The Lord sets His face against the proud, but He is for the humble, the outcast, the afflicted. I’ve seen it again and again. This is my just born granddaughter, Sadie. She is a gift of God to my daughter Sally and her husband Phil. She was a much prayed for baby. (Many of you know Sally through her Aslan painting which you can see through this link: http://deebrestin.wpengine.com/products/aslan-posters-prints/ Sally was led to paint Aslan because she wanted to try to get an answer to why a good God allowed so much suffering. He did give her a surprising answer.
Often we don’t know why He allows suffering, and we are called to accept the mystery of suffering, but we do know God is good.
We also know, according to the psalms we will be studying this week, that “He hears the desire of the afflicted; He encourages them, and listens to their cry.” That is the next lovely song on the CD that goes with A Woman of Worship. Sally and Phil cried out to the Lord during their three years of infertility. Sally had resolved that if God never gave her the desire of her heart, she would trust Him. But in this case He said, “Yes.” Sally and Phil are filled with gratitude. Sadie was rushed to intensive care because Sally had an infection and a fever — but all is fine now. She came home Saturday night and Phil celebrated his first Father’s Day with great joy. Sally is overwhelmed with emotion — saying things like, “This is the most amazing experience of my life. I can see how motherhood is going to keep me on my knees. Sadie is going to be my little buddy everywhere I go! I appreciate you so much more Mom — how you love me. I have soooo many emotions of joy, love, gratitude, and —oh!”
Many of you have read The God of All Comfort, or even worked through it on this blog — and you know that God often allows suffering, and we must accept that mystery. But it is important to know that when He allows suffering, it isn’t because He doesn’t care or doesn’t hear. We are going to be meditating on some passages this week that demonstrate that. Let your roots sink deeply into this truth, into the living water that will nourish your parched soul and reassure you of His love.
Take a question or two a day. Meditate. Memorize the song or, if you don’t have it, the verse the song is based on, which is Psalm 10:17. Sink your roots deep into His Word.
1. Use Psalm 9:1-2 as a way to begin your time of worship. List a few of His wonders here. Sing praise to His name, either using the song on the worship CD or another. Worship shapes you — remember — you become like what you give worth to.
2. Meditate on Psalm 9:9-10. Find three truths about the Lord to remember in times of trouble.
3. Psalm 10 is a classic psalm of lament. The following passages show the progression. Describe what you find:
A. What is David’s opening lament in verse 1? What is troubling him according to verses 2-9? Have you ever felt this way?
B. Describe David’s turn in Psalm 10:12-14. What does he remember about God?
C. Meditate on Psalm 10:17-18 and list what you learn about the Lord and your contemplations.
3. How have you seen the truths of Psalms 9 and 10 in your life? How will you apply them to your life right now?
4. Read all of Psalm 34. This psalm is filled with beautiful word pictures. Tap into your right brain as you look at them. If you were to paint them, what might you paint to depict each of the following?
A. Psalm 34:5
B. Psalm 34:6
C. Psalm 34:7
D. Psalm 34:8-10
5. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-15 when he is addressing believers facing persecution. When others are unkind to us, persecute us, or speak evil against us, how should we respond? How might you apply this to your life?
6. The promise you are memorizing from the song (Psalm 10:17) is repeated in other words in Psalm 34:15 and Psalm 34:17-18. What new insight do these passages give you?
7. It is important to put Scripture in the context of the whole Scripture. Psalm 34 standing alone could lead us to believe the righteous won’t suffer, or at least, will have any suffering removed fairly quickly. Yet the whole of Scripture teaches that God’s rescue might look quite different than we imagine. The disciples surely didn’t expect Jesus to be crucified. My daughter Sally has suffered so much in the last fifteen years of her life — so her rescue wasn’t fast, and there may be more suffering ahead. But I am seeing a character in her that has emerged through the fire. I’d like each of you to reflect on this in your own life.
A. How has suffering in your life resulted in perhaps a “different kind of rescue?”
B. What have you learned? How will this help you when you face suffering the next time?
30 comments
Oh, what a beautiful baby! And I love her name, Sadie. I can see your face, Dee, in hers in that picture.
Ok, on to the study…It’s interesting to note that Psalm 9 was (according to the intro in my Bible) “set to the music of ‘Death of the Son’ “.
Strange, I thought, and then realized how appropriate, because, without the death of God’s Son, we wouldn’t be ABLE to praise the Lord with all our hearts and tell of all His wonders, like we’re encouraged to do in the first verse!
And thanks for this reminder, Dee — “Worship shapes you — remember — you become like what you give worth to.”
Oh, may we ALL give worth to You, Father, this week with our thoughts and actions. May we be glad and rejoice in You and sing praises to Your name, O Most High!
And I pray the same for sleep-deprived Sally and Phil and baby Sadie. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Congratulations to Sally and her husband and Sally’s new “little buddy”. 🙂
Gloris
Thanks so much Gloris – your congratulations and thoughts.
I saw that it was to the music “death of the Son” too — wondered if it was after the death of Absalom — but liked your thoughts!
Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful granddaughter!
4. Read all of Psalm 34. This psalm is filled with beautiful word pictures. Tap into your right brain as you look at them. If you were to paint them, what might you paint to depict each of the following?
A. Psalm 34:5
A great mass of people, faces upturned to a brilliantly shining sky, filled with colors streaming down to symbolize God’s radiance. The people’s faces are a mixture of peace and joy because no shame will ever cover them.
B. Psalm 34:6
A figure swirling upward in the same ribbons of light from the previous word picture, ascending to God as our prayers rise to Him.
C. Psalm 34:7
Angels in all places you do not expect to find them… in darkened alleyways and corners, illuminating the darkness that surrounds us in times of trial.
D. Psalm 34:8-10
Again I would use ribbons of translucent color wrapped all around figures representing people, showing peaceful scenes within the colors to symbolize the good things that we will never lack.
5. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-15 when he is addressing believers facing persecution. When others are unkind to us, persecute us, or speak evil against us, how should we respond? How might you apply this to your life?
We should respond with a distinct refusal to stoop to their level and return maliciousness with evil words or lies. Even when it is sometimes tempting to retaliate, we must seek peace and pursue it.
I can apply this to my life by making peace == the peace of Christ == first and foremost in my mind when dealing with persecution. How can I make peace with this person, with myself before God? I need to do a lot of praying (and would appreciate others’ prayer) to develop this mindset of peace when I am hurt.
6. The promise you are memorizing from the song (Psalm 10:17) is repeated in other words in Psalm 34:15 and Psalm 34:17-18. What new insight do these passages give you?
The insight I find is the knowledge that God is not distant or far away when trouble arises. He is right here and cares about me more than I can imagine. It’s too easy to think “God can’t help me” or “God wouldn’t want to help me” but the truth is the complete opposite.
7. It is important to put Scripture in the context of the whole Scripture. Psalm 34 standing alone could lead us to believe the righteous won’t suffer, or at least, will have any suffering removed fairly quickly. Yet the whole of Scripture teaches that God’s rescue might look quite different than we imagine. The disciples surely didn’t expect Jesus to be crucified. My daughter Sally has suffered so much in the last fifteen years of her life — so her rescue wasn’t fast, and there may be more suffering ahead. But I am seeing a character in her that has emerged through the fire. I’d like each of you to reflect on this in your own life.
A. How has suffering in your life resulted in perhaps a “different kind of rescue?”
It’s hard to see it when I’m still in the middle of it, but I do sense the closeness of God in a new, comforting way. He is teaching me to turn it all over to Him. I struggle with shoving away my feelings and still feeling overwhelmed by them. I really need prayer for this.
B. What have you learned? How will this help you when you face suffering the next time?
I have learned that God is with me, close to me, loving me, healing me. He is all I could imagine and more!
So good you are using scripture for prayer for your character.
I do pray for you, and for me, and for each of us to respond as Christ did when treated unfairly, committing our case to the One who judges justly. May His grace and love and wisdom flow through Tracy and me and each of us.
In Jesus Name
Beautiful word pix, Tracy.
1. God Himself with all of His attributes is the greatest of His wonders. The fact that He is three persons in one and that One gave His very life for me, another gave His son and another dwells so close that He is within me. Creation is the wonder that I can use all of my senses to enjoy, it is here and now and it is illuminated with light. Love is a marvelous thing and when we love we are like Him. The fact that He loves me is incomprehensible but so comforting. Newborn babies are so amazing and even more amazing, is how they make us feel as Sally did such a beautiful job of expressing.
2. Meditate on Psalm 9:9-10. Find three truths about the Lord to remember in times of trouble.
He is a refuge in times of trouble and for the oppressed.
He is just (those who know Him trust Him).
He has never abandoned those who seek Him.
3a. David feels abandoned by the Lord, like He is hiding from him. He is troubled because the innocent are oppressed by the wicked and they are not punished. Yes I have frequently felt this way. When I am going through difficulties, He feels far away perhaps because I am so distracted.
3b. David calls on God to rise up and remember the afflicted. He remembers just what 9:9-10 tell us about Him, He is a refuge for the afflicted, He is just and He never abandons those who seek Him.
3c. Meditate on Psalm 10:17-18 and list what you learn about the Lord and your contemplations.
The Lord hears the desire of the humble and will strengthen their hearts. He will listen carefully and deliver justice to the fatherless and the oppressed. The wicked men of the earth will terrify them no more.
I notice that verse 17 says that He will strengthen their hearts. This seems like it could be the different kind of rescue we learned of previously. We want physical strength so we can win the battle. We want to be delivered from oppression (circumstances). But he wants to strengthen our hearts so we can walk through and be stronger after.
God listens to us carefully. At first I had the picture in my mind of Him leaning an ear down to me so that He does not miss anything that I might say. But He does not have trouble hearing me. I think it means that He listens and cares greatly about what I am going through.
3. How have you seen the truths of Psalms 9 and 10 in your life? I have been oppressed by one in a position of power over me but God delivered me out of his hand and placed me in a much better place. When I was in the middle of it I thought I was in a very bad spot and if not for God’s deliverance I might have been harmed.
How will you apply them to your life right now? For the last few months it seems like there is just one battle after another. Before one thing is resolved another dragon raises its head. Something has been brewing at church for the last month or so and it abruptly came to head today. When I found this post on my email I had to show it to my husband because it spoke directly to our dilemma and into our conversation. ”The Lord sets His face against the proud, but He is for the humble, the outcast and the afflicted. I’ve seen it again and again.” Of course He is! What wonderful words.
Life is sure a lot more like Pilgrim’s Progress isn’t it.
Appreciate you so much, Ann.
It sure is. I have a animated version that is so old and so simple. I had it for both of my boys and I absolutely love it. There is just something about the way Christain speaks the old English that goes straight to my heart.
Thank you for your encouragement. I appreciate this blog so much. I have wondered lately how I would handle all of this if I had not come back to it when I did. Satan is working overtime in my life and that of my friends who really try to follow the Lord. We think that he knows his time is short.
Oh Dee what a beautiful baby Sadie is! She looks so pink and healthy! What a joy! 🙂
I am going to take a few pieces a day in my effort to go slowly and ‘chew’ on the Word!
1. Use Psalm 9:1-2 as a way to begin your time of worship. List a few of His wonders here. Sing praise to His name, either using the song on the worship CD or another. Worship shapes you — remember — you become like what you give worth to.
1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
(With my whole heart, Lord with all that is within me. I will not let myself be distracted when worshiping You – You O Lord deserve ALL of my attention!)
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
(You do have marvelous works Lord! Remind me to tell of them all day long!) Tell myself, tell my husband, my children, my friends, the check out person at Wal-Mart, the woman in the coffee shop)
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
(Help me to be reminded of how good you are Lord – fill my heart with rejoicing and gladness)
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
(I Lord put a song of worship in my heart on on my lips today)
2. Meditate on Psalm 9:9-10. Find three truths about the Lord to remember in times of trouble.
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
(I know that troubles will come and life will have it’s up and downs – O Lord thank you for reminding me that You are an ever present help in times of trouble!)
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
(Because I know You Lord at my Savior and Lord I can place my trust in You!)
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
(I thak you Father that you never forsake, you are ever present, all knowing and always seeing – I’m never out of Your sight! Praise the Lord! Help me to seek you daily!)
Have a blessed day, ladies!
Good chewing — so good to have you with us.
4a&b. Psalm 34:5-6 I can think of hundreds of faces that I have seen in magazines and pictures that missionaries show of people who once lived in darkness but are now radiant with the joy of know the Lord. I would paint an old man with a face lined with the burdens of many years of a hard life yet his eyes are alive with joy and unashamed because he is truly clean.
C. Psalm 34:7 For this one I think of a picture I once had. It may be a painting. It is of 2 children crossing a broken bridge in a storm with an angel just above them watching so carefully. Or maybe a family of settlers traveling west huddled together in camp at night singing songs and enjoying each other with a hedge of angels around them singing along.
D. Psalm 34:8-10 I can’t think of one for this right now.
3. Psalm 10 is a classic psalm of lament. The following passages show the progression. Describe what you find:
A. What is David’s opening lament in verse 1?
Why do You stand afar off, O LORD?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?
(Wow havent we all felt like David — terrible things happen, heartbreaking things and it is true I have said these very words…..”Where were you Lord?”)
What is troubling him according to verses 2-9? Have you ever felt this way?
2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire;
He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.
5 His ways are always prospering;
Your judgments are far above, out of his sight;
As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.
6 He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
I shall never be in adversity.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the secret places he murders the innocent;
His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.
9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den;
He lies in wait to catch the poor;
He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.
(The devil prowles around, lurkes, murders, lies, steals, sneers – these scriptures remind me of that… every time I read the newspaper, watch the news I am reminded again.)
B. Describe David’s turn in Psalm 10:12-14. What does he remember about God?
12 Arise, O LORD!
O God, lift up Your hand!
Do not forget the humble.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart,
But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, “You will not require an account.” 14 To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.
(God will always ARISE ! He is always the God who sees… nothing… nothing gets past Him… as I committ to Him… He helps me … He is my Abba Father!)
C. Meditate on Psalm 10:17-18 and list what you learn about the Lord and your contemplations.
LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
God hears our desires
He prepares our hearts
He causes our ears to hear His voice
He brings justice.. to the fatherless and opressed. Earthy men will oppress no more! PTL!
Can’t wait until I see that on the morning news! Open my ears Lord, open my eyes Lord to see Your justice through out each day!
Dee, I just wanted to say how nice it has been this summer to do this study with a few friends. I’m teaching them the songs in sign language, and the second song from last week is SO fun to sign, with the Caribbean beat.
AND I’m so thrilled to be learning to worship, to forget about me and focus on Him, to honor the Lord in song.
Now, in answer to the above question, “What would you paint to depict each of the following?” I would paint a sunflower for Psalm 34:5, a big, yellow sunflower that would fill the whole canvas, because Sunflowers usually always follow the Son through the sky and their faces are always radiant, and never looked ashamed.
In fact, I wrote a Gloriadelia post about sunflowers using that verse. Here it is. Hope it blesses someone.
It’s called “Sunflower Faith” and I wrote it last summer after a visit out west where my family past a field of sunflowers, all their heads bowed, as if in reverence, toward the east, waiting for the sun to rise: http://gloriadelia.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/sunflower-faith-ii/
It’s a joy to have creative Gloriadelia stirring our imagination with sunflowers and signing Psalm songs. You must do a video of your group signing one of these songs on your blog and give us a link!
Gloris, I loved your blog post about the sunflowers and also found this jewel while I was there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9je6Fl-Ng8 Thanks. Very beautiful.
OH, I know, Anne, isn’t that song WONDERFUL?! I love it, too. Glad you liked the sunflower post.
Dee, I WILL videotape us and post it. Great idea!
Dear Dee,
I read last week of the birth of your granddaughter, Sadie, but have been unable to be online for awhile due to other matters needing my time. I want to take this time to say that I share in your excitement and gratitude to the Lord for this beautiful baby! Her picture is precious, she is truly a gift from the Lord, and I am happy for you and Sally and her husband! I thought it so lovely that you prayed through Psalm 1 for this little one; yes, may the Lord’s hand be upon her every second, every moment, as His hand was already on her in the womb before she was born! May she grow up like a tender shoot, nourished and protected by the Lord, growing in grace and wisdom and in the knowledge of God. I know God hears every prayer for this precious child!
I have been doing the workbook for this lesson, reading through Psalms 9 and 10 and Psalm 34, and answering the questions in the book.
I’ve needed these Psalms, right now, in my circumstances.
The one year anniversary of my nephew’s death is approaching; July 29th. It’s getting harder.
My heart has been so burdened for my dad and mom. They are still grieving so much. Maybe I’m trying to carry too much of the burden myself, because I’ve felt almost emotionally worn-out. At times when I pray, I feel like I’m just “talking to the ceiling”, I can’t sense that God hears me, I can’t sense His presence.
My dad is experiencing alot of turmoil and he met with me and a pastor from my church and his wife yesterday at my home. There were alot of tears and I was thankful my dad was honest and able to share his feelings of grief. He is grieving for Thomas, his grandson, more like a father who has lost his son, because he said Thomas was like a son to him, a son that he never had.
My pastor also shared with him the gospel, and how we get to heaven through Jesus Christ. My dad said he did believe in Jesus and that Jesus died on the Cross. After the pastor left, I asked my dad is there was ever a time in his life, that he could remember, that he talked to God and asked Him to be his Savior. He said no, he didn’t think so. But I could tell, after 2 hours of talking to the pastor, that he was “saturated”, and worn out, and I didn’t want to push him into praying a prayer that he wasn’t ready for. I read him some verses from the Bible, and encouraged him to begin reading in the book of John.
So I am praying, praying, for God to move here. I read in these Psalms that the Lord hears those who are afflicted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Surely this is my dad, surely this is my mom!
I believe he is being humbled in that he is willing to seek help from a pastor and my dad says he prays for God to help him. I want to trust and believe that God will answer the prayers of mine and all those who have been praying for my dad and mom, but it’s so hard! It’s hard to wait! I want to see the answers now, and when it doesn’t happen, I get upset and distressed in my spirit and I worry and I know that’s not the right response. If anyone of you can identify with this, I would sure love some encouragement and also prayer!
Susan,
First of all I want to let you, my dear sister in Christ, know that I have written myself a note to pray for you and your family specifically on July 29. I wish I could talk with you face to face so I could hug and weep with you.
The other morning I read Mark 7:24-30 and four words jumped out at me:”….and she kept asking”. I know you are in a very hard place right now, but keep asking. He hears you. He sees you. He has you drawn right up to His breast and He is stroking your hair. As for your dad, the seeds have been sown, so keep trusting God to water them. I remind God often in my prayers for unsaved loved ones the words of Peter (2 Peter 3:9): “God doesn’t want anyone to perish”.
I encourage you to get a copy of the devotional book Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. It is available online. Read the entry for February 21. It’s about waiting on God and I believe this particular entry fits your situation.
Blessings to you!
One question from the book was to find something that stands out to you upon first reading Psalm 34, and for me it was in verse 3 where David says, “Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together”.
It made me think of heaven where I just may do that; be standing right next to David and praising the Lord with him!
Another take-away was the commentary by Thomas Watson on Psalm 10:17,
God heareth not words, but desires”. That even when I can’t seem to express in words what is going on in my heart and emotions, God is able to sort it all out and He knows the desire of my heart. He isnt like a person who would say, “I just can’t understand what you mean.”
And Spurgeon’s comment, “If sin could blockade the mercy seat, it would be all over for us (for me!).” I can seek God, even when I have sinned.
Lord, I do lift up Susan’s dad and asked that You would quicken him and bring Him to Yourself.
Susan — praying for you.
Thanks for your congratulations. I had to update the picture of Sadie in this post, for she’s now a week old. Great thankfulness.
Thanks for posting that picture. How beautiful she is! and how precious a gift. I agree with Susan about how waiting feels like no, or not listening. Beautiful little Sadie speaks just the opposite to my heart.
5. In Psalm 34:12-15 it says we should not return evil for evil. If we seek revenge for wrongs done to us we are no different than the rest of the world. I think I see 2 blessings in this. First, this is righteous and v.15 says that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and He listens to their cries, but against v.16 those who do evil which would be those who take their own revenge. The other thing is that if we respond in love to those who persecute us, the lost notice and we may be asked to give account for the hope that is in us 1 Peter 3:15.
I have had plenty of opportunity to apply this at work but it seems to have gone wrong somehow. When I don’t return evil for evil I am seen as weak which makes it worse. The evil person has free reign to continue in her behavior to the point where helpless patients were suffering. Finally I went to the manager to ‘tell’ what was happening. I felt so guilty doing that but realized that I waited way too long to do it. I think it is the boundary issue with me. I should have stood up a long time ago but thought I was being Christ like when really I was just a chicken. Need to finish the Boundaries book. It is quite painful to me.
Perhaps the difference is that loving someone does not mean you let them do what ever they want to you. When this person does not do her job as a means of trying to hurt me, I need to say to her that the patient is the one who suffered which is not right. That might be the more loving thing to do. I must learn to confront…lovingly.
That’s so good, Anne. A book that helped me confront lovingly and effectively was Boundaries: Face to Face.
Hello everyone!
I have enjoyed reading your posts throughout the week. I’ve been turning all this over in my mind and find it refreshing that I am able to look at this study from a different personal perspective. (when I went through this study in 2008 I was in intense pain. Now the pain has faded and I’m experiencing joy again) Although my devastation is fading in the distance, the residue still remains. Getting to this point is exciting for me because I have experienced what David wrote about.
1. List a few of God’s wonders.
As I write this post, thunder is rumbling outside. We’ve had a thunderstorm this afternoon. There has also been streaks of lightning. Creation has always fascinated me but if I had to pick just a few I would include spiders and their webs, cloud formations, and sunrises and sunsets.
From a spiritual point of view, his wonders include, of course, salvation. I have also been pondering the gift of the consciousness of God’s presence. Lastly, the power of forgiveness. Practicing forgiveness has been a big factor in my arriving at this point on the journey.
2. Meditate on Ps 9:9-10. Find three truths about the Lord to remember in times of trouble.
God is my ultimate source of security, one that no enemy can overcome or defeat. When I am in a time of trouble or distress, God is the fortress to where I can run. God will not forsake me in time of need. God alone is the one I can trust.
3.A. What is David’s opening lament in v. 1
David is lamenting the fact that God seems to have gone into hiding and is not aware of what is happening in David’s life.
What is troubling him according to vv. 2-9? Have you ever felt this way?
David looks around at society and sees evil people flourishing. They seem to be living without problems. David sees deception taking place and wonders why God is allowing those who practice evil to get away with it.
I have often wondered why some people seem to catch all the breaks of life and why some people who commit evil acts never suffer the consequences for their actions.
B. Describe David’s turn in Psalm 10:12-14. What does he remember about God?
David returns to his call for God to act. He confesses his trust in God. He remembers God is the protector of those are who are fatherless. David knows God has not turned a blind eye to what wicked people are doing. He knows God will act in His timing.
C. Meditate on Pslam 10:17-18 and list what you learn about the Lord and your contemplations.
The Lord is King. Sovereign over all he has created. The Lord hears the longing of the heart of the one who is not too proud to ask for help. He puts their emotions in the right frame of reference. What the Lord decrees will happen.
Psalm 37:4 tells us to delight in the Lord and He shall grant your requests (desires of the heart). I have come to accept the truth that only the Lord knows what is best for me. Only He can fulfill the deepest longings of my heart.
3. How have you seen the truths of Pslams 9 and 10 in your life? How will you apply them to your life right now?
There came a time in my life when I realized God was indeed my ultimate security. I could not depend on law enforcement to protect me because they told me if my now ex-husband wanted to take my life they could not stop him. My lawyer, who should have seen that I receive justice, advised me not to have my ex arrested for bigamy. His exact words: “I know a crime has been committed against you. I wouldn’t have him arrested because he won’t be prosecuted.” So much for depending on man. Oh, but let me tell you how my Heavenly Father has been taking care of me. First of all, every major decision I made concerning my case was backed up by God’s word. Before I retained my attorney, I had already decided not to press charges. (Proverbs 29:9) The one who was once my oppressor volunteered to pay the rent where I live and do the yardwork.
After the annullment of my marriage, it really bothered me that my ex was walking around as a free man even though he had broken the law. That doesn’t bother me anymore and here’s why. I came to the realization that he is not walking around as a free man for he is bound by the invisible bonds of sin. If he never accepts God’s mercy, he will one day be rendered God’s justice. I’m still praying he will repent. I don’t really want him to face God’s justice.
I apply the truths of Psalms 9 and 10 by continually depending on God to be my ultimate security. I know I can’t trust my ex. He’s the ‘if I can’t have you no one else can’ type. Like David in Psalm 10, I know God is near and sees my situation. He has not forgotten me. In his timing my situation will change.
4. Read all of Psalm 34. If you were to paint them, what might you paint to depict each of the following?
A. Psalm 34:5
If I were an artist, I would paint a bride looking into the face of her bridegroom.
B. Psalm 34:6
I would paint a before and after picture of a homeless man who has been given a new beginning with life. The before picture that came to mind as I read this verse would be the homeless man living in an alley. The after picture would be the once homeless man walking into a church with his family surrounding him.
C. Psalm 34:7
For this verse I would paint a woman fleeing an abusive husband. She would be surrounded by angels who are protecting her from evil principalities.
D. Psalm 34: 8-10
This would be my favorite painting. As I pondered this verse, I saw an old woman sitting in her favorite rocking chair on the front porch of her home. She is surrounded by generations of her family. They are listening to her as she reads to them from the Bible. A pitcher of lemonade is on a table waiting to be poured.
5. When others are unkind to us, persecute us, or speak evil against us how should we respond? We are to respond with goodness and mercy.
How might you apply this to your life?
For almost 2 years now I have been living the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” I live also by the words of Paul in Romans 12:17,21: “Repay no one evil with evil…overcome evil with good”.
I choose to treat my ex with kindness and mercy. I will be honest and tell you when I realized God REALLY expected me to live that way all the time, I didn’t take to it at first. By that I mean I didn’t like it. But over time I learned to do right even if I don’t want to. Naturally, I don’t want to be kind to the one who wounds me. It’s the power of God’s Spirit living in me that enables me to live this way. Earlier I stated I want to be free of the physical presence of my ex and that is true, but, I know if he was not in my life I would not be able to practice this way of living. It’s the sandpaper people who shape me the most. The velvet people are the ones who are the soft
cushions I need when I am scraped with the ‘sandpapers’.
6. Psalm 34:15;17-18 What new insights do these passages give you?
These passages confirm God has a covenant with His people. God cares for those who belong to Him and when one of the righteous is in trouble, God knows about it and acts. Only those who are truly repentant will experience God on a more intimate level.
7.A. How has suffering in your life resulted in perhaps a “different kind of rescue”?
I’ve been thinking about my answer all week and keep coming back to the one I know is right. My suffering rescued me from myself. I thought after my marriage died, my ex would go his way, I would go my way and have my life as I wanted it. No. No. No. God has shown me that I needed rescuing from myself for I am my own worst enemy. I made a mess of my life because I did not live within God’s boundary lines. I made the choice to ignore my gut feeling not to enter into a marital relationship with my ex. God took me to the wilderness so He could gain my undivided attention. This particular kind of suffering was the result of my sin and my ex’s sin.
I know now that God means what He says. When He says ‘don’t go that way’ I should obey without question.
B. What have you learned?
First of all, I have learned God is faithful and trustworthy. He guided me to the places He knew I needed to be. (i.e. Dee’s blog, Midday online studies, and other Bible studies I have participated in at church) In-depth Bible study has been instrumental to my ongoing healing. Also, learning to sing in the midst of intense pain has proven to be one of the most therapeutic things I have ever done. I have learned when one follows God’s way, there are no shortcuts to healing. You have to ‘swim through the pain’ to get to the other side. I’ve also learned not to pay attention to the opinions of those who aren’t willing to follow God’s whole truth. I’m finding many who claim to know Christ are actually living by their own human reasoning.
How will this help you when you face suffering the next time?
The next time I face suffering I will know what to do right from the start. Run to God and sing. I will tell my soul to be still because God has everything under control.
Tammy — your descriptions were beautiful, and your plan so healthy!
6. The promise you are memorizing from the song (Psalm 10:17) is repeated in other words in Psalm 34:15 and Psalm 34:17-18.
10:17 LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,
34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their cry for help.
34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near the brokenhearted;
He saves those crushed in spirit.
These passages help me understand the Sermon on the Mount as I never have before. Blessed are we when we are poor in spirit, when we mourn and are persecuted. I am reminded of the song Just Give Me Jesus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu2E2FUcIiE You can have all this world has to offer but you still have nothing if you do not have His ear and if He is not near.
Brother Yun made what I thought was a remarkable statement in Heavenly Man. I may not remember it quite right and I can’t check because I don’t have the book anymore. He said he felt guilty while he was in prison because he was languishing in the presence of the Lord while his family was suffering. The truth is he was tortured mercilessly and many times near death. After he got out he was kind of sad because he did not have that closeness he had in prison. That is just amazing. Michael Card says that our calling in this country may be more difficult than that of those living under persecution because we are called to be disciples in a land of plenty,
7a. I am reading Whiter than Snow and the reading for today was about all the ‘if onlys’ that I think would result in me being a better disciple. As I read through the list I can relate to many of them. If only I were smarter. If only I were comfortable in social situations. If only I had more time and money to devote to the Lord. ALL of that would only make me self sufficient and that is the last thing I need. I need Jesus to be my sufficiency, to hear my cries, to strengthen my heart and not necessarily my body.
How can God prosper the church when men fall so easily to the lust for power and the people want leaders they can worship? We want success, especially in our churches but I wonder if it is what we need and if it is really what makes His name famous. What we need is love, in our churches and in our hearts. I want to love but my heart is hard. God has shown me that it has to be broken. I want to rise above this sinful nature and God has shown me that it has to be crucified. These are fearful things but how can I ask for less? Can I trust Him to bring me through? I think yes and I think it is the rescue that I really need.
Thanks for listening. I know that was a bit heavy. Now I need to ‘lighten up’! I am looking back through the posts to find out who was riding bikes with her husband and made up a new song for the noise of her bike. I loved that! But as I look back I see that I am talking too much! Whew!
I just want to encourage everyone to go to youtube and watch the video
With You All Things Are Possible by Mark Willard. The person who sent it to me encouraged me to watch it often to help build my faith. I pray everyone has a blessed Sunday!! Love to all.
I posted it on Facebook! Thanks, Gloris
Blessings this Sabbath!
Tomorrow a new post — so please finish up your good thoughts if you have any.