Psalm 44
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version
1 O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations,
but them you planted;
you afflicted the peoples,
but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land,
nor did their own arm save them,
but your right hand and your arm,
and the light of your face,
for you delighted in them.
4 You are my King, O God;
ordain salvation for Jacob!
5 Through you we push down our foes;
through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us
and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You have made us turn back from the foe,
and those who hate us have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle,
demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations,
a laughingstock [a shaking of the head] among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me,
and shame has covered my face
16 at the sound of the taunter and reviler,
at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us,
though we have not forgotten you,
and we have not been false to your covenant.
18 Our heart has not turned back,
nor have our steps departed from your way;
19 yet you have broken us in the place of jackals
and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God discover this?
For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
~ at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
Rarely in life are we treated to knowing exactly who and what we are dealing with, when we deal with people. Rarely, if we were to wear a word on our head would it say 'Evil.' Mostly we'd see and, might wear, "Self-centered."
How did David react to Goliath. 40 days Goliath goaded Israel. He [Goliath] said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
1 Samuel 17:
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
Jesus dealt with self-centeredness in people. Jesus dealt with evil. What did Jesus do with evil? He rebuked it. And :Luke 19:45-46
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling."It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
After Jesus had returned to Heaven, the disciples were picked up and arrested, just like Jesus in Acts 4. Same trial. Same rulers and elders and scribes. This time, not at night. When they asked how the disciples were performing signs as they preached about Jesus; when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
The disciples, who had hidden weeks earlier, were given a warning to not speak about Jesus. How did they react?
Acts 4:24-31 24
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’ —
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
What did Timothy fight against? Timidity
2 Timothy 1:5-14I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Who else was timid? Paul
For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.
Really?
Philemon 1:8
Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—
Being forceful isn't my favorite thing. I like the idea of salt - flavoring our speech in a teachable way and moment. So, what did the fearful disciples, David and Jesus have in common?
Luke 19:45-46
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling."It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
Yes, the same verse again. Jesus, David and the disciples prayed. Jesus was so convinced of the power of prayer He said, "My House Will Be a House of Prayer!" We are the robbers when we take that out of our Temple. The Disciples, Jesus and David spent a lot of time in prayer. Jesus could have said, His blood created the House of the Covenant. Jesus could have said His House is a House of Worship. His House is a House of Holiness. His House is a House of Music. Or said Communal Prayer is a mighty thing. Jesus emphasized we are His Temple and He cares about our individual prayer. The Psalms give witness to the power of Communal Prayer, but pray. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.
Rise up; come to our help!
Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!
~ My house will be a house of prayer!
Father God, troubling times - the beginning of 2011. Massive fish and animal die offs. Riots around the world. Earthquakes, Tsunamis. Fire. Radiation. Wars. The Google world looking to see if it fits the end times. People feel afraid and forsaken. Lift us up, Father God, as we pray.
Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for our feet, for Your glory. So the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Help us strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Help us to show Your Love, that no one misses the grace of God. Bless us that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble.
We come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. We come to you in prayer, to You. Where thousands upon thousands of angels are in joyful assembly. We are Your beloved whose names are written in heaven. With the help of Your Holy Spirit, we will be righteous men made perfect.
I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! We ask in the name of Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant! Amen!
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