Psalms 125-150

Have you ever wondered why after great suffering, you can experience great joy? Is it really because time heals all wounds? God’s ability to restore life is beyond our understanding. How does time heal? We can’t see or feel time and somehow we feel better we are changed as it passes. Faith is like time; we can’t see it or feel it; but it’s alive and working all the time. It is not time, but God that brings good out of any tragedy. When you feel burdened, know that your times of grief will end and that you will again find joy because God loves you more than you can imagine. We must exercise patience as we wait. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”(Psalm 126:6)

“In vain you rise up early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves.”(Psalm 127:2) Hard work honors God and He is not against our human effort. Working, however, to the exclusion of family and rest may be an excuse for not trusting God to provide. This verse gives no green light for laziness; the Lord despises being lazy. God encourages us to lead a balanced life; working when it’s time for work; surrendering to rest for restoration and renewal; giving your all to your family and having the energy to do your best in all areas of your life; not limited to one. A good family life is a reward for following God. The values outlined in His word include love, service, honesty, integrity, and prayer. These are helpful for all relationships and vital in the home. Reading and obeying God’s word is a good place to start in building the foundation to grow your home.

Have you felt isolated from God when in the depths of despair? Despair should not lead to self-pity; causing us to think more of ourselves than God. Despair should lead to confession and humility and then to God for mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. Crying out to God will turn your attention to the only One who can really help versus feeling sorry for ourselves and wallowing in hopelessness.

Do you hold grudges against others? Do you find it useless and a waste of time when others hold grudges against you or vice-versa? “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with your there is forgiveness therefore you are feared.”(Psalm 130:3) Holding a grudge is like building a wall between you and another person and it is nearly impossible to talk openly while the wall is there. God does not keep a record of our sins; can you imagine if He did? When God forgives; He forgives and forgets, thus tearing down any walls between us and Him. Even though we love and fear God as our King, we can still speak to Him openly and honestly. It is important when modeling our forgiveness to others after our gratefulness for our own forgiveness from God everyday; it is important to really mean forgiveness by not holding a grudge and forgetting the sins against you. Our Father knows best; He knows that holding on only wears us down; when you create movies in your mind of arguing with another and trying to prove yourself right; who are you hurting? And if your intention is to make another feel bad; where do you think those feelings really come from? Not from God. God is pure love.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”(Psalm 133:1) Unity is precious. Living in unity does not mean we will agree on everything; there are many differing opinions just as there are varying animals in the animal kingdom. The foundation of our unity should be our agreement on our purpose in life; to work together for God. In our outward expression of unity, our inner purpose is revealed.

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.”(Psalm 138:8) Everyone has dreams and desires for their life and makes plans accordingly. People work hard to see those dreams and plans become reality. To make the most out of this life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows our future and what is best for us.

“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord.”(Psalm 139:3) Do you wear a mask and conceal yourself from others to know the real you? Sometimes, we don’t let people get to know our true selves because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. Because God already knows everything about us, and still accepts and loves us, you can feel safe to reveal your true self to Him and to others. God’s opinion is the only one that truly matters; when you are right with God, which is your only concern and can feel free to express your truth to others and in your relationships. Concealing who you are hurts yourself, those who know you and wish to know your true self and all your relationships.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”(Psalm139:23) Make this verse your prayer. When you ask the Lord to search your heart and thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God’s way everlasting.

“Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; Let a righteous man strike me- it is a kindness; let him rebuke me-it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.”(Psalm141:4) David asks God to guard his heart in this Psalm. Evil acts begin with evil desires. To ask God to make you stronger, take away temptation, or change your circumstances is not enough; you must ask him to change you on the inside; at the level of your desires. David talks about being rebuked by a righteous person being a kindness. Often times we take criticism poorly and become defensive; when in fact the correction is for our own benefit. Nobody particularly likes criticism; especially those with overwhelming egos; but everybody can benefit when they learn how to accept criticism in a positive way: 1) Don’t refuse it, 2) consider it a kindness, 3) keep quiet (don’t fight back). Put this into practice and it will help you make it productive no matter how it was originally intended.

The Lord is worthy of our praise. Praising God means : 1) taking our minds off or problems and shortcomings and focuses them on God, 2)Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship, 3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God’s character, 4) Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.

Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear and we wonder when and if it shall pass. David is standing at an intersection in Psalm 145 and focuses on God to carry his burdens. God is more than able to lift us up because, 1) his greatness is unfathomable, 2) he does mighty acts across many generations, 3)he is full of glorious splendor and majesty, 4) he does wonderful and awesome works, 5) he is righteous, 6) he is gracious, compassionate, patient, and loving, 7) he rules over an everlasting kingdom, 8) he is our source of all our daily needs, 9)he is righteous and loving in all his dealings, 10) he remains near to those who call on him, 11) he hears our cries and saves us. God is always ready to carry your burden and lift to up; ask Him.

“Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save…The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord loves the righteous; and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”(Psalm 146:3, 8, 9) Man is an inadequate savior and false hope. God does not separate the social and spiritual needs of people. We are God’s instruments to help Him here on earth. God frustrates the wicked because his values are the opposite of worldly values and what our society considers norm. Jesus turned society’s values upside down when he proclaimed “ many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first (Matthew 19:30), and that whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”(Matthew 16:25) When we feel that we don’t understand ourselves, what we want, how we feel, what’s wrong with us or what we should do about it’ know that God’s understanding is limitless. God understands you perfectly. Take your mind off yourself and put your focus on God. When you strive to become more and more like him by following his ways, you will better understand yourself; remember we were created in God’s image.

“Praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”(Psalm 150:4) The book of Psalms parallels our spiritual journey through life. Beginning with two roads; the way to life and the way to death. When we choose God and life, we must still face both blessings and troubles; joy and grief; successes and obstacles. God is with us through it all, guiding, encouraging, comforting and caring. As the life of a wise and faithful person comes to an end, they see clearly that God’s road is the right choice; ensuring our home with Him.