DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 20:2

CEF International Headquarters, Warrenton, MO

"May He send you help from the sanctuary

And strengthen you from Zion."

Psalm 20:2, NKJV

What are my three favorite Psalms? Would you count me an infidel if the 23rd Psalm isn't that high? Believe it or not, it's 6th place? The top three consist of, in order, Psalms 84, 67, and 20. (For the curious, 4th and 5th, respectively, are 27 and 119.)

Today, I'm focusing on Psalm 20. Why do I place it so high? Is it verse 7, which says "Some trust in chariots and some in horses," and some paraphrase, "Some trust in Cadillacs and some in Porshes?" No, it's the first five verses.

Alex Darnall, worship leader at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, was doing a devotional series on the Psalms and commented on the 20th that it's in context of the King addressing his army. I didn't think of that, and it sounds good. But I looked at it as a great Psalm to pray for others, particularly the first 5 verses.

When I looked at this Psalm a couple of days ago, I felt I needed the prayer from verse 2 for me personally.

PRAYER: Lord, I need Your help; please send me help from Your Sanctuary in heaven. I need Your strength; please strengthen me from Zion. And Lord, please let me know of any brothers and sisters in You that need encouragement and need me to pray this Psalm for them.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 42 OF 48 - PSALM 138

 

A millstone, with a plaque containing Mathew 18;6, at CEF Headquarters, Warrenton, MO.

1   I will praise You with my whole heart;
    Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2   I will worship toward Your holy temple,
    And praise Your name
    For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
    For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3   In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
    And made me bold with strength in my soul.
4  All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
    When they hear the words of Your mouth.
5   Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    For great is the glory of the Lord.
6   Though the Lord is on high,
    Yet He regards the lowly;
    But the proud He knows from afar.
7   Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
    You will stretch out Your hand
    Against the wrath of my enemies,
    And Your right hand will save me.
8   The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
    Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
    Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
                    Psalm 138:1-8, New King James Version

Another of my favorite Psalms. I find it interesting it says He exalts His Word above His name. Do you think this could refer to Scripture?

I also am encouraged by verses 3 and 7. The former says God makes me bold with strength in my soul - Don't we all need this kind of boldness? The latter talks about God reviving us when we walk in the midst of trouble (am I the only one who thinks of Psalm 23:4, "Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death?) and stretching out His hand against the wrath of our enemies.

One of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite singers, is based on verse six: "Tho He Be High" by Becky Ugartechea. This verse makes me think of Jesus saying that to enter his kingdom, we should become as little children (Matthew 18:4). This in turn makes me think of Child Evangelism Fellowship. In the front of the building is a millstone with a metal plaque reading Matthew 18:6:"But woe to those who make one of these little ones who believe in my name stumble, for it would be better for them if a millstone were tied around their neck and they were drowned in the midst of the sea."

Finally, God will perfect - or complete - all that concerns us. Isn't it wonderful to know, as it says here and in Philippians 1:6, that God isn't through working on us yet?

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 21 OF 48 (PENTECOST VERSION) - PSALM 67

Arlington Avenue Baptist Church, Indianapolis

 

1   God be merciful to us and bless us,
    And cause His face to shine upon us.
                                                    Selah
2  That Your way may be known on earth,
    Your salvation among all nations.
3  Let the peoples praise You, O God;
    Let all the peoples praise You.
4  Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
    For You shall judge the people righteously,
    And govern the nations on earth.
                                                    Selah
5  Let the peoples praise You, O God;
    Let all the peoples praise You.
6  Then the earth shall yield her increase;
    God, our own God, shall bless us.
7  God shall bless us,
    And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
                                Psalm 67:1-7, New King James Version

 

This is my second favorite Psalm (we looked at my favorite a few weeks ago). One reason is this is a millennial Psalm, looking to the Kingdom when Christ reigns over all the earth from Jerusalem, Jew and non-Jew alike.

That theme makes it fitting for this Psalm to be looked at on Pentecost Sunday. Why? Because when the Spirit was poured out, the message started in Jerusalem and spread to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Revelation 7 mentions that every tribe and language will be represented before His throne. That is not true yet - there are thousands of languages and people groups (the Biblical equivalent of "nation", as opposed to our idea of nations).

Aren't you looking forward to that day?

 

 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 17 OF 48 - PSALM 84

Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Christian Church, Indianapolis

1   How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!
2  My soul longs, yes, even faints
    For the courts of the Lord;
    My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3  Even the sparrow has found a home,
    And the swallow a nest for herself,
    Where she may lay her young--
    Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    My King and my God.
4  Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
    They will still be praising You.
                                             Selah

5  Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
    Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6  As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
    They make it a spring;
    The rain also covers it with pools.
7  They go from strength to strength;
    Each one appears before God in Zion.
8  O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    Give ear, O God of Jacob!
                                            Selah

9   O God, behold our shield,
    And look upon the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
    I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    The Lord will give grace and glory;
    No good thing will He withhold
    From those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
    Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
                                        Psalm 84:1-12, New King James Version

At some point in this series, you'll be expecting me to say, "This is my favorite Psalm." Well, we're at that point.

Why is this my favorite Psalm? While there are several reasons, the verse that stands out to me is "Blessed is the man whose strength is in the Lord, who has set his heart for pilgrimage." That section touches my heart.

One of my favorite series is the Monastery Murders by Donna Fletcher Crow. Of course, when my favorite fictional character (Father Antony) is part of the story, of course I enjoy the series. But it seems like more often than not the main characters are on a pilgrimage of one sort or another. In the third story, An Unholy Communion, a major part of the plot is that Father Antony and Felicity are taking a group of teens on a pilgrimage.

Of course, we need to remember that our home is in the House of the Lord, not in the tents of this world.