Come and Listen

To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.
1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah

5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
7 who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
12 you let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
I will perform my vows to you,
14 that which my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
17 I cried to him with my mouth,
and high praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me!

- Psalm 66

My challenge for you today is very short and sweet. I challenge you to simply read this psalm and meditate on it’s words.  There is not much to add but to say, “come and listen to what the Lord has done” (A great song to couple with this psalm while you read is Come and Listen by David Crowder).

 Take time today to meditate on the Lords goodness and shout for Joy that this is our God!.

- One who is taking the time to listen

How awesome is the Lord Most High

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,
and to you shall vows be performed.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you shall all flesh come.
3 When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas;
6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,
being girded with might;
7 who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples,
8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

9 You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.

- Psalm 65

This Psalm was written during the occasion of a fruitful harvest season.  The Psalmist writes out of a deep heart of thanksgiving.  Take a minute and read it.  Within the 13 verses, do you catch the adoration of the writer toward the faithfulness of Almighty God?  Can you for a moment, sit back and see His faithful provision over you?  What season are you in right now?
 
In the opening verse, we see Zion mentioned.  This was the name of the city that David captured and eventually turned into the capital.  This name brings power, victory, and authoritative trust.  When the Psalmist writes, “O God in Zion,” it entails the God that is powerful, victorious and the sole source of authority for our lives.  We see in the first four verses a beautiful reminder of: God’s powerful word (v.1), His grace to hear prayer (v.2), His provision of atonement for sins (v.3), and His gift of…Himself (v.4).  I wonder, do you approach Him with thanksgiving over these same four reasons?  Do you enter His courts with thanksgiving for He has given you the gift of His pleasure? 
 
In verse 5, we see a declaration to the awesome deeds of God most High.  It reminds me of the song that we sing often called, “How awesome is the Lord Most High” by Chris Tomlin.  Think about the words of that song for a moment.  Sing it if you must.  Do you declare that song not just with your lips, but out of a heart full of thanksgiving? 
 
His powerful work of creation is in verses 6-8.  He is the Wonderful Maker!  I declare that truth, for His glory outshines my frailty.  Take a moment and contemplate the riches of His creation.   Read Genesis 1:28-30, 2:7, and Psalm 139; and begin with you.
 
Verses 9-13 close with the celebration of His abundance.  He provided a very fruitful harvest to a faithful people that delighted in Him alone.  They see the land they own as a blessing from His provision.  They acknowledge His boundaries and proclaim His possession; His covenantal people. 
 
What a beautiful Psalm of Thanksgiving.  Take time today to thank Him for His Word, His provision, His grace, and His presence.  We don’t aimlessly wander this earth.  We walk, guided by His marvelous light, for His glory, because of our souls saturated in thanksgiving. 
 
Thanksgiving = its not just a time to eat a dead bird.  It’s a daily meditation on the riches of our Lord.  When we think of Him, we naturally respond with thankfulness.  How awesome is the Lord Most High!
 
- From one whose soul is enraptured with thanksgiving

mighty Protector

Psalm 64

Prayer for Deliverance from Secret Enemies.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

    ¹Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
         Preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
    ²Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers,
         From the tumult of those who do iniquity,
    ³Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword
         They aimed bitter speech as their arrow,
    ⁴To shoot from concealment at the blameless;
         Suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear.
    ⁵They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose;
         They talk of laying snares secretly;
         They say, “Who can see them?”
    ⁶They devise injustices, saying,
         ”We are ready with a well-conceived plot”;
         For the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep.

 
    ⁷But God will shoot at them with an arrow;
         Suddenly they will be wounded.
    ⁸So they will make him stumble;
        Their own tongue is against them;
         All who see them will shake the head.

 
    ⁹Then all men will fear,
         And they will declare the work of God,
         And will consider what He has done.
    ¹⁰The righteous man will be glad in the LORD and will take refuge in Him;
         And all the upright in heart will glory.

 

Do you ever feel like you are under attack? Does your walk seem like one ambush after another?  Are snipers continually finding you in their cross-hairs?  Congratulations. I am here to rejoice with you. Why? Christ told us that we would be the targets of attack, if we are living within God’s will (Matt. 5:11-12).  When we do what God has commanded and are seeking His will, the world will be out to get us. David comes to God to lodge his complaint about this here in Psalm 64:1-6.  Fortunately, the complaint is not all that David has left with us.

David goes on to demonstrate his understanding that handling these attacks falls under God’s responsibilities, not ours (vv.7-8). Yes, we can lash out or take steps to stop them, but we should not. For, if we do, we have a tendency to do so imperfectly.  When we do it, people do not see a loving God through us, they see hypocrisy and vengeance. When God handles the situation, those who attack us are shown in their true light, and all who see them will shake their heads.

When we allow God to take over, there are two results (vv.9-10). First, those who attack us realize who they are in relationship to an Almighty God, and they end up in reverence/fear. This leads them to declare to all what God has done on our behalf.  Second, we will glory in what God has done, as he provides refuge for us.  He will protect us and keep us safe.

Praise God that He is sovereign and that we do not have the responsibility to deal with such attacks. Pray that you will hand over the attacks to God. Pray that He will fulfill his promise of sanctuary. Pray for those who attack; that they will fear the Lord, declaring what He has done and be won to our side.

Thirsty?

Psalm 63

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

 ¹O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
   my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
   as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
²So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
   beholding your power and glory.
³Because your steadfast love is better than life,
   my lips will praise you.
⁴So I will bless you as long as I live;
   in your name I will lift up my hands.

 ⁵My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
   and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶when I remember you upon my bed,
   and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷for you have been my help,
   and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

 ⁹But those who seek to destroy my life
   shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
   they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹But the king shall rejoice in God;
   all who swear by him shall exult,
   for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

I have to admit that this Psalm first makes me think of contemporary songs. That happens a lot in this book, but I couldn’t get through this one without singing several songs in my head. “O God, You are my God,” - that’s in a Rich Mullins song. “Your love is better than life,” - that’s in a Newsboys song. “The shadow of your wings,” - that’s in a Third Day song. You get the idea. I’m grateful for songwriters who borrow from scripture because it helps my memorization so much.

There’s a lot more to like in Psalm 63. Love is considered better than life itself. This is a lofty outlook echoed in Philippians 1:21 and Acts 20:24. Verse 4 is one of several that describe a worship posture of uplifted hands. One commentator likens this posture to one ready to receive good and perfect gifts from the Father of lights (James 1:17).

David was inspired to write these words while fleeing in the wilderness, probably either from Saul or Absalom. Verse 11 makes the Absalom scenario make more sense. The opening verse is a powerful plea for the presence of God. David exemplifies a trait that would serve all of us well: his desperation magnifies his need for God. Here’s a somewhat trite example. A nice, cold can of Coke is something many of us enjoy. For some, that enjoyment comes several times a day. However, the same can of Coke becomes so much more if we’re desperate. I remember spending 6 weeks in Europe on a study abroad trip in college. For some reason the countries we visited seemed either morally or legally prevented from manufacturing ice. All the drinks were tepid. I drink a lot during a meal, and the Cokes were crazy expensive and they came in these tiny Metric-system cans. By the time I traveled back home, I was desperate for an icy cold Coke. (Well, for me it was Mountain Dew, but you get the idea.) The same can in the fridge had new meaning and importance. I enjoyed it more. Savored it, even.

Here’s your homework for today: be desperate for God. Even if you’re not wandering in a metaphorical wilderness, long for Him. Enjoy Him like you’re encountering Him in a brand new way. Savor Him. Thirst for Him. Behold His power and glory, because His steadfast love is better than life.

He only is my rock and salvation

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.

- Psalm 62

From Him comes my salvation

1-4
David reminds himself that it is God who saves. We often think about our initial salvation and the provisions that God has made for us in that, but how about daily struggles? Do we continually trust that God will provide our salvation for our daily troubles? In this first temptation David trusts that God alone will deliver him from the attacks of his enemies. The people may try to batter him with words designed to shake him from his assurance but they are in vain. How often are you tempted by the words of others to give in to temptation and to join in with the sinners around you? Do you trust that God will deliver you from the situation?

5-8
David returns to the first two verses with a slight variation here and then directs his words outwards. It seems that David was reminding himself that he needed to trust in God always even when it was difficult. I can not help but think of the man who brought his mute son to Jesus for healing who cried “I believe. Help me with my unbelief!” But then, David encourages the people to do the same. This should always be the way the believer should act. We should place our trust in God first and then encourage others to do so as well. But even in this we must trust in God alone.

9-12
David returns to the temporal temptations of this life with a focus on the material. He reminds us that everything in this life is temporary. Weather we are rich or poor really has no eternal consequences. We can not be placing our trust in that which is here today and gone tomorrow. Instead we should be placing our trust in God for it is He that is sovereign (v11). To him belongs mercy and steadfast love (v12) and justice (v12). For our God has spoken. Do you trust in Him?

Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

“Father, Son, & Holy Spirit” by Bruce Ware is a wonderful resourse for anyone who is longing to learn more about the relationship and roles of the Godhead.  This book has been a wonderful resource for me to use in preparation for our current series in Focus “three in one 101.” I encourage all to get this book for your personal library and read it along with our series.

Girls Night Out

Focus is starting up a womens evening Bible study on Tuesday nights.  Every week the women of Focus will gather together to study the Word of God together and fellowship over coffee and/or some other beverage or pastry.  The study begins on September 1st at 6:30pm and will meet at Cuppy’s Coffee in Kennesaw and will be lead by Holly Smith.  We hope you can join us. 

1600 Kennesaw Due West Rd
Kennesaw, GA 30152-4301

one single focus and desire

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David.
1 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

6 Prolong the life of the king;
may his years endure to all generations!
7 May he be enthroned forever before God;
appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

8 So will I ever sing praises to your name,
as I perform my vows day after day.

- Psalm 61

Once again, this is another personal lament of David for help in a time of trouble. It seems like every time we turn around David is crying out to God to be in His presences and fellowship with him.  I wonder why he is called a man after God’s own heart?…hmmmm puzzling. What I see so often in these psalms (as Mac pointed to as well) is the battle between our flesh and the Spirit.  It so often brings the words of Jesus to the forefront of my mind that he spoke to the disciples in the garden encouraging them to pray, “the Spirit is willing but the flesh is week.” Over and over again we see the weakness of the flesh of David and the need for strength from the Lord. This is powerful stuff!

This psalm has powerful imagery with it (especially in light of the revelation of Jesus Christ that has been given to us), “lead me to the rock (Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; Eph. 2:20; etc.),” “let me dwell in your tent forever (Eph. 1:18, 2:5-6),” “let me take refuge in the shelter of your wings,” “let your king be enthroned forever (Luke 22:69; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 12:2; etc.).”

Allow me if you will to insert a small personal musing I have had lately.  Lately my life has taken a radical change in regards to sleep and time management.  I used to sleep in till about 10 or 11 am every day and as of late I have been pushed more and more to rise earlier and earlier (Most of the time around 5 am).  But even more recently I have stopped fighting this push and began to schedule times of fellowship with others in the Lord every morning.  What a glorious thing this has been in my life! God has shown me through this the heart that David shows here and has begun to instill this heart in me as well. This is now the cry of my heart, “May I dwell in Your tent (in Your presence) forever.  May I meet with You daily and walk with You intimately.  The small sacrifice of extra sleep is not worthy to be compare to the joy of sweet fellowship with You, Lord.” This has transformed my prayers, transformed my battles against sin, and transformed my love.  I challenge you to take on the heart of David, whatever that looks like in your life.  Long for the presence of the Lord.  Learn to sing an old familiar song:

One thing I ask and I would seek
    To see Your beauty
to find You in the place Your glory dwells

Better is One day in Your courts
       Better is one day in Your House
Better is one day in Your courts
     than thousands elsewhere

My heart and flesh cry out
     for You the living God
Your Spirits water to my soul

I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
   Come once again to me
I will draw near to You, I will draw near to You

- one who longs for the presence of the Lord

joy during suffering

To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.
1 O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; oh, restore us.
2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair its breaches, for it totters.
3 You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
5 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

6 God has spoken in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet;
Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
11 Oh, grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
12 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.

- Psalm 60

Again, we find our friend David writing a Psalm in response to war.  In this scene, we see the community of Israelites under attack from the Gentiles that surround them.  In 12 verses, David expresses a sorrowful and fearful lament to the Holy God (v.6), and seeking His valiant victory over the enemies (v.12).  In many ways, they were in a valley.  They were experiencing a season of unknown.  Perhaps in moments of great fear, they were on their faces in the presence of the Holy God of this world; desperately wanting His pleasure and not their coward defense.  Ever been in a position in which you can’t really see light at the end of the tunnel (for a lack of a better pun)? 

This Psalm hits home with me today.  I spent a few hours this morning with a 15 year old boy named Weston who is fighting leukemia.  Weston is a bit weak today because of the 2nd round of chemo that was being poured into his sick body.  After a few minutes of casual conversating, I asked Weston if he knew Christ Jesus as His Savior.  I normally use this type of language with teenagers for their response will tell me their genuine passion.  Weston’s response was overwhelming.  He has joy in Christ during suffering.  He told me, “oh yeah, I accepted my Savior years ago…and even more now than ever, I’m living for Him.”  What passion.  He is in a valley.  I’m sure he has many sleepless nights.  However, Weston has the peace to know that the Holy King of Kings will draw Him to the throne room of grace one day (Hebrews 4:15-16).  Where is your trust?  Where is your hope?

I love the joy of David.  He loved the Lord.  Even here in the midst of a lament, he trusts the Lord with an everlasting joy.  He declares His holiness, authority, and salvation.  There was a great war.  In fact, I’d imagine a strong season of war within several Psalms here.  God is sovereign.  God is Holy.  God is worthy to be trusted, even when our enemies and foes try to convince us of the opposite.  As the great Proverbs states, trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding today…acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).

From one who refuses to allow his enemies and foes to point Him away from the glory of God Almighty

sorry Inconsistency

Psalm 59

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies.

¹Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
         Set me securely on high away from those who rise up against me.
    ²Deliver me from those who do iniquity
         And save me from men of bloodshed.
³For behold, they have set an ambush for my life;
         Fierce men launch an attack against me,
        Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD,
    ⁴For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me
         Arouse Yourself to help me, and see!
  ⁵You,O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
         Awake to punish all the nations;
        Do not be gracious to any who are treacherous in iniquity. Selah.
⁶They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
         And go around the city.
    ⁷Behold, they belch forth with their mouth;
         Swords are in their lips,
         For, they say, “Who hears?”
⁸But You, O LORD, laugh at them;
         You scoff at all the nations.
    ⁹Because of his strength I will watch for You,
         For God is my stronghold.
    ¹⁰My God in His lovingkindness will meet me;
         God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes.
¹¹Do not slay them, or my people will forget;
         Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down,
         O Lord, our shield.
    ¹²On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
         Let them even be caught in their pride,
         And on account of curses and lies which they utter.
    ¹³Destroy them in wrath, destroy them that they may be no more;
         That men may know that God rules in Jacob
         To the ends of the earth. Selah.

¹⁴They return at evening, they howl like a dog,
         And go around the city.
    ¹⁵They wander about for food
         And growl if they are not satisfied.
    ¹⁶But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
         Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
         For You have been my stronghold
         And a refuge in the day of my distress.
    ¹⁷ O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
         For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness

Oh David, yet another prayer of deliverance from his enemies.  Seems like a pattern, doesn’t it.  This man after God’s own heart is one who seems to react and relate to God very much like I do:  inconsistently and impatiently. Even within this Psalm, we can see this cycle played out over and over again.  In Ps 59:1-2 he prays asking god for deliverance, in Ps 59:3-4 he complains of his woes, and again in Ps 59:5 he prays. In Ps 59:6-7 he renews his complaint, yet in Ps 59:8-10 declares his confidence in God, and in Ps 59:11-13 He returns yet again to prayer; finally he prays again in Ps 59:14-15hopefully ending the cycle in the loving kindness of God.

First to notice about this is that our lives are often no different than that of David’s. True, the details may be different. It may be finals that you are complaining and praying over as opposed to the king who is trying to kill you, but we struggle and our faith ebbs and flows just as David’s. We are no more or less exempt from the effect of sin in this world and its impact in our lives than David was.

Second, just as our (including David’s) lives are up and down, so are our relationships to God.  I know that I often find that just as I am coming off a great triumph of faith in Christ, I often find myself humbled at a realization of faithlessness in some other aspect. I also notice that while I pray fervently, I often complain and rely too heavily upon myself for solution instead of upon God.

Finally, I hope that I always end back up where David’s psalm ends; praising my God and relying upon him.  David is was not perfect, and neither are we. However, that does not alleviate our striving for perfection, nor does it minimize the power of God to overcome our imperfections. He is God and we are not. He is deserving of our faith, and our trust, and our works and our love. Ultimately, this is the goal of every believer;  to be able to say,

      “I shall sing of Your strength;
         Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
         For You have been my stronghold
         And a refuge in the day of my distress.
       O my strength, I will sing praises to You;
         For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.”

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