We Will Sing and Praise Your Power

Today’s reading is Psalm 21.

Psalm 21 begins and ends with the strength of the Lord. It begins with the king exulting in the Lord’s strength. It ends with the people of the king exalting the Lord and His strength in song and praise. The Lord’s response to our praying deserves, in fact demands, a response from us in praise. We asked Him for victory and He gave it. He deserves praise. The Lord’s supremacy over the powers that assail us deserves, in fact demands, a response in praise. And we, more than any of the ancient Israelites who prayed Psalm 20 and witnessed the victory of Psalm 21, have reason to praise. How can we not when the victory of our King was the victory over sin and the grave? C. Hassell Bullock in his comments on this psalm reminds of a hymn written by Robert Lowry: “How Can I Keep from Singing?”

My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I hear the clear, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

What though my joys and comforts die? I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth.
Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing?

Robert Lowry
“How Can I Keep from Singing?”
Quoted (though rearranged) from C. Hassell Bullock, Teach the Text Commentaries, Psalms vol 1, p 155

Isn’t the psalmist really saying exactly that? We see Your power, Your response, Your victory, Lord; how can we keep from singing?

Next week’s reading is Psalm 22.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier that expands on this post!

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Today’s reading is Psalm 21.

David may have been a wonderful warrior. For all I know, he may have been a superb strategist and talented tactician. He may have been truly skilled with the sword and brilliant with a bow. No doubt, it seems he was super with a sling. But when the king comes back from the battle victorious in Psalm 21, everyone knew exactly why he did. It wasn’t because of David’s skill or prowess, it was because of his God. The battle was fought in the prayer closet before stepping onto the battlefield. Therefore, the battle was won before it was even engaged. Yet, David did have to engage. When it was over, though, David shouldn’t turn to God in expectation, asking, “Did you see that? Did you see how hard I fought for you?” No, David should bow before God acknowledging the true victor: “Thank you, Lord, for fighting for me.” At the end of our battles, the trophies are not ours. They are God’s. We don’t take our victories to God as badges of our strength or accomplishment. No. We take them as reasons to praise and give thanks to the One who truly won the victories. The battles belong to the Lord. And if that is so, that doesn’t merely mean stepping onto the battlefield in faith, that means stepping off the battlefield with thanksgiving and praise. We don’t get the credit for our victories, God does. In the end, we learn the women who sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands,” caused a great deal of jealousy and turmoil for nothing. In fact, neither had slain any. Both were merely God’s weapons in the wars against His enemies. God, we thank You for fighting on our behalf. We thank you for our victories. Our enemies are too much for us. If we have cowed them today, it is because of You and You only. Thank You.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the conversation Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier had on Text Talk expanding on this post!

“Thank You!”

Today’s reading is Psalm 21.

In Psalm 20, a pre-battle blessing was prayed for the king. Psalm 21 seems to be it’s companion. In Psalm 20:4, the requested blessing was that God grant the king his heart’s desire. In Psalm 21:2, the psalmist acknowledges God had done exactly that. Once again, we are saying that while each psalm is its own literary unit, we can see why the compilers of the psalms placed these two together. And what a powerful lesson they give when taken that way. When the trouble is upon us, we are quick to ask. But when the request is granted, do we always remember to acknowledge God? Do we always remember to thank Him? Do we always remember to praise Him? You would think everyone would be thankful for every gift, wouldn’t you? But do you know about the 10 lepers in Luke 17 that begged Jesus for healing? As they went on their way, they all were healed, but only one returned to give thanks. I doubt any of the nine thought of themselves as ungrateful people, but only one returned. I’m sure they were all excited, but only one returned. Where were the nine? Certainly, victory in battle is a pretty big thing. We’d imagine the nation would never forget to thank God for that. Remember, however, that Paul encourages us to be thankful in all circumstances, not simply the really, really big ones (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Are you breathing today? Have you thanked God for air? Is your blood flowing today? Have you thanked God for blood flow? Are you saved in Jesus today? Have you thanked God today for that victory? We could, of course, go on and on and on. But let us especially remember to thank God when He does respond to our requests, whether big or small.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the conversation Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier had on Text Talk that expands on this post!

A Prayer for Our Brothers and Sisters

Today’s reading is Psalm 20.

I have to make a confession. As I’ve read this psalm over and over again in preparing these posts, I’ve been reading it in an Irish accent. It just reminds me of those ancient Irish blessings/prayers. You know the ones I’m talking about:

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irish Blessing

Of course, we can offer up an Irish blessing like that for one another. But we could never offer up the Psalm 20 blessing for one another. After all, that is a prayer for the King. Or can we? In fact, this psalm is a prayer we can offer for one another. First, we can offer it for one another because the prayer for the King was actually a prayer for the nation of followers over which the King is head. That is why vss. 7-8 moves from “you” to “we” and “us.” We trust in the Lord. When we do, it is not only the King who rises and stands upright. We do. The psalm begins with the request that the Lord will answer the King, it ends with the shift that He will answer us when we call. Second, in a very real sense, we are anointed by the Lord as well (see 1 John 2:20, 27). Thus, we are Christians or little Christs or little anointed ones (see Acts 11:26). According to 1 Peter 2:9, we Christians are a chosen race, a “royal priesthood.” That is, we are anointed priestly kings. In Revelation 1:6, we have been made “a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.” Again, we are anointed kingly priests. You don’t have to pray Psalm 20 with an Irish accent, though like the song “Be Thou My Vision,” an accent makes it more fun. However, we can and we should pray these blessings for one another. What a wonderful prayer. Would you pray it for me today? I’ll pray it for you.

Today’s reading is Psalm 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier that expands on this post!

A Prayer for OUR King

Today’s reading is Psalm 20.

We may think Psalm 20 is really not for us. It is an interesting look at a historical prayer that could have been used back in the days of Israel’s monarchy, but not today. Not so. We can…we should pray Psalm 20. But let us not dumb it down as if we should use this psalm to pray for the leaders of our earthly nations. Of course, we should pray for them. But we pray for them passages like 1 Timothy 2:1-7, not Psalm 20. This is a prayer for God’s anointed. And as much as it was a prayer for David, it is a prayer for our King, Jesus. It was the prayer the apostles should have been praying that night they were sleeping in Gethsemane. And while Jesus has already won that the greatest of victories, we recall Ephesians 6. We recall we are the army our King is leading into battle against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. We know the heart’s desire of Jesus and we know His plans–to conquer every foe until the very last is conquered and He turns the kingdom back over the Father. And we can pray for the Father’s blessing on these plans, because they are the Father’s plans as well. Therefore not only will our King stand upright, but we will rise and stand upright. We know God will give our King victory, which actually means God will give us victory. This psalm is not antiquated. It is very modern. We need to be praying it for our King, Jesus. Let us prepare our banners to rejoice in the victory. There is no way our King will lose; there is no way we who give our allegiance to Him will lose. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 20.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier that expands on this post!

A Prayer for the King

Today’s reading is Psalm 20.

As we’ve intimated over the past two days, Psalm 20 is a prayer for the King of Israel before he goes out to battle. It is a prayer of blessing. And what a prayer it is. Though it is spoken to the King himself, originally David, it is a prayer to God. The blessing assumes the King himself is praying and asks the Lord to answer when the King calls on Him. It is a fearful thing when the King goes out to battle. A land without a King is a like a flock without a shepherd. So, they pray for God’s protection for their King. The main prayer is seen in the requests that help come from the sanctuary and support from Zion. The prayer is not for armed reinforcements. The hope is not that more soldiers will make it to the battlefield from Jerusalem in time. No; Zion was the dwelling place of Yahweh. It was where He chose to make His name dwell from the time of David. The prayer is that Yahweh Himself will fight the battles of the King. Israel had a long history of Yahweh fighting their battles. It started with the ten plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea. We see it when Moses held up his staff with the help of Aaron and Hur and Joshua prevailed. We see it when Joshua and Israel marched around Jericho. We see it when Gideon’s 300 fought the Midianites. But we also see it when the armies of Israel just marched to battle and fought hand to hand. In all these circumstances, God was fighting for them. The assumption in the prayer is that the King’s plans and desires coincide with God’s. That his plans are for victory of God’s people. And this prayer is offered in faith because they are putting their trust in God, not in horses and chariots. Which means the prayer is also offered in obedience. In Deuteronomy 17:16, the King was precluded from multiplying horses, and in Deuteronomy 20:1-4, God told Israel not to fear when they faced large armies with horses and chariots. Thus, when Israel prayed this prayer, they could know it would be granted because they offered it in obedience and faith. What an amazing prayer Israel could offer for David and what amazing confidence they could have in their God. And as David was off with his armies, those who remained behind could prepare their banners because they knew they would be able to fly them. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 20.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes and listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier that expands on this post!

The God of Jacob

Today’s reading is Psalm 20.

In Genesis 34, Simeon and Levi did the unthinkable. They carried out a plan and attack against an entire city-state in Canaan, wiping out all of their men in a single night raid. Jacob became petrified. He looked at his tiny family in comparison to the other city-states of the Canaanites and said, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household” (Genesis 34:30, ESV). In the next chapter, however, God calls Jacob to go to Bethel to make good on the promise Jacob had made as he was fleeing Esau years earlier. Jacob tells his family to put away their idols and even give up the jewelry they might use later to re-forge their idols. And then he says, “Let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answer me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone” (Genesis 35:3, ESV). Then the text lets us know that Jacob’s fears were completely unfounded: “And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob” (Genesis 35:5, ESV). Years later, David writes Psalm 20. A prayer Israel can pray when he is leading her armies to war. And what is the blessing they seek? “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble [distress]! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!” (Psalm 20:1, ESV). Do you see why Israel would call on the “God of Jacob” for their king and for their armies? Do you see why we can call on the “God of Jacob” for our churches and our brethren? We have nothing to fear. The God who protected Jacob from the provoked people around him, the God who had been with Jacob as he fled Esau and as he plundered Laban, the God who saw Jacob through his days of distress is our God. He will be with us wherever we go. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 20.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes and listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier that expands on this post!

Prayer: 99% of the Fight

Today’s reading is Psalm 20.

The king has told you to get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be hard. But you can’t sleep. Tomorrow may be your last. The sentries are doing their jobs, making sure no enemy sneaks in and attacks at night. But still, you can’t leave the job up to them. You sit outside your tent watching, trying to hold down your supper, talking nervously with the other soldiers who can’t sleep either. In the distance, you see the campfires of the enemy dotting the landscape like stars across a completely clear sky. Their number suggests thousands of enemies. Not only that, they suggest thousands more than you know are on your side. Not only that, you’ve heard the stories. The enemy has horses and chariots by the thousands. They are skilled with these ancient tanks. They have plowed through other armies as a plague of locusts through fields of grain. What are you to do? Psalm 20 contains the answer. You pray! Not because you have no hope. Not because that is all that is left to you. No. You pray because your one hope is Yahweh, the God of Jacob. The God who listens in the day of distress. Your first line of defense is prayer. This is exactly the picture of Psalm 20. Israel is about to engage in battle, led by her King. But Israel does not go into battle unprepared. Oh, her preparations are not about sharpening swords or greasing chariot axles. Her preparation is prayer. Israel’s hope is not in the size of her army. Israel’s hope is not in the skill of her soldiers. Israel’s hope is not in chariots and horses. Israel’s hope is the Lord God. Therefore, victory is assured. And so, you can’t sleep. But that is okay, because you need to be awake to pray.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 20.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes and listen to the Text Talk conversation between Edwin Crozier and Andrew Roberts that expands on this post.

The Trustworthy God

Today’s reading is Psalm 18.

Let’s face it. I can actually place myself in the shoes of a skeptic and view the Psalms as a hot mess. Back in Psalm 2 God promised His anointed one, His king, that while the enemies would plot, they did so in vain. They were going to be judged, and so they need to quickly reconcile with the king. But then psalm after psalm after psalm shows David begging for God to go ahead and do what He promised. Many of the psalms show the psalmist in that interim place between the promise being given and the promise being fulfilled. After a while, a reader begins to wonder if the promise ever does get fulfilled. Oh sure, the psalmist always believes it will. The psalmists consistently demonstrated their faith by continuing to call out to and rely on God. But does God ever actually fulfill His promises? Psalm 18 answers with a resounding YES!!! The Lord is in His holy temple; He does hear; He does respond. Remember in Psalm 11 when David refused to follow the counselors who said he needed to flee like a bird to his own mountain, relying on his own strength? David claimed one of the foundations that would not be shaken is God’s residence in His holy temple. He is testing the sons of men. He will rain coals on the wicked. He will deliver the upright. And now in Psalm 18, David’s trust and perseverance is rewarded. God is exactly what David thought Him to be. God is trustworthy. Yes, He works on His time table. Yes, there are moments when it looks like He is going to lose. Yes, sometimes the wicked counselors seem to have a point. But Psalm 18 is a thrilling reminder God really is in His holy temple in the heavens, has us under His watchful eye, and when the time is best, He does keep His Word, fulfill His promises, and shines forth like the sun. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 18.

The God of “And”

Today’s reading is Psalm 18.

How great is our God, Yahweh? The graces and greatnesses add and multiply one on top of another. He is our strength AND He is our rock AND He is our fortress AND He is our deliverer AND He is our refuge AND He is our shield AND He is the horn of our salvation AND He is our stronghold AND He is worthy to be praised AND He saves us from our enemies. Yahweh is the God of AND! AND we have every reason to praise Him today. Thank You, Lord God for being who You are and for letting us be Your people!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 18.