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!

 

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 20.   The featured verse is verse 7, but I chose to SOAP verses 6 and 7.  Here goes!

S= "Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  (Psalm 20:6-7)

O= C.I. Scofield titles this psalm "A plea for help from the sanctuary."  My copy of the ESV Bible titles it "Trust in the Name of the Lord our God".

Cross-references for "holy heaven" (v.6) -- "I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him."  (Psalm 89:20)

"Thus saith the LORD: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem  shall be called a city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain."  (Zechariah 8:3)

Cross-reference for "saving strength" (v. 6) -- "The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed."  (Psalm 28:8)

David states: Some trust in chariots;
                    Some trust in horses;

                    BUT

                    We will remember the name of the LORD our God.

The word "but" always signifies a change of direction.

Cross-references for "chariots" (v.7) -- "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots, because there are many, and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD."  (Isaiah 31:1)

"How, then, wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?"  (Psalm 36:9)

Cross-references for "horses" -- "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the LORD."  (Proverbs 21:31)

"When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them; for the LORD thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt."  (Deuteronomy 20:1)

"An horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength."  (Psalm 33:17)

Cross- references for "but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" -- "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whose name you have defied."  (1 Samuel 17:45)

"With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us, and to fight our battles.  And the people rested themselves upon the word of Hezekiah, king of Judah."  (2 Chronicles 32:8)

"Nearly three thousand years ago, the ultimate military weapons were the chariot and the horse.  Armies that could field a cavalry or chariot brigade were considered virtually invincible.

"But [God's chosen nation] was to be different.  God's law forbade her king to multiply horses (Deuteronomy 17:16).  Rather than put her confidence in strategic arms,  [she] was to trust in the everlasting arms, for God had promised to fight for His people.  That is why David's affirmation of trust in a delivering God is so appropriate."

A=  David knew experientially that God would preserve his life.  He knew that God would not only hear from His holy heaven, but He would act with the saving strength of His right hand.  others might trust in their great numbers of horses and chariots, but as for David, he would trust in the name of the LORD his God.

I too have seen God work in my life.  I know that He hears when I call to Him and He will bring help and deliverance.  Because I have seen Him work in the past, I can trust Him for the future.

The site Bible Hub notes that the phrase "but we will trust in the name of the LORD our God" "emphasizes a profound faith and reliance on God rather than on human means. The 'name of the LORD' signifies His character, authority, and power. Trusting in God's name implies a deep relationship and confidence in His ability to deliver and protect. This trust is a recurring theme throughout Scripture ... The contrast between human reliance and divine trust is a central message, encouraging believers to place their faith in God's eternal power rather than transient human strength."

"The safest protection in all the world is the name of God. When you know His name, you know His nature. His names and titles reveal His nature. They tell us who He is and what He can do. For example, He is Jehovah, the God who makes covenants. He is the Lord, the sovereign king. He is Jesus, the Savior. Each name He bears is a blessing He bestows on us." -- Warren Wiersbe

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You so much for the privilege of prayer and for the surety of answered prayer.  You not only hear when I call, but You answer and act on my behalf with the saving strength of Your right hand.  I can put all of my trust in Your magnificent name!  Help me never to be tempted to put my trust in temporal things, in other people, or in myself, but in You alone.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection Question:  David knew that others were trusting in their horses and chariots for success.  David contrasts their trust in things with his trust in God.

Sometimes we can be tempted to trust in something other than God to give us success -- like our intelligence, money, or even another person.  What are you tempted to trust in other than God?

My response: In general I don't think that at this point in life, I am tempted to trust in anything other than God.  Things I could be tempted to trust in -- maybe my own thoughts and ideas, possibly?  But the Bible tells me that the one who trusts in his own heart is a fool.  This truth helps -- or maybe a better word would be pushes -- me to remember that I am nothing in and of myself.

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 20:6-7.   I hope it's been a blessing!

Sunday Scripture

 

 So 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 19.   The featured verse is verse 14.  Here we go!

S= "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14)

O= Verses 1 through 6 of Psalm 19 speak of God's glory as seen in creation, particularly the heavens.  Verses 7 through 11 speak of the purity and effectiveness of God's Word.  In verse 11 David begins to make it personal, noting that God's servant is warned and instructed by God's Word, and finds great reward in obeying it.  In verses 12 through 14 David asks God to cleanse him from secret faults, protect him from sinning presumptuously, and for his thoughts and words to be acceptable and pleasing to Him. 

Now for some cross-references for verse 14.

Cross-reference for "Let the words ... " -- "Lord, open Thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise."  (Psalm 51:5)

Cross-reference for "strength" -- "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress ... my strength ... my high tower."  (Psalm 18:2)

"Strength" in the Hebrew literally means "rock".

Cross-references for "redeemer" -- "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."  (Job 19:25)

"Draw near unto my soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of mine enemies."  (Psalm 69:18)

"And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto those who turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."  (Isaiah 59:20)

A=  Considering God's glory as revealed in the heavens shifts my perspective every time.  Considering the purity and effectiveness of His Word does a work in my own heart.  If I meditate on God's Word, pay attention to its warnings, and obey His precepts, I will find great reward.  I will, like David, desire for my thoughts and words to be acceptable and pleasing to Him.

"If God is your Redeemer, He can be your Strength. Live acceptably in His sight, allowing the meditation of your heart to please Him. Then your life will be what He wants it to be. God is more than the God of creation and the Scriptures; He is the God of redemption. If your heart is filled with Him and yielded to Him, you can have victory over sin. Don't simply worship the God of nature. Get into the Word of God and let God get into you." -- Warren Wiersbe 

 

Enjoy this beautiful song extolling our Rock and our Redeemer!
 

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that You are my rock and my redeemer!  It is unfathomable that the Creator of the universe should care about me and make a way for relationship with me.  And that You would give Your pure Word to show Your redeemed children how to live -- that is simply above and beyond my finite mind's ability to comprehend.  I praise You that I have Your help and direction and strength as I seek for my thoughts and words to be acceptable in Your sight.  I pray that You will guide me in pursuing this standard, and help me to keep short accounts with You throughout each day.  I thank You for all You have done and will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

As David reflects on the glory of God as seen in creation and the purity of God seen in His Word, he then reflects on himself.  David closes this psalm by reflecting on his words and his heart.  His one desire is to be acceptable in God's sight.

Take a moment and reflect on your own words this week.  Then reflect on your heart's desires.  Is there anything you need to confess or surrender to  God?  Write out a humble prayer of confession below.

My response: The more I dig into God's Word, the more there is to learn!  I'm not sure that I've ever considered this psalm as a whole before, but I look forward to doing so in a more in-depth study of psalms down the road.  I'm very familiar with Psalm 19.  I've loved and memorized verses 1 through 6, sung and memorized verses 7 through 11, and memorized verses 12 through 14.  But thinking about it as a whole, as a progression, and looking how it all fits together, is new to me.

My prayer: "Lord, there are so many times when my thoughts or words fall short of what You would have them to be.  I praise You that Your Word is pure and tried and teaches me so clearly how You would have me to think and speak.  Forgive me for the many times when I speak before thinking, and help me to stop and think and pray before I speak.  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 19:14.  If this simple study whets your appetite to learn more, go ahead and dig into Psalm 19 on your own.  You are sure to be blessed!

Sunday Scripture

  So 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 18.   The featured verse is verse 2, but I chose to SOAP verses 1 through 3.  Here we go!

S= "I will love Thee, O LORD, my Strength.
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
""I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies."  (Psalm 18:1-3)

O= C. I. Scofield titles Psalm 18:"Praise to the God who delivers His own".  The biblical heading for this psalm is "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said ..."

Interestingly, this very lengthy heading or title has cross-references of its own.  

Cross-references for "servant of the LORD" -- "To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD."  (Heading of Psalm 36)

"I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David, My servant."  (Psalm 89:3)

"I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him."  (Psalm 89:20)

"Now, then, do it; for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of My servant David I will save my people, Israel, out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies."  (2 Samuel 3:18)

Go and tell My servant, David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build Me an house for Me to dwell in?"  (2 Samuel 7:5)

Cross-reference for "spoke unto the LORD" -- "And David spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul."  (2 Samuel 22:1)

A marginal note for 2 Samuel 22 states, "This chapter is almost identical with Psalm 18."

Cross-references for "song" -- "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea."  (Exodus 15:1)

"And Moses spoke in the ears of all the congregation of  Israel the words of this song, until they were ended."  (Deuteronomy 31:30)

Now, on to the cross-references in the actual psalm.

Cross-reference for "strength" (v.1) -- "Blessed be the LORD, my strength, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."  (Psalm 144:1)

Cross-references for "rock" (v. 2) -- "For who is God, save the LORD?  Or who is a rock, save our God?"  (Psalm 18:31)

"The LORD liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted."  (Ps. 18:46)

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

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14)

Cross-references for "fortress" (v.2) --  "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust."  (Psalm 91:2)

"My goodness, and my fortress;  my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield; and He in whom I trust, who subdueth my people under me."  (Psalm 144:2)

Cross-reference for "in whom I will trust" (v. 2) --  "And again, I will put my trust in Him."  (Hebrews 2:13a)

Cross-references for "shield" (v. 2) -- "After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceedingly great reward."  (Genesis 15:1)

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proved; He is a shield to all those who put their trust in Him."  (Psalm 18:30)

Cross-references for "horn of my salvation" --  "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant, David."  (Luke 1:68-69)

Cross -reference for "high tower" (v .2) -- "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."  (Psalm 9:9)

For "worthy to be praised" (v. 3) -- "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. (Psalm 48:1)

"For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods."  (Psalm 96:4)

"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised."  (Psalm 113:3)

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable."  (Psalm 145:3)

A= These are the words of King David, yet every one of them rings true for me.  I too love the Lord.  He is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, the One in whom I trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  He is worthy to be praised!  He has saved me from my greatest enemy, Satan! It occurs to me that in a very real sense our salvation testimony serves as our personal "song of deliverance".

We can take these titles for God personally.  He will be all of this and more to us, and He will provide deliverance for us as we look to Him.  I will and do call upon Him daily.  He is able to deliver me from all my enemies.

P= "Lord, I cannot thank and praise You enough for all that You are to me.  I praise You for all the reasons that David listed in Psalm 18.  I am especially thankful that You have delivered me from Satan, my greatest and mortal enemy.

"You are my salvation -- and my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my high tower!  You are my strength -- and Your joy has been my strength through countless hard situations.  I love You, O LORD my strength!  And I pray in Jesus' strengthening name, Amen."

Reflection question: David wrote this psalm of praise, celebrating the victory that God gave him over all his enemies.

What is an example of a victory that God gave you and how was He your rock during that time?

My response:  I can think of many different times like this, but one I will cite was during a season of eldercare looking after both my parents.  They needed a great deal of help and we had an agency staying nights with them, but I spent time several days each week cooking, cleaning, and shoring them up in general.  Many times I drove there beseeching God for His joy to be my strength.  It always was!

And there is our very simple study of Psalm 18.  I hope it was a blessing!