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“May you and I hope in God alone.” <>< Dona (08/07/20)
Please read Psalms 71 through 75. If you don’t have a Bible handy just click here -> Biblegateway.com. The Biblegateway website should open for you to use. Type in the chapters you want to read and select the translation you want to read them from. Click search and the chapters should appear. Once you read the suggested chapters close the screen and you should return here.
Psalm 71 Theme
The constant help from God.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, You are available to help us 24/7 (v. 3a)
Something to think about
The psalmist asked to be saved (v. 3b). He asked God to rescue him (v. 4). He asked God to hurry to help him (v. 12).
Something to experience
Just as the psalmist did, we can call on God to rescue us (v. 4). He is our hope (v. 5). We can praise God all day long (v. 8). We can talk about God’s righteousness all day long too (v. 24).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 71:3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my Rock and my Fortress.
Psalm 71:4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
Psalm 71:5 For you are my hope, O Lord, my confidence from my youth. …
Psalm 71:8 My mouth shall be filled with Your praise, with your honor all day long.
Psalm 71:12 God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.
Psalm 71:24 My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long …
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Psalm 72 Theme
A just and wise king.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, the righteous will flourish (v. 7a).
Something to think about
Good leadership attempts to deliver the needy who cry out. Good leadership delivers the afflicted who have no one to help (v. 12)? They take pity on the weak and the needy (v. 13)? They rescue them from oppression and violence (v. 14)?
Something to experience
Our leadership needs pray. Pray for and bless our president and those working with him (v. 15b). Ask God to prosper our nation (v. 16). Ask God to bless all nations through our nation (v. 17). Pray the whole earth will be filled with God’s glory (v. 19).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 72:7 In his (the just and wise king’s) days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace (shall abound) …
Psalm 72:12 For he (the just and wise king) will deliver the needy when he (the poor) cries; the poor, who has no helper.
Psalm 72:13 He (the just and wise king) will have pity on the poor and needy. He (the just and wise king) will save the souls of the needy.
Psalm 72:14 He (the just and wise king) will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.
Psalm 72:15b … Men shall pray for him (the just and wise king) continually. They shall bless him all day long.
Psalm 72:16 Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. … Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.
Psalm 72:17 His (the just and wise king’s) name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
Psalm 72:19 Blessed be His (God’s) glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and amen.
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Psalm 73 Theme
Temporary prosperity of the wicked versus the lasting rewards of the righteous.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, You are good to those who are pure in heart (v. 1).
Something to think about
The wicked seemed to be the ones who had no problems and were prospering (v. 3, 12). Yet the psalmist seemed to be plagued all day long (v. 14). He tries to understand what was happening but it was too painful for him (v. 16). But then he entered God’s sanctuary and things began to become clear to him (v. 17-19).
Something to experience
We too will one day understand what is happening (v. 21-22). Then we will realize we believers are continually in Your Presence (v. 23). And that You will guide us (v. 24). And You are our strength and our portion forever (v. 26).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Psalm 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Psalm 73:14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
Psalm 73:16-19 16When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me, 17until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
Psalm 73:21-22 21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart. 22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before You.
Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless, I am continually with You. You have held my right hand.
Psalm 73:24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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Psalm 74 Theme
God’s people asking God why (v. 1-2).
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, evil people were destroying Your sanctuary (v. 3).
Something to think about
These evil people were behaving destructively. Using axes, hatchets and hammers (v. 5-6). They were burning God’s sanctuary (v. 7). They were burning up all the places where God was worshiped (v. 8).
Something to experience
Parts of America are being torn down. Parts of America are being burned up. Even churches are being damaged in America. The enemy is mocking God. They are foolish people (v. 18). All the evil being done, is actually against God. So talk to God. Ask Him to arise and defend His cause (v. 22). I BELIEVE IN PRAYER.
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 74:1-2 1 God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture? 2 Remember Your congregation, which You purchased of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance: Mount Zion, in which You have lived.
Psalm 74:3 Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
Psalm 74:5-7 5 They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees. 6 Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers. 7 They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
Psalm 74:8 They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
Psalm 74:18 Remember this, that the enemy has mocked You, Lord. Foolish people have blasphemed Your name.
Psalm 74:22 Arise, God! Plead Your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks You all day.
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Psalm 75 Theme
God is the final judge.
Response
Oh! Wow! Lord, only You can judge fairly.
Something to think about
The Lord will choose the time and He will judge fairly (v. 2). He will put down and He will lift up (v. 7b). The wicked will drink the wine with the dregs, the good and the bad together (v. 8)
Something to experience
God is the judge (v. 7a). We will sing praises to God and the righteous shall be lifted up (v. 9-10).
Scriptures to hide in your heart
Psalm 75:2 (God is speaking) “When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly (fairly).”
Psalm 75:7 … God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.
Psalm 75:8 For in God’s hand there is a cup, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours it out. Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs.
Psalm 75:9-10 9 But I will declare this forever: I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.
PRAYER