Steve Webb: Have you ever sat down and made a list of all the
blessings in your life?
This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from
Riverside, California, and I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb,
podcasting since 2004. It's Psalms Wednesday, and we'll read
chapters 143 through 145. Also, since this episode is
pre-recorded because of my surgery today, we won't have a
prayer segment. But I do ask you to remember me in your prayers
today. Our next time to pray together will be this coming
Sunday. The website is lifespringmedia.com. And contact
information will be at the end of the show. And before we read,
let's pray. Our heavenly Father, we thank you so much for the
Psalms and we pray, God, today that you would bless us as we
read. Touch our hearts I pray in Jesus' name, amen. Okay, are you
ready? Let's begin.
Psalm 143 is another of the Psalms simply entitled "A Psalm
of David". And it comes from a time when David was again in
need of God's help and strength because his enemies were again
seeking to harm him. This is another of the penitential
Psalms along with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, and 130. They're
called this because they're Psalms of confession and of
humility.
Psalms, chapter 143. Lord, hear my prayer; listen to my cry for
mercy. Answer me because you are loyal and good. Don’t judge me,
your servant, because no one alive is right before you. My
enemies are chasing me; they crushed me to the ground. They
made me live in darkness like those long dead. I am afraid; my
courage is gone. I remember what happened long ago; I consider
everything you have done. I think about all you have made. I
lift up my hands to you in prayer. As a dry land needs
rain, I thirst for you. Selah. Lord, answer me quickly, because
I am getting weak. Don’t turn away from me, or I will be like
those who are dead. Tell me in the morning about your love,
because I trust you. Show me what I should do, because my
prayers go up to you. Lord, save me from my enemies; I hide in
you. Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God.
Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Lord, let me live
so people will praise you. In your goodness save me from my
troubles. In your love defeat my enemies. Destroy all those who
trouble me, because I am your servant.
Psalm 144 is also entitled "A Psalm of David" and it was
probably written about the time when all the tribes of Israel
acknowledged him as their king.
Psalms chapter 144. Praise the Lord, my Rock, who trains me for
war, who trains me for battle. He protects me like a strong,
walled city, and he loves me. He is my defender and my Savior, my
shield and my protection. He helps me keep my people under
control. Lord, why are people important to you? Why do you
even think about human beings? People are like a breath; their
lives are like passing shadows. Lord, tear open the sky and come
down. Touch the mountains so they will smoke. Send the
lightning and scatter my enemies. Shoot your arrows and
force them away. Reach down from above. Save me and rescue me out
of this sea of enemies, from these foreigners. They are
liars; they are dishonest. God, I will sing a new song to you; I
will play to you on the ten-stringed harp. You give
victory to kings. You save your servant David from cruel swords.
Save me, rescue me from these foreigners. They are liars; they
are dishonest. Let our sons in their youth grow like plants.
Let our daughters be like the decorated stones in the Temple.
Let our barns be filled with crops of all kinds. Let our
sheep in the fields have thousands and tens of thousands
of lambs. Let our cattle be strong. Let no one break in. Let
there be no war, no screams in our streets. Happy are those who
are like this; happy are the people whose God is the Lord.
Psalm 145 is the only Psalm with this title: "A Praise of David."
It's a beautiful Psalm that could only be written after
having lived a life of striving to be a faithful servant of God
through times of great difficulties and great
victories. James Montgomery Boice wrote of this Psalm,
"Psalm 145 is indeed a monumental praise Psalm, a fit
summary of all David had learned about God during a long lifetime
following hard after the Almighty."
Psalms, chapter 145. I praise your greatness, my God the King;
I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you every
day; I will praise you forever and ever. The Lord is great and
worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is.
Parents will tell their children what you have done. They will
retell your mighty acts, wonderful majesty, and glory.
And I will think about your miracles. They will tell about
the amazing things you do, and I will tell how great you are.
They will remember your great goodness and will sing about
your fairness. The Lord is kind and shows mercy. He does not
become angry quickly but is full of love. The Lord is good to
everyone; he is merciful to all he has made. Lord, everything
you have made will praise you; those who belong to you will
bless you. They will tell about the glory of your kingdom and
will speak about your power. Then everyone will know the
mighty things you do and the glory and majesty of your
kingdom. Your kingdom will go on and on, and you will rule
forever. The Lord will keep all his promises; he is loyal to all
he has made. The Lord helps those who have been defeated and
takes care of those who are in trouble. All living things look
to you for food, and you give it to them at the right time. You
open up your hand, and you satisfy all living things.
Everything the Lord does is right. He is loyal to all he has
made. The Lord is close to everyone who prays to him, to
all who truly pray to him. He gives those who respect him what
they want. He listens when they cry, and he saves them. The Lord
protects everyone who loves him, but he will destroy the wicked.
I will praise the Lord. Let everyone praise his holy name
forever.
After reading Psalm 145, I couldn't help but wonder, have
you ever sat down and made a list of all the blessings in
your life, all the good things from your past and from the
present, and even your future? It's a great exercise. Maybe you
feel like there isn't much to put on your list. Maybe life has
been difficult for you. All season long, we've been praying
for my very close friends, Del and Kathi. They've had severe
health problems for decades, literally decades: reoccurring
cancer, multiple sclerosis, cognitive decline, diabetes,
heart attacks, and yet they praise God for their blessings.
They have family that loves them and supports them. They live in
an area that has always been their dream, even though it is a
humble home they have. Their faith is strong. The God that
David praised in this Psalm is their God, and He is as faithful
to them as he was to David. The same God who was with Daniel in
the lion's den is with them. And the same God who forgave the
thief who was on the cross next to Jesus forgives Del and Kathi.
And he forgives me and he forgives you if you've asked him
to forgive you and to be your Savior. Beloved, oh my goodness,
we have so much to be thankful for and to praise God for and I
really like the way David closed this Psalm. He said, "I will
praise the Lord. Let everyone praise his holy name forever."
Praise his name. There's always a reason to praise him. You have
thoughts or questions? Let me hear from you. Send a boostagram
or call the Lifespring Family Hotline or go to the comments
page or write an email. Tomorrow will be Poetry Thursday, and
we'll read Song of Solomon chapters 3 and 4.
I invite your comments or questions. There are several
ways to do that. Send a boostagram using a modern
podcast app or call the Lifespring Family Hotline at
+1-951-732-8511. Or go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com if
you have a praise report or a prayer request. If you have a
comment or question for me go to comment.lifespringmedia.com. Or
send an email to steve@lifespringmedia.com.
The team is made up of Sister Denise who does the transcripts,
Michael Haner who does the chapters, Scott Snider and Jason
Paschall who do the show art and Sister Brittaney who does the
newsletter. Jason Paschall did today's show art. Thank you for
being with me today. Thank you for making me a part of your
day. Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is
Steve Webb. Bye.
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