PSALMS 71-80

Today is Tuesday.  I read ten chapters in Psalms and here are a few thoughts to share with you today:

1) FROM MY YOUTH- In Psalms 71, in verse 5 says:  "thou art my trust from my youth" and verse 17 says:  "thou hast taught me from my youth".  It is clear that David's relationship with God started early in life.  Little can we imagine the benefit those of us who have been raised to love and serve Christ have in life.  We have a godly heritage and a wealth of knowledge from God's Word, and God's people.  Having gotten this spiritual foundation from his youth, David knows that he is to pass it on.  In verse 18, it says:  "Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."  He realizes his responsibility, and we who have been blessed to have a godly heritage ought to also realize our responsibility to share with the youth of our generation.  God has been our God, even from our youth!  In Psalms 78:4, it says:  "We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done."  Then the rest of the chapter rehearses the goodness of God to the children of Israel.  Let us rehearse God's good deeds as well!

2) HOW LONG? In Psalms 79:5, it reads:  "How long, LORD?"  This same question is asked 53 times in Scripture.  It seems we all have this same question for God at times.  How long?  Aren't we all impatient with God's timing at times?  Sometimes I think God grows our faith and trust in Him by our ability to wait on His answers.  We must trust Him that His timing is perfect.  We know that in our hearts and in our heads, but we still deep down wish that God's timing was more in tune with our timing.  We are the ones who need to acclimate to God, not the other way around.  The created yields to the Creator.  Lord, teach me to wait.  Forgive me for the many times I've wondered.... how long? 

3) CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE- In Psalms 80, we see four different times that David asks God to shine forth.  In verse 1- "thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth." ; vs. 3- "cause thy face to shine and we shall be saved.";  vs. 7- "Turn us again, O god of hosts, and cause thy face to shine:  and we shall be saved."; vs. 19- "Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."  What does it mean to cause one's face to shine?  It means to smile!  David is simply saying: LORD, if you will smile on us, then we will be alright.... we shall be saved!  We need God's favor.  We have His love, but we need also His favor.  We need Him to smile on us.  Let us so live our lives as to have our precious Lord to smile upon us. 

Well, that is all I have for today.  May God's blessings be upon you my friend.  Pastor Mike Mutchler