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More on Psalm 4:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 29, 2015
Further thoughts on Psalm 4:2 “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?”
Selah (meditate on that verse)
 
[Lord, to think on you, to lift up your name, to look on your glory, this is the purpose for which we were created. But in our twisted state, even as believers, we turn from you to the visible world for our gratification, strength and significance.
 
Forgive us for our rebellion against Truth, for our rejection of your reality, for our regression to idols, for our repetition of Israel’s sins, for our return to the repulsive ways of our natural selves. It is our nature to worship what makes us happy, not you, the source of all goodness, righteousness and truth.
Help us to deny self, to reject our natural tendencies and fall at your feet in obedience and worship. Help us to live in praise for your great faithfulness and love, whether we are in pleasure or pain, goodness or grief, happiness or heaviness.
You are the only One worthy of worship. Glorify yourself in our lives, Lord. We bow before you as your unworthy servants, as your beloved children, as your dearly loved family. May the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth be pleasing in your sight today, O Lord my mighty Rock and my Savior.]
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Leaving the True God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 28, 2015
Psalm 4:2 “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?”
 
[It is the nature of human beings to worship, and you, Lord God, are the only One worthy of such adoration, honor and obedience. Yet we so often leave your glory for the tinsel and lights of this world: shiny new cars, flashy new electronics, exciting sports events, absorbing work, stimulating relationships, focus on food, the slippery slope of sensuality, the electrifying latest entertainment.
 
The wrongness of this is that we seek our fulfillment, our excitement, our security, our significance in these things rather than in You. We worship them as our idols; we demand these things in order to be happy. I get so absorbed in a project that I will snap at anyone who interrupts me. I focus on the feeling of accomplishment, not on my fellow followers.
 
In seeking elsewhere for what only you can give, we turn our backs on you, the Creator of all, the Provider of the possibility of true meaning, worth, security and fulfillment. It is you alone who are Eternal, it is you alone who are Almighty, it is you alone who holds time in your hand, who sets up and takes down kings, who breathes out stars and fills the heavens.
 
You are the glorious One to be worshiped, adored, exalted and obeyed, yet we let the momentum of the moment divert us away from the monumental to the minute. Forgive us, Lord, lift our eyes to your greatness and free us from our idol worship that we may honor and glorify you today.]
 
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Our Beautiful God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 27, 2015
Another beautiful August day, with fog rising off the pond, the sky a clear, pale blue with golden edges as the sun nears the horizon. It is quiet and peaceful, a cool 52 degrees at 6:15.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, for your goodness and graciousness displayed in the beauty around us. As I walked along the pond yesterday, the sun rose, sending shafts of light to sparkle on the water and bring a golden glow to the leaves on the trees. The little white and blue flowers of weeds growing at the road’s edge were decorated with drops of dew shining in the newly born light of morning.
 
You are such a lover of beauty, Lord, making even the mundane magically beautiful in the start of a new day. I praise you, Lord, for how this reflects your character: every single aspect is beautiful beyond anything in this world. You are magnificently magnanimous, gloriously good, wholly holy, unconditionally kind, powerfully patient and perfectly pure. And each of these aspects has various further forms of beauty, such as we see in water: gleaming rain drops hanging on a wire fence; the still surface of a pond, mirroring all around; the clear water of a babbling brook; the crispness of frost on winter grass; the intricate design of snowflakes as they land on my mitten; the hard, smooth and dark surface of ice on a lake; the sparkling shaft of an ice cycle in the rays of the rising sun.
 
So is your multifaceted faithfulness in which you are persistent, patient, powerful and positive. You have a plan and will bring it to pass. You are faithful to your promises, to your kindness, to your correction, to your punishment of sin and rewarding of obedience, to your judgment of the world in righteousness, truth and love so that evil will be eliminated and heaven will be pristinely pure.
 
You are majestically beautiful, mightily trustable and multifaceted in patience. I praise you for revealing your character to us in creation, in your Word, in your work in our lives, in your provision and protection.
 
As it says in Isaiah 40:10,11 “Look! The Lord GOD comes with strength, and his arm rules for him. Look! His reward is with him, and his payment accompanies him. Like a shepherd, he tends his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms, carries them close….”
 
To you, Lord,  belongs all glory, praise and worship. May you be honored today as I seek to see all the beauty in the common, the normally unnoticed aspects of this day and remember to give thanks for the steady stream of your goodness into my life.
 
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Psalm 4:1b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 26, 2015

Psalm 4:1b “…be merciful to me and hear my prayer.”

[Praise you, O Triune God–Loving Father, Powerful Jesus, Holy Spirit–that you are merciful. My being alive here on earth is evidence of your mercy: you have a right and obligation in your holiness to punish every sinner, and could do it at any moment. However, you chose to wait, to secure forgiveness in mercy, then to work in every heart to draw to yourself those who were willing to turn and have the veil removed.

You, Lord, are merciful, and you do hear prayer: “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him. He hears their cry and rescues them” (Ps 145:19). “In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me“ (Ps 86:7). You fill the universe, you are everywhere at once, so you see and listen to each person; you are capable of hearing the prayers of billions all at the same time; you have endless resources with which to answer: “Out of your glorious riches strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being….” (Eph 3:16).

When I call to you, you are there, you hear and you answer. Praise you for the times we have to wait, knowing that you have actually answered before we called, and the manifestation of your answer will come at the right time in the right way, whether it be now, later or after we die. We can praise you for the answer before we see it, knowing that you are faithfulness itself: faithful to all your promises and loving towards all you have made (Ps 145:9). You are the God worthy of worship, of trust and praise in the midst of our difficulties, suffering, troubles and persecutions.

Lord God, help us to live in the light of your presence, to exalt in your faithfulness long before we can see the answers to our prayers. Help us to praise you, the faithful One who answers out of your righteousness, your love, your mercy, who answers for the sake of your glory, your name, your good desires.

I praise you now, for what you are going to do today, the events you will allow, the positives as well as the disappointments, the difficulties, the downers, for these valleys are death to self and bring growth to your children. I pray that in the power of your Spirit, my thoughts, motives, words and actions will bring joy to your heart today, my Lord and Savior!]

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Psalm 4:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 25, 2015

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.”

[Praise you, O Lord God, that you are sinless, pure, without fault, of good motives and faithful. You only do what is good, you never fail at it. You are a wonder, a marvel, the paragon of goodness, with a character of perfect love and goodness, and therefore you are absolutely trustable. I praise you that you answered my prayer and have made yourself my God–that is, you reached down and, in spite of what I am in my sin and rebellion, drew me to yourself to make me your child. You wanted me, you bought me; you delight in me and rejoice in your relationship with me. This is beyond human understanding, contrary to what justice calls for, showing the beauty of your grace-filled heart.]

“Give me relief from my distress;”

[You, Lord Jesus, in your power, your wisdom, your creativity, in being outside of time and the Master of all, are able to bring relief in the right way at the right time. You know how long to leave us in distress to bring growth and deepening, to equip and teach, to strengthen and train. You know how much pain and suffering I have at the moment and you give more grace than is needed. In fact, you gave grace even before the distress started, more than enough grace to be able to endure. You make it possible to pass through with power, to embrace and utilize what may superficially appear be only the attack of the enemy, but is actually a gift from your hand. I must embrace both this opportunity and your grace with praise, employ it with obedience, and emerge from it with glory for you, empowered as better and stronger. And with your power, relief and help this is possible!]
Just now
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Psalm 3:7-8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 24, 2015
Psalm 3:7 “Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.”
 
[David’s call was desperate, he needed help now. He knew what you, Lord, are capable of bringing down his enemies, and wanted you to act right away. And, as we know from the story in 2 Samuel 17 and 18, you did so.
 
Although David said “all my enemies,” he did not really want you to bring down of his son, and mourned his death greatly. You answered, but he did not like the answer: you arranged that Absalom would get his hair caught in the tree, that Abner would be the one told about this and kill him. Absalom had been pardoned before and had proved himself unworthy of trust; so it would have been again and you prevented that. You know what is best, so we must trust you with whatever answer you choose to give.]
Psalm 3:8 “From the LORD comes deliverance.”
 
[From you alone, Lord, by you alone, for your glory alone comes deliverance. “He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him….” (Ps.145, 19.20a) We must look to you, LORD, the great I AM, the King of glory, the Lord of all, for deliverance, not to people, our own efforts or some other source. Forgive me for looking first to others, to medicine, to friends, to influential people for help before coming to you. You may use these to help me, but I must first come to you. You are the Source of all good, the Creator of all existence, the Sustainer of all life. Praise be to you that you are the answer and the Answerer; you are the way, the truth and the life.]
 
“May your blessing be on your people.”
 
[You are the One true source of blessing—genuine happiness and joy come only from you—all other sources are temporary and many are addictive. With you, however, is the fullness of joy combined with the freedom to live in ever growing obedience to Truth. You are worthy of worship and I give you honor, praise and glory; I give you obedience, respect and joy. May you be glorified and honored in this day in me and before me. Bless me with reminders to check in with you at each juncture for your direction and wisdom.]
 
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Our Delightful God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 23, 2015

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the Lord is gracious and compassionate and righteous.”

Psalm 112:4

 

Praise you, O Lord God, the Great Savior, the Good Shepherd, the Gracious Most High King. To you belong honor, glory, praise and thanksgiving at all times. In you alone my soul finds rest; at this time of uncertainty in my life, the powerful truths of Psalm 62 hold me, keep me from falling into the abyss of anxiety, a place where you are dishonored by unbelief and rebellion, by trusting in myself and by fear of man.

Your greatness, your goodness and your graciousness all surround me, keeping me safe from the attacks of the enemy. No matter how things may appear, your shield of faith, raised by praise, wards off every assault of the enemy and extinguishes every flaming arrow. Because of your mighty Love, my soul is at rest in you: quiet, calm, trusting, accepting.

In the words of Psalm 112:1-3, “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD….” You are the One to be feared: honored, respected, obeyed, loved, considered above all in every decision.

“Blessed is the man …who finds great delight in his commands.” Your commands are delightful: based on your character, full of Truth, designed to protect, complete in understanding, beautiful in intent, powerful in outcomes, lovely in expression. In meditating on your commands, we can see more and more of your wisdom as your Spirit transforms our thoughts, our wills, our emotions, our understanding. Your commands are delightful because you are delightful and you are to be delighted in: the Gracious, Wise, Loving, Powerful, Good God.

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Psalm 3:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 22, 2015

Psalm 3:6 “I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”

[For David this was a physical fact: Absalom came with a large army with all the advantage. But in this crisis David was responding in the unseen, thinking about you, Lord: the Majestic, Mighty, Powerful, Undefeated, Unconquerable, Eternal Lord of Hosts. You are strong beyond imagination, you command the armies of heaven, you can end everything in an instant, you work to weave all into your plan. Therefore David did not give in to fear.

Praise you that for us, too, in our battles that are more against spiritual forces than physical, you give care and grace, your presence and your protection. These we experience every day: in the timing of things, in provision of needs and in shielding us from many negative possibilities—all the perfect working of your hand in our lives.

So as we daily face the unseen but real forces of hell, who love evil, who have not one gram of goodness, who desire to destroy and are constantly at work to tear down all positives–we can rest in you. When we cry out to you, you are at work, for you have already defeated this enemy and are calling us to participate with you in the cleanup operation here on earth, keeping on your armor, fighting with praise, prayer and persistence in doing what we know to be right. At the same time, on the level of what can be seen, the world now faces a growing horde of Isl.amic terrorists, eager to conquer and rule over all the earth; in this, too, we need not fear. For you are moving history to a conclusion and taking us with you. You are our Rock, our King, our Lord, our Ruler and we trust in you.]

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Psalm 3:4-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 20, 2015
Psalm 3:4 “To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.”
 
[Note, it is not past tense, “answered,” but “answers,” meaning all the time. You are the listening, answering God: all-present, all-seeing, all-knowing. In your faithfulness you are always there, you always answer as you see fit and in your time, you always know what is best. When trouble comes, you give the grace to go through it.
 
When David arrived at his place of safety while fleeing from Absalom, you had arranged that true friends would supply his needs of food, drink and shelter (2 Sam. 17:27-29). During the march, when being cursed, tired, discouraged, it didn’t look like much help was being given, but you were at work, doing what was right. So I can have confidence that you will answer in the issues before me, that are weighing on my mind. Praise you ahead of time for what you are doing and will do.
 
Selah [I must think about those truths concerning God’s faithfulness, power and goodness, and choose to trust in Him]
 
Psalm 3:5 “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.”
 
[David did just that, even though he knew he would be pursued, he slept and awoke refreshed because you, O Lord, protected and kept him safe in the night.
 
So with us, you surround us like a wall, you hold back the enemy, you give us rest and keep us safe. I praise you, Lord, and thank you for your goodness and faithfulness. You surely are worthy of our worship and obedience.]
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Psalm 3:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 19, 2015
Psalm 3:3 “But you are a shield around me, O LORD;”
 
[You are there, O Holy One, mighty in your glory, strong in righteousness, powerful in wisdom. You surround us, you watch over us, you deliver us. There is no one greater than you, no other refuge so sure, no other help so near. I praise you for you love, your faithfulness, your power.]
 
“you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.”
 
[Not only do you save us, but you share the glory of your triumph with us. You will bring forth our righteousness (from you) as the light and our judgment as the noon day sun (Ps. 37:6). You encourage us, you give us guidance, you give us honor and lift us up before men. “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Col 3:4)
 
I praise you, Lord, that you, the Holy One are willing–no, more that that, you are pleased to share your glory in some mysterious way with your children who previously opposed you bitterly, who brought shame on you, who even now bring grief to your heart every day in our selfishness and unbelief.
 
Truly there is no love like yours, O God: full-orbed, powerful, ever flowing, unaffected by anyone’s response. You are the source of love, the well-spring of grace, the headwater of goodness. You overwhelm us with your undeserved, beyond logic, contra-conditional, unending love, continually showering us with grace, goodness and help.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, for what you will do today in the midst of all that will come. I give you glory and honor now for the unseen, unsuspected, unimagined goodness you will sweep into my life today, whether it be clearly so, or disguised as difficulty, disappointment or suffering. May you be glorified, honored, lifted up and exalted today in my thoughts, words and actions, for you are worthy!]
 
 
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