psalm 131: contentment

 In Psalm 131 we read:

1 God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,

    I don’t want to be king of the mountain.

I haven’t meddled where I have no business

    or fantasized grandiose plans.

2 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,

    I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.

Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,

    my soul is a baby content.

3 Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.

    Hope now; hope always!

I lived in Sao Paulo suburbs. It was very difficult to enter in a good college, but I got it. After that, I had great plans to myself such as to create my own company, to study abroad, but unfortunately they didn't come true. 

Ambition is dangerous: it creates a dissatisfaction  with what the Lord has already given.

The Lord taught me that I must be content with what He has already given me. 

I can call "father" to the Lord, the Creator, the Adonai. I am learning to rest in the Lord's arms. Now, at 60 years old, my soul is a baby content.

psalm130 - redemption

 in psalm 130 we read:

1-2 Help, God—I’ve hit rock bottom!

    Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

    Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,

    who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

    and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6 I pray to God—my life a prayer—

    and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

    waiting and watching till morning,

    waiting and watching till morning.

7-8 O Israel, wait and watch for God—

    with God’s arrival comes love,

    with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

    buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

The sin breaks our relationship with the Lord. When we are in sin, in rock bottom, we can't ask for anything to the Lord but forgiveness. The psalmist knows that the Lord is good and listens to a repented sinner. The psalmist wants to listen from the Lord that he is forgiven as in verse 5-6. He finishes the Psalm considering that the redemption of the Lord is not only to his life but also to all Israel.

psalm129: the Lord sticks with me

 is psalm 129 we read:

1-4 “They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young”

    —this is how Israel tells it—

“They’ve kicked me around ever since I was young,

    but they never could keep me down.

Their plowmen plowed long furrows

    up and down my back;

But God wouldn’t put up with it,

    he sticks with us.

Then God ripped the harnesses

    of the evil plowmen to shreds.”

When I was young I was bullied.

The Lord wouldn’t put up with it, He (in his goodness) stick with me.

I know that I was set free from the bullies. 

The Lord has been good to me.

psalm 128: blessed

 In Psalm 128 we read:

1-2 All you who fear God, how blessed you are!

    how happily you walk on his smooth straight road!

You worked hard and deserve all you’ve got coming.

    Enjoy the blessing! Soak in the goodness!

3-4 Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,

    your household lush as a vineyard,

The children around your table

    as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.

Stand in awe of God’s Yes.

    Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God!

5-6 Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem

    every day of your life.

And enjoy your grandchildren.

    Peace to Israel!

I am retired. I wake up whenever I want. I am in good shape to enjoy the retirement. My family goes together to the church to praise the Lord. I am very blessed by the Lord. He has been good to me and my family. My children are teenagers but I hope to enjoy future grandchildren. It is marvelous to understand that the Lord is good and blesses who fear him.

psalm 127: is it in vain?

In Psalm 127 we read:

1-2 If God doesn’t build the house,

    the builders only build shacks.

If God doesn’t guard the city,

    the night watchman might as well nap.

It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,

    and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don’t you know he enjoys

    giving rest to those he loves?

If the Lord doesn't take care of my health, it is useless to go to the swimming pool everyday, or to the doctors. If the Lord doesn't guard my house, it is useless to build walls or to use locks. If the Lord doesn't take care of my children, it is useless to think about their well being. However, the Lord does take care of my health, guards my house and take care of my children; thus, I believe that my daily routine is not in vain.

psalm 126: life hardships

 In Psalm 126 we read:

1-3 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true,

    when God returned Zion’s exiles.

We laughed, we sang,

    we couldn’t believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations—

    “God was wonderful to them!”

God was wonderful to us;

    we are one happy people.

4-6 And now, God, do it again—

    bring rains to our drought-stricken lives

So those who planted their crops in despair

    will shout “Yes!” at the harvest,

So those who went off with heavy hearts

    will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

It is interesting that the Lord doesn't solve all problems at once. The people of Israel was glad to return to Zion, however, there is no rain in seed time, thus a terrible situation. The psalmist sees one big problem solved (return from exile), but now he faces another problem (the drought). The Lord makes us to trust in him when we face our daily problems.

psalm125: trustworthy

 In Psalm 125 we read:

1-5 Those who trust in God

    are like Zion Mountain:

Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain

    you can always depend on.

Mountains encircle Jerusalem,

    and God encircles his people—

    always has and always will.

It is very difficult to depend on unstable people because they are not reliable. A long time ago, my friend told me I was too much predictable. Those who trust in God are more reliable, stable, and in a way, predictable. Those who trust in the Lord becomes trustworthy. 

The psalmist uses his imagination: the Lord is around us as the mountains encircle Jerusalem, We may say that the Lord encircles me as the walls of my house shelters me. The imagination can be used to notice the presence of the Lord here and now.

psalm 124: If God hadn’t been for us

 In PSalm 124, we read:

If God hadn’t been for us

    when everyone went against us,

We would have been swallowed alive

    by their violent anger,

Swept away by the flood of rage,

    drowned in the torrent;

We would have lost our lives

    in the wild, raging water.

The Lord is the One who dismantles the chaos. The people of Israel would be killed by the torrent of the Red Sea, but the Lord provided salvation when the wind dried the sea. 

The Lord is the One who organizes the life of each one who was chosen by Him.

If the Lord hadn't been for us, we would lost our lives. 

If the Lord hadn't been for me, I would lost my life. 

psalm 123: Have mercy on us!

In Psalm 123 we read:

1-4 I look to you, heaven-dwelling God,

    look up to you for help.

Like servants, alert to their master’s commands,

    like a maiden attending her lady,

We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath,

    awaiting your word of mercy.

Mercy, God, mercy!

    We’ve been kicked around long enough,

Kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men,

    kicked when we’re down by arrogant brutes.

The people of the Lord has been persecuted by arrogant brutes. Some men demand to be praised by others. They persecute the people of the Lord who don't bow to them. The psalmist asks that the Lord have mercy on them. I suffered bullying when young. Reading this psalm, I praise the Lord because He had mercy on me.

psalm 122: joy when praising together

 in Psalm 122, we read:

1-2 When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”

    my heart leaped for joy.

And now we’re here, O Jerusalem,

    inside Jerusalem’s walls!

The psalmist is very glad because he arrived in Jerusalem to worship the Lord with others pilgrims. He is obeying the Lord's commandment to gather there as in:

3-5 Jerusalem, well-built city,

    built as a place for worship!

The city to which the tribes ascend,

    all God’s tribes go up to worship,

To give thanks to the name of God—

    this is what it means to be Israel.

He is glad in obeying the Lord, and to worship together Israel. 

Today we have churches spread all around the world but it is a pleasure to worship in communion.

psalm 121: blessing

 Psalm 121 is a pilgrimage song. The pilgrims should be worried about their home, their travel and their security. We read a blessing:

3-4 He won’t let you stumble,

    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.

Not on your life! Israel’s

    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

5-6 God’s your Guardian,

    right at your side to protect you—

Shielding you from sunstroke,

    sheltering you from moonstroke.

7-8 God guards you from every evil,

    he guards your very life.

He guards you when you leave and when you return,

    he guards you now, he guards you always.

As Christians, we are pilgrims. Let this blessing be upon us. 

psalm 120: misfit

In Psalm 120 we read:

I’m doomed to live in Meshech,

    cursed with a home in Kedar,

My whole life lived camping

    among quarreling neighbors.

I’m all for peace, but the minute

    I tell them so, they go to war!

The psalmist feels as a fish out of the water. We Christians are like that. Taking from Derek, we are peregrines on this earth. How to behave as misfit? we are not to embrace the world and neither we are to hate non-Christians. Jesus told us to be light in this world.

Psalm 119 169-176 : choose and chosen

 in Psalm 119, we read:

169-176 Let my cry come right into your presence, God;

    provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.

Give my request your personal attention,

    rescue me on the terms of your promise.

Let praise cascade off my lips;

    after all, you’ve taught me the truth about life!

And let your promises ring from my tongue;

    every order you’ve given is right.

Put your hand out and steady me

    since I’ve chosen to live by your counsel.

I’m homesick, God, for your salvation;

    I love it when you show yourself!

Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,

    use your decrees to put iron in my soul.

And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!

    I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.

The psalmist chooses the Lord:

Let my cry come right into your presence, God;

    provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.

Give my request your personal attention,

    rescue me on the terms of your promise.

He is searching the Lord. Although he reads the Bible, he wants the insight that comes from the Holy Spirit. 

The psalmist asks to be chosen:

And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!

    I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.

The psalmist is aware that it may happen that he is lost and doesn't search for the Lord. Thus, he asks that in this situation, the Lord in his mercy, provide him with ears to listen to the Lord.

Psalm 119: 161-168 shin,sin: curses and blessings

 When I was younger, I despised texts about rewards from the Lord because, perhaps, my main motivation to keep the Lord's commands was the fear of hell. 

We read in Psalm 119:

161 Influential people have persecuted me for no reason,

    but it is only your words that fill my heart with terror.

Here, the psalmist pays attention to the curses that come from not obeying the Lord. He fears them, more than influential people who persecutes him.

However, he focus on the blessings of obeying the Lord too as in:

162 I find joy in your promise

    like someone who finds a priceless treasure.

Our loving Father uses his creation with curses and blessings to put us in his way.

psalm 119 resh - why to trust that the Lord will help?

 In Psalm 119: 153-160 , we read:

Take a good look at my trouble, and help me—

    I haven’t forgotten your revelation.

Take my side and get me out of this;

    give me back my life, just as you promised.

“Salvation” is only gibberish to the wicked

    because they’ve never looked it up in your dictionary.

Your mercies, God, run into the billions;

    following your guidelines, revive me.

My antagonists are too many to count,

    but I don’t swerve from the directions you gave.

I took one look at the quitters and was filled with loathing;

    they walked away from your promises so casually!

Take note of how I love what you tell me;

    out of your life of love, prolong my life.

Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth.

    Your righteous decisions are eternal.

The psalmist expects the Lord's help because:

. he remembers the revelavtion from the Lord.

. he trusts that the Lord fullfill his promises while the wicked don't.

. he loves the Lord while the wicked don't.

. he trusts that the Lord is merciful. 

. he keeps in the direction gave by the Lord.

. he knows that the words of the Lord are the Truth.

psalm 119 cof - salvation and obedience

 In Psalm 119 145-152, we read:

I call out at the top of my lungs,

    “God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”

I called to you, “Save me

    so I can carry out all your instructions.”

I was up before sunrise,

    crying for help, hoping for a word from you.

I stayed awake all night,

    prayerfully pondering your promise.

In your love, listen to me;

    in your justice, God, keep me alive.

As those out to get me come closer and closer,

    they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;

The psalmist is surrounded by evil people. They are closer to him. He cries out for the Lord's help, promissing that if the Lord saves him, then he will carry out all the instructions of the Lord. 

We are also surrounded by evil people who influence how we think. 

Lord save me from this world and its way of thinking so that I can carry out all your instructions.

Psalm119 Tsade: The Lord is right and does right

 In Psalm 119:137-144 we read:

You are right and you do right, God;

    your decisions are right on target.

You rightly instruct us in how to live

    ever faithful to you.

The Lord is good (Your are rigth) and the Lord is sovereign (you do right). It is difficult to reconcile both statements. Suppose a man is suffering due to cancer. Was the cancer subjected to the Lord? Yes it was, but the, how the Lord is good and does what is right? It is very difficult to understand but the psalmist continues:

Even though troubles came down on me hard,

    your commands always gave me delight.

The way you tell me to live is always right;

    help me understand it so I can live to the fullest. 

Somehow a bad thing like "cancer" can be used by the Lord to awaken a person trapped in this world and way of thinking. In this way, a believer can rejoice in the Lord's commandments, even when bad things happen.

psalm 119 pe: Praise and Obedience

 In Psalm 119:129-136 we read:

Every word you give me is a miracle word—

    how could I help but obey?

Break open your words, let the light shine out,

    let ordinary people see the meaning.

Mouth open and panting,

    I wanted your commands more than anything.

The Word gives life. In John 6:68, we read:

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

And here, the psalmist is saying something like: Your Word gives life, how could I help but obey? He asks: "let ordinary people see the meaning of your Word" or "let ordinary people marvel about your Word so that they obey" because our adherence to the Word depends on how we value it.   First we praise the Lord and then we obey.

psalm 119 Ain - justice

 In Psalm 119:121-128  we read:

I stood up for justice and the right;

    don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.

Take the side of your servant, good God;

    don’t let the godless take advantage of me.

I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you

    to keep your promise to set everything right.

Let your love dictate how you deal with me;

    teach me from your textbook on life.

The psalmist claims that the Lord treats differently him and his oppressors because he stands up for justice while they are godless who oppresses the innocent. The psalmist claims for justice: he asks that his enemies don't take advantage of him. He asks:

126 It’s time to act, God;

    they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!