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Psalm 10:1-10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 25, 2017
Today we will begin looking at a Psalm which is an example of “Lifting one’s soul to God.” Today’s part is the first step: describing the distress of the psalmist.
 
Psalm 10:1
“Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
 
[So it often seems. Here the psalmist is lifting his soul to you, Lord, pouring out his thoughts, feelings and desires, wondering why you seem to be doing nothing about the suffering of the weak.
 
However we know from your Word and our experience that you are actually at work behind the scenes, setting things up, preparing to act, working in deep and effective ways. The psalmist goes on in his complaint about the wicked:]
 
10:2 “In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
10:3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.”
 
[Sounds like current events.]
 
10:4 “In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
 
[Brutal, selfish, proud, greedy and arrogant—the wicked man does not think of God at all. Instead he bulls his way through life taking, getting, having his own way–while God seemingly does nothing.]
 
10:5 “His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
10:6 He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me;
I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’”
 
[So it seems to the psalmist. However, in all the wicked man’s seeming success and strength, he is deluded, caught in the web of Satan’s lies while enjoying it—but only for a time, for you, O Lord, are prepared to act at the right moment, to bring him low, to bring justice.]
 
10:7 “His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
10:8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
10:9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10:10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.”
 
[As ever, the wicked prey on the weak, never on the strong. They are cowardly and utterly selfish. Their goal is power, domination, wealth, control and comfort—and they will find it temporarily.]
 
10:11 “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees.’”
 
[This is the utmost in arrogance, claiming that the all-seeing Creator, the all-knowing Sustainer isn’t aware of what is happening! This man’s concept of God is fatally flawed, twisted, and much too small—he has made God in his own image—his world view is willfully devoid of truth. And he will pay for it.]
 
May we, Lord, be exactly the opposite of such a person; may we live in the light of your presence, rejoicing in your transforming Truth, reveling in your healing Grace, submitting to your ever-flowing Love. May we carry goodness, mercy, kindness and grace to the weak and weary. May you thereby be glorified in our lives today.]
 
 
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Psalm 9:19-20

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 24, 2017
Psalm 9:19 “Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;”
 
[Yes, Lord, prevent sinful man from overcoming your plans, your purposes and your people; bring the evil doers low, defeat them in their attempts to bring harm so that your name may be honored.]
 
“let the nations be judged in your presence.”
 
[Let your judgment flow like rivers of waters. Praise you that you will judge the nations in righteousness and people with justice. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom. 12:19).
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We don’t have to carry the burden of making it all right. We are called not to be judges, but to be your lights in our sphere of influence, doing good, sharing the Word and trusting you to bring judgment to the nations.]
 
Psalm 9:20 “Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men.”
 
[Yes, Lord, may terror overwhelm them because of your greatness, may fear seize them because of your righteousness, may anxiety grip them because of the judgment to come.
 
May many thereby be brought to belief in you and surrender to you by a supernatural fear descending on them: fear of death , fear of judgment and condemnation, fear of the future, fear of what lies beyond death.
 
May they realize clearly that they have nothing to trust in and turn to you–who offers them forgiveness, cleansing, adoption and eternal life–instead of trusting in their traditions which can give them nothing in the end.
 
Break through, Lord, bring great awakening, sweep many in to your Kingdom!]
Selah (think on that)
 
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Psalm 9:17-18

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 22, 2017
Psalm 9:17 “The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God.”
 
[In you, Lord, there is justice: those who forget you will be forgotten. You are the most important One in existence, the most important Being in history, the most important Point of all the Universe. How could we forget you–you who are the source of all good–and not be guilty of the fatal sin of unbelief (John 16:9)? You, O Lord, are worthy, not just of remembering, but of totally absorbing our attention, our affection, our adoration!]
 
Psalm 9:18 “But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.”
 
[You, O Mighty and Loving Heavenly Father, remember and watch over the needy–and we are all needy–you see each one, you care for every one. You are the God of goodness, giving comfort to those who are hurting, support to those who are suffering, help to those who are hopeless. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
 
I praise you that you are the God of hope, giving “joy and peace to those who trust in you so” our lives can “overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
 
In you, Lord God, there is all we need and desire: there is hope, there is meaning, there is purpose, there is a certain and positive future because you are moving history to a definite conclusion and taking us, your children, with you.
 
Help us to keep our eyes on you, Lord Jesus, to let go of what is temporal, to hold on to what is eternal and to rise above the turmoil and tragedy of life in a fallen world. Help us to remember that we are destined for a re-created and perfect world, where there will be no sin, no rebellion, no evil. In you, Lord Jesus, we are safe, secure and can be satisfied, no matter what our situation may be.
 
Help us, Heavenly Father, to live out today this truth of your faithful guidance, your powerful protection, your bountiful provision and your perfect plan, by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in every circumstance (Ps. 50:23), thereby honoring you in faith and cooperating with you in being open to the help you will bring.]
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From my Worship Journal

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 21, 2017
Written after lifting my soul to God, receiving His insight, conviction and forgiveness.
 
Praise you, Lord God, for you are the King of Glory and the Lord of Grace, who reaches down into my life consistently: guiding, providing, protecting, teaching, correcting, forgiving and transforming. “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you” (Ps. 86:5).
 
It is such a wonder to belong to you, the Creator of all, the Sustainer of all, the Ender of all. On the level of universe-wide thinking, I live on a tiny speck of cosmic dust, tucked under one arm of the Milky Way, which itself is a smallish, inconsequential galaxy among millions of others.
 
And yet you, the Great One who stoops to look upon us, have the desire and commitment to be intimately, consistently involved in my life. “from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do” (Ps. 33:14,15).
 
You can do this because you are infinite, you are powerful, you are loving and good, you are filled with Grace, giving your enemies the opposite of what we deserve.
 
Forgive me for taking your mighty, rich love for me for granted–I so easily forget how great you are, how huge the universe is, and how much I deserve the opposite of your love and tender care.
 
You are marvelous in your love, magnificent in your forgiveness, munificent (splendidly generous) in your provision and magnanimous in your grace. You are truly worthy of wholehearted worship, lavish love, supreme surrender and outlandish obedience.
 
Help me today to remember your greatness, my unworthiness and your rich, redeeming love, so that I may respond by living worthy of your Name and the calling you have given me.
 
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Psalm 9:15-16

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 20, 2017
Psalm 9:15 “The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.”
 
[Praise you for your faithfulness to judge in righteousness, Lord: you bring upon evil doers what they have prepared for others. At the top of the list is Satan himself, who has been judged and will end up in the lake of fire where he has sought to send so many others.
 
I think of the destruction that came on Germany and Japan after WWII for the cruel and oppressive regimes that ruled there. I think of how the dictators ruling in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia were taken down in the Arab Spring. in the end evil doers are consumed by their own plans.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, that you bring justice at the right time: “Fret not yourself because of the man who prospers in his way…for evil men shall be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord shall inherit the land.” (Ps. 37:7,9)]
 
Psalm 9:16 “The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.”
 
[Your justice, O Lord, is strong and broad, sure, right and certain. You will bring judgment on all who, in their evil independence, refuse the refuge of your love and forgiveness. This actually is the most wicked thing we can do, to reject the salvation Jesus provided at such great cost.
 
The evil we do will come back to capture us if we refuse your refuge; this is good, for evil without justice brings hopelessness.
 
Praise you, Lord God, that your character is the measure of all. You are all we truly seek: Great Good, Perfect Peace, Total Truth, Wholly Holiness and Lavish Love.
 
To you belongs exaltation, glory, praise and honor. To you I bow in worship, for you I rise to obey, with you I go forth into the day to join you in your great and beautiful plans. May you be glorified in my life today.
 
 
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Psalm 9:13-14

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 19, 2017
Psalm 9:13 “O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,”
 
[Lord, there are so many believers around the world, in places like Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Syria, in Egypt, who are literally being pursued to the gates of death. Recently a suicide bomber entered a church in Egypt and killed dozens of worshipers. In a second incident, the gate keeper prevented a bomber from entering a church, saving many lives, but was himself killed by the blast.
 
Praise you that you are there, helping them, strengthening them, delivering them, whether it be through the gates of splendor into eternity or out of the clutches of groups like ISIS, Al Kaida and Boko Haram. You are both faithful and merciful in the help you powerfully provide.
 
Protect them, Lord, embrace them, help them to respond to persecution with your thoughts: praising for the privilege of suffering, forgiving and praying for their persecutors, blessing those who misuse them (Matt. 5:11,12,43,44). This is how the widow of the martyred gate keeper responded on national television, forgiving the man who killed her husband, astounding the Muslim news commentator listening to her interview. May this result in many coming to faith in Christ.]
 
Psalm 9:14 “that I may declare your praises in the gates of the Daughter of Zion and there rejoice in your salvation.”
 
[One major purpose of deliverance is to give you glory, Lord, to praise you for your goodness, to rejoice in you–not just to be relieved at the end of our pain and turn back to our self-centered, futile living.
 
Praise be to you for your power to preserve, for your strength to save, for your promise to protect, and your commitment to keep.
 
May we live in the light of that today, passing through difficulties with the power of the Spirit, and praising you for your deliverance–past, present and future.]
 
In picture below from bombed church in Egypt, a bloodied page with text from Matthew 16:24-28, which includes these words:“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”
 
 
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Truth Belief

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 18, 2017
Here is an amazing answer to our prayers for persecuted Christians. Not an answer of protection from death and suffering, but God helping them to embrace persecution as a privilege from God. This led them to be an incredibly powerful witness to the world by thanking Him for allowing them to forgive and bless those who harmed them. Watch the video imbedded in this letter (you may have to copy this address and paste it in your browser), see the amazement the TV newscaster, and scroll down to look at the pictures after reading the letter.
 
https://mailchi.mp/bsoe/not-just-a-legend-1?e=ccf5377fe9
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Psalm 9:11,12

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 17, 2017

Psalm 9:11-12 “Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; for he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.”

[Praise you, O Great and Mighty Lord, for you are just; you will avenge evil; you will not forget.

I thank you that you pay close attention to the cry of the afflicted, that you know each person’s heart, each person’s suffering, each person’s deep desire for security and significance, for belonging, worth and competence.

As it says in Isaiah 51:12-15, “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass, that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?

For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar– the LORD Almighty is his name.”

We all long for freedom from the oppression of the enemy, and you, the LORD Almighty, have provided that for us in the death and resurrection of Christ.

I praise you, Lord, for your consistent care for us, your good guidance and your powerful protection. You are truly worthy of worship, glory and honor. Today we offer you praise, exaltation and obedience in and for all that will come from your good hand.

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EASTER!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 16, 2017

EASTER! Praise be to you, Lord God, Lord Jesus, for your willingness to go through all your suffering so that the Resurrection could occur!

You were willing to go through the valley of the shadow of despair and defeat, to break through death into life, bringing light, love and life to us when we were living in the oppression of the dominion of darkness.

Now that you are resurrected, you can rescue us and bring us into the Kingdom of Light where we have forgiveness of our sins according to the power of your shed blood!

What a wonderful, unbelievable ending to the story of sin and shame, brokenness and fear, degradation and debauchery, evil and hatred, oppression and despair.

In you we have the opposite of all these things: forgiveness and honor, wholeness and safety, exaltation and cleansing, goodness and love, freedom and hope.

To you, Lord Jesus, the Resurrected One, the Shining Shepherd, the Majestic Monarch, to you belongs all worship, all submission, all rejoicing, all honor. Praise be to you today as we remember again the wonder of your resurrected life and restored glory.

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Another instructive devotional from EDIFIED!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 15, 2017
 
Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 143:8b
 
We came in the door just before midnight following a long and stimulating visit with some local friends. There had been several opportunities to share spiritual truth. The wife of one friend showed a real interest, asked a lot of questions and listened carefully to a full presentation of the gospel.
 
In spite of this wonderfully encouraging time, my heart was as heavy as my eyelids, and I longed to just drop into bed and forget ‘til the morning the things that weighed on my heart. However, the Lord reminded me of the importance of “lifting my soul” to Him, getting out my troubled thoughts and “processing” them. So I sat down with my journal and began to write about the email I’d gotten that day.
 
“Lord, after getting that negative email from Charlie I am angry, disappointed, discouraged and hurt – I feel sorry for myself! I feel like reacting in a similar way, writing back and fully, exquisitely expressing my anger—but that is not your way, Lord. I know the key is to not give in to a negative response flowing out of self-pity and a sense of failure, but to praise you, Lord, for the unseen good you are working in this situation both in Charlie and in me, and to press on in truth.
 
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me of Psalm 50:23, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me and opens the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord.’ Thank you for helping me to ever lift up your name, to praise you and move on.”
 
There was a release of the burden as I thanked God for the situation and praised Him for what He was doing. It was fulfillment of David’s prayer, “Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for to you I lift up my soul” (Ps. 86:4, NKJV). That night I slept wonderfully and deeply, waking refreshed in spite of the late night.
 
During my quiet time the next morning, new thoughts came to mind of what to share with Charlie and a positive letter poured out of my head and into an email–it was truly a letter from the Lord. Charlie responded by asking forgiveness for his incorrect interaction, and later another email came expressing further remorse at his angry words.
 
The Lord worked; I am deeply thankful that He got me to listen, and to write out my thoughts in the evening, not the morning, so that He could give me both a good night’s sleep and His positive perspective.
 
The key was lifting my soul to God by writing out my thoughts and then comparing them to Scripture–to just express them verbally does not bring for me the insight that comes with writing. It brings clarity on what is actually happening so the Lord can give perspective and direction. It is truly good to “pour out our hearts to Him, for God is our refuge” (Ps. 62:8).
 
Prayer: “Lord, praise you that you call us to lift our souls to you. Help me to be consistent in honestly telling you what I am thinking, feeling, wanting, and to process these in the light of your Word. Restore my soul so that you may rule me wholly. Amen.”
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