Psalm 3: Heads Up!

The weekend Psalm for:
November 21-22.2009
Read Psalm 3 from the English Standard Version
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The Big Idea

King David wrote this Psalm from the pit of despair. Sometimes, we read right past the few words that fall between Psalm 3 and verse 1. They can, however, provide valuable context. David was in hiding from Absalom, his own son. Absalom tried to take the Kingdom from his father, and the king was forced into hiding. The whole story is in 2 Samuel 13-16. You'll notice that Absalom killed one of his own brothers--David had real reason to fear for his life. 

This is a dysfunctional family, and seeing that, David cries out to God. Every piece of his life was shattered. His work life: Chaos--his job was threatened by someone younger, more appealing, and ambitious. His home life: Broken--he had proven himself to be a failure as a father, and his children were at war with each other (the whole story is not pretty).

It was so bad that people were saying "Even God cannot help David." Even so, David found hope. God had not abandoned him, and God assured him of His faithfulness.

Meditation

I think the most beautiful phrase of this Psalm is: But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 

It's not always easy to remember this, but this reassurance came to David when he was at the lowest point of his life. There are many word pictures in this Psalm, all of them reassuring to this frail king, beset by trouble. God is shown here as the one who hears, the one who answers, the one who sustains, the one who avenges, the one who saves. 

How reassuring it is to know that God cares for us beyond our circumstances. His goal is to bring us to repentance, transformation,  and redemption. That requires trust and what I call "God-confidence." 

This weekend, ask yourself--where is my hope when all of life falls apart. It is best to consider that question, and its answer, before all of life falls apart. If you happen to be there now, do what David did: Cry out to God. Even if he does not get you out of it, he will certainly get you through it. 

Bonus Information: You see that little word "Selah?" It shows up in many places in the Psalms, and three times in this third Psalm. Scholars will tell you that we don't know exactly what that word means. Here's my take (and if I'm wrong, my theory certainly will not do you any harm). Whenever I see the word Selah, I take that as a sign to stop and think about this idea, and by the way you'll find echoes of this all over the Bible. I see that word Selah as an ancient Post-it note to help us see some of the grand themes of scripture.  

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, remind _________ that no situation is hopeless, and people are only beyond reach when they deliberately turn away from you. Let _____ seek you and cry out to you, from the depths of their heart.
  
  
• May ______ know you as their shield, their glory, and the one who lifts their head out of despair. When ______ cries out, grant them an answer.
  
  
• Almighty God remind ______ that you are the God who grants rest to his people, and that you are ______'s sustainer. May they fear no one because they know you and your protection.
  
  
• Father, may _______ know that grand theme that runs throughout your Word: Salvation belongs to the Lord.

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Philippians 1:27-28 Salvation is from God...
  Lord, may _____ serve you faithfully without fear. May they express your salvation through faithfulness, vigilance, community, and courage. 

• Hebrews 4:9. A much needed rest...
  Lord God, may ______ know Jesus Christ, and by knowing him, enter into that sabbath rest that you have promised for your people.  
  
  

(Some Rights Reserved, CC-BY-NC, 2009). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD

Psalm 122: The Path to Peace

The weekend Psalm for:
November 14-15.2009
Read Psalm 122 from the English Standard Version
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The Big Idea

I once heard a sermon on the opening phrase of this Psalm: "I was glad when they said to me 'Let us go to the house of the Lord'." All these years later, I still remember the challenge--does the idea of worshiping God delight me? 

In this Psalm, Jerusalem represents that place of worship--that personal encounter with the living God. I love the description of it as "a city that is bound firmly together." It was solid, reliable, safe--and not by its own merits, but by the presence of God.  

Meditation

Think back over your life. Where is that place where you always felt loved, and always felt at peace. For me, that was in the little town of Mount Sterling, WI, when visiting my great aunt and great uncle, Thelma and Elmer Lee. There was a real sense of joy, peace, and the grace of God in their home, and in my youth the most beautiful sound in the world was my dad's voice saying "We're going to Mount Sterling."

That's the idea behind this Psalm. For the people of God under the Old Covenant, Jerusalem was their home, their hope, and the place where they knew the presence of God. 

The climb uphill to Jerusalem was a time of prayer, singing, and gratitude. It meant not only life, peace, and security, but it meant justice, reconciliation, and wholness. Quite simply, Jerusalem meant far more to the Jewish people than Mount Sterling means to me.  

This weekend, consider your life, and ask yourself--is it an expectant, eager climb into the very presence of God? Or is it aimless wandering? Take hold of "the peace of Jerusalem." Ultimately, that peace comes through Jesus Christ.

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, let _________ find gladness at coming into your presence. Let them seek you with perseverance and eagerness.
  
  
• May ______ seek to live their life in your presence, and to plant their feet firmly in your peace.
  
  
• Oh, God remind ______ that your judgement means justice. May they know your justice, and by knowing it, seek your mercy without delay or excuse.
  
  
• Father, may _______ learn the truth that Jesus is the "peace of Jerusalem." He is the promised Messiah, the redeemer, and the King of Israel. It is only by his grace the promise is fullfilled: "Peace be within you."

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Philippians 4:6-7. Real Peace...
  Lord, where _____ knows anxiety, may they know your peace. May _____ experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. May they come to Jesus Christ, that he may guard their hearts and their minds.

• Colossians 3:15. The Peace of Christ...
  Lord God, may the peace of Christ reign in _______'s heart. Let _____ know the gratitude and thanksgiving that comes from being reconciled to you through Jesus Christ.
   
  
• I Thessalonians 5:23. Complete sanctification...
  Father God, you have the power to transform lives. I ask that you will bring your sanctifying, transforming, redeeming power into ______'s life. Lord Jesus, by your grace, may their whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless, that they may be found whole, holy, and transformed at your return. 

(Some Rights Reserved, CC-BY-NC, 2009). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD

Psalm 92: In Praise of Good Work

The weekend Psalm for:
November 7-8.2009
Read Psalm 92 from the English Standard Version
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The Big Idea

I've had a lot of projects that I started with all the best intention, only to realize that they did not live up to my hopes or expectations. So often, I step back from what I have done, look at it objectively, and I see every fault. In woodworking, it's the mis-cut miter; in teaching, it is the well intentioned statement that was misconstrued; in writing, it's the idea that's way clearer in my head than it is on paper.

Face it: My best efforts are pretty lame.

No wonder the Psalmist says "For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy." What God does matters. What God redeems endures.

The fool doesn't understand the works of the Lord, and in fact, tries to build and make things that will upstage God. In the final analysis, they are corrupt, doomed, and unrighteous.

This Psalm reminds us to put our trust in the faithfulness of God. That's the only way our best efforts will ever add up to anything.

Meditation

Years ago--more years that I care to think about--we did a paper-mache art project. I was in second or third grade, and I settled on making a reindeer. Our art teacher taught us to make a wire frame to support the sculpture while we were working on it.

It was a beauty. Perfect, well proportioned, painted the ideal "reindeer brown" and shellacked to preserve it for posterity. Throughout the project, I knew who was going to get the finished project--my grandfather (I called him 'Pa'). I gave it to him with great fanfare.

It rocked. No, I mean it rocked--it didn't sit level on all four feet. At some point, my idealistic vision cleared: This was an ugly reindeer. Two sharp points of wire jutted out of the antlers; its eyes were big and bright red; any resemblance to a deer was strictly coincidental. Pa didn't care. It sat on top of one of his bookcases until he passed away, when I was well into my 20s.

I'm quite sure that all of my life's work will wind up looking like that pathetic reindeer. For Pa (and for God), it was not the quality of the workmanship--it was the love that drove it. Only God's works are Good. Everything else is basically junk, unless it is done in a spirit of Love for the Lord. God's grace redeems us, and the praise for works in the Bible always amounts to praise for the wonderful works of God.

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, let _________ give thanks to you and sing praises to your name.
  
  
• May ______ recognize that their work is frail and faltering when they work apart from you.
  
  
• Oh, God let ______ be planted in your courts and flourish there. May _____ bear fruit for you throughout their lives.
  
  
• Father, may _______ declare that you are righteous, and may they know you as their rock--the only solid point of reference to judge the meaning of their work in this life.

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• I Cor 15:57. Where Thanksgiving grows...
  Lord, let _____ give thanks to you, and may they know that you have given them the victory through Jesus Christ by taking hold of your grace in repentance and trust.

• Romans 5:10. We were all enemies of God...
  Lord God, may _______ recognize that without Jesus Christ, we are all enemies of God, no matter how we try, or how much good we do. May _____ be reconciled to you through the death of Jesus Christ.
   
  
• Ephesians 2:19. The righteous find a home...
  Father God, give ______ your grace, so that they will no longer be a stranger and an alien, but let them find their home and their identity in your household. May ____ recognize that all who come to you through Jesus Christ are fellow citizens with the rest of your saints.  

(Some Rights Reserved, CC-BY-NC, 2009). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD