Web Theologian

>125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!

What does your faith do for you? In this Psalm we are told it makes us steady, like a mountain. Amazing because it has nothing to do with us or our ability, but has everything to do with God. Those who opposed God will fall short. One friend of mine always says God doesn’t mind our fight with him because our arms are too short. Because of this stability you have keep up the good work, look out for those who are after the same things. Don’t waste time or energy with those who are up to no good.

>124:1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
—let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

If the Lord was not on my side I would not be where I am. Some of the things that God has brought me through are really amazing, and whether you are a Christian or not the same is true for you. When it is your time to go…God is not late. I am grateful for his faithfulness to me especially in those times where I could not take care of myself.

>123:1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.
4 Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

Who gets your attention each day? More and more I am learning to pay attention to that in my life. Are the things that have my attention worth while or do I enjoy them. God desires our attention. Lift up your eyes toward him, when you see him, the first thing you see is that he is in control.

Right now with Taitum she doesn’t do much. Maybe she will stick out her tongue, smile or cry but that is about it. Though what is really captivating about her and other babies is that they just stare at you while in your arms. No dult would do such a thing because it would be consider rude, but babies don’t care. They intently look you down watching everything about you, as a parent at least it draws you atention. And once she has your attention you are ruined.

>122:1 I was glad when they said to me,“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

These Psalms are the roadtrip Psalms. The Psalms of ascent, where everybody was heading toward the Temple for worship on the High Holy days, so they would sing these along the road to prepare tehem and pass the time! People who are thrilled to get to church, that is the type of church I want to go to…wait it is the type of church I go to:)

This is not just about getting to see God as this Psalm makes note of. It is about going to a place of security and rest, but it is also about catching up with your people! And they are thrilled to see you. One friend would describe church as the place where you can take your armour off, I love that picture. Sadly this is generally not the case, because there are lots of wounded people in church. And wounded people hurt other people. If you are willing to find the right place, people, time, and possible take a few on the chin while trying to encourage peace it is well worth it.

>121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.

This is a really great Psalm. As I sit hear and drink my coffee looking at the mountains in the distance I am led to worship. Thought that is how we commonly think of this Psalm it really was not the intention of the writer. This is one of the Psalms of ascent where the writer is making a trip to Temple. He looks to the hills and get freaked out becuase that is where the robbers come down from. So it immediately leads him to pray for help.

Help from a God who makes all things, and who does not sleep or slumber. He is on the job. God not slacking is good news for us, because we then have the opportunity to rest. And I need it right now! He will take care of you better then you can imagine so stop worrying and enter into His rest.

>

>169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word!170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Throughout this longest of all Psalms we have heard how much the Psalmist loves God’s law, precepts, word. I have spaken from my own life about how that is true. But this last line summarizes why. It is not because of my own self righteousness or goodness. It is not because I have been raised to think this way. It is not because I am better than anyone.

I have blown it. Gone my own course over and over again, but God has sought after me. He has never let me go even though I have often deserved it (mercy), he gave me blessing when I was unable to achieve it on my own (grace). I remember that, I follow him in his mercy and grace and it is because of that I fall in love with the word. Truly I am unworthy, lowly and humble yet it is God who lifts me up.

>161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Those in power aren’t looking favorably on the Psalmist, which should be no surprise since he was a man of power himself. And I have some suspicion that might be the case for our country as well that the entire ‘religious’ movement might have run it’s course with the last administration, but who know we will see.

There are treasures all over God’s word to be found. Spend some time in it and find out for yourself. They can bring peace to you when you are worried and can give you understanding in how to deal with terrible people. All day I God is given thanks. God also provides us with hope for the future there, reminding us that he is in control, he wins, and we will be taken care of.

>153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Check me out. I know I’m a mess that is exactly why I need God’s help, and by the way I still love his law. There are many who are in my position, married, family, doing sales, unsure what is ahead of them; and they don’t even care. They just keep going along in their own strength and there is not concern for anything outside themselves to help them. I’ve read your word and know it to be true.

I have been in over my head for years and yet you have been merciful toward me. There were situations where someone could have gotten killed and should have gotten hurt and yet you took care of us. Disgust toward the faithless? Maybe, but really more of just totally being incapable of understanding how they get through life. The disgust comes when their selfcenteredness begins to hurt others, I hate bullies.

So what is the bottom line YOUR WORD = Truth. You have always been righteous and always will.