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Sunday 19 December 2021

PSALM Sixty


For the director of music. 

To the tune of ‘The Lily of the Covenant’. 

A miktam of David. For teaching. 

When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, 

and when Joab returned

 and struck down twelve thousand Edomites

 in the Valley of Salt.


You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;

    you have been angry – now restore us!

2 

You have shaken the land and torn it open;

    mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

You have shown your people desperate times;

    you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner

    to be unfurled against the bow.

Save us and help us with your right hand,

    that those you love may be delivered.

God has spoken from his sanctuary:

    ‘In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

    and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

    Ephraim is my helmet,

    Judah is my sceptre.

Moab is my washbasin,

    on Edom I toss my sandal;

    over Philistia I shout in triumph.’

Who will bring me to the fortified city?

    Who will lead me to Edom?

10 

Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us

    and no longer go out with our armies?

11 

Give us aid against the enemy,

    for human help is worthless.

12 

With God we shall gain the victory,

    and he will trample down our enemies.


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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell


Psalm 60 : “fractures” (v.2) 

God’s people at times act badly, as if drunk (see v.3). Twice David admits they have been “rejected” (vv.1 & 10), but from the very outset of this Psalm he pleads with the Lord, “now restore us!” (v.1). Graphic phrases reveal his awareness of the “desperate times” (v.3) that Israel is going through. 

The situation is compared to the ravages of an earthquake : “you have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking” (v.2)

There’s a saying ‘no need to fix what’s not broken’. When upheavals occur and gaping cracks appear, however, we know who can “mend” such failure. Jesus!  

==========

READING 

Psalm Sixty

Read by David Suchet


STUDY - LINKS


How Should You Read the Psalms?

- John Piper - 

https://youtu.be/enxKd2YKgjI


-=-=-=-


Prayer in the Psalms: 

Discovering How to Pray

Timothy Keller 

https://youtu.be/QgwzuFG5LCk



Psalms - Overviews

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/j9phNEaPrv8


The Book of Psalms

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/dpny22k_7uk


-=-=-=-


Psalms part 1 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/qB3QV713xm0


Psalms Part 2 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/hQJNMgIHVKwSONGS



-=-=-=-


SONGS



PSALM 60

Ian White 




PSALM 60


 

Sons of Korah - Psalms 60 & 79 (Live 2016)



Psalm 60 Hymn ‘You have left us’


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Saturday 18 December 2021

PSALM Fifty Nine

For the director of music. 

To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’. 

Of David. A miktam. 

When Saul had sent men to watch 

David’s house in order to kill him.


Deliver me from my enemies, O God;

    be my fortress against those who are attacking me.

2 

Deliver me from evildoers

    and save me from those who are after my blood.

See how they lie in wait for me!

    Fierce men conspire against me

    for no offence or sin of mine, Lord.

I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.

    Arise to help me; look on my plight!

You, Lord God Almighty,

    you who are the God of Israel,

rouse yourself to punish all the nations;

    show no mercy to wicked traitors.

They return at evening,

    snarling like dogs,

    and prowl about the city.

See what they spew from their mouths –

    the words from their lips are sharp as swords,

    and they think, ‘Who can hear us?’

But you laugh at them, Lord;

    you scoff at all those nations.

You are my strength, I watch for you;

    you, God, are my fortress,

10 

    my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me

    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

11 

But do not kill them, Lord our shield,

    or my people will forget.

In your might uproot them

    and bring them down.

12 

For the sins of their mouths,

    for the words of their lips,

    let them be caught in their pride.

For the curses and lies they utter,

13 

    consume them in your wrath,

    consume them till they are no more.

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth

    that God rules over Jacob.

14 

They return at evening,

    snarling like dogs,

    and prowl about the city.

15 

They wander about for food

    and howl if not satisfied.

16 

But I will sing of your strength,

    in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

    my refuge in times of trouble.

17 

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

    you, God, are my fortress,

    my God on whom I can rely.


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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell


Psalm 59 : “Strength” (vv.9 & 17)


When we see “Strength(vv.9 & 17) with a capital ‘S’ we know it refers to God. It’s not about physical strength at all – which we may or may not possess. It’s 100% about spiritual strength, and that’s very different. 

Samson is famous, and it’s easy to imagine an amazingly muscle-bound physique, but it was not like that. Delilah asked him, “tell me the secret of your great strength” (Judges 16 v.6)

The first step to becoming strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6 v.10) is to know a secret – it comes from above, not from within. 

The next step is to “watch” (v.9) for Him and “praise” (17) Him.


==========

READING 

Psalm Fifty Nine

Read by David Suchet 




STUDY - LINKS


How Should You Read the Psalms?

- John Piper - 

https://youtu.be/enxKd2YKgjI


-=-=-=-


Prayer in the Psalms: 

Discovering How to Pray

Timothy Keller 

https://youtu.be/QgwzuFG5LCk



Psalms - Overviews

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/j9phNEaPrv8


The Book of Psalms

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/dpny22k_7uk


-=-=-=-


Psalms part 1 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/qB3QV713xm0


Psalms Part 2 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/hQJNMgIHVKwSONGS


-=-=-=-


SONGS


 

You are my strength 

Hillsong 




God is the strength of my heart

 Don Moen 






Friday 17 December 2021

PSALM Fifty Eight

For the director of music. 

To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’. 

Of David. A miktam.


Do you rulers indeed speak justly?

    Do you judge people with equity?

No, in your heart you devise injustice,

    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

Even from birth the wicked go astray;

    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

Their venom is like the venom of a snake,

    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

that will not heed the tune of the charmer,

    however skilful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;

    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!

Let them vanish like water that flows away;

    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.

May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,

    like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns –

    whether they be green or dry – 

the wicked will be swept away.

10 

The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,

    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 

Then people will say,

    ‘Surely the righteous still are rewarded;

    surely there is a God who judges the earth.’.


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Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell


Psalm 58 : “tune” (v.5)


This Psalm is quite atypical of David, as there is in it, almost throughout, great harshness. We know how restrained he was towards Saul, despite the way he hounded him. But nastiness can easily rub off on us, so that we sadly react in similar vein. 

The Psalm’s title is “to the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’- which clashes with the angriness of his prayer, part being “their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra … that will not heed the tune of the charmer” (vv.4-5)

Are your spirit and prayers ignoring God’s enchanting love tune?  Time to switch to another tune?  Don’t ‘play it again, Sam’! 

==========


READING 

Psalm Fifty Eight

Read by David Suchet 




STUDY - LINKS


How Should You Read the Psalms?

- John Piper - 

https://youtu.be/enxKd2YKgjI


-=-=-=-


Prayer in the Psalms: 

Discovering How to Pray

Timothy Keller 

https://youtu.be/QgwzuFG5LCk



Psalms - Overviews

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/j9phNEaPrv8


The Book of Psalms

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/dpny22k_7uk


-=-=-=-


Psalms part 1 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/qB3QV713xm0


Psalms Part 2 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/hQJNMgIHVKwSONGS



-=-=-=-



Though You Slay Me –

 Shane & Shane featuring John Piper 


  -=-=-=-

Thursday 16 December 2021

PSALM Fifty Seven


For the director of music. 

To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’. 

Of David.  A miktam. 

When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

    for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

    until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High,

    to God, who vindicates me.

3 

He sends from heaven and saves me,

    rebuking those who hotly pursue me – 

    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

I am in the midst of lions;

    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts –

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth.

They spread a net for my feet –

    I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path –

    but they have fallen into it themselves.

My heart, O God, is steadfast,

    my heart is steadfast;

    I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!

    Awake, harp and lyre!

    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

    I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-



Word by Word Meditations 

by Fred Ursell


Psalm 57 : “steadfast” (v.7) 

Sometimes we’ve got to wake ourselves up, realising we’ve gone a bit numb. See how David tackled his emotions – physically he was taking “refuge” (v.1) in a cave, but spiritually “in the shadow” of the Lord. He felt “in the midst of ... ravenous beasts” (v.4) and “in distress” (v.6)

Don’t be demoralised! With David sing a different tune with different lyrics : “my heart is steadfast, O God ... I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn” (vv.7-8). What he is saying is that he’ll be worshipping before break of day. Not buckling - that’s being truly steadfast


==========

READING 

Psalm Fifty Seven

Read by David Suchet 



STUDY - LINKS


How Should You Read the Psalms?

- John Piper - 

https://youtu.be/enxKd2YKgjI


-=-=-=-


Prayer in the Psalms: 

Discovering How to Pray

Timothy Keller 

https://youtu.be/QgwzuFG5LCk



Psalms - Overviews

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/j9phNEaPrv8


The Book of Psalms

(The Bible Project)

https://youtu.be/dpny22k_7uk


-=-=-=-


Psalms part 1 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/qB3QV713xm0


Psalms Part 2 

-Study by David Pawson-

https://youtu.be/hQJNMgIHVKwSONGS


-=-=-=-


SONGS



Psalm 57

Ian White









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