Sunday Scripture

 

We're continuing with our ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 9.  This psalm has 20 verses;  I chose to SOAP only verses 9-10.

S=  "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
"And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee."  (Psalm 9:9-10)

O= C.I. Scofield's title for Psalm 9 is "Praise for victory over enemies".  The biblical heading in the KJV reads, "To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben,  A Psalm of David."  The ESV heading reads, "To the Choirmaster according to Muth-Labben, a Psalm of David" and notes that Muth-Labben is "probably a musical or liturgical term".  The NKJV reads "To the Chief Musician.  To the tnne of "Death of the Son.  A Psalm of David."  (I don't know if I'm the only one who finds these differences so fascinating, but I do!)

In verses 9 and 10, David says:

* The LORD will be a refuge for the oppressed;
* The LORD will be a refuge in times of trouble.

He tells the Lord:

* Those who know Your name will put their trust in You
FOR
* You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

The ESV uses "stronghold" instead of "refuge" (v.9).  One Bible I looked at said that "refuge" is "an high place" in the Hebrew.

Cross-references for "refuge" -- "Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.  Selah." (Psalm 32:7)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  (Psalm 46:1)

"I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God; in Him will I trust."  (Psalm 91:2)

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."  (Proverbs 18:10)

"The God of my rock; in Him will I trust; He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation; my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; Thou savest me from violence."  (2 Samuel 2:23)

Cross-references for "the oppressed" (v.9) -- "To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."  (Psalm 10:18)

"Oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed; let the poor and needy praise Thy name."  (Psalm 74:21)

Cross-reference for "times of trouble" (v.9) -- "Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD?  Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?"(Psalm 10:1)

Cross-references for "know Thy name" (v.10) -- "Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name."  (Psalm 91:14)

"I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine."  (John 10:14)

Note from Scofield concerning "trust" (v.10) -- "Trust is the characteristic Old Testament word for the New Testament 'faith' and 'believe'.  It occurs 152 times in the Old Testament, and is the rendering of Hebrew words signifiying 'to take refuge' (Ruth 2:12); 'to lean on' ((Psalm 56:3); 'to roll on' (Psalm 22:8); 'to wait for' (Job 35:14)."

I thought it would be helpful to look at those Scripture references, so here they are:

* "The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."  (Ruth 2:12 -- where trust signifies to take refuge)

* "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."  (Psalm 56:3 -- where trust signifies to lean on) 

* "He trusted in the LORD that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him."  (Psalm 22:8 -- where trust signifies to roll on; He rolled Himself on Him)

"Although thou sayest thou shalt not see Him, yet judgment is before Him; therefore trust thou in Him."  (Job 35:14 -- where trust signifies to wait for)

A= When we feel oppressed, God will be our refuge; our stronghold, our high tower.  He is a refuge we can run to in times of trouble.  As mentioned in the Reflection Question, we who know His name have a real relationship with Him.  We can safely trust Him.  He will never forsake us as we seek Him.

Believer's Bible Commentary remarks,  "All who know Him will put their trust in Him, realizing that He has never disappointed the confidence of His people."

Warren Wiersbe notes in With the Word, "[God's] people do not need to worry.  He is their Refuge and will never forsake them (Hebrews 13:5).  The Father forsook His Son on the cross, but He will not forsake you."

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that You will be, and are, a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  I have personally experienced this and know that it is true.  I praise You that we who know Your name can put our trust in You and know that You will never leave us or forsake us.  When we fall into sin, You are there to forgive and restore.  When we struggle with unanswered prayer, You are there to comfort and encourage and remind us of Your good purposes.  You are there with us through every moment of even our most difficult trials.  I praise You for Your presence with us, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: Those who know God's name have a real relationship with Him.  We trust in Him and seek Him.

How does the assurance of knowing that God will never forsake you, comfort you when you struggle with unanswered prayer, fall into sin, or face difficult trials?

My response:  I find this assurance very, very comforting.  In responding to this question, I chose to consider each of the three specific scenarios mentioned.

Unanswered prayer -- Since God will never forsake me, He is continually involved in all that concerns me.  The answer may be "wait", or it may eventually be "no", but God Himself will never leave and He will answer my prayer in the way He deems best.

Falling into sin -- When I fall into sin, I may be out of fellowship with God, but He has not left.  He will always be there and will never leave.  He is ready to forgive and restore me to fellowship when I confess my sin to Him.

Difficult trials -- Knowing that God will always be with me, no matter how difficult the trial, is very comforting.  Psalm 91 tells us specifically that He will be with us in trouble.  Psalm 23 reminds us that He is and will be with us even through the valley of the shadow of death, and will comfort us there.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 9:9-10.  I hope it was a blessing to someone today!

Snapshots from summer

 

 Last fall I was thinking back over Summer 2024 in preparation for sharing a testimony with other ladies.  I thought about how many wonderful memories have been preserved in photos that we took.  (Now, in light of the devastation to that area from Hurricane Helene, I am doubly glad we took as many pictures as we did.  And I wish we had taken more.)  It seems to me that this past summer is one of the nicest that we have had in a long time, as far as good memories go.  At that time, I began a post full of summer memories.

I found myself thinking of these memories in terms of snapshots.  Actual snapshots, as the first part of the definition below describes:

Ice cream with our friend Terry -- I'm so thankful we got to do this (and got this photo) on a day when she was feeling well and able to fully enjoy it.  That is a flight of ice cream on the table in front of her.

We had plenty of opportunities for ice cream this past summer and fall.  We always share, so the calories and sugar are not quite as bad as they might be.

Family members playing cornhole on the porch of our Airbnb farmhouse in North Carolina as the rain fell outdoors.  We had lots of time to make precious family memories on this trip.

Time with old friends at Table Rock State Park in South Carolina.  So thankful for the gift of friendship and being able to encourage one another in the Lord.

Mountains upon mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  God gave safety in travel and many opportunities to ponder His might, sovereignty, and endless creativity.

 Cousins at Cracker Barrel (plus Emily's and Julia's friend Lily).  Even though many of Emily's siblings weren't here, it was a wonderful time for these cousins to reconnect.

 A wonderful couple of days with our friends Tom and Judy in Pennsylvania.  We have been wanting to visit them for some time and are so thankful that a visit, although brief, finally happened.

Reconnecting with our precious friends Chris and Debbie in the Maritimes (we stayed in New Brunswick but also visited Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island).  We had not seen them in over ten years.  What a delight to pick up where we left off.

 As I reviewed further,  I thought more deeply -- about other memories that are recorded in the heart.  We didn't get photos of those, but some pictures are indelibly (I hope) etched upon upon hearts and minds.  These could be considered snapshots too, more like the second part of the definition.  And I frequently find myself taking out these "pictures", reviewing the blessings and sharing them with others.

A few Scripture verses came to my mind: 

"Many, O LORD, my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are toward us; they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee.  If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."  (Psalm 40:5)

"Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually ... the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."  (Hebrews 13:15)

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  (Psalm 34:1)

"I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings."  (Psalm 77:12)

"We will not hide them from our children, showing to the generations to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He has done."  (Psalm 78:4)

And so here are a few of those snapshots to share with you: 

* Sharing a meal at a restaurant with dear ministry friends -- enjoying wonderful food and a fun atmosphere, but even better, sharing from the heart as we encouraged one another in the Lord.  This happened a few times with various couples and families.

* Having a moment of prayer as various friends parted from one another, not knowing when or where we will meet again in this life.  But knowing we will meet again in heaven!

* Realizing as we reconnected (and praising God!) that some of our friends have been through very difficult times, but they have continued to walk faithfully with their Lord.

* Experiencing amazing hospitality all along the way as we were blessed by people using that spiritual gift.  Wonderful accommodations, fantastic food, and just all-round caring and sharing.

* Having opportunities to minister this summer -- Sunday School, VBS, our regular volunteer work at TWNE,  and hosting a couple of cottage prayer meetings at our little camp.

* Even better, watching three of our teen grandchildren minister in music at church and in teaching VBS.  

* Through the generous hospitality of our New Brunswick friends, getting to return to a provincial park on PEI where we'd spent many happy times camping with our children. 

* Being blessed by a memory book our daughters put together to commemorate our half-century of marriage.  The notes from far-flung family and old friends were so precious!

* Getting to have our NV granddaughter Emily with us for an overnight stay at the North Carolina Airbnb.  What a delight to have her with us around the table and to look after her needs for just a few hours.

* And maybe one of the dearest, most precious snapshots of the summer -- the seating for our Cracker Barrel meal worked out so that the four adults were at one table and all of the grandchildren, plus Lily, were at another.  At one point my daughter looked their way and whispered, "They're praying!" Yes, oldest grandson Sam took the lead and they all bowed their heads as he gave thanks for the food.  

There are more -- many more.  But I have delayed publishing this post long enough, so I'll leave you with  just this handful of snapshots from last summer.

Sunday Scripture

 

 We're back to our ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 8.  Since the psalm is only 9 verses,  I chose to SOAP the entire psalm.

S= "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth, who hast set Thy glory above the heavens!
"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained,
"What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?  And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
"For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet.
"All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
"The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea; and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
"O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!"  (Psalm 8)

O= The Bible heading for this psalm is "To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David."  The ESV heading reads "To the choirmaster according to the Gittith.  A Psalm of David."  A notation says that "Gittith" is "likely a musical or liturgical term."  NKJV calls it "the instrument of Gath".  Charles Spurgeon offers more thoughts on this word:

"We are not clear on the meaning of the word Gittith.  Some think it refers to Gath, and may refer to a tune commonly sung there, or an instrument of music there invented, or a song of Obed-edom the Gittite, in whose house the ark rested, or, better still, a song sung over Goliath of Gath. 
"Others, tracing the Hebrew to its root, conceive it to mean a song for the winepress, a joyful hymn for the treaders of grapes.  The term Gittith is applied to two other psalms (Psalm 81 and Psalm 84) both of which being of a joyous character, it may be concluded that where we find that word in the title, we may look for a hymn of delight."

C.I. Scofield titles this psalm "God's glory and man's dominion."

David is addressing God throughout this psalm. There is no back and forth addressing God and then man, as we see in some other psalms.

The first verse and the last verse of Psalm 8 contain the same words: "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!"  Concerning this, Spurgeon comments, "The first and last verses are a sweet song of admiration, in which the excellence of the name of God is exalted.  The intermediate verses are made up of holy wonder at the LORD's greatness in creation, and at His condescension toward man."

David goes on to say in verses 1b and 2:

* You have set Your glory above the heavens
* Out of the mouths of babies and infants you have established strength because of Your foes.

Why?  So that it will "still the enemies and the avengers."

In verses 3-8 David goes on to reflect on the relationship, and the contrast, between God and man.  He says, 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place ... What is man, that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You care for  him?  You have:

* Made man a little lower than the angels
* Crowned man with glory and honor
* Given man dominion over creation

David then reiterates the majesty and excellence of God's name in all the earth.

Now for some cross-references!

Cross-references for "name" (v.1) -- "Let them praise the name of the LORD; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven."  (Psalm 148:13)

"And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted."  (Isaiah 12:4)

"And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD."  (Exodus 34:5)

Cross-references for "glory" (v.1) -- "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork."  (Psalm 19:1)

"The LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens."  (Psalm 113:1)

Cross-references for "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings" (v. 2) -- "And Jesus saith unto them, Yea, have ye not read, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Matthew 21:16)

"At that time Jesus answered, and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."  (Matthew 11:35)

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."  (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Cross-reference for "strength" (v.2) -- "O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations shall come unto Thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things in which there is no profit."  (Jeremiah 16:19)

Cross-reference for "the enemy" (v.2) -- "My confusion is continually before me,  and the shame of my face has covered me, For the voice of him who reproacheth and blasphemeth, by reason of the enemy and avenger."  (Psalm 44:15-16)

Cross-reference for "consider Thy heavens" (v.3) -- "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them who have pleasure therein."  (Psalm 111:2)

Cross-references for "fingers" (v.3) -- "Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, this is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them, as the LORD had said."  (Exodus 8:19)

"And He gave unto Moses, when He had ceased speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."  (Exodus 31:18)

Cross-reference for "which Thou hast ordained" (v.3) -- "And God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars also."  (Genesis 1:16)

Cross-references for "man" (v.4) -- "What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thine heart upon him, and that Thou shouldest visit him every morning, and test him every moment?"  (Job 7:17-18)

"But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?  Or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, Thou crownest him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet."  (Hebrews 2:6-8a)

Cross-reference for "what is man" (v.4) -- "LORD, what is man, that Thou takest knowledge of him?  Or the son of man, that Thou makest account of him?"  (Psalm 144:3)

Cross-reference for "the son of man" (v.4) -- "Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand, upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself."  (Psalm 80:17)

Cross-references for "visitest him" (v.4) -- "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; Thou greatly enrichest it with the the river of God, which is full of water; Thou preparest them grain, when Thou hast so provided for it."  (Psalm 65:9)

"Thou hast granted me life and favor; and Thy care hath preserved my spirit."  (Job 10:12)

Cross-reference for "glory and honor" (v.5) -- "The king shall joy in Thy strength, O LORD; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!  His glory is great in Thy salvation; honor and majesty hast Thou laid upon him."  (Psalm 21:1, 5)

Cross-reference for "dominion" (v.6) -- "And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."  (Genesis 1:26)

Cross-reference for "all things under his feet" (v.6) -- "And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All authority is given to Me in heaven and in earth."  (Matthew 28:18)

A= "Here man is the pinnacle of divine creation, the one made to exhibit great glory and receive great honor ... [Man] was made 'in the image of God', specially equipped in body, soul, and spirit to know and be known of God." -- Stuart Briscoe

"The scope and business of this psalm seems plainly to be this: to display and celebrate the great love and kindness of God to mankind, not only in His creation, but especially in his redemption by Jesus Christ." -- Charles Spurgeon

"The carnal mind sees God in nothing, not even in spiritual things, His Word and ordinances.  The spiritual mind sees Him in everything, even in natural things, in looking on the heavens and the earth and all the creatures."  -- Robert Leighton

"If man has been made supreme in the earthly realm and gifted uniquely for a special relationship with his Creator, it is no surprise to discover that God has given man a superb role in His plan.  It is to have dominion over all the works of God's hands.

"One clear fact is that God made a fantastic world and set man loose in it to develop and explore it.  Man's unbelievable mandate was to use his God-given talent to discover the resources of earth and to adapt all that he found to the development of God's creation in every sphere." -- Stuart Briscoe, What Works When Life Doesn't

As I read what these writers had to say, it occurred to me that I do see God in everything, even natural things, as Robert Leighton says.  I can't look at anything in nature without seeing the Creator behind it, and I love to help others to see this as well.  How I praise God for showing me my need of a Savior, for drawing me to Himself, for helping me to have a spiritual mind.  What love and kindness!  

Realizing that God has given man dominion over His Creation is a sobering reminder to me that we are to be stewards of all that God has given us -- to use it wisely for His purposes and His glory.  Even the way that we care for our own homes and property is important!

P= "Lord, truly Your name is excellent in all the earth!  How I praise You for Your amazing creativity and power in Creation!  It is astounding to observe the night sky and to consider Your heavens, the works of Your hands, the moon and the stars -- and to realize that You, the sovereign Creator, care for me.  You are not only mindful of man; You desire a relationship with us.  You care and want to bring hope and healing to our lives.  

"I pray that You will help me to point others to you and also to be a good and wise steward of all that You have provided.    I praise and thank You for all that You have done and all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David beautifully expresses the glory and majesty of God in this psalm of praise.

How do you catch a glimpse of God's love for you through the moon, the stars and all of His creation?

My response: In His provision for sure; in His giving man dominion over His creation.

But the "glimpse of God's love" that means the most to me concerns the stars.  A favorite passage of mine for years has been Psalm 147:4-5: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name."

The fact that the all-powerful, almighty, all-wise Creator of the universe --  the One who knows the number of the stars and calls them all by name -- cares about healing my broken heart and binding up my wounds ... well, I find that breathtaking, as well as incredibly comforting and encouraging. 

I recall a time many years ago when we were away from home and I was deeply concerned about something.  A look at the night sky served as a deeply comforting reminder of God's faithfulness and power over any and every situation.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 8.  I hope it was a blessing to someone today!

Sunday Scripture

 

Well, we're back to our ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 7.  It zeroes in on verse 10, but I chose to SOAP verses 1-10.

S= "O LORD my God, in Thee do I put my trust;save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me,
"Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
"O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands,
"If I have rewarded evil unto him who was at peace with me (yea, I have delivered him who without cause is mine enemy)
"Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honor in the dust.  Selah.
"Arise, O LORD, in Thine anger; lift up Thyself because of the rage of mine enemies, and awake for me to the judgment that Thou hast commanded.
"So shall the congregation of the peoples compass thee about; for their sakes, return Thee on high.
"The LORD shall judge the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to Thy righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
"Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God testeth the minds and hearts.
"My defense is with God, who saveth the upright in heart."  (Psalm 7:1-10)

O=  C. I. Scofield has titled this psalm "A prayer for deliverance."  The biblical heading for it is "Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush, the Benjamite."  A hand-scribbled note under this explains that this person -- Cush, the Benjamite -- is "one of Saul's henchmen who accused David of treason."  The NKJV heads the psalm this way: "A meditation of David, which he sang to the Lord, [etc.]".  The ESV defines "Shiggaion" as "probably a musical or liturgical term".  Interestingly, Habakkuk chapter 3 is also introduced as a prayer "upon Shigionoth" which one Bible defines as "probably musical instruments" and another "according to variable songs."

 For "put my trust" (v.1), ESV has "take refuge." 

Cross-reference: "In the LORD put I my trust; how say ye say to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?  For lo, the wicked bend their bow; they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart."  (Psalm 11:1-2)

Cross-reference for "save me" (v.1) -- "My times are in Thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from those who persecute me."  (Psalm 31:15)

Cross-reference for "a lion" (v.2) -- "For [mine affliction] increaseth.  Thou huntest me as a fierce lion, and again Thou showest Thyself marvelous upon me."  (Job 10:16)

Job is speaking to God here, or rehearsing what he will say to God.  The ESV reads: "And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me."

Cross-reference for "none to deliver" (v. 2) -- "Now consider this, ye who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver."

Cross-reference for "if I have done this" (v. 3) -- "And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou worthless fellow; the LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, thy son, and behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man."  (2 Samuel 16:7-8)

Cross-references for "iniquity in my hands" (v.3) -- "Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know then and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it."  (1 Samuel 24:11)

"And he said, Why doth my lord thus pursue after his servant?  For what have I done?  Or what evil is in mine hand?"  (1 Samuel 26:18)

Cross-reference for "him who was at peace with me" (v.4) -- "He hath put forth his hands against such are at peace with him; he hath broken his covenant."  (Psalm 55:20)

Cross-references for "delivered him who without cause is my enemy" (v.4) -- "So David restrained his servants with these words, and permitted them not to rise against Saul.  But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way." (1 Samuel 24:7)

"And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?" (1 Samuel 26:9)

Cross-reference for "tread down my life upon the earth" (v.5) -- "Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant; thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground."  (Psalm 89:39)

Cross-reference for "arise, O LORD, in Thine anger (v.6) -- "Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God; for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly."  (Psalm 3:7)

Cross-references for "lift up Thyself" (v.6) -- "Lift up Thyself,  Thou Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud."  (Psalm 92:6)

"Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted, now will I lift Myself."  (Isaiah 33:10)

Cross-references for "awake for me" (v.6) -- "Awake, why sleepest Thou, O LORD?  Arise, cast us not off forever." (Psalm 44:23)

"Stir up Thyself, and awake to my right, even to my cause, my God and my Lord."  (Psalm 35:28)

"They run and prepare themselves apart from any fault of mine; awake to help me, and behold."  (Psalm 59:4)

Bildad told Job, "If thou wert pure and upright, surely He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous."  (Job 8:6)

Cross-reference for "judge the peoples" (v.8) -- "So that a man shall say, Verily, there is a reward for the righteous; verily, He is a God that judgeth in the earth." (Psalm 58:11) 

Cross-references for "judge me, O LORD" (v.8) -- "Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide."  (Psalm 26:1)

"Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man."  (Psalm 43:1)

Cross-references for "according to my righteousness" (.8) -- "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me."  (Psalm 18:20)

"Judge me, O LORD, according to Thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me."  (Psalm 35:24)

Cross-references for "test"(v.9) -- "The LORD testeth the righteous, but the wicked and him who loveth violence His soul hateth." (Psalm 11:5)

"But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tested me, I shall come forth as gold."  (Job 23:10)

Cross-references for "minds and hearts" (v. 9) -- "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; test my heart and my mind."  (Psalm 26:2)

"I the LORD search the heart; I test the conscience, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."  (Jeremiah 17:10)

The phrase "my defense is with God" (v.10) literally means "my shield is with God."

Cross-reference for "with God" (v.10) -- "Trust in Him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before Him.  God is a refuge for us.  Selah." (Psalm 62:8)

Cross-reference for "upright in heart" (v.10) -- "But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings; wherefore, their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests."  (2 Chronicles 29:34)

Daily Walk Bible points out, "The enemies of God's people are also the enemies of God.  Responding to those enemies is David's burden here.  In the face of dangerous opposition, David seeks God's justice."

A= My enemies are also God's enemies, and I can trust Him to act justly in any situation I face.  I can do as David did and cry out to God for justice, deliverance, and vindication, while also asking Him to search my own heart for any wrongdoing.  He is the One who tests minds and hearts.

I'm so thankful that my defense is with God and that He is the One who saves the upright in heart.  He does vindicate His people in His timing.  Justice eventually is done, and deliverance comes in His time as well.

Warren Wiersbe shares some helpful thoughts in With the Word: "We do not know what Cush said about David, but apparently he was one of the 'court liars' who flattered Saul and made life difficult for David."  Wiersbe counsels: "When you have a 'Cush' in your life, do what David did:

* Be honest with God.  David did not say that the enemy was telling the truth, but he was willing for God to examine his heart and punish him.  He had nothing to hide.

* Let God be the judge.  It is wise to let God be the judge because His judgment is always right.  We do not see ourselves and others as He sees, so it is best to turn the matter over to Him.  David was careful to maintain his integrity and let God be his defense.

* Wait on the Lord.

* Give God thanks.

P= "Lord, how thankful I am that I can trust You to deal with my enemies even though they may speak against me and falsely accuse me.  You know my heart and You know the truth of every matter.  You will bring about justice, deliverance, and vindication in Your perfect time and in Your perfect way.  You will be a shield for me even in the midst of verbal attacks, and You will help me to stand strong.  You will judge my enemies and will deal with the wicked in Your timing as well.  I trust You to act justly and righteously.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David was crying out to the Lord for justice, deliverance and vindication, while asking God to search his heart.

Have you ever been blamed falsely for something?  How did you handle it and how was God your shield?

My response: Yes, I have been blamed falsely for things a couple of times.  In both cases I committed the situation to the Lord.  In the first case the accuser ended up apologizing to me -- but it was not really an apology; more along the lines of "I'm sorry you were hurt by what I said".  Not an apology at all really, but I accepted it as maybe the best he was capable of.

During the second situation, which was lengthier and much more public, I remember feeling emotionally battered and bruised a lot of the time -- and reading through Psalms and recognizing God as a refuge and shield for me helped tremendously.  I did feel shielded and  somewhat "hidden from the strife of tongues" even though a great deal of talking and accusing was going on.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 7.  I hope it was a blessing to someone!

Sunday Scripture

 

 It's time for another Sunday Scripture!  Today, after our Christmas study, I'm returning to my ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 6.  It zeroes in on verses 6 and 9, but I chose to SOAP verses 2-4 and 6-9.

S= "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak, O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
"My soul is also very vexed; but Thou, O LORD, how long?
"Return, O LORD, deliver my soul; oh, save me for Thy mercies' sake ...
"I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
"Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it groweth old because of all mine enemies.
"Depart from me, all  ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
"The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer."  (Psalm 6:2-4, 6-9)

O= The biblical heading for Psalm 6 is "To the chief musician on Neginoth, upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David."  In the NKJV it reads "To the Chief Musician.  With stringed instruments.  On an eight-stringed harp.  A Psalm of David."

C.I. Scofield titles Psalm 6 "A cry for mercy".

Cross-references for "heal me" (v.2) -- "O LORD, my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me."  (Psalm 30:2)

"I said, LORD, be merciful unto me; heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee."  (Psalm 41:4)

Cross-reference for "my bones are vexed" (v.2) -- "For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed."  (Psalm 31:10)

Cross-reference for "vexed" (v.3) -- "For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draweth near unto the grave."  (Psalm 88:3)

Cross-reference for "how long?" (v.3) -- "Return, O LORD, how long?  And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants."  (Psalm 90:13)

Cross-reference for "weary" (v.6) -- "I am weary of my crying.  My throat is dried; mine eyes fail while I wait for my God."  (Psalm 69:3)

There are many cross-references for "eye is consumed" (v.7) but I will share only a couple.

"Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are like a shadow."  (Job 17:7)

"My heart panteth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it is also gone from me."  (Psalm 38:10)

Cross-reference for "depart from me" (v.8) -- "Depart from me, ye evildoers; for I will keep the commandments of my God."  (Psalm 119:115)

Cross-reference for "workers of iniquity" (v.8) -- "How long shall they utter and speak hard things, and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?" (Psalm 94:4)

Cross-reference for "supplication" (v.9) -- "Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not Thyself from my supplication."  (Psalm 55:1)

In these verses we see that David knew he was weak; not only his soul but even his bones were troubled.  He was asking God for mercy and healing.  He seems to be questioning how long God might wait before answering.  

He asks God to deliver and save him for His mercies' sake.  Based on what he knew of God's merciful character, he asked God to act.

David had shed so many tears that his couch was drenched with them.  His eyes were sore and his vision clouded as a result of all the tears that he had shed.

But in verse 8 David's thinking takes a turn.  He tells all the "workers of iniquity" to depart from him.  He has the assurance that God has heard the voice of his weeping.  God will act on his behalf!  He has heard his plea and will answer his prayers.

A= We too can cry out to God for mercy when we are weak.  We can ask Him to bring healing when our souls are troubled and our bodies are weary, when our trials leave us battered and bruised and even unable to sleep.

I think of how David's enemies often mocked him for his trust in God.  His words "depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity" make me think of how we can tell Satan to "take a hike".

David refuted the lies of his enemies with the truth of God's character: 

* The LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
* The LORD hath  heard my supplication. 
* The LORD will receive my prayer.

And we can refute the lies of our enemies in the very same way.

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You for all that I can learn from this psalm of David!  I am so thankful that we can cry out to You for mercy because we know that You are merciful.   I praise You for how You have heard and answered my heartfelt cries (and even some that I couldn't voice) out of hard places over the years.  You have even given me sleep in those times!  

"I praise You that we can refute the lies of Satan and other enemies with what we know to be true about You and about Your character.  I praise You that You ARE truth!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David was so discouraged that he could not sleep.  His bed was flooded with tears but he knew that God saw him and heard his prayers.

Have you ever cried out to God feeling like God has abandoned you, only to later realize that He was strengthening you?

My response: I have thankfully never been so discouraged that I could not sleep.  I have been in very hard places in life, but God has always graciously allowed me to sleep.

And I have known the truth that God will not abandon me, but I have been in situations where I felt very alone and vulnerable to attack.  I recall one incident where I felt too numb and bruised to even pray for help, yet God strengthened and upheld me to take a stand against difficult people in a hard situation.

There was even a time (which included the incident alluded to above) in which I felt threatened and so vulnerable even in my own home.  For my quiet time I retreated to a bedroom corner away from windows, where I felt safest.  And God always met me there.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 6.  I hope it was a blessing to someone!

Sunday Scripture

 

I've been posting Sunday Scriptures on both of my blogs this December, taken from an Advent study I did in 2013 with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it, though it may be a little late to use it this year.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This last week's verses are focused on Peace.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 25.

Today's Scripture is Philippians 4:4-7.

S= "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice."
"Let your moderation be known unto all men.The Lord is at hand.
"Be anxious for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4:4-7)

O= Paul is writing this from prison!  He is obviously writing out of his own experience.

He instructs the believers at Philippi to rejoice in the Lord always -- and even repeats the instruction to "rejoice".  

Because the Lord is at hand, and sees all, they are to let their moderation be known to all men.  They're not to be anxious for anything, but instead to commit all of their concerns to God, with thanksgiving.  As they do so,  God's peace will guard their minds and hearts through Christ Jesus.

A= When I did this study back in 2013, I noted that there was a lot for me to apply here.  At the time, my dad was in the hospital.  (My hubby had found him on the floor when he went to pick him up for Christmas Eve supper.)  It was not a life-threatening situation, but I noted that there was a lot I could have been anxious about.  I commented that I am to rejoice always.  And I'm not to be anxious about anything, but instead let my requests be made known to God with thanksgiving.  I found much to be thankful for in that situation: even though my dad fell, he was not seriously hurt and broke no bones.  We had been wondering how to get him to a doctor for symptoms he'd been having -- and this got him there. 

I found that I experienced God's peace throughout that situation as I committed it to Him.  I prayed that I would be able to let my moderation be known unto all as I dealt with it.  My dad regained his health to a degree and lived several more good years.

Today I still have concerns about matters of life as most of us do.  But I can commit each situation to Him, with thanksgiving, and experience His peace as I do so.  I can rejoice always because the Lord is at hand.  He is able to work in each of my requests and to help me "let my moderation be known unto all men."

P= "Lord, I thank and praise You that as Your child I can have rejoicing in any situation.  I praise You that there is much to be thankful for even in our most difficult moments.  I praise You that You always give me good sleep and rest even in harder times, and that You guard my heart and mind with Your incomparable peace.  I pray that as I go into each new day, no matter my circumstances, that You will help me to show moderation in my dealings with all the people I encounter.  I praise You for all that You are doing and all that you will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

There is our last Sunday Scripture from this little series!  I hope it has been a blessing to you.

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image similar to the illustration above, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This third week's verses are focused on Joy.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 17.

Today's Scripture is Nehemiah 8:10.

S=  "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our LORD.  Neither be grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  (Nehemiah 8:10)

O= After the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt under the direction of Nehemiah, Ezra stood in the street "upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose", and read from the book of the law.  Verse 8 notes that Ezra and other men "read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading". 

The people wept when they heard the words of the law (v.9) but Nehemiah and Ezra instructed them not to weep but to celebrate, "for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Warrem Wiersbe explains in With the Word, "When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 444 B.C., Ezra was already there, instructing the people in God's law.  When the work of rebuilding was completed, Ezra held a great 'Bible conference' during the Feast of Taberrnacles.  The emphasis in chapter 8 is on 'the Book'.  They honored God's Word by standing when it was opened (v.5), listening when it was read, and seeking to understand it when it was explained.  They rejoiced at understanding the Word and at obeying the Word."

Believer's Bible Commentary also has some helpful thoughts: "The people's tears showed that the message was taken seriously (v.9).  They were right in taking the Word of God seriously, but they did not need to be overwhelmed by grief.  The feast was not for weeping but for rejoicing.  Only one occasion for mourning and fasting was to be found among Israel's feasts, and that was the Day of Atonement.  The rest of the feasts were to be kept with joy and celebration.  The fruit of the Spirit was to be visible: love, in sharing with the less fortunate; joy, in eating and drinking before the Lord; peace, in calming their fears and putting their hearts at rest.  Their sadness was turned to joy, and the joy of the LORD was their strength."

A= Certainly I am to take my sin seriously, as seen in December 16's reading from 1 John, and I am to be serious about my Christian life and my walk with God.  But the Christian life is intended to be a joy-filled life.

There have been many times in my life when I felt I could not do what was being asked of me.  Literally, I had no strength of my own.  I prayed in those times for God's joy to be my strength; sometimes I prayed it through tears.  God answered gloriously and I did find that His joy was my strength.  

P= "Lord, I am so thankful that Your joy can be my strength.  I praise You for the many times in my life when you have proved that to be true.  

"I know that every day is to be 'holy unto the Lord' -- for it is to be sanctified to Your service.  Help me to live my life in such a way that this is so.  May each and every day of my life count for Your glory!  I know that this can only be done in Your strength, and I thank You for all that You have done, all that You are doing, and all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study for today!  I hope it has been a blessing to someone.

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image featuring an illustration of candy canes, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  This second week's verses are focused on Love.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 9.

Today's Scripture is 1 John 4:7-8.

S= "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."  (1 John 7:-7-8)

O= This letter is written by the apostle John and may be thought of as a "family letter" from the Father to His "little children" (as John addresses them) who are in the world.  

C.I. Scofield says, "John's Gospel leads us across the threshold of the Father's house; His first epistle makes us at home there."  A lovely thought!  

The section containing verses 7 and 8 of chapter 4 is titled by Scofield in the Scofield Study Bible as "Little children assured and warned."

God is love, and all real love comes from Him.  Since we are born of God, and know God, we are to love one another.  If we do not manifest this love toward one another, we really don't know God as well as we should.

A= This passage is definitely speaking to me today.  Many times my reactions are so much less than loving.  Many times I feel as if I can love people, but I don't really like them very much.  I know that I have to truly love others if I am to show the world an accurate picture of my Savior.

P= "Lord, You know how hard this is for me.  I feel as if I do love my church family very much and have a genuine love and concern for each one who attends.  Yet you know I have often had a real struggle over the years with various situations.  I'm very thankful right now that I can't even remember what most of them were.  I pray that You would help me to love as You would have me to love.  I praise You that You are love and that true, real love comes only from You.  Give me a true love for others, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is another super-simple Bible study post for the Christmas season.  I hope it's a blessing to someone!

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download, and I wanted to let you know that if you're interested you can head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image with the candy canes, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  I plan to use some of these for very simple Sunday Scripture posts here and also (different verses) on my Christmas blog, for the first four weeks in December.  The first week's verses are focused on Hope. 

Today's Scripture is Jeremiah 33:14-15.  In the actual study, this one was from December 4 -- just in case you downloaded the study and are following along with it.

S= "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD,  that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
"In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land."  (Jeremiah 33:14-15)

O= God is speaking here, giving Jeremiah a message to speak to Israel and Judah.  He declares that the day is coming when He will the good things which He has promised to Judah and to Israel.  He will cause the Branch of righteousness (Jesus Himself) to take the throne of David as King of Kings and Lord of lords.

A= The most obvious application that stands out to me is that God keeps His promises!  What He promises, He eventually performs, when His time is right.

It is also neat to see the promise of the coming of the Branch fulfilled, insofar as Christ coming to earth in His first incarnation.  We have the sure promise that He will come again to reign as King of Kings and Lord of lords, to "execute justice and righteousness in the land."

P= "Lord, how I thank and praise You that You keep Your promises!  What You promise, You are more than able to perform.  I see here Your promise of sending the Messiah -- and how that promise was kept.  I thank and praise You for the surety that You always will keep Your promises -- You will never leave or forsake Your people; You are working all things together for our good and Your glory; You will be with us even through the valley of the shadow of death; just to name a very few promises. I praise You for all that You are doing, and all that You have done and will do!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

So there is our very simple and basic study for Sunday Scripture today.  I think that "simple" is likely all that most of us can handle right now as we move into this blessed Christmas season.  I know that to be true of myself!

Sunday Scripture

 

Delightful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

I've decided to take a break from the Psalms study to focus on Thanksgiving.  Again today, I'm sharing some insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 4 of the study.  We were to read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18, and the verses to SOAP were 16-18.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

So without further ado, here is my very simple study of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

S=  "Rejoice evermore.
"Pray without ceasing.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

O= This letter was wrtiten by Paul to the believers at Thessalonica.  C.I. Scofield says, "Timothy's good report of the faith and love of the Thessalonians and their tender regard for Paul prompted the apostle to write this touching and intimate letter in which he commends them for their steadfastness, reminds them of truths he has taught, and clears up questions about the Lord's return."

The instructions Paul gives in this last chapter of 1 Thessalonians are brief and to the point.  The verses I am looking at give some pretty all-encompassing direction:

🍂 Rejoice evermore.

🍂 Pray without ceasing.

🍂 In everything give thanks.

I could summarize this as: "Never stop rejoicing; never stop praying; never stop thanking God."

Paul tells us too why we should thank God in every circumstance: this is His will concerning us.

A= The application to my life is pretty obvious.  

🍂 I'm to be continually rejoicing.  This isn't easy.  Life is tiring and some days and circumstances are hard.  Yet I'm commanded to rejoice evermore.

🍂 I'm to be continually in the attitude of prayer.  To me this implies staying "prayed up", keeping short accounts with God, confessing sin as I'm aware of it, so I may remain in constant communication with Him.

🍂 I'm to be thanking God in every circumstance of life, acknowledging that it's His will for me.  He allows these circumstances for my good and His glory.

P= "Lord, these are tall orders you have for me in this passage.  These "100% words" -- evermore; without ceasing; in everything -- are quite a challenge.  I can only rejoice continually and give thanks in everything in Your strength.  I praise You that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. 

"Help me, Lord, to keep short accounts with You so that I may be in constant fellowship with You throughout each day, maintaining an attitude of prayer.  I praise You for the privilege of prayer and for the clarity and practicality of Your Word!  In Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study for today!  I know these are a good bit more basic than the Sunday Scriptures I've shared in recent months, but I do hope they'll be a blessing and an encouragement to someone. 

Sunday Scripture

 

For the next couple of Sundays, I've decided to take a break from the Psalms study to focus on Thanksgiving.  I'll be sharing some insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 3 of the study.  We were to read Colossians 3:12-17, and the verses to SOAP were 15-17.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

So without further ado, here is my very simple study of Colossians 3:15-17:

S= "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
"And whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."  (Colossians 3:15-17)

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O= Paul wrote this letter (while imprisoned in Rome) to the Christians in the church at Colosse.  It was written "to the saints and faithful brethren' at Colosse, but clearly applies to all Christian believers.  

In these verses I see some repetitions (and it's always good to pay attention to those): "be ye thankful" in verse 15; and "giving thanks to God and the Father" in verse 17.

The commands seem to apply not only to individual believers but to the body of Christ as a whole.  We are to: 

🍁 Let the peace of God rule in our hearts (v.15)
🍁 Realize we are called to this peace as a church as well as individuals (v.15)
🍁 Be thankful (v.15)
🍁 Let God's Word dwell in us richly (v.16)
🍁 Teach and admonish other believers and expect them to do the same for us (v.16)
🍁 Sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord (v.16)
🍁 Whatever we do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father by Him.

A= I need to let God's peace rule in my heart.  (It seems to me that if individual believers have His peace ruling in their hearts, there will more likely be peace in the church.) 

Sometimes it is all too easy to let something else, like worry, fear, anxiety, or some other emotion rule in our hearts.  But we need to let God's peace rule there.  In addition, I am to be thankful.  And I am very thankful for God's peace!

I need to let God's Word dwell in me richly. To me this means not only memorizing God's Word, but allowing it to become an integral part of my life by applying it and making it real in my everyday life.  Letting God's Word settle in and be at home in every facet of my life.

I also should be teaching and admonishing other believers and to be singing with grace in my heart to the Lord.  

It's interesting that I am to let God's peace rule in my heart and I am to let His word dwell in me richly.  These are both things I need to allow.  

And whatever I do, whether it's word (something I say) or deed (something I do), it's to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as a thank-offering to Him.  It's an important question to ask ourselves about a proposed course of action: Can I do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

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P= "Lord, I thank You this morning for the clear instruction from Your Word.  I pray that You will help me to daily apply all that I have learned.  

"Help me to allow Your peace to rule in my heart.  Help me to remember that I'm called to this.  I'm not to let anxiety, fear, worry, anger, frustration, or any other emotion rule in my heart -- only Your peace.  This seems like a tall assignment; yet, if I will only allow You to do the work in  my life, it is perfectly possible.

"Help me, too, to allow Your Word to dwell in me richly, to saturate my soul with it, so that when I am squeezed, it's Your Word that drips out.  Help me to daily memorize and meditate on Your Word, and to make it an integral part of my life.

And help me, Lord, to never forget that every bit of life is to be lived for Your glory, as a testimony to others and as a thank-offering to You for all You have done for me.

"I thank and praise You for how You will work, and for how you are working, in these areas!  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And that's our very, very simple study for today.  I hope that someone has found it a blessing.

Sunday Scripture

 It's time for another Sunday Scripture!  This is another post in what will be an ongoing series on my simple study of Psalms.  You can see a copy of the journal here: The Book of Psalms 1-50 or you can find all the resources right here on Women Living Well, Psalms 1-50.  I'm attempting to SOAP each Psalm too, though some of them are longer so I will likely only do a selected passage from many of them. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Each psalm's study also includes a reflection question, which I will attempt to journal an answer to.  Today's study is from Psalm 5.  I will be SOAPing only verses 1-3.

S= "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
"Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; for unto Thee will I pray.
"My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up."  (Psalm 5:1-3)

O= The biblical heading for Psalm 5 is "To the Chief Musician upon Nehiloth,  A psalm of David."  The ESV heads it this way: "To the Choirmaster for the Flutes".  C.I. Scofield, in the Scofield Study Bible, titles this psalm "A prayer for guidance."

Cross-reference for "Give ear to my words" (v.1) -- "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness."  (Psalm 4:1a)

Cross-reference for "meditation" ([ESV= "groaning"] v.1) -- "My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the fire burned; then spoke I with my tongue."  (Psalm 39:3)

William MacDonald explains, "At the outset [David] asks God to hear not only his words but consider his meditation as well.  It is a valid request.  The Holy Spirit can interpret our meditations just as easily as the words we speak."

Cross-reference for "King" (v.2) -- "Yea, the sparrow has found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God."  (Psalm 84:3)

Concerning the phrase "my King and my God", Charles Spurgeon wrote: "Observe carefully these little pronouns, my King and my God.  Here is a grand argument why God should answer prayer -- because He is our King and our God."

Cross-reference for "unto Thee" (v.2) -- "O Thou who hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come."  (Psalm 65:2)

"Observe the order and force of the words "my cry", "the voice of my prayer", and also "give ear", "consider", and "hearken".  These expressions all evince the urgency and energy of David's feelings and petitions."  -- Martin Luther

Cross-references for "in the morning" (v.3) -- "But unto Thee have I cried, O LORD, and in the morning shall my prayer come before Thee."  (Psalm 88:13)

"I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried; I hoped in thy word."  (Psalm 119:147)

"My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning; I say, more than they that watch for the morning."  (Psalm 130:6)

Cross-reference for "morning" (v.3) -- "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I  pray, and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice."  (Psalm 55:17)

Cross-reference for "look up" [ESV "watch"] (v.3) -- "I will stand upon my watch, and set myself upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved."  (Habakkuk 2:1)

Concerning the phrase "direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up", Spurgeon wrote, "I will put my prayer upon the bow, I will direct it towards heaven, and then, when I have shot up my arrow, I will look up to see where it has gone."

William Gurnall wrote, "An unbelieving heart shoots at random, and never minds where his arrow lights, or what comes of his praying; but faith fills the soul with expectation."

Spurgeon summarizes the last two clauses: "1) Prayer directed; 2) Answers expected."

A= Martin Luther said that the words and phrases "give ear", "consider", "hearken", and "my cry" are forceful and urgent.  They do carry that sense of energy and urgency.  This shows me that it's okay to cry out to God with fervor.  

The terms "my king" and "my God" emphasize that God is a personal God who cares about the concerns of each and every one of His children.  Therefore I can confidently bring my concerns to Him.  The idea of directed, specific prayer is also seen here, as is looking up to watch and see how God will answer. 

I can find a wonderful example here for my own prayer life.  Pray at the beginning of the day; pray specifically, personally, and fervently, waiting expectantly to see what God will do in answer to my prayers.

P=  "Lord, I do thank and praise You for the verses from this psalm that show me David's heart for prayer.  These verses show me some wonderful principles for my own prayer life.  My early morning time with You is a priority for me, as it was for David.  I pray that You will help me to continue to pray specifically, fervently, personally, and expectantly as I watch for Your answer.  I praise You for the privilege of prayer, in Jesus' name, Amen."

Reflection question: David woke up with God on his mind.  He made it a priority for God to hear his voice in the morning.  This means he prayed out loud at the beginning of his day.

Does God hear your voice in the morning?  If not, how can you rearrange your priorities to make time for prayer in the morning?

My response: Yes, God does hear my voice in the morning.  For many years I have seen my time with God as my first priority for any day.  Now, with my husband retired, we are both able to spend our early morning hours praying, along with reading and studying God's Word.  

Another thing I have felt led to do over time is to make the choice not to spend any time on the internet until I've spent good quality time in the Bible.  I've learned that it's far more important to listen to God's Word first before I get input from any other source.  I could even adjust this boundary to include my prayer time, but at this point I do check my email and messages following my Bible study time so I can pray for any important requests I may have received overnight.

And there is our simple study of Psalm 5:1-3.  I hope it was a blessing to someone!