Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

 ¹ You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you.

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
   they would outnumber the grains of sand—
   when I awake, I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
   Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
   your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
   and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
   I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.

The thought that He knows me is enough...I don't need to explain to anyone or feel sad about how others feel about me...He knows me, everything about me, where I came from, where I am coming from, and where I am going..my motives, my dreams, my struggles and my hurts.  I need not struggle and get upset everytime I hear something bad...He knows me....what comfort to know that.  I count them my enemies..those who rebel against you, and cause your people to be hurt, lead people astray....they are accountable to you, 

Search me, God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting...

Everlasting covenant

He hath made me with an everlasting covenant. 2 Samuel 23:5
My  morning devotion is based on this verse from 2Samuel.
"Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?


This was David's last song before he died.  Looking back at his life, he knew that God had taken care of him.  Some translation puts the first line as 'Although my house be not so with God, he hath made me an everlasting covenant.'  This reminds me that although we face many trials, sorrows and all may not be right, this does not change God's promises to us.  His promises are everlasting.  There is always an 'although' in our lives.  If our lives were perfect, we would be so comfortable on this earth and starts to build a great and comfy nest. We would probably forget why we are on earth in the first place.  


Yet, despite all my troubles and imperfections, He has made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part.  His will for me is perfect.  It is perfectly arranged and secured.  God is a god of order, not chaos.  His promises are sure and He does not change according to the world's fashion or fancy.  No trouble or disappointment can change that.  
David also knew that although there were many things that he had been unable to accomplish but He knew that God would bring a successor and that He would bring to fruition all that He had planned.  

Facing difficult times

Acts 16:16-40

Facing disappointments/tough times

Paul and Silas were arrested while they were preaching the gospel.  They were sentenced without a trial.  Then, they were severely flogged and put in stocks.  Instead of giving up or complaining, they immediately started praying and singing hymns.  All the other prisoners were listening to them.  Later, there was an earthquake and all the doors of the cells opened but none of the prisoners escaped.  The guard was amazed and asked to be saved.

Lessons learnt:

1  Focus on God just as Paul and Silas did.

They had a few options.

They could moan and groan in pain – they had every right to...they were severely beaten.

They could also complain and whine about their situation and hold a pity party.

They could withdraw into themselves

2         Instead, they started praying

They immediately went to God in prayer.  They poured their hearts out to God.  Instead of dwelling on their situations – they were imprisoned without a trial.

Paul did not waver from His faith. Sometimes it is difficult to pray because you are at a loss for words... 

Rom 8:26 says: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

3        Sing praises to Him

The Bible is full of songs.  Singing connects the soul with God..When we are in trouble, singing praises and hymns help keep our minds on the greatness of God and not the situations or the difficulties you are facing.  Learn the secret of worship.

      

Paul and Silas are great examples of being still and know that He is God. (Psalms 46:10)  We are asked to be still and know He is God.  We are asked to be still and know Him...Be still comes from the root verb rapha...to surrender, to let go....suggesting that we should give up trusting in ourselves and our own designs and surrender to His power and saving grace. 

Paul surrendered to God and found peace in the midst of chaos.  He felt free even though his hands and feet were bound. 

4        As a result of our faith, others are also encouraged and come to know Christ.  Sometimes it is not about you but about Christ.

As a result, God used Paul to bring the jailer and his family to Christ.  God could also use us as a channel of his blessings if we continue to stay faithful and trust in Him. 

Summary

There are times in our lives when we are in some kind of ‘prison’.  It may seem that troubles keep turning up at our door.  There are two things we can do, one, we can hurt alone and dwell in self-pity or we can surrender to God and let him set us free.

Be assured that God knows what is happening and He is in control.

Lead me to the Rock

Psalm 61^[a]

    

 ¹ Hear my cry, O God;
   listen to my prayer.

 ² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
   I call as my heart grows faint;
   lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge,
   a strong tower against the foe.

 ⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever
   and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

When times are bad, and you have cried your tears till you are dry, then what do you do?  The Psalmist sang, 'Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Who is this Rock?  It is Jesus.  He is the only firm footing that we can trust.

When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, to the Rock of my salvation.  Help me be still, to let go and know Jesus.

Lead me to the Rock, who is much stronger than I.

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock" (Ps. 27:5).

I will be still...and know you are God

Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father you are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father You are king over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

My glory and the lifter of my head...

Psalm 3

(Written by David when he was running from his son Absalom.)

An Early Morning Prayer

1 I have a lot of enemies, LORD.
Many fight against
2 me and say,

"God won't rescue you!"

3But you are my shield,

and you give me victory

and great honor.

4 I pray to you, and you answer

from your sacred hill.

5 I sleep and wake up refreshed

because you, LORD,

protect me.

6 Ten thousand enemies attack

from every side,

but I am not afraid.

7Come and save me, LORD God!

Break my enemies' jaws

and shatter their teeth,

8 because you protect

and bless your people.




Sometimes we are overwhelmed by all the troubles we face. Just when we think we have finished with one, up comes another. David says sometimes people think that God has abandoned us. Things are so bad sometimes that we hang our head low in shame and discouragement. But David reminded himself that God is His shield and His glory, the lifter of His head. God will protect us and lift us up. Cry unto God and give Him all your troubles for He hears you. He will give you rest and sustain you. Rest and sleep comes from God. So, do not let your hearts be troubled. God will take care of all the enemies because salvation belongs to Him.
What an apt Psalm to read for those who are facing exams next week.
Psalm 121

1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.


God is our Help, the maker of heaven and earth...He will not let you slip or stumble...He does not sleep...He has you in His palms...

I always sing this psalm when I was young and reading it again just brings it to my mind.


My glory and the lifter of my head (2x)
for Thou O Lord art a shield to me
My glory and the lifter of my head

I cried unto the Lord with my voice (3x)
and He heard me out of His holy hills

Like a tree planted by streams of water

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.


It is indeed difficult to be in this world and not be of this world. We get caught up in the rat race, in the pursuit of material gains that we forget we are only here for awhile. It is sad to see children being left alone with nannies while their parents continue their climb of the corporate ladder, hoping to get higher, earn more so that their children could have more than they had...Yet, all the children want is to have their parents home. Instead they are surrounded with expensive toys, things that bring them pleasure for awhile and they hunger for more...In the meantime, they are brought up by their maids. Are we surprised then when our children end up like a total stranger, with values that are far beyond our understanding? We are guilty of letting the computer and television be the babysitter.

I am blessed that my two sons love the Lord and it is by grace and grace alone. When they were young, we were too busy in our own career to bring them up spiritually and that is the part I regret the most. If parents struggle with their own spirituality, how could they lead their children? But I did try my best to bring them to Sunday School, to pray with them, to encourage them to read the Bible. Going to church was not an option. My sons knew that from very young. Come what may (exams or no), we made sure everyone is in church each Sunday. Biblical principles also rule at home. Ultimately, we all want to be like the tree that is planted by the waters, bearing fruit. And it is my prayer, that my sons will grow and take delight in God.