Numbering My Days

Tag: salvation

  • Psalm 76

    God is known in Judah;
    His name is great in Israel.

    • God is great.
    • He establishes peace through His power and all the earth recognizes His authority, strength, and power.

    Who can stand before God?

    There are no people who have the might, strength, or righteousness to stand before almighty God – that is a fear-inducing truth. His wrath can be all-encompassing.

    He humbles even kings.

    Israel says (I join): “This is our God.”

    Yet I stand in the same fear and awe as the nations and kings judged.

    I look for the Messiah.

    He has come. To establish this mighty kingdom, and to make possible my participation in the kingdom.

    By the grace of God – by His mercy.

    God is known in my heart.

    By my Lord, Jesus Christ.

  • Psalm 75

    “When I choose a time,
    I will judge fairly.”

    God reminds us of two things (at least) in this one brief verse.

    1. He is on His own timetable. God does His work according to the schedule, the plan, that He has. He doesn’t change His plan, His mind, His timing for any reason. When He decides the time is right, He will act.
    2. He will judge – fairly. He is coming to judge the wicked and the righteous. To separate those who do evil from those who follow Him and seek to do His will.

    Of course, this means all of us are judged, and fairly so; for all of us have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. We can’t stand in the judgment. None of us.

    But, praise God! He has provided salvation for His day of judgment. For those who believe in Him, Jesus Christ stands in our place. Holy, Righteous, Perfect.

    And He claims us as His own.

    To God be the glory!

    (The image above, illustrating verse 8 of this Psalm, is one I’ve struggled with almost more than any other so far in this project. It’s a representation of a metaphor – easy for me to imagine, difficult for me to illustrate. It is an image that represents God pouring out judgment on the world. It flows from His hand to be drunk by the wicked in this world. It’s not intended to be a pleasant image. Instead, it evokes the immediacy and universality of God’s reach into this world with His hand of judgment.)

  • Psalm 74

    There are no signs for us to see.
    There is no longer a prophet .
    And none of us knows how long
    this will last.

    There are times, and right now 2025 seems like one of those times, when the enemies of God, those who trample righteousness, faith, hope, and joy – well, they seem to have the upper hand.

    Lord, many days, it is hard to see your hand at work in the world. The greedy and immoral profit at the expense of the poor and needy. Even your name is abused by the powerful and the resistors alike.

    Few people proclaim the gospel. Fewer still seek you, worship you, desire your will to be done.

    And none of us knows how long this will last.

    In John 6:29-40: Lord, you call on me to believe. I will strive to focus my attention, affections, and my efforts on you. You, Lord, are THE ANSWER.

    The Great King.

    Almighty eternal ruler.

    Rule in my heart, Lord.

    Amen

    (Closer still)

  • Psalm 73

    . . . it seemed hopeless
    until I entered God’s sanctuary.
    Then I understood their destiny.

    I completely understand (or maybe more accurately, I relate with deep affinity) the Psalmist’s struggle and perspective in this Psalm.

    I know I must declare God’s goodness and I must hold onto His faithfulness. He is the LORD, the creator, the sustainer, the judge, the redeemer.

    But sometimes, life seems wonky. The people who seem to love and obey Him least, appear to “have it all.” And those who trust the Lord, who rely on Him – suffer.

    Why?

    Well, in worship I glimpse a part of the answer. The destiny of those who do not trust God is as sure as the salvation of those who do trust Him. Eternity – life with Him – not any material, temporal, life now is what matters.

    In Him we are secure – forever.

    Praise God!

    (Another step forward . . . )

  • Psalm 72

    For he will rescue the poor
    who cry out
    and the afflicted who have
    no helper.
    He will have pity on the poor
    and helpless
    and save the lives of the poor.
    He will redeem them
    from oppression and violence,
    for their lives are precious
    in his sight.

    The righteous King: sees the plight of the most vulnerable in his kingdom. And though they can do nothing for him, they can’t bring him gold, power, or fame like others do, he has pity on them.

    He redeems them from oppression.

    The King extends his own resources to buy back the lives of the poor and needy in his kingdom.

    Solomon was such a king – but just a glimpse of Jesus – THE Righteous King.

    Jesus redeems us, poor and pitiable as we are; in bondage to sin of our own making.

    He sees us.

    We are precious in His sight.

    He redeems us.

    He HAS redeemed me.

    Praise Jesus!

    (A start on one version of this illustration, but I already know I don’t like it – it’s not what I see.)

  • Psalm 70

    God, hurry to rescue me.

    This is the cry of the soul who recognizes his sin, his need of a savior.

    Too often I rely on my own strength, my own devices to try to wriggle out from under the destructive forces of sin – of the enemy who pursues me to destroy me.

    I need to open my eyes and see that I have no resource on my own to defeat this enemy. He knows me so well because I have so often given myself to his devices.

    So, Lord, I call to you. Same desperation as David. Hurry to help me! This evil one, with his crafty ways, is closing me in.

    I know you, Lord Jesus, are the victorious King who has already won this war.

    Defeat the enemy in my battle, today!

    That I may “rejoice and be glad in you!”

    Lord Jesus, come quickly.

  • Psalm 69

    But as for me, LORD,
    My prayer to you is for a time of favor.
    In your abundant, faithful love, God,
    Answer me with your sure salvation.

    David called out to God for salvation – aware of his own sin. Sin that led him into the miry pit. There he recognized that only merciful, gracious, loving God could save him

    So, he called out.

    And even prayed for the favor of God on his life.

    He also foretells Christ’s experience on the cross, suffering for my sins: Jesus endured insults, injury, thirst, death on my behalf – that I might come to experience the grace and favor of God.

    Lord, indeed you hear the cry of the needy.

    In my life, Lord, you have heard and responded in grace to me. I will praise you for your constant love and compassion, because, like David, I walk myself into the pit of sin.

    Rescue me Lord, not because of my life, but because of your abundant compassion.

  • Psalm 68

    God arises. His enemies scatter, . . .
    God in his holy dwelling is
    a father of the fatherless
    and a champion of widows.

    Lord, God Almighty, this Psalm recalls and highlights all the ways you are powerful.

    Creator of life.

    Sustainer.

    Restorer.

    Conqueror.

    Savior.

    And I see how you’ve chosen to apply your majesty and power. You are “father to the fatherless.” “Champion of widows.”

    Lord, you use your power, your might, your majesty on behalf of the most vulnerable. And the world sees it, and rejoices.

    Your enemies – those who love war who take advantage of the vulnerable – they can’t stand in your presence.

    They melt away.

    Praise God in the sanctuary!

  • Psalm 67

    . . . so that your way may be known
    on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.

    God has richly blessed me:

    • His mercy has provided salvation, spiritual security.
    • His grace flows to provide every need I have.
    • His love is reflected in the family, friends, and in the fellowship of His Church.

    I join my voice, my life, my energy, my being to the chorus of the faithful:

    • Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
    • He is worthy to receive power, glory, honor.
    • I lift my hands, heart, head, and life in this chorus of praise to almighty God and to Jesus Christ our Lord.

    To God by the glory! Great things He has done.

    May all the world know through our praise!

    (Another step toward the finish)

  • Psalm 66

    Come and listen, all who fear God,
    and I will tell what he has done for me.

    This psalm is all about worship and praise of God almighty. And in the midst of praise to God, there is the chance, the moment for personal testimony, for the worshipper to let everyone know what God has done for them.

    Lord, you have been my source, my strength, my solace, my joy.

    You have held me up.

    Held me close.

    Lord you win the victory for me when I am too weak to go another step.

    Lord, you provide, sustain, give lavishly to me.

    You are the Lord of my life!

    I worship you.

    Listen, if I can’t tell you anything else, know this: God almighty loves you, has provided for you, has made a way for you – through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

    Praise Him!

    Honor Him!

    Love Him!

    He rules!

    Amen.

    (WIP – along the way to Ps 65)