Psalm 86 (New Living Translation)
A prayer of David.
1 Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
. . . and then David gives his reasons why he is counting on God to answer:
answer me, for I need your help.
–because of my great need,
2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God.
–because I am connected to you,
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.
4 Give me happiness, O Lord,
for I give myself to you.
–because I continue to cry to you,
5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
–because you are a gracious God,
6 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
7 I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me.
–because you, God, are utterly dependable.
8 No pagan god is like you, O Lord.
None can do what you do!
9 All the nations you made
will come and bow before you, Lord;
they will praise your holy name.
10 For you are great and perform wonderful deeds.
You alone are God.
from This Day with the Master,
by Dennis F. KinlawA TRUE PERSPECTIVE
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord. — Psalm 86:8
Most of us turn to prayer in order to solve a problem. Our troubles become the motivating force behind our prayers. If we were the people we ought to be, we would pray whether we had problems or not. One of the beautiful things about God and about human life is that he does not leave us long without problems. He sees to it that we have difficulties, and he works at ordering our situation so we are not trouble free. This helps us to stay in relation to him.
(from Rebecca: There’s a thought you don’t often hear taught! Do you agree with Kinlaw? God is of course the giver of every good gift; can troubles and difficulties be good gifts? Do you have examples of such from your own life? Would you like to share them with us? “Reply” below!)
In Psalm 86 David prays to God in great distress because his very life is in danger. The reader senses David’s panic and desperation in verses 1-7, and then there is a psychological shift in verse 8. All of a sudden David’s eyes turn away from his problem and become fixed on God himself. When David enters into the presence of God, he forgets the men who are hunting for him.
When a person spends enough time in the presence of God, problems begin to fade into the background and God’s greatness begins to loom large. This psalm is a classic picture of the way the most serious and intense problems melt away in the presence of Almighty God, before whom they seem insignificant. As David faces God, he gets the true perspective on reality. His problems diminish and God’s glory increases.
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11 Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,
13 for your love for me is very great.
You have rescued me from the depths of death.
14 O God, insolent people rise up against me;
a violent gang is trying to kill me.
You mean nothing to them.
15 But you, O Lord,
“What a contrast! We get away from the hectorings and blusterings of proud but puny men to the glory and goodness of the Lord.”
– Charles Haddon Spurgeon
are a God of compassion and mercy,
slow to get angry
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
16 Look down and have mercy on me.
Give your strength to your servant;
save me, the son of your servant.
17 Send me a sign of your favor.
Then those who hate me will be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.
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The city of Jerusalem -- Temple Mount in front, new city in back, looking west from the Mount of Olives.
Psalm 87 (New Living Translation)
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
1 On the holy mountain
stands the city founded by the Lord.
2 He loves the city of Jerusalem
more than any other city in Israel.
3 O city of God,
what glorious things are said of you!
Interlude
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Music:
The music for the hymn “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” was written by Franz Joseph Haydn, the words by John Newton. The music does not begin until 19 seconds in, so be patient!
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4 I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me—
also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.
They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
5 Regarding Jerusalem it will be said,
“Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.”
And the Most High will personally bless this city.
6 When the Lord registers the nations, he will say,
“They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”
Interlude
7 The people will play flutes and sing,
“The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”
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Simple Secrets of the Kingdom
Study 12 — Keeping on Being a Christian
Coming to know Christ as our Lord changes us from living by our power to living by the power of God. This is described in Paul’s letters as a change from “under law” to “under grace.” In order to remain under grace we must renew our minds, which happens only as we turn to the Lord daily. Today’s lesson helps us understand how this can happen for us. Click here for AUDIO or VIDEO.
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New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I have found Kinlaw’s perspective to be true in my life. Many things in my life I would not have chosen, but I would not trade them for anything because of the deeper-heart-level revelation I received of some aspect of God’s character and/or promises. Just one example: My first daughter lived only nine days. Through that experience I learned the comforting reality that the Lord can give a peace “that passes understanding,” for truly the peace and comfort He gave was overwhelmingly real. It’s in life’s difficulties we are given the opportunity to test His promises to see whether they will really hold up, and experience His grace truly is sufficient!
A poem:
Every field I’m sent to is more fallow than the last, that thru my hand HIS work’s accomplished till no farm is but fields of grass.
GOD teaches us with hardship molding us for the next task. The refiner’s furnace is never far away. I have given up counting all the people I have been. GOD makes me new thru each struggle and kills the person I have been. By this continual renewal I am blessed ever more.
GOD is an Artist, I am HIS canvas. HE makes sure my life is never dull for long.