Psalm 83 (paraphrased)

490 Psalm 83

I am so depressed tonight, O God.
I feel as if I am the sole target of an enemy barrage —that all the demons of hell are bent upon damning my soul for eternity.

I remember Your precious promises, but I do not witness their fulfillment.
I talk to people about Your love, and they drown my zeal with scorn.
I step forth to carry out Your will, but I feel no sense of accomplishment.
I mouth words, wave my arms, and beat the air with fruitless endeavor.
Then I fall like a wounded warrior, bone-weary, defeated, and lonely.
And I wonder if You are truly my God, and if I am really Your child.

Consume, O God, these demons that depress, these enemies that plague my soul.
May the whirlwind of Your Spirit sweep them out of my life forever.
May I awaken in the morning with a heart full of joy, and with the strength and the courage to walk straight and secure in the dangerous and difficult paths before me.
                         —Leslie Brandt
                         Hymns for the Family of God

<idle musing>
Wow. This paraphrase really speaks to me. It's so raw and real. No wonder people have been drawn to the psalms for thousands of years. They aren't afraid to be real with God. May I be that honest with him!
</idle musing>

Psalm 144 (paraphrased)

438 Psalm 144

O God, it is difficult to understand how You can regard man with such high regard and show him so much concern.
His years upon this earth are so few. He is little more than a wisp of wind in the time and space of Your great universe.
You created him as the object of Your love—only to see him turn from You to play with his foolish toys.
You tried to teach him to love his fellowman—only to see him express his fear and suspicion and hate through cruel acts of violence and war.
You showered upon him Your abundant gifts—only to see him make them his ultimate concern.
Still You continue to love him and seek incessantly to save him from destroying himself and the world You have placed in his hands.
Even while he rejects You, You reach out to draw him back to Yourself.
Even while he suffers the painful consequences of his rank rebelliousness, You offer to him Your healing and demonstrate Your desire to restore him to love and joy.
And when he finally turns to You, he finds You waiting for him, ready to forgive his sins and to reunite him to Your life and purposes once more.
That man who returns to his God is happy indeed!
He will forever be the object of God’s love and blessings.
                         —Leslie Brandt
                         Hymns for the Family of God

Psalm 92 (hymn version)

330 It Is Good to Sing Thy Praises

1 It is good to sing Your praises
   and to thank You, O Most High,
   showing forth Your lovingkindness
   when the morning lights the sky.
   It is good when night is falling,
   of Your faithfulness to tell,
   while with sweet, melodious praises
   songs of adoration swell.

2 You have filled our hearts with gladness
   at the works Your hands have wrought;
   You have made our lives victorious;
   great Your works and deep Your thought.
   You, O LORD, on high exalted,
   reign forevermore in might;
   all Your enemies shall perish,
   sin be banished from Your sight.

3 But the good shall live before You,
   planted in Your dwelling place,
   fruitful trees and ever verdant,
   nourished by Your boundless grace.
   In His goodness to the righteous,
   God His righteousness displays;
   God, my Rock, my Strength and Refuge,
   just and true are all Your ways.
                         Psalm 92
                         Hymns for the Family of God

A Psalm for today

94:1 Lord, avenging God—
  avenging God, show yourself!
2 Rise up, judge of the earth!
  Pay back the arrogant exactly what they deserve!
3 How long will the wicked—oh, Lord!—
  how long will the wicked win?
4 They spew arrogant words;
  all the evildoers are bragging.
5 They crush your own people, Lord!
  They abuse your very own possession.
6 They kill widows and immigrants;
  they murder orphans,
7 saying all the while,
  “The Lord can’t see it;
    Jacob’s God doesn’t know
    what’s going on!”
8 You ignorant people better learn quickly.
  You fools—when will you get some sense?
9 The one who made the ear,
  can’t he hear?
The one who formed the eye,
  can’t he see?
10 The one who disciplines nations,
  can’t he punish?
The one who teaches humans,
  doesn’t he know?
11 The Lord does indeed know human thoughts,
  knows that they are nothing but a puff of air.
…
16 Who will stand up for me against the wicked?
  Who will help me against evildoers?
17 If the Lord hadn’t helped me,
  I would live instantly in total silence.
18 Whenever I feel my foot slipping,
  your faithful love steadies me, Lord.
19 When my anxieties multiply,
  your comforting calms me down.
20 Can a wicked ruler be your ally;
  one who wreaks havoc by means of the law?
21 The wicked gang up against the lives of the righteous.
  They condemn innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my fortress;
  my God is my rock of refuge.
23 He will repay them for their wickedness,
  completely destroy them because of their evil.
  Yes, the Lord our God will completely destroy them. (CEB)

Psalm 33 and Isaiah 40

Yesterday's devotional at Seedbed was on Ps 33. It's a short little thing, as devotionals usually are, but this one seems especially appropriate for today:

If you feel powerless today, or that the purposes of God are somehow being thwarted in the world, then take heart. God is in control of human history. His plans will unfold according to his eternal and unchanging purposes. The last headline of the newspapers of the world will be: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).

I'm pretty sure that when they wrote this, they weren't intending to target a certain event happening in Washington, DC later today, but it is timely, isn't it?

And if you are one of those who is rejoicing over that event, remember that he, too, will one day bend the knee before the King of creation and give an account. Isaiah says it well:

5 The Lord’s glory will appear,
      and all humanity will see it together;
      the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.

6 A voice was saying:
       “Call out!”
And another[a] said,
      “What should I call out?”
All flesh is grass;
      all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass dries up
      and the flower withers
      when the Lord’s breath blows on it.
      Surely the people are grass. Isaiah 40:5–7 (CEB)

Unto the hills I lift my eyes (hymn)

57 Unto the hills I lift my eyes

1. Unto the hills I lift my eyes;
   O whence shall come my aid?
   My help is from the Lord alone,
   Who Heaven and earth has made.

2. He will not let thy foot be moved,
   Thy Guardian never sleeps
   With watchful and unslumbering care
   His own He safely keeps.

3. Thy faithful Keeper is the Lord,
   Thy Shelter and thy Shade;
   'Neath sun or moon, by day or night,
   Thou shalt not be afraid.

4. From evil He will keep thee safe,
   For thee He will provide;
   Thy going out, thy coming in,
   Forever He will guide.
                         The Psalter 1912
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Psalm 121 is one of my favorite psalms and there are a million variations on songs from it. I first learned it with the KJV put to music. I don't recall ever singing this version and Hymnary.org doesn't list it among their numerous variations.
</idle musing>

Through all the changing scenes of life

56 Through all the changing scenes of life

1 Through all the changing scenes of life,
   In trouble, and in joy,
   The praises of my God shall still
   My heart and tongue employ.

2 Of his deliv'rance I will boast,
   Till all that are distress'd,
   From my example comfort take,
   And sooth their griefs to rest.

3 O magnify the Lord with me,
   With me exalt his Name,
   To him in my distress I cry'd
   He to my rescue came.

4 With grateful hearts observe his ways,
   And on his goodness rest;
   So will your own experience prove
   That pious souls are blest.

5 For while his fear inspires your breast,
   His mercy will be nigh,
   To guard your lives from threat'ning ills,
   And all your wants supply.
                         Tate and Brady 1696
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1964 edition

O Lord, Our Fathers Oft Have Told

54 O Lord, Our Fathers Oft Have Told

1 O Lord, our fathers oft have told,
   In our attentive ears,
   Thy wonders in their days perform'd,
   And in more ancient years.

2 ’Twas not their courage, nor their sword,
   To them salvation gave;
   ’Twas not their number, nor their strength
   That did their country save.

3 But thy right hand, thy pow'rful arm;
   Whose succor they implor'd—
   Thy Providence protected those,
   Who thy great name ador'd.

4 As thee, their God, our fathers own'd,
   So thou art still our King;
   O therefore, as thou didst to them,
   To us deliv'rance bring.

5 To thee, the glory we'll ascribe,
   From whom salvation came;
   In God our shield we will rejoice,
   And ever bless thy name.
                         Tate and Brady 1696
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Note that Tate and Brady refers to the Psalter collection of Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady, which they published in 1696. Quite a few of their adaptations of the Psalms are still in use today.
</idle musing>

How lovely is Thy dwelling place

383 Salzburg. C. M.

1. How lovely is Thy dwelling place,
   O Lord of hosts to me!
   The tabernacles of Thy grace
   How pleasant, Lord, they be!

2. My thirsty soul longs ardently,
   Yes, faints Thy courts to see;
   My very heart and flesh cry out,
   O living God, for Thee.

3. Behold the sparrow findeth out
   A house wherein to rest;
   The swallow also, for herself,
   Provided hath a nest.

4. Ee’n Thine own altars, where she safe
   Her young ones forth may bring,
   O Thou, almighty Lord of hosts,
   Who art my God and King.

5. Blest are they in Thy house that dwell,
   They ever give Thee praise,
   Blest is the man whose strength Thou art,
   In whose heart are Thy ways.
                         Scottish Psalter, 1650 (from Ps 84)
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

As pants the hart for cooling streams

366 Spohr. C. M.

1 As pants the hart for cooling streams,
   When heated in the chase,
   So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
   And thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my God, the living God,
   My thirsty soul doth pine!
   O when shall I behold thy face?
   Thou majesty divine!

3 I sigh to think of happier days
   When Thou, O Lord wast nigh;
   When every heart was tuned to praise
   And none more blest than I.

4 Why restless, why cast down, my soul
   Hope still, and thou shalt sing
   The praise of him who is thy God,
   Thy saviour and thy king.
                         Psalm XLII
                         Tate and Brady, 1606
                         Alt. by Henry F. Lyte
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Hymnary.org has more verses, and somewhat different lyrics, perhaps the original ones before Lyte altered them:

3 I sigh whene'er my musing thoughts
   Those happy days present,
   When I with troops of pious friends
   Thy temple did frequent;

4 When I advanc'd with songs of praise,
   My solemn vows to pay,
   And led the joyful sacred throng
   And kept the festal day.

5 Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
   Trust God, and he'll employ
   His aid for thee; and change these sighs
   To thankful hymns of joy.

6 Why restless, why cast down, my soul
   Hope still, and thou shalt sing
   The praise of him who is thy God,
   Thy health's eternal spring.

</idle musing>

Why are the gods condemned in Psalm 82?

This is the difference between Yahweh and the gods who stand accused in Psalm 82. These gods fail to uphold justice (Ps 82:2–4), not because they are evil and want to encourage injustice—ancient Near Eastern kings testify that their gods demanded justice—but because they are codependent; if they punish their people as they should, they will no longer receive sacrifices to meet their needs (compare the sentiment expressed in Jer 7:9–10). In contrast, Yahweh’s relationship with his people is not defined by codependence but justice.— The Lost World of the Israelite Conquest, 123–24

He's got the whole world…

In the ancient Near East curses, “the punishing deity does not pursue his people in exile. He cannot, since it is the territory of another god,”—Jacob Milgrom, Leviticus 23–27: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary, AB 3B (New York: Doubleday, 2001), 2322.

<idle musing>
But YHWH can and does. What does that say about YHWH? He's not territorial bound—the whole world is his dominion. As the psalmist says,

Where could I go to get away
from your spirit?
     Where could I go to escape
     your presence?
If I went up to heaven,
you would be there.
     If I went down to the grave,
     you would be there too!
If I could fly on the wings of dawn,
     stopping to rest only
     on the far side of the ocean—
          even there your hand would guide me;
          even there your strong hand
     would hold me tight!
If I said, “The darkness will definitely hide me;
     the light will become night around me,”
     even then the darkness
     isn’t too dark for you!
          Nighttime would shine bright as day,
     because darkness is the same
     as light to you!

Depending on how you see God, that can be very comforting—or terrifying!
</idle musing>

Psalm 103, another hymn

80 Stuttgart. 8. 7. 8. 7.

1 O my soul, bless your Redeemer;
   all within me bless God's Name;
   bless the Savior, and forget not
   all God's mercies to proclaim.

2 God forgives all your transgressions,
   all diseases gently heals;
   God redeems you from destruction,
   and with you so kindly deals.

3 Far as east from west is distant,
   God has put away our sin;
   like the pity of a father
   has the Lord's compassion been.

4 As it was without beginning,
   so it lasts without an end;
   to their children's children ever
   shall God's righteousness extend.

5 Unto such as keep God's cov’nant
   and are steadfast in God's way;
   unto those who still remember
   the commandments and obey.

6 Bless your Maker, all you creatures,
   ever under God's control,
   all throughout God's vast dominion;
   bless the LORD of all, my soul!
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

</idle musing>
This psalm seems to invite hymns, this being the second one in this hymnal. Sadly, this hymnal doesn't contain a scripture index, so I can't tell if more are coming. We'll just have to wait and see.

I was a part of a Plymouth Brethren splinter group back in the mid- to late 1970s that used to sing Psalm 103 from the NASB; I can still remember most of it and find myself occasionally singing it. Quite a powerful psalm.
</idle musing>

He heard my cry!

385 C. M.
Grateful acknowledgment.

I LOVE the Lord: he heard my cries,
   And pitied every groan:
   Long as I live, when troubles rise,
   I’ll hasten to his throne.

2 I love the Lord: he bow’d his ear,
   And chased my grief away:
   O let my heart no more despair,
   While I have breathe to pray.

3 The Lord beheld me sore distress’d;
   He bade my pains remove:
   Return, my soul, to God thy rest,
   For thou hast known his love.
                         Isaac Watts
                        Methodist Episcopal hymnal (1870 edition)

Bless the Lord, oh my soul

884 S. M.
The loving-kindness of the Lord.

O BLESS the Lord, my soul;
   His grace to thee proclaim;
   And all that is within me, join
   To bless his holy Name.

2 The Lord forgives thy sins,—
   Prolongs thy feeble breath;
   He healeth thine infirmities,
   And ransoms thee from death.

3 He clothes thee with his love,—
   Upholds thee with his truth;
   And like the eagle he renews
   The vigour of thy youth.

4 Then bless his holy Name
   Whose grace hath made thee whole;
   Whose loving-kindness crowns thy days:
   O bless the Lord, my soul.
                         James Montgomery
                        Methodist Episcopal hymnal (1870 edition)

Psalm for today

Psalm 52
For the music leader. A maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, “David has gone to Ahimelech’s house.”

52 Hey, powerful person!
      Why do you brag about evil?
      God’s faithful love lasts all day long.
2 Your tongue devises destruction:
      it’s like a sharpened razor, causing deception.
3 You love evil more than good;
      you love lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
4 You love all destructive words;
      you love the deceiving tongue.

5 But God will take you down permanently;
      he will snatch you up,
      tear you out of your tent,
      and uproot you from the land of the living! Selah
6 The righteous will see and be in awe;
      they will laugh at those people:
7 “Look at them! They didn’t make God their refuge.
      Instead, they trusted in their own great wealth.
      They sought refuge in it—to their own destruction!”

8 But I am like a green olive tree in God’s house;
      I trust in God’s faithful love forever and always.
9 I will give thanks to you, God, forever,
      because you have acted.
In the presence of your faithful people,
      I will hope in your name because it’s so good. (CEB)

It's coming…

1 Hey, powerful person!
Why do you brag about evil?
God’s faithful love lasts all day long.
2 Your tongue devises destruction:
it’s like a sharpened razor, causing deception.
3 You love evil more than good;
you love lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
4 You love all destructive words;
you love the deceiving tongue.

5 But God will take you down permanently;
he will snatch you up,
tear you out of your tent,
and uproot you from the land of the living! Selah
6 The righteous will see and be in awe;
they will laugh at those people:
7 “Look at them! They didn’t make God their refuge.
Instead, they trusted in their own great wealth.
They sought refuge in it—to their own destruction!” Ps 52 (CEB)

Let the reader understand!

Thought for the day

3 Don’t trust leaders;
    don’t trust any human beings—
    there’s no saving help with them!
4 Their breath leaves them,
    then they go back to the ground.
    On that very same day, their plans die too.

5 The person whose help is the God of Jacob—
    the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God—
    is truly happy!
6 God: the maker of heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
God: who is faithful forever,
7   who gives justice to people who are oppressed,
    who gives bread to people who are starving!
The Lord: who frees prisoners.
8   The Lord: who makes the blind see.
    The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low.
    The Lord: who loves the righteous.
9  The Lord: who protects immigrants,
    who helps orphans and widows,
    but who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn!

10 The Lord will rule forever!
    Zion, your God will rule from one generation to the next!

Praise the Lord! Ps 146:3–10 (CEB)

Psalm for the day

For the music leader. Of the Lord’s servant David.
36 I know the sinful utterance of the wicked:
     No fear of God confronts their own eyes,
2    because in their own eyes they are slick with talk
    about their guilt ever being found out and despised.
3 The words of their mouths are evil and dishonest.
    They have stopped being wise and stopped doing good.
4 They plot evil even while resting in bed!
    They commit themselves to a path that is no good.
    They don’t reject what is evil.

5 But your loyal love, Lord, extends to the skies;
    your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the strongest mountains;
    your justice is like the deepest sea.
        Lord, you save both humans and animals.
7 Your faithful love is priceless, God!
    Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the bounty of your house;
    you let them drink from your river of pure joy.
9 Within you is the spring of life.
    In your light, we see light.

10 Extend your faithful love to those who know you;
    extend your righteousness to those whose heart is right.
11 Don’t let the feet of arrogant people walk all over me;
    don’t let the hands of the wicked drive me off.
12 Look—right there is where the evildoers have fallen,
    pushed down, unable to get up! Ps 36 (CEB)

Psalm for today

Praise the Lord!
     Those who honor the Lord,
     who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!
2 Their descendants will be strong throughout the land.
     The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;
3     wealth and riches will be in their houses.
     Their righteousness stands forever.
4 They shine in the dark for others who do right.
     They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Those who lend generously are good people—
     as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken;
     the righteous will be remembered forever!
7 They won’t be frightened at bad news.
     Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid.
     In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat.
9 They give freely to those in need.
     Their righteousness stands forever.
     Their strength increases gloriously.
10 The wicked see all this and fume;
          they grind their teeth, but disappear to nothing.
     What the wicked want to see happen comes to nothing!
Ps. 112 (CEB; emphasis added)

<idle musing>
Interesting how the psalmist describes those who honor the Lord, isn't it? Practical things that are labeled as "socialist" are the very traits that the psalmist says mark the righteous.

Leads one to wonder how much of what we call "Christian" in our culture owes more to the culture than it does to the Scriptures...just an
</idle musing>