksgiving psalm expresses the poet's personal gratefulness to God for deliverance from his enemies (v. 7)

v. 1 my whole heart – The heart, in Hebrew thinking, was the center of one's personality, the source of one's very being. It must be guarded and developed (Prov. 4:23).

Before the gods I will sing praises to You – This phrase has bothered Jewish and Christian commentators for centuries. Some have tried to interpret "gods" as meaning "judges," but that is a stretch. There is nothing particularly polytheistic about the phrase, though; it is best read as a simple statement of fact: in the midst of the nations, the psalmist confesses the true God, while folk around him worship idols and other things they imagine to be "gods."

v. 2 worship – bow down; probably similar to the way Muslims pray today

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name – The word order and emphasis in Hebrew is instructive: "Because You-have-magnified above-all-Your Name…Your Word!" The meaning seems to be that, glorious as God's "Name" (His character and nature) is, His revelation of Himself to humankind has brought Him even greater glory and praise.

v. 3 In the day when I cried out – i.e. in supplication that God would deliver him from His enemies.

made me bold with strength in my soul – "You made me bold and stouthearted" (NIV).

v. 4 When they hear – Whenever the word "hear" appears in the psalms, one should at least consider the possibility that the mighty "confession of faith" of Israel is a connotation; that makes sense in this case. The psalmist is reflecting on his small part in the great proclamation of faith before the nations: "Hear O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is One!" (Deut. 6:4).

v. 6 Though the LORD is on high – Note the Hebrew a-b-b'-a' parallelism: "on high…regards the lowly // the proud…knows from afar (i.e. from a distance).

v. 7 Your right hand will save me – The "right hand" is a Hebrew idiom for strength.

v. 8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me – God's purpose will be fulfilled in our lives; not because of our cleverness or moral goodness, but because His "mercy endures forever" and we are the "work of His hands" (Phil. 1:6).


Psalm 139 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

Chief Musician – the head of the musicians in the Temple

of David – l'david (Heb.) can mean "composed by," "dedicated to," or "in the collection of"

Psalm 139

This wonderful psalm has been a companion of God's people through the centuries. It is a deep meditation on God's total knowledge of our human thoughts and condition and on the amazing glory of His presence everywhere: in all that is, was, or ever will be.

v. 1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me – God's knowledge is active, based upon His conscious awareness of everything in His creation.

v. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up – The phrasing recalls God's command to His people to know His commands: "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deut. 6:7).

You understand my thought afar off – God knows our innermost thoughts, a comforting and alarming prospect

v. 3 my lying down – Means the "lair" of an animal. I.e. in colloquial speech, "You know where I hang out".

v. 5 You have hedged me behind and before – The image the poet has in mind is probably that of a potter "squeezing" the clay between his hands; God has been directing the psalmist's life since the moment of his conception.

v. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? – It is impossible to escape from God's presence; there is nowhere in the created world that He is not there.

v. 8 hell – sheol (Heb.) the place of the dead

v. 9 If I take the wings of the morning – The picture is of someone riding the sun across the skies to the uttermost ends of the earth.

v. 11 the darkness shall fall on me – i.e. I will be wrapped up in darkness like a blanket

v. 12 The darkness and the light are both alike to You – It is all the same to God; night is like blazing daylight for Him.

v. 13 inward parts – literally, in Heb. "kidneys;" i.e. all of the most intricate organs of the body

covered me – Better translated: "knit me" or "wove me;" again emphasizing God's active role in the psalmist's life from the moment of conception.

v. 15 in the lowest parts of the earth – Literally: "in the depths of the earth;" it creates a picture (metaphor) comparing the womb and the underworld (v. 8).

v. 16 in Your book they all were written – The Hebrew text is not clear; this could mean: "All the days fashioned for me were written in Your book" (i.e., God intimately knows future events) or it could mean: "Everything about me…" (God knows us in detail).

v. 18 When I awake, I am still with You – After all of his effort to grasp God's thoughts (v. 17), the psalmist falls asleep; when he wakens, God's presence is still there.

v. 19 that You would slay the wicked – The poet's attention then turns to the conditions in the world. Wickedness is not hidden from him; how much more is it not hidden from God.

v. 22 perfect hatred – i.e. "total" hatred.

v. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart – Are a deep cry for personal revival. Spiritual renewal begins with the "searching" of one's innermost motives ("heart") and one's thought-life ("anxieties"; better translated "thoughts" or "thinking").

v. 24 see if there is any wicked way in me – Two life "ways" are envisioned by the poet: the "wicked" way (literally, the "aggravating" way…i.e. it is irritating or vexing to God and the "eternal way," upon which one is led by God (the image of the pilgrim "Christian" in Pilgrim's Progress).

Prayer Focus

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139:23-24

As David sought for You to search his heart, God, we pray for the same today. Examine our hearts, refine us in Your holy fire, and rid us of the sin that is within. Above all us, lead us in Your ways, Lord, so that we may spend eternity praising You.

Topical Core Groups

I've been attending the "Women of Sexual Integrity" class and through it, the Lord has been showing me things about my marriage relationship that need help. The women of our church body are blessed to have this opportunity to safely and effectively discuss and pray for issues related to sexual integrity in marriage. Tina Bailey is an awesome teacher.

Prayer Points

• that the Lord would continue to bless marriages in our church family through this class
• that more women would be yielded to allowing the Lord to work and heal and bless their intimate relationships with their husbands

Worship and Praise with a Thankful Heart ~ Bob Caldwell

God's Commanded Blessing

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Psalm 133:1

Tragically, it seems that few of God's people are aware of the value of our unity in the eyes of God. Wherever God sees sincere unity among us we are assured of two amazing blessings from Him. First, we are promised the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit that will bring unique blessings normally reserved for only the high priest. Secondly, God promises to "command" blessing upon our lives.

Who or what can hinder what God commands? No one and nothing!

Let us seek unity much more than blessing, and we will be assured of both. Nothing in Heaven or on Earth can hinder what God has promised and what He will command.

In Worship, Let God Be Central

"Behold, bless the LORD, All you servants of the LORD, Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!"

Psalm 134:1

Worship is often misunderstood; it often becomes much more about us than about sincere and passionate expressions of our love and awe for God. The pleasure we derive from stirring music and the emotional bond we experience with fellow worshipers often becomes our unspoken purpose in worship.

God Himself can easily become a secondary focal point.

God created music to gladden our souls, and we should accept it as a good thing. That God created us to find pleasure in sharing meaningful experiences with one another is also a good thing. Music and fellowship with one another is one of the greatest resources available to make our life rich and meaningful. It is something in which all people, rich or poor, can share.

But to let the good replace the best robs us of the one thing that makes the "good" truly good. Let the best be satisfied by worshiping God.

When God is the center purpose for which all that is good is used, including music and fellowship, everything else we do is so much richer.

What Stimulates Praise?

 "Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD!"

Psalm 135:1

"Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your fame, O LORD, throughout all generations."

Psalm 135:13

To refer to the name of God is to direct us to the glory of who God is and the things He alone does to perfection.

It is through this process of discovering and enjoying God that we find worship and praise of Him to be a wellspring of joy.

This principle is often overlooked when church leaders and worship leaders are seeking to motivate the church to become more "worshipful." We often turn to music style, song-leading cheerleaders, or guilt to stir people when what is really needed is the knowledge of God.

If we but see His glory, our worship of Him would be unstoppable.

This is exactly what the psalmist does here. He points us to simply see God. God is good, he declares, one who richly treasures us (v. 3, 4). Nothing hinders God from doing whatever His own pure and great being chooses to do (v. 8-12). And, even though His greatness is as far above us as the heavens, He comes to us with great compassion and empathy (v. 14).

To see God is to automatically adore Him.

Those who see Him need no cheerleader to get them to praise Him. For such people, praise is waiting to be poured out when given an opportunity.

The Joy of a Thankful Heart

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 136:1

Thanksgiving lifted up to God is one of the greatest virtues we can develop. Those who live with thankfulness are generally easy to point out among a group of people. Thankful people tend to be some of the happiest people on earth. Conversely, the unthankful seem to draw dark clouds over their souls.

This is why we are commanded to give thanks to God in all things.

Thankfulness requires that whether in good or bad situations we seek a place where God's glory can shine. Obviously it is much easier to say thank you when all is good in our lives. Yet in doing so we anchor ourselves in God lest we soon turn the good into idols that rob us of Him.

To be able to find a place of thankfulness in the inevitable bad that befalls all who walk through a cursed world will be a great saving grace as well.  It is in the bad times that we find God as an ever-present strength. It is there we discover a love from God that is unshakable.

In the discovery of God's love, absolutely nothing can separate us from the grip of His love. It is in suffering that we find God is able to turn all things together for good.

(Rom. 8:28).

Psalms 133  
~ A Song of Ascent. Of David.

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.

3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.

Psalm 134 
~ A Song of Ascents
.

1 Behold, bless the LORD,
All you servants of the LORD,
Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!

2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD.

3 The LORD who made heaven and earth
Bless you from Zion!

Psalm 135 
~ Praise to God in Creation and Redemption

1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the name of the LORD;
Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD!

2 You who stand in the house of the LORD,
In the courts of the house of our God,

3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.

4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His special treasure.

5 For I know that the LORD is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatever the LORD pleases He does,
In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places.

7 He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
He makes lightning for the rain;
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.

8 He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt,
Both of man and beast.
9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.

10 He defeated many nations
And slew mighty kings—

11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
Og king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan—

12 And gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.

13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
Your fame, O LORD, throughout all generations.

14 For the LORD will judge His people,
And He will have compassion on His servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
The work of men's hands.

16 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
Eyes they have, but they do not see;

17 They have ears, but they do not hear;
Nor is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.

19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel!
Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron!

20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!

21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 136 
~ Thanksgiving to God for His Enduring Mercy

1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.

2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.

3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:

4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;

5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;

6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;

7 To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—

8 The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
 
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.

10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
For His mercy endures forever;

11 And brought out Israel from among them,
For His mercy endures forever;

12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
For His mercy endures forever;

13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
For His mercy endures forever;

14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His mercy endures forever;

15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever;

16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His mercy endures forever;

17 To Him who struck down great kings,
For His mercy endures forever;

18 And slew famous kings,
For His mercy endures forever—

19 Sihon king of the Amorites,
For His mercy endures forever;
 
20 And Og king of Bashan,
For His mercy endures forever—

21 And gave their land as a heritage,
For His mercy endures forever;

22 A heritage to Israel His servant,
For His mercy endures forever.

23 Who remembered us in our lowly state,
For His mercy endures forever;

24 And rescued us from our enemies,
For His mercy endures forever;

25 Who gives food to all flesh,
For His mercy endures forever.

26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.

Psalms 133


This song, with its emphasis upon unity and harmony among brothers (and sisters) in the faith was a potent reminder to the travelers on their way to Jerusalem that the stresses of the journey should not make them disunited and divided among themselves. In a broader sense, it is a call to the entire People of God to be diligent to "preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3) upon our journey to the Heavenly City! It emphasizes this through two similes that highlight the "overflow" (literally: "coming down") of blessing coming from this concord.

v. 1 Behold – This psalm begins with a strong accent in Hebrew: "Look! How-good + how-pleasant!" (The actual words are the text of a well-known worship song: Hinneh ma-tov.)

pleasant – delightful and agreeable (also used of harmonious music)

v. 2 precious oil upon the head – "Anointing" with oil was a sign that the person was set apart for God; in the case of Aaron, for the high priesthood, the most important spiritual responsibility in the nation. The oil flows ("comes down") in fullness from his head to his full beard (emphasized by the immediate repetition of the word "beard"; in Hebrew the second use follows the first immediately: "upon the beard – beard of Aaron"). It drips down ("comes down") on to his formal robes. The flood of this costly oil is a simile for the abundance of blessing that comes when God's people live in true unity.

v. 3 like the dew of Hermon – The poet introduces a second image: when believers live together in community and harmony, the blessing that follows is ordered by God and eternal. It is like the cool, moist breezes blowing from the snows on Mt. Hermon (north of Galilee) that "come down" on to the hot plains of Galilee and hills of northern Judah during the heat of summer.

Psalm 134

This is last of the "Songs of Ascents" that were most likely sung during pilgrimage up to Jerusalem for the three major festivals at which each Jewish male living in the promised land was required to come to the Temple.

At the conclusion of their pilgrimage, the travelers stand in "the house of the Lord", the Temple. They call out, perhaps to the officiating priests: "Bless (i.e. praise) the Lord."

v. 1 who by night stand in the house of the LORD – The sacrifices took place in the Temple during the daylight hours but the priests stayed through the night to care for and guard its precincts, tend the 7-armed lamp (Menorah) in the Holy Place and other fires and prepare for the rituals of the coming day.

v. 2 Lift up your hands – This is perhaps the echoing call of the priests presiding over the ceremonies: the newly arrived worshippers are to "Lift your hands" and praise Him.

the sanctuary – literally, "toward the Holy Place"

v. 3 who made heaven and earth – The translators of the NKJV (and most other English translations) reversed the word order of this verse. It reads, in Hebrew: "Bless-you the LORD – from Zion; (He that) made heaven and earth." There is a deep reason for the word order in Hebrew, though. The psalm focuses on the Temple (the "house of the LORD" in v. 1; the "sanctuary" of v. 2). The poet sees the Lord's blessing coming out of Zion, where He has localized Himself in space and time (compare Ps. 135:21)! This much is true of every so-called "god" in the history of the human race; they each have their shrine or place. BUT the poet then reminds us: HE Who is giving this blessing and whose Name is above all names is not confined to Zion, even though He has chosen to put His Name there. On the contrary, He is the one who has made everything. He is the ONE, truly transcendent "Almighty" God!

Psalm 135

This praise psalm continues the theme of worship in the Temple that permeates the 15 pilgrim "Songs of Ascent" that precede it. It reviews God's power as creator, His choice of Israel as His special treasure and His actions on her behalf, with a concluding comment on the futility idol-worship.

v. 1-2 Praise the name of the LORD – This verse and verse two sets this psalm firmly in the Temple and identifies it as a praise/thanksgiving song from the first word on.

v. 3 pleasant – literally, beautiful, harmonious (when applied to music)

v. 4 His special treasure – valued property (Ex. 19:5, Deut. 14:2)

v. 6 heaven…earth…the seas…all deep places – This listing is meant to include everything in existence.

v. 7 vapors – clouds

His treasuries – storerooms

v. 8 He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt – Beginning in this verse through verse 12, the psalmist summarizes God's works on behalf of Israel.

v. 11 Sihon king of the Amorites – recalls Israel's victories over the Canaanite kings recorded in Numbers 21

v. 13 A heritage to Israel – Although the acts of God on behalf of Israel are history, His name and "fame" for these works of saving grace and judgment will never be forgotten.

v. 14 'For the LORD' – This is a direct quote of Deuteronomy 32:36. It is entirely fitting that the psalmist would quote from Moses' song to Israel, particularly because it also emphasizes the futility of idolatry. Moses' words go on to say: "when He [the LORD] sees that their power is gone, and there is no one remaining, bond or free. He will say: 'Where are their gods, the rock in which they sought refuge?" With v. 14, the poem transitions to a closer focus on the current state of the nation. The battle with idolatry and false gods lasted for centuries and it is no surprise that the psalmist draws attention to the futility of worshipping anything or anyone but the true God.

v. 15 idols of the nations – compare with Ps. 115:4-8, a very similar criticism of idol worship

work – creation. It is ironic that men would worship as creator or savior what their own hands have made.

v. 16 have mouths, but they do not speak – commonly spoken by the prophets of the LORD against idolatry (compare Is. 42:17-18, 44:9-20)

v. 18 Those who make them are like them – The idea expressed here is: "Idols are 'zeros'; so will be those who worship them." It is a deep principle of human nature: we become like what we exalt.

v. 19 O house of Israel…Aaron…Levi! – i.e. the congregation of the faithful, the officiating priests and the Levites who serve in the Temple

v. 21 Blessed be the LORD – see Ps. 134:3 study note

Psalm 136


This thanksgiving psalm, like the ones preceding it, is firmly rooted in the worship services in the Temple. It emphasizes God's creation of the universe and his acts on behalf of Israel during the Exodus and conquering of the Promised Land. The Exodus and conquest of Canaan was, for Israel, the central instance of God's work on behalf of His chosen people, celebrated supremely in Passover.

v. 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! –This is the defining message of faith in the face of Satan's attacks on God's character: "God is good!"

For His mercy endures forever! – This phrase was the response line chanted or shouted by the congregation as the worship leaders recited the acts of God in creation and for His people.

Mercy – abiding and steadfast grace

v. 5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens – Prov. 8:22-31

v. 6 laid out – spread out or hammered out the earth below the "expanse of the sky" and above the waters "beneath" (Gen. 1:6-8)

v. 7 Him who made great lights – These next verses refer to the creation account in Genesis 1. The nations worshipped the moon and stars; the faith of Israel removed them from the realm of "gods" and viewed them simply as "markers" for day and night and the seasons (Gen. 1:14-18).

v. 10 who struck Egypt – Verses 10-15 review the Exodus from Egypt.

v. 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm – Ex. 6:6, 13:9

v. 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea – See Ex. 14:27; the verb in Hebrew (na'ar) means "to shake." Thus, "He shook off Pharaoh and his army" as one shakes off dust or brushes an insect from one's hand.

v. 16 who led His people through the wilderness – This verse begins a review of God's leading of Israel through the wilderness and the conquering of the Promised Land.

v. 20 Og king of Bashan – Og is described as a huge man, a descendent of the Rephaim, who were legendary for their height and size (Deut. 3:11).

v. 21 a heritage – i.e. a homestead or estate; an inheritance (also in the following verse)

v. 23 Who remembered us – This verse gives a fleeting look at a low point in Israel's history when she was at the mercy of her enemies.

in our lowly state – one could paraphrase: "when we were down for the count"

v. 25 food – lechem (Heb.) literally, bread. At the end of his song of praise, the psalmist celebrates God's mercy in providing for all of His creatures.

Prayer Focus

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever."

Psalm 136:1

We give You thanks today, God, for You are good and merciful and full of grace.

Women's Bible Studies 
 
It shows me God truly loves us by sending someone to teach us and give us the Word of God. It helps to keep my faith. It reminds me that I am not alone. That God has forgiven me and that I need to forgive myself. And to trust in God that God works miracles and He won't let me down and that God's love is very unselfish.

Prayer Points

• for the Lord to continue to bless these Bible studies as the women grow closer to each other and to the Lord