Monthly Archives: December 2023

PSALM 32

Christian Life, ,

Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the LORD does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
  I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
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.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Palm 32

What happiness for those whose guilt is pardoned!

What joy to know my sin’s no longer there!

What peace I have when I have made confession,

When I iniquity no longer bear!

There was a time when I refused to open

My heart to show the darkness deep inside:

My days were filled with unrelieved frustration

Because I failed to let you see my pride.

Day in, day out, your hand was hard upon me,

My strength was gone, like water in the sun,

‘Til I, at last, responded to your pleading;

I let you see the evil I had done.

The very moment I had made confession,

In mercy you forgave my guilt and sin,

You lifted off the load that I was bearing,

You washed and made me clean and pure within.

And now in you I find a place of shelter,

For in the storms of life you cover me;

You steady and you guide through times of trouble:

My mouth is filled with songs of victory.

“My eye upon you, I will teach and lead you:

I’ll choose the path that’s best for you to go:

Stay close beside me, you will never falter;

I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“The senseless horse must feel the bit and bridle;

The mule cannot be left without restraint.

Don’t be like them, for they are only creatures,

But follow where I lead without complaint.”

While sorrows wait for those who practise evil,

Abiding love surrounds the trusting soul.

Rejoice, then, all who are His chosen people,

Each one who makes obedience his goal.

PSALM 27

Devotion, ,

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation —
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face! ”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 27


 Lord, my light and my salvation,

Whom have I to fear?

You protect me from all danger,

You are always near.

Evil men may come against me,

They will trip and fall :

Mighty armies may confront me,

You come at my call.

One thing I desire from you,

For this joy I strive,

To behold you in your temple,

In your presence live.

There to gaze upon your beauty,

In your glory bask;

There to soak up your perfection,

This is all I ask.

Then when trouble comes upon me,

In your temple hide,

High upon a rock for safety

‘Neath your wings abide.

Enemies can never touch me

When I’m in your care,

Sheltered in your glorious presence,

I’m protected there.

I will bring you sacrifices,

Sing your praise with joy

When you listen to my pleading

And your help employ.

I have heard you calling to me,

“Come and seek my face.”

Now my heart will gladly answer,

“Yes, Lord, by your grace.”

Do not hide when I am seeking:

In your anger, turn:

Through my trials you have helped me,

For your help I yearn.

You’re the God of my salvation,

Don’t forsake me now:

Father, mother may abandon;

That you’ll never do.

Waiting enemies surround me! 

Tell me what to do.

Keep me from their wicked clutches

For I trust in you.

They accuse, though I’m not guilty,

Plotting cruelty.

Lord, I wait for your salvation;

Come and rescue me.

Hope wells up in expectation.

You will save me, Lord;

Once again I’ll see your goodness

Promised by your word.

O my soul, be not impatient;

Quietly wait for Him:

In His time He’ll come and save you,

Let not faith grow dim.



PSALM 24

Christian life, ,

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God their Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.,
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in 10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty —
he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24

The earth belongs to God, ‘tis yours by right,

For you created earth and sky and sea:

You pushed away the oceans by your might

That islands, continents and lands might be.

Who may ascend the hill of this great God,

Before His holy presence fearless stand

To tell Him He is worshipped and adored?

The people who are clean of heart and hand.

God’s throne is open to the trusting heart,

To those who hate and spurn dishonesty;

From lying lips have set themselves apart –

God’s gift of righteousness to them is free.

To such as these God opens up the way

To enter into fellowship with Him;

They’ll share His heart, He’ll never say them nay:

Their love, their faith, their hope will never dim.

Swing wide, O ancient gates, receive your God

And let the King of Glory enter in:

Who is this King of Glory?  He is Lord.

Victorious in battle is our King!

Come, open up your gates, your voices raise;

Exalt our mighty King of Glory now:

Join with the heavenly host in joyous praise;

Before His throne in awe and wonder bow.

PSALM 23

Devotion, ,

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 23

Lord God, you are my Shepherd, I your sheep;

With ev’ry need and want supplied, I’m blessed:

In grassy meadows I can play and leap,

By quiet streams in peace I lie and rest.

My wayward heart you lovingly restore;

You lead me in the path that’s right for me;

E’en in life’s darkest vale you go before,

My help, my strength, my comforter to be.

I will not fear when you are close beside –

The way be dark, no terror grips my heart;

Your rod to check, your staff to be my guide,

No evil thing can keep from you apart.

You treat me to a feast of finest fare,

The oil of honour pour upon my brow;

My enemies can only stand and stare;

My cup of joy begins to overflow.

Your love and mercy follow everywhere,

Surrounding me with comfort, come what may –

You change my heart, your purpose to prepare

Me for your home, forever and for aye.

PSALM 22

Book Reviews, ,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
19 But you, LORD, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn
He has done it!

Psalm 22

“God, my God!”  forlorn and lonely – 

Darkness shudders at this cry;

Weeps earth for this man abandoned,

“Why am I forsaken, why?”

Seems no ear is bent to listen,

No touch comforts searing pain,

No voice speaking reassurance . . .

Silence haunts the dark terrain:

No help comes despite the pleading –

Day and night roll into one;

No-one heeds the cries, the groaning

Of the one and only Son.

Holy God, you make your dwelling

In the shrine of joyous praise;

Worship, song and adoration

Join our hearts in warm embrace.

E’en our fathers, long forgotten,

In your presence sang and praised

Round your throne in fervent worship,

Hearts aglow and voices raised.

They were never disappointed:

When they called to you for aid:

You delivered them from evil,

For they trusted what you said.

As for me, a worm and no man,

Scorned, despised by all mankind;

Those who see me mock and snigger;

“Who is this one?” they demand.

“Is this he who claims the favour

Of his God, who cares for him?

We’ll believe it when we see it!

God responding to this claim!”

Listen not to cruel mocking:

I have known your help before:

From my mother’s womb you brought me,

Years of growing up you saw:

From my birth I leaned upon you,

Trusted you to be my God.

Do not leave me, I am helpless:

Only you can save me, Lord!

Fearsome enemies surround me,

Drooling, circling for the kill,

Bashan’s bulls, these roaring lions

Gnash and tear my flesh at will.

All my strength is drained, like water;

All my bones are out of joint,

And my heart, like wax, is melted:

I am wasted, pale and gaunt;

Tongue is dried, my eyes are sunken;

Weakening with each rasping breath

Ebbs my life, for you have left me,

Laid me in the dust of death.

Enemies keep circling closer –

Hungry dogs, with fangs laid bare;

Hands and feet are pierced and bleeding;

At my pain they gloat and stare.

Every bone screams out in anguish;

Nothing shields me from this shame;

Throwing dice to win my clothing

Just as though it were a game!

Yet one final, feeble whisper

Pleads to God for aid, in vain.

“Rescue me from death, and save me;

Hear my cry yet once again!

Would you stand aside, unheeding,

Caring not that evil men

Snatch away the life you gave me?

Will you not, then, intervene?”

Yet, I know my God will answer.

I will stand and testify,

Praise you in the congregation,

For you heard my desp’rate cry!

“Praise the Lord, each one who fears Him,”

All must reverence His name.

Let all Israel sing His praises,

Tell to everyone His fame.

He has not despised my suff’ring,

Heard my cries of deep despair,

Bent to listen to my calling,

Came in answer to my prayer.

Yes, I’ll lift your name in honour,

Publicly fulfil my vow:

Those who fear your name will witness,

In your presence humbly bow.

All the poor shall feast on plenty;

Hunger shall be satisfied:

Those who seek the Lord shall find Him,

Those who find, in Him abide.

Earth shall see this grand reunion,

Nations to the Lord return:

God is king, He rules the peoples –

All shall for His presence yearn.

Proud and humble, all will worship,

Born, these mortal men, to die;

Yes, our children, too, will serve Him

Mighty God will magnify..

‘Tis our joy to tell the story

To our offspring, yet unborn;

Tirelessly we share the message –

Ageless tale, by time unworn.