Steve Webb 0:00 God is there Steve Webb 0:08 Together again, this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I'm your OG God caster Steve Webb. Since it's Wednesday we'll be reading from the songs chapters 75 through 77. Before reading each chapter, I'll give you a brief introduction. And then after the reading, as always, I'll have some comments for you. The show notes page for today's episode, is it Lifespring media.com/s 12 V. 175. And I'll invite your comments. You can also email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. Are you ready? Let's go. Unknown Speaker 0:47 Psalm 75's title isTo the Chief Musician. Set to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. for the newer Lifespring family membersc the chief musician is thought by some to be the Lord while others think it's the director of the musicians. Psalms 57 through 59 also use the tune do not destroy and in addition to being a musician ASAP, was also a prophet in the music he wrote. Unknown Speaker 1:16 Psalms chapter 75 Steve Webb 1:18 Our God, we thank you for being so near to us. Everyone celebrates your wonderful deeds. You have set a time to judge with fairness. The earth trembles and the people shake. You alone keep its foundation firm. You tell every bragger Stop bragging and to the wicked you say Don't boast of your power. Stop bragging quit telling me how great you are. Our Lord and our God. Victory doesn't come from the east or the west or from the desert. You are the one who judges you can take away power and give it to others. You hold in your hand a cup filled with wine strong and foaming. You will pour out some for every sinful person on this earth and they will have to drink until it is gone. But I will always tell about you the God of Jacob and I will sing your praise our Lord, You will destroy the power of evil people, but you will give strength to those who were good. Steve Webb 2:16 The title of Psalm 76 is to the chief musician on stringed instruments, a Psalm of asef. A song this is a celebration of one of God's great victories on behalf of His chosen people. It's possible that it refers to the defeat of sadaqa rib. And if this is true, then this asef would not be the asef of David in Solomon's time but one who came later, possibly a descendant. Steve Webb 2:42 Psalms chapter 76. Steve Webb 2:45 People in Judah no God, people in Israel respect his name. His temple is in Salem. His house is on Mount Zion. There he shattered the arrows, shields swords and other weapons of war. Sayla. God, you are glorious, coming back from the hills where you defeated your enemies. They thought they were strong, but now they lie dead in the fields. Their bodies are stripped of all they owned. They could not defend themselves. The God of Jacob shouted at them and their army of chariots and horses fell dead. God, you are awesome. No one can stand against you and you're angry. You stood as judge and announced your decision. You saved the humble people of the land. From heaven you gave the decision, and the whole earth was silent and afraid. Even human anger can bring you honor when you use it to punish your enemies. People, you made promises to the Lord your God. Now give him what you promised. People everywhere fear and respect God and Abel bring gifts to Him. God defeats great leaders. All the kings on earth fear him. Steve Webb 3:56 Psalm 77 is entitled to the chief musician to Jeduthun A Psalm of Asaph Jeduthun, was a worship leader who was appointed by David. Here's what Charles Spurgeon had to say about him. The sons of God within were porters, or doorkeepers. According to First Chronicles 1640. To those who serve well make the best of singers and those who occupy the highest posts in the choir must not be ashamed to wait at the post of the doors of the Lord's house. Unknown Speaker 4:27 Psalms chapter 77 Steve Webb 4:29 I cry out to God, I call to God and He will hear me I look for the Lord on the day of trouble. All night long. I reach out my hands but I cannot be comforted. Steve Webb 4:41 When I remember God, I become upset when I think I become afraid. C'est la. Steve Webb 4:48 You keep my eyes from closing. I am too upset to say anything. I keep thinking about the old days the years of long ago. At night I remember my songs I think and I ask myself? Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he never be kind to us again? Is his love gone forever? Has he stopped speaking for all time? Has God forgotten mercy? Is he too angry to pity us? Sayla then I say, This is what makes me sad. For years, the power of God Most High was with us. I remember what the Lord did. I remember the miracles you did long ago. I think about all the things you did and consider your deeds. God, Your ways are holy. No, God is as great as our God. You are the God who does miracles. You have shown people your power. By your power, you have saved your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph Sayla. God, the waters saw you, they saw you and became afraid. The deep waters shook with fear. The clouds poured down their rain, the sky thundered, your lightning flashed back and forth like arrows. Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind. lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook. You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters, but your footprints were not seen. You lead your people like a flock by using Moses and Aaron. Unknown Speaker 6:22 Beloved, I'd like to talk about Psalm 77 today. Now I wrote these comments that you're going to be hearing at the end of 2020. And I think they still apply. In most areas of the world. The pandemic seems to be winding down but not everywhere. Tyranny seems to be on the rise. War is looming. Crime is on the upswing. Economies are in turmoil. Let's face it, the world is still in upheaval. So let me share my thoughts from 2020. Unknown Speaker 6:50 When we look back at 2020, and I include nearly every person old enough to be aware of his or her surroundings, we will remember the COVID 19 pandemic and the effect it's had on our lives will remember the reports of loss of lives, the lockdowns, the isolation of loved ones, the masks, the ruination of millions of businesses, the loss of jobs, the depletion of savings accounts, the complete up ending of hundreds of millions, if not billions of lives. Who would have thought that this could happen as it has on a global scale? When we consider how life has changed for nearly everyone on the planet, we have to ask, Where is God in all of this? Is he aware of what's happening? Doesn't he hear our cries for help? Well, I think this psalm fits our time. Well, in verse one, we read, I cry out to God, I call to God and He will hear me, beloved, be encouraged. When we call out to God, he does hear us, he hears the cries of the righteous, those who are His. And beloved, he is our loving Heavenly Father. First John three one tells us see what great love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. And beloved, since we are His children, we know that he will not leave us empty handed. Listen to this promise from Matthew seven verses 11 and 12. Which of you if your son asks for bread, we'll give him a stone. Or if he asks for a fish, we'll give him a snake. If you then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children? How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who asked him? Steve Webb 8:36 And then verse five says, I keep thinking about the old days, the years of long ago? Well for us, we don't have to remember that far back to better times, do we? And it is painful to think that life may not return to what we considered normal for a very long time, if it ever does. Some have said that we have to get used to a new normal. Well, if you're anything like me, you don't want to accept a new normal. I don't know what's ahead. But I do know that whatever waits for us, God is there and he does not change. God doesn't change. He's still our loving Heavenly Father, just like he was yesterday, just like he is today. And just like he is forever. In verses six through nine say at night, I remember my songs I think and I asked myself, will the Lord reject us forever? Will he never be kind to us again? Is his love gone forever? Has he stopped speaking for all time? Has God forgotten mercy? Is he too angry to pity us? Salah. Remember Salah means pause and think about it. Beloved, when we are depressed when we have anxiety sleep is often elusive. I think that's one of the reasons for the spikes we've read about in drug and alcohol abuse and obviously suicide in 2020. We lie in bed and we worry and those of us who are Steve Webb 10:00 Believers might ask ourselves these questions that David asked to be sure. Sin is rampant in the world today and I can't help but believe that a righteous Holy God must surely be angry at what he sees. And the Bible tells us that judgment is on the way we know that. We don't know when but we know that just as night follows day, judgment is coming. But beloved, because God never changes his promises. For those of us who are his don't change. I don't know what life will look like in the near future. But I do know that he will care for us. He won't abandon us where he is, is Romans 838 tells us and I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today, nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. Verse 10, says, Then I say, This is what makes me sad. For years, the power of God Most High was with us, isn't a just like us to take for granted the things we have. It isn't until we lose those things that we appreciate them. Do you have a roof over your head? Thank God for it. Do you have food in your belly? Thank God for that. Do you have transportation? Thank God for it. We even take the presence of God for granted. We take the blessings of God for granted. Those things I just talked to you about. Those are blessings from God. We took for granted the fact that we could freely attend church with our brothers and sisters in Christ. That was a blessing from God. And we can say with the psalmist. For years, the power of God Most High was with us. Steve Webb 11:42 And then the rest of the psalm recounts many of the ways that God's power was manifested on the earth. Again, I say God does not change. No matter what happens here on earth, God is God. But because of the rebellious lot that is the human race. God allows seasons of drought, and seasons of rain. And when he puts us through a drought, people become thirsty for him. Sometimes droughts last a long time. So be it. Beloved, it is our calling to stand fast, to cling to his word and to share the good news with a lost and dying world. Not everyone wants to hear, some never will. And some have just not gotten thirsty enough. That's tragic for them, but it's their choice. Nonetheless, it is on us to never tire of sharing the good news which has the power to save men's and women's souls. Beloved, we have the answer, and his name is Jesus. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Comment at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 175. Our reading tomorrow will be Proverbs chapter seven, boost. Unknown Speaker 13:02 On this date in church history, February 23 1685, George Frederick Handel was born. He of course was the German born English composer of the Messiah first performed in 1742. He also composed the tune for while shepherds watched their flocks by night and Joy to the world the Lord has come. Unknown Speaker 13:42 Prayer requests. I'm recording this on Tuesday afternoon. So I don't have a report for you on Kathi's surgery, which is supposed to take place today, Wednesday, the 23rd of February. I hope to have news for you tomorrow. Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank You that we can still rejoice in you. No matter what happens around us. You are rock and our salvation. Our time on planet Earth is short, evens Earth time is short in light of eternity and knowing that gives a peace that those who don't know you can't understand. Help us to rest in that Lord and also give us an urgency to share the good news. I pray, Lord, that You would bless the Lifespring family today. I'm so thankful for each and every person that you brought here. And I pray that they're encouraged by this podcast and that they're drawn closer to you. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Send in your prayer requests and praises at prayer dot Lifespring media.com. Steve Webb 14:48 Hey, do me a favor, share the show with somebody and comment on the show at Lifespring media.com/s 12 v 175. You can email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com And please support the Steve Webb 15:00 Show at Lifespring media.com/support Until tomorrow may God bless you richly thank you for being here rejoice My name is Steve Webb bye Transcribed by https://otter.ai