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Psalm 33:16,17

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 28, 2016
Psa 33:16 “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.”
 
[A king and a warrior may be saved and escape in battle but large armies and great strength are not the deciding factor–God is.
 
–I think of the huge multinational army that came against King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. He turned to God for help and God caused the enemy soldiers to turn on one another and destroy themselves.
–I think of the great army of Assyria that came against King Hezikiah and how the Lord put to death 185,000 of them in one night (2 Kings 19:36).
–I Think of David versus Goliath, and of Daniel versus the lions.
–Then there is Paul, attacked and beaten by the Jews at the temple, but God sent the Roman commander to save him.
 
In each case the deciding factor is not might or size, but God. So it is with us, Lord, for we are weak and vulnerable to powerful forces around us. But we can and must turn to you for help, rather than looking to the puny powers of this world.]
 
Psalm 33:17 “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.”
 
[In David’s days a horse was the strongest weapon available in battle, the most powerful military means, but it was not enough to deliver. The rider needed help from God, or he was doomed.
 
So it is with us: technology, machines and weapons are available, but they are just tools, useless without you. Your plan is stated in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”
 
You, Lord, are the Ruler, the Decider, the Helper of all who turn to you. “My salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my mighty rock and my refuge” (Ps. 62:7). We must turn first to you: “This poor man called and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps. 34:6).]
 
Lord, forgive me for first looking for help in the wrong places: my own efforts, people, professionals, possessions, money and machines. Help me instead to call out first of all to you. Then deliver me in such a way that you get the glory and that all around me will see that it is your work, not that of mere human beings. Thank you now for how you will answer this prayer in all that is to come.
 
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Psalm 33:13,14

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 27, 2016
Psalm 33:13 “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;”
 
[Such all encompassing ability, such penetrating power, such total focus that you can look down and see ALL mankind. No one is hidden from your sight. What a grief it must be to you to see your creatures continually sin, to hurt others, to dishonor your name, to rebel left and right—yet in your love and mercy you keep on looking down and working among us.]
 
Psalm 33:14 “from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—“
 
[Again the word “all”—every single human being is fully in your sight, having your complete attention, for you are infinite in your abilities.
 
This should strike fear in the hearts of rebels, for nothing can be hidden from you. It should give encouragement to us who are your children, knowing that we can be totally honest with you for you already know it all. You are beyond comprehension and worthy of our worship and trust!]
 
Psalm 33:15 “he who forms the hearts of all,
 
[You are our Maker, you know how things should work, and you enable us to live according to what is right by providing direction, guidance, power and desire so join you in all you do. “By his divine power he has given us all we need for life and godliness through our knowlege of him…” (2 Pet. 1:3)].
 
“who considers everything they do.”
 
[Praise you, Lord God, that you are not just aware of each person, but you think on, weigh, evaluate every motive, thought, word and action–every single thing we do. That is scary! Not one thing goes unnoticed and unweighed, and if it weren’t for your great mercy, we would be immediately, eternally dammed by these things we do.
 
As it says in Rev 20:13,15 “each person was judged according to what he had done…If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
 
Our own works bring not salvation but damnation. But there is that wonderful “IF” in this sentence “if our names are…written in the book of life.” And praise God, that in the lives of believers this is a reality: our names are written in that book by the Lamb of God Himself!
 
That fact alone is enough for us to rejoice forever, even if every other thing goes wrong in our lives. We can wholeheartedly follow the example of Habakkuk who proclaimed, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls…”–this is a terrible, hopeless situation of despair.
 
But Habakkuk goes on in faith: “…yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Knowing God, being His forgiven child, having Him as our Savior, Shepherd, God and King who watches over us every moment is certainly enough for joy in any circumstance–we can choose to rejoice in Him no matter what, knowing that whatever happens, He has a plan for us, and it is a good one!
 
Glory be to you, Lord, the all-seeing God, for you are worthy. May you be honored, lifted up and praised throughout this day in my life. Amen.
 
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Psalm 33:12

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 26, 2016

Psalm 33:12  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

[Blessed is way too weak a word for the wonder of being the people of God, being chosen for His inheritance, being included in His Kingdom and future.

These great privileges are highlighted when I consider what I actually deserved as an enemy of God, incapable in myself of obeying you. You would have been right and righteous to strike me down upon birth, sending me to hell and separating yourself from me for eternity.

Yet you called me to be one of your children, a princeling in your family. You cleansed and transformed me, you chose and cherished me, and I stand before you dearly loved, deeply cared for, doted on and delighted in. Not because of what I am, but because of who you are: Love itself, Light itself, Life itself, breathing new creation into a life born a ruin, giving worth to what was destructive, making useful what was dangerous.

To belong to you, O Holy God, is a marvelous shift of fortune, a wonderful change of status, an undeserved privilege of grace, a miraculous outcome—all dependent on your goodness. Praise be to you that you gave worth where there was waste, you gave value where there was viciousness, you gave life where there was death. In you we are wanted, worthwhile, wondered about and watched over. To be your people is a privilege beyond comprehension.

To think on this brings praise to my lips. Praise is your due, praise is our privilege, praise is our gift, praise is our joy. You are worthy, O Lord, in every way.

So we eagerly give you glory, honor and praise for the incredible goodness of your heart, the unbelievable forgiveness of your character, the incomprehensible love of your being.  We bow before you in thankfulness, gratitude and joy. We rise up to return your love in obedience, rejoicing and praise. Glory be to you in our lives today. Amen.

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Psalm 33:10,11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 24, 2016
 
Psalm 33:10 “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.”
 
[You, O Lord God, rule. You are absolutely Sovereign. You see all that people and devils are planning and in your might, power and majesty thwart the wrong that contravenes your great goals.
 
You frustrate our destructive desire for selfish independence; you prevent us from reaching joy and peace apart from you; you hold back the tide of evil. What you do allow, you will use for good in the lives those involved.
 
Praise be to you for your greatness, Lord, for your wisdom, for your power, all of which are continually at work to transform the evil of men into the goodness of God.]
 
Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”
 
[In contrast to us weak humans and the limited evil spiritual powers, you are unthwartable, unconquerable, undefeatable and eternally triumphant.
 
You will bring about the results that you have planned, no matter what men and demons may do. You are able to weave their rebellion and rejection truth into the overall fabric of your purposes for the redemption and recreation of the universe. In the process you rescue from the kingdom of darkness all those who are willing to believe and sweep them into the Kingdom of Light.
 
You are firm and faithful, you are unchangingly consistent, ever present and perfectly powerful. What you planned from the beginning has come to pass despite Satan’s constant attempts to thwart your desires: the line of Judah was preserved, the Messiah came at the right time, making the necessary sacrifice, rising from the dead and providing salvation for all, especially for those who believe.
 
No force could prevent this, no power exists that could thwart it. “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30).
 
You, Lord God, are the star Breather, the galaxy Former, the planet Hanger, the earth Spinner and the dawn Bringer. You are great beyond comprehension and mighty beyond imagination.
 
We praise you that you are ever at work to thwart what is wrong and bring to pass what is right. In you we can rest, in you we can find peace. Help us to live in trust, in praise and in wholehearted obedience to you today.
 
 
 
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Psalm 33:6-9

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 23, 2016
 
Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,”
 
[How powerful you are, Lord, able to create through speaking. Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you, as the Living Word, created all that there is: “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Col. 1:16).
 
Your might is immeasurable, your strength is stupendous, your power is perpetual–greater than the stretch of the known heavens, greater than we will ever comprehend, for you are infinite in every way. We stand in awe of you!]
 
“their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
 
[You are the star breather, exhaling stars great and small, blowing them into orbits, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies, placing them properly in your universe.
 
Billions of stars, billions of light years apart, yet you can measure this all with the span of your hand. You, O Lord God, are mighty beyond comprehension, worthy of worship and love, worthy of awe and fear, worthy of obedience by all your creatures.]
 
Psa 33:7 “He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;”
 
[The vast oceans are but a small puddle to you, easily channeled into the place prepared, kept there in store for your plans.]
 
“he puts the deep into storehouses.”
 
[You, Lord God, prepared all that mankind would need and stored it up: minerals for health (zinc, magnesium, selenium), metals for help (iron, titanium, aluminum), might for power (coal, oil, atomic energy) and measures for money (gold, silver, precious stones). You, knew what would be needed and prepared all, putting it where men could find it. You are the great and wise Planner and Provider.]
 
Psalm 33:8 “Let all the earth fear the LORD;”
 
[Your might, your power, your dominion, your wisdom and your creation are all reasons to tremble before you, to bow in surrender to the Almighty, All-knowing, All-wise One. You are THE One to be feared, respected and obeyed–not puny man or Satan who is far more powerful than us, but immensely less strong than you.]
 
“let all the people of the world revere him.”
 
[The wonder of your creation–the beauty, the wisdom, the imagination, the intricacy, the variety, the vastness and the very minute detail of all you have made–lead us to bow before you in awe, in wonder, in reverence at such power, such greatness, such goodness, such beauty and such majesty. You alone are worthy of worship, O Lord God.]
 
Psalm 33:9 “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”
 
[With such ease you made all, with such finality you arranged everything. All creation obeyed you and even in its present twisted state the universe follows the laws of physics you established. Your wisdom, your order, your goodness are visible to all who care to see–for what you made is good.]
 
Glory be to you: You are the One to whom we bow in worship and rise up in obedience. May this increasing knowledge of how great you are lead us to further trust, further surrender, rest and praise.
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Psalm 33:4,5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 22, 2016
 
Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the LORD is right and true;”
 
[Praise you, Lord God, that your Word is flawless, correct, always trustable, always totally right and true. Praise you for speaking it, preserving it, giving it to us so we can read it, study it and memorize it, learning to think your thoughts. Thank you for your loving provision in revealing yourself to us.]
 
“he is faithful in all he does.”
 
[Faithful is your character! You tie yourself to your qualities, you never stray outside the boundaries you have set for yourself: you are always good; you are always wise; you are always present; you are always protecting; you are always helping; you are always powerful; you are always patient. You are faithful to the end: completely, entirely, purely, perfectly faithful. Therefore you are the One to be trusted.]
 
Psalm 33:5 “The LORD loves righteousness and justice;”
 
[Your love, O Lord, is so comprehensive and wide, providing all that is good. Praise you that you are passionate about righteousness and do only what is right and pure and good. Thank you that you love justice and always judge sin, never condoning evil. Therefore there is hope for the future, for an end to evil and for a heaven where there is only goodness.
“the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
 
[Praise you, Lord, that in your great love you are merciful, for if you interacted with us only on the basis of righteousness and justice, we would be blown away in a moment, sent into an eternity separated far from you and all that you are.
 
But in you, righteous and justice are accompanied by love. Mercy triumphs over Justice because you are Love itself, providing a way for forgiveness even though it cost you greatly, and continues to bring you pain and suffering as unbelievers reject you and we believers live in rebellion and unbelief.
 
Praise you that in your love you persist in guiding, disciplining, chastening and correcting, leading and transforming us. Praise you for your patient, gracious, powerful, ever flowing love.]
 
Thank you so much, Lord, for your kindness and grace in my life–undeserved but oh so pleasant. I praise you for the privilege of being your child, of walking with you, of following you as you guide in each decision. Praise you that I can know that you have gone through the day, prepared things and will carry me through.
 
Help me today to be wise and godly, to think truth, to put on the armor of God and to obey what I know to be right. May I choose to have joy in Jesus, to let go of what is temporary, hold on to what is eternal and rise above. I praise you for all that you are doing, all that you are going to do.
 
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Psalm 33:1-3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 20, 2016
Psalm 33
“Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”
 
[And so it is Lord–it is so right for us to praise you! You are worthy for you are holy, you are great, you are wise, you are loving, you are just, you are firm, you are never fearful, negative, unbalanced, unjust, selfish, proud or evil in anyway.
 
You, Lord God, are Light, you are Life, you are Love. You are worthy of all praise, exaltation and glory.]
 
Psalm 33:2,3 “Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”
 
[You love beauty and music, Lord, and you have given these to us as a means of enjoying and exalting you. To sing and play instruments to give you glory is a wonderful privilege, it is a marvelous gift from you.
 
Thank you that we can come at any time through the Name and Blood of Jesus into your presence to praise you in song, to express the joy that we have in you–for you are the wonderful, marvelous, eternal, exalted Creator and Sustainer of the universe, full of goodness, devoid of evil, overflowing with grace, holiness and power.
 
May praise be the keynote of my life; may prayer be the foundation of all I do; and may whole-hearted obedience be the pattern of my days–all bringing honor to you, Lord Jesus.]
 
 
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Psalm 32:9-11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 20, 2016
Psalm 32:9 “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”
 
[Lord, help us to be the opposite of this. Help us to move in quick and joyful obedience, with understanding of your Word, with the desire to honor you. Help us to act out out of kindness, care and love for others.
 
I thank you, Lord, for your provision in every way, meaning I can trust you fully. May I never need the bit and bridle and instead obey out of understanding and desire.]
 
Psalm 32:10 “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.”
 
[I praise you for your never-ending Love, Lord God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I praise you that your love always surrounds us. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore” (Ps. 125:2). “The angel of the Lord encamps round about those who fear him and delivers them” (Ps. 34:7).
 
Help us all to trust in you, to fear you (care deeply what you think and obey you) and to find refuge in you. “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust” (Ps. 91:3).]
 
Psalm 32:11 “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”
 
[What a privilege to rejoice in you, Lord, no matter what our circumstances are. May we be glad in you in the midst of this present difficult time of much uncertainty. I give you praise and glory, honor and exaltation now, before there is a resolution to any of the multilayered problems surrounding me.
 
I choose, like Habakkuk, to rejoice in you, not my comfort: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls [in the face of starvation and death], YET I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Hab. 3:17,18).
 
You, Lord God, are good and worthy of trust and of glory in every way. I choose today to give you honor and praise in whatever comes. Amen.
 
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From the book EDIFIED!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 19, 2016
 
“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Psalm 116:1
 
Praise be to you, Heavenly Father, the Great I Am, the Creator of all and the Director of Life. You are the glorious One, worthy of praise, worthy of honor, worthy of love, for your ear always “is open to my cry and your eye is on the righteous.”
 
There is not a second when you are not focused upon each individual in the world, especially your children. “From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind” (Psa. 33:13). No event escapes your notice, no happening comes without your permission.
 
You do not prevent every difficulty or trouble from coming to us, for in your wisdom you know that our growth comes in and through problems and hardships. And each uncomfortable, unwanted situation is another chance to honor you with faith and the sacrifice of praise. It is an opportunity to dance with joy on the stage of life, clothed in grace, energized with truth, surrounded by the light of your love.
 
My response should be the same as David’s in Psalm 116:1 “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Your love, O Lord, your care, your compassion for me in and through difficulty awakens in me more love for you.
 
To look away from our personal situation to the great context of your wisdom, your power and your grace frees us to reject self-pity, anger, rebellion and unbelief. As you did for Elisha’s servant, you open our eyes to see the forces of the Lord surrounding us: “The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear him and he delivers them” (Ps. 34:7).
 
With the psalmist, I can shout, “Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live” (Ps. 116:2). You, O God, are faithful, you are good, you are wise, you are wonderful. To come into your presence is a privilege, a joy, a grace.
 
I can rest in your goodness, I can rejoice in your power, I can exalt in your faithfulness, I can praise you for the unknown that is to come today, this week, this year, for what you bring will be used for good. Glory be to you forever and ever!
 
Prayer: “Lord God, King of the universe, help me to remember your greatness, your glory, your goodness so I can rest in your power, provision and protection in the midst of distressing happenings. Help me to do this so I may give you ever increasing honor and glory. Amen.”
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Psalm 32:7,8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on September 16, 2016
Psalm 32:7 “You are my hiding place;”
[In the midst of my problems, I can come to you with my fears, my anxiety, my dread and know that you will warmly receive me, help me and protect me. In you I am safe, in you I can be obedient to what you have told me is true.]
 
“you will protect me from trouble”
 
[Praise you for your power to protect and your commitment to my goodness. Thank you for the assurance that what you allow will be for my good and for your glory. Help me to therefore praise you for whatever comes today.]
 
“and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
 
[May my life be one long song of praise and honor to you, Lord, as I sing of your daily protection, your power, your deliverance.] Selah
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;”
 
[Praise you for your faithfulness and for your wisdom as you give guidance and insight in all: “turn left at the fork onto wisdom way, remembering my Word, ‘overcome evil with good;’ now turn right onto the path of trust, thinking truth, ‘forgive as God has forgiven you;’ wait here a bit in the place of restoration, ‘My soul, find rest in God alone;’ and remember the truth of Psalm 23, waiting quietly; ok, now you can proceed, but keep to the right side of the road, thinking my ways, ‘giving thanks in all things.’” With your instruction, I can proceed in the way I should go.]
 
“I will counsel you and watch over you.”
 
[Thank you for how personally and carefully you lead me, how specific your advice and commands are, how full of love and kindness your work is.
 
I praise you, Lord God for all that you will do in my life today–as you do every day–for you are my King, my Shepherd and my God. Praise you for how you will work all out. Help me to wait for your Word, to heed your counsel, to follow your instructions and to walk in your way.
 
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