176th Week, Psalms Chapters72-76 (Click of the Title for Video Introduction)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Psalm Chapter 72
Theme:  The perfect king.  In this psalm, a king asks God to help his son rule the nation justly and wisely.  It looks forward to the endless reign of the Messiah, who alone can rule with perfect justice and whose citizens will enjoy perfect peace.  
Author:  Solomon
Psalm 72
Delores Little

THOUGHT
The Perfect King.  In this psalm, a king asks God to help his son rule the nation justly and wisely.  It looks forward to the endless reign of the Messiah, who alone can rule with perfect justice and whose citizens will enjoy perfect peace.  

The following are some special verses in this chapter: 

Verse 12-14:  For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in His sight.

He cares for us all.  I especially felt it when I lost my husband.

Verses 18-19: Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory.  Amen and Amen.

Praise God in all things. 

Numbers 6:24-26:  The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

He gives us  peace.

Psalm 129:8b:  The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.

Ps. 150:6:  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

1 John 4:18:  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. 

With faith there is peace, with peace there is praise, with praise there is worship, and being in the presence of our Lord is LOVE.

PRAYER
Father God, the Psalms are ever praising.  What a JOY it is to read the words and remember what we need to do for YOU!!  Thank You for peace, love and words to praise and honor.  AMEN


Tuesday, Psalm Chapter 73
Theme:  The temporary prosperity of the wicked and the lasting rewards of the righteous.  We should live holy lives and trust God for our future rewards.  
Author:  Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs
Psalm 73
Verses 25-28
Tanya Ruden

Verses 25-28:
  You’re all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
  When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
GOD is rock-firm and faithful.
  Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
  But I’m in the very presence of GOD—
Oh, how refreshing it is!
  I’ve made Lord GOD my home.
GOD, I’m telling the world what you do!

THOUGHT
In light of all these Salt Shakers turning thirty lately this verse struck me as funny. It seems after thirty you will notice many things about your body changing.  I swear it was after thirty when my metabolism took a turn south. I can’t really explain it, and not to depress you, but you are not far from sagging skin. (Just kidding)  

The point of this verse is good. No matter how much we change as we age, God never does!! He stands firm and never forgets us and never waivers from who He has been since the first page of the Bible umpteen years ago.  Also, think how refreshing it can be to be in the presence of God.  You can feel young and revived when you feel close to God, so full of life.  I pray we all feel  God’s never-changing energy all the time.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank You that You are never changing.  Things in our lives are always changing: technology, our bodies, our jobs, people, etc.  It is wonderful that each day we can come before You and know You will be there, the same each day. Help us all age gracefully, taking care of ourselves as Your temple, no matter what our age.  May we always get energy from You that keeps us feeling young and never depressed about our growing wisdom with age. AMEN


Wednesday, Psalm Chapter 74
Theme:  A plea for God to help his people defend his cause and remember his promises.  When we feel devastated or forgotten, we can plead to God for help, knowing that he hears.  
Author:  Asaph
Psalm 74
Verse 11
Tanya Ruden 

Verse 11:   Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
    Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

THOUGHT
This Psalm is disturbing if you have ever had vandalism done to somewhere you attend or own or close to you in some way.  Reading this reminded me of some terrible vandalism done to the YMCA in Norfolk where my sister-in-law, Sherry, worked. There was a smashing of things, nothing but purposeless destruction.  There was nothing stolen, but now they have to deal with the inconvenience and a mess to clean up. 

That is how these worshipers felt, and they are wondering why God doesn’t just take those people down?  Why can’t He just make everything right?  Don’t we ask ourselves this every day when we wonder why bad things happen?  God uses these incidents to strengthen our faith.  Just think how much those worshipers grew in faith and in relationship with one another as they worked together to rebuild what was destroyed.  Think how devastating it was to those vandals to see the people still worshiping, not quitting because their ‘church’ was gone. One could hope that maybe one of the vandals came to Christ through observing this behavior

That’s why God couldn’t just destroy them.  They are His children too.  He prays they are saved.  May God give us strength when we face devastating circumstances.  May we be strengthened in our faith, and may it be used to help others.

PRAYER
Dear God, how devastating are so many things that happen in our world around us. So often we don’t have strength to pick up the mess or get through the situation.  Give us the strength to overcome these obstacles and use us to witness through them, allowing them to make a difference in not only our life, but others as well. AMEN


Thursday, Psalm Chapter 75
Theme:  Because God is the final judge, the tables will be turned upon the wicked.  When arrogant people threaten our security, we can be confident that God will ultimately overrule and destroy them.  
Author:  Asaph
Psalm 75
Verse 3
Tanya Ruden

Verse 3:  When the earth and all of its people tremble,
            I keep everything from falling to pieces.

THOUGHT
How many of us have felt this way? When there is so much to do, and it seems impossible to get everything done, don’t we say everything is possible with God? I know I felt this way a lot in college.  My mom will attest to many calls home crying saying, “How can I get this paper done, study for the test, give 8 tours, etc.?”  Mom would say, “Break it down and with God all things are possible.  Pray about it.  Give it up to God and do your best.” 

He is the only one that can keep the world from caving in around you. I really don’t know how people who have no faith deal with their stress. I am glad we are able to share with God our stress.  He keeps our lives in perspective. Give it up to HIM.  You can’t do it all on your own.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, we give our problems and stress to You. We ask You to take it from us, as much as we want to control it and hold on to it.  Please take it from us. Keep our world together and in perspective about what is important and what is not as important. Keep all the pieces together as only You can. We praise You for that. AMEN


Friday, Psalm Chapter 76
Theme:  A call for God to punish evildoers.  Even man's angry revolt will be used by God to bring glory to himself.  
Author:  Asaph
Psalm 76
Verse 9
Tanya Ruden

Verse 9:  God stands tall and makes things right,
            he saves all the wretched on earth.

THOUGHT
I liked this verse today. How often do we think things are unfair? I played fair and lost, or I trained hard; they didn’t, and I lost. So often we feel cheated or wronged, but again we can live with the feeling that God makes all things right in the end. He saves all of us that seem wronged or small on earth.

Isn’t it refreshing that He stands tall (over everyone) and saves us. Doesn’t this make us shine? Doesn’t this make us the winners we really are in the most important race in life?  Shine today.  You are all winners.

PRAYER 
So often we feel defeated. We feel like we never ‘win’. Thank You, that in the end, You make us winners. In the end, You make all things right. You save us so we can have eternal life where we are all crowned winners. Help us feel like winners each day,  never reflecting defeat. We Praise You!!
AMEN










 


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