Psalm 51: I am an unholy mess.

 

The weekend Psalm for:
March 19, 2021
Read Psalm 51 from the World English Bible
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This is a Penitential Lament Psalm 

The Big Idea
You're a mess. So am I. This Psalm points out a lot of our sins. In fact, it points out the fact that we are born in iniquity. My point here is not to make a point for original sin, but to make a point for sin. 

All around us, we are surrounded by talk of "bad choices," and we are quick to excuse our own faults as anything but our own fault. The concept of evil is making a hasty retreat in our culture.It's not a far stretch to say that rather than causing guilt or shame, evil is often celebrated. 

And then, there are Psalms like this. This is a lament Psalm, yes, but this time, David is lamenting his own selfishness, his own brokenness, his own sin -- and he invites us along for the ride. To face our own selfishness, brokenness, sin.

Think about that enough, and it could leave you hopeless -- there is nothing we can do to fix the mess we are in. There's nothing we can do to fix the mess we are.

The message is clear, throughout. Only God can save us. Think about that first verse for a moment. This is a broad paraphrase, but a faithful one: Have mercy on me not because I'm good, but because You Are. You have more than enough kindness to blot out every one of my sins.

Meditation
Look at the words used to cry out to God. Wash me. Purify me. Create is me a pure heart. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Deliver me from guilt of bloodshed. 

These are the cries -- the laments -- of someone who has reached the end of themself, and finds themself hopeless on their own. Even their religious activities are meaningless in light of their sin.

As a good friend of mine puts it, No Good News Without Bad News.  In other words, no one can see the need for Jesus Christ to save them until they recognize the hold that sin has on them. A savior can be no use to anyone who thinks they have it all together.  

And let me remind you, when David wrote this Psalm, he was the King. Even his kingness couldn't do him any good.

This week, pray that God will reveal yourself to you. Yes, God loves you, but until you face your sin head-on, there's no room for him to intervene in your life.

Once He does intervene, your only recourse is to Repent and Believe. 

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, may ______ see their own sin. Open their eyes to the truth that they are hopeless without you.
• I pray, Father, that ________ will know your mercy, kindness, and grace, and that you have provided a way out of their sin. 
• Almighty God, may ______ be convinced of their sin and hopelessness. 
  
• Lord Jesus, may ______ know the your grace. Let them experience the power of your redemption. 
  
• Father, may ______ know what it means to be purified, cleansed, and restored by your power.

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Romans 1:29-32. You can't fix evil by calling it good
  Lord, forgive us for the many times that we call evil good and even encourage it.Forgive us for tempting your judgement.
  
• Hebrews 8:8-12. He will remember our sins no more.
  Father God, I pray that ______ will know that Jesus Christ their hope for forgiveness. 
  
• 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. Christians are new people.
  Lord Jesus, help ________ to understand that the hopeless, sin-filled, broken person is completely renewed in Jesus Christ. May they take part in that great ministry of reconciliation that shows the lost how they can be found, the broken how they can be made whole, the wounded how they can be healed. Lord, call _______ to repentance.
  

 

((C) 2009, 2021). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD

Psalm 41: Social and Personal Justice

The weekend Psalm for:
March 12, 2021
Read Psalm 31 from the World English Bible
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This is a Lament Psalm 

The Big Idea
There's a lot of talk these days about social justice. Right away, God points out that he cares about the poor. He cares about those who are weak, those who are beaten down. To put it in contemporary terms, God cares about social justice. 

That does not mean, though, that all of life is smooth sailing. God promises that he will be there in the midst of the struggle, not in eliminating the struggle. While there is much to be said about the individualism that dominates our mindset, nevertheless, God's approach to social justice is individual -- he cares about the oppressed. He cares about the oppressor, as well, but if the oppressor will not repent, judgment will ensue.

The promise here is not just for the here and now. The Psalmist says "By this I know that you delight in me, because my enemy doesn’t triumph over me. As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever" (41:11-12). That's not a hurry-up promise of prosperity. I know of a young man who was a pastor in a far-flung place. He died a few years ago, in the most unlikely of circumstances. Despite his enemies, despite his death, they did not triumph over him. They may think they did, but they don't know the rest of the story. 

Again, this is a Messianic Psalm; in other words, it looks forward to Jesus. He knew what it was to have a close friend betray him. It's right there, in verse 9 -- Judas makes a prophetic appearance.

Meditation
Some of us live with pressure, betrayal, and enemies all the time. The ones who seek to do us harm, bring us down, or, as my dad used to say, get the better of us. Some of us have never felt that. Some get told, like Job,  it's your own fault you are in this situation. If you have repented of your sin and turned to Jesus Christ, then you can be confident of this: Your enemies will not triumph over you. 

God is blessed, from everlasting to everlasting -- quite simply, from eternity past all the way to eternity future, with no breaks, gaps, or stumbles. God's promise is built on nothing less than God's Holiness, Perfection, Faithfulness, and Goodness. 

This week, pray that God will reveal himself to you as the Holy God who gave his one and only Son to redeem us, Victory is guaranteed -- by the only one who can truly guarantee it.

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, may ______ be one who considers the poor, as your word instructs us.
• I pray, Father, that ________ will know your strength, and know the comfort that you will not abandon him/her/them to the will of their enemies.
• As _______ struggles on their sickbed, may they know that you are the one who sustains them. May they repent of their sins and experience your power.
• If there are those who gossip and tell tales about _____, Lord Jesus, I ask that you will comfort their heart with your truth and drown out the voices of their oppressors. 
• Lord Jesus, may ______ know the comfort of praying Let not my enemies, or this sickness, triumph over me.
  
• Father, may ______ join their voice with Your praise, which runs from everlasting to everlasting.

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Galatians 2:9-11. God cares about the outcast.
  Lord, you told the early church to remember the poor, and may  _____ have the attitude of serving you while being eager to serve others.
• Philippians 4:14-18. Jesus Christ must be proclaimed.
  Father God, I pray that ______ will tell the truth of Jesus Christ in their day-to-day life. May they filled with goodwill, love, and truth. 
  
• Romans 3:24 & I Corinthians 1:30. Jesus is our redemption.
  Lord Jesus, help ________ to understand the power of your redemption. Make it clear to _______ that redemption is a gift that comes by the grace of God. May they recognize that if they are not for you, they are against you, and call them to repentance.
  

 

((C) 2009, 2021). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD

Psalm 31: Miserable Faith

The weekend Psalm for:
September.19-20.2009
Read Psalm 31 from the World English Bible
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The Big Idea
There it is, right at the end of verse 1. It's not only the big idea in this Psalm, it's one of the biggest ideas in scripture. Salvation is based on God's righteousness, not mine: ...in your righteousness deliver me. I'd far rather trust myself to God's faithfulness than my own.

This is a Messianic Psalm; in other words, it looks forward to Jesus. But it also has a message for us, too: Jesus is not only Lord and Savior, he is also our example.

Don't you wish you could escape all of life's troubles, trials, and difficulty? It's an appealing idea, but if Jesus faced troubles, so will we. The promise here is quite simple: You will face affliction and distress of soul (vs 7), grief sorrow and sin all around (vs 9 & 10), and abuse from people who either hate us or misjudge our actions (vs 15-18).  Even in that, God will not abandon us.

Like Psalm 1, this Psalm shows two paths of life. This time, the Psalmist reminds us that hope in God must prevail to the end, and then, victory for God's people. Again, not because we are so righteous, but because God himself saves us through his righteousness.

Meditation
It's hard to persevere and be faithful in a prosperous age. Somehow, we easily fall into the trap that we deserve the good things God grants to us. Remember that all Good comes from God, but that we won't get all the good things until all of life is redeemed at Christ's return. In this life, we will have sorrows. The good news from this Psalm, and from the Gospels, is that He will faithfully see us through our challenges.

Here's the hard question, then: Is God your rock and your fortress? Because of your confidence in Him, do you live your life courageously, without fear, and in great confidence?

This weekend, throw aside your self-confidence, and instead focus on growing your God-confidence. Take time to pray for someone who is beaten down by fear, sorrows, and the reproach of others. Pray that they will find their strenth and comfort in the one who is righteous. Pray that they depend on the righteousness of God, and not their own.

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, I ask that you will be _________'s rock and refuge. May _____ know you as a strong fortress from sin and its effects. 
• I pray, Father, that ________ will know the disappointment of living for the approval of others. May ______ realize that you are the only faithful one. While others lay traps for us, you provide shelter.
  
• If ________ has idols (earthly things that control him/her) may they see them as worthless and turn to you and your steadfast love. 
• Father God, when people are abusive toward _______, protect them from the sting of words and emotional abuse. May _______ say to you, "You are my God," and I pray that you will step in quickly to save and protect him/her.
• Lord God, I thank you that the righteous can stand before you. Make that true of ______'s life. May _______ know your grace and your leading: May you know his/her way and watch over him/her.
• Father, make your face shine upon _____. May he/she take courage and confidence in you. May ______ wait on the Lord, but Lord, make the time of waiting short!
  

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Romans 9:33. Jesus is a rock of offense.
  Lord, your word tells us that Jesus is the rock of offense, so may _____ never be offensive in him/her self, but, Jesus, please be so visible in _______'s life that the unfaithful are offended by you. May ______ believe in Jesus, and may he/she never be put to shame.
• Revelation 7:15. God will shelter.
  Father God, I pray that ______ will be "washed in the blood of the Lamb" and come to faith in Jesus Christ, so that he/she will be sheltered by you. 
• Romans 3:24 & I Corinthians 1:30. Jesus is our redemption.
  Lord Jesus, help ________ to understand the power of your redemption. Make it clear to _______ that redemption is a gift that comes by the grace of God. Also, Lord Jesus, make it clear that you are his/her only source for righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Note: A few words that might need explanation, though God himself will make these clear to you. Righteousness is proper standing and rightness before God, sanctification is living an ever-more holy life because God is at work in us, and redemption is being bought back from the penalty and burdens of sin.

((C) 2009, 2021). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD

Psalm 21: What is Good Leadership

The weekend Psalm
Read Psalm 12 from the World English Bible
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This is a Thanksgiving and Royal Enthronement Psalm.

The Big Idea
When you read this Psalm, think in terms off gratitude: God has provided; God is providing; God will provide. The gratitude of the King in this Psalm is not based on having arrived--the first verse makes that clear. Everything is based on the strength, and faithfulness, of God. 

These days, the wrath of God is not a trendy topic, but there it is, in roughly the last half of this Psalm. It's important to recognize that we cannot fully understand the absolute, untarnished perfection of God. For us, tarnished and imperfect as we are, we quickly lose sight of the fact that even God's wrath is good, loving, and holy. As our Orthodox Christian brethren would say, it is a mystery. 

This Psalm refers to "The King," so while it is a reference to King David, it is a prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus. He is the bridge between God's wrath and God's favor. The one way out of despair and hopelessness. 

Meditation
You may struggle with this, but the point of the Psalms is to give us a new vocabulary for prayer. You can pray this whole Psalm for our leaders -- and if you are a leader, you can pray it for yourself, if you have the courage.

Pray all of the blessings and benefits on behalf of good leaders, and pray all of the curses on behalf of evil leaders. But note this: You don't get to decide which is which. Again, God does. Jesus provides the pathway out of the curse and into the blessing.

This is not a place for editorializing in your prayers, and reminding God of who is good and who is evil in your eyes. This is the time to simply pray: Use the words and ideas given to us here, and trust God. 

I find that when I pray this way, I become more and more aware of the faults, weaknesses, and sins in my own life. It becomes an opportunity for repentance -- turning to God and trusting in His strength. Jesus, as the King, is that strength, personified. And that idea brings us right back to the opening phrases of this Psalm.

Praying With This Psalm
The focus of our prayer in Psalm 21 must be on God's Goodness. God is always good, even when our limited perspective won't let us see it for ourselves. 

• Almighty God, may ______ trust in your strength and the assurance that you have provided, you are providing, and that you will provide.
• Oh, Yahweh, examine _____'s heart(s) and make us holy.   
• May ____ trust in the lovingkindness of Yahweh. 
  
• Lord God, I fearfully ask that you find out those who hate you and devour them. May they have no future, no inheritance, no hope because they havea turned from youi. 
• When ______ face those who plot evil, may we rejoice and celebrate your strength and your power.  
  

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Ephesians 2:3-5 -- May ____ remember that we were all once "children of wrath," just like everyone else.
• Ephesians 2:3-5 -- May _____ remember that Jesus is the only way to move from God's wrath to God's blessing. even as the rest. 
• Ephesians 2:3-5 -- May _____ live in gratitude that God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved..."
• I Timothy 2:1-2 -- Lord, hear our petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks" for everyone, including "all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence."
•  1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 -- May ____ seek Jesus Christ, who delivers us from the wrath to come, 

Psalm 11: Guess Who's Watching

 

The weekend Psalm
Read Psalm 11 from the World English Bible
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This is a ... Psalm.

The Big Idea
The world is not a friendly place, and there are those who mock the people of God. The last half of that first verse has the undertone of a schoolyard bully: "Yeah, Run on home to that God of yours." There is bitter mockery there.

The situation doesn't get much better in the lines that follow. They're ready to shoot, eager to take us down. They have their bow, they have the bowstring, and they have the nock of the arrow in place. Everything is ready -- and they would ambush us -- but notice this: They are shooting in the dark. They can't see to shoot straight. 

God (Yahweh) is the one who sees. He is the one who is in charge. And then he reminds us of something we'd rather not consider. We've got people taking shots at us, and even the righteous ones are powerless, too. We don't have the right--or even the ability--to play the trump card of "God is on our side." We are not in control of things: God is.

Meditation
When our own tendency is to want to make things right, God is in the business of examining our hearts. If that sounds intimidating, it should be, and in fact, it should strike a note of terror. 

It's a good terror, though. God hates the wicked, to the point that he won't even look at them. It's worth a little thought that God watches them, but will not look at them. Better to be known by a God who examines every detail of our lives, rather than watched at by a God who hates our actions, and will ultimately bring about justice (in the grandest, most transcendent sense). 

It's sometimes troubling that God's ideals of goodness and holiness get in the way of our own life and preferences. That's why this Psalm is so important: God watches, God sees, and God is in control. We are not. And that is a call to humility, repentance, and prayer.

As my beloved wife puts it: "God is in charge, and I am not. I don't have to like it, but I do have to submit to His authority."

Praying With This Psalm
The focus of our prayer in Psalm 11 must be our own weakness, powerlessness, and helplessness. It reminds us of the greatness and goodness of God, and the fact that he is sovereign over everything. 

• Almighty God, may we remember that you are in control. You are reigning from your holy temple. 
• Oh, Yahweh, examine _____.  Purify _____ before your presence.
• Lord God, you said that the righteous will see your face. May that be true of ______. Purify their heart, and may they see your face, your goodness, and your grace. 
  

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• Proverbs 3:5-6 -- May ____ trust in God above all, and not on _____'s own understanding. May they trust the road ahead to God alone.
  
• John 14:4-7 -- May _____ know that Jesus wants them with him. May they understand that Jesus is the way the truth and the life, and the only way into God's presence.
• I Peter 3:13-14 -- May ____ know the value of doing good, and be comforted by the fact that even when things do not go well, that God is with his people. 
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 -- May ____ turn from idols and false gods to the one living and true God. May _____ seek Jesus Christ, who delivers us from the wrath to come, 

Psalm 1: Staying Green and Fresh

The weekend Psalm
Read Psalm 1 from the World English Bible
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This is a Wisdom/Teaching Psalm, 

The Big Idea
Are you going through a dry spell? It could be that the company you keep is weakening your roots. God's people choose all of their relationships wisely. In verse 1 of this Psalm, the blessed man avoids the common problem of getting more and more comfortable with sin. The progression is clear: First you walk its paths, then you stand still, and finally, you wind up sitting in it. Choose your friends wisely.

God is the cure. When you find yourself anchored in Him, drawing nourishment by having your roots in God, you will be fresh, fruitful, and beneficial to others. In contrast, this Psalm teaches that roots anywhere else will leave you dry, lifeless, and like chaff. Chaff is the dusty, dry remnant left over when wheat is prepared for making flour.

This Psalm shows two paths of life, and the present and ultimate outcome of those choices. One man chooses the way of pleasing other people and himself; the other chooses to live for God. Eventually, the God-centered life will flourish. A life focused on anything else will wither.

Meditation
I can't tell you if you are dry or not. Chances are, though, you know. Read through this Psalm, and consider your own life. Are you alive, fresh, green, and rooted in God? Or is your life dry, dusty, and choking. Be honest--that's where repentance starts, and where real life can begin.

Seek to put your roots down deep into Jesus Christ. He is the Living Water. He is your source. Take time this weekend to focus on planting yourself "by streams of water." Take time to pray for someone you care about who needs that living water in their own life.

Praying With This Psalm
You can pray scripture prayers for yourself or for others.

• Father God, I ask that you set _________ free from wicked counsel. Protect ________ from getting comfortable around people and situations that lead them to doubt your goodness or scoff at your mercies.
• I pray, Father, that you will plant ________ by streams of living water. May _______ live a life that is fruitful, pleasing to you, and refreshing to others.
• If there are areas of ________'s life that are dry and chaff-like, I pray that you will show that, and give ________ a desire to have roots in you, Lord.
• Lord God, I thank you that the righteous can stand before you. Make that true of ______'s life. May _______ know your grace and your leading: May you know his/her way and watch over him/her.

Related Scriptures and Scripture Prayers

• John 4:7-14--Jesus is the Living Water.
  Lord Jesus, let ____ find all satisfaction and contentment in you. Everything else we seek just makes us dry and thirsty. Only you can quench _____'s thirst.
• Col 2:6-7 -- Be Rooted in Jesus Christ.
  Lord Jesus, help ____ to walk in you, to be rooted in you, and to be established in the faith. Help ____ to live that out with gratitude for you and your mercy.
• John 15:5 -- Apart from Jesus, we cannot live fruitful lives.
  Lord Jesus, help _____ to abide in you. Without that, life is fruitless. Help _____ to be aware of our human limitations, and our pride. Remind ____ that apart from you, he/she can do nothing, but that with you, _____ can bear fruit. Help _____ to understand what that means.

(Some Rights Reserved, CC-BY-NC, 2009-2015, 2021). L. J. Sam Helgerson, PhD

The Return Of Weekend Psalms

Yes, this project has taken a lengthy hiatus. Actually, two lengthy hiati (I have a PhD, so I can make up words like that), but after an extensive review by our editorial team, we're bringing back Weekend Psalms. 

This project will relaunch on Friday, February 12, 2021. 

The plan is to blend new and legacy content, with the same goal--re-introducing God's people of the power of the Psalter, and using it as the starting point for personal prayer.  

This time, we're drawing from the open-sourced World English Bible, an update of the highly regarded 1901 American Standard Version (ASV). One of the unique features of the WEB is that the name of God, YHWH, is not changed to LORD (as in most English translations), but the more personal Yahweh. In addition, each Psalm will include a description of its genre or type. Also, we're not shying away from the Psalms of Lament or the Imprecatory Psalms: These are not cheerful or trendy, but we need them: They give us the vocabulary we need for crying out to God.

I am not a theologian. I'm just a guy, and way ordinary, at that.
As I like to put it, I love the Word of God, and I love the God of the Word. 

Check our our leadership podcast, on podcast clients everywhere. Just search for GreatRidge Station, subscribe, and invite your friends (and yes, GreatRidge is one word).