like silver is refined

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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like silver is refined

Psalm 66:8-12 (JDV)

Psalm 66:8 Bless our God, you peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard.
Psalm 66:9 He keeps us alive and does not allow our feet to slip
Psalm 66:10 because you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver is refined.
Psalm 66:11 You lured us into a trap; you placed burdens on our backs.
Psalm 66:12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us out to abundance.

like silver is refined

The psalmist admits that his nation has gone through a great deal of trouble and hardship, and blames God for all of it. He sees his nation as having gone through these things — not because he was angry with them, but because he loved them, and wanted to refine them like silver is refined.

I love the attitude. It speaks to us today who are so quick to complain about every hardship. Yes, the Israelites were like that too. But at least some of their descendants got it. They realized that all the hardship was to refine them.

Lord, give us the perspective of this psalmist. Help us to see your goodness even in events where we cannot see the good.

 

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rescue, rule, retribution

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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rescue, rule, retribution

Psalm 66:5-7 (JDV)

Psalm 66:5 Come and see the wonders of God; his achievements for humanity are awe-inspiring.
Psalm 66:6 He turned the sea into dry land, and they crossed the river on foot. There we celebrated because of him.
Psalm 66:7 He rules forever by his might; he keeps his eye on the nations. The rebellious should not exalt themselves. Selah.

rescue, rule, retribution

The nations are invited to come and see the wonders performed by Israel’s mighty God. The three listed here are:

  1. wonders of rescue, resulting in the celebration of his people for their deliverance.
  2. wonders of his rule, where he constantly watches the nations to protect his people.
  3. wonders of his retribution, where he acts to punish those who rebel against his will.

The only example the psalmist gives is the parting of the Red Sea. That incident serves as an example of each of these wonders.

Lord, thank you for your acts of deliverance, your sovereign rule, and the justice which you are bringing about.

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awe-inspiring works

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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awe-inspiring works

Psalm 66:3-4 (JDV)

Psalm 66:3 Say to God, “How awe-inspiring are your works! Your enemies will cringe before you because of your great strength.
Psalm 66:4 The whole land will worship you and sing praise to you. They will sing praise to your name.” Selah.

The psalm transitions from mission to worship by this refrain celebrating God for his awe-inspiring works. What are those works? The rest of the psalm will delineate them, and urge the nations to come and see for themselves.

Lord, thank you for all that you do for us.

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make honor his praise

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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make honor his praise

Psalm 66:1-2 (JDV)

Psalm 66:1 Let the whole land shout joyfully to God!
Psalm 66:2 Sing about the honor due his name; make honor his praise.

make honor his praise

The land here in this psalm is not the planet, it is the land of Israel. They were supposed to be an entire nation that gave honor to the God who made them, and sustains them. All their greatness was to reflect on God’s honor, and draw other nations to him.

Thus, this is a missions song, a psalm about the purpose of God’s people in spreading his glory. The peoples of other nations (8) are invited to come and see what he is doing in Israel (5) and bless Israel’s God (8).

Personal worship of God is also essential to that mission (13-20). The nations need to know that this Israelite honors God because God has done something for him (16). God has listened to his prayer and praise.

Under the covenant with Christ, all believers have this mission — to honor God with our lives, our worship, and our testimony.

Lord, accept our praise and may our lives bring honor to your name.

 

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why the pastures sing

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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why the pastures sing

Psalm 65:9-13 (JDV)

Psalm 65:9 You visit the land and water it profusely, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, because you prepare the land in this way, providing people with grain.
Psalm 65:10 You soften it with showers and empower its growth, soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with your goodness; your carts overflow with plenty.
Psalm 65:12 The wilderness pastures overflow, and the hills are clothed with joy.
Psalm 65:13 The pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with grain. They shout in triumph; in fact, they sing.

why the pastures sing

The pastures sing because God has faithfully brought them rain at the right time. The valleys clothed with grain sing for the same reason. We sing for the same reason as well. Our God is faithful to us long before we recognize that we need him.

Lord, great is thy faithfulness!

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his joy signs

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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his joy signs

Psalm 65:4-8 (JDV)

Psalm 65:4 How fortunate is the one you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple.
Psalm 65:5 You answer us righteously, with awe-inspiring achievements, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the land and of the distant seas.
Psalm 65:6 You establish the mountains by your power; you are robed with strength.
Psalm 65:7 You silence the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the commotion of the nations.
Psalm 65:8 Those who live far away are awed by your signs; you make east and west shout for joy.

his joy signs

Look at that mountain. God put it there by his strength. Look at that peaceful calm ocean, that was roaring just a short while ago. God did that. Look at that cross. The God of our salvation gave us that sign of his love.

All over the planet people are awed by his joy signs.

Lord, we join the crowd and shout for joy at the signs you have left us.

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he is faithful –we are not

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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Psalm 65:1-3 (JDV)

Psalm 65:1 Praise is rightfully yours, God, in Zion; vows to you will be fulfilled.
Psalm 65:2 All humanity will come to you, the one who listens to prayer.
Psalm 65:3 Violations overwhelm me; only you can atone for our rebellions.

By just looking at these three verses, a reader would have no idea what kind of rebellion David is talking about. And that is okay. His point (as he makes clear in rest of the psalm) is that all of us prove to be unfaithful compared to God’s faithfulness. He shows his faithfulness by giving signs in nature itself.

In the end, all humanity will come to God with the same prayer:

“You are faithful and we are not. We can only live up to our vows to you if you atone for our rebellions.”

 

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he turns tongues

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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he turns tongues

Psalm 64:7-10 (JDV)

Psalm 64:7 But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly, they will be wounded.
Psalm 64:8 They will be made to stumble; their own tongues work against them. All who see them will be shaking their heads.
Psalm 64:9 Then everyone will fear and will be telling about God’s work, because they will understand what he has done.
Psalm 64:10 The righteous one rejoices in Yahveh and takes refuge in him; all those who are upright in heart will offer praise.

he turns tongues

David had been talking about his enemies’ secret plans to destroy him with the arrows that come from their tongues. His retaliation: let God handle it. God can turn those tongues against each other. He did it at Babel, when the whole city had rebelled against his command.

Thank you Lord, for turning the tongues of our enemies.

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secret plan

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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secret plan

Psalm 64:5-6 (JDV)

Psalm 64:5 They adopt an evil plan; they talk about hiding traps and say, “Who is going to see them?”
Psalm 64:6 They devise crimes and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” The inner man and the heart are mysterious.

secret plan

There is no secret hidden from our God. He knows the end from the beginning. The inner man and the heart is mysterious to us, but they are laid bare to him.

Thank you God, that you know all things. You can protect us from the secret plans of those who are out to get us.

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swords and arrows

Posted on May 22, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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swords and arrows

Psalm 64:1-4 (JDV)

Psalm 64:1 God, listen to my voice when I keep babbling. Protect my life from the terror of the enemy.
Psalm 64:2 Hide me from the scheming of wicked people, from the mob of evildoers,
Psalm 64:3 who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim bitter words like arrows,
Psalm 64:4 shooting from concealed places at the blameless. They shoot at him suddenly and are not afraid.

swords and arrows

David describes the words of his enemies as swords and arrows, aimed at him — even from concealed places, but always intending to do him harm. By contrast, David’s words are addressed to God, from whom he expects deliverance and justice.

Lord, protect us from the swords and arrows of your enemies.

 

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