The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Many of the references in the Psalm regarding worship address the flow of that worship as from man to the LORD, God, the Almighty. This is certainly an appropriate direction for our concern. We need to be concerned, very concerned about our worship, that is appropriately directed and practiced.

But, praise the LORD, He reacts with visible, encouraging and valuable response. Read and reread that second paragraph. It does not promise that we will be without affliction and difficulties, but it does promise that He will be with us as we walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. (Psalm 23:4)

Reading

Morning Psalm 9, Noon Psalm 119:57-64, Evening Psalm 98.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him. Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

“Oh, fear the Lord”, “I will teach you the fear of the LORD” Look back at Monday's Voices—the Fear of the LORD is a powerful weapon in the hands of a believer. Then I can sing, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good.”

I need to strive to make that fear of the LORD the very central core of my faith.

Reading

Morning Psalm 8, Noon Psalm 119:49-56, Evening Psalm 97l

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Yesterday took a good close look at all the trouble I could get myself into by setting out with my own wisdom to deal with a problem. Here David goes immediately, Step 1, to seek the LORD's wisdom and was heard; no “Please leave your name and phone number and a brief description of your problem.”

The LORD saved him from all his troubles from all his troubles. And sent an angel to encamp around him and deliver him. Problem solved, shield of protection in place.

Reading

Morning Psalm 7, Noon Psalm 119:41-48, Evening Psalm 96

A Psalm of David When He Pretended Madness Before Abimelech, Who Drove Him Away, and He Departed. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.

How often do I depend on my own scheming to get me out of an undesirable situation. Yes, David was fleeing from Saul—good. But he turned to a Philistine and faked insanity—not good. Lesson 1: if I'm in a jam, do not under any circumstances depend on my own wisdom to get me out. Quite often It was that 'wisdom' that got me into the problem in the first place.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's edition.

Reading

Morning Psalm 6, Noon Psalm 119:33-40, Evening Psalm 95

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.

This set of 5 verses gives us a very powerful definition of Godly fear. He watches over us, we have hope (certain expectation) of His mercy. He sustains us in famine and illness. We expect His return. He is our protector. Contact with Him fills us with joy for we trust in His holy Name. This is to fear the LORD, God, the Almighty.

Reading

Morning Psalm 5, Noon Psalm 119:25-32, Evening Psalm 94

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.

This stanza continues a theme frequently woven into a Psalm or a portion thereof. An appropriate label for this type of praise would be John 14:15 praise. Obedience that is offered up without quibble, but in wholehearted immediacy.

I love the two 'yets' for they take the place of the often offered up 'Oh, I guess I forgot.' The yets indicate a life lived to determine the application of the Word of God to a daily life in all its challenges and tests.

Reading

Morning Psalm 4, Noon Psalm 119:17-24, Evening Psalm 93

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

It is interesting that this passage focuses on a national viewpoint rather than on the individual. The reverse of the rest of this Psalm. The LORD is telling us that we have a national responsibility to be obedient to Him. It is our (individual) responsibility to guide our nation (corporate) in the ways it should go.

We as Christians and Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God are called to apply our Christian worldview to the society and the culture in which we live. And to do so in a manner which brings glory to the name of the LORD, God, the Almighty. Treat our adversaries with the gentleness and respect that we desire for ourselves.

Reading

Morning Psalm 3, Noon Psalm 119:9-16, Evening Psalm 92

Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.

It is difficult to comment on this passage for it is a straight forward, an in your face description of the LORD,God, the Almighty allowing no need of further description or elaboration.

His Word is accomplished and stands fast. It overcomes all the plans of man and it extends to all generations. It is immutable! What a comparison with the Congress of the United States of America whose sole task today appears to be the tearing down of almost all of the previous administration's enactments.

Reading

Morning Psalm 2, Noon Psalm 119:1-8, Evening Psalm 91

Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.

Focus on that praise “For praise from the upright is beautiful.”and praise the LORD that He is far more gracious than that.

I am reminded of the days when Betty and I owned an inn in Vermont and a guest would effusive over the quality of a meal. I, having cooked it and supervised its serving, knew far better. It was difficult to suppress my urge to point out that he did have the slightest notion regrading a well prepared and presented meal.

The LORD knows the depth and cost of His sacrifice. He knows that I don't have the faintest idea. He is gracious to accept the words of a fumbling, stumbling, stuttering idiot as if they truly came from a heart of praise. He does not see the heart of John in the now, but the heart of John to come.

Reading

Morning Psalm 1, Noon Psalm 119:169-176, Evening Psalm 90.

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

A reader recently questioned whether or not we can expect the LORD's blessings when we are living in a state of disobedience. Excellent question which is carried deeper by this passage. Can I expect the LORD, God, the Almighty to surround me with His mercies if I do not demonstrate trust? Isn't His directive to be glad in Him and rejoicing an order to volubly express trust in Him?

I was raised in a sect that seemed to equate solemnity with worship; Nary a “Praise the LORD” uttered in our LORD's Day worship service. And it continues to be a theme in the denominational churches that we have attended over the years. This is wrong! We are directed to shout for joy! Will I this coming LORD's Day? Probably not!

Reading

Morning Psalm 150, Noon Psalm 119:161-168, Evening Psalm 89

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.

Sometimes I wonder if I am not as stubborn as the mule. Praise You, LORD, God the Almighty that You have both the patience, willingness and love for me that it takes to instruct and teach me.

You do gently guide me with Your Eye. I need to learn to look where You are looking. It is not a problem if I'm paying attention; Your gaze illuminates where ever it falls.

If I am called as an Ambassador of Renewal of the Kingdom, and I am, then Your gaze, expressed as Your Word provides a sure guide. I was struck by the following quote in my studies regarding the impact of Christianity on the Celts during the Celtic revival. “The Celtic Revival thus reminds us of the power of the Christian faith to engage culture but also to transform it, identifying whatever is good and useful, preserving and extending it, and setting culture into a new context and narrative, that of the advancing Kingdom of God.” TM Moore, The Celtic Revival, A Brief Introduction, pg 36, Waxed Tablet Publications, www.ailbe.org

Reading

Morning Psalm 149, Noon Psalm 119:153-160, Evening Psalm 88

For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

Praying to the LORD in a time when Hr may be found? I find this perplexing, is there a rime in which He will not be found? Well yes, when I am immersed in my own sin, defying Him in His righteousness and glory.

I need Him as my hiding place, a place of refuge; a place wher He stands between me and danger, often caused by my own self-will. A place of great peace and serenity; a place where the aroma is defined by His songs of deliverance.

Reading

Morning Psalm 148, Noon Psalm 119:145-162, Evening Psalm 87