111th Week, Psalm Chapters 6-10 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

Click on Title for Video Intro

Advent Week Two Video Link:https://youtu.be/NO7P4TPMX6Q

Monday, Psalm Chapter 6

Theme:  Deliverance in trouble.   God is able to rescue us.

Author: David

Psalms 6

Bart Strayer

THOUGHT

In Psalm 6, David has felt that he has displeased God, and he is expressing his sorrow for it. As I read it I reminded myself of the redeemable power of Christ to rescue us from our mess ups. Remember,

nothing, even our mess ups, are without purpose. 

I liked the Amplified Version

Psalm 6 (Amplified Bible)

1 0 LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger nor discipline and chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

2 Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

3 My self is also exceedingly disturbed and troubled. But You, O Lord, how long?

4 Return, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love and mercy.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol (the place of the dead) who will give You thanks?

6 I am weary with my groaning; all night I soak my pillow with tears, I drench my couch with my weeping.

7 My eye grows dim because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.

9 The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord receives my prayer.

l0 Let all my enemies be ashamed and sorely troubled; let them turn back and be put to shame suddenly.

PRAYER

Dear God, we thank You for another week in Your Word. Please help us seek You in all that we do. In Jesus Name. AMEN

Tuesday, Psalm Chapter 7

Theme:  A request for justice against those who make slanderous comments.  God is the perfect judge and will punish those who persecute the innocent.  

Author:  David

Psalms 7

Verse 1

Matt Strayer

Verse 1:  0 Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me.

THOUGHT

I love the Psalms that David writes because of his heartfelt pleas to take refuge in God. David went through so much in his life, and at every obstacle we hear him cry out to God. It is such a good reminder of what we need to do. 

I know I continue to take matters into my own hands most of the time and try my best to figure things out. David always returns to God as his refuge, and we should too.

PRAYER

God, once again we see the comfort that You provided David time and time again when he cried out to You. God we ask that if there is anyone in our Salt Shaker family or beyond that needs You this week that they remember they can truly take refuge in You. You are the ultimate comforter, Savior, provider and protector.  AMEN

Wednesday, Psalm Chapter 8

Theme:  The greatness of God assures the worth of mankind.  God, the all-powerful creator, cares for His most valuable creation - people. 

Author:  David

Psalms 8

Verse 2

Matt Strayer

Verse 2:  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise...

THOUGHT

This verse stood out to me probably because of everything God is teaching us through Micah, my son.  My study Bible says that children are able to trust and praise God without doubts or reservations. God has shown this to me through Micah. 

During our recent ice storm, our house started to get cold due to the lack of electricity.  Micah’s hands and feet started to get cold before we left for dad’s house to take refuge in the wood heat.  Micah continued to laugh and giggle even though we were all starting to get cold and uncomfortable. When we all had to sleep in the same bed to stay warm the first night, Micah thought it was great having a sleepover. He proceeded to stick his fingers in my nose, mouth and ears as I was trying to fall asleep. Even at dad’s house he was fine out of his normal environment.  When the electricity came back on, we all loaded into the car and drove back home together.

For some reason Micah laughed the whole way home. It was as if God was saying, “Trust me and have faith like your son did. I was close at hand this whole time just like you asked.”

Many times I pray for childlike faith. Once again my humanness and intellect get in the way of my trust, my faith and ultimately my closeness to my father in heaven.

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for the reminder again today of the childlike faith that You desire us to have.  Give us time to reflect today on what that is really like and help us incorporate it into our daily lives.  We desire to be Your children in the truest since.  AMEN

Thursday, Psalm Chapter 9

Theme:  God never ignores our cries for help.  

Author:  David, probably written after a victory over the Philistines.  

Psalms 9

Verse 10

Matt Strayer

Verse 10:  Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

THOUGHT

Webster tells us that the word forsake means to oppose, to give up on, to renounce, to leave or abandon. I know there have been times in my life when I have felt as if God is nowhere to be found. Have any of you ever felt this way? Do you ask the questions, God why me? Why now?  Why this or why that?

I believe the truth that we must remember when we read verses like this is that they don’t imply that there will never be trouble, strife or failures.  It implies that we can continue to seek God, and He will not turn His back on us.  The key is to remember to continue to seek Him.  He gave us this choice, and it is the one thing that no matter what, can never be taken away from us. The Bible’s words shout out trust, seek and obey.

Other verses that come to mind in regards to this are the following: 

  

Philippians 4:9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (also who “seek” him), who have been called according to his purpose.

Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Let us all remember to seek God through our minds and bodies in every way we can. Ultimately we can trust that He will never forsake us.

PRAYER

Dear God, we thank You so much for verses like this that we can refer to daily and in times of need. These verses give us comfort in so many ways. We know You are there for us always and forever.  AMEN

Friday, Psalm Chapter 10

Theme:  Why do the wicked succeed?  Although, God may seem to be hidden at times, we can be assured that He is aware of every injustice.  

Author:  Anonymous, but probable David.  Many ancient manuscripts combine Psalms 9 and 10, and Psalm 9 was written by David.  

Psalms 10

Verse 14

Mindy Strayer

Verse 14:  But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you;

THOUGHT

There will always be wickedness in the world until Jesus comes again. We have already been and will be wronged by someone during our life on earth.  God sees it all, and the wicked will not go unpunished.  This psalm says that God holds all this wickedness in his hands, so he will take care of it

and make it right.  We have all heard the expression. “It is out of my hands.”  I have always interpreted this to mean, “1 have done what I can and now it has become the responsibility of another, someone who is more capable of taking care of the situation.”  

The psalm also says that the victim commits himself to the Lord.  In other words, we as Christians must say to the Lord, “I trust you, Lord. I know that You will take care of me.  I know that You will make the wrongs right.  My hope lies in You for You are my strong tower and my refuge.”

The next time we find ourselves being treated unfairly by another, let us first commit to the Lord. He may have us be active in righting the wrong.  But lots of times God Himself will cause the wicked to fall without our participation.

PRAYER

Lord, we praise Your Name! Thank You, God, that You see all of our trouble, all of our sadness, all of our pain.  You see, and You take it all into Your very capable hands. Thank You for taking care of us, Lord. AMEN