Psalm 140

“As for the head of those who surround me,
Let the evil of their lips cover them;
10 Let burning coals fall upon them;
Let them be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not a slanderer be established in the earth;
Let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” vv.9-11

Read chapter 140
In the historical fictional book series of The Chronicles of the Kings by Lynn Austin one of the evil characters makes out David to be a sorcerer that prayed curses on people and twisted verses like this to make his point.  David here is not doing sorcery but is praying in truth of the God of Justice, of the Protector God.  Prayers in the Bible are inspired prayers meant more than just to see the persons heart but to give truth to who God is and prophesies of what's to come and of past.  Charles Spurgeon saw how David put it as, "The tremendous outburst at the end has in it the warmth which was so natural to David, who was never lukewarm in anything; yet it is to be noticed that concerning his enemies he was often hot in language through indignation, and yet he was cool in action, for he was not revengeful. His was no petty malice, but a righteous anger: he foresaw, foretold, and even desired the just vengeance of God upon the proud and wicked, and yet he would not avail himself of opportunities to revenge himself upon those who had done him wrong."
When you pray it's ok to tell the Lord of how mad or scared or frustrated you are, but let the Lord revenge.  

Psalm 139

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them! v.17

Read chapter 139
My love language is thoughtfulness.  I know that wasn't one of the five love languages listed in the book by Gary Chapman, but over the years I've realized that it is one for me.  What I mean by feeling the most loved by thoughtfulness is that it brings me the greatest joy when someone does something for me unexpected or when I'm not around.  It shows that someone was thinking about me not just because I was present but because I was absent. It shows me that someone cares to go out of their way to do something for me no matter how simple the matter that they just thought to do it.  Even when maybe a surprise fails, the saying is true to me, that it's the thought that counts.  Maybe it means so much to me because I feel forgotten a lot.  Forgotten by friends, forgotten by family, forgotten by community, even feeling forgotten by God.  But this verse restores that love language of thoughtfulness when David the psalmist says how numerous and how precious God's thoughts are to him, and to us too!  They're not only a great sum but more than the sand of the sea as we read in the following verse.  When one person writes me a card it makes my week, can you even imagine if we grasped everything thought of God towards us?  I'd be in seventh heaven.

Our emotions are strong, aren't they, ladies? Our hearts can easily lie to us. "God doesn't really love me."
But His truth is stronger than our emotions. Let's stand on the eternal reality of our Savior's love for us; let's remember that "by this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything." (1 John 3:19–20) 

Psalm 138

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me...The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." vv.7-8

Read chapter 138
To be reminded of this hope, that when I walk in the midst of trouble, God will revive me.  This is exactly what I need to hear today as I feel like I'm stuck in the midst of trouble.  God's the only one that can revive my exhausted, burnout soul of this battle I'm having to be in charge of.  Charles Spurgeon says, "When we are somewhat in trouble it is bad enough, but it is worse to penetrate into the centre of that dark continent and traverse its midst: yet in such a case the believer makes progress, for he walks; he keeps to a quiet pace, for he does no more than walk; and he is not without the best of company, for his God is near to pour fresh life into him." The Lord cares for that which concerns us, everything in our life concerns us, therefore the Lord cares for everything in our lives.  He will perfect it according to His will.  Just as Philippians 1:6 says, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" so the Lord will complete, or in other words perfect, you.  Might not be until the day Jesus returns that we see this perfection but in the midst of trouble we can have that hope that the Lord will see us through.
How do you need to be reminded that the Lord will revive you?

Psalm 137

If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
    let my right hand forget how to play the harp.
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
    if I fail to remember you,
    if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy. vv.5-6

Read chapter 137
Do you know anyone that tries to forget their sorrows?  Maybe by drinking or drugs or even just making themselves so busy they don't have time to think?  Well that's what the psalmist is saying here in verse five, that he doesn't want to forget the sorrows of Jerusalem, their hometown, while they were in a foreign land being surrounded and indulged with that culture.  Yet the psalmist doesn't want to forget, so much so that he says  then let my right hand forget it's skill and that his tongue stick to his mouth so that he can not talk or sing.  The right hand is the dominant hand for most people and not only would it not be able to play the harp but the majority of other daily living tasks and survival too.  So they would rather be unskilled and mute then play and sing to the gods of Babylon.  While they are by the rivers of Babylon, a great and prosperous nation, their greatest joy is in their home, where the Lord founded them and promised them as an inheritance, despite the state that is was then in from captivity.  Even today we don't see Jerusalem as the city God once made it and intended it to be, but will be restored and become the capitol of the new earth, "And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband" Rev. 21:2.
How have you tried to forget your sorrows?  What is good about remembering them?  

Psalm 136

For His mercy endures forever.

Read chapter 136
"For His mercy endures forever" is repeated in every verse of the twenty-six verses of this psalm.  You can really tell it is written to be sung; I imagine backup singers singing "His love endures forever" during the whole song.  Songs or hymns with a simple chorus usually become most loved by people, which we can imagine this one was probably a favorite especially because it is filled with praise.  
Yet why do you thing this is the chorus, to be reminded over and over again that His mercy endures forever?  Some translation say "His LOVE endures forever," "His LOVINGKINDNESS endures forever," "His FAITHFUL LOVE endures forever," etc.  The Hebrew word is checed and does mean all these different things.  Maybe this was chosen to be the chorus because that's the thing we need to be reminded most about God that we easily forget no matter how simple it seems.  We might not need to be reminded that He's Creator or that He's Just, but when times get tough or scary or change happens what we need to be reminded of most is that God's lovingkindness endures forever, His undeserved favor remains, the Lord's steadfast love never dies.  
In what way do you need to be reminded that "His mercy endures forever"?

Psalm 135

For I know that the Lord is great,
And our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the Lord pleases He does,
In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places. vv.5-6

Read chapter 135
Do you know how great the Lord is?  The psalmist here is sure for he knows, a great treasure to have is that assurance.  What does it matter if we know how great He is?  So much!  Knowing His greatness causes for adoration, especially when we are reconciled to Him.  It's like that popularity people strive for, that if the most popular girl or guy is school is friends with you, you think you're so cool or you would do anything to be recognized by them.  Yet the Lord's not one of those mean popular kids that is a bully to get whatever he wants, no He's they one everyone wants to be friends with, the one everyone wants on their team, the one everyone wants to fight their battles.  Whatever the Lord pleases He does for His will.  "No region is too high, no abyss too deep, no land too distant, no sea too wide for his omnipotence: his divine pleasure travels post over all the realm of nature, and his behests are obeyed" (Charles Spurgeon). Everything was created for His glory.  The way the world is now is not how God intended it to be. He did not create sin, but did give free will.  What pleases Him is that His creation would choose to follow after Him, not be forced and that is the dispensation we're living in.  
How great is the Lord to you?  How have you seen Him do what pleases Him?  Why do we see things that don't please Him?

Psalm 134

Behold, bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! v.1

Read chapter 134
This is the last step in the psalm of ascents that started in chapter 120.  The destination has been reached and the psalmist sings out praises in blessings to the Lord.  The sojourner didn't quick stand in line for some fast food that he could only get in Jerusalem or go get the best discounts in the market, but did what he came to do: bless the Lord.  So when we arrive where we're headed each day we ought to do what God created us to do: bring Him glory.  How easy it is to get distracted of what we came to do and not that those things are bad but God deserves the priority.  The journey might have worn us out that we just want to indulge in something to treat ourselves, but that can also distract us form our focus of the goal of our destination.  
The destination of any trip sets the tone of the travel.  As the sojourner in a foreign journeyed home to Jerusalem so we're sojourners in this present world till we enter the Kingdom.  What is your tone of travel?

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity! v.1

Read chapter 133
Three verses long this chapter, yet so deep in few words.  Right off the bat with the first verse I'm challenged.  It's not easy living with people whether in your own home or in your community, and not always any different whether believers or not unfortunately.  When we read this verse in scripture we might think that people of Bible times weren't like us, they always got along, never complained or had pet peeves, but that's so not true.  They were all human just like us with all the bumps, bruises, stubborness, annoyances, etc.  Think of what it was probably like when they had to travel, they didn't have cars or planes so travel took a lot longer and it wasnt a solo trip but usually a whole family affair.  Think of when you've taken road trips with your family or really anyone, there's no personal space!  How someone chews becomes the most annoying thing that we can at least put head phones on to drown it out, but they couldn't back then.  Yet when those times of unity happened it was the sweetest moment and thus the psalmist shouts with joy how good and how pleasant it is.  This is something we should strive for as a reminder of who we live with, especially among believers as they are our brothers and sisters.  How can you strive for living in unity with those around you?  What do you need to let go of to make that happen in certain areas or with certain people?

Psalm 132

I will not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
5 Until I find a place for the Lord,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob. vv.4-5

Read chapter 132
This psalm was written by David as we can tell from the context of the first ten verses of his  desire to bring the ark, the dwelling place of the Lord, to a place of rest.  We read of the account in 1 Samuel 7 and 2 Samuel 6.  You may remember the story when David desired to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem but then in transportation one of the men carrying it accidentally touched it and was struck dead by God so then the ark is rerouted to another place.  A few months later David realizes how much he desires the ark and eventually gets it to Jerusalem.  The ark wasn't this idol worship but as we read in Exodus 25 the ark is where God met and spoke with man.
In these verses we note that David wanted the presence of the Lord more than he wanted sleep, and  God knows how much we all love our sleep.  David saw the blessings the ark brought to the place where the ark was rerouted and desired those blessings too.  As Beth Moore notes, "God cannot abide near you without blessing you."  
Do you desire God's presence more than sleep?  Even through hardships, like a death, we can try to put God in another place away from us, but that will only make us long for Him more whether we realize our long is for Him or not.  When have you put God at distance because of something you didn't agree with Him on?  What resulted?

Psalm 131

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me. v.2

Read chapter 131
Isn't it great how God is described as both a father and mother figure in scripture?  Beth Moore puts it, "God often likens His care to ta parent and sometimes as a mother to teach us that though He is but one parent, and He is Father, He is everything we need."  This psalm describes the childlike trust and dependency of God as the parent.  Just like a weaned child who runs around crazy now that they've learned to walk, run, bump their heads and yet keep running around in their curiosity, at the end of the day they're finally worn out and surrender to being held in their mother's arms.  So we may have a crazy day with all the running around, getting bumps and bruises of life so our soul is calmed and quieted when we finally rest in the Father's arms surrendering our own energy that is now exhausted and need of comfort.  Isaiah 66:13 describes this motherly comfort of the Father as well, "As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."
How have you experienced this parental comfort from God the Father?

Psalm 130

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?...
And with Him is abundant redemption. vv.3,5

Read chapter 130
No one, not one single person could stand before the Lord if He counted iniquities.  If the Lord kept a record of sins, we would all be at fault and unable to be in His presence.  Yet this rhetorical question has the obvious answer that the Lord doesn't not keep a storage unit of sins, for with Him is ABUNDANT redemption.  To put it a little more matter factly, we're the ones that keep a record of sins, not God.  "Our enduring misery over our past is one reason we end up going back into the pit.  Somewhere deep in our souls we want to punish ourselves and return to what we deserve.  Dear one, Christ took what we deserve" (Beth Moore).  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  God has forgiven us ALL our sins (Col. 2:13) so that we can stand with Him, for without God's grace no one could stand. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5).  Have you been keeping a record of sins of yourself or someone else that you cannot forgive?  How can you use or change that to show truth in His abundant redemption?

Psalm 129

“Let Israel now say—Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long.” vv.1-3

Read chapter 129
It's a miracle for Israel to say this, that the wicked have not prevailed against them.  Throughout history Israel (Jews) has been a nation that has seen much affliction from enemies yet they still remain (although scattered today).  They have been slaves under certain empires yet have always escaped.  They had their enemies walk all over them (plowed on their back), digging their trenches deep within them (furrows long).  This oppression was difficult but many survived.  How has someone walked all over you?  Beth Moore says, "We can offer people our love without offering them our backs... As you and I have taken our places on our faces, God, the righteous Father, never walks on our backs.  Christ gave His back to scourging so we, the rightful recipients of such agony, could instead receive dignity." 
Many may face the same oppression but everyone responds differently.  When was a time you or others faced oppression and saw differing responses to the same situation?

Psalm 128

Blessed is every one who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways. v.1

Read chapter 128
"Fear of the Lord is actually an important element in a healthy human psych" as Beth Moore describes it, "there's nothing weighted in the long lag than our insatiable egos" when we try being our own god.  Fear is to greatly respect and revere.  Think how much people stand in awe, respect and fear when the president walks in the room, it's a little like that.  
Christians are not saved because of what they do, we are saved because of grace,  but there is also happiness when we are obedient to God's ways as said here.  You're life doesn't all of the sudden become perfect once you except Jesus Christ as your Savior, but the circumstances of our heart do change as we face those life struggles because of the the Holy Spirit's presence inside us.  Jesus then is not just a part of our lives, He IS our life.  Life actually works when we have that divine invasion in our lives!  Jesus even says that those who mourn are blessed (Matthew 5:4).  Blessings aren't always just what we gain, sometimes it's what we avoid.
How do you see your life "actually work" having Christ in it?  How have you seen blessing in your life from things you've avoided and from things you've gained?

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain. v.1

Read chapter 127
Nisi Dominus Frusta a Latin motto that means 'without the Lord, frustration.'  Notice this psalm is by Solomon who was also the author of Ecclesiastes which tag line throughout that whole book is everything is vain, meaningless.  
Any labor that God Himself has not built is in vain.  Now that doesn't mean whatever you're working in has to be a Christian company or it's vain, but to ask ourselves is our labor for the Lord as if He's our only boss? 
The rest of the psalm goes on to talk about family and this too we can see this first verse play through.  Unless the Lord builds the family...  How often do people seek a spouse that isn't from the Lord, settling just to be married only to end up divorced or stuck later?  That's not to say that God can't work a miracle and make it into a beautiful thing of two becoming one nor is it to say their children are in vain, but if the family isn't being built and growing by God, what's the point.  God is a custom builder and we shouldn't allow ourselves to think our home should look like anyone else's.   God is the architect and He alone has the blueprints.  What or how have you tried building and found it senseless or futile?

Psalm 126

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.” vv.1-2

Read chapter 126
The next step in this psalm of ascents is this chapter is a step in joy and to continue to take that step into joy.  It's the awe and laughter the captives have of a dream actually coming true.   The Israelites were 70 years in captivity and probably never thought they'd be in their homeland again, but sure enough it was real.  They were so shocked by joy they they laughed.  I sometimes get so shocked by joy that I'd be crying if I were them.  "Their new reality seems so absurdly opposite from where they'd been" (Beth Moore).  When I'm in a hard time, laughter is such a refreshing thing to refresh my soul, just isn't it for you too?!
This was also something others couldn't deny of God's favor to them saying, "Jehovah has done great things for them."  How often I hear nonbelievers say something is in their (referring to others) favor, even doctors who don't believe admit there's something different of patients who are prayed for or that believe in Jesus Christ. 
When was a time God shocked you with joy of something you didn't think would ever come true?  What would the world say of what they see of God in your life?

Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord
Are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever. vv.1-2

Read chapter 125
Security of the Lord is compared to mountains: which cannot be moved and surround.  
If one doesn't trust in the Lord it doesn't mean that they don't get this security, but those that do are like Mount Zion.  The Hebrew word trust is batach and means "confident, secure, sure."  Perhaps one of those words helps you better understand what it means to trust in the Lord, but we will see with those word that every bit of security is from the LORD.  The opposite of security is insecurity and oh how often (daily probably) does insecurity get the best of me.  Beth Moore said, "Few things in the human experience breed misery more than insecurity."
So how do we become so sure and build that trust?  It's fine line that many trip over between trusting in the Lord based on His blessings than who He is.  "If our trust is in manifestations of God's favor rather than God Himself, we will crumble like dry clay when He calls us to walk a distance of our journeys entirely by faith and not by sight...Mountain like security only comes from trusting God, not what He's done for us or given us"  (Moore).

What insecurities have caused you misery? How big of a mountain is your trust in the Lord? A road bump?  A dirt pile?  A hill?  Mt. Everest?

Psalm 124

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
2 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us, vv.1-2

Read chapter 124
Can't you just hear the director of music for this psalm right in the beginning!  The first line being so true and good he calls for them to say it again, perhaps even louder now: "If it had not been  the Lord who was on our side."  How true we need that repeated in our lives, a reminder that the Lord is on our side.  Often times many think God's against them or at least tolerated by Him or forgotten by Him.  We may be able to say God is for us in most things but deep down inside do you truly believe this?  Perhaps you don't have some big problem in your life realizing the need for God on your side, but I can tell you inner workings of the heart (bitterness, jealousy, mean spirited, etc) can be just as destructive if not more.  I can for sure say that often God has saved me from my own self as much as from Satan.
Do you know and believe that God is for you, fighting on your side not the enemy's?  Why might or what areas of your life do you have a hard time believing Christ is for you?

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?...For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31-32,38-39

Psalm 123

Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens. v.1

Read chapter 123
The next step in the psalms of ascent is into a lament.  This psalm seems as a plea for favor and mercy.  The psalmist is looking up to God, the One enthroned over all the earth seeking hope, comfort, direction.  He's not looking around to see what everyone else is doing, or looking down as if no hope despite what he's "suppose" to believe.  In the midst of our circumstances what wins our focus? Where do we fix our eyes?  Is there a link to how we respond or think with what we look at or to?   "Much of our soul's basic welfare is wrapped up in our answers" (Beth Moore).  We need to give God our full attention, not just background noise.  I think of one of my seventh grade teachers that would call us out saying "focus, eyes on me" while she made these weird gestures with her hands.  But that's what God wants from us too, our focus, our eyes on Him to see the answers.  So what is winning your focus right now?

Psalm 122

Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem! v.2

Read chapter 122
Oh to stand on the borderline of the place that you've been desiring to go.  There's nothing like standing on my parents driveway look at my childhood home that I've been gone away from for so long about to enter in to memories and a place of comfort for me.  So this sojourner that we've been following from the last two chapters of first longing to leave the foreign country he's in, to the long journey as he looks to the mountains, to now standing at the gates of Jerusalem.  He's home!  And there's nothing quite like that feeling.  It had been a long and most likely difficult journey but he reached his goal.  Beth Moore says, "If you and I only knew what we have ahead, our hearts would race and our pace would quicken."  There's progress in the small and big step we take in life.  God knows when an inch we've taken is going to turn in to a mile.
What do you need to quicken your heart and steps to get you to the place you desire?

Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help? v.1

Read chapter 121
It took me three times to make it to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, the first two times I gave up was at the last extreme incline of about 400 feet long.  The first time I gave up because it was so steep and I was unprepared  not having enough food and water and also a little intimidated at the age of 15, the second time because I was all by myself and the cables to climb were down (not allowed to climb therefore).  Yet the third time, I was determined and prepared and it was thee hardest and best hike I've ever done.
The sojourner from psalm 120 is now on his journey to Jerusalem from the foreign land he had been in for so long.  He lifts his eyes up to the hills and ask where does his help come from.  I'm sure looking at the hills or mountains, Jerusalem seemed a long ways off and wondering if he could even make the long arduous journey or what was on the other side.  But the following verse answers any question of doubt he may have had, "My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth."  No big obstacle can stop the help of God.  The earths turf is God's turf.
I wonder if this is where the phrase look up to God came from, how good and true it is. We ought to look up and out to God and not down at the ground.  Looking up and out shows confidence where looking down shows depression.  Satan will do whatever it takes to keep our eyes on sorrow that we may be discouraged, but God who is above all things is the summit of our desires that we ought to look to and have as our motivation for any terrain.   
Where have you been looking during a difficult journey in life?   What connection do you see in God being the creator of heaven and earth as your help?

Psalm 120

Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech,
That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! v.5

Read chapter 120
The Psalms of Ascents  begins here and goes through chapter 135.  These psalms are said to be written by a pilgrim in his pilgrimage back to the holy land.  Later these psalms, or songs, would be sung on the pilgrimage to the three great feasts held in Jerusalem as a reminder.  The Hebrew word for ascent is ma'aloth and means to go up.  The ascents are like a staircase, taking another step higher to the place one desires to be.
In this first psalm of ascent we see the psalmist is a long way from home.  He uses the classic "woe is me" to share the distress he was in.  Before he could take the first step he had to recognize and realize his current state.  He had to describe the hardship of taking the low road, being an alien in his current living situation, as he desired to take the high road.  Beth Moore said, "We must be honest about where we are before we can journey effectively to where we want to be."
What is the next level with God you want or need to take?  Do you feel like you're in a foreign place and long for "home"? If so, why?

Psalm 119

How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word...Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You...The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. v.9,11,160

Read chapter 119
Longest chapter in the bible, 176 verses broken in to 22 stanza of eight verses.  Each stanza is alphabetically places of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  The main theme or subject through all 176 verse is the word of the Lord.  The author, most likely David, had many books of scriptures that he didn't just read but meditated on.  Every verse drips like honey of how good every drop of God's word is, not a repetitive line but each verse is a fresh connection and shade of meaning.
A few verses that have stood out to me are verse 9, 11, and 160.
In verse nine it shows how a young man can be pure and that by heeding to the Lord's word.  Many men say it's impossible, for example, for a man no to masturbate, but heeding the Lord's word I know many men that have proven this true.
In verse eleven it talks of hiding God's word in the heart so that we may not sin against the Lord.  How often do we read the Bible and not know what we read or understand it or don't care for memorizing scripture, yet it is being hidden in our heart for the right time that we may not sin.
In verse 160 it says the entirety, the sum of God's word is truth.  Even books like Micah or 1st Chronicles or Revelation is needed to make scripture whole.  The sum of all 66 books equals 100%, every book is needed, so don't just dismiss one.
What verse speaks to you in how you value the word of the Lord?

Psalm 118

It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes. vv.8-9

Read chapter 118
In Ezra 3:11 we see quoted the first and last verse of this psalm as the people were praising the Lord for the temple foundation was laid and they began to rebuild the whole building.  It is thought that they sang this whole psalm in that praise.  As the case in Ezra after the exiles were 70 years gone and then returning to the land to rebuild the temple, there confidence in man verses the Lord had been tested and tried and surely the trust in the Lord won.  Unfortunately it took 70 years to gain the confidence because of their stubborn hearts, but they could truly sing this truth when they saw the beauty of the Lord being restored and realize all that He had done.  Putting trust in God is better in all ways.  Charles Spurgeon points out,

"It is wiser: God is infinitely more able to help, and more likely to help, than man, and therefore prudence suggests that we put our confidence in him above all others. It is also morally better to do so, for it is the duty of the creature to trust in the Creator. God has a claim upon his creatures' faith, he deserves to be trusted; and to place our reliance upon another rather than upon himself, is a direct insult to his faithfulness. It is better in the sense of safer, since we can never be sure of our ground if we rely upon mortal man, but we are always secure in the hands of our God. It is better in its effect upon ourselves: to trust in man tends to make us mean, crouching, dependent; but confidence in God elevates, produces a sacred quiet of spirit, and sanctifies the soul. It is, moreover, much better to trust in God, as far as the result is concerned; for in many cases the human object of our trust fails from want of ability, from want of generosity, from want of affection, or from want of memory; but the Lord, so far from falling, does for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or even think.

What causes you to put confidence in man instead of the Lord?  Can you think of a specific time when putting confidence in God reigned true and far better than over trust in man?

Psalm 117

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!  Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord! vv.1-2

Read chapter 117

This is the shortest chapter in all the Bible, two verses long.  It is short and sweet.  It was probably used at the beginning of a meeting or to end a meeting or when time was limited.  Yet in two chapters it can say all the fullness of what longest chapter in the Bible can say too (Psalm 119).  It's a psalm of praise from all nations regardless of race, class, ethnicity.  It speaks of so great a blessing of God's mercy and truth.

If you only had two words to say of the Lord, what would those words be?

Psalm 116

What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
13 I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord. vv.12-13

Read chapter 116
Is there anything you think you can do to payback the Lord?  How have you seen others try to?  It's impossible to pay back the Lord, not that He has us under the biggest blackmail, but because His graces are gift, not something to be repaid.  How the psalmist says here he'll repay is by receiving more grace.  What!  To repay God is to take e more from Him?  Yes!  Crazy but true.  Think about it, it shows how much you need and desire His gifts that wanting more is wanting more of Him.  And God's greatest joy is His children walking in truth (3 John 4), so what more is getting paid back than receiving what gives you greatest joy.  There is no amount of money or works you can do to pay back God.  His salvation is priceless.  Just like those credit card commercials: a ticket to NYC $500, a fancy dinner $100, a night under the stars at Central Park, PRICELESS.   What would your commercial be?  How can you rest assured of receiving God's grace is the only way to repay the Lord?  Why would you want it any other way!  Why does man struggle with this though?