saving Zion

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

saving Zion

Psalm 69:34-36 (JDV)

Psalm 69:34 Let the sky and the land praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them,
Psalm 69:35 because God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.
Psalm 69:36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will live in it.

saving Zion

David’s confidence was in God, and that he would make good on his promise to save Zion and build up the cities of Judah.

How confident are you that God has invested in the land where you live? Do you think God does not care about it? Remember, he has placed you there. We are ambassadors for Christ in the foreign lands we are living in. He has a purpose for us here, because he has a plan to save our land and build up the cities in it. Our mission in life is to be involved in that mission. Our purpose is to set ourselves to work doing what he has planned.

Lord, thank you for loving the land we are in. Show us how to bring our land to your salvation.

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he listens to the needy

Posted on June 21, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

he listens to the needy

Psalm 69:29-33 (JDV)

Psalm 69:29 But as for me – poor and in pain – let your rescue protect me, God.
Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:31 That will please Yahveh more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
Psalm 69:32 The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, revive your heart!
Psalm 69:33 You see, Yahveh listens to the needy and does not despise his own who are prisoners.

he listens to the needy

What do you do when you are poor and in pain? Do you hock your last valuable thing to buy a bull ox? Nah, you sing a song of praise, and trust God for rescue. Being needy is not a barrier to God’s rescue. He listens to the needy.

Thank you Lord, for your loving rescue.

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the one you struck

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

the one you struck

Psalm 69:22-28 (JDV)

Psalm 69:22 Let their table set before them be a snare, and let it be a trap for their allies.
Psalm 69:23 Let their eyes grow too dim to see, and let their hips continually quake.
Psalm 69:24 Pour out your rage on them, and let your burning anger overtake them.
Psalm 69:25 Make their camp desolate; may no one live in their tents.
Psalm 69:26 You see, they persecute the one you struck and talk about the pain of those you wounded.
Psalm 69:27 Charge them with crime on top of crime; do not let them share in your righteousness.
Psalm 69:28 Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.

the one you struck

David’s experience led to his seeing himself as the one Yahveh struck, and he prays that God brings justice to his persecutors. But his words also foresee a future Messiah who would be struck because of God’s plan. Those who persecute him and his followers would suffer and die permanently. They will be erased from the book of life.

Unbeliever, are you prepared for that fate. Is your obstinate rebellion against Christ and his gospel worth your life? Come to Jesus today! He wants to give you life. The alternative is permanent death.

Lord, draw people to yourself by our witness. We know your justice will demand that many be erased from your book of life, but help us to rescue as many as we can from that fate.

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waiting for sympathy

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

waiting for sympathy

Psalm 69:19-21 (JDV)

Psalm 69:19 You know the insults I endure – my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my rivals.
Psalm 69:20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.
Psalm 69:21 Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

waiting for sympathy

Both David and Jesus experienced abuse with no sympathy. When our Lord was suffering on the cross, they wouldn’t even give him water to drink, but forced him to taste the bitterness of the vinegar.

There will probably be times in your life when you can taste the vinegar, as well. You have to trust God during those times. He has not forgotten you, nor has he forsaken you, even when you have no comfort from others.

Lord, may our awareness of your presence help us to endure the times when we get no comfort from others.

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why we should pray

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

why we should pray

Psalm 69: (JDV)

Psalm 69:16 Answer me, Yahveh, because your covenant faithfulness is good. In keeping with your abundant compassion, turn to me.
Psalm 69:17 Don’t hide your face from your servant, because I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
Psalm 69:18 Come near to me and redeem me; deliver me because of my enemies.

why we should pray

Why should we pray? Three reasons. First, God’s covenant faithfulness is good, and our prayers set his love in motion. Secondly, we get in distress by the things that happen to us. They make us think that God is hiding his face. We need his responses to our prayers to remind us that he will not leave us — that he will always be there for us. Thirdly, God is glorified when we prevail over our enemies. This includes actual adversaries and things like hardship and death which are also counted as our enemies. God’s reputation is at stake when the enemies have the upper hand.

Therefore, pray!

Lord, thank you that you have given us access to your throne. Show us how to consistently avail ourselves of this privilege.

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down in the mud

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

down in the mud

Psalm 69:13-15 (JDV)

Psalm 69:13 But as for me, Yahveh, my prayer to you is for a time of favor. In your abundant, covenant faithfulness, God, answer me with your sure rescue.
Psalm 69:14 Rescue me from the miry mud; don’t let me sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep water.
Psalm 69:15 Don’t let the floodwaters sweep over me or the deep swallow me up; don’t let the Pit close its mouth over me.

down in the mud

What do you do when you are down in the mud, and you think you are going to sink? Do what David did. Cry out to God in prayer. He is invested in you. He gave his Son to die in your place on Calvary’s cross. He sent his Holy Spirit to empower you for a mission to reach the nations with his gospel. David was down in the mud, but he had no intention of staying there. He called out to the God who had rescued him in the past. He called out to the God who has a purpose for his life. David knew that he did not have the power himself to pull himself out of the pit. But he knew someone who does have that power, and so do we.

Lord, don’t let us sink!

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for shame

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

for shame

Psalm 69:4-12 (JDV)

Psalm 69:4 Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
Psalm 69:5 God, you know my foolishness, and my guilty acts are not hidden from you.
Psalm 69:6 Do not let those who put their hope in you be disgraced because of me, Lord Yahveh of Armies; do not let those who seek you be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.
Psalm 69:7 You see, I have endured insults because of you, and shame has covered my face.
Psalm 69:8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons
Psalm 69:9 because zeal for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
Psalm 69:10 I mourned and fasted, but it brought me insults.
Psalm 69:11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing, and I was a joke to them.
Psalm 69:12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me.

for shame

David lived in an honor/shame culture. To be humiliated or dishonored was a terrible thing for him, and he felt that shame. But even worse for him was the thought of bringing dishonor on those who trusted in his God.

Lord, may we be careful to live our lives in such a way as to bring honor to your name, and disgrace to your enemies.

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deep water times

Posted on June 15, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

deep water times

Psalm 69:1-3 (JDV)

Psalm 69:1 Rescue me, God, because the water has risen to my neck.
Psalm 69:2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water, and a flood sweeps over me.
Psalm 69:3 I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

deep water times

We all depend on water for life, but when the water gets deep, it can be life-threatening. David faced many challenges in his life where he could have prayed like this. Even though he was a man after God’s own heart, he was allowed to go through deep water times.

These times help us to focus on our relationship with God because it is during the deep water times that we realize that only he can help us.

Lord, thank you that we have someone to help us during the deep water times.

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he thunders

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

he thunders

Psalm 68:32-35 (JDV)

Psalm 68:32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the land; sing praise to the Lord, Selah
Psalm 68:33 to him who rides in the ancient, highest skies. Look, he thunders with his powerful voice!
Psalm 68:34 Ascribe power to God. His majesty is over Israel, his power is among the clouds.
Psalm 68:35 God, you are awe-inspiring in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

he thunders

As I write this, last night I replaced my home phone because I could not hear its ringer. The replacement phone is only a little better. I’m starting to think it might be my ears, and not the phone.

But I can still hear thunder. When it is near, thunder still shakes me — reminding me of a power much greater than myself — a power to which I call for help in time of need, and respect at all times.

God’s voice is unmistakable. He thunders when all the gods of the nations whisper. Listen to his voice. Look at the signs of his power and majesty.

Lord, thank you for your awesome power, and the thunder!

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rebuke the beast

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

Psalms (book2) - 1

rebuke the beast

Psalm 68:28-31 (JDV)

Psalm 68:28 Your God has decreed your strength. Show your strength, God, you who have acted on our behalf.
Psalm 68:29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem, kings will bring tribute to you.
Psalm 68:30 Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those with bars of silver. Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war.
Psalm 68:31 Ambassadors will come from Egypt; Cush will stretch out its hands to God.

rebuke the beast

The beast is a symbol of Gentile kings and empires. We learn more about the beast in the apocalyptic books of Daniel and Revelation. Here, the psalmist asks God to tame these beasts, whose only concern is their own power and violence and wealth. Instead, these Gentile kings will bring tribute to God in Jerusalem.

Lord, rebuke the beast, and cause us all to submit to your righteous rule.

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