Please read Psalm 128 (6 verses)

We are blessed to walk in the ways of the Lord for they bring us life, health and peace. The Lord promises good things to those who will walk with Him and be obedient to His word. We trust in the Lord and follow Him because of who He is and this realisation creates a holy fear in us of His majesty and person. God promises us good things, reasonable and settled things, not grandiose ideas that we might have for ourselves.

God says we will be able to work and enjoy the fruit of it, providing for our families and having enough to keep us in life and health. He does not promise great riches, because they are a snare to us. Riches bring many troubles and thoughts and motivations that are hard for us to handle, so in His mercy, He keeps us from that kind of “success.” To have our daily bread is the standard and not the covetous attitudes of this fallen world.

God gives us families and we rejoice to be part of a family. Families are so different and God gives each set of people each other to look after and nourish. Families can fall into difficulty, but the Lord keeps them and will honour all those who honour Him. The Lord delivers His people and will provide for each one according to His kindness, this is the promise and we can claim it each day.

The Lord blesses us from the heavenly city where we will all meet around His table of celebration – the whole family of God, complete and redeemed forever. To belong to this family is the main reason for life. If we should find ourselves without a family we are still amply provided for. To be adopted into the family of God is true and eternal blessing, and gives us the belonging we long for.

Please read Psalm 127 (5 verses)

We can try all we like to build our life in this world, but it is futile without the help of our Creator. We are actually powerless and full of foolish ideas about what is important and what will get us to our desired outcomes. We all have dreams, but they seldom become a reality, for the situations in our life take over and often dictate what we can or cannot do.

We sit up late working. We eat and drink to stay alive and healthy, but without the sustaining power of God in us, we fade and die quickly. It is God who gives the blessing of life and determines the number of days we get in our time here on earth. Many in our times are striving to better themselves through hard work in a career, or seeking to build a business. Some succeed, but many fail, and if we do succeed there is usually a price to pay, family tensions, decreasing healthiness, preoccupations with money, status,etc… this world seems to suck all the life out of us and return us very little. Some get to the end of their life disillusioned and disappointed because they did not achieve their goals.

Some sacrifice all rest on the altar of self and success. People go to bed with profound worries about all sorts of things and sleep eludes them. Spending long hours sitting in offices does not help our body health and we become increasingly sedentary. We spend money on gym membership and weekends to help us relax. We get plugged into a lifestyle which turns out to be high maintenance. In the end, only God gives rest and sleep and we need to put Him first in our life and thinking and planning. We need to allow Him to control our life and not our own ideas.

The outcome of that will be quite different, but full of blessing and great spiritual rewards. We must not neglect family, for our children are a gift from the Lord that we must look after and nurture. We are blessed to have them and allow them to temper our career choices and keep our feet on the ground. Except we put God first we will be last.

Please read Psalm 126 (6 verses)

At the end of the Old Testament, all seemed lost for the people of God. God was silent and the waiting was almost unbearable. Where was the promised Messiah? Mount Zion seemed desolate, forgotten, neglected. The glory of God was about to break through, to be seen by all who would believe. At the beginning of the kingdom age, when the Christ child was born, there were few who paid any attention, but soon crowds gathered to hear the Lord speak and do marvellous miracles of love and grace. The kingdom had now come for all who would humble themselves, as Jesus humbled Himself, and come to Him for forgiveness and a new life. 

For those who possess this new life the response is joy and gladness. Laughter and singing abound as the soul is now freed and no longer in the shackles of the sinful nature. We are able to relate to God and worship and serve Him with all our hearts. The experience of God is so profound and life changing it is like a dream come true! 

Those who have experienced the sorrow of the night of sin are now free from it and walk in the light of God. Everyone can see the happiness of the people of God and know He has done great things for them. The people who know God reap the reward of life with Him, walking with Christ in this life and the certain hope of joy to come. 

The psalmist asks the Lord to restore his joy and replenish his hope like the streams in the Negev desert. The Negev represents for us the desert-like situation of this present life. Without Christ we dwell in a wilderness with little refreshment and provision for our souls. To know Christ is to be rich toward God and to have a deep spiritual life in Him. This brings refreshment and joy to the Christian. Though we travel this world with sorrow, we will one day bring in the sheaves of the harvest with singing and great joy. We will bring many souls with us to heaven as we work and witness to Christ. 

The fortunes of Zion are surely restored…

Please read Psalm 125 (5 verses)

The Mount Zion is synonymous with the heavenly Jerusalem. It is a place of refuge and eternal glory, reserved for the people of God. The psalmist places ultimate trust in the Lord and knows that neither of these names for the place of the Lord’s people will ever be shaken or suffer loss. The city is protected by the everlasting God as He has built the city for the habitation of all His saints. All the saints of God, the redeemed people of God, are forever safe within the walls of this city and live victorious Christian lives on the heights of Mount Zion.

As the mountains surround the Jerusalem in this world, so the power of God surrounds His people in the spiritual Jerusalem. No one or nothing can disturb them, for they dwell securely there every day of their lives. No one can take them away from Christ or pose any kind of threat to their eternal security.

The Lord protects the mindset of His people in justice and righteousness. No ungodly ruler will ever be able to dominate God’s people in that holy place, or have any right to be in that place. It is reserved for those who seek God and have been bought out of the system of this world by the blood of Christ.

The psalmist’s request is that those who are made righteous will experience the good things of God and those who turn to perverse ways will be banished from the kingdom forever. We either dwell in righteousness with God on the heights of Zion, or suffer the loss of our souls and are sentenced with the evildoers. Peace is only to be found in the city of God.

Please read Psalm 124 (8 verses)

The rage of the enemy is so virulent against the Christian that without the restraining effect of the Holy Spirit they, and he, will destroy the people of God. There is a rage against the Lord in the hearts of those who refuse to believe. It is a kind of spiritual madness that stops the unbeliever from the comfort and safety under the loving wings of the eternal God. Those who do trust in this eternal God are forever protected and kept in the mighty war against evil.

Anger is so violent it would destroy without a second thought and the psalmist likens the rage of the wicked to a flood of water that would sweep him away and torrents of waves that would overwhelm his soul. The Lord does not allow it. The bitterness against the Lord makes the unbeliever behave like a wild animal that would tear the Christian apart and leave their psyche depressed and full of despair. God will not permit it. Like the release of a bird from the snare of the bird-catcher, so the soul of the Christian is kept safe and remains free in the Lord.

The teeth of the ungodly will surely be broken and the traps they set will entrap them instead. The Lord will not permit His people to be destroyed, but we do suffer much ignominy and much oppression. The enemy can bind the body, but not the soul, for we are kept safe in the care of God. Though the body suffers and is even put to death for the sake of the gospel, no one can trouble the soul that rests in its mighty Lord.

The prayer against oppression is common for the psalmist who suffers much at the hands of other people. He is quick to turn to the Lord, and the Lord finds ways to protect and comfort His servant. So also we find refuge and succour in these difficult days, under the sheltering arm of the Almighty God.

Please read Psalm 123 (4 verses)

The Psalmist is suffering under the oppression of the utter contempt for his person and position. The wicked are troubling him and putting him down in human and spiritual terms. He is held up to ridicule by the arrogant people around him, who do not believe in the Lord and think he is foolish to do so. The pride in the hearts of these godless people has taken hold of their mind and they are scathing and derogatory about what the psalmist believes and holds as dear to him. It all seems never ending and there is no human strategy of resolution for these issues, so the psalmist struggles on under a dark cloud.

He does what is wise. He appeals to the highest court for reprieve and justice. The writer knows the Lord, and has a right view of God’s exalted position and power, and can therefore appeal to Him to intervene and resolve the situation. As the eyes of a slave would look dependently up to his human master, so the Psalmist looks utterly helplessly to his Lord and God. The psalmist knows there will always be repression in this world for him, but he seeks the inner strength to cope with it and to make him more resilient when facing these kinds of threats. Only the Lord can give such gifts to His people.

Persecution is hard to bear and difficult to combat, as it springs from prejudice and hatred. The natural human heart is full of these vices and they are often poured out on the people of God, for our remit is to give love for hate, therefore there will be no recriminations for the oppressor. God is not so, and will administer justice for the oppressed. This is why we can trust in Him at all times. This is why the psalmist lifts his eyes to the Lord, his Master and Redeemer. He is totally dependant on the mercy of the Lord and calls out to Him to come to his aid. The psalmist will petition the Lord until the Lord shows His mercy.

Please read Psalm 122 (9 verses)

Jerusalem is the city of God. It is ready and large enough for all the redeemed people of Christ. No one can deny them the privilege of being there, and we live our lives on this earth with our feet always ready to enter into that spectacular place – heaven and home. We are always ready to go and we have a reminder and taste of it every Lord’s day that we go up to the house of God. It should make us glad to go there, even if we have difficulties with “church” and we should expect God to bless us as we go.

The psalmist reminds us of the tribes of the Lord, for they shall all go up to take their places in the great city. People of every nation, tribe and tongue shall inhabit that glorious city and dwell there in great peace with the lordship of Christ over it all. The thrones of the kingly line of David will be there for judgment, equity and the constant excercise of justice. The Lord Jesus shall inhabit the throne as He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It will be a spectacular place!

We pray for the peace of Jerusalem that all God’s people will enter in and be brought safely to that state. There is no peace in our world, but everlasting peace reigns in the hearts of the people who belong to that state of peace. All our issues and ideological issues will be finally solved, as all God’s people take their prepared place.

We pray that many will be brought in. Not all people will be saved, but we spread the good news, the gospel of peace with God, to the lost people around us.

Our feet continually stand in the gates of that great city, for it is our heaven and home. We rejoice to be part of its structure and reality and will one day see the King in all His glory. We look forward to its glory, not backwards to our failures, but full of joy at what is ahead.

Please read Psalm 121 (8 verses)

In times of trouble and weakness we look for peace and strength. The writer of this Psalm asks a rhetorical question to ascertain where our help comes from… it is the only place of help…

The Psalmist looks to the majestic, never-changing mountains, that remind him of his Lord and God. As he lifts his eyes to the hills so his inner eyes looks to the Lord for power and deliverance. His help does not come from the physical hills, but from the reality of the Lord, the creator of those same hills. The immovable quality of the mountains reminds us of the unchanging promises of God and as the hills do not move, so neither do the words of the Lord.

Our help always comes from the Lord, whether we acknowledge Him or not. He is our foundation stone and the builder of the kingdom of God. He will not allow His people to slip away, but when tempted will provide a way of escape for them. Though troubles surround us with horrors, especially in the night, we know that God never sleeps and sees right through the darkness. Neither day or night will disturb our rest in the Lord who made both these parts of the day.

When oppression leans heavily on us and we face pressure and stress, it will not overwhelm us, even though it might be difficult to cope with. God will give the strength to fight and overcome and we will find ourselves resilient warriors in His name. All our days are hidden in God and no one can take us away from Him or separate our well-being from His care. He watches over His children night and day and whether we go in or out, His eternal presence is with us. Should we suffer anxiety about these situations, He will give us the courage to do what is right and carry on with our life and not fail.

Please read Psalm 120 (7verses)

The psalmist is in distress because the society around him is not honest or truthful. The people around him are spreading malicious gossip and lies about him and it is hurting him. He is isolated because he stands for what is right and although this is painful, it means he can call on God to help him. When all others turn against us, we can turn to our Father in heaven, who always understands and will provide for us. It may not be in the way we envisage, but He knows what is best for us. We must trust Him and be satisfied with His provision.

The writer is miserable being miserable. He is tired of the effect of the wickedness of human speaking and comforts himself by knowing that God will deal with the deceit and dishonesty of speaking. It is a place of comfort to know that God is righteous and just and will judge all things fairly.

Meshek was a barbaric and remote place and the psalmist likens himself to living there. This has been the effect of the deceitful tongues that have ravaged his life and left him alone. To dwell in the tents of Kedar was to be cut off from the worship of God. Perhaps the gossip had been so bad, that the psalmist could not meet with the people of God anymore. Perhaps he is so isolated that he really is alone in life and therefore this Psalm is calling out to the Almighty God to change his case and circumstance. It seems he cannot even speak without there being ill will against him and he describes it as a state of war. This he brings to God, his only friend and confidant and leaves his situation with Him.

Please read Psalm 119 (176 verses)

This is by far the longest Psalm and is full of good council and profit. It focuses on the Word of God and how it can help us, teach us and guard our daily pathway as we walk with God. As we follow the law of God we learn righteousness and become upright people. The Word of God keeps us pure in speaking and doing, and guards our hearts motivation. As we choose the Word, we gain understanding and wisdom and are blameless. God’s word brings freedom, victory over enemies and comfort in the night.

The law of God brings comfort in affliction and strengthens the fainting heart. The psalmist loves the Word and values it far above any other thing that he possesses. He will not be deflected from it or taken away from it, though the wicked should bind him with ropes! The writer loves the law of God and longs for its precepts more than daily bread. He thinks on it always and it makes him wiser than his enemies. The Word of God is a lamp and a light to the pathway of life and though the enemy might try to trap him, he escapes with the power of God that he has learned.

In following the Word, the psalmist has become right and just and continually looks for the salvation of God. He longs for God, indeed, pants for God, and longs for holiness of life and victory over sin. His zeal for the Word of God has worn him out and he desires that righteousness will prevail in the world at all times. He may be lowly and despised in this world, but his comfort is in the Scripture. He rises before dawn and searches the Scripture at night that he might find the Lord and become like Him.

Deliverance from foes is also a key theme, and the writer pleads with God to give courage and the conquering of all opposition. He praises the Lord for teaching him His decrees.

Though the psalmist has strayed from the Lord, yet the Lord will give him the strength to live and find his life like the life of a lost sheep. He asks the Lord to seek him and keep him and promises that the Word of God will never be lost to him.