Day 188: Psalms 133, 134, 135 and 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)

The 136^th Psalm is a beautiful testimony to God’s provision and protection. He is Creator, Deliverer and Redeemer. He alone can and will save his people; and we need never fear being forgotten. To the one who remembers us in our low estate (v. 23).

When Judah marched out against the combined armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mt. Seir during the reign of Jehoshaphat, the battle plan included singing praises to God. The choir, walking point, sang: Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever (2 Chronicles 20:21).

It was in facing a seemingly invincible enemy that the people of Judah needed to be reminded of God’s salvation. Psalm 136 may be the full text of their worship hymn.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Are you facing a battle this week?

Day 187: Psalms 129, 130, 131 and 132

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3)

It's no fun living under constant scrutiny, someone keeping score of all our missteps and every time we break the rules. And yet many have the impression that the Christian life is exactly like that, walking a tightrope between acceptance and rejection - with no net.

Who would want to live under condemnation for every bad choice ever made? The psalmist is only saying what we've heard from many other biblical sources: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Thankfully neither Paul, in his letter to the Romans, nor our psalm writer let it stop there.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23,24).

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness (Psalm 130:3,4).

And anyone who has experienced the reality of grace cannot possibly withhold grace from others.

Is there anyone you need to let off the hook?

Day 186: Psalms 125, 126, 127 and 128

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. (Psalm 125:2)

This was one of the Songs of Ascent – Psalms 120 through 134 – fifteen psalms sung by worshipers making their way to the temple in Jerusalem. They may have been sung along the road during their pilgrimage, or as they were actually climbing the temple steps.

Portland, Oregon is in the Willamette Valley, one of the most fertile farming areas in the country. To the west I can see the Coast Range that separates us from the Pacific, and to the east rises Mt. Hood in the Cascades. While the ocean moderates our temperatures, the mountains protect our valley, giving it a long growing season and warmer climate than one might expect. And it doesn't hurt that our glacial and volcanic soil is a half mile thick in places. From berries to hazelnuts to hops to grass seed to wines to nursery stock; it all thrives here.

Jerusalem was itself built on a raised elevation (Zion sits at about 2,500 feet above sea level) and is surrounded by low mountains, which afforded a great measure of protection should an enemy attack. The climb from Jericho to Jerusalem (about 23 miles) was over 3,000 feet. As pilgrims traveled by foot, ascending the incline to the spiritual and political capital of Judah, they would no doubt look around at the sheltering mountains, and this psalm would remind them, Just as these mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects his people.

Have you acknowledged God’s care and protection this week?

Day 185: Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123 and 124

What if the Lord had not been on our side? (GNT, Psalm 124:1)

What a powerful thought! How many times have I asked God (at least in my subconscious), Where were you when I needed you? It's easy to assume that if things don't go the way we want, then God must have abandoned us, or at least taken the afternoon off.

The truth is we only see what happened, not what could have happened. There's no telling how often when things seemed bad, that we were only seeing the tip of the iceberg as far as how bad things could have been. What would we have suffered if God had not been on our side?

And to take it a step further, we don't even see everything that did happen – we just see what we can see with our physical eyes. We have no idea what transpired behind the scenes in the spiritual realm on our behalf.

The next time you wonder why God didn't show up, ask instead: What if the Lord had not been on my side?

Have you thanked God lately for the blessings you don’t know about?

Day 184: Psalms 117, 118 and 119

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. (Psalm 119:71)

Here we are graced with a profound and unexpected admission. In his suffering, the writer reaches out to his Maker and, in the process, learns God’s commands. The remarkable thing is that after everything is said and done, the writer acknowledges that suffering has actually turned out to be beneficial in his life. If I hadn’t suffered, I may not have learned your ways.

This is not in any way saying God causes our suffering. Though some would disagree, I do not believe God intentionally brings us harm for the purpose of making us better. I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you (Jeremiah 29:11). The Scriptures make it clear that life holds enough hurts without God adding any to the mix. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34). In this world you will have trouble (John 16:33).

What is true though is that if we bring those hurts to God, and submit to his Lordship, from even the worst days he will bring us good. In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

The next time suffering rears its ugly head, thank God that it doesn’t have to be for nothing.

What is God teaching you this week?

Day 183: Psalms 113, 114, 115 and 116

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. (Psalm 115:3)

This is one of my favorite psalms. My paraphrase: Our God is in heaven and he does whatever he wants. How cool is that!?

I’m so thankful that what God wants to do is look on me with favor (Luke 2:14). I’m thankful that what God wants is to give me an abundant life (John 10:10). I’m thankful that God wants to have my back when I take a risk for him. (2 Chronicles 16:9). I’m thankful that God wants to make me whole in spirit, soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23) I'm so thankful that what God wants is to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

What is there that God cannot do to fulfill his purpose in your life?

What are you believing God for?

[1] Alister McGrath. Christian Theology - An Introduction. 4th ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 2007, p. 216.

[2] Ibid., p. 217.

Day 182: Psalms 109, 110, 111 and 112

Oh God, whom I praise, do not remain silent. (Psalm 109:1)

This is the lament of a man betrayed. Lies, hatred, attacks, accusations, and double-crosses. And a desperate cry to God: Don't you turn away from me too!

He has been wronged; now he cries out for justice. Let an accuser [satan] stand at his right hand (v. 6). This man who is suffering wants his attacker to suffer too. He has never had the opportunity to hear the teaching of Jesus: You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43,44). As George Knight writes: We can understand [his thirst for retribution], but we dare not approve. [1]

In contrast to his plea for a satan to stand at his enemy’s right hand (the place of accusation) [2], we can know, even when God seems silent or distant, that he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him (v. 31). God stands by us not to speak words of accusation, but of love and support.

When was the last time you thought God had forgotten you?

[1] George A. F. Knight. “Psalms – Volume 2.” The Daily Study Bible Series. (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983), 176.

[2] 178.