by Donya Dunlap | Oct 12, 2016 | Bible Study, The Spiritual Life
Words have great power. No one knows this better than the writer. In this psalm, David writes about the corrupt words of the human race and the pristine words of God.
Verses 1-4
Once again, this passage seems to be taken directly from the newspaper. David pleads to God to intervene because “no faithful one remains.” We know this is simply David’s frustration speaking and not a literal truth. We see the same frustration spoken by Elijah during a time when 7,000 remained faithful to God.
Still, David is distraught and rightfully so. He says,
The loyal have disappeared from the human race. They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.
This description can easily be applied to our culture today. Things seem even more overblown due to the media reports and political scene. It’s nearly impossible to know what is real anymore.
If verse 3 were to happen today, the world would be a quieter place! Can you imagine an entire generation of reports gong mute? It would be a remarkable and welcome relief.
Verse 5
Thankfully, we are encouraged by the Lord’s response in verse 5. He hears the afflicted and poor. He promises a safe place for the one who longs for it. This reminds me of Isaiah 26:4,
Trust in the Lord forever, because in Yah, the Lord, is an everlasting rock!
Our God is a refuge that never fails us. Our rock of shelter to cling to in the middle of the storm. He does not always quiet the wind, but draws us near to Himself to quiet our souls. He is our protector. The giver of peace.
Verse 6
Verse 6 reminds us that God’s words are pure. In the day of click-bait headlines, we can trust what God says. It is interesting that David compares God’s words to silver refined seven times. Seven is the biblical number signifying completeness and perfection (biblestudy.org>bibleref>7).
Verses 7-8
Verse 7 echoes the thoughts of verse 5. Because God is trustworthy we know we are safe in His arms. He will protect us. He will keep His promise.
I remember leaving church one day several years ago feeling so distraught. The pastor I was under at the time was less than trustworthy. I felt imprisoned in a situation I could not escape. Not a block away from the parking lot, Phil Whickam’s song “Safe in His Arms” began playing on the radio. God reminded me that He was with me in that frustrating place and He would guide me through. He did and I am forever grateful for the lessons I learned during that time.
The psalm closes with a lament.
The wicked wander everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.
This is not only a true statement, but also a word of caution to the Christian. We must not add to the cacophony. We must speak truth in love and provide value to those around us. How different will we be, how much glory will we give to God if we walk in truth with a purpose! Let us be a light, a beacon of hope cutting through the lies of this dark day.
This post is Day 12 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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by Donya Dunlap | Oct 11, 2016 | Bible Study, The Spiritual Life
This psalm is listed in two literary genres—thanksgiving and imprecatory requests. It is also written in two parts. The first, David’s presentation of the situation, and the second, God’s response to it.
Verses 1-3
If not read thoughtfully, verses 1-3 seem like David has resigned himself to his fate. In reality, the exact opposite is true. David acknowledges that the wicked are after him, but rejects the suggestion to escape and hide in the mountains. Instead, he reminds himself and those who care about him that “God is on His throne,” to borrow from a modern colloquialism.
Verses 4-7
The second half of the psalm reminds us that God is watching from heaven. He examines every person and every action.
The Lord promises the righteous will see His face. This is a wonderful gift. Of course, we are not as privileged as Moses. We must wait to see Him in glory. But to look forward to such a meeting gives hope. Death on this side of heaven is ugly and pain filled. But the shutting down of one body makes way for the fitting of a new one. Passing away from this existence is something to look forward to with eager anticipation. We will see His face. There is no greater joy.
The wicked, however, receive a very different greeting upon their exit from this world. A rain of burning coals, sulfur, and scorching wind is their reward. It says God hates the lover of violence and yet, the judgment pronounced is in a future tense. He will bring justice, but today there is still time to repent.
God is holy, just, and merciful. We must remember as we pray for deliverance, that He does not delight in bringing judgment to anyone. We can pray for justice. But we should also pray for the one causing us harm. We should pray for their repentance, knowing that their fate is harsh unless they turn to God for mercy.
This post is Day 11 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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by Donya Dunlap | Oct 10, 2016 | Bible Study, The Spiritual Life
The notes in my Holman Christian Study Bible for Women explain chapters 9 and 10 of Psalms are united in the Septuagint and some Hebrew manuscripts. This seems logical as the opening verse continues the prayers found above instead of a new theme. The study notes also reveal the two songs form a partial acrostic, which is a common form of Hebrew poetry.
Verses 1-11
In this paragraph, David asks God why He feels so far away—why it feels God hides in times of trouble. I understand the feeling.
Watching Mom pass away, I chose to trust in God’s strength and presence even though I didn’t feel Him in an overpowering way as I have at other times. Still, He made His presence known through the kindness of friends offering support and love. They were God’s hands and hugs to me, even though I have never felt so completely alone.
David explains the work of the wicked against him, asking God to allow them to be brought down by their own actions as he prayed in Psalm 9:15-16. In verse 4, he brings out an interesting idea.
In all his scheming, the wicked arrogantly thinks, There is no accountability since God does not exist.”
This philosophy is rampant today. People riot feeling entitled to their rage, and more so because they know they can get away with it. People abort babies because “it’s just a blob of tissue,” ignoring the Creator who is making the child in His own image. When you take God out of the equation, there is no baseline for morality. God allows evil because He is gracious and slow to anger, but this does not mean He will ignore it forever. God’s judgments may be at a distance now, but they are coming.
David closes the section with another thought of the wicked man:
He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and will never see.”
The wicked tries to reason that there is no God, but in his heart, truth whispers to the contrary. I believe a true atheist is a rarity. Atheists work so hard to “disprove” God’s creation. In moments of honesty, they choose to dismiss God. In doing so they validate the truth of His existence.
Verses 12-15
David asks God to act, reminding Him the helpless are trusting Him to do so. Verse 14 reads,
You are a helper of the fatherless.
I imagine myself as a child being bullied. As my Heavenly Father towers over my enemy, his eyes widen in fear. All enemies shrink in the presence of my God. I can count on Him to deliver me.
Verses 16-18
These verses are especially dear to my heart. They remind me God’s rule is eternal, despite what I see around me today. He will deliver the helpless and humble. He will bring justice to the abused and oppressed. The traffickers and government officials bringing harm to so many will be punished. Hope will reign. Love will heal.
This post is Day 10 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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by Donya Dunlap | Oct 9, 2016 | Bible Study, How Great is Our God, The Spiritual Life
Psalm 9 returns to the theme of David lamenting his enemies, this time on the worldwide scale of the nations. However, he chooses to pause in the midst of his pain to look up.
Verses 1-2
David begins with an explosion of thanks and praise to God for who He is. The first two verses are charged with emotion and a sense of commitment to the Lord.
Verses 3-6
Moving from praise of God’s person to praise for His actions, David speaks of his enemies and God’s victory over them. He takes no praise for himself, but praises God for being a righteous judge. God leaves nothing behind. He wipes away the enemy, their cities, and their memory.
Verses 7-10
In this next stanza, David continues praising God, building on the truths of the first six verses. The Lord’s throne is eternal in the heavens. His rule is over all nations forever, but not as a tyrant. God is a fair ruler and a refuge for the oppressed in times of trouble. He is a leader people trust because of His track record. He is faithful and has not abandoned His own. This is important to remember in times of darkness. You may feel alone, but God is there. He will never leave you.
Verses 11-12
Verses 11 and 12 echo the previous thoughts with force. Even when God allows death to occur, He does not forget the afflicted. He takes an account of those who shed blood and brings judgment upon them. Not just physical blood either, but emotional and spiritual abuse too. God is not blind. He sees. We can take great comfort from this in our own suffering.
Verses 13-14
With the above in mind, David prays for rescue. He asks for God to remember his affliction. He pleads for grace, which leads to additional praise.
David never withholds or waits to praise God. While I might wait to see how God chooses to answer my request, David lifts up songs of thanks in the midst of his trial and trusts that God will come through for him. He demonstrates faith not tossed about by circumstances as James 1:5-7 instructs.
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.
Verses 15-16
The next verses reveal a bit of God’s sense of humor. David rejoices that the nations have fallen, and reveals that it came about by their own hand. This seems to be a repeating theme in David’s writing. The nations are caught in their own nets. You reap what you sow!
Verses 17-18
David repeats that the wicked will perish and the oppressed will be remembered. This gives validation to our feelings of loneliness and abandonment, but shines on them with truth. God sees. He knows. And He will make all things new.
Verses 19-20
In closing, David pleads with God to act. God has His own timeline for bringing about justice, but He also hears the prayers of His saints. David ends with words applicable then and now,
Let the nations know they are only men.
Let us remember the same!
This post is Day 9 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
To receive email reminders of new posts, please subscribe. As a thank you, you will receive a free ebook, The Wonder Woman’s Manifesto.
by Donya Dunlap | Oct 8, 2016 | Bible Study, The Spiritual Life
Psalm 8 is the first of the Thanksgiving psalms. A welcome breath of joy and praise after the previous songs of lament and penitence.
Verse 1
David begins by calling upon the Lord using His name, Yahweh, the Hebrew name YHWH, meaning the Lord, the eternal, self-existent One, the “I Am.” This is a very personal name for God given especially to the Jewish nation. He writes,
Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!
It is no wonder this psalm has been the inspiration for many modern songs of praise as well.
Verse 2
Verse 2 is interesting and somewhat confusing. David acknowledges that God himself has enemies, a thought I imagine he finds comforting. What is odd is that he says God uses the praises of children, even infants, to stop or silence the enemy. What praise can an infant give? Is it simply that they exist, created in God’s image, that the enemy is thwarted by their coos and cries? Perhaps. He sees to reference man created in the image of God again in verses 5-6 so it is possible the echo enhances the meaning of the earlier words as well.
Verses 3-8
Verses 3 and 4 are some of my favorites in all of Scripture. I love them partially because they are beautifully poetic words, and partially because I feel the same way when I look into the night sky and realize the expanse of the majesty represented by a spattering of tiny white dots.
What is man that You remember him, the son of man that you look after him?
God, Your majesty is so fantastic (and I mean that in the weightiest sense of the word). By the word of Your mouth You created galaxies that take our breath away. Why would You give a second’s thought to a sinful, rebellious, ungrateful mortal?
The answer lies in the rest of the psalm.
We matter because God granted us significance. The image of Himself stamped on our bodies; the whisper of His Spirit stirring about our souls. The reflection of His work in our work. On our own we would be nothing. His imprint makes our lives meaningful.
Verse 9
David closes the psalm with the same expression of praise that he used to open the psalm. I hope to hear David sing and play the original melody in heaven someday. I sense in my soul it is beautiful.
This post is Day 8 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
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by Donya Dunlap | Oct 7, 2016 | Bible Study, The Spiritual Life
Psalm 7 is another song of lament, this time expressing frustration following the verbal attack of Cush the Benjamite. For many of David’s psalms, we can cross reference the passage with other Bible passages to get background on the situation. However, the only time Cush the Benjamite is mentioned is here in the heading.
Verses 1-2
David speaks from a place of grief during a time when there is personal risk to his life. He seeks refuge in Yahweh for safety, hearkening back to imagery of his shepherding days. He describes a lion tearing apart a lamb unless the shepherd acts as the lamb’s defender.
Verses 3-5
As the passage continues, David holds up his honor as collateral to God. He states that if he has done wrong to another as his accuser claims, God should allow an enemy to “trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust.”
Verses 6-8
Knowing that he is not at fault in this matter, David calls on God to rise up, awake, and judge what is true. He seeks the justice of God his Defender to vindicate him.
Verses 9-11
David prays for evil come to an end and for the righteous to be established. He acknowledges that God takes into account more than actions alone, calling Him the One who examines the thoughts and emotions. David seeks not to protect himself, but states,
My shield is with God who saves the upright in heart.
This is of primary importance to me as the news in recent months has been full of racial tension and killings. As I read the heartbreaking accounts, I remind myself:
- I don’t know the full story. As David said, only God knows the thoughts and emotions of a person.
- Hatred, anger, and racism are tools of Satan. Love is the answer. It always is.
- As Christians, we should look to God for our defense, not the government and not personal retribution.
Verses 14-16
Verses 14-16 are an emotionally charged warning to the wicked. David describes a person full of evil digging a pit for another person’s demise and falling into it himself, bringing violence on his own head. If this scene could be televised, it would be a clip on tonight’s news broadcast. To quote a man intimately familiar with prejudice,
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc. 2016
We like to think we are 100% right and the people against us are 100% wrong. Rarely, if ever, is that the case. People are imperfect. We assume motives and misjudge intentions. It is always right to ask God to show you were you went wrong in a matter. Seek forgiveness in repentance and humility.
Verse 17
David concludes the song with thanks to the Lord for His righteousness. He sings praise to the name of the Most High. Using the Hebrew names for God as written in the Complete Jewish Bible, this verse reads:
I thank ADONAI for His righteousness and sing praise to the name of ADONAI ‘Elyon.
David uses various names of God throughout the psalm which adds a significant level of meaning to his words. Time prevents further development, but it is a topic which could be explored through personal study at a later time.
No matter how broken we are as humans, God is always pure, righteous, and holy. As such, He is worthy of our praise and delights in our thankfulness. He rejoices in our submission to His authority.
This post is Day 7 of the 31 Days of Journaling through the Psalms series. If you would like to read the first post, Psalm 1: The Wise and the Wicked, click here. The introduction to the series can be found here.
To receive email reminders of new posts, please subscribe. As a thank you, you will receive a free ebook, The Wonder Woman’s Manifesto.
