Psalm 8

Psalm 8:3-4

When I (A)look at your heavens, the work of your (B)fingers,
the moon and the stars, (C)which you have set in place,
(D)what is man that you are (E)mindful of him,
and (F)the son of man that you (G)care for him


This Psalm has come at the perfect time in my life.

I am worthy of God's love and he loves me. And cares for me.

Recently I have been really tempted to do stupid things and its like God has literally picked me up out of the situation and put me far from it.

I get the picture of a toddler headed towards the fire place and the parent coming up from behind and picking the child up and putting them somewhere else completely.

There is that verse that talks about God always providing a way out.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and (B)he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

I have always focused on me in that verse and how "yeah, there may be a way out, but I have to choose to take it" and I mostly never did.

BUT now I see this verse in a whole new light. The first thing that jumped out at me was "the". Yes, I'm an English teacher so language really jumps out at me. This is saying that "God will provide THE way out". not God will provide some or a way out, but THE way out and God will provide it.

God loves me so much that He will remove me from the temptation completely. He will do it, I don't even have to do anything.



YEAH GOD!!!!

Psalm 5

Psalm 5

For the choir director; for flutes; a psalm by David.

1Open your ears to my words, O Lord.
Consider my innermost thoughts.
2Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God,
because I pray only to you.
3In the morning, O Lord, hear my voice.
In the morning I lay my needs in front of you,
and I wait.

4You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness.
Evil will never be your guest.
5Those who brag cannot stand in your sight.
You hate all troublemakers.
6You destroy those who tell lies.
The Lord is disgusted with bloodthirsty and deceitful people.

7But I will enter your house because of your great mercy.
Out of reverence for you, I will bow toward your holy temple.
8O Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of those who spy on me.
Make your way in front of me smooth.

9Nothing in their mouths is truthful.
Destruction comes from their hearts.
Their throats are open graves.
They flatter with their tongues.

10Condemn them, O God.
Let their own schemes be their downfall.
Throw them out for their many crimes
because they have rebelled against you.
11But let all who take refuge in you rejoice.
Let them sing with joy forever.
Protect them, and let those who love your name triumph in you.
12You bless righteous people, O Lord.
Like a large shield, you surround them with your favor.

There isn't anything that particularly jumped out at me. Our bible study leader used verse 3 to say that really the best time for quiet times should be in the morning. I of course was never one to say that, but lately I have been realizing that if I don't do my study in the morning it probably isn't going to get done.

Then it talks about the wicked and how they can't be in God's presence but then because of His great mercy we can come into His presence without fear. Love it!

Psalm 4

1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness.
You have freed me from my troubles.
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!

2You important people,
how long are you going to insult my honor?
How long are you going to love what is empty
and seek what is a lie?
Selah

3Know that the Lord singles out godly people for himself.
The Lord hears me when I call to him.
4Tremble and do not sin.
Think about this on your bed and remain quiet.
Selah

5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness
by trusting the Lord.

6Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”
Let the light of your presence shine on us, O Lord.
7You put more joy in my heart
than when their grain and new wine increase.
8I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down
because you alone, O Lord, enable me to live securely.

WOW, this Psalm means so much to me!

First, God has freed me from my past, so praise Him for that. And the beginning is a good reminder that He can also free me from my present troubles.

So, this Psalm is by David and many scholars think that he wrote this after his son Absolom tried to take over his kingdom. Hence verse 2.

I know I am not a king and I am not David. BUT, verse 2 explains exactly how I have been feeling living here in the Czech Republic and also my fears for the people of this country.

Constantly my integrity is being challenged. I am here with a Christian organization and there are rules I agreed to uphold. No one seems to understand that here. Here in CZ everyone does whatever they want and no one obeys any rules. Of course to my knowledge people don't go around killing people or doing the BIG sins...but little ones, every single day.

The biggest one is lying. I can not work any more than what Fishnet gives me, meaning I cannot teach private lessons. All the time people challenge me and tell me I should do it, that I HAVE to do it in order to survive since I make such little money. They say no one has to know...I tell them I don't want to lie and they say that everyone must lie every single day, how can you live without lying.

Of course I want to say "I don't lie" like ever. But then they asked me what if someone were to ask me if I liked their hair and I didn't...what then? I obviously wouldn't tell someone I thought their hair was ugly even if I did because it says "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths except that which is encouraging..." Ephesians 4:29. Even when this happens I don't lie and say I love it if I don't, I would say some general "it's nice, do you like it?" ACH JO!

Anyways, I can't explain this constant physical pressure I feel because of people challenging my integrity or my honor. It's EXHAUSTING and I need it to go away!

Then the second part of verse 2 is "How long are you going to love what is empty and seek after what is a lie?". This is the question I have for the people here. They pursue knowledge and they don't see the need for God so they live their vain, empty, good for nothing lives. IT BREAKS MY HEART! :(

Then verse 3 and 4 is my prayer for them, what I want them to know and realize. God loves us and He singles us out to protect us and listen to us. I want them to hear this and to realize it and think/dwell on it and just be silent instead of offering up all their "clever" arguments. Sigh...if only...

And later it says the people are saying "who can show us anything good?" and I have heard that from many people here. If they would see something they would believe it. So I pray God comes here and shows Himself. Although, the bible already says men are without excuse because of creation etc. Romans 1:20

In the end God does give me more joy than people who have new wine or a full harvest and I am able to sleep in peace because of Him.

Thank you Jesus!

Psalm 3

1 O Lord, look how my enemies have increased!
Many are attacking me.
2Many are saying about me,
“Even with God on his side,
he won’t be victorious.”
Selah
3But you, O Lord, are a shield that surrounds me.
You are my glory.
You hold my head high.

4I call aloud to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Selah
5I lie down and sleep.
I wake up again because the Lord continues to support me.
6I am not afraid of the tens of thousands
who have taken positions against me on all sides.

7Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
You have slapped all my enemies in the face.
You have smashed the teeth of wicked people.
8Victory belongs to the Lord!
May your blessing rest on your people.
Selah

I will post about the Psalm every Friday. We have little tasks to do every day of the week and on Friday we are encouraged to read the Psalm in another version of the bible. I regularly use the ESV or Amplified Bible. This is God's Word translation and I like it a lot and it really shows what I have gotten out of it this week.

Basically David is saying that everyone is against him and they are saying there is no hope for him, even with God. So this is like when I hear lies from Satan about defeat or any lies really I should change my thinking and start quoting truth I know about God like David did.

But you oh Lord are my shield, he protects us. He is our glory and He holds our head high when we are walking around with our head low because we feel defeated or we are believing some lies about us.

My grandma she would often have praise songs playing when we were little and we would dance to them with tambourines etc. My sister's favorite song was "This is the day the Lord has made". And my favorite song was "the glory and the lifter of my head". I liked it back then because it was fast, not because I truly understood what it was saying. But the point is now, when I am reading that truth in scripture I remember dancing to that song often.

I found that song and it's called "Thou oh Lord" but I haven't been able to find the exact fast version I listened to when I was younger. But, this will do. Here is the youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU8J5l1f5IU&feature=related

Here are the lyrics:

Many are they increased that troubled me
Many are they that rise up against me
Many there be which say of my soul
There is no help for him in God

But Thou, oh Lord are a shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head
Thou, oh Lord are a shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head

Repeat

I cried unto the Lord with my voice
And he heard me out of His holy hill
I laid me down and slept and awaked
For the Lord sustained, for he sustained me

Thou, oh Lord are a shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head
Thou, oh Lord are shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head

Repeat Twice
For Thou oh Lord are a shield for me
My glory and the lifter of my head
Of my head
My head


Wednesdays are called Word Study Wednesday and we are encouarged to look up the greek/hebrew words in the Psalm. I love doing this! Most of the time the word is just as it is, but sometimes it isn't. I love studying languages! :D

One word that jumped out at me is Sustain. To me, that means God will just get us through, help us to stay in "survivor mode". BUT, this word doesn't mean that. It means
to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon
a) (Qal)
1) to lean or lay upon, rest upon, lean against
2) to support, uphold, sustain
b) (Niphal) to support or brace oneself
c) (Piel) to sustain, refresh, revive

So he revives us and refreshes us, not just helps us get through things. Um..yes please! :D

Psalm 2

Psalm 2
The Reign of the LORD's Anointed
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. This passage is a warning to those who are against God and in the end it will not go well for you!

I am greatful I am God's daughter and it made me think of the song "You Said" by Hillsong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnai5kc36bs It quotes verse 8.

The last part is a warning that kings and people in general should submit to God and you will be blessed.

Psalm 1

Psalm 1
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Monday- I read over the Psalm and watched the teaching online. The words that jumped out at me were "that yields its fruit in IT'S season" and also "...not stand in THE judgement,"
Tuesday- Truth Tuesday- I really grasped the picture of being like a tree planted by streams and being solid and firmly planted and not tossed to and fro by storms. And the wicket being like the chaff or the dust that the wind just blows away.
Wednesday- Word Wednesday- I looked up the word for judgement since there was a definite article there and it means the end time when Jesus returns like I thought. I also didn't know what it meant by "stand in the way of sinners" like stand in their way as in keep them from doing something? But it means to be in the way of sinners...act like them...be around them. I also wasn't sure what a scoffer was and it's someone who jeers or makes fun and or criticizes others. I am SO guilty!
Thursday- Thankful Thursday- I was thankful for technology and the ability to join this study.
Friday- We read the Psalm in a different version. This is God's word translation.

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the person who does not
follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners,
or join the company of mockers.
2Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord
and reflects on his teachings day and night.
3He is like a tree planted beside streams—
a tree that produces fruit in season
and whose leaves do not wither.
He succeeds in everything he does.[a]

4Wicked people are not like that.
Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.
5That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment
and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.

6The Lord knows the way of righteous people,
but the way of wicked people will end.