Faithful on Fridays Blog

Psalm 35:1-10

The Book of Psalms contains a vast array of writings to encourage us in all seasons of life. Sometimes the waves of life lift you up, sometimes they bring you down, and sometimes life is on that even keel with good balance. King David experienced all of that and yet he wrote this prayer to the LORD when he was frustrated, and tired of seeing his enemy in triumph. It’s not supposed to be that way for God’s people. 

So, what does he do? He called on God to come and fight his battles for him. He’s physically and emotionally exhausted, therefore he asks God to step into warfare on his behalf. He knows the ‘battle is the LORD’s’ because he’s seen it before, but now he’s voicing his strong desire for God to stand up for him with His divine weapons drawn. On the other hand, this is personal to him so he voices his prayer, 

Say to my soul, “I am your Salvation.” Vs. 3

When those waves of life bring you down you can do the same thing; “God, remind my soul that you’re my Savior; I need to hear it again.” ‘Your Salvation’ means David needed reassurance that God remains his Rescuer, his Deliverer, his Protector, his Vindicator, and his Provider … so tell me again, Lord.

Apparently David felt that encouragement since the next verses take on a new ‘mood’: 15 times in this Psalm he used the phrase, “Let them …”  The King has moved on from a humble request to an intense and commanding one; his desire is for his enemies to experience God’s wrath. “Let them …” means he wants God to take action against his enemy. Read his urgent requests in verses 4-8: he’s not kidding. He asked God to issue orders for shame, dishonor, a turning, disappointment, dispersement like wind-blown weeds, and dark, slippery paths for his enemies as they pursue His people.

He called on The Angel of the LORD, Jesus Himself, a Man of War (Ex. 15:3; Is. 42:13; Jer. 20:11) and the Captain of heaven’s armies to show up and fight for him. They’re in hot pursuit, they’ve set traps and dug pits without cause, conversely, this new mood is for God to turn things around and let it all happen to them. And when it does, David will rejoice with singing and dancing, declaring, “Who is like You?”, a God of justice who takes cares of the poor and needy. There’s no God on earth that loves His people like Yahweh and fights for them until victory is won.

Remind yourself this week if you’re experiencing spiritual warfare in your life, that people are not your enemy, that’s the lower story, Satan is. We fight our battles with His power living in us, His strength and confidence, and our strongest weapon: The Word of God. When you feel surrounded, helpless, or hopeless seeing the enemy win, then pray like David and declare Psalm 35:1-10.

Psalm 119: Third Octave

Open your Bible to Psalm 119:17-24 as we continue with the next octave or eight verses. The Hebrew word that sets the tone for this section is ga’mol. It’s a great word because it’s meaning is reward and God’s goodness: He rewards those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6) and enjoys doing good for us (Luke 12:32). The opening line is a request to experience God’s goodness in a big way. The Psalmist acknowledged being a servant of God and the desire to live the higher life, kingdom living, as he practices what he preaches. What a qualifier. If we want good things from God we need to look at ourselves and be honest: do we walk the talk? Actions do speak louder than words.

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me. Psalms 103:2 

The next verse is another request, a desire for God to give clarity as he spiritually sees His wonderful teachings. His ways bring wholeness, joy, and peace: the higher life. That means he must forgive, obey His instructions or commandments, and spend time getting to know His goodness. 

The LORD is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. Lamentations 3:25 

The Psalmist knew that life on earth is temporary (vs. 19-20), we’re just passing through, so to speak. Our eternal home is with God, residing in heaven, and then we return to this renewed earth with Jesus (2^nd Coming). His request is for God to reveal his individual mission. Commandments, the word used here, are not the Ten Commandments, they’re God’s commission or charge for us: our purpose on earth. He’s overwhelmed with desire to understand God’s righteous ways and complete that mission. 

The LORD is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray. Psalms 25:8 

We’re reminded in verses 21-23 of our enemies who won’t understand our desire to please God; it’s foolishness to them. We may experience mockery, scorn, or contempt, but our eyes stay on the prize: God’s goodness. How do we fight those spiritual battles of depression, rejection, anger, pride, or fear? Our strategy is simple: meditate on His Word every day. His testimonies counsel us, show us how to respond to life circumstances, and what we should say in stressful situations. 

The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 

God’s Word is our instruction manual and should us bring us delight. When we’re unsure of what to say or do we find the answers in His Word. His Word is designed to counsel you, that’s the kind of therapy you can count on, and it’s free … don’t miss your appointment.

O LORD, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are in tune with You. Psalms 125:4 

Psalm 27:11-14

David began this warfare Psalm with a declaration of faith, The LORD is my light and my Salvation whom shall I fear … and emphatically repeated it. He’s confident that no enemy will triumph over him. He’s on such a high that even when confronted by his enemies, he knows what to do: seek God’s face, His direction, His guidance, and His constant presence.

And yet this man of God sinks low and gets back into heartfelt prayer. Emotions will do that; they vary, usually based on our outward circumstances. David seems to know that roller coaster of emotions and closes out this poem with a request for God to teach and lead him on a level path. He’s undoubtedly tired of the ups and downs of life and wants more balance; we call that an even keel.

That lower story refers to a flat, blade-like structure on the bottom of a boat that helps keep it upright by providing stability against sideway forces like wind or waves. When those waves rise and fall the cargo on the boat is no longer evenly distributed and the boat leans too much and could capsize. Can you see the upper story? When we allow our ‘cargo’ to lean too heavily on one side or the other we’re no longer on an even keel and we’re in danger. The wind and waves of life are a constant, they’ll always be there, but learning how to stay on course and in balance with our emotions, as David was asking, is vital. 

Remember what Jesus did when the wind and waves threatened His boat (Mark 4:35-41? He rebuked them by speaking “Peace! Be still!” Are we ready to do warfare against emotions that cause us to be ‘high’ one day, and ‘low’ another simply because of how life looks at the moment? Speak to those storms and command them to be still: that’s warfare. 

David asked his LORD to help him deal with his enemies or opponents who were unyielding and stubborn. He had adversaries or those who stressed him out by putting him in a tight position, there were false witnesses who lied and slandered him, along with violent ones (vs. 12), the Hebrew word ‘hamas’, yes, Hamas, who were cruel and oppressive. What was David’s answer? He looked to God’s goodness, in this life and also in the next, and was willing to wait for Him to show up (vs. 14). 

And so we wait as well, however, we wait in confidence that God hears our prayers, listens to our hearts, and will answer when the timing is right. Until that time arrives, we stand confidently in our position in Christ, we are Nike believers or overcomers, and regardless of how our life looks today, it will change. That’s true warfare, my friends, trusting God with what matters most in your life, continually looking to Him, and believing that when the time is right … you’ll see breakthrough. Don’t give up: endure.

Psalm 119: Second Octave

Back in 1991 a book was released called DOS for Dummies which gave simpler instructions for computer operating systems. It paved the way for a series of ‘how-to’ books geared for those of us who need simplicity. I don’t think God views us as dummies, but He was the originator of instruction manuals.

The second series of eight verses from Psalm 119 (vs. 9-16) is similar to a ‘how-to’ book. If you read last week’s introduction you’ll remember that each section, or octave, begins with the consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Step One: open your Bible.

The first Hebrew word translates ‘how’. How do you walk in the Spirit? How do you stay clean or pure in God’s sight (vs. 9)? That’s the question the Psalmist asks and answers in these eight verses. Step Two: guard where you walk as instructed in the Word of God (vs. 9). I think you get the drift; there are some places you shouldn’t go, some things you shouldn’t see, and some things you shouldn’t do. God cautions us to pay attention to those influences; they can tear you down in a moment. 

Step Three: seek God (vs. 10) with your whole heart. Prayer and Bible study aids our spiritual walk giving us direction and, therefore, not wandering aimlessly through life. It’s called the ‘higher life’ or Kingdom living. Having His Word in our heart (vs. 11) keeps us from the temptations to sin which daily bombard us. Look at verse 12; the writer prays that God would teach him how to live in the Spirit through His statutes or decrees. Those specific instructions are for each of His children and He encourages us to find them. That’s called ‘seeking God’.

There’s something powerful about verbalizing the Word of God (vs. 13): Step Four. Whether reading a verse aloud in prayer or quoting it to someone; speaking and therefore hearing brings increased awareness. 

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13 

We close out this section (vs. 14-16) with a declaration of delight in what God is doing in our life and testimony bringing renewed commitment. That refocus caused the Psalmist to state four “I wills.” I will meditate on God’s word, I will focus on His ways, I will delight in His instructions, and I will not forget His Word. When we come into alignment with those commitments as our mission in life, we’ll find the same delight. Our ‘how-to’ instructions for walking in the blessings of life in the Spirit are here in Psalm 119. Read this octave slowly and carefully this week, even try reading it out loud as a prayer to the Author of Salvation and watch Him slowly change your thinking, your attitude, and bring about change in your life.

Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2a

Psalm 27:5b-10

Learning to pray the Psalms has great value when you’re going through something rough. David’s experiences as a warrior-king certainly prove that when we read these next few verses. Not only will God spiritually, and sometimes physically, hide or conceal him from his enemies, He’ll also lift him up so high they can’t reach him. David revealed his knowledge that The Rock gives him a position in the world. He stands there in authority above his enemies who surround him, with his head held high; that’s the lower story. 

Our upper story is that we have one enemy: Satan. Yes, he may take some shots and hit some marks, but in the end we’re the victorious ones: we are Nike people. We are overcomers. These warfare Psalms remind us how to fight our battles and give us strategies to defeat him every time.

At His sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

Psalms 27:6b

Our everyday battles aren’t usually physical, they’re mainly spiritual, and praise is a great weapon because it encourages us and Satan hates it. David offered sacrifices to the Lord with shouts of joy, singing, and music even when he undoubtedly didn’t feel like it. That makes it a sacrifice. When we rise above our emotions, standing on the The Rock of our faith, declaring His character and benefits of believing in Him, we’re winning the war. Praise and worship brings joy, confidence, and peace back into our spirits and as David shows us, leads us back into prayer.

David asks for grace, undeserved favor, as He obeys and seeks the ‘face of God’. What does that look like? For me it’s my quiet, devotional time with God when I can be honest and discuss the hard stuff in my life. It’s acknowledging my impotence and His power to change my circumstances. It’s humbling myself by openly asking for forgiveness, mercy, and grace when I’ve blown it. David made a lot of mistakes as king, he fell into sin many times, and this Psalm shows us we can come back to God every time. The LORD is his Helper, his Rescuer, and will always take him back.

We have something David didn’t have: we have the Holy Spirit living in us. David asks God not to be mad at him, abandon him, or forsake him; we know the Spirit of Christ will never do that. He lives in us. People will let you down, even our parents as David wrote (vs. 10), but he is confident his LORD will give him another chance. Repentance is a powerful thing, and a forgiving God is our assurance He’ll never let us down. He may use the time of trouble to teach us, draw us back to Himself, and show us the power of prayer, however, it’s always so that we’ll experience the ‘good life’ or the ‘higher life’ in Him. Warfare Psalms always lead us back to Him.

Psalm 119: First Octave 

Most Americans know the song, “A, B, C, D, E, F, G …” It’s important because learning to read begins with the alphabet. Interestingly, the English word alphabet is derived from the Hebrew letters aleph and beth. What a perfect setting for the first octave (8’s) of Psalm 119. Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture. 

The first word of verse one, ashre, begins with aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Undoubtedly you don’t know what ashre means; allow me to enlighten you. It’s a way of walking in life that brings blessing, happiness, or joy. The Psalmist desires us to look at these eight verses with that image in mind. When you walk in the ways of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, there’s inner happiness or joy. Those ‘ways’ are captured in this Psalm using six different words (in italics) that overlap in meaning but each is unique. 

Beginning with verses 1and 2, we find there’s a blessing in walking in the law or teachings of the LORD and our instruction manual for this walk in the Spirit is the Bible. In the Old Testament it was the Torah, the first five books, but for a believer in Jesus Christ it’s found in the Spirit. 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 

The word testimony refers to what we’ve observed or witnessed God doing in scripture or in our life and it’s a powerful tool used in sharing Christ. As we walk in His ways, seeking Him with all that we are, our whole heart, we keep His precepts or commandments (vs. 3-5). 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Precepts are responsibilities in life that God says are important; loving Him and loving others as yourself is a great start. Our prayer (vs. 5) is that He will help us keep His statutes or prescribed tasks and with the help of the Holy Spirit we can reach those goals. There’s no shame involved when our eyes are focused on His commandments or missions because if we miss it, He’s a God of second chances.

God, in His fascinating creativity, selected this first octave to encourage us in our walk with Him. Verses 7-8 close the section as the writer determines in his heart, “I will…” I’ll learn God’s rules or decisions and praise Him. I’ll keep or guard God’s statutes as rights and privileges in Him and fervently ask for His help. As we advance in our spiritual life we can expect His blessing and power to complete our mission.

Lastly, the writer’s concern is that God will not forsake him in this ashre, walk of blessing; fortunately we have Jesus’ assurance that He, without a doubt, will.  

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b 

Psalm 27:1-5

King David developed a keen understanding of the value of encouraging yourself in faith. As a warrior-king he’d confronted many physical enemies and through God he was always victorious. In this Psalm he gives insight into his prayer life through faith declarations: Yahweh is my Light, my Salvation, and my life’s Stronghold. It’s personal to him; God and God alone illuminates his direction for victory. I have to ask myself if I go to ‘my Light’ when I’m unsure of what direction to go? Since Jesus is the Light of the World He should be the first person I turn to.

When David declared that the LORD was his salvation, he clearly knew when trouble arrived it was God who would rescue him. Salvation is the Hebrew word meaning rescue and deliverance, additionally it’s where the Hebrew word for Jesus comes: Yeshua. David is acknowledging God’s victory over his lower story enemies, the Philistines or Amalekites, but we acknowledge Jesus’ victory over our final enemy: death (1 Cor. 15:26). As believers in Jesus Christ and His victory over death by His resurrection we’re assured that death is no longer our enemy since we have eternal life in Him: we’re literally immortal.

The king also acknowledged that Yahweh is his stronghold in life, his safe house of protection with high walls, like a castle. It’s a place of shelter to escape the troubles in life and it’s found in Jesus. He’s our sanctuary from the world where we can flee in prayer. 

With that understanding David can rightfully ask twice: “Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I afraid?” Answer? No one: Spiritual warfare is fought through faith declarations like that. Even when the enemy pursues him, David goes on to proclaim his heart will not fear because they will stumble and fall. He’s not intimidated by any enemy because his relationship with God is personal, covenantal, and confidently full of faith (vs. 3). He knows God loves, cares, and is merciful to him. That’s faith.

David reduced his prayer to the most important thing and seeking after that for the rest of his life: to dwell in God’s presence. He hasn’t experienced the Holy Spirit living in him, as believers we have. He desires to gaze and meditate on the LORD’s beauty … and he will. However, we can experience that now when we spend quality, intimate time with Him in prayer. We have free access to God through the Spirit, in fact, He’s patiently waiting for us to enter into that ‘secret place’ where we can hide in Him (vs. 5). 

Spiritual warfare isn’t simply fighting the devil, although sometimes true, it’s also remembering who we are in Christ, our spiritual identity, and standing confidently in that place. We can’t let the enemy of our soul deceive us into thinking God doesn’t care or that He’s mad and disappointed in us. He loves and cares deeply about us; that‘s why David wrote this Warfare Psalm to encourage us. 

Principle of Life

I made a decision the other day to watch less TV. Silly, I know, but I felt that there were more productive things I could be doing with those hours. What happened? I fell asleep reading, I was too tired to do housework, I didn’t have the energy at night to do anything. I watched three hours of TV. Why is it that the thing I wanted to do, I didn’t do, and the thing I didn’t want to do, I did. I feel like I’m a slave to the TV! 

The Apostle Paul felt the same way. In Romans 7:14-25 he wrote about being a slave to sin. Before we come to Christ we live in what the Bible calls the sinful nature and we have no way out except through God’s gift of salvation. Being justified, having that clean record with God, becomes our new state of being. We are no longer slaves to sin but live in the freedom of God’s grace. 

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7:21-25a NLT

Why do we still let sin control the way we live? Part of the reason is that we haven’t renewed our mind with God’s Word and His instruction. Whenever our choices are to follow God’s way, it’ll always be right and lead us to life. However, when we choose to sin it can only lead to death and away from God. After we make a commitment to serve God we are no longer in a spiritual bondage to sin, like slaves, and consequently are free to live in righteousness. We are free to do those things that lead to holiness and, therefore, we can operate in kingdom living.

Paul found the answer, the principle of life, by obeying God’s law, but did you catch that little phrase, war with my mind? Our ability to choose, called free will, puts us in the middle of warfare between two opposing forces: our sinful nature and our new life in Jesus Christ. We have the power to allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives and win each battle or temptation that comes up. The question is: will we ask the Holy Spirit for help? 

Be aware of this principle of life this week and make good choices that lead to life and peace. The war is already raging so win each battle, the Holy Spirit will give you the power you need, and turn every one into a victory.

Psalm 20:6-9

As we arrive at the close of this intercessory prayer from the people for the king there’s a definite twist; David began to respond. He must’ve written the prayers of the people since he’s the author, however he writes that now he knows that Yahweh, the LORD who desires relationship with us, saves, delivers, heals, and rescues His anointed. He’d been physically anointed by the prophet Samuel years before as the future king, but now that promise is fulfilled … and yet he still needs intercessory prayer. 

David acknowledged his anointing and made a declaration of faith that God will answer his prayers with His great power and authority (His right hand). Someone who’s anointed by God has a specific position in the Kingdom of God such as prophets, priests, and kings in the Old Testament, but it’s true for us in the church as well. As believers in Jesus Christ our anointing of the Spirit remains in us (1 John 2:20, 27), giving us that knowledge as He teaches us to discern what’s right and wrong in our lives. David was having adversarial troubles, opposition in his reign, so the people stepped up, and now his confidence has increased: he experienced the LORD in a new way through the prayers of others.

Our pastors and church leaders are also anointed by the Holy Spirit to help us learn, grow, and experience God every week; it’s our role to cover them in prayer so they accomplish God’s plans. They also experience spiritual warfare needing help and support, and people who will become their ‘middle man’. 

David recognized that leaders can fall into the trap of trusting the world’s ways of handling problems, conversely, he declared his trust in God’s character expressed in His names. He’s their provider, defender, counselor, and strategist among so many names, and because of the prayers of the people his trust in Yahweh has deepened. David won’t rely on military strategy, chariots and horses, since he knows they’ll eventually fall in collapsing defeat; his reliance is on the LORD who causes His leaders to rise and stand confidently in position. 

Our church leaders deserve prayer warriors who’ll pray this warfare prayer, Psalm 20, in their time of trouble, but also committing to daily or weekly prayer so they’re prepared when that troublesome time arrives. As a prayerful people let’s not always be ‘putting out fires’, being reactive, but get ahead of the enemy’s fiery darts, proactive, with shields of faith in position for our pastors and leaders.

David closed this Psalm with a bookend; he repeats verse one so we hear it again. 

“May He answer us when we call.”

He changed the people’s cry for him (vs. 1) to us in full assurance that God will indeed respond to them: he’s experienced a spiritual strengthening. 

Let’s show love and care for our leaders by surrounding them with warfare prayer during their times of trouble, but more importantly, committing to regularly praying for them.

Preaching the Gospel

What do you think of when I say “preach the gospel”, sounds ‘churchy’ right? Can you picture a pastor standing behind a pulpit quoting words of scripture or preaching a sermon? Maybe telling the sacred story of the life of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection? Yet when you read the New Testament you’ll find that phrase used in many references, over 30 times, and often it’s Christ Himself preaching and He hadn’t died yet! If He hadn’t died, what was He saying to the people as He was ‘preaching the gospel of the kingdom’? That’s significant enough to look at a little closer.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 

The gospel is good news, so good in fact, it’s almost too good to be true. Of course it’s what Jesus accomplished for you on the cross but the bigger picture is what He’s doing for you right now. Notice that Jesus, in the scripture above, was doing more than speaking; he was giving evidence in support of those words.

Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News (gospel) is being preached to the poor. Matthew 11:4-5 

The poor in these two passages are not financially poor; it’s referring to those who are poor in spirit. Spiritually poor are those who have reached a point in their life where they’ve been humbled by circumstances and realize their need for God. People in your life who are depressed, discouraged, and maybe even hopeless could very well be in a place where they will hear the Good News. Preaching the gospel isn’t limited to the pulpit or center stage; it’s a simple word of hope. God loves you and if He’ll help me, then He’ll help you. Plain and simple. I like that, don’t you?

But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15 

These verses speak of being beautiful when you share the good news. Be beautiful to someone this week and watch your own proving evidence of Christ’s reality appear. 

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes Romans 1:16a