You are more glorious and excellent Than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted were plundered; They have sunk into their sleep; And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands. At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence When once You are angry? You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still, When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah

Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.

The LORD, God, the Almighty is glorious and excellent; He stands out above the mighty. When He delivers judgment, all creation sinks into fear and stillness; His judgment is over all the earth. The very wrath of man will turn to praise. All who enter into His presence shall do so bearing praise and gifts. His awesomeness subdues kings and princes. He is the Almighty One.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 29, Noon Psalm 119:121-128, Evening Psalm 75 .

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

To the Chief Musician. On Stringed Instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is His tabernacle, And His dwelling place in Zion. There He broke the arrows of the bow, The shield and sword of battle. Selah.

Here we go again with another Psalm of praise by Asaph. I'm beginning to wonder if a productive study wouldn't be a comparison between the Psalms of David vs those of Asaph looking at each collection for distinctive differences between their approach to worship.

Quickly look at how Asaph sets the stage for his Psalm of worship as he cleans out the offensive weapons. Then all is set for him to develop the song of worship that is on his heart.

Thank you for your prayers; we expect Betty to be released from the hospital this afternoon.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 29, Noon Psalm 119:121-128, Evening Psalm 75 .

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name. Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

"Do not let the oppressed return ashamed! Let the poor and needy praise Your name, Arise, O God, plead You own cause." What strikes me in this passage is the ocurrance of "Let". A pleading for the LORD, God, The Almighty for permission to praise His Holy Name and to stand tall in the face of oppression.

Do I need His permission to praise Him? Certainly not! To stand tall in the face of oppresion? Well, a different question. I need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead me in a resisting that honors the Name, the Holy Name of the LORD, God the Almighty. A Name that is above all other names; a name that names the great Trinitarin God.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 26, Noon Psalm 119:97-104, Evening Psalm 72.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD, And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever. Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.

LORD, it is You and only You that stands between Your people and the Evil One. It is Your might, Your power, Your glory that is our safety. Forgive us for those instances when we have disobeyed You; when we have blasphamed Your glorious Name; when we have not acknowleged that You are the LORD, God, the Almighty. How can we be so bland that we do not see and relate to You as God, the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. You are the Almighty Trinitarian One.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 25, Noon Psalm 119:89-96, Evening Psalm 71.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.

Ish Elohim declares this stanza as the focal point of his faith. No ifs or other forms of weasel words. The LORD, God, the Almighty says it, I will obey it.

Notice, also that he is quick to identify the snares of the Evil One. And cuts the devil absolutely no slack. Oh that I would learn to be as resolute.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 24, Noon Psalm 119:81-88, Evening Psalm 70.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. The day isYours, the night also isYours; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter.

That Day, that powerful Day when the LORD, God, the Almighty declares that His patience has come to an end. He will move in His Righteous fury against those evidences of the Evil One's destruction and marring of the beauty of the Creation.

It is not that all the plans are in place for the removal of the evidences of Evil but more importantly, so are the plans of restoration and renewal. Every i dotted, every t crossed. The LORD, God, the Almighty's beautiful Creation on display.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 23, Noon Psalm 119:73-80, Evening Psalm 69.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

We do not see our signs; There isno longer any prophet; Nor is thereany among us who knows how long. O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take itout of Your bosom and destroy them..For God ismy King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.

How long, how long will you delay Your return? How much longer must we, Your people of the promise, endure the wickedness of the enemy surrounding us? Remove Your hand from You bosom and exact justice upon those who defy You?

For you are my King who works salvation from the very bowels of the earth. Come Lord Jesus come.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 22, Noon Psalm 119:65-72, Evening Psalm 68 .

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

A Contemplation of Asaph.O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? Remember Your congregation, whichYou have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, whichYou have redeemed—This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. 

Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolation. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them altogether." They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

Was Asaph presentiment? Did he foresee the slash and burn approach to the faith that is standard practice for the Evil One Today? Perhaps we do not see the raw physical destruction of our places of worship very often, but ridicule, mockery and using the LORD's name in vain are common today.

We need to be willing to stand before the LORD, preaching the Gospel and calling sinners to account.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 21, Noon Psalm 119:57-64, Evening Psalm 67.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.

WOW! Read this paragraph and reread it. Now do it again and again! Let “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” pour into the very depths of your soul. You have arrived at the very center of our faith. This faith statement tops all other faith claims whether they be atheistic, agnostic, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist, Taoist, or... They all lack the totality, the focus, the call of the LORD, God, the Almighty.

Join me in a mutual oath to begin our day, each day, every day with a meditation on this passage. With this precious passage setting the tone for our day, we are off to a rip roaring start.

Another point to consider is that in this short, precious paragraph, the LORD, God, the Almighty, Yahweh, is very specifically defining how He wants to be worshiped. It is directed from me to Him. It is not a list of favors that I'm begging Him to depose on me or even thanksgivings for past answered importations. (These all have their place but not during a time dedicated to His worship. Thanking Him for healing Aunt Sally's hangnail is for another time and place.)

This is a declaration that the LORD, God, the Almighty is at the center of my being, and that I lift my voice continuously in acknowledging His Supremacy. [Big period]

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Reading:

Morning Psalm 20, Noon Psalm 119:49-56, Evening Psalm 66.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Psalm 73:18-22

Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

Is this similar to our situation when we find our feet in slippery places and ar consumed with terrors? Have you ever awakened during a dream, covered with the cold sweats? Not able to know where you are or why? Have I learned to call on the LORD to help me despise those frightening images and name them as they truly are? The minions of Satan?

Yes, I am often foolish and ignorant with all the spiritual sensitivity of a beast. Put your loving arms around me, LORD, carry me into the bosom of Your peace.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 19, Noon Psalm 119:41-48, Evening Psalm 65.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

Do you see? “It was too painful for me--Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.” What is going on around us in this world is too painful for me to see or understand. We must come to the sanctuary of God before we can gain understanding. It is only there, in the Sanctuary of the LORD, God, the Almighty, that we can gain true understanding.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 18, Noon Psalm 119:33-40, Evening Psalm 64.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.

Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

Every time I look at a stanza and think that Ish-el-Eohim cannot top this, he does. And this is a beautiful example. It breaks conveniently into two separate thought patterns: the first focuses on how the Law of the LORD, God, the Almighty influences him constantly throughout the day, the second paragraph focuses on how the sweetness of the Word brings understanding of the Word and hatred of false ways.

Let us focus each day on his analysis and seek to apply it to our lives too.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 17, Noon Psalm 119:25-32, Evening Psalm 63.

Alternate Reading Plan based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.

Set your own up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits.

I suggest either setting aside a period of the day to read all, or break the readings up into morning, mid-day, and evening series. Both approaches have their advantages, and both will build an awareness of the Bible as a whole over time.