Tag: Psalms

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Prayers from experience.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.” Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King David, the most beloved king of Israel went through years of struggle and introspective self doubt on his path to succeeding Israel’s first king, Saul. Remember, David was anointed, by Samuel, to become the future king while he was still at teenager. It is helpful to watch House of David on Amazon Prime. Although it takes some liberties in telling the story, the series shows us the moments and captures the tension of believing God, but waiting for the fulfillment of a promise.

David becomes a pro at suffering. When David writes, “may the Lord answer your cry,” he’s writing from experience. David did cry. David had been in deep anguish. David had to live through the moments of doubt, while running, hiding and fearing the mad king Saul’s vengeful fury! David reminds us of a generational and logistical promise – from Jacob with his own struggles of faith to Jerusalem and the glory of God’s supernatural visitation on the place and people of God. David reminds us as a patriarch, a father and a friend – God will answer. God sees us, hears us and will help us! History reminds us, men and women of faith remind us and God’s own word reminds us – God is for us not against us. Call out to Him. Pray with all the intensity of emotion possible – God will show mercy and keep you.

Prayer

​Dad,
I remember both learning from the Psalms, and from David’s prayers, how to pray. I remember the raw emotions and being filled with doubt, anger or frustration. I remember feeling trapped or stuck, not knowing what to do. And in those moments, I found your presence! Oftentimes the answers were not immediate, but I could release my fears and lean into trusting that you were in control. As I look back, I share David’s confidence both in relief and in telling others how trustworthy you are. Thank you for your mercy to cover me and for those who cry out to you!

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Does God hear me?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“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.” Psalms‬ ‭39‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David, in writing many of the Psalms, never held back what he thinks, and how he feels about his life, his sin and his relationship with God. This Psalm gets super introspective, almost metaphysical, sounding much like the words of his son, Solomon, writing Ecclesiastes. Stuff like, ”We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it” (39‬:‭6‬).

David wrote this when he was younger, going through extremely difficult times while running for his life, even though God had promised that he would be the future king. In those early years he grew close to God while hiding in caves and living by faith alone. While he was processing thoughts about his own life, he gets pensive and moody.

Yet, in this Psalm, David concludes by begging God to listen and see his pain. This Psalm helps us as well. Does God hear us, does He see our pain, our tears? The answer is YES! God does hear and see us. As you read through the Psalms, it becomes clear that David discovered this many times over. Even though this Psalm was inserted towards the end of David’s life, the experiences happened at very low times early in his life. And, thankfully, God does not “leave him alone,” He continues to show up in David’s life just as God shows up in our life. I am thankful that God hears and listens to our cries. He sees us and is working on our behalf.

Prayer

​Dad,
I am so thankful for David’s honest expressions and that you let us see those experiences in Psalms. The raw, authentic words David writes is helpful when I go through difficult times as well. I am grateful that you hear me and see me, drawing close when I am afraid and bringing peace and comfort when my mind whirls and my heart wavers.

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Positive spin on Exodus.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold; and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled. Egypt was glad when they were gone, for they feared them greatly. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David composes a psalm to thank the Lord when the ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem. He quotes identical verses in 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 which David also wrote. These short summaries are interesting because they become a commentary on the original story of Israel’s exit out of Egypt. This intentional, repeated story is clearly positioned as praise to God! David cuts to the core, taking multiple chapters of the Exodus, and reduces it down to just several verses.

David’s highlights are all about God’s supernatural provision, God supplying: protection, a cloud above them; a nite-light in the desert with a great fire; meat, flown in with quail; nutritious manna—bread from heaven; water flowing from a rock, out to form a river through the dry wasteland. The way David sees it, God watched over and provided everything they needed for one reason: God remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham. It’s all POSITIVE. None of David’s comments mention the mumbling, grumbling attitudes of the people, that constantly threads in and out of the original story. Then, David brings it home with a crescendo closing – “So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing. He gave his people the lands of pagan nations, and they harvested crops that others had planted.” What a reminder for us! David writes, “All this happened so they would follow his decrees and obey his instructions. Praise the Lord!”

Every time I read the long story of the Exodus, I see so many conflicting behaviors coming from the people. I can’t imagine shifting heart and mind out of 400 years of slavery and a multigenerational settling into the norms of captivity. Yes, God freed them, but everyday brought massive change filled with the fear of the unknown. They were forced to be 100% dependent on God.

In those scenes we see the results of the oldest generation who felt so uncomfortable and displaced that it continually expressed a lot of negative complaining. But mixed with all that, there was also a weird free expression of completely unacceptable of idolatry seen in sexual revelry – obviously picked up from Egyptian culture. God wasn’t just leading them out of slavery, he was leading them into a new state of freedom forming new beliefs and behaviors.

Prayer

​Dad,

David’s psalm really helped me see the difficult dynamics of this massive cultural change the people experienced. They were far more than just physically enslaved, they were emotional and spiritual slaves as well. The only way out, the only way to get Egypt out of their hearts was through obedience to a new master, a good and faithful Lord. The old generation just could not deal with the changes and because of that, they could not enter into the land promised to them. Forty years of struggle to learn obedience and faith and they just couldn’t soften their hearts fast enough. It’s a warning and an opportunity for all of us as we get older and struggle with change. Help us keep our hearts open and obedient Oh Lord.

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What’s in your soul?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Arise, O Lord! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword! By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants. Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.” Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David often writes about the theme of justice. Justice is one of those common ideals that everyone wants but can’t agree on how to deliver it. The other theme is the wicked. For the atheist/agnostic, the question of evil becomes difficult to explain its source. Of course there’s the nurture vs nature arguments, but if it truly comes from genetics – where or how did it begin. Truth: there are wicked people who do evil just because they can, there’s a desire to do so. Why? God declares that wickedness or evil resides in the human heart and its beginnings stem from disobedience, desires and flat-out rebellion. So, in reality, it is “nature,” at least genetically so. But, it’s in all of us! Every single human is quite capable of doing evil for no other reason than the deep disordered desires to be wicked and do horrible things. Our culture has lost its bearings on what defines wickedness, but any honest human has to admit it exists.

This Psalm, likely written by David, addressed an especially wicked act, ordered by King Saul and carried out by his henchman- Doeg. The scene is out of 1 Samuel 22, where Doeg went to Nob and slaughtered the entire town in cruel cold blood! Vs 19 -“Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.” Why? because Saul found out that Ahimelek had fed David and his men.

Interesting that in David’s description and summation of wickedness, he wrote, “destroy those who look to this world for their reward.” What rewards come from wickedness? I think it’s the self determination of being a god and refusing to yield or obey the one true God. This self determination goes to our head, corrupting and hardening our heart. On the other spectrum is being satisfied, satiated and content for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – Godly pursuits with Godly rewards. David’s final remark about his own righteousness seems to be the results of obedience to God. When he awakes… in other words, after he dies what happens to him? David knows, he will wake to see God face to face! What happens when you die? Many foolishly believe that since they come from nothing, they return to nothing – annihilation. They just cease to exist. That’s their hope? It certainly is evident that if one believes in nothing, and nothing matters, and their end is nothing as well – doesn’t it make sense that there is no reason to do right, or be right? If annihilation is their end, why not live life any way one pleases? According God, that’s a massive mistake. Hebrews writes, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Whose face will you see after you die? What’s in your soul?

Prayer

​Dad,
I’m with David on this subject of wickedness, justice and righteousness! I do not think my life would have gone well without your intervention. I may have tried to live right or do right, but would not have been able to follow through with it. Eventually I would have given up and just tried to do whatever satisfied me at that time. Basically do whatever I wanted to do! You not only saved me from becoming a horrible version of myself, you gave me so much more to live life to the fullest. Thank you. After I die and then I wake, I too will see your face and be glad!

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Template for a great leader.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.” Psalms‬ ‭72‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King David in Psalm 72 seems to pray a proclamation of true leadership, true reasons for royalty to protect, provide and preserve the kingdom. David’s prayer captures the core of what it looks like when one leads with power and wealth to wield and leverage righteousness to yield prosperity, peace and equality.

The psalm lays out the template for Solomon to be an effective and truly great king. The king should be deeply invested in the people, that they would “flourish during his reign,” that they would prosper in every way possible. Yet the king’s eye would always be attentive to “rescue the poor when they cry to him,” and “help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.” The king’s heart would constantly be leaning toward the weak and needy, obsessing with ways to “redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.” The might and authority of great kings, great leaders is to always look out for the least, lifting them from pits, lending them their own power.

We may recognize, this is how our Almighty God rules and reigns forever. God’s power and wealth have no end, His wisdom stoops toward the weak and His peace, grace and mercy are lavished on the meek and humble. Yes! This is not just a template not for kings, but for anyone who would lead others in their care! Question: How would you say David measured up to this kingly template? How about his son, Solomon. How do you think he did?

Prayer

​Dad,
We are not You, not God! However, being created in your image, we are like you. That whole idea of emulating your character and qualities, criticality shows up in how we lead others. I am not a king, nor hold any kind of political position. Yet as a pastor, I have a charge to lead in a righteous and godly manner. I believe it does mean that I get to leverage what little power and money I am given to manage, it must be distributed with an eye to the poor and a heart towards the least of these! I must lead as you have led us – with wisdom, grace and mercy. Amen.

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Just look up.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

King David’s magnificus opus, written in his younger poetic stage of life, when creativity is at its highest expression, was inserted into the Psalms towards the end of his life. In this Psalm David captures the unbridled beauty in all of creation. “When I look…”

When was the last time you simply looked up at the night sky to behold the wonder and majesty of the heavens above? I live in an overexposed, light polluted area of California, so it’s almost impossible to see the bazillions of stars that fill our expansive universe. A quick trip to our desert or our mountains opens up a cornucopia of dazzling sparkles suspended in pitch black heavens.

Even more arresting is the comparison of just how big the firmament above us is to how minuscule we really are. It can be frightening to think about. There are 8 billion humans on this spinning globe and 200 billion trillion stars in just our own universe! David asks the only appropriate question when digesting such a dilemma. “Who are we (mere mortals) that you should think about and care for us?”

God created us. God crowned us with glory and honor. God gave us charge and authority over all creation. WHY? For sure we are NOT like the rest of creation, as amazing, inexpressibly beautiful as it is. We are more, by a scale of infinity! Because God put in us His own image, His own essence. We are like God, but we are not God.

The challenge, the resolution this first day of 2025, is to find a dark sky tonight and just look up. Look up and gain David’s poetic perspective. Whatever number of stars you may see, imagine multiplying it by millions. Allow yourself a moment to realize how small we really are and how marvelously ginormous God is! Now, think about this, we may be small but we are not insignificant. We may be weak, broken from the weight of our own sin and selfishness, but we were created by and for our eternal God, one God with no other gods before our after Him. That God knows us, loves us and made us for so much more. I join David’s crescendous refrain, “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”

Prayer

​Dad,
I, like David, often feel so small, so unable, incapable of doing enough good to change the overwhelming chaos of these cultural moments. But when I look up and see Your majesty displayed in an array of brilliance in the innumerable stars that shine above me – it reminds me. I maybe small, but I am not insignificant. I am made and loved in Your image. You have charged me and given me authority to do Your good will here on earth. Amen.

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Ancient beggar’s prayer.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful. Psalms‬ ‭90‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A prayer of Moses, Psalm 90 is the oldest Psalm in the book of Psalms, written around 1440 BC. This Psalm declares how big God is and compares it to how fragile is the nature of our humanity – “dust that’s swept away.” But in these last verses Moses seems to beg God to visit once again.

Moses had seen a lot of pain and plenty of dark seasons in his day. Not just his palace to pauper demise, but his epic rise to challenge his former origin story, speaking for God and demanding the release of God’s people. Then to pastor a grumbling, bitter people for 40 years, wandering in the desert he was once banished to. For him to see so much misery mixed with miracles in this chaotic mashup is palpable. Oh, but once you’ve been in God’s presence and then lack it, it leaves a yearning, a vacuum. This is why Moses begs! And, not just himself, but also for “our children,” he writes.

I feel this tension, this dynamic dystopia even today. After having seen God move in spectacular ways, pouring out His Spirit and transforming the lives of those He touches, then it was over. We tried to keep pretending that God’s presence was still here, moving through the models of church growth, prosperity, seeker sensitive, politically motivational and attractional methods. As if we were trying to convince ourselves that the Church was thriving, even conquering the evils of government and culture. We all know that we’ve just been wandering in the desert, aching for God to move among us once again. Stacked up against us has been the next gen response of “church hurt,” deconstruction or, exiting their faith to synchrotize a self-made religion that suites them better. I deeply feel this ancient prayer of Moses, who only saw the promised land, but was prevented from entering it. “Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.” I also believe that God will once again pour out his Spirit on all flesh in the last days. I want to be reunion ready!

Prayer

​Dad,
I’m reminded of the words to the song, “Same God.” “I’m calling on the God of Moses. The one who opened up the ocean. I need You now to do the same thing for me. O God, my God, I need You. O God, my God, I need You now, How I need You now. O Rock, O Rock of ages, I’m standing on Your faithfulness.” Let our children see Your glory! Amen.

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God’s got His eyes on me.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Psalm 3 was written in response to David running from his own son, Absalom. The threat was real. The enemies, also real. For David, it was running and returning to the caves and previous hiding places that once gave him protection while dodging the mad King Saul. So, it’s back to cave dwelling and raw prayer requests, asking God to be with him, protecting him.

Interesting that David writes about God being both his shield and head-holder. Running on adrenaline, with cortisol coursing through your body in a well known fear response is exhausting. David had found safety, not only in the caves, but in his prayers, his confidence in God. David was well battle-tested in his faith. When he writes that God is his glory, he has determined that his own honor, reputation and future is totally in God’s hands, His control. That is an amazing feat of faith! Nothing at that moment LOOKS safe, or good, or honorable for a king who has run from his own son.

David then gives us another tender picture of a father who sees their child wrestling with fear, rejection, even failure. As the father looks on his son, he reaches out and touches his son’s chin to lift it up, now able to look at the father’s face. As the son raises up his face, his eyes meet his father’s eyes. What does the son see? Does the son see disappointment or shame? No! The son, meets his father’s gaze of love, mercy and empathy for the pain he knows is happening in his son’s life. When David declares that God is the lifter of his head, he lets the reader know that when he looks up, he finds solace, peace and comfort. In a cave, on the “mountain of God,” he finds God’s approval. And now when he sleeps, what happens? His sleep is sweet and he wakes up feeling safe! Because he knows God is well aware of his circumstances, well aware of his surroundings and well aware of his fears.

In that moment David can say, even though there may be ten thousand enemies that hunt me down, I will not fear because God is protecting me, guiding me and watching over me. “His eye is on the sparrow,” as the old song says, “and I know he watches me.”

I sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
Psalm 32:8 & Matthew 6:26.

I don’t know who your enemies are. I don’t know what battles surround you. I don’t know what fears and pressures you face. But one thing I know, if you are a follower of Jesus, if you love God with all your heart, God’s got his eyes on you. Let Him be the lifter of your head. Look up and see your salvation, your comfort. Sleep well tonight and wake up in safety!

Prayer

​Dad,
Ever since I was little I’ve know you have been watching over me. Before I really even understood what was happening while visiting churches, I knew you were real and saw me. When I finally heard your voice and said yes to you, it all made sense. In that moment, I recognized your presence was with me the whole time I was going through really scary moments in our home. I am so thankful you watch over me! Amen.

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Steady steps with God.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalms 37:23-24

A psalm of David, inserted into the collection of psalms during the Babylonian captivity. This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet, making it a Hebrew alphabet poem. It is a comparison psalm of the wicked and the just as well as of good and evil.

Not knowing how old David was when he wrote this, it’s most likely that he wrote it towards the end of his life, when one tends to reflect back on everything they have experienced. I love these couple of verses because I wholeheartedly agree! When I was young, about fifteen or sixteen, as a new believer in Jesus, I was digging deep into both Psalms and Proverbs. I decided to commit my ways to the Lord, just like Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” As well as, Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” These verses became my personal “decision grid,” when making big life decisions. These mantras were both mystical but powerful to watch God lead and guide my life, as well as direct our lives (Robin) together as a married couple. It was much later, in my fifties, I matched these verses with Paul’s famous words in 1 Corinthians 16:9, “because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.” My wild-brain plans + God’s promise to plant our feet exactly where they need to be + big blue-sky opportunities = a life well lived in the Kingdom of God.

David had to have lived similarly! His life was a thrill-ride, full throttle rollercoaster. He experienced unexpected highs as well as crushing, debilitating lows. Yet, here in Psalm 37 his confession becomes a roadmap for all who desire to follow God – the Lord directs the steps of the godly! Should I seek peace in my decisions? Of course. Should I take risks? Absolutely. Should I look for wild opportunities that require more faith than sense? Why not! It’s not arrogance, it’s confidence in our great God and His foresight and wisdom in leading us. Does it backfire and blow up in our face sometimes? Yes, most definitely. Should that deter me from getting up, dusting off my dumb decisions and keep moving forward? No way. God DELIGHTS in every DETAIL! Even our failures. Not mockingly, of course, but as a good father who picks up their child after skinning their knee and declares – that was an amazing feat of courage! Let’s try that again.

David’s admonition should solicit our soul, though they STUMBLE (because we 💯% will do so), they will never fall! It’s God’s hand that holds us and sustains us. Go and live the great adventure of faith, wonder and beauty of God, it is totally worth it. “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” C.T. Studd (1860-1931). “Where sky and water meet, Where the waves grow sweet, Doubt not, Reepicheep, To find all you seek, There is the utter East.” C.S. Lewis (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader).

Prayer

Dad,
Not only have you given me one life to live, you have reached down and pulled me out of the muck and mire, the dark sludge of sin! You have set my feet on solid ground and put a new song in my heart – a song of great praise to you Oh Lord, my God. So whom shall I fear, for you are my light and salvation! Amen.

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Aware of who we are.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭39‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 39 is a gritty, honest look at ourselves. It is a prayer of David expressing his awareness of his sin, mortality, and God’s judgment. It may seem negative and strange to focus on these dark, moody expressions of life itself. David so poetically writes about our existence as we pass through our time here on earth. ”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.” Wow, merely moving shadows? So deep. And, “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.”

It is these kinds of Psalms that helped me process a lot of angsty emotions as a young believer. David’s own words allowed me to learn to be completely open and honest before God in my prayers. So often deep, dark or even disturbing thoughts are considered to be wrong or inappropriate to even have, let alone talk about. David’s words do take us through some “Radical Candor” moments, but what would be the point of hiding or denying circumstances and feelings denying to process the full range of emotions in this life.

Some moments are so high that David seems to explode in praise to God – not here in 39 of course! Others, like this Psalm wind down to the depths, even focusing on how short our lives seem to be, “Each of us is but a breath.” BTW, this Psalm was inserted at the end of David’s life. It seems to reflect the perspective of someone who has lived long enough to realize how slow time moves when you’re young and how quickly the sand moves through the hourglass of life as we age. Time, perspectives and even emotions are so different moving through life. When young, time moves slow and emotions are raw and extreme. When old, time often slips trying to get traction of what happened today, yesterday or even this month! And our emotions seem to get foggy as we age, a little dulled and definitely delayed. “Wasn’t I just angry at God?” “What about? I do not know.” “I shall just forget about it and move on!” “Was I happy yesterday?” I seem to remember a few captivating moments, “I may have been!”

I can imagine David looking back over his life as he stretches out his much older, much wrinkled hand. He stares at it, remembering how it gripped the sling or sword back in the day. As he draws a line across his hand in his own mind, he writes, “yeah, that’s about the length of my life.”

Prayer

​Dad,
Being human is such an interesting mystery, even a dilemma. Mix in a high level of inventive autonomy along with a broken sense of morality and purpose and we are a glorious MESS. We are basically an emotional swamp filled with beauty and bewilderment all swimming around together. It truly means we depend on you to sort us out and suss out the helpful emotions from the destructive ones. I’m not complaining, I think it’s amazing when I realize the scope of high highs down to the lowest of lows. Having emotions and safely being able to share them with you feels like it’s the only route to sanity. Thank you for knowing and loving the real me! Amen.