Psalm 45

 Psalm 45

Deep down inside we all love the ‘fairy tale’ with a happy ending.  The heroic, handsome prince marries the beautiful maiden, and they live happily ever after. That story is found in every culture and in every heart, and that story is given to us in this Psalm.  This love poem was perhaps written for the occasion of Solomon’s marriage and serves as a reminder of the high and holy place of the marriage union.  We do not, indeed we cannot, value a godly marriage too highly.  The brave man who is ready to take on the monster of this world for the well-being of the woman he loves is a noble and holy theme.  The gracious young lady filled with grace, dignity, and beauty, who is the perfect partner, gives up her life to be with the one who fills her heart.  Those who would degrade marriage work out of bitterness or even hatred for God.  Anything that devalues God’s design dishonors Him and robs us.  

Some have seen this poem as a line-for-line prophecy of Christ and His Church.  That is not necessary.  In every aspect of holy marriage we worship God and can see Christ's love for the Church. A line between the sacred and the secular has no place and is not needed here.

“Lord, help me hold marriage in the honor that You have granted it. AMEN.”

Psalm 44

 Psalm 44

This Psalm is the book of Job in micro.  It is a story many believers experience and suffer.  It may have been composed during the exile.  The complaint is an old story that follows a familiar pattern.  First, in the distant past times were good (vv. 1-3). Second, in my lifetime things were great, and I lived in faith (vv. 4-8).  Third, recently everything is terrible (vv. 9-16). Forth, we are innocent of evil, so this suffering is unjust (v. 17-19).  Finally, the pleas of “Lord, do something to correct this injustice.

While a bit simplified, this is the story of Job and many heroes of the faith and of many faithful disciples today.  One of the difficulties of our walk is that we don’t get neat, tidy answers to questions that apparent unjust suffering produces.  Were the suffering saints actually guilty in some secret way?  Were the innocent suffering alongside the guilty?  Is there a basis for a charge of ‘injustice’ against God Himself?  

The answer may be found in Paul quoting this in Romans 8:36.  There Paul doesn’t explain suffering but boldly states that by faith in and union with Christ is our victory.  We can never answer the question “Why?”  But we can find the answers when we ask and answer the question “Who?”

“Lord, in the midst of suffering turn my heart toward You. AMEN.” 

Psalm 43

 Psalm 43

This Psalm is believed to have been written during the Babylonian captivity.  The people of God feel they have learned their lesson and are struggling with why God’s deliverance hasn’t yet occurred.  In verse 5 there is even a self-correction of doubt and despair into trust.  

In verses 3-4 there is an especially powerful application for our day.  In verse 3 the Psalmist asked for ‘light and truth.’  These will bring the people of God to God.  Then in verse 4 the Psalmist anticipates what we might call ‘worship and celebration.’  This order is important or even vital for believers to understand.  In much of our religious expression we focus on the emotional satisfaction of ‘praise and worship.’  Then we have ‘teaching time.’  In some cases this teaching time is shallow and only incidentally focused on Scripture.  But the pattern we see here is that truth and light bring us to God, and then joy and music flow out of that encounter.  

Perhaps the reason so many ‘revival movements’ and ‘church growth’ initiatives fizzle is because they are based on emotions, which cannot stand the test of time.  By all means we should have the joy of the Lord.  But that emotional high comes from truth and light.

“Lord, bless me with a mind that engages Your light and truth, and out of that, guide me to praise You. AMEN.”

Nothing ruins a good story like…

Nothing ruins a good story like…

Last weekend it was my great privilege to attend the retirement ceremony and celebration of a friend who served in uniform for 30 years. It is always wonderful to stand in the company of the great ones. One of the speakers offered a funny quip that was little more than a throwaway joke. It was an excellent speech, but this one line stood out to me more than anything else.

The retiree had served in most of the hotspots involving the US Army for the last 30 years; he had seen and done some pretty amazing things. Being a humble man, he would not have wanted the speaker to regale the audience with stories of his exploits, of which there were plenty. But the one line that got the most laughs and sticks with me was this one: “Nothing ruins a good war story quicker than an eyewitness.” Thank you General Cole.

We can apply that to our athletic exploits that won the game, the witty comeback that silenced a critic, the brilliant decision that saved the business, or the thoughtful behavior that mended a broken heart. Those stories can be wrecked by an eyewitness. This seems to be especially true at family gatherings. While out of courtesy we may not say anything, privately we are apt to reflect, “I was there; it didn’t happen that way."

Nothing ruins a good story quicker than an eyewitness, which makes Paul’s assertions so dynamic. In I Corinthians 15:6 Paul tells us there were over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ. The reports of “His body was stolen or misplaced," “He didn’t actually die but only fainted," and “People had a hallucination thinking they saw Jesus alive" are all good stories to deny the resurrection but are completely ruined by the eyewitnesses. One eyewitness is usually enough to get a conviction in court. Two eyewitnesses provide a slam-dunk kind of case. When we talk about 500 eyewitnesses who were together to see the same event, we are left with no room for doubt.

The appeal to eyewitness testimony was unique, even bizarre, in first-century religious circles. Mystic experiences, philosophical arguments, rituals, or deep-seated feelings were the norm. But eyewitness testimony was unheard of. As we enter into the season of preparation for Easter, we need to reflect on the fact that we are not following carefully constructed fables or myths. We are building our hopes and eternity on the rock-solid fact that Jesus was dead and now is alive with a life He shares with us.

He is Risen, He is Risen indeed.

Psalm 42

 Psalm 42

The beauty and depth of this psalm demands more than a casual reading.  Its wonder is enriched by contemplation.  This psalm is a conflict-laden song and is a story from the hard edge of life.  As humans we try to avoid suffering and hardship; we try to make everything safe, pastel, and soft.  But that is not living, and no lessons are learned in that kind of life.  Those things that teach us best are often the ones we try hardest to avoid.

Suffering is seen in our understanding of verse 1.  We often picture a deer coming to a stream for a quiet sip.  That is not, emphatically not, the case.  A panting deer is a deer that has been running for its life for a long time.  This is no casual sip but desperation because a predator is right behind it.  Exhaustion and thirst drive the deer to the river.  Here he will drink and try to lose his pursuers.  Some deer have been known to swim deep rivers to get away.  It is reported they will go so deep that only their nose will be out of the water.

Life can be like that.  While the deer runs to water to refresh and survive, we run to God.  This whole psalm is a study in a desperate struggle for survival.

“”Lord, help me to run to You for protection and refreshment as I am being chased by the enemy. AMEN” 

Psalm 41

 Psalm 41

In this psalm there is a progression of helping, hurting, and hoping. David tells us that God has special care for those who help the needy, especially those who are in need in times of illness. We might consider this the nurses’ psalm.

These thoughts may have been prompted by David’s own illness. He is so sick that some, especially his enemies, believe he will die, or at least they hope so. David wonders if he has brought this on himself by his sin. (v. 4) Many of us, at times of grave illness, have wondered if our sickness was actually Divine justice. David is especially hurt by the treason of his friend. Some who are close to David are hoping for the worst.  

But even here there is a moment of hope. Verses 8-12 are thought by some scholars to refer to Jesus, David’s distant descendant. Jesus quotes verse 9 in reference to Judas.  Verse 10 may be more than a request for restored health; it may refer to the resurrection of Jesus, in which He will be the ultimate judge of the living and the dead. After the resurrection of Jesus, His enemies could say or do nothing but were effectively silenced, as in verse 11. Verse 12 looks like the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of the Father. What a wonderful way to end the first book of the Psalms.

“Lord, whatever the circumstances of my life, please help me be loyal to You and trust in Your care for me. AMEN.”

Psalm 40

 Psalm 40

This incredible and complex psalm has so much more than we would get in a casual reading. This is especially true concerning the prophecy about Christ in the middle of the Psalm (vs. 6-8), which is quoted in Hebrews 10:5-7, especially verse 8. The Psalmist speaks the words of the Messiah. These words ought to be our words as well: “I delight to do Your will.” That word, "delight," describes something that brings pleasure. As Christians we sometimes have a negative response to the word ‘pleasure,’ as if pleasure itself has a bad reputation.  But pleasure need not be found in selfish and sinful behaviors. It is possible that doing the will of God is our greatest pleasure. The book of Hebrews tells us, “For the joy set before Him (Jesus) endured the cross.”  How is that kind of dedication to God possible?  The answer is in the last phrase of this Psalm.  When the Law or will of God is at the core of our heart, behaviors that mark obedience are our pleasure.  Our chief purpose is to know God and to enjoy Him both now and forever.

“Lord, help me to know and love you so deeply that I find my greatest pleasure in that which pleases you. AMEN.”