Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”
Endless endless times I am reminded of what we all forget: that we are not in a broken system but surely in a broken world, a place of blessing, yes, but also a place to look further FROM, especially in hard times, and always we are to look with eyes and hearts towards HEALING, if not from our efforts, then from the Lord. Yes, the Lord who already conquered fear and death.
…
Often we have tongues to waggle about our woes… and fears of our foes… Yet our protection is closer than our nose… We should reach to the One Who KNOWS.
…
I ponder at so many writings included in the Bible from David, about being chased by enemies and being protected by the Lord. I agree with the protection but why so MANY included that are inclined to lament, have sorrow near despair? And the eventual truth: God IS in control. Perhaps so MANY are included as we are continually reminded of NOT looking to the world for our Joy, not to the broken world for answers, not even to this rambling writing for comfort. Our God binds up and heals the brokenhearted, sometimes not in place, but in our placement.
If we look ABOVE the fray of the world, famine war fear, enemies who don’t even know our name, we realize even evil can’t match THE LORD OUR GOD WHO SAVES.
Perhaps the Psalmist(s) are expressing what we know, Jesus was taken down, willingly, to the showdown with the enemy but God’s Plan was/is SO MUCH BIGGER. So big the world can’t understand, but we can, one by one as we are called, we are not of this world.
Psalms 52,53,54,55,56,57,58… so much about real danger, real fear… and yet have BLESSED PRAISE for letting God have the First and Last Word.
Calling out to the Lord, in Psalms 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68… are reminders for us often calling out in praise for the God Who Saves.
Just wait on the Lord. and while you are waiting? SING PRAISES…
Really…
Amen
The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” Psalm 58:10-11
One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”; and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.” Psalm 62:11-12
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:2-8
Psalm 57
New King James Version
Prayer for Safety from Enemies
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Psalm 68
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. 2 May you blow them away like smoke — as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.
The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng: “Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder. Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.” When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain, why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever? The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious— that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels. Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before. Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts. Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
Debbie Upper 