Sunday, July 4, 2010

July Four


All comments welcome!! It is how I get my questions answered.

 
~Good Morning~
Happy Fourth of July!
What a beautiful day for bbq's and parades.

  • I am confused about this. Are they being punished by God when they were following Him?
17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.
      We have not violated your covenant.
 18 Our hearts have not deserted you.
      We have not strayed from your path.
 19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal's desert home.
      You have covered us with darkness and death.
 20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
      or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,
 21 God would surely have known it,
      for he knows the secrets of every heart.
 22 But for your sake we are killed every day;
      we are being slaughtered like sheep.


  • Is the "earthquakes and mountains crumbling" just examples? Should I not be afraid of earthquakes, being a Christ follower?
 1 God is our refuge and strength,
      always ready to help in times of trouble.
 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
      and the mountains crumble into the sea.

 

 
Today's Scripture:
Psalm 42

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

 1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
      so I long for you, O God.
 2 I thirst for God, the living God.
      When can I go and stand before him?
 3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
      while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
      "Where is this God of yours?"

 4 My heart is breaking
      as I remember how it used to be:
   I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
      leading a great procession to the house of God,
   singing for joy and giving thanks
      amid the sound of a great celebration!

 5 Why am I discouraged?
      Why is my heart so sad?
   I will put my hope in God!
      I will praise him again—
      my Savior and 6 my God!

   Now I am deeply discouraged,
      but I will remember you—
   even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
      from the land of Mount Mizar.
 7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
      as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
 8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
      and through each night I sing his songs,
      praying to God who gives me life.

 9 "O God my rock," I cry,
      "Why have you forgotten me?
   Why must I wander around in grief,
      oppressed by my enemies?"
 10 Their taunts break my bones.
      They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?"

 11 Why am I discouraged?
      Why is my heart so sad?
   I will put my hope in God!
      I will praise him again—
      my Savior and my God!
Psalm 43 

Psalm 43

 1 Declare me innocent, O God!
      Defend me against these ungodly people.
      Rescue me from these unjust liars.
 2 For you are God, my only safe haven.
      Why have you tossed me aside?
   Why must I wander around in grief,
      oppressed by my enemies?
 3 Send out your light and your truth;
      let them guide me.
   Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
      to the place where you live.
 4 There I will go to the altar of God,
      to God—the source of all my joy.
   I will praise you with my harp,
      O God, my God!

 5 Why am I discouraged?
      Why is my heart so sad?
   I will put my hope in God!
      I will praise him again—
      my Savior and my God!
Psalm 44 

Psalm 44

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

 1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears—
      our ancestors have told us
   of all you did in their day,
      in days long ago:
 2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power
      and gave all the land to our ancestors.
   You crushed their enemies
      and set our ancestors free.
 3 They did not conquer the land with their swords;
      it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
   It was your right hand and strong arm
      and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
      for you loved them.

 4 You are my King and my God.
      You command victories for Israel.
 5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
      only in your name can we trample our foes.
 6 I do not trust in my bow;
      I do not count on my sword to save me.
 7 You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
      you disgrace those who hate us.
 8 O God, we give glory to you all day long
      and constantly praise your name.
                         Interlude

 9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
      You no longer lead our armies to battle.
 10 You make us retreat from our enemies
      and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.
 11 You have butchered us like sheep
      and scattered us among the nations.
 12 You sold your precious people for a pittance,
      making nothing on the sale.
 13 You let our neighbors mock us.
      We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
 14 You have made us the butt of their jokes;
      they shake their heads at us in scorn.
 15 We can't escape the constant humiliation;
      shame is written across our faces.
 16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers.
      All we see are our vengeful enemies.

 17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.
      We have not violated your covenant.
 18 Our hearts have not deserted you.
      We have not strayed from your path.
 19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal's desert home.
      You have covered us with darkness and death.
 20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
      or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,
 21 God would surely have known it,
      for he knows the secrets of every heart.
 22 But for your sake we are killed every day;
      we are being slaughtered like sheep.


 23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
      Get up! Do not reject us forever.
 24 Why do you look the other way?
      Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
 25 We collapse in the dust,
      lying face down in the dirt.
 26 Rise up! Help us!
      Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 45 

Psalm 45

For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune "Lilies." A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

 1 Beautiful words stir my heart.
      I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
      for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

 2 You are the most handsome of all.
      Gracious words stream from your lips.
      God himself has blessed you forever.
 3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
      You are so glorious, so majestic!
 4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
      defending truth, humility, and justice.
      Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
 5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies'rts.
      The nations fall beneath your feet.

 6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
      You rule with a scepter of justice.
 7 You love justice and hate evil.
      Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
      pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
 8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
      In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
 9 Kings' daughters are among your noble women.
      At your right side stands the queen,
      wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

 10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
      Forget your people and your family far away.
 11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
      honor him, for he is your lord.
 12 The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts.
      The wealthy will beg your favor.
 13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious
      in her golden gown.
 14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
      accompanied by her bridesmaids.
 15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
      as they enter the king's palace!

 16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
      You will make them rulers over many lands.
 17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
      Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
Psalm 46 

Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

 1 God is our refuge and strength,
      always ready to help in times of trouble.
 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
      and the mountains crumble into the sea.

 3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
      Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
                         Interlude

 4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
      the sacred home of the Most High.
 5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
      From the very break of day, God will protect it.
 6 The nations are in chaos,
      and their kingdoms crumble!
   God's voice thunders,
      and the earth melts!
 7 The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
      the God of Israel is our fortress.
                         Interlude

 8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
      See how he brings destruction upon the world.
 9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
      He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
      he burns the shields with fire.

 10 "Be still, and know that I am God!
      I will be honored by every nation.
      I will be honored throughout the world."

 11 The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us;
      the God of Israel is our fortress.
                         Interlude

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