Tag: Psalms

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Cave Prayers

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.” Psalms‬ ‭142‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If anyone knows what it’s like to fall to the lowest depths of despair, it’s David in the Old Testament. From Giant Killer to traitor, he was hunted and running for his life. He spent years in hiding. This Psalm captures David’s prayer in the cave of Adullam. David was still pretty young, likely in his twenties, but he had assembled a small but powerful group of warriors, the Bible calls his mighty men. Oddly sad, Uriah the Hittite is recognized as one of those men. In an abrupt contrast of character, David later has Uriah murdered in an attempt to coverup his sexual assault on Bathsheba.

In these caves, David continues to write songs and poems of his experiences. Keep in mind that David had already been anointed by Samuel, chosen by God to be Israel’s second king. With that in mind, it’s hard to imagine the deep anguish as he tries to figure out how he ended up in that cave.

Yet, through the worst of that season David turns to God, lamenting, repenting, and confessing “you are all I really want in life!” Isn’t that how it is? When we are at our absolute lowest, we are emotionally and spiritually vulnerable, but very honest. These are the times we grow, not just in dependency on God, but also in a deep profound walk with God. Have you noticed that there are opportunities to change and mature, NOT when things are going well, but when everything seems to fall apart? Is this desperation a gift or a curse?

When I read the words David expressed to God, it makes me realize how trapped he must of felt. In an earlier verse he even writes, “my enemies have set traps for me.” He certainly could see no way out, no future, no path to God’s promise. But yet his hope was that God would bring him out of that circumstantial prison.

At some point, I believe that everyone goes through these dark places, blind to a possibility of being rescued. David held tightly to God and God’s mercy and goodness to make things right. If we could only see God in our own impossible situations, where darkness and voices of doom surround us. As a believer in Jesus, one who walks with God, that we could be confident in how good God is and have hope that He will free us from our own caves of Adullam.

Prayer

​Dad,
Hope seems easy when everything is going well. It seems impossible when going through our own dark cave experiences. David’s psalms are encouraging to see that he was in a very real and dangerous dilemma, but that he was able to think and even write about this deep sense of confidence and hope. You not only saw his circumstances, but would liberate and restore him from that cave. I have had a few of those dark despairing moments and fought the fatal thoughts that I would not make it out. But your comfort and peace were also so tangible in those times as well. Thank you for holding me in hope as I waited for your rescue.

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My sleepy routine.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions.” Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭55‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David’s nighttime routine has become my own sleepy-time moment at night. Time changes, aging, stressful days, racing mind and strange body aches all contributed to me being a little fearful of nite-nite time! This ancient Psalm was the best way to take back my brain while thanking God for what I have, whose I am and who is really in control!

My day ends with GRATITUDE and my sleep begins with THANKFULNESS. I remember Robin telling me our kids were far more willing to talk about things that were bothering them just before they went to sleep when they were younger. The veil between our thoughts and our conscience becomes thinner, revealing fears and worries as well as highlights about our day.

For me, each evening ends with a little review of what’s on my mind, which yields moments of confession. It concludes with thanking God for all he has done in my life. Thanking him for my family, friends and my calling to use the gifts he has given me. Each night specifically doing what David wrote in the Psalms – reflecting on who God is and how I can listen and obey him.

I have often wondered what people do when they have to carry their wrongs, guilt and sin into each evening with no relief from their own failures. No wonder so many struggle with sleep! Of course, our physical and emotional health are huge reasons for lacking a good nights sleep. But it’s as if our soul needs these final moments of release – not to speak to some universal entity, but to the living God and creator of all things!

Prayer

​Dad,
When I review my day, my week, my life, I see your hand of grace and guidance everywhere! Instead of my heart being filled with doubts, it is filled with gratitude. You are so, so good. Thank you for all you have done, and for each night that comes with peaceful rest.

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Read the season.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor. You have shaken our land and split it open. Seal the cracks, for the land trembles. You have been very hard on us, making us drink wine that sent us reeling. But you have raised a banner for those who fear you— a rallying point in the face of attack.” Psalms‬ ‭60‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David writes the song, “Lilly of the Testimony.”

War, war, war and more war – this is one of the major themes of how God either showed His favor or displeasure with Israel. So many wars! Israel wins, God is for them. Israel loses and clearly God used other nations to discipline them. Can you even imagine that battle barometer being used today? Don’t we view war as a straight up attack from Satan lashing out on nations, killing, maiming and displacing the innocent around the globe?

David clearly knew how to read the times and lay the responsibility on God himself. Other than Job and a few other references, Satan is a minor figure in the Old Testament. Fact: The Old Testament emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all nations and events, including wars. God is often depicted as orchestrating events to fulfill His purposes. Satan is primarily seen as an accuser or adversary rather than a direct instigator of war. Is it just me, or do we clearly see war differently today? Oh, we give the nod of sovereignty to God, but oooooh it’s the devil that makes men go mad and drive rulers to evil. When nations attacked Israel, David knew – 100% it was God talking. This song/psalm was one of victory where David’s bloody general, Joab, wiped out 12,000 Edomites. That was just one war out of HUNDREDS.

I am so not qualified to even begin to understand the context of global wars today. But I do know they are very controversial, and in the U.S. folks are super opinionated about these complicated issues. Like we don’t have enough issues of our own 🤪. Every one of these wars go back to deep and divisive conflicts that are older than our country’s existence! It is so arrogant of us to think we have a solution. David was wise enough to go to the source, the truth of God in His justice and judgment. Whose banner did David wave? He said God raised the banner on behalf of those who fear Him. Those who humbly admit their guilt, followed by repentance. That’s what God still wants from us today!

There’s an old song I remember from my youth. It had a line in it that asked this question – “Who’s side are you leaning on?” The song response is “I’m leaning on the Lord’s side!” Truth in such simplicity. Discovering and discerning the times, we can be like David and read the season by starting with God. This would be such a reprieve from all the noise and confusion. For us to hear from God and listen – instead of giving our attention to world leaders and protesters attempting to ferret out the truth.

Prayer

​Dad,
It is psalms like this where I see David’s wisdom of seeking you, understanding what he had done, and quickly humbling himself in repentance. That’s a pattern I can subscribe to. It seems silly for us to try to mentally meddle or verbally engage in global affairs just to feel like we have answers solving eons of human problems. We cannot resolve our own sin, let alone the world’s conflicts. I will continue to lean on the Lord’s side to discern the times in which we live.

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Only God can win for us.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

”You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name. ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The descendants of Korah writes this Psalm, so who is Korah? Korah is a significant figure in the Bible, particularly known for his rebellion against Moses during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. He was a Levite, specifically the son of Izhar and a cousin to Moses and Aaron. His lineage is traced back to Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob.

However, Korah led a revolt against Moses, questioning why Moses and Aaron held positions of authority. He gathered 250 prominent leaders to challenge their leadership. This rebellion is detailed in Numbers 16, where God punished Korah and his followers by causing the ground to open and swallow them, while fire consumed the 250 men who offered incense.

Despite Korah’s fate, his sons survived the rebellion. They are known as the “Sons of Korah” and are credited with writing several Psalms, including this Psalm. Maybe the story of Korah’s sons rising out of their father’s rebellion is just as important as the Psalms they contributed to.

This Psalm was written about a massive dust up between the blasphemous message of Rabshekeh given to king Hezekiah. So Hezekiah went to Isaiah, who in turn prophesied against the kings of Assyria. In all of the arrogance and bravado of the Assyrian kings, Isaiah declares that no one mocks God and gets away with it. Korah’s sons capture the moment by declaring that God and God alone will fight against the enemies of Israel – not its king, not its might nor weaponry!

It’s still very much like that today even though the wars and warlords look very different today. God is still our refuge and our redeemer when it comes to global events that we have no control over. It should be a constant reminder in our own battles, that it is not our leaders nor our military might that we find our confidence- it is still in God!

Prayer

​Dad,
The story thread continues all through the Old Testament, You give, we falter. You forgive, we forget. My life is but a short puff of smoke, but wow – the human saga is so very long. It’s not just that the cycles of sin and redemption travel through our existence, it’s that each generation, even each nation has their own private experience. Each one facing the exact same human dilemmas, yet behaving as though we are unaware of anything or anyone living before or after them. It’s so weird! Even Israel, which has a good grasp of their very long legacy – can’t even recognize Jesus as THE messiah. Oh Lord, your patience is unmatched. One thing is clear, You are in control, You have the one and only plan of redemption for all who would believe and You know when the end will come. Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

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Modern Politicians

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭64‬:‭2‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Is it just me, or does David’s enemies sound a lot like today’s politicians?

We know that David wrote this under severe persecution by king Saul. We also know that God withdrew His Spirit from Saul and gave him a tormenting spirit because Saul had willfully disobeyed God and refused to come clean about it 1 Samuel 15:26 & 16:14. Plus, God had already chosen and anointed David as the future king of Israel, but allowed Saul to continue as king for 22 more years. Saul spent the rest of his miserable, neutered life chasing down David to kill him. He was unable to do so because God was protecting David.

These words, in this psalm, were oddly given to the choir director to turn into a song (what a weird song). A song about the frustrating moments that David experienced. These evil issues often come with leaders and politicians when they’ve lost their ability to see, speak or lead with integrity. David records the mindset of these kinds of leaders.

They plot! They spend all their energy on conniving, convincing and controlling rather than leading to a positive future. They fight invisible enemies with worthless words that do not inspire greatness, they only instill fear and divisiveness. They aim their bitter words at all that oppose them. They conspire with others, those magnetized by the promise of power and position. They shrewdly scheme to set traps in hopes that no one will ever find out they are buried in bitterness with no hope of fixing the problems of their people. Their hearts are too perverse to solve humanity’s problems. True leaders don’t attack people, they attack the problems! They don’t blame others, they rise to solve the issue, injecting hope and confidence in others.

At this point in David’s life, his faith was in God who would deal with Saul directly, “But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn,” Psalms‬ ‭64‬:‭7‬-‭8‬.

Prayer

​Dad,
Things haven’t changed much, have they? We are still the broken, selfishly driven people that got booted out of the garden! Oh, and when we get a little power and get a little cash – it quickly goes to our head and chills our heart. You are still the same though – yesterday, today and forever. You still see us, know us and grieve over the dumb, unjust ways we live, rule and reign. And, even though I know David was a man after your own heart, he didn’t fare that well either. When he was at the top of his game and his rooftop he lost it all by lusting after the neighbor. The wife of one of his best warriors. Uriah had no idea what was coming. I am so grateful that your long suffering has put up with us for so long. Yet, I know all this will come to the end and then there’s the judgement. Even though my sin is covered by Jesus’ sacrifice, I will still be held accountable for every gift, every moment I squandered; every decision I’ve made as a Pastor. But… at least I’m not a king nor politician 😬.

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When God speaks.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

”The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf; he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with bolts of lightning. The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭29‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David writes this Psalm highlighting the voice of God. It is believed to have been written when God told David that he would not be building the temple because of his bloody war hands. So David gives his son the detailed plans and instructions to build the magnificent structure, including the surrounding courtyard, 1 Chronicles 28. It is in these celebratory moments that David writes about the power and majesty of the Lord’s voice. This Psalm was inserted towards the end of David’s life.

Yesterday, we had a sudden storm race through Southern California, but with this quick burst of rain also came massive thunder and lightning. Thunder that rattles windows and scares little children! This timeless reminder is what David uses to highlight the power of God. When God speaks in power the earth itself shakes in response!

It reminds me of the moment God told Elijah to go out on the face of mount Horeb in 1 Kings 19:11-13. Elijah experienced hurricane force winds, an earthquake, and fire. But God was not in those destructive experiences. After all that Elijah heard the sound of a low whisper, he covered his face and went out to listen to God. Yes, God’s voice cannot only come in power, enough to split cedars, make mountains skip and leap and strip forests bare. God can also come in a whisper, drawing the human ear and heart close to himself. God, as creator of all things, has both the power to wreak havoc as well as the power to save and heal our hearts.

Prayer

​Dad,
When I stop and think about Your power over all things in everything that exists everywhere, it humbles me to realize that You love us – You love me! We are uniquely created in Your image and You breathed life into our soul. It reminds me that all that power has been leveraged into the physical might to save us, not destroy us. Your power is for us not against us. You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. I am thankful for Your power working in me.

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Unity & Harmony brings God’s blessing.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What’s is unity worth? What’s true harmony like, what does it yield? King David wrote this early in his reign, but it wasn’t inserted into Psalms until the end of his life. David reaches into two iconic moments or pictures that are deeply a part of culture of the people of Israel. To understand his comparison, we’ve got to find out about oil on Aaron’s beard and the dew of Hermon! Curious? I was.

Pastor Mike Hinojosa writes, “Ceremonial anointing in the Old Testament was a physical act involving the smearing, rubbing, or pouring of sacred oil on someone’s head (or on an object) as an outward symbol that God had chosen and set apart the person (or object) for a specific holy purpose.” He mentions the significance of separation, but also the idea of blessing. David picks up the theme of oil running down as an abundance of blessing. The oil was a specific blend of spices that God Himself prescribed in Exodus 30:22-25. I had heard that the oil recipe was a well kept secret, passed onto to generations of High Priests. The process of anointing Aaron was a high and holy celebration that perfectly captured the picture of unity as God’s people came to participate and celebrate together.

The dew of Mount Hermon. Mount Hermon (or “sacred mountain”) is the highest mountain in ancient Israel, boasting majestic, snowcapped peaks rising just over 9,000 feet above the sea. GotQuestions.org writes, “the slopes of Mount Hermon, in the north, receive profuse amounts of dew. Mount Zion, in the south, is much drier. David compared the refreshing dew of Hermon to the blessings of unity in Israel, from north to south. Harmony among God’s people is life-giving.”

In both examples of oil running down and dew falling are powerfully popular scenes of God both of blessing and His provision coming down on His people when they are obedient and coming together in these moments of harmony. References to this kind of unity is in stark contrast to the bitter complaints of the older Jewish community as they struggled to embrace freedom in the wilderness. This psalm should let us know just how much God values unity among believers, but also that God is willing to back those efforts with blessing and provision in our obedience.

Prayer

​Dad,
I know that every Pastor or church leader aches for unity within Your Church. No one likes grumbling, complaining, blaming and embittered battles among Your saints! Yet, it is one of the hardest things to eliminate. A culture of disunity just invites more church hurt. In the desire for more harmony, we all understand it brings blessing. Your presence invites us to be of one heart, one mind, one spirit. Help us to lay down our inner personal grievances and grief to welcome the oil of gladness and the promise of life-giving dew that drops on our gathering.

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Highlight reels of life.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭122‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In this psalm David starts off ecstatically and enthusiastically expressing how he feels coming to the temple, the highlight of the city of Jerusalem. “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Jerusalem, being the city of God, and the temple representing the presence of God, this psalm was sung as the Jewish people made their way back to their homeland after 70 years of Babylonian captivity. David had written this at a time when all things were good in the kingdom!

You know as people, we love reminiscing and reliving the highlight reels of our life. Remember when things were so good? We talk about the seasons, long gone, that were exciting, and everything worked so well. Maybe it was that season of a grand adventure or vacation, when the children were happy and everyone got along. Maybe it was the time when the church was full and everyone could sense the presence of God. Life was grand, the city, the house, even our job felt like it was all going so well. Those were the kinds of moments David was writing about, while he was king of that era in Jerusalem.

Yet, this psalm was inserted at the end of David’s life. And, this psalm was sung as the people were returning to absolute devastation of their beloved city. There was no temple, no protective walls – houses, businesses, parks and plazas had all been destroyed. This song of remembrance was sung to enlist gratefulness and hope in the hearts of the people. It was not sung to go back to “those” days! Instead it was sung to rebuild confidence and faith that God was with them – therefore He will help them rebuild to make a new Jerusalem, with new memories, fresh moments of glory and peace!

The best way to use the highlight reels of life is not to try to relive them, but to parlay those memories into building new ones. Don’t get stuck, like Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation trapped in his attic watching old film reels of his childhood. Make new moments! And make them matter!

Thank God for what was, then move on to thank God for what will be.

Ache to create a sense of peace and prosperity of a future city, church, or season where God will meet us once again. Keep moving forward. Moving forward does not tarnish the past, it honors it.

Prayer

​Dad,
It is so hard to have grand and happy memories of past seasons and NOT go back, regressing into wanting something similar to happen in the future. Time is such a bizarre experience as a human! Yet, my head knows that I cannot go back, I cannot experience the past in the present nor the future. I think this has a lot to do with faith and trust. You are not just outside of time, with you it is always NOW. We live sequentially. Plus, the fact that we don’t know the future and could not handle it well even if we were told. One thing I get from your Word is that Israel was told time and time again and warned over and over again, yet they had little chance of recognizing your promises coming to pass, even when it happened right in front of them. Even though the disciples were told what Jesus was going to do and what he would go through. I believe that none of them got it until they experienced it in their past. Until Jesus left. I’m convinced it is near impossible to process what happens in the now, trying to understanding what is happening while in the present – while we are in a specific season, good or bad. You have created us to live linear, one season, one step at a time – no skipping, no shortcuts, no tap-outs. It takes courageous boldness to continue to move forward in faith. I think that’s why our faith in you is pleasing to you.

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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.