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Lenten Devotions
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Introduction
I had a former pastor who used to say one should
not get to attend Easter Sunday service unless he or she had been to
Good Friday service. Quite simply, we cannot get to the awe, excitement
and joy of Easter Sunday morning without going through the darkness and
despair that accompanies the horrific incidents of Good Friday. There is
no resurrection without the cross. Both are crucial to our faith as
Christians. One is meaningless apart from the other.
The next seven weeks is a time of self-examination
and preparation. When Easter comes, the hope is that we will have grown
closer in our relationship with God. One way to prepare ourselves during
Lent is Bible study. For this year’s devotion guide, we are
concentrating on the Psalms. The Psalms is a great book of the Bible to
immerse yourself in because the emotions of the authors are so real. It
is easy to relate to some part of the book. Instead of devotions, we
instead will focus on a discipline that might new to you – journaling.
Dr. Platt explains more on the next page. I encourage you to give it a
try. I will.
In seven weeks, we will arrive at Easter. Each of
our journeys will be different. Whatever preparation we choose to make
during this time will create in us a richer understanding of the events
leading up to Easter.
Mary Marcia Winfrey
All Scripture
printed is from the New Living Translation. If you have a favorite
translation, consider reading them both.
As we begin the Lenten season… From the
Pastor
I encourage you to let the Psalms be your means of
prayer and reflection. Then record something – even if just a few words
– to allow your response to bear witness of your heart’s stirrings.
“I began these pages for myself, in order to think
out my own particular pattern of living …. And since I think best with a
pencil in my hand, I started naturally to write.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh
began her beloved classic, A Gift from the Sea, with these words.
There is something truly powerful when we reflect on the inner life
through writing or journaling.
Keeping reflective notes while reading the Psalms
during this Lenten season may become a new, vital way of spiritual
insight for you. You can write your own thoughts, questions, feelings,
reflections or prayers as you read the psalm of the day.
The Psalms contain nearly every emotion, longing,
praise, thanksgiving, lament, or song anyone has experienced. The ones
contained in this year’s Lenten guide are as varied as can be. The
suggestion to follow is simply this: each day read and meditate on a
psalm and sometime that same day record your journal thoughts in the
space provided on each page.
This may be a new experience for you, but you may
find that it becomes second nature very quickly. It is “for your eyes
only” so you don’t have to write complete sentences or worry about
grammar or spelling. Jotting down key ideas, insights, or musings is
just fine. Sketch an image that comes to you or doodle if you want. Just
think on paper and capture what you are experiencing over time as you
read God’s Word. Journaling is a way to help us track changes in our
thinking and growth of insight.
And so let us use this 40 day journey to remember
what it’s like to live under God’s mercy and not by what we supply
ourselves. Give up something if you choose. But add something, too. Take
the time necessary to take care of your soul.
David Platt - Pastor
Back to Top
Ash Wednesday 2008
Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,
teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and
I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of
your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
You do not desire a
sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Psalm: 51-1-18
The psalmist opens his heart in confession to God.
Can that be scary? Aren’t we prone to protect our self-images – even
before God who knows us intimately? Review your day this evening,
recalling times you protected your ego and times you were open? Recall
your insights where you said, “Lord, have mercy” and when you showed
little self-concern.
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Don’t worry about the
wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
Trust in the Lord
and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to
the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of
the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord
will possess the land.
Soon the wicked will
disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
The lowly will possess the land
and will live in peace and prosperity.
The wicked plot against the
godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.
The wicked draw their
swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
It is better to be godly
and have little
than to be evil and rich.
For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the Lord takes
care of the godly.
Day by day the Lord
takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
Psalm 37:1-18
When we delight in God, aren’t our deepest desires
for love, significance and justice met? What are the desires of your
heart? Where is God in your deepest longing? Reflect in quiet prayer and
as you journal your thoughts.
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Friday, February 8, 2008
As the deer longs for
streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply
discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
But each day the Lord pours
his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
“O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42
What are you thirsty for? Is your schedule so full
that it leaves you thirsty for time alone with God? Are you feeling a
dryness in your devotional life? Do you need some time away (a retreat,
for instance) to be alone with God? Write in your journal whatever comes
to you. Let your heart speak as you write.
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I will exalt you, Lord,
for you rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to
you for help,
and you restored my health.
You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
When I was prosperous, I
said,
“Nothing can stop me now!”
Your favor, O Lord, made me
as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
“What will you gain if I die,
if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear me, Lord, and have
mercy on me.
Help me, O Lord.”
You have turned my
mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with
joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will
give you thanks forever!
Psalm 30
Some read this psalm and understand the writer
having just recovered from an illness. Others view it as a song praising
God for his forgiveness. Either way, healing has come and the singer
knows of the “rejoicing that comes in the morning” (v. 5). If the psalm
is a joyous song about physical recovery, how does it speak for you
when, once ill, you are healthy once again? If the psalm’s joyous
language mirrors forgiven sin, are there burdens you carry needlessly
that God wants to forgive?
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Sunday,
February 10, 2008
Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Interlude
Finally, I confessed all my
sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Interlude
Therefore, let all the
godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
Interlude
The Lord
says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Many sorrows come to the
wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
So rejoice in the Lord and
be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Psalm 32
“Then I acknowledged my sin” to God, confesses the
psalmist. He has felt the weight (v. 4) of God’s hand, but has now
acknowledged his failings and knows the blessing of forgiveness (v. 1).
Is there something for you to admit to God to free you from the burden
of guilt you are experiencing? Is there a trusted friend with whom you
might share? Or would you write a letter to God and confess it to him?
Let this psalm guide you.
O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
Interlude
For you have heard my vows,
O God.
You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your
name.
Add many years to the life of the king!
May his years span the generations!
May he reign under God’s protection forever.
May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.
Then I will sing praises to your name forever
as I fulfill my vows each day.
Psalm 61
During times when you can’t see what’s ahead, when
you feel vulnerable and weary and don’t know what to do – do you, like
the psalmist, reach out to God with all your being, take an unseen hand,
and climb to a new perspective—“to a rock that is higher” (v. 2)? Recall
when God was your “Rock.” How did God’s grace renew your soul? Record
this experience in your journal or rewrite these verses in your words.
Come, everyone! Clap your
hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is
awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.
He subdues the nations before us,
putting our enemies beneath our feet.
He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,
the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves.
Interlude
God has ascended with a
mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended
with trumpets blaring. Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King over all the earth.
Praise him with a psalm!
God reigns above the nations,
sitting on his holy throne.
The rulers of the world have gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.
Psalm 47
A young adult mother sings verse one to her two
year old daughter. Can you picture the scene? Do you see the joy in the
parent’s eyes and the glad hand-clapping of the little one? Could this
be the way you could sing this psalm? Could it be an instrument of
praise for you throughout today? Why not try it and then record later
how it felt to do this?
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Listen to this, all you
people!
Pay attention, everyone in the world!
High and low,
rich and poor—listen!
For my words are wise,
and my thoughts are filled with insight.
I listen carefully to many proverbs
and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.
Why should I fear when
trouble comes,
when enemies surround me?
They trust in their wealth
and boast of great riches.
Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death
by paying a ransom to God.
Redemption does not come so easily,
for no one can ever pay enough
to live forever
and never see the grave.
Those who are wise must
finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless,
leaving all their wealth behind.
The grave is their eternal home,
where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
but their fame will not last.
They will die, just like animals.
This is the fate of fools,
though they are remembered as being wise.
Interlude
Like sheep, they are led to
the grave,[c]
where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
Their bodies will rot in the grave,
far from their grand estates.
But as for me, God will redeem my life.
He will snatch me from the power of the grave.
Interlude
So don’t be dismayed when
the wicked grow rich
and their homes become ever more splendid.
For when they die, they take nothing with them.
Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
In this life they consider themselves fortunate
and are applauded for their success.
But they will die like all before them
and never again see the light of day.
People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;
they will die, just like animals.
Psalm 49
The psalmist speaks to the age-old issue: the power
of money. Consider the place of it in your life. Where do you find your
security? How does our culture’s preoccupation with “things” affect your
sense of self-worth? How might possessions be distracting to you? And
what are you enjoying in your life?
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God is our refuge and
strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Interlude
A river brings joy to the
city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies
is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Interlude
Come, see the glorious
works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I
am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
The Lord
of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.
Interlude
Psalm 46
Someone said the spiritual life is beset by
“climate changes.” In this psalm, God is a refuge from the ravages of
floods and earthquakes. In what specific areas of your life have you
found God to be your refuge and strength? What devotional practices help
you find a spiritual center in times of stress?
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I waited patiently for the
Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh, the joys of those who
trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have
performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
You take no delight in
sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—
you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”
I have told all your people
about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well
know.
I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Lord,
don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.
Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
But may all who search for
you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord
is great!”
As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.
Psalm 40
How might you share your story? The psalmist shares
his unique testimony. Do you meet with a small group or have a soul
friend where you are encouraged to share yours? How are you witnessing
to the presence of God in your life?
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I said to myself, “I will
watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
“Lord, remind me how brief
my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
Interlude
We are merely moving
shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I
put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath.
Interlude
Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.
Psalm 39
A weary, pained psalmist associates his condition
as punishment. He’s burdened by the image of God punishing him, but then
he realizes the truth of God’s tenderness in times of pain. Do you? How
so?
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I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you
stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord
himself watches over you!
The Lord
stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The Lord
keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over
you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
Psalm 121
While God “neither slumbers nor sleeps” we must
every night. And as we do, says the psalmist, we are held in God’s
presence regardless of our awareness. God is near and watching over us.
What concerns, worries or fears should you “let go” as you sleep? Will
you offer them to God tonight? Why not record your thoughts about this
in the morning, after a night’s rest?
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What mighty praise, O God,
belongs to you in Zion.
We will fulfill our vows to you,
for you answer our prayers.
All of us must come to you.
Though we are overwhelmed by our sins,
you forgive them all.
What joy for those you choose to bring near,
those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us
inside your holy Temple.
You faithfully answer our
prayers with awesome deeds,
O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
even those who sail on distant seas.
You formed the mountains by your power
and armed yourself with mighty strength.
You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.
You take care of the earth
and water it,
making it rich and fertile.
The river of God has plenty of water;
it provides a bountiful harvest of grain,
for you have ordered it so.
You drench the plowed ground with rain,
melting the clods and leveling the ridges.
You soften the earth with showers
and bless its abundant crops.
You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;
even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy.
The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep,
and the valleys are carpeted with grain.
They all shout and sing for joy!
Psalm 65
This psalm celebrates creation’s beauty with the
conviction that “God is the hope of all the ends of the earth” (v. 5).
An overload of bad news on the radio or television can make it hard to
feel that hope. As a way of staying faithful to God’s undying love for
the world, take a story or issue from the world news today and make it
an issue of intercessory prayer in your journal. Be a partner with God
in hope as you pray.
I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
So many enemies against one
man—
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
They plan to topple me from my high position.
They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
but curse me in their hearts.
Interlude
Let all that I am wait
quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.
Interlude
Common people are as
worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales,
together they are lighter than a breath of air.
Don’t make your living by
extortion
or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.
God has spoken plainly,
and I have heard it many times:
Power, O God, belongs to you;
unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.
Psalm 62
Try waiting in silence before God as you read this
psalm. Like Psalm 61, this psalm teaches that only God is the “Rock” to
which we can turn in refuge. How does being near God help us find the
stillness of peace? How will you consecrate a time of silence today to
become open to God’s voice and leading?
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You made me; you created
me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your
regulations are fair;
you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
for your instructions are my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
Let me be united with all who fear you,
with those who know your laws.
May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
then I will never be ashamed.
I am worn out waiting for
your rescue,
but I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
When will you comfort me?
I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke,
but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
How long must I wait?
When will you punish those who persecute me?
These arrogant people who hate your instructions
have dug deep pits to trap me.
All your commands are trustworthy.
Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause.
They almost finished me off,
but I refused to abandon your commandments.
In your unfailing love, spare my life;
then I can continue to obey your laws.
Your eternal word, O Lord,
stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
as enduring as the earth you created.
Your regulations remain true to this day,
for everything serves your plans.
If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,
I would have died in my misery.
I will never forget your commandments,
for by them you give me life.
I am yours; rescue me!
For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Even perfection has its limits,
but your commands have no limit.
Psalm 119:73-96
In the middle of this longest of psalms, the writer
continues to celebrate the law, for he has found that it is his source
of strength and understanding. How do you nourish your soul with
Scripture? Have you cultivated a daily habit? How could spending a week
with the same psalm (maybe not this long one!) enrich your soul?
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O Lord,
I have come to you for protection;
don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me and rescue me,
for you do what is right.
Turn your ear to listen to me,
and set me free.
Be my rock of safety
where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,
from the clutches of cruel oppressors.
O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord,
from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!
My life is an example to
many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.
And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.
Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.
For my enemies are whispering against me.
They are plotting together to kill me.
They say, “God has abandoned him.
Let’s go and get him,
for no one will help him now.”
O God, don’t stay away.
My God, please hurry to help me.
Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers.
Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.
But I will keep on hoping for your help;
I will praise you more and more.
I will tell everyone about your righteousness.
All day long I will proclaim your saving power,
though I am not skilled with words.[a]
I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord.
I will tell everyone that you alone are just.
O God, you have taught me
from my earliest childhood,
and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
Now that I am old and gray,
do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
Your righteousness, O God,
reaches to the highest heavens.
You have done such wonderful things.
Who can compare with you, O God?
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.
Then I will praise you with
music on the harp,
because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
for you have ransomed me.
I will tell about your righteous deeds
all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
has been shamed and humiliated.
Psalm 71
The psalmist prays for a long life, long enough to
tell “the story” to the next generation. Do we not discover faith from
parents, teachers, and from those who have journeyed before us? Who are
your spiritual mentors? List some below and what each has bequeathed to
you spiritually. Then pray in thanksgiving for each one.
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Truly God is good to
Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure.
But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
They seem to live such painless lives;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They don’t have troubles like other people;
they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
and clothe themselves with cruelty.
These fat cats have everything
their hearts could ever wish for!
They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
“What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Did I keep my heart pure
for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.
If I had really spoken this
way to others,
I would have been a traitor to your people.
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
In an instant they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
Then I realized that my
heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Those who desert him will
perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord
my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 73
The psalmist seems to have lost his way. He’s
wandered from God and has become distracted by many things. Does this
ever happen to you? Where have you been looking for the source of your
spiritual life? To God alone? Somewhere else? Notice where the psalmist
turns (v. 17) to be renewed. Is that the case for you some of the time
at least?
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The Lord
is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress,
protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
The one thing I ask of the
Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord
with music.
Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord,
I am coming.”
Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me
close.
Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s
goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 27
How are you doing these days in waiting on God?
What problem is causing you to feel anxious or impatient? Can you
surrender it to the Lord?
Come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
For the Lord is a great
God,
a great King above all gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the mightiest mountains.
The sea belongs to him, for he made it.
His hands formed the dry land, too.
Come, let us worship and
bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord
our maker,
for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to
his voice today!
The Lord says, “Don’t
harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah,
as they did at Massah in the wilderness.
For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience,
even though they saw everything I did.
For forty years I was angry with them, and I said,
‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me.
They refuse to do what I tell them.’
So in my anger I took an oath:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
Psalm 95 Do you sense the invitation to come into the
presence of God in this psalm? What are you doing nowadays to keep your
soul nourished? Does the psalmist’s words provide any guidance on this
for you? How do you keep your heart tender toward God?
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Please listen, O Shepherd
of Israel,
you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock.
O God, enthroned above the cherubim,
display your radiant glory
to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Show us your mighty power.
Come to rescue us!
Turn us again to yourself,
O God.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
O Lord God of Heaven’s
Armies,
how long will you be angry with our prayers?
You have fed us with sorrow
and made us drink tears by the bucketful.
You have made us the scorn of neighboring nations.
Our enemies treat us as a joke.
Turn us again to yourself,
O God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine;
you drove away the pagan nations and transplanted us into your
land.
You cleared the ground for us,
and we took root and filled the land.
Our shade covered the mountains;
our branches covered the mighty cedars.
We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea;
our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River.
But now, why have you broken down our walls
so that all who pass by may steal our fruit?
The wild boar from the forest devours it,
and the wild animals feed on it.
Come back, we beg you, O
God of Heaven’s Armies.
Look down from heaven and see our plight.
Take care of this grapevine
that you yourself have planted,
this son you have raised for yourself.
For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies.
May they perish at the sight of your frown.
Strengthen the man you love,
the son of your choice.
Then we will never abandon you again.
Revive us so we can call on your name once more.
Turn us again to yourself,
O Lord God of Heaven’s
Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us.
Only then will we be saved.
Psalm 80 Imagine God’s face (see vv. 3, 7 and 19) turned
toward you. Do you see a shining tenderness? Are God’s eyes full of love
for you?
O my people, listen to my
instructions.
Open your ears to what I am saying,
for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
For he issued his laws to Jacob;
he gave his instructions to Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands.
Then they will not be like their ancestors—
stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,
refusing to give their hearts to God.
The warriors of Ephraim,
though armed with bows,
turned their backs and fled on the day of battle.
They did not keep God’s covenant
and refused to live by his instructions.
They forgot what he had done—
the great wonders he had shown them,
the miracles he did for their ancestors
on the plain of Zoan in the land of Egypt.
For he divided the sea and led them through,
making the water stand up like walls!
In the daytime he led them by a cloud,
and all night by a pillar of fire.
He split open the rocks in the wilderness
to give them water, as from a gushing spring.
He made streams pour from the rock,
making the waters flow down like a river!
Yet they kept on sinning
against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
They stubbornly tested God in their hearts,
demanding the foods they craved.
They even spoke against God himself, saying,
“God can’t give us food in the wilderness.
Yes, he can strike a rock so water gushes out,
but he can’t give his people bread and meat.”
When the Lord heard them,
he was furious.
The fire of his wrath burned against Jacob.
Yes, his anger rose against Israel,
for they did not believe God
or trust him to care for them.
But he commanded the skies to open;
he opened the doors of heaven.
He rained down manna for them to eat;
he gave them bread from heaven.
They ate the food of angels!
God gave them all they could hold.
He released the east wind in the heavens
and guided the south wind by his mighty power.
He rained down meat as thick as dust—
birds as plentiful as the sand on the seashore!
He caused the birds to fall within their camp
and all around their tents.
The people ate their fill.
He gave them what they craved.
But before they satisfied their craving,
while the meat was yet in their mouths,
the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed their strongest men.
He struck down the finest of Israel’s young men.
But in spite of this, the
people kept sinning.
Despite his wonders, they refused to trust him.
So he ended their lives in failure,
their years in terror.
When God began killing them,
they finally sought him.
They repented and took God seriously.
Then they remembered that God was their rock,
that God Most High[b]
was their redeemer.
But all they gave him was lip service;
they lied to him with their tongues.
Their hearts were not loyal to him.
They did not keep his covenant.
Yet he was merciful and forgave their sins
and did not destroy them all.
Many times he held back his anger
and did not unleash his fury!
For he remembered that they were merely mortal,
gone like a breath of wind that never returns.
Psalm 78:1-39 God’s compassion towards us, even in our frailty,
is constant. As we draw closer to God, our weakness – our humanness –
becomes all the more obvious. What are some of the stumbling blocks that
keep you from fully accepting God’s grace? How is God inviting you to
embrace God’s penetrating gaze of love?
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Oh, how I love your
instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
for I am always thinking of your laws.
I am even wiser than my elders,
for I have kept your commandments.
I have refused to walk on any evil path,
so that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
for you have taught me well.
How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding;
no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Your word is a lamp to
guide my feet
and a light for my path.
I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
I have suffered much, O Lord;
restore my life again as you promised.
Lord, accept my offering of
praise,
and teach me your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.
I hate those with divided
loyalties,
but I love your instructions.
You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.
Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
Lord, sustain me as you
promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed.
Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
They are only fooling themselves.
You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
no wonder I love to obey your laws!
I tremble in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your regulations.
Psalm 119:97-120
To “meditate” can be done in silence or taking
something precious and bringing it to your heart. For the psalmist,
God’s “commands … are ever with me” (v. 98). How do you keep Scripture
“ever” with you? How can you live in the pages of the Bible?
Bend down, O Lord,
and hear my prayer;
answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God.
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord,
for I give myself to you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me.
No pagan god is like you, O
Lord.
None can do what you do!
All the nations you made
will come and bow before you, Lord;
they will praise your holy name.
For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.
You alone are God.
Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death.
O God, insolent people rise
up against me;
a violent gang is trying to kill me.
You mean nothing to them.
But you, O Lord,
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Look down and have mercy on me.
Give your strength to your servant;
save me, the son of your servant.
Send me a sign of your favor.
Then those who hate me will be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, help
and comfort me.
Psalm 86
Thomas Merton wrote that in God there is “mercy
within mercy within mercy.” In other words, God’s mercy and love are
greater than we could ever imagine. When have you felt God’s mercy? Is
there a symbol or piece of music that expresses this mercy to you?
Reflect and focus on that today.
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Those who live in the
shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the Lord
your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord
says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Psalm 91 Try reading this psalm along with John 14:1-3. How
do the psalmist and Jesus speak to us about our fears of abandonment and
lack of protection? Can you pray today with a sense of God’s shelter and
being able to rest near the heart of God? Pray with a sense of God’s
surrounding love.
Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who
alone does mighty miracles.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—
His faithful love endures forever.
the sun to rule the day,
His faithful love endures forever.
and the moon and stars to rule the night.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who
killed the firstborn of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He brought Israel out of Egypt.
His faithful love endures forever.
He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
He led Israel safely through,
His faithful love endures forever.
but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to him who
struck down mighty kings.
His faithful love endures forever.
He killed powerful kings—
His faithful love endures forever.
Sihon king of the Amorites,
His faithful love endures forever.
and Og king of Bashan.
His faithful love endures forever.
God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—
His faithful love endures forever.
a special possession to his servant Israel.
His faithful love endures forever.
He remembered us in our
weakness.
His faithful love endures forever.
He saved us from our enemies.
His faithful love endures forever.
He gives food to every living thing.
His faithful love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136
The second half of the 26 verses become an echo of
love as this psalm is recited. It is a song of praise of God’s faithful,
constant love. Is love the echo of your life story? It is of God’s
stories of creation, exodus, and the nationhood of Israel. As you
reflect over the past 24 hours and remember events and conversations,
can you speak this echoing refrain to yourself: “And God does love me?”
Reflect by writing some memorable moments, small and not so small.
The Lord
is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23
After reading the psalm several times, why not try
to recite it from memory? What word or words speak to you most clearly?
What is God inviting you to think or pray about today?
I will sing of the Lord’s
unfailing love forever!
Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.
Your unfailing love will last forever.
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
The Lord
said, “I have made a covenant with David, my chosen servant.
I have sworn this oath to him:
‘I will establish your descendants as kings forever;
they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.’”
Interlude
All heaven will praise your great wonders, Lord;
myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness.
For who in all of heaven can compare with the Lord?
What mightiest angel is anything like the Lord?
The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.
He is far more awesome than all who surround his throne.
O Lord God of Heaven’s
Armies!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O Lord?
You are entirely faithful.
You rule the oceans.
You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
You crushed the great sea monster.
You scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
You created north and south.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.
Powerful is your arm!
Strong is your hand!
Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.
Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
They exult in your righteousness.
You are their glorious strength.
It pleases you to make us strong.
Yes, our protection comes from the Lord,
and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.
Psalm 89:1-18
Verses 6-8 sing of God’s incomparable nature. It’s
about awe being our response to the majesty and holiness of God. Worship
is the expression we use to extol God’s nearness, his indwelling
presence in the world. Reflect on your own expressions of awe toward
God. What is a favorite hymn that expresses it?
Shout with joy to the Lord,
all the earth!
Worship the Lord with
gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord
is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100
What reminds you that you belong to God? How might
you live today in that reality? Consider how you are beloved in God’s
eyes.
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Don’t leave me to the mercy
of my enemies,
for I have done what is just and right.
Please guarantee a blessing for me.
Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!
My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.
Give discernment to me, your servant;
then I will understand your laws.
Lord, it is time for you to
act,
for these evil people have violated your instructions.
Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold.
Each of your commandments is right.
That is why I hate every false way.
Your laws are wonderful.
No wonder I obey them!
The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
I pant with expectation,
longing for your commands.
Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.
Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
then I can obey your commandments.
Look upon me with love;
teach me your decrees.
Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
because people disobey your instructions.
O Lord,
you are righteous,
and your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect
and completely trustworthy.
I am overwhelmed with indignation,
for my enemies have disregarded your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
that is why I love them so much.
I am insignificant and despised,
but I don’t forget your commandments.
Your justice is eternal,
and your instructions are perfectly true.
As pressure and stress bear down on me,
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