20231006
my enemies — my furniture
Psalm 108:9
Psalm 108:9 Moab — my washtub. I throw my shoe at Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.
my enemies — my furniture
Three foreign nations are mentioned, and David claims possession of them all because of the faithfulness of his God. They may not be his yet, but they will. He does not have to worry about those enemies. He treats them like the furniture in his own house.
20231005
he elevates
Psalm 108:7-8
Psalm 108:7 God has spoken in His sacredness: “I elevate! I allot Shechem and I measure the valley of Succoth
Psalm 108:8 Gilead — mine; Manasseh — mine, and Ephraim — the helmet for my head. Judah — my scepter.”
he elevates
God is sovereign over the affairs of humanity. If anyone is prominent or has a position of leadership, it is because God has a purpose for them. They may not know that God put them in power. They may not acknowledge his authority over them. But he is involved in their lives just the same.
20231004
the worship rescue circle
Psalm 108:5-6
Psalm 108:5 Be lifted high above the sky, O God, and honored above all the land.
Psalm 108:6 So that your loved ones may be rescued, deliver them by your right hand and answer us.
the worship rescue circle
When God rescues someone from sin, poverty, or bondage, worship is a natural result. But this text points out that the circle completes itself when God is lifted up and honored by our worship. Rescue is a natural result. Worship is not something else we do besides evangelism. It is one of our methods of reaching the lost.
20231003
relevant everywhere
Psalm 108:3-4
Psalm 108:3 I thank you among peoples, O Yahveh, And I praise you among the nations
Psalm 108:4 because your covenant faithfulness is great above the sky and your truth to the clouds.
relevant everywhere
God is relevant everywhere because he’s not particular to anywhere. No place is really “God’s country” because He is above it all. When we look up at the sky above us, we get it. That’s why any place we go, we can talk about our great God, and some of them will get it too.
20231002
wake up, worship
Psalm 108:1-2
Psalm 108:1 A Song, a Psalm of David. My heart is determined, O God! I am singing praise, and also showing my respect.
Psalm 108:2 Wake up, stringed instrument and harp, I will wake up the dawn.
wake up, worship
David apparently borrows the text from two other psalms and reworks it into this psalm. Psalm 57:8 is reused to produce 108:2.
A warrior preparing for conquest is usually most cautious about the condition of his or her weapons. But David is most concerned about his musical instruments. Why? Because he knows that the battle is the LORD’s and so he is most concerned about how well he worships.
This should be our concern as well. Our Lord will bring us victory as he sees fit. Our concern should be acknowledging him.
20231001
BOLO
Psalm 107:43 (JDV)
Psalm 107:43 Whoever is wise should keep watching these things. They should consider Yahveh’s covenant loyalty!
BOLO
For the past few days, we have been looking at the ten reasons to praise God found in Psalm 107. The psalm concludes with an admonition for the wise to keep watching these things. We should be on the lookout for all of the reasons to praise our God because of his covenant loyalty.
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tenth question
Psalm 107:39-42 (JDV)
Psalm 107:39 They have become few and bowed down because of evil and trouble.
Psalm 107:40 He is pouring out contempt on nobles and making them go astray in a wasteland with no road.
Psalm 107:41 Yet he protected the needy from misery and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.
Psalm 107:42 When the godly see this, they rejoice, and every sinner shuts his mouth.
tenth question
These verses suggest the tenth and final question from this amazing psalm: Do you realize that God is caring for your family? You are part of his flock, and he takes care of you. Every instance where you see God’s protection and care reminds you that he is the Good Shepherd, and you belong to him.
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ninth question
Psalm 107:33-38 (JDV)
Psalm 107:33 He turned rivers into an open country and springs of water became thirsty land.
Psalm 107:34 A fruitful land became a barren place, because of the wickedness of those who lived in it.
Psalm 107:35 He made an open country become a pool of water and a dry land become springs of water.
Psalm 107:36 He allowed the hungry to settle there, and they established a city in which to live.
Psalm 107:37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards and they yielded fruit.
Psalm 107:38 He blessed them and they multiply very much and He did not reduce their cattle.
ninth question
If you don’t feel like praising God today, ask yourself this question: Has God ever changed a circumstance in your life so that you can be more fruitful? Has he turned a dry spot into a spring of water? If you look closely into the circumstances of your life, you will find a reason to praise him.
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seventh question
Psalm 107:17-22 (JDV)
Psalm 107:17 Fools humble themselves by means of their rebellious road and by their violations.
Psalm 107:18 Their throat hated every food and they arrived at the gates of death.
Psalm 107:19 They cried out to Yahveh in their distress. From their miseries He delivered them.
Psalm 107:20 He sent His word, healed them, and rescued them from their pits.
Psalm 107:21 They praise Yahveh for his covenant faithfulness and His miracles for the children of Adam
Psalm 107:22 and they slaughter thanksgiving sacrifices and publish his works with a joyful shout.
seventh question
If you don’t feel like praising God, as this seventh question: Have you ever felt like you were at the gates of death, and God came through and rescued you. Then, praise Him!
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sixth question
Psalm 107:10-16 (JDV)
Psalm 107:10 They had sat in death’s dark shadow, prisoners of misery and of iron,
Psalm 107:11 because they were obstinate against what God said and rejected the counsel of the Highest.
Psalm 107:12 He humbled their heart with trouble. They stumbled, and there was no helper.
Psalm 107:13 Then they cried to Yahveh in their distress. He delivered them from their miseries.
Psalm 107:14 He brought them out from the dark place, and death’s dark shadow, And their shackles he tore off.
Psalm 107:15 They should praise Yahveh for his covenant faithfulness and his miracles for the children of Adam
Psalm 107:16 because he has broken bronze gates, and cut through iron bars.
sixth question
The sixth question to ask yourself if you don’t feel like praising God is suggested by today’s text. Have you ever found yourself in a dark place because you obstinately rejected God’s counsel? Remember how bad you felt, and how free you felt after God rescued you from that dark place? Our God is available to forgive and restore. Praise him for that!
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