an unopposed reign

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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an unopposed reign

Psalm 125:1-5 (JDV)

Psalm 125:1 [A song of festival caravans.] Those who trust in Yahveh are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it stays permanently.
Psalm 125:2 The mountains surround Jerusalem and Yahveh surrounds his people, now until forever.
Psalm 125:3 The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, otherwise the righteous would apply their hands to injustice.
Psalm 125:4 Do good, Yahveh, to the good, to those whose hearts are upright.
Psalm 125:5 But as for those who turn aside to crooked roads, Yahveh will lead them to the evildoers. Peace be with Israel.

an unopposed reign

The LORD promises that the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous. This assured Israel that their nation would not remain in bondage to a heathen king. It assures us that our Adversary will not usurp the throne of the earth forever. His fall is as certain as that of the kings of ancient Assyria and Babylon.

LORD, thank you for your Son, who will reign for eternity – unopposed.

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hunter’s net

Posted on December 2, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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hunter’s net

Psalm 124:1-8 (JDV)

Psalm 124:1 [A song of festival caravans. Of David.] If Yahveh had not been on our side– let Israel say–
Psalm 124:2 If Yahveh had not been on our side when people attacked us,
Psalm 124:3 then they would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger against us.
Psalm 124:4 Then the water would have engulfed us; the torrent would have swept over us;
Psalm 124:5 the raging water would have swept over us.
Psalm 124:6 Blessed be Yahveh, who has not let us be ripped apart by their teeth.
Psalm 124:7 We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s net; the net is torn, and we have escaped.
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of Yahveh, the Maker of the sky and the land.

hunter’s net

The hunter’s net is a trap that encases birds. The psalmist sees his people as being trapped in that net, goners for sure. Then, suddenly, the net is broken, and they are free. This is the LORD’s doing. The LORD was on their side, and he made the difference between escape and extinction.

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eyes on the boss

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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eyes on the boss

Psalm 123:1-4 (JDV)

Psalm 123:1 [A song of festival caravans.] I focus my eyes on you, the one enthroned in the sky.
Psalm 123:2 Like a servant’s eyes on his master’s hand, like a servant girl’s eyes on her mistress’s hand, so our eyes are on Yahveh our God until he shows us favor.
Psalm 123:3 Show us favor, Yahveh, show us favor because we’ve had more than enough contempt.
Psalm 123:4 We’ve had more than enough derision from the arrogant and contempt from the proud.

eyes on the boss

Anyone who has ever had a boss, and depended on that boss, knows what this psalmist is getting at. He focuses his eyes on the LORD because the LORD holds his future in his hands. The LORD will decide what happens in his life. We can trust our boss. He has our best interest in mind. His plans will bring us restoration and eternal life.

LORD, we focus our eyes to you.

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praying for Jerusalem

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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praying for Jerusalem

Psalm 122:1-9 (JDV)

Psalm 122:1 [A song of festival caravans. Of David.] I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of Yahveh.”
Psalm 122:2 Our feet were standing within your gates, Jerusalem–
Psalm 122:3 Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly united,
Psalm 122:4 where the tribes, Yahveh’s tribes, go up to give thanks to the name of Yahveh. (This is an ordinance for Israel.)
Psalm 122:5 There, thrones for judgment are placed, thrones of the house of David.
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure;
Psalm 122:7 may there be peace within your walls, security within your fortresses.”
Psalm 122:8 Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, “May peace be in you.”
Psalm 122:9 Because of the house of Yahveh our God, I will pursue your prosperity.

praying for Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a city with a great past, a troubled present, and a glorious future. The psalmist prays for the great city, aware of it all. He chooses to pray for peace, not because of blind allegiance but for his brothers and friends sake, and because the temple is there. The city is worth praying for because people are there, and the LORD’s presence is there. That is reason enough to pray for any city.

LORD, we pray for the place where you live, and the place where you plan to live. Bring peace to the city.

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the Protector

Posted on November 29, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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the Protector

Psalm 121:1-8 (JDV)

Psalm 121:1 [A song of festival caravans.] I focus my eyes on the mountains. Where will my help come from?
Psalm 121:2 My help comes from Yahveh, the Maker of the sky and the land.
Psalm 121:3 He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.
Psalm 121:4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.
Psalm 121:5 Yahveh protects you; Yahveh is a shelter right by your side.
Psalm 121:6 The sun will not strike you by day or the moon by night.
Psalm 121:7 Yahveh will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life.
Psalm 121:8 Yahveh will protect your coming and going both now and permanently.

the Protector

The psalmist sees the creator as a guard, watching over and protecting him and his nation. Neither the mountains around them nor the sun and moon above them are allowed access to these protected people. Do you feel safe, my friend? Seek the Protector.

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too long

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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too long

Psalm 120:1-7 (JDV)

Psalm 120:1 [A song of festival caravans.] In my distress, I called to Yahveh, and he answered me.
Psalm 120:2 “Yahveh, rescue me from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.”
Psalm 120:3 What will he give you, and what will he do to you, you deceitful tongue?
Psalm 120:4 A warrior’s sharp arrows with burning charcoal!
Psalm 120:5 What misery that I have stayed in Meshech, that I have lived among the tents of Kedar!
Psalm 120:6 I have dwelt too long with those who hate peace.
Psalm 120:7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

too long

Ellicott suggests that the psalmist refers to another subject tribe who are always stirring up trouble by agitating the Persian power. The God-fearing Israelite laments that he has dwelt too long with those who hate peace. He is praying for change.

What is your situation today my friend? Is there something about where (or how) you are living your life today that is wrong, and you need to change? Pray to the rescuer.

Ellicott C. J. An Old Testament Commentary for English Readers. Cassell Petter Galpin 1897. p. 269.

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lips, tongue, throat

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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lips, tongue, throat

Psalm 119:169-176 (JDV)

Psalm 119:169 Let my cry reach your face, Yahveh; give me understanding according to your word.
Psalm 119:170 Let my plea reach you; rescue me according to your promise.
Psalm 119:171 My lips pour out praise, for you teach me your prescriptions.
Psalm 119:172 My tongue sings about your promise, for all your commands are righteous.
Psalm 119:173 May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your directions.
Psalm 119:174 I long for your deliverance, Yahveh, and your instruction is my delight.
Psalm 119:175 Let my throat live, and I will praise you; may your judgments help me.
Psalm 119:176 I go astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commands.

lips, tongue, throat

David has three instruments of praise here. His lips, tongue, and throat. His life is in danger and thus his praise will cease. He pleads for rescue and promises the only thing he has to promise — to continue the praise.

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about him

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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about him

Psalm 119:161-168 (JDV)

Psalm 119:161 leaders have persecuted me without cause, but my heart fears only your words.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice over your word like one who finds much treasure.
Psalm 119:163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction.
Psalm 119:164 I praise you seven times a day for your righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:165 Much peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.
Psalm 119:166 Yahveh, I hope for your deliverance and carry out your commands.
Psalm 119:167 I obey your warning signs and love them greatly.
Psalm 119:168 I obey your directions and warning signs because all my roads are before you.

about him

Notice the repetition of the second person singular (you, your) in today’s text. Life is not about me nor “them,” whoever they may be. It’s about the LORD. His fear motivates us. His word is our treasure. We love his instruction. We regularly praise him. His deliverance is our hope. We carry out his commands. We obey his directions and heed his warning signs because he observes every road we take.

For the believer, life is about the LORD.

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life

Posted on November 25, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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life

Psalm 119:153-160 (JDV)

Psalm 119:153 Look at my misery and rescue me because I have not forgotten your instruction.
Psalm 119:154 Work my case and redeem me; give me life as you said you would.
Psalm 119:155 deliverance is distant from the wicked because they do not study your prescriptions.
Psalm 119:156 Your merciful acts are many, Yahveh; give me life according to your judgments.
Psalm 119:157 My persecutors and foes are many. I have not turned from your warning signs.
Psalm 119:158 I have seen the disloyal and feel disgusted because they do not keep your word.
Psalm 119:159 Look at how I love your directions; Yahveh, give me life according to your covenant faithfulness.
Psalm 119:160 The origin of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments is permanent.

life

Others have repeated the phrase “Long live the king” but here the king himself is pleading for life, using the same word. Here is a prayer of a man who understands his own need for revival, and trusts in God’s covenant faithfulness to provide it.

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near

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Jefferson Vann

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near

Psalm 119:145-152 (JDV)

Psalm 119:145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Yahveh. I will obey your prescriptions.
Psalm 119:146 I call to you; deliver me, and I will keep your warning signs.
Psalm 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:148 I am awake through the night watches to meditate on your promise.
Psalm 119:149 In keeping with your covenant faithfulness, hear my voice. Yahveh, give me life in keeping with your justice.
Psalm 119:150 Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction.
Psalm 119:151 You are near, Yahveh and all your commands are true.
Psalm 119:152 Long ago I learned from your warning signs that you have established them permanently.

David’s troubles are keeping him up all night. The conspirators are near and he is afraid. But God is also near and David experiences that nearness by meditating of God’s word. Try it!

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