Sunday Scripture

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today we were to zero in on verse 4, but I chose to SOAP verses 3-4.

S= "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters.  The God of glory thundereth; the LORD is upon many waters.

"The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty."  (Psalm 29:3-4)

O= This is another psalm of David.  In my Scofield study Bible it is titled "God's mighty power."

Here David exhorts: "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name" and to "worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness".  He goes on in the next seven verses to describe the power of the voice of the LORD.  It is upon many waters (v.3); full of majesty (v.4); it breaks the cedars (v.5); divides flames of fire (v.7); shakes the wilderness (v.8); causes deer to calve and strips forests bare (v.9).

"Psalm 29 illustrates praise, which is God-centered, focusing on God's glory as revealed in His mighty attributes and works." -- Daily Walk Bible 

Cross-reference for "the God of glory" (v.3) -- "And [Stephen] said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father, Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran."  (Acts 7:2)

In Gems From the Psalms, F.B. Meyer notes that Psalm 29 is "A perfect specimen of Hebrew poetry, giving a magnificent description of a thunderstorm, marching from north to south of Palestine ... We hear first the low, distant muttering of the thunder. The "many waters" may refer to the Mediterranean from which the storm arose . Coming nearer the tempest breaks on Lebanon and Sirion, the Sidonian name for Hermon. The cedars sway to and fro before the wild fury of the storm. Each thunder peal is accompanied by zig-zag forked lightning. The storm passes southwards to the desert Kadesh and to the rock-hewn cities of Petra."

So interesting!  So dividing flames of fire refers to forked lightning!  And we have all seen or heard of storms that lay entire swaths of forest bare,  What an amazing picture of a powerful storm these verses present!

Even though this little study does not go as far as the ending verses of the psalm, these are very much worth a mention.  Verses 9a-11 say:"...and in His temple doth every one speak of his glory.  The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.  The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."  God's strength is seen in the storm and also in the blessed peace that follows the storm.

F.B. Meyer continues, "In the Temple the gathered worshippers respond to the challenge of nature, and say, 'Glory! Every whit of it uttereth glory'.  He adds, "Oh that every whit of the inner temple of our hearts, and of the spiritual temple of the Church--each nail, and thread, and splint--might utter that same cry, 'Glory to God in the Highest'!" 

A= I love the idea that "every whit of the inner temple of our hearts" might utter the cry "Glory to God in the highest!".  Oh that we would grasp the truth that we are to do ALL to the glory of God!

"Where the word of a king is, there is power, but what imperial voice shall be likened unto the majestic thunder of the Lord?" -- C.H. Spurgeon

"Make it a pattern in your praying that before you get caught up in your own concerns, you get caught up in God's greatness.  Then you, like the psalmist, will be both praising and thanking the Lord." -- Daily Walk Bible

P= "Lord, I cannot even begin to praise You for Your majesty and power -- only a part of Your glory as revealed in Your attributes and works!  How awe-inspiring it is when we hear Your voice in the midst of a powerful storm.  I praise You that we can look to You in our own personal storms and know that You are sovereign over them.  We can actually hear Your reassuring voice: "Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid." Help me to hear Your voice above the noisy world we live in as well as the noise of my own emotions.   I thank and praise You in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: In this Psalm, David speaks of hearing the powerful voice of God, through nature, over and over.  It caused David to worship God.

We live in a noisy world.  Technology runs 24/7.  How do you hear God's voice and see His power on display in nature -- and how does that speak to your heart?

My response: One of the ways I love the most is to sit on rocks near the ocean and listen to the surf crashing against the cliffs.  It never fails to remind me of God's power, sovereignty, and majesty.  In addition, the regularity of the tides always speaks to me of God's order, constancy, and faithfulness.

Thunderstorms like the one described in this psalm, not to mention typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis and other extreme weather events also show His amazing power and His ability to destroy as well as to create.

And that's a very general look at Psalm 29.  Please dig into this psalm more deeply on your own if you get a chance.  I know you will be blessed as you consider the voice of the Lord.

Sunday Scripture

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 28, zeroing in on verse 7, but I opted to SOAP verses 6-7.   

S= "Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him.  (Psalm 28:6-7)

O= Back in verse 1, David said he would cry to the LORD, his Rock.  In verse 2 he asks God to hear the voice of his supplications.  

In verse 6, he praises the Lord for hearing the voice of his supplication -- for answered prayer!  In verse 7 he states:

* The LORD is my strength.

* The LORD is my shield.

* My heart trusts in Him.

* I am helped.

THEREFORE

* My heart rejoices greatly.

* I will praise him with a song.

Cross-reference for "my shield" -- "But Thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."  (Psalm 3:3)

Cross-references for "trusted in Him" -- "In the LORD put I my trust; how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?"  (Psalm 11:1)

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he that trusted in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about."  (Psalm 32:10)

Cross-reference for "song" -- "I will praise the name of God with a song; and magnify Him with thanksgiving."  (Psalm 69:30)

David said, "My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped."  

"As far as feeling goes, David is already 'helped'.  He feels himself delivered out of his peril.  Therefore, he says, my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song -- literally, out of my song -- which is explained to mean 'out of my store of song' -- will I praise Him.  He is ready to offer thanksgiving for a mercy not yet received."  -- The Pulpit Commentaries

A=  The Lord is my Rock.  I can cry to Him in times of trouble as David did, and know that He will hear me.  He is my strength and my shield.  As my heart trusts in Him, He helps me.  [The Pulpit Commentaries notes that David says "I am helped" -- that he sensed God's help even while he might have still been in danger.]. 

I can rejoice in this (and in so much more that He does for me), and can praise Him with a song! 

P= "Lord, what a blessing it is to understand that even when we don't see You working in our situations, You are in fact still working behind the scenes to protect and care for us and to work out Your perfect will in our lives.  How delightful is David's thought that he could praise You 'out of his store of song'.  I too have a store of 'psalms and hymns and spiritual songs' out of which to praise You.  May I always be quick to do so!  I pray in the praiseworthy name of Jesus!  Amen."

Reflection question: David learned to trust God in difficult situations, even when the Lord wasn't answering his prayers.

Think of a time when you felt like God was being silent.  How did God eventually help you?  How can that encourage you today as you wait on God to answer your prayers?

My response: I can recall a few situations like this, and some of them were truly horrible.  In the end, the Lord provided wisdom and other people to help, even turning situations in such a way that something others intended to hurt us actually worked to help us.  it worked to our advantage instead of harming us.  This is something that only God can do.  

This definitely encourages me today.  God is always working in situations even though we can't see what He is up to.  The answer will come in His timing.  

And that's our very, very simple study of Psalm 28:6-7.  Please dig more deeply into this on your own if these simple thoughts are a blessing.  There is always so much more to learn!

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 26, zeroing in on verse 13, but I opted to SOAP verses 13-14.   

S= "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 
"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He will strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the LORD."  (Psalm 27:13-14)

O= In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 27 "Triumphant Faith".  

Cross-reference for "the goodness of the LORD" -- "And He said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee,  and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."  (Exodus 33:19)

Cross-references for "the land of the living" -- "I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living."  (Psalm 116:9)

"I cried unto Thee, O LORD.  I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living."

Twice in verse 14 we're instructed to "wait on the LORD".  The phrase brackets the instructions to be of good courage and know that the Lord will strengthen our hearts.

Cross-references for "wait on the LORD" -- "Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.  When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it."  (Psalm 37:35)

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him."  (Psalm 62:5)

"Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD; and He shall save thee."  (Proverbs 20:22)

Sometimes it can be so hard to wait on the Lord to see how He will answer prayer and work in our lives.  We are tempted to pray, "Answer me speedily, O LORD, my spirit fails!"  (Psalm 143:7). But waiting on the Lord strengthens our faith and helps us to become stronger and more mature as Christians.

"When we become frustrated with God's apparent delay in answering our prayer ... remember that He is interested in developing faith and perseverance in our character." -- Dennis Fisher, Our Daily Bread

Cross-references for "Be of good courage" -- "Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."  (Psalm 31:24)

"Be strong and of good courage; fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  (Deuteronomy 31:6)

"Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  (Joshua 1:9)

A= David said that he would have lost heart in the midst of his difficulties if he had not believed he would live to see God's goodness.  He advises those in similar circumstances to 1) wait on the Lord; 2) Be of good courage -- and God would strengthen their hearts. 

It seems that David is saying he would have lost heart if he had not believed he would see God's goodness and strengthening hand in this lifetime.  

"The psalmist's expectation was not necessarily deliverance from bad circumstances but the hope of seeing 'the goodness of the LORD.'  That's something we can see even in times of trouble.  No matter what your situation, you can find evidence of God's goodness -- so keep looking for it with hope."  -- Herbert Vander Lugt, Our Daily Bread

P= "Lord, how I praise You that even in times of trouble we can always look for Your goodness -- and we will always find it.  You are always good, all the time, and You always have a good purpose in all that You allow to touch our lives.  What an encouragement that it in the midst of this earthly life!  I thank and praise You for Your goodness, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: David was in a dangerous situation because of evildoers who wanted to take his life.  But David believed.  He believed that he would see the goodness of the Lord, in the midst of his struggles and so he had courage to wait on the Lord.

How does your belief that God is good comfort you in the midst of your fears and trials? 

My response: It is incredibly comforting.  Knowing that God is always good, and that He always has a good purpose for trials in the lives of His children, makes all the difference in how I handle trials.

This has been a very shallow dive into Psalm 27.  As always, I encourage you to dig into this deeply meaningful psalm on your own!

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 26, zeroing in on verse 3, but I opted to SOAP verses 1-3.   

S= "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity.  I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 

"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; test my heart and my mind.

"For Thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in Thy truth."  (Psalm 26:1-3)

O= C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 26 "David's integrity".  

Cross-reference for "judge me" (v.1) -- which reads "vindicate me" in the ESV -- "The LORD shall judge the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me." (Psalm 7:8)

Cross-reference for "walked" (v.1) -- "But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be merciful unto me." (Psalm 26:11)

Cross-reference for "trusted" (v.1) -- "In the LORD put I my trust; how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  (Psalm 11:1)

Cross-references for "examine" (v.2) -- "Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just; for the righteous God testeth the minds and hearts." (Psalm 7:9)

"Thou hast proved mine heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tested me, and shalt find nothing.  I purpose that my mouth shall not transgress."  (Psalm 17:3)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts."  (Psalm 139:23)

Cross-reference for "test" (v. 2) -- "For Thou, O LORD, hast tested us; Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried."  (Psalm 66:10)

Cross-reference for "loving-kindness" (v.3) -- "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." (Psalm 25:10)

Cross-references for "truth" (v.3) -- "Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name." (Psalm 86:11)

Hezekiah prayed, "I beseech Thee, O LORD, remember now, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.  And Hezekiah wept very much."   (2 Kings 20:3)

I was curious to find out why the KJV, which I am using for this study, translates the last word of verse 3 "truth" and the ESV and some others translates it "faithfulness."  

One clue might be in Isaiah 25:1, which reminds us, "Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."

I found another clue in Believer's Bible Commentary, which tells us, "David had indeed conducted himself with moral integrity ... he had always kept the Lord's lovingkindness before him and had walked in faithfulness to God's Word."

And yet another in the Amplified Bible's rendering of this verse, which reads:
"For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked [faithfully] in Your truth."

A= David confidently asked God to judge him, prove him, examine him, and test his heart and his mind.  He knew that as he walked in God's faithfulness and truth, his steps would not slide.  He kept God's loving-kindness in the forefront of his thinking.

David said that he had walked in God's truth, avoided sinful entanglements, and spent time worshiping with others.  In the same way, believers should seek to live by biblical principles, guard against ungodly influences, and worship regularly at a Bible-believing church. 

"The integrity David wrote about should be a goal for us as believers in Jesus.  As we grow more and more like the One we worship, our lives will be marked by truth and right thinking.  Each day we should ask God to help us live a life of integrity."  -- Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread

P= "Lord, I thank You that it is Your faithfulness that enables me to walk faithfully in Your truth.  Help me to do this every day -- to seek to live by the principles of Your Word, to guard against ungodly influences from any direction, to worship with fellow believers and in my own personal quiet times.  I praise You for Your faithfulness, in the name of the One who is faithful and true, Amen."

Reflection Question: The word "walk" is repeated multiple times in this Psalm.  David resisted evil by walking with the LORD.  

What does it mean to walk in faithfulness and how are you displaying this in your life?

My response:  I think walking in faithfulness could be defined as living a life of integrity as described in the Application section.  All of this will help us to walk in faithfulness, but I think we need to recognize that ultimately it is God's faithfulness to us that enables us to walk in faithfulness to Him.  

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."  (1 Thessalonians 5:29)

That is an exceedingly brief look at Psalm 26:1-3.  As always, please dig deeper on your own if you have time.  It is mind-boggling to consider all that can be gleaned from the study of Psalms.

A few goals for August

 So July got completely by me and no "official" goals were set.  However, that doesn't mean that nothing was accomplished.  Lots and lots got done.  Sadly, things were so busy and happening so fast that I didn't get to record or blog about any of it.  One thing I did do, speaking of blogging, was to post every single day of July in my Christmas blog, for Christmas in July.  I also had many, many orders in my Etsy shop during July.  And now,  here are some goals for August.

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week

* Post in this blog as often as possible 

* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible

* Continue planning and making Christmas gifts and decor

* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones

* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday Scripture blog posts

* Read through the August passages of the Daily Walk Bible

* Get together with friends and extended family while our NV family is visiting

* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating

* Get early light each morning

* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home

* Drink enough water each day

* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

*  Do a lot of cleaning and decluttering at our home in preparation for our NV family's visit

* Continuing preparing for and teaching a ladies Sunday School class

* Plan for and enjoy an August visit from our Nevada family

* Work at our volunteer jobs as needed, including a few days of cooking

* Prepare and freeze food ahead of time for the above ministry opportunity 

* Clean the church 3 weeks out of the five

* Seek to encourage friends by email and phone chats

* Figure out finishes for some completed cross-stitch and embroidery projects

HEALTHY HABITS FOR AUGUST:  Drink more water/get more sleep/exercise daily/intermittent fasting/limit carbs/get morning light

WORD FOR 2026: Intentional

And there you have it -- a few goals for August 2026!

Sunday Scripture

 Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 25:5, but I chose to SOAP verses 4, 5, and 8.

S= "Show me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths.

"Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me; for Thou art the God of my salvation; On Thee do I wait all the day,

"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore will He teach sinners in the way."  (Psalm 25:4-5, 8)

O= In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 25 "A plea for defense, guidance, pardon".  

Cross-references for "show me Thy ways" (v. 4) -- "Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face."  (Psalm 5:8)

"Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." (Psalm 27:11)

"Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy name." (Psalm 86:11)

"Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts; so shall I talk of Thy wondrous works." Psalm 119:27)

"Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee."  (Psalm 143:8b)

Cross-reference for "truth" (v.5) -- "For Thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in Thy truth."  (Psalm 26:3)

Cross-reference for "good" (v.8) -- "For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."  (Psalm 100:5)

Cross-reference for "teach" (v. 8) -- "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go; I will guide thee with mine eye." (Psalm 32:8)

A= Like David, I should desire to be taught by the Lord even in difficult times.  I should pray as David did: 

Show me Your ways;
Teach me Your paths;
Lead me in Your truth;
FOR
You are the God of my salvation.
You are good and upright and therefore
You will teach sinners in Your ways.

It is God's ways, God's paths, God's truth that I must be led in.  And God will do this because He is the God of my salvation.  He is good and upright and therefore He can be trusted to teach His ways to sinners like me.

Dennis Fisher, writing in Our Daily Bread, notes: "Wanting to be a teachable follower of God, David looked to his Redeemer for direction.  His heart's desire was to wait on God with dependent faith throughout the entire day."

Obviously, that should be my desire as well.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that in Your grace and kindness You teach me Your ways.  Like David, I can and do pray to be led and taught in Your ways, Your path, and Your truth.  The result of going my own way will be completely useless and worthless in the end, so I pray that You will give me wisdom to make every moment of my remaining years of maximum usefulness to You.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David lifted his heart to God during difficult times.  He desired to be taught by the Lord during his season of waiting.

A mature believer desires to be taught by the Lord.  How are you being taught by the Lord and what have you learned by waiting on God to guide you?

My response: I definitely desire to be taught by the Lord and I feel that He is teaching me something new every day.  I've learned that God has a good purpose and lessons to teach me in all that He allows in my life -- and that His bottom-line purpose is always for me to continually grow in Christlikeness.

That's my very simple study of Psalm 25;4-5 and 8.  I hope it was a blessing!

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 24, zeroing in on verse 1, but I opted to SOAP both verses 1-2.   

S= "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they who dwell therein.  

"For He hast founded it upon the seas; and established it upon the floods." (Psalm 24:1-2)

O= C.I. Scofield says that "Psalms 22, 23, and 24 form a trilogy.  In Psalm 22 the good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep; in Psalm 23 the great Shepherd, 'brought again from the dead ... through the blood of the everlasting covenant' (Hebrews ) tenderly cares for His sheep; in Psalm 24 the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to reward His sheep."

Cross-references for "the earth" -- "For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."  (1 Corinthians 10:26)

"If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is Mine, and all the fullness thereof."  (Psalm 50:12)

"The heavens are Thine; the earth also is Thine; as for the world and the fullness thereof, Thou hast founded them."  (Psalm 89:11)

"The fullness thereof" may be read "all that fills it."

Cross-references for "founded" (v.2) -- "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever."  (Psalm 104:5)

"When He gave to the sea its decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth."  (Proverbs 8:29)

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Declare, if thou hast understanding."  (Job 38:6)

Cross-references for "seas" (v.2) -- "To Him who stretched out the earth above the waters; for His mercy endureth forever."  (Psalm 136:6)

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so."  (Genesis 1:9)

"Floods" in verse 2 literally means "rivers".

A= The earth, and all that fills it, belongs to God.  The world, and those that dwell there, belongs to God,

FOR

He has founded the earth upon the seas; He has established the earth upon the rivers.

These statements sound simple, but they are profound.  God made the world and all that is in it.  Therefore it all belongs to Him.  There is so much to process in these simple statements of fact!

Warren Wiersbe notes that there are three ways Psalm 24:1 can make a difference in our lives: 1) It will remind us that we are stewards and not owners of all that we have, which brings humility.  2) It reminds us that the world does not belong to the devil, but to God who is on the throne of heaven.  3) It causes us to praise God for His sovereignty and not to complain.

P= "Lord, help me never to forget that I am a steward of all that You have given me, including my very life.  Help me to use my time, my resources, and my energy wisely, realizing that I will answer to You for the use of them.  

"I pray that You will give me the opportunity to share the rich truths of Psalm 24:1-2 with others who need encouragement and may need to be reminded of Your sovereignty.  I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen."

Reflection Question: Earlier in Psalms, David emphasized the glory of God seen in the heavens.  In this Psalm, he focuses on the Earth and how everything on it belongs to God.

When you consider the earth and all that God has created here, what do you learn about your God? 

My response: Oh, so much!  I learn about His wisdom and endless creativity, His mighty power, His sovereignty, and much much more -- even His sense of humor when one considers animals like the giraffe and birds like the pink flamingo.  I am thankful for how He will bring these qualities to bear on situations in my life and in our world.

There you have a very simple study of the beginning of Psalm 24.  As always, there is much more to this psalm than what I have shared.  The last few verses which speak of the King of Glory triumphantly re-entering heaven are priceless yet are not even touched on in this simple little study.  Please dig deeply for yourself .. and enjoy!

Sunday Scripture

 Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 23:2, but I chose to SOAP both verses 2 and 3 because I wanted to include the ideas of our good Shepherd restoring our souls and leading us in paths of righteousness.

S= "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.

"He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."   (Psalm 23:2-3)

O= Cross-references for "pastures" -- "I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a rich pasture shall they feed upon the high mountains of Israel.  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God."  (Ezekiel 34:14-15)

"I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."   (John 10:9)

"Still waters" in the Hebrew is "waters of rest".  It literally means "waters of quietness."

Cross-reference for "still waters" -- "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  (Revelation 7:17)

Cross-reference for "restoreth my soul" (v.3) --  "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."  (Psalm 19:7)

Cross-references for "leadeth me" (v.3) -- "Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make my way straight before Thy face."  (Psalm 5:8)

"For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Thy name's sake lead me, and guide me." (Psalm 31:3)

"I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice." (Proverbs 8:20)

A= Psalm 23 is such a beautiful picture of how God cares for His children!  I've read that sheep do not always know when they need to lie down, and that the shepherd then has to make them rest.  The same is true of us, I think.  We need those times of rest and being refreshed from God's Word and spending time in His presence.  

Here are several wonderful quotes from David Roper's book The Song of a Passionate Heart:

"God makes the first move; He takes the initiative -- calling us, leading us to a place of rest."

"God Himself is our true pasture and our pool of quiet water.  He is our true nourishment, our living water.  If we do not take Him in we will starve."

"Solitude is ... a healing place where God can repair the damage done by the noise and pressure of the world."

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You for this meaningful picture of Your guidance and tender care.  I am so thankful for the times of rest and refreshment that You provide, and for those times of solitude where You 'repair the damage done by the noise and pressure of the world'.  I praise You for how You lead and guide in my life, and ask that You would reveal to me any area of life where I'm not yielding to Your guidance as I should.  I thank You in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question: This beautiful psalm depicts how God cares for us.  Sheep do not always know what is best and so we need our Shepherd. When we are following Him, we are safe and secure, even through the dark valleys of life.

Are you allowing your shepherd to lead you?  In what areas of life do you need to step back and let God lead?

My response: I believe that I am allowing God to lead me.  I've read that one of the most important thing the shepherd does for the sheep is to keep them moving, that if left to themselves they will simply make deep ruts where they are.  And we, like sheep, prefer to turn aside from God's path to our own ways.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."  (Proverbs 14:12, NKJV)

It's truly my desire for God to lead in my life.  I pray that He will show me clearly if there's an area of life in which I'm not allowing Him to do so.

Again this week I find myself studying a psalm that is so meaningful there is no way I could ever plumb the depths of it.  I've studied Psalm 23 in detail several times but there is still so much to learn and apply concerning it.  This is just a tiny taste of what's there -- like a mini tasting spoon at an ice cream shop!  I encourage you to delve into this psalm on your own or find a Bible study that will take you deeper into Psalm 23.  

Sunday Scripture

 

Again today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 22, zeroing in on verse 26.   But I couldn't do this psalm justice in looking at only that verse, so I dug just a little bit deeper.

S= "The meek shall eat, and be satisfied;  and be satisfied; they shall praise the LORD that seek Him; your heart shall live forever."  (Psalm 22:26)

O=The biblical heading for Psalm 22 says it was set to a tune titled "The deer of the dawn."  What a beautiful title!  Although I have no idea what the tune sounded like, the name is lovely.   C.I. Scofield, in the Scofield study Bible, titles this Psalm "The suffering Savior."  The ESV Bible that I own titles Psalm 22 "Why Have You Forsaken Me?"  The reflection question states that David "referenced the crucifixion of Jesus" in this psalm.  He did a lot more than "reference" the crucifixion.  Psalm 22 presents a graphic picture of crucifixion as a method of execution in general.  

This picture includes the bones out of joint (v. 14); profuse sweating (v.14); effects on the heart (v.14); exhausted strength and extreme thirst (v.15); hands and feet pierced (v.16) and more.  

And then there are the details that make this psalm so specifically about the crucifixion of Jesus: His desolate cry (v.1); the periods of light and darkness (v. 2); the contemptuous, humiliating treatment (v.8); the casting of lots for His garments (v. 18), among others.

Verses 1-21 speak of the crucifixion; verse 22 shifts to the resurrection.

And verses 26-31, as Scofield notes, "relate the results of the suffering and deliverance described in this psalm and prove its Messianic reference beyond all question.  It could not possibly be said of the suffering and ... deliverance of any mere human being that it would result in:

• both the meek and the prosperous being fed (v. 26, 29);
• all the ends of the earth turning to the LORD (v. 27);
• all the dead eventually bowing before Him (v. 29);
• a new people being born (v. 31).

Cross-reference for "meek" -- "The humble shall see this, and be glad; and your heart shall live that seek God."  (Psalm 69:32)

Cross-references for "eat" -- "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined."  (Isaiah 25:6)

"Therefore, thus saith the Lord God [to those that forsake Him]: Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed."  (Isaiah 65:13)

Cross-reference for "live forever" -- "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if any man eat this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."  (John 6:51)

A= As I think about seeking the Lord, it seems to me that "before I sought Him, He sought for me", as the hymn writer has said.  I did not really know how to seek Him (nor did I have much intent to do so) until He first began to draw me to Himself.  This is an incomparable gift -- that He not only made a way for sinful humans to be right with Him, but took the initiative in drawing us to where we could seek and find salvation.  Certainly all praise goes to Him and Him alone for my salvation!  Because of this amazing gift, I have the promise of eternal life.

P= "Lord,  how incredibly thankful I am that You drew me to the place where I would seek Your salvation.  After I had resisted You for years, You showed me You were the only answer to my soul's hunger and my heart's need.  Now, having found salvation, I have so much to praise You for.  I could spend eternity praising You for who You are and all that You have done -- and I will, in fact, be doing just that.  I praise You in the matchless name of Your Son who died for me! Amen."

Reflection Question:  In this psalm, David references the crucifixion of Jesus.  Then a promise is given -- all of those over all of the earth, who seek the Lord, will not only find Him but will praise Him!

God does not hide Himself from His people.  You have sought the Lord and found Him!  There is no greater gift!  How does remembering that God has revealed Himself to you lead you to praise Him for your salvation?  Who can you pray for today that does not know Christ?  Write your prayer below.

My response: Remembering how God revealed Himself to me certainly does lead me to praise Him for my salvation.  I have many friends who don't know Christ ... as well as some who think that they know Him but don't show a lot of evidence of a transformed life.  

My prayer:  "Lord, I pray for my friends today.  I pray that You will be working in the hearts and lives of those who don't truly know You.  Draw them to the place where they fully realize their need for You and begin to actively seek You.  Help them to understand that You are the only complete answer to the needs in their hearts.  Bring these friends into a genuine and growing relationship with You, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 22:26.   I hope it's been a blessing!

Happy 250th birthday, America!

 

This is somewhat of a repost from a previous year, but it still expresses my thoughts so I am sharing it.  I hope that each of you Americans reading this will have a glorious Fourth of July celebrating the 250th birthday of our beloved country! Whether you celebrate with family, friends, or church family, whether you are here on US soil or elsewhere, whether you're enjoying a picnic, a parade, or fireworks, I hope that each of you will take a moment sometime throughout the day to thank God for the land He has blessed us to be able to live in. Our country has many serious problems and flaws, but it is still a wonderful place to live and has many blessings which we often take for granted. Whenever I think of "America the Beautiful" these words come to my mind:

"America! America!

God mend thine every flaw.

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!"

Truly, God is the only One who can mend our flaws -- but we have to want that to happen and we need to beseech God that it will happen. 

Regarding the phrase "confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law" I'm reminded that as citizens we are often somewhat confused concerning the balance between liberty and self-control. Our land offers us many freedoms, yet we take them for granted and many times do not see the need to exercise self-control or self-restraint in any area of life. We want what we want, when we want it, and then when we meet the inevitable consequences of our lack of self-control, we expect our government to take care of us.

Let's take time today to beseech God to help us "mend our flaws" as a nation, to ask for wisdom in exercising our freedoms, and to thank Him for the privilege of living in this land.

Mr. T is involved with an Independence Day parade this morning, and this afternoon we will enjoy a simple cookout at our cottage with family and good friends.  The weather sounds as if it will be a bit cooler too, which is a happy thought given the extreme heat we've been having. 

Have a wonderful Independence Day, everyone!

Sunday Scripture

  

Today for Sunday Scripture we're continuing my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal I'm using here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I've been attempting to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm  21.   The featured verse is verse 13, but I chose to SOAP verses 1, 7, and 13.  Here we go!

S= "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
"For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
"Be Thou exalted, O LORD, in Thine own strength; so will we sing and praise Thy power."  (Psalm 21:1, 7, 13)

O= In the Scofield study Bible, C.I. Scofield has given this psalm the title "God's Blessing of the King".  I personally think a better title might be "The King recounts God's blessings".  My copy of the ESV titles this psalm "The King Rejoices in the LORD's Strength" -- which is even more accurate.

The phrase "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD" reminds me of the well-known and somewhat similar phrase in Nehemiah 8:10 -- "the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Cross-references for "strength" (verse 1) -- "The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed."  (Psalm 28:7)

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise Him."  (Psalm 28:8)

Cross-reference for "salvation" (verse 1) -- "That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion.  I will rejoice in Thy salvation."  (Psalm 9:14)

Cross-reference for "moved" (verse 7) -- "I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."  (Psalm 16:8)

Adam Clarke says that verse 13 serves as the epilogue of this psalm and that it contains two parts: a petition and a profession.  

1.  The petition: "Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thine own strength." Show thyself more powerful in defending thy Church than men and devils are in their attempts to destroy it.

2.  The  profession: We will be a thankful people; we will show that we have not received this grace of God in vain: "So will we sing, and praise thy power."

A= I can take joy in God's strength as David did.  I can greatly rejoice in the salvation He has provided.  I too trust in God, and because of the mercy of God Most High I need never be moved.  The LORD is to be exalted in His strength.  His people can sing and praise His power.  It is so encouraging to me to remember that He has the power to work in every situation we face in life.

"When God’s people experience victory over their spiritual enemies, they should acknowledge that their success is the work of God for them. We can look forward to future victories in the will of God because God is loyal to His promises and strong enough to overcome every foe." -- Thomas Constable

Isn't that great?

We can look forward to future victories in the will of God

BECAUSE

God is loyal to His promises

AND

strong enough to overcome every foe.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am for the countless times Your joy has been my strength!  I can joy in Your strength as David did.  I can rejoice in the salvation that You have provided.

"Help me to consistently trust in You as David did, knowing that because of Your mercy I need never be moved.  You will hold me fast, whatever difficulties I face in life.  I thank You that I may sing and praise Your power, and I am so thankful for Your powerful working in my life!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question:  David and his people were celebrating and singing praises to God for the victory and blessings He had given them.

Have you celebrated the blessings God has given you in your life including answered prayers?  Try writing a prayer or poem of praise below and be specific about something God has done for you or a loved one.

My response: I decided to try writing a poem about something specific God did for me in the past.  I'm still not completely satisfied with it, but here is my most recent draft:

Lord, You know how many times I drove a bumpy road --
Eyes brimming with tears as I faced the task ahead:
Elderly parents awaiting my care.
Toilets to scrub, sheets to change,
Meals to make, bills to pay,
And so much more.
Hardest of all,
Confusion and bewilderment
Laced with paranoia and bitterness.
"Lord," I prayed as I gripped the wheel,
"Please help Your joy to be my strength today."
You were and are so faithful, God!
May I never forget the way You answered
Every tear-soaked petition
With Your joy.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 21.   I hope it's been a blessing!