BIBLE REFLECTIONS, OCTOBER 1-31, 2021
The bottle in the smoke... Several commentaries have argued about the meaning of this passage; but most agree that in ancient Middle Eastern cultures, when there was yet no glass bottle invented, this refers to goatskin bottles; which when not used, hung out to dry near the fire of the family tent... But in this passage, the Psalmist is saying that like the bottle in the smoke that has been left to dry long enough, and therefore have accumulated much soot, blackened, dried up too much, shriveled, and have become brittle and therefore may not be fit to use next time, so too his spirit has become exhausted because of his troubles; and physically, this has taken its toll on his health and even physical appearance... During these times, many of us are like this too: not a day passes where I don't hear somebody--in the neighborhood, at work, in church, on social media, and even in the supermarket--ask aloud when the pandemic would end; because everybody is getting tired of anxiety and distress, fearing for their health and lives, their livelihood and mobility, their physical connection with friends and family, and the health and safety of their loved ones too... Yet in the same song we learn what encourages and inspires the Psalmist, and what gives him hope, strength and courage to persevere: God's Word and His promises... Yes, life and its troubles would take their toll on most of us, leading to sicknesses and malaise, even death; but we must remember that we have a God who cares for us... The suffering we are experiencing now may indeed be due mostly to the greed of a powerful few who have denuded the environment and caused the plunder of wildlife, in the process unleashing forth viruses and diseases that would have been ably controlled in the bodies of wild animals but are lethal to human bodies; yet all is not lost, because though these people are like the evil people who are the Psalmist's enemies, who are only in it for the power and profit, ultimately, these are worthless; for the real battle for survival lies in the mind--that derives hope from the promises of God's preservation, deliverance and restoration, and in the heart--that anchors its fate in the God who created all things, and who will someday destroy all man-made systems that marred His creation, while pouring out healing, grace and peace to all who humble themselves before Him, repent of their sinful ways, and obey His leading...
A sound heart... Is
one which acknowledges its Creator, finds hope in His mercy and grace, gains
confidence and joy in His Word... In a world continually being swamped by lies
and evil everyday, one realizes that a greater force is at work too: one that
slowly but forcefully exposes hypocrisy, ignorance and pride, and one that lays
bare the folly of uninformed human reasoning and systems... As we strive to
gain true wisdom and maintain sanity and a proper perspective on things, may we
also keep our hearts sound, stripping it bare of pride; but instead letting
humility reign, and obedience leading us to the right and sure path, one that
will not make us ashamed, and one that will save our souls...
A former boss said
that one can tell a lot what another person is thinking, by observing the way
they walk... While it is true in many cases, still, there are many other ways
that one can ascertain or somehow judge a person's character--a necessary skill
for life preservation and advancement... But if we only depend on our judgment
and experiences, pretty soon we will become biased and prejudiced... In this
passage, the Psalmist shares that the best way to learn about other people, and
life in general, is to ask God to teach us good judgment and right knowledge,
for with our own judgment only, we will be led astray... But with God's loving
rebuke and discipline, we have hope to once again return to the right path, and
to submit to His leading... Even if people forge lies against us (a hostile act
requiring tremendous skill, energy, and time, as one forges a sword, an
instrument, or even fake documents and credentials), like his enemies did to
him, we can feel secured that if we remain faithful in doing good and obeying
His will, God will grant deliverance, help and justification...
A life in portions...
Since long ago, when I started reading the Word, I actually could not relate
much or fully understand when the Psalmist says, 'God is my portion'; because
having grown up without my biological siblings, whatever my parents had for
me--no matter how small--is all mine, not shared or broken into several
portions... Then I read accounts--fictional, documentaries, news reports and
articles--about lives in the middle Eastern and North African deserts, in the
mountain ranges of Central Asia, experiences of war and famine and drought,
nomadic tribes, and those under oppressive regimes around the world, and came
to realize what life is like for one who live on portions... I also begun to
understand what the elders said about what life was like when I was a kid
during Martial Law too, as we line up for food ration handouts from foreign
organizations because our government was so corrupt, with balloons of national
debt and government funds siphoned and tucked away in personal funds in foreign
countries, that we children were malnourished and stunted, and so the rest of
the world chipped in to ensure there is enough nutrition in our young bodies...
As it is in the physical, so it is in the spiritual sense too: everyday that we
are given a chance to wake up is our daily portion from God, with all its
blessings of good health and strength, the extremely wonderful and amazing
creative and productive work inside our physical bodies, food, work, school or
a whole day with chances to learn more, and less than 24 hours to do good and
make a positive impact in the lives of others and in whole of creation... Such
daily sustenance can only find completeness and meaning when we realize that
through it all, God faithfully gives us our portion; and so it is but right
that we accept Him into our lives as our portion too... Like the Psalmist, may
we seek to understand more, give Him thanks for everything, and so spend the
rest of our days in good stewardship of our time, our chances, our
opportunities, and our portions...
Memories and
keepsakes... Some of us have experienced it at least once: there is something
we want to keep, no matter how small in commercial value or none at all,
because of the memories of people and events associated with it; yet, somehow,
we lose it, and no matter how hard we try, we could not retrieve it anymore...
But if those memories become more, like we have done our best so that they
become part of our character, then, keepsake or not, forgotten or lost memories
notwithstanding, those things, those feelings and connections remain alive...
It seems to be this way with the Psalmist too, as he has lived his life with
God's Word written in his heart, unerasable even through difficult
circumstances, or the failings of the human brain... For as the heart never
stops pumping blood until our last breath, so too, when we plant God's Word
there, like the Psalmist, they become our hope in times of doubt, our song in
times of despair, our strength in times of weakness and fear... May we consider
these things, as we strive to live the rest of our days with meaning and
purpose, with grace and truth...
Conference makes a
ready man... Is one of the most memorable statements in the essay, 'Of Studies'
by Sir Francis Bacon... And it is a worthwhile life motto too, which a study
guide says probably means that if a person communicates well, and in return listens
attentively to what people has to say, that person will be able to eliminate
prejudices; and at the same, will always speak with tact, wit, right knowledge,
wisdom and substance... And in the Psalmist's case, he considers that with
God's blessing of wisdom, He who is the source of truth, the former can say the
right things, and in doing so, preserve his freedom and life, and will have
hope and confidence... Indeed, conversing, or a two-way communication, with an
unseen God entails praying to Him according to how our Lord and Savior taught
(not mindless repetitions, but humble acknowledgement, praise and appeal to a
loving Father), and reading the Word His prophets, teachers and scholars wrote
about Him and what He said... And as what believers through the ages have
proven, even during conversations with others--believers or not--, arguments,
interrogations, persecutions, in the face of the enemy's attacks and
harassments, in suffering, pain and sorrow, and even until the moment of death,
the person who is filled with the Word will always have hope, confidence and
peace; that person who humbly allows God to teach him or her wondrous things
out of His Word and law will always be ready for life and beyond...
Everyday, we make
choices... And it will always be between what is right and true, which may at
times be difficult, but sometimes enjoyable, yet always satisfying... Or we
could choose the easier path, but that will only lead to destruction... This
next stanza of the Psalm, He, for the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, also
talks about choices... But in here, the Psalmist's choice is between a life of
covetousness, a rat race and chasing after ever higher status, position,
wealth, fame, as compared to what he or she believes is a better choice: one
revealed by God's wisdom, one that is true, just and fair... May we learn the
example of the Psalmist too, and continually ask God for wisdom and
discernment, so that as much as possible, with all our strength, we will always
make the better choice...
In times of suffering,
sorrow and mental anguish: a larger heart, the way of truth, and strength from
God's Word... October is mental health month, and from the posts and feeds on
many social media pages, conversations from family, friends and workmates, underneath
or as a result of several modern day circumstances and life issues, it seems
that a lot of people are mentally and emotionally disturbed... Doctors and
psychiatrists though, have been well meaning in their prescriptions, such as
good food, rest and exercise, family and friend support, and to seek and extend
help when necessary... Yet in the Daleth stanza, the fourth, for the fourth
letter in the Hebrew alphabet, we learn of a surer and most reliable way:
deeper understanding and wisdom from the Word of God, strength and inspiration
to live in the way of truth, and God's blessing to give us a larger heart to
accept both good and bad from life, so that the rest of our days may be lived
in love, with an abundance of His mercy and grace, which in turn we can share
with others and help them too... May we find our most effective medication and
treatment in God's word, as we read it, meditate on it, and as we ponder on how
this, and His laws are revealed in creation everyday...
To think better...
Gimel, the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet which starts each of the eight
lines in the third stanza of Psalm 119, invites the readers to the third thing
to do, after acknowledging God as Creator and Lord, then acquiring wisdom and
knowledge: to think and meditate on His laws, on life and its issues, to
reframe our mindsets as to the proper things in life... One faith article said
that a lot of Christians mistakenly think that wealth, health, career,
relationships are where our blessings lie; and if we have not been so
successful in them, we need to pray and try harder to get more
"blessed"... In fact though, the blessing is not in these but in life
itself, that in spite of whatever happens--problems or celebrations, sickness
or good health, poverty or wealth, loneliness and solitude or companionship and
relationship--breathing, sensing, feeling, thinking, speaking, are the
weightier matters... And this seems to be the measure of the Psalmist too, when
he asked God to be dealt with bountifully, not to become an icon of success,
but so that with his life and living, he can keep God's word... And further, he
asks God to open his eyes, that he may learn and understand more wondrous
things from God's law... The kind of meditative and reflective attitude we
should maintain too, not like how we deal with social media feeds, in our
mainly attention-deficit awareness (rather, un-awareness) of what life is
really like, falling gullible prey to those who are greedy for more power, and
so will not hesitate to stomp down on and abuse others for patronage and
support... May we use the education we have, and the wisdom we have gained, to
see Truth, to uphold it, and not to lead others astray with our lies, alternate
realities, and historical revisions too...
Next to godliness, is
a good education... The second stanza of this psalm, titled 'Beth', for the
second letter of the Hebrew alphabet which begins each of its eight lines,
shows us the proper way of business... After godliness, is a good
education--not conferred by degrees or schools, but by putting ethics, good
character and morals into practice... It also tells us that knowledge is second
to wisdom, in that we may desirably do our best to be knowledgeable as much as
we can, but above it is a heart and mind of wisdom, attuned to God's Word and
will, and in meekness--obedience to His commands; which are actually only meant
for our good, that we may see and experience the abundant, meaningful and
purposeful lives He planned for each of us... May we set our priorities right...
Aleph, for The
Alpha... So we begin the longest chapter in the Word, with the first stanza of
eight lines, in the original Hebrew of which begins with letter Aleph,
symbolically representing the beginning, which is God... And in here the
Psalmist directs us to the beginning of true, meaningful, purposeful life: a
diligent study of God's Word, a studious seeking of His will, and a faithful,
humble and wholehearted--even with weaknesses and failures--effort to live and
love according to His law and way... May we all find our places in God's
family, and in the great cloud of witnesses, who testify here on earth while
alive, of who He is, what He has done and what He is doing, and the greater
things that He will still do in the future... And may our lives leave a legacy
of faith, justice and mercy, concern and support, help and the building up of
our fellowman...
The Lord is our
strength and song; He is our salvation... And we can hope and trust on this, in
spite of all the hardships and troubles, sickness and death, calamities and
catastrophes, wars and conflicts, famine and depletion the world is
experiencing right now... For we know, and we have seen and experienced how,
even against all odds, our God can save, deliver, and provide... And so, we join
with the rest of creation in feeling confident and being at peace, that if we
but rest our cares on Him, praise Him always for His goodness and love, and
continue and endure in living for His glory, even if civilization and the
present state of things go to ruin, we have a God whose mercy endures
forever...
A very short
refrain... Two chapters before the longest passage and celebration of the Word,
the Psalmist couldn't be more direct, as he (or she, if this was penned by a
woman), issues a challenge, not just to the Jewish nation or the Israelite
people of old, but the whole of humanity until today: To praise our God, for
His boundless loving-kindness and goodness to all, because He is truth, and His
truth endures for all time... As the world is more and more being awashed with
lies, as evil continues to be covered up, grows in intensity and even
celebrated as desirable, over what is true, and just and right, may we be
grounded in the humility that comes when we acknowledge how good our God is,
and our hearts and minds vertically aligned to praise Him, and to uphold His
truth for all our days...
Precious, dead or
alive... Unlike those who have severely offended people, properties and the
law, God's people are considered precious in His eyes; albeit in like manner,
whether dead or alive... For alive, they praise and worship Him, accomplish His
great commission to all the world, make His light shine through their lives and
reflect His glory; and in death, a witness to all that even through its difficulties
and hardships, even with pain and separation, the one who has kept the faith
and fought the good fight, is victorious with His power and might... May each
moment we live be filled by His grace and mercy, wisdom and love...
So that all people,
both small and great, may hear His truth, see His goodness, gain wisdom from
His Word, praise and live for His Name forevermore... May we step out of our
comfort zones and close-minded nuclear family orientation, to let His light
shine and be seen in our lives, and be real and true counter-culture to this
world that is under the sway of lies and evil, corruption and hypocrisy,
revisionism and cover-up... And may we have the courage to heed...
Because He can turn
rock into standing water... The story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, and of how
God sustained them along the way, even through the desert and wilderness, until
they reached the promised land, is an eternal inspiration, no matter if modern
day people believe them to be history, or fiction, or not... It shows us, who
weren't eyewitnesses or bystanders at that time, that we worship a God who
delivers and sustains, whom we may offend and who might discipline us from time
to time, but whose mercy and goodness never fails... May we have the eyes to
see, the ears to hear, the minds to believe, and the hearts to obey...
Never barren nor
alone... The one who dedicates his or her life to God in praise, prayer, and
personally knowing Him more through His Word, will have meaningful, fruitful
lives... Though they may or may not spend their days physically unaccompanied,
yet, in truth, in essence, they are never forsaken, and will yet have more
chances to show His mercy, grace and love to many... May we open our eyes and
enlarge our hearts, because meaningful connections that last beyond our
lifetimes, also exist and need to be developed beyond our nuclear families...
May we find inspiration and courage in these...
To fix and establish
our hearts... Is to be vertically aligned with God and His will, and towards a
better future for humanity and our children... And the person who always has
this in mind, is careful to do what is right and just and fair, always generous
and humble, careful with his or her words and actions, and with every
opportunity, to defend truth and good... As the rest of the world is running
out of food, opportunities, breathable air and healthy environment, with more
wealth concentrated on a few while the resources of billions more are
dwindling, may we set and fix our hearts now... Because when it is our time, we
can bring nothing with us, except a holy written record of what we have given
and shared, a legacy of faith and hope in the One Who Created us all, a
relationship that is vertically aligned, but grounded on love and care for
fellowman...
The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom... Because forever questioning why and how things
are, and what will they become is a pointless endeavor; unless one acknowledges
the One Who Created us and all that surrounds, by His wonderful design and
eternal purpose... Beyond the limits of science, and the boundaries of
religious doctrine and faith creeds; but it is only when one feels a holy fear
borne out of love for the One whom we owe all our praise, worship and
adoration, can we open our hearts and minds to all that He teaches us, by His
written laws, and by the very laws that govern all beings here on earth and
beyond...
The root and offspring of David... Our Lord
Jesus Christ cited this psalm when He asked the Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46,
whom they think was the Christ: because He is the Son of God, He is God, He is
Lord of all creation, even of King David, but since He was born through His
lineage (in legal lineage through Joseph, and in blood through Mary), He is an
offspring of King David too... A recent article shared that because of the
uncertainties of the pandemic, people now are more focused on the present,
rather than the distant future... But this psalm tells us otherwise, for in
here the Psalmist tells us that the God we follow is everlasting, that His
plans and purposes transcend through time, and He accomplishes them throughout
the history of humankind... So that in the same song where it is declared that
He shall be lifted up and enthroned (v. 1), it also mentioned that He shall rule,
judge and destroy (v. 2, 3, 5, 6), He shall be refreshed (v. 7), but that if
there is any body we must appeal to to serve as mediator between God the Father
and us, it is Him, the eternal high priest after the order of King Melchizedek
(v. 4)--outside of Jewish priesthood, or any other ordinations made by man...
In such a short song, we are reminded to put our trust and hope in Him who
lives, sustains, delivers, and rules forever...
Each reaps his own
reward... One realizes through this song, that though the Psalmist is a
spiritual giant, yet, he is still human; for he prayed for the total
devastation and ruin of his enemy--the proud unbeliever who oppressed him, who
is not humble unto God, and who trusts in his own wealth and power to succeed
and be victorious... While such resentments are valid sentiments, it's somehow
counter-intuitive to demand that God punish those who oppress and abuse us...
Especially for us who now have both the old and new testaments as guide for
right living... Yes, it is never okay to abuse or oppress others, and so we
must not do so; but if we become victims of such, even during the Psalmist's
time and until now, there are proper legal remedies to make use of, if we have
the funds, time and energy for it... But the best course of action is what our
Lord and Savior said, to give those burdens to Him (Matthew 11:28-30), for He
Himself said that blessed are the meek, the peacemakers, those who are
persecuted for righteousness, and to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile
(Matthew 5)... We can still right wrongs and indignities if it is within our
power and capacity, and we have the connections to do so; but in our hearts,
wishing ill is letting your oppressor continue to hurt you... The only way to
win is to let it pass, for soon, life will give them their due, and, the one
who has hurt and abused others will be meted with God's vengeance (Deuteronomy
32:35)... Justice will be given to those who wait patiently and remain faithful
in hope and prayer, a recompense will be done (Luke 18:1-8), all while the
victim's hands remain clean, and the heart remain pure for the only thing that
matters: to worship and praise God in spite of oppression and opposition, and
to live lives worthy of His Name...
A counter-culture of
valiance... These days, with the pandemic accelerating the demise of old ways
of thinking and the great expose of the rottenness of generations of
established systems and ways of life, daily news and dramas show a humanity in
fear, and political leaderships in confusion, with an increase in apathy and
rudeness, crime and violence, nastiness and abuse... But this Psalm reminds us
that God still rules over all; and that even if the rest of the world cower in
fear, or lash out in anger because of it, to anybody within their perception of
weakness and otherness, yet those who trust in God can be confident and be at
peace; because through Him, whatever we do, we can have the courage to do it;
He will tread down our enemies--particularly the prevailing culture of fear and
anger and confusion, and lead His people through a life of valiance and
bravery... May we find strength in this...
From wilderness to
watersprings... Such is the life of those whom God has redeemed from the enemy
(v. 2)... And it may yet happen that due to oppression, envy and affliction,
sorrow and even the harsh forces of nature, that life may become some kind of a
wilderness again; however, those who have made the choice to trust in God, and
actively keep alive the faith, can be confident that God will again hear, He
will lift them up from distress, destruction and despair, and will bring them
to their desired haven (v. 19, 20, 28, 30)... May we find hope and strength in
these, as we always remember the loving-kindness of our God (v. 43)...
In the world, but not
of the world... This Psalm seems to be a continuation of the preceding one,
that recounts the history of Israel's rebellion against God, in spite of His
goodness unto them; with the people not learning much after the tragedies and
punishments of those who rebelled in each generation... When God told them to
destroy the nations around them, physically and at that time, the intention may
have been less a physical massacre--which still fuels wars and rebellions until
today, or its modern equivalent, i.e., terrorism-- but more of a strict
nonconformance and outright destruction of an idolatrous way of life... But
like the rest of humanity even until now, the Israelites conformed and adapted
to the worldly way of life... As our scripture examples, the Psalmist would
have us remember not to be short-sighted too, to remember God's covenant, the
updated and expanded one as validated by the redemptive sacrifice of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who reminds us that such "destruction" is no more an
act of war or genocide, but a radical way of life, as stated in the Beatitudes
(Matthew 5); and in every choice we make, we give thought and choose to do what
is truth, right, and just and fair; and that even if we are in the world, like
our Savior, we are not of it (John 17:16), but must lift our ways of thinking
from sinful and base group think, to one attuned to His--with love and wisdom,
heavenly, eternal, righteous and holy... May we be found faithful and true...
The psalm for the
Exodus... This song was meant to remind God's people of how He took them out of
the foreign superpower they have been enslaved and adapted to, and settled them
in the land He promised--a highly contentious, historically painful issue and
sore spot even to our Palestinian FB friends and celebrities that we follow
today... Yet, one must remember that in spite of what the Torah writers wrote
as God's sentiment, the Jews were made to settle in the Holy Land not to
displace or massacre entire tribes and nations (which by blood and genes, are
actually their brethren) but to be examples to them, to all the world, and even
to us until today, that they should obey His statutes and laws, keep His Word,
and praise His Name (v. 45)... Even when God came in the flesh through our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Jews are still mandated to do the same, but now that call has
been extended to all of humanity (John 3:16-17), who would make the choice to
let God deliver them from a life of sin and darkness, into His wonderful
eternal life of light and truth (Matthew 5:17; Mark 2:17 & 10:45; Luke
4:18-19, 19:10; John 6:38-40, 10:10, 12:46-47 & 18:37)... May we take Him
up at His Word then, and do as He says, if we claim to know and worship and
love Him, who so lovingly yet with absolute authority said, "if you love
me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15)...
Keeping pace with all
creation... Here the Psalmist tells of God's marvelous creation, how each works
and lives dependent on His goodness and mercy, as they naturally rely on and
peruse each other to survive and play... And yet, even until now, the brightest
scientists have never fathomed whether other creatures have minds, and so
concluded that they don't, unlike the Psalmist who declares that they look unto
God for sustenance, are troubled when He withholds His grace, and die when He
takes their breath back (v. 21, 27-29)... Like them, humans labor and earn
their keep daily too, yet, the Psalmist believes that it is only man who has
the mind and reason to choose to praise and give thanks to God, and let such
choice pervade his way of life; delineating as sinners those who don't, but
identifying as a right choice to sing to God in praise while still alive, meditating
on in sweetness and joy and being glad of His wonderful works... May we make
the better choice too, as we humbly acknowledge the hand, design and direction
of God in every creature we see around us, both visible to the naked eye or
not; and live lives of praise and thanksgiving, with attitudes of being willing
channels of His mercy and grace, and in being good stewards of all that He has
given...
Blessing God is our
response when we acknowledge the full meaning of His Name... A Bible commentary
said that God blesses us with His goodness and love, and we bless Him in return
as we express our thanksgiving and adoration... This Psalm, attributed to King
David, is a more detailed explanation of the Name He declared to Moses in
Exodus 34:6... May we choose the wiser path, between trying to control our own
lives apart from His will and plan, or surrendering to His leading, the God who
daily loads us with benefits, and Who is ever attentive to the prayers of those
who fear Him, who try to live proper lives, in fairness, truth, justice and
mercy...
Feeling overwhelmed
yet?... The Psalmist reminds us that when it seems our troubles are larger than
life, we should call on God for help, respite and deliverance... For even with
its beauty and pain, earthly life is short, but God endures forever... And he
wants us to remember that it is not our efforts and achievements that give life
meaning, but our relationship with God--how we humbly obey His leading, how we
trust and have faith in His goodness and mercy, and how we are open vessels for
His love, that we are to share with others however we can--that fulfills our
life's purpose...
To behave wisely is to
show that we have grown, in spite of this pandemic; and the lessons brought on
by its hardships and heartbreaks have made us stronger, more aware, more
conscious and conscientious, more generous, less selfish and greedy; and less
focused on ourselves, but more on the good we can do to others, even if it
means that the very least we can do is to stay safe and healthy so that people
around us would be safe and healthy too, and the people they care about would
be protected also... And this is what the Psalmist seems to think too, when he
resolved to live properly and wisely, and make sure to uphold and influence others
the same way; as he waits for his time, or his ultimate deliverance from God,
whichever comes first... May we keep these things in mind, as we learn to
conduct our affairs with more care and concern, in living honestly, with
justice and fairness, with love, with wisdom and grace...
It's Sunday, and for
most of christendom, a day of communal worship and praise, and hearing of the
Word from God's anointed messengers... No matter how long may yours be, even if
you do it on a different day, and no matter what principles and traditions your
group's elders imposed, the call remains the same: as we publicly display
entering into God's holy presence, may we be ever thankful, full of praise,
giving Him thanks, and, instead of the usual 'give me, give me', to first bless
His Name... And as we begin the rest of the week, may we remain thankful and
our hearts full of joy and praise for Him, Who is eternally good, whose mercies
are everlasting, and Whose truth remains pure and uncoloured, and endures through
all generations...
Blessed are the
footstools... In this psalm, we are reminded that we should worship God at His
footstool--a position of humility and least importance; for like a physical
footstool in the house, which is the least kind of furniture, yet it gives
comfort to those who use it, those who worship and serve God and His people
from the sidelines, who work behind the scenes, away from the pedestal and the
limelight, far from positions of authority and power, best reflect His
humility, mercy and grace... May our life be likewise: not a performance for
all to admire, but unobtrusive, unknown, in humility and faith, and with
sincere generosity, are able to help and support, and give comfort to those
most in need... For if we do that, we give joy and gladness to our God too...
Living at the
crossroads... God's people have always lived in the crossroads of life--whether
in the Holy Land, in the middle of great cultural and philosophical upheavals,
and in between clashes of powers, civilizations and faith... Yet for all that,
the seeds of His faith and love have never stopped persistently coming back to
life, and God's marvelous redemptive salvation work have always been declared
to all; so that only those who have such high pride in themselves, in what they
have, in who or what they know, in what they can do, and in what they want to
be known, will be blind enough to see His greatness and mercy in all
creation... But blessed is the Lord that His will and purposes rule, and that
even if at the surface, this world has always been heading down to destruction,
yet He and His heavenly hosts have always been at work and gearing up for His
righteous judgments and deliverance... May each day we live be filled with
hopeful expectation that indeed, the greatest is still to come, so that every
moment of the rest of our days may be filled with joy, with singing of praise,
that we are exactly where we are right now, because that is where our God can
manifest His greatest glory...
With the peace and
confidence that transcends human understanding, we know that the Lord indeed
reigns; and there is great rejoicing in the spirit, from all the world, even
from the far flung Isles of the earth... Here is another psalm, which was
modernized into church service praise song since 1980, the kind one grows up
with, the type that truly elicits rejoicing and praise... And we are told by
the Psalmist that if we are to always remember all of God's goodness and
holiness, there is no stopping us from feeling joyful and singing too... Like
any old classic indeed, if only we remember how we are sustained daily, how our
Great Creator and Lord showers us with His mercies every morning, pours out His
wisdom and love on us through the day, and remains faithful as we go off to
sleep to prepare to meet another day, if given the chance; then no matter the
tribulations we face, notwithstanding the apathy and corruption of the world
around us, we will rise and be confident that all these will not be enough to
separate us from His love; so that since four decades ago and until now, we can
gladly join with the great cloud of His witnesses in singing, "The Lord
reigns! 
The Lord reigns! 
The Lord reigns! 
Let the earth rejoice...
Let the earth rejoice... 
Let the earth rejoice... 
Let the people be glad
, that our God reigns...
Praising God never
goes stale... Here is another song that was an old popular and favorite...
Unfortunately its words caught up with it, for if one is truly blessed and
favored and joyfully obedient, one would always be singing new songs of praise;
also, due to the limitations of time, it would happen that old songs would be played
less and less too, as new and novel ones are sung to inspire and encourage,
particularly those new in the faith... To the truly faithful however, sincere
words of praise have already become part of their psyche, that every new song
is compared to the beauty of the old... That is why in even the secular world,
the classics, the songs we grew up with will always be better and more
memorable than the recent pop ones... May this psalm also be like that for us,
so we may live lives in full awareness of who our God is, that He is Creator
and Master of all, unlike the idols that many in the world worship, and that
even until the day He returns to judge all, we never stop praising and
worshipping Him--from the heart and mind, with hopeful faith and sincere obedience,
in spirit and in truth...
Of herd immunity and
group think... A lifetime ago (more than 30 years past, that is, to show my
age), this Psalm is one of the more popular praise songs usually played to
usher in the start of church services... Independent-minded people might
protest at the idea of being counted part of a herd of sheep, yet the Psalmist
considers that a noble status; if only because our Good Shepherd is God
Himself, who satisfies us with the better things in life so we lack nothing,
and Who deserves our highest praise and utmost worship... Unfortunately, this
pandemic affronts our independence too: lockdowns, quarantines, isolations, and
like cattle--jabbed, in order to achieve the so-called elusive herd
immunity--(re-translated from the virus not having anyone anymore to infect, to
learning to live with the virus by arming ourselves and fighting the pandemic
on its own microbiological terms: with the vaccine and boosters, strengthening
our bodies with good health, hygiene and proper manners, increasing investments
in medical infrastructure and stocking up on health supplies and medications,
while working double time to improve the vaccines, and developing drugs that
fight the virus' own command center, i.e., the mRNA)... Because from a young age
I have always been keenly aware of how God wonderfully made and perfectly
designed our bodies, even if some scientists say they don't exactly believe in
God (well, at least the kind of dressed-up and convenient idol that I witnessed
blindly ignorant people--of both scripture and observable, logical
data--espouse, as opposed to our Heavenly Father and His Son), I am convinced
that the ultimate solution to our present predicament is to stop feeling
special and entitled; because when our Lord said to love others as we love
ourselves, it quite plainly translates to keeping ourselves healthy and our
bodies well, so we do not infect and burden others when we get sick... If it
means we hunker down, we should; if it means not giving in to our wanderlust,
so that the essential workers and breadwinners will have a safer and more
socially distanced commute to work or to do the grocery, then the home is where
we should stay... When the Psalmist said to praise God with our best, since He
is our God and we are His sheep, I try hard to obey too... And if God says not
to offend (Matthew 18:6-7), not to endanger, not to take undue advantage over
others (Leviticus 19:11, Deuteronomy 5:19), and to do our best to stay well and
healthy (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), so that others will have the opportunity to
make a living and not get locked down, there shouldn't be any arguments at
all... For we are all His sheep (John 10:16), and in obedience to His will, as
we worship and praise Him joyfully and energetically, so we must look out for and
support each other too (Philippians 2:4, Matthew 5:7, 13-16)...
Breaking the fourth
wall... Is a convention where an actor in a play or drama acknowledges the
audience, steps out from their imagined reality and talks to them... In this
Psalm, we the audience may imagine that if life is a stage, wicked people
continue to do wicked deeds, while good people continue being oppressed by
them, in a seemingly unending performance of their roles in a play of good and
evil... Yet the Psalmist breaks the fourth wall for us, in making us aware that
in spite of all the drama, the God who made us knows all, and will in due time
pronounce His judgment and render His mercy... So that we may not consider that
the difficulties and troubles we see in other people are outside of us, for
they could indeed happen to us too; we are not insulated from pain and
suffering simply because we say we have faith, but that because our troubles
are our chastisement, they are God's way, the clinical and practical part that
complements His lectures, of teaching us His Word and law... Yet, as what the
Psalmist encourages us with, in all our uncertainties and worries, in all the
attacks and assaults of the enemy, in all our displacements and failures, we do
not lose hope, because, "...the Lord is our defense; and our God is the
rock of our refuge."... This is not imagined reality, but one that anchors
our souls, and maintains our sanity...
Because believing
blindly is as bad as not believing at all... And so we thank God that even with
His infinite wisdom, He never ceases to reach out to us, inviting us to know
Him more, tirelessly trying to make us see His wonderful works in creation, in
the daily lives of people, and in history... And we praise Him whose throne is
established forever, who also establishes the earth and all the other heavenly
bodies, in their proper places and territories in the universe, and for whom
righteousness becomes a dwelling place... Blessed be His Name forevermore...
For His
loving-kindness and faithfulness... Every day, on the sabbath day to rest,
until old age, it is always good to give thanks to and praise our God who daily
showers us with His blessings, His love, His grace... No other agenda
supersedes that, no money-making message can confuse it, no political
machination can cloud what is truth: that there will be a day of punishment for
the wicked, and justice for those who do right who will see their vengeance
upon those who have oppressed them... For while evil people may have an upper
hand for a time, but their hopes will be cut off; meanwhile, those who remain
humble and faithful in obedience to God's Word will still bear fruit, prosper
and flourish even in old age...
The forest
brotherhood... From the time I read Dr. Zhivago, particularly the chapter on
The Forest Brotherhood, where this psalm held the central place, I wonder how
people (there symbolized by two wounded soldiers, each on opposing sides of an
ideological and political divide), fight, yet each having a copy of this psalm
in a locket or pocket, believing in its power to save and shield them, whether
physically, emotionally or spiritually... Now I realize that most of us are
like this too; in this jungle called modern life, we believe that if we just
trust God, no matter what we believe in and fight for, that we are on the
right, and that God will save us each time... Yet the Psalm says God protects
those who call upon Him, who sets their love on Him, who knows and acknowledges
His Name... How can we claim protection and care if our love is based on the
standards of the world, and the pressure to conform and ride on with the trends
and the prevailing cultures? How can He hear us and grant our requests if we
shout at Him and demand provision and success and prosperity, instead of humbly
asking for just enough sustenance for each day, with a full heaping of
contentment no matter how small we receive? How can He satisfy us with long
life when we don't even attempt to know the depth and breadth and height of His
marvelous design of our bodies, and not protect the life and health He has
freely, lovingly, and in all wisdom, granted unto us? How can He show us His
salvation if we believe that we are already perfect, inherently good, know all
that we can ever know about Him and His Word, and have no more need of new
revelation from Him, nor from the people He has blessed and sent our way?...
May we see the forest more and beyond the trees that we lean on, spiritually,
mentally, emotionally, and physically; because maybe, just beyond the horizon that
we can view, beyond our biases, prejudices and less informed judgments, if we
humble ourselves, continue on with patience and persistence, with hope and
faith, He might just have a lot more, better and greater things in store for
us...
Of Moses, God's chosen
and called liberator, and life expectancy... A commentary said that this is
probably the only psalm attributed to Moses in the entire book... And it could
also be considered a Maschil, for Moses seemed to be talking about our time
until today... He died really old and full of days (120), yet he said that
average human life expectancy is 70 (v. 10), and if by reason we grow older, it
is already a burden for us, and those who will have to take care of and assist
us... When Moses died, nobody saw his corpse, and the Word chalked it up to
saying God buried him in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 34:5-7)... And so Moses
reminds us that while we still have the capacity and raw strength, yes indeed,
up to about 70, we should deliberately and carefully live out our days,
"numbering" it, weighing carefully our every motivation, decision and
choice (v. 12) so that wisdom is properly applied... We all die physically, we
all have our time, and Moses, ever the mouth and the hand of God for the whole
history of Abraham's children (in genes and faith), reminds us of our
mortality, our hope who is God alone, and what truly matters: a life of faith
and wisdom, a life that is eternally attuned to the beauty of God, and His
marvelous and wonderful works in us (v. 17)...
For the Lord is our
Father, our God, our defense, and the Rock of our salvation... Ethan the
Ezrahite was believed by some biblical scholars to be the leader of the
Jeduthun singer-musicians who were strong enough to play the cymbals (1
Chronicles 15:19, 16:38-42), who was wise like King Solomon (1 Kings 4:31), and
one of the faithful porters along with Heman (1 Chronicles 15:17, 16:38-42)...
If he is indeed the same and one person, he showed us true humility and
humanity: in acknowledging that God deserves all glory and praise for He gives
us strength and life, that He deserves our obedience for all His promises and
His faithfulness, and He deserves our apology and respect when He disciplines
us for our wrongdoing... As loud as the cymbals he played then, so the eternal
life truths he sang about still hold true today: often, our troubles and
hardships come from our pride and prejudice, in spite of our ignorance, and our
stubbornness to accept God's will and guidance through His Word and His
creation, cherry picking only those which make us look or feel good, and not
bothering to study some more and confirm facts from reliable sources (unlike
the Berean Christians in Acts 17:10-15) whenever we come across scripture we do
not understand or in which the cultural and historical background we are not
aware of... This laziness is the perfect partner for our pride, the cause of
the downfall of the angel of light who leads us astray... But blessed be the
Lord that He is faithful, and His Seed--our Lord Jesus Christ, the True Vine,
lives forever, as well as His perfect redemptive work in the lives of God's
people; so that even if surrounded by the works of the enemy, even if lured by
philosophical, material and carnal enticement, we know and we trust in the
"Lord (who) is our defense, the Holy One of Israel (who) is our King...
Blessed be the Lord forevermore... Amen and amen"...
A life of
remembrance... The song today was ascribed to be a Maschil from Heman the
Ezrahite, leader of one of the chief singing and musician groups along with
Asaph and Jeduthun, and grandson of prophet Samuel (1 Chronicles 6:33)... The
Word says each of his fourteen sons were named as among the twenty one courses
or assignments of the Levitical priesthood established by King David (1
Chronicles 25:4-31)... And this Maschil is their reminder to the people that in
all of life's troubles, the only One worth appealing to is God, for in His hand
is death and life; yet, death, they clarified, is a time of forgetting--no
memories, no emotions, no attachments; so that a life well lived is one that,
because of and in spite of hardship, one in which the greater force and element
is our relationship with God, and of how we ask Him for help and deliverance,
and in which He can still work mightily... It is an eternal lesson of wisely
making use of our physical life too, for beyond the grave, we are reduced to
nothing; because all that we can do, all that we can be, all that we can ever
need and want, can be made while still physically alive... And yet for that one
physical life where we can still reason and think and strive, shouldn't we all
do what is right and just?...
The God of the
Nations... Unlike many of us today, who judge people based on nationality and
skin color, body size, fame and wealth, looks or secular achievements, this
rather short psalm drives home the point, that God is God of all; and that
wherever we may be born, wherever we come from, He makes a write up, a solid
accounting of each and every one of us... For indeed, if we take Him at His
Word that we are all made in His image, then He is our God and Father, whether
we may be male or female, or whatever gender we call ourselves to be, light or
dark skin-colored, Eastern or western; that is, He is responsible for and holds
authority over each one of us, while we are also all accountable to Him,
whether we choose to believe in Him or not... And if we choose to believe in
Him, then we must pay close attention to His Word, as well as all of creation
that confirms His wisdom, power and might, including every little part of our
bodies that He has designed for our living, function and sustenance... May we
humble ourselves before Him, and repent not only for old and past sins, but
even each time we fail and disappoint Him now and even in the future... Because
nothing quite hurts Him when we stubbornly follow our own judgments and
prejudices, and use and abuse His Word as an afterthought, in order to give
credence to our ignorance and pride... But nothing quite makes Him proud and
acknowledge us as His people in the face of all creation, as when we humbly
start and end our day with Him in prayer, in reading His Word, and in giving
Him time to reveal to us each time, what more there is to learn, to grow more
and be wiser of, and doing our best each day to live it out...
The greatness of His
mercy and love... In the book for the Psalms of Korah, this prayer psalm of
King David was inserted, seemingly to remind the people of God's deep love for
them: that in the depths of despair and need, He is the first and only One to
call... For He is Creator and Sustainer, Life-giver and Judge, Savior,
Deliverer, and Lord... Indeed, the history of humanity has proven that even
until now, no matter who we are, no matter our status and achievements in life,
there is no end to our need and want (Proverbs 27:20, Ecclesiastes 5:10); but
true wisdom proclaims that only God can bring real and everlasting satisfaction
(Psalm 16:11)...
Getting truly nearer
to salvation... Many people confuse being conscientious with being fearful;
especially some believers, who think that a person who does all necessary
precautions have less trust in God, for he fears man or the enemy or the
circumstances in life more... Yet, this Psalm by the Korah singers remind us
what trusting God means: it is having holy fear of Him, while dispensing
righteousness and mercy, peace and truth to all, which is the one way that He
can show us His glory and grace... We do not believe convoluted stories and
fables, but His Word, factual historical records, and generations of lived
testimonies of His power; so, how can we believe fables from questionable
sources, who claim to preach God, yet are full of evil and selfish ulterior
motives to destroy our spirits (Matthew 24:5)... We claim to preach salvation and
a better way of life through Jesus Christ, but how come we separate ourselves
from the daily realities of the very least, the troubles of the truly
oppressed, and the issues of the very "depraved" among the rest of
the world, unlike the words given to us by our Savior (Matthew 25:40)... We
claim to preach the Word, yet how can we omit exposing to the world its plain
truth in God's ongoing relationship with humanity throughout the whole breadth
of history (2 Timothy 3:16, Matthew 5:18, Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation
22:18-19)... And so may it be that in how we relate to others, we humble
ourselves so that God's glory may shine through, we give and share selflessly
and abundantly so that His grace is poured out to all, we reject human agenda
(man-made traditions and prejudiced scripts, and playbooks with ulterior
motives) so that "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" may be revealed
and shown to all...
Better is one day in
the house of God, be it a physical meeting place, or a spiritual sanctuary that
exists only in the mind... For as this Psalm by the singers of Korah would have
us to understand, it is the greatest blessing of all, more than living in
palaces or mansions elsewhere... Few remember the tragic story and glorious
redemption of Korah and his sons, who first, being a Levite, rebelled against
Moses along with Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16), and was swallowed up together
with his immediate family at that time, by the sinkhole, and later those who
followed them, burned with fire from God, were it not God ordered Eleazar the
priest, and son of Aaron, to take a censer and intercede... And when God later
affirmed through a consecration ceremony, the priestly lineage of Aaron, the
remaining and future descendants of Korah humbly repented and accepted their
duty as porters of the Tabernacle materials, and doorkeepers of the house of
God... So wholly had they committed their lives to God that later, the prophet
Samuel was born from their lineage (1 Samuel 1:1, 20; 1 Chronicles 6:31-38),
and they even became one major singing and choral group and one of the major
composers of the Psalms... Yes, secular degrees and achievements are good, but
we can learn from the lives of Korah and his descendants, that no matter how
hard our hearts may be against God, hardened as such by the seeming unfairness
of life; if we but just repent, humble ourselves and obey Him and His leading
in our lives, He blesses us with the ultimate reward--peace of mind and
contentment--so that however humble may be our calling, He is able to equip us
to gain more wisdom, knowledge and talents so we can support other people and
uplift their souls, and therefore bring more glory to Him... And like the
intergenerational song and family motto of the sons of Korah, the Levite, we
can sing to God and to all: "... Better is one day in Your courts, than a
thousand elsewhere... Blessed is the man who trusts in You, and in whose heart
are Your ways (of living)... They go from strength to strength... The Lord is a
sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He
withhold from those who walk uprightly"...
A millennia-old
conflict, and clamor for peace... In this psalm, the Asaph singers could very
well be singing in today's Sabbath services in the Holy Land, as they still
pray the same thing: peace and deliverance from, and vengeance on those who
hate and attack Israel, and all that it stands for in the mind and soul of
humanity... As we Gentiles who have been grafted into the True Vine that is
Jesus Christ, realize our status and duty in God's great plan for His kingdom,
we can join in their prayer too: that all nations realize that God is above
all, that He is Almighty, that we owe all we have to Him, to worship Him in
spirit and truth whom we cannot see, and to do good, and be fair and just to
everyone around us... For being all made in God's image, the very same person
you are annoyed with--who has hurt you and done you harm without apologizing
for it, or even just failing to realize that they did wrong--is the very face
of God we can see... And so no matter how difficult and burdensome it may be to
get along with people who think and believe differently, may we have the
humility to obey our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when He said, "Love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, pray for
those who despitefully use you and persecute you..." (Matthew 5:44)
Difficult orders to follow, but obeying them step by step would start with the
next person in the house, the next door neighbor; such obedience would indeed
be life-changing, and eternally relevant...
To be made in God's image is to dispense and promote justice,
and uphold the welfare of the weak and those lesser able than the rest to
defend themselves... And this is what the Psalmist wants us to take away from
this song, not the feeling of pride that we are masters of the universe because
we can do many things... For all the knowledge and degrees in the world are
useless for those who are apathetic to the cries of the needy, and whose hands
are closed against helping and giving to those who badly need it... May we
fulfill the reason why we are here on earth, not to live only for ourselves and
our nuclear families, but to bring life and hope to all; and in spite of the
attacks of the enemy, the doubts of those who do not believe our sincerity; so
that we may persevere in doing good, and in making sure that everybody around
us live in hope, courage and faith, and be able to have a better future...
God's prayer... Most of us are familiar with
the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), yet that was a misnomer, for our Lord Jesus
Christ said that, that was HOW WE should pray... Few realize that the true
Lord's prayer was in the 17th chapter of the Gospel of John, when Jesus prayed
to God before His arrest, torture and crucifixion; and dedicated and insured
His disciples to the Heavenly Father, along with all those then and in the
future--even until our time today, who will believe in Him (who will accept Him
as Savior of their souls, and humbly and faithfully obey His Word as their Lord
and Master, for life)... Fewer still understand the heart behind those
sentiments, when we fail to realize that in the Old Testament, like this psalm
which the Asaph singers recorded for us, GOD PRAYS TOO... And His prayer is not
to a power higher than Him (because He is above all), but more like a wish, a
cry, a deep desire and longing, for His people then, and those today who
believe in Jesus (John 3:16): to obey Him, and to live their lives under His
magnanimous will, His deeply wise guidance, His boundless love, and His peace
that transcends human understanding... May we answer this challenge today: if
God has been generous in His provisions, and wonderful in His answers to our
prayers, can we answer His prayer too? (v. 13-16)...
When the God of Hosts
turns us again, we will be saved... The Psalmists sang this song, with the
thrice-repeated refrain that makes us pause and reflect, on our very own
personal role in our present and everyday troubles and predicament: we get into
hardships and difficulties, most often, because of our own choices and
decisions that make us turn away from God, from obeying His will in our lives,
and from living His desired way of life for us... And though we can aspire and
pray much to become better people, to become more stronger people of the faith,
and try our best to be so; but unless His mighty spirit convicts us, and
empowers us to turn away from such worldly and rebellious thoughts, principles
and motivations, we may not truly experience His saving grace, His healing and
deliverance... May we remain humble and open to His wonderful work in our
lives, so that we may be strengthened and our souls kept safe, by the power and
love of God and His hosts (of unseen armies of angels), even through the
testing, trials, and temptations of the enemy...
This Psalm is a normal
human prayer, of those who have suffered a lot at the oppression of other
people, an appeal to God for His strong help and His punishment on the
evildoers... However, the Asaph singers would have us remember that God works
differently; because He is both the God of Justice, and the God of Mercy too...
So that His better blessing and grace are: peace in time of trouble, love in
times of hurt, patience in time of suffering, trust in times of confusion,
praise in time of persecution, and open and courageous declaration of Him and
His Word in times of suppression... In the not-so-distant future, many of us
may lose the chance to speak out, proclaim His good news, or even manifest our
faith and calling; so that every moment in the here and now truly matters, in
living lives of faith and obedience, in keeping alive our faith and hope
through deeds done out of sincere love and mercy, in service and work done in
humility and thankfulness... May we be equipped in every way...
By the integrity of
His heart, and the skillfulness of His hands... The Asaph singers remind us in
this Maschil, of an eternal truth--our lifelong duty to remember God's goodness
and greatness, and to teach them to our children and future generations too, so
that they in turn will hope in Him, and live lives of faith in obedience...
While the ultimate rebellion is for us to forget, and go back to our old sinful
ways, while hypocritically declaring our faith with our mouths, thereby
praising and worshipping Him only in flattery, but absent the total conviction
and transformation of our hearts and minds... May we learn to correct our ways,
before we run out of time, and truly live for Him, not limiting His power and authority,
His wisdom and grace; for He is our God, our Rock and Redeemer, who fulfills
His promises and will not abandon, on whom we can surely depend, for His
integrity and infinite skillfulness...
In spite of all our
fears and worries in the present day, we still pray not to forget God's
goodness, His sustenance and provision, His marvelous works in all of
creation... This Psalm encourages us to remember that, even if at times we do
not feel like it, but God never forgets those who have faith and trust in Him;
and in humility, obey His words and reminders to always do good and right, to
be fair and just, to help and be generous, to be joyful, thankful and content
even in poverty and want... So that, even if the world breaks down, even if
people's minds and spirits are broken, we can still give Him praise, who
enables us to remain clear-headed about what we believe in, about the things we
hold to be most precious in life--above family and security--Him, who called us
out of darkness into His wonderful light; and the very same One who will lead
us in the right, though narrow path...
This Neginoth from
Asaph is humbling, because it clarifies for us whom God will actually save,
when He executes His righteous judgment: it is not actually all who call His Name,
but only the meek or the humble (v. 9)... And so, may we learn to let faith
drive our daily actions and motivations, so that however much we talk about out
our faith, the Words we live by, and all that we have and have attained in
life; may it be matched by true humility--in loving and giving, in serving
others and praising God, in bringing life and peace, to all that we meet...
Promotion belongs to
God (v. 6-7)... In this Altaschith, a psalm marking God's faithful ones and His
promises for them, not to be destroyed, but to be eternally preserved, the
Psalmist reminds us that true advancement and progress are not actually gained
from our talents and efforts, or even by the machinations of greedy and selfish
people, and their influential patrons and backers... And even His mercy and
grace, the very best and most satisfying ones of them, are poured out on those
who fear and love Him, respect and obey His Word; while the wicked can only
actually wring out the dregs (v. 
, no matter how much they
pretend otherwise... May we be humbled; may we conduct ourselves rightly; and
may we remain faithful and true...
The Maschil of the
turtledove... Asaph's psalm implores God to remember and have mercy on his
forsaken people, those whom the enemy finds easy target for its abuses and
oppressions... It is a song for God's people through the ages too, who only
want to live honest and simple lives, yet are always under attack from envious,
evil people, who pretend to do good, yet manipulate and mislead the innocents
and the faithful, to bleed them dry, to deprive them of God-given
opportunities, to rob them blind, and to promote themselves at the expense of others...
May we continue to be as turtledoves (v. 19), symbols of love, fidelity and new
life, as everywhere we go, at each moment of our lives, we only bring and
promote peace, love, resilience and endurance, light and wisdom, to a darkened
and hopeless world...
The One truth that
prevails... Asaph reminds us not to get envious, nor despair of, wicked and
oppressive people, who seem to prosper, and in high health and spirits, at the
expense of abusing, lying to and misleading, squeezing dry, crushing and stomping
down on others who are weaker and less able than them... Even if we see them
everywhere, in the government, in the community, at work, at school and even in
church--people who believe in their own righteousness and moral ascendancy,
whether due to their position, long experience, connections, wealth, physical
attributes, talents and degrees--Asaph's psalm tells us even until this age,
not to lose hope, because they will all have a common end: a comeuppance,
destruction, and loss of legacy, unless they repent and are truly
transformed... Whereas those who truly trust and hope in God, may yet get sick,
be in difficulties--material or any other wise, so that our "flesh and
heart may fail; but God is the strength of our hearts, and our portion (the only
One that truly lasts and matters) forever"...
In this, King David's
last Psalm, we learn of how much he loves his son and heir, as he dedicated the
latter's reign to God through prayer... Maybe this should be a pattern for us
today too, every time there are changes in leaderships in any kind of
organization--public or private; not positioning for more wealth and power, nor
to protect and defend abuses and corruption, but an earnest prayer and
preparation for righteousness, justice, mercy and peace... So that whatever
blessings God bestows on our resources, there will be more than enough for all,
that all people's lives may be blessed with health and nourishment, progress,
and peace, especially those who have less in life... May we and our leaders have
the humility and wisdom, the selflessness and understanding, to be mindful that
what we have now is not really ours by right, but by privilege; and while we
may be materially, financially, and socially blessed more than others, its main
purpose is so we can share with those who have less and are less able... Maybe
then our lives will indeed reflect the eternal glory of our Creator, in whose
image we were made, forever...
Because our God keeps
us mentally stable throughout all the disturbances of life... This is what the
Psalmist wants us to remember, as he testifies of his hope and trust, his
prayers and appeals, and the confidence and peace he receives; especially that
his enemies, and even his life circumstances, would have rendered any other
person who does not have the same hope, to be confounded and confused... Yes,
like what the Psalmist experienced, the world may call us names, mock what we
believe in, verbally and physically attack us; but as many of us have
experienced even from our youth, our God will never forsake us... And even
through old age, He will always be there, keeping us sane, and our bodies,
souls and spirits safe, healthy and working well...
An ambulant God...
Unlike idols made of stone, our God reigns on His throne, yet beyond the realms
that we can see, He is omnipresent and closely watches the affairs of men...
This, like us, is what the Psalmist believe in, so that in times of his
troubles, he asks God to come to his immediate help... Good thing that God
Himself declares and shows His hosts, His ministering armies of angels imbued
with power from Him, so that anytime we feel scared and down, they encamp
around us to protect and sustain (Psalm 34:7)... May we not lose this
confidence and hope...
For those that will be
changed by the testimony proclaimed through lily-shaped cymbals... And so, we
understand deeper the passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as He, and
those who knew Him and wrote about His suffering and death, quoted the words of
this Psalm... We are again reminded that He is the perfect offering, more than
oxen and bullock, and even ram, for us to express atonement and surrender to
God, and be reconciled, delivered from a life of slavery to sin and
worldliness, unto a life of humility and obedience to His will and Word in all
our affairs, and in everything we put our hands into... May we live the rest of
our lives as Shoshannim--transformed people, as we work out our own salvation
with fear and trembling, and like our Savior, even in the face of suffering and
pain, endure to the end...
The God of daily
benefits (v. 19)... And so will our Lord be to those who faithfully trust in
and obey Him, so that even when they are solitary by choice, circumstance or
abandoned, He sets them well and secure in His family (v. 5-6), He sends
plentiful rain to bless in abundance (v. 9), and He defeats His enemies, who
oppress His people (v. 21)... May we live the rest of our days in praise of
Him, humbly acknowledging His power, His might, His salvation; as we too, seek
to bring peace and life, and proclaim His righteousness and way of life,
everywhere we go, every time...
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