Psalm 129: The Blessed and the Wicked

Today’s reading is Psalm 129.

The Deleted Scenes of the First Two Psalms

Over the years, my favorite part of DVDs and Blu-Rays have been…well…I guess my favorite part has still been getting to watch the movie again. But a close second is the deleted scenes section. I really love it when the producers are able to release an Extended Edition incorporating scenes they didn’t use in the theatrical version.

I love Psalm 129 for this very reason. It won’t surprise you to learn our present psalm looks all the way back to Psalms 1 and 2. With references to the Lord’s righteousness (Psalm 1:6), the wicked (Psalm 1:1, 4-6), a cutting of cords (Psalm 2:3), Zion (Psalm 2:6), and withered plants (Psalm 1:4), our pilgrim clearly has Psalms 1 and 2 in mind. The thing is it includes scenes the first two psalms skipped. But they are scenes we need to know lest we give up on the promises of the preeminent psalms.

In the first two psalms and in this week’s, the wicked are judged. God’s people are blessed. Certainly, in Psalm 2, the wicked counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed. But it never gets beyond words and meetings. Our pilgrim singer in these Songs of Ascents, however, is aware there are other really big scenes in the story of those blessed by God.

The scenes cut from Psalms 1 and 2 are found in Psalm 129:1-3.

“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”–
let Israel now say–
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth
yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back;
they made long their furrows” (ESV).

In the end, Psalm 1 and 2 are true. Hang on to them. They show where we are going. But they do not show what it feels like all along the way. The wicked ultimately are chaff driven away by the wind, just as they really are like grain trying to grow on the dirt of a rooftop. They will not stand. Their way will perish and if they stay on it, so will they. However, there are times when instead of being a fruitless harvest, the wicked are more like farmers who throw the righteous down on the ground and plow across their backs. The first two psalms skipped these scenes.

In the Songs of Ascents (Psalm 120-134), our pilgrim began in the distant regions of Meshech and Kedar. He climbed the mountains and made it to Jerusalem. What a joy it was to be in God’s city. Yet, he discovered, even there the wicked sometimes seem to be in charge. Further, for all the joy of restoration, he faced dry times. Yet, he kept on praying and kept on serving the Lord. He knew the Lord was a merciful Master and was working on his side. He looked forward to the blessing. And now he looks back over his journey, life, and pilgrimage again. He remembers the pain of abuse and trauma. He hasn’t stuck to the journey because every leg of it was easy and pleasant. He has stuck to the journey because He believes in God’s promised outcome. God hasn’t made it easy for Him. But God has kept him alive and not allowed the enemy to win.

So he hangs on another day.

Let’s face it. This is easy and comforting when we, like the Psalmist, are looking back on the days that were traumatic. We can say, “Oh yeah. I know what that’s like.” But this psalm isn’t written only for people who have come through traumatic days. It is written primarily for people in traumatic days. It is written for those upon whose backs the wicked still plow. It is written for those who feel the afflictions. It is a promise to you. Those days happen. Just because you are in them does not necessarily mean you have failed God (if you have, next week’s psalm will speak to that) and they certainly don’t mean God has abandoned you. This too shall pass. I cannot tell you how long the affliction will last or when the reversal will come. But I promise you it will.

Hang on another day. The Lord will bless those who fear Him and walk in His ways.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 129.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
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How does Psalm 129 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Psalm 126: Remember

Today’s reading is Psalm 126.

Strength From Looking Back

Years ago, Keith Green wrote a prayer/song which illustrates precisely the spiritual struggle of our pilgrim in Psalm 126.

My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to you and dead to me

Frankly, it’s a hard song to sing in congregational worship precisely because I do know how I ought to be. I know I ought not be dry-eyed, old-faithed, hard-hearted, with cold praying. I don’t even want to admit I ever feel like that. But I do. Sadly, I do have times when I feel like the fountain of faith and blessing has dried up. I’m not sure I want to stick with it anymore.

Our pilgrim is in that time in Psalm 126. However, instead of giving up, he writes this psalm. The first half of the psalm gives our first step in hanging on to our Lord and staying on the pilgrimage.

In this prayer for God to “restore our fortunes,” the pilgrim looks back to earlier times of restoration. He recalls the times when his mouth was full of laughter. He remembers the shouts of joy. He reminds himself of the times when even the Gentiles said YHWH had done great things for him.

I love how the first half of this psalm ends. It’s almost like the psalmist builds himself up. He recalls others saying, “The LORD has done great things for them.” It is then as if the psalmist is saying, “You know what? That’s right. The LORD really has done great things for us.” Therefore, he ends with, “We are glad.”

In the dry times, look back. Recall the blessings. Remember the restoration. Meditate on the salvation God has given you. Think on the past victories. The same God who did that for you then is still, like the mountains which were around Jerusalem in Psalm 125, surrounding you. He will bring fresh restoration.

Praise the Lord!

What blessings and victories can you remember today?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 126.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
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How does Psalm 126 admonish you?

John 16: I Have Overcome the World

Today’s reading is John 16.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (ESV)

Our enemy brings us tribulation because he wants us to believe the outcome of the spiritual war is still up in the air. It isn’t. Jesus entered the grave, went toe to toe with death, and came out victorious.

The world fights us as if it has a chance of winning. It doesn’t. The world has already lost. That doesn’t make their attacks against us less painful for us in the moment. However, it does point out we must not give ground.

No matter what the devil throws at you, remember Jesus has already won. No matter what the world puts you through, remember Jesus has already won. No matter the pain and suffering you endure, remember Jesus has already won.

Don’t compromise with the losing side of this battle. You aren’t gaining ground when you do. You are simply losing your soul.

Peace is with Jesus because we can face whatever the enemy throws at us knowing in Jesus we have already won.

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is John 17.

PODCAST!!!

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

PATHS:
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What do you want to share with others from John 16?

Psalm 105: What Have I Done to Deserve This?

Today’s reading is Psalm 105.

“What have I done to deserve this?”

Have you ever asked that question? You were going through some major difficulty, perhaps including pain and suffering physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually. You thought, “But I serve God faithfully. What have I done to deserve this?”

Imagine how Joseph felt. Perhaps Joseph was a bit of a braggart among his brothers. I understand there is even a possibility the word used to say he gave a bad report against his brothers might imply he lied about them. Let’s face it, even without those possibilities, we all know Joseph wasn’t perfect. Only Jesus was that. But even with the mentioned possibilities, Joseph is presented as a pretty decent fellow. But, according to Psalm 105:17-18, he “was sold as a slave. His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron.” Do you think when he was in the pit he hollered to his brothers, “What have I done to deserve this?” Or when he obeyed God and refused to commit immorality with Potiphar’s wife and it landed him in prison. Do you think he ever looked to heaven and cried, “What have I done to deserve this?”

But we know the story, don’t we? It wasn’t a matter of deserving. God had a plan for Joseph. Joseph’s suffering prepared the way for Israel’s safety and protection during the famine. Further, the experiences allowed him to “teach his elders wisdom” according to vs. 22.

I don’t want to be overly simplistic. Our God is infinitely wise and has many reasons He will allow us to go through hardship. I don’t want to forget Job who clearly asked, “What did I do to deserve this?” I don’t want to provide empty platitudes like “every time God closes a door, He opens a window.” Maybe. Maybe not. My hardship today is probably not leading me to become President of the U.S. or King of the World. Getting laid off may not in fact pave the way for a better job. Further, my suffering may not produce some obvious amazing good goal I can see and tell everyone about. I may never know what benefit or blessing my suffering produced for me or others. Further, I don’t want to suggest when we’re suffering we are not allowed to do something to better our situation. Paul was allowed to inform the centurion of his Roman citizenship and escape the beating. But I learn this from Joseph: God can use my suffering in ways I will never imagine while I’m suffering. I’m saying, “What did I do to deserve this?” God is saying, “Just hang on. You’ll be amazed what I have planned for you.” I may not know what it is until eternity.

Of course, the interesting thing is when what I’m experiencing is more like when Joseph was freed and made lord of Pharaoh’s house or when he provided rescue for Israel’s family from the famine, we rarely stop to ask, “What did I do to deserve this?” Yet, we probably should ask it then even more. Psalm 105 doesn’t talk about all the sinning Israel did all along the way, but Psalm 106 will. It’s actually quite shocking God would plan or do anything to rescue Israel. After all, the Israel God rescued was the kind of family that would sell their younger brother into slavery.

Instead of wasting our time asking, “What did I do to deserve this?” we would be better off if we just decided to obey God no matter what we endure. Then, when God delivers and rescues us, we can be thankful He doesn’t always give us what we deserve.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 105.

PODCAST!!!

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

PATHS:
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How does Psalm 105 prompt or improve your trust in God?

Psalm 91: My Refuge and My God

Today’s reading is Psalm 91.

Last week’s psalm claimed, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Psalm 90:1, ESV). And then we get Psalm 91. What a magnificent promise to those who dwell in God.

When we dwell in God, we are protected and preserved. We are set apart and set above. Angels guard our paths. God rescues, delivers, satisfies, and shows us salvation. Why would we say anything else to the Lord but, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”?

Well…because I recall all the others psalms. You know, the ones like Psalm 73, 88, and 89. I mean, these promises in Psalm 91 sound good, but I’ve been living life. I’ve seen others live life. I’ve read about other’s lives. And it just doesn’t work out the way Psalm 91 says. Even Jesus was ridiculed, mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross. Honestly, this psalm sounds like the basis for the accusations Job’s three friends made against him. What’s this all about?

First, a subtle statement in vs. 15 gives insight to the rest of the psalm. God says, “I will be with him in trouble.” In other words, the rescue and deliverances and protection in the rest of the psalm is not an escape from hardship as if the person who claims refuge in God never experiences trouble. It is an escape through hardship, as when Paul taught the new Christians from his first missionary journey that we don’t enter the kingdom instead of tribulation, rather we enter the kingdom through tribulation (Acts 14:22).

Second, it’s also a matter of perspective. When we make God our refuge and our fortress, thorns in the flesh become to us instruments of grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), various trials become the path to perfection (James 1:2-4), suffering and hardship become the maturing discipline of a loving Father (Hebrews 12:3-11). When God is our refuge and our fortress, sometimes He rescues us from the fiery furnace and the lion’s den, but other times He rescues us through them. Recall, when Nebuchadnezzar threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with the fiery furnace, they knew God could deliver them from the furnace, but even if not, He would deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar. In other words, for them, even death in the fiery furnace was actually protection from evil, plague, pestilence, darkness, and deliverance from the fowler’s snare.

For those who take refuge in God and allow Him to be our fortress, when we face hardship, it is only because the hardship will provide greater blessing for us in the long run than ease and convenience would have. The difference between we who find refuge in God and those who don’t is not our lives are easy and theirs are hard. Rather, it is that God redeems our hardship and doesn’t theirs. Our hardship becomes a blessing and path to salvation; theirs is simply recompense for the wicked.

God works all things together for good for those who love Him.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 91.

PODCAST!!!

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

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 91 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Psalm 88: Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend

Today’s reading is Psalm 88.

It’s always darkest just before the dawn. Except when it isn’t. What about when the dawn never comes? It’s dark. It’s super dark. It’s never been any darker than right now. And then it gets a little darker.

Welcome to Psalm 88. This ancient saint was close to death. In fact, was treated as if already in the grave. He felt as though he had already been placed “in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep.” The last word of the psalm is “darkness.”

This psalm is so dark, we are left at the end wondering where the rest of the psalm must have gone. Surely, it wasn’t supposed to end this way, was it? Isn’t there any light? Isn’t there any hope?

Plenty of psalms speak of the darkness. In fact, the favorite psalm of many mentions “the valley of the shadow of death.” That idiom doesn’t mean being sick or close to death. It doesn’t mean a loved one has died. The idiom simply means utter, deep darkness. But in that psalm, the valley is a memory. How do you make it when you’re in the darkness and you can’t hear God’s voice? How do you make it when the comforting rod and staff are no longer obvious?

This psalm doesn’t look back on a difficult time. It doesn’t remember hardship. This psalm is smack in the middle of the darkness. Are you in the middle of darkness? Do the trite words of those who claim to have been through what you’re going through seem hollow and unhelpful? Then spend some time here in Psalm 88. Heman is in the middle of it. And God inspires in him a psalm smack in the middle of that darkness.

I hope you notice two things. In the middle of the darkness, Heman maintained salvation has only one source: God. He could give up on God. But he would be giving up on salvation. Many do give up in the darkness. Let Heman inspire you, not because his prayer is inspiring, but because he kept praying. And that is the second point to remember. Many give up on praying because they don’t feel or believe God is responding. Heman not only didn’t believe God was responding to his prayers, he had the sense God was doing the exact opposite of his praying. What did Heman do? He kept praying. Three times he prays in this psalm (see vs. 1-2, 9b, 13).

If you are in the darkness, I thank God you are reading this blog and possibly listening to the accompanying podcast. Hang on. Keep praying. Heman did. You can too.

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 88.

PODCAST!!!

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

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 88 prompt or improve your praise of God?