Psalm 74 - Friday

A maskil of Asaph. [a]

1 Why have you rejected us forever, O God?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember the people you purchased of old,
the tribe of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.

3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs.

5 They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.

6 They smashed all the carved paneling
with their axes and hatchets.

7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.

8 They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!"
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9 We are given no miraculous signs;
no prophets are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.

10 How long will the enemy mock you, O God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

12 But you, O God, are my king from of old;
you bring salvation upon the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.

14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.

15 It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever flowing rivers.

16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.

17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD,
how foolish people have reviled your name.

19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

20 Have regard for your covenant,
because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.

23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

Eunice: The psalm reminded me.. to continue to hv faith, even when things dont go right, to continue to believe, even when God seems silent. God allowed certain things to happen, yet, he seemed so distant, not cos he is not there, but cos, he wants us to continue to be faithful, to hold on and believe that He is still in control, He is still at work! God, teach me to always remain faithful to you. at times when you seem silent, God, may this be a time when I will learn to draw even nearer to your heart, be still and know that you are my God, and you are carrying me through it. Amen!

Huijuan: Learn to be still before God.

Dellia: The Lord can do more than I can imagine, therefore, let me be still and know that He is in control.

Psalm 73

Psalm 73
BOOK III : Psalms 73-89
1A psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. [a]
5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity [b] ; he evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; n their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. [c]
11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like— always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Chin Ling: Its true. So often, I have to battle between my ambitious dreams and desires with the Lord's mission and will in my life. All these ambitious dreams and desires that overwhelms me always fall into perspective and does not feel as important anymore when I come before the Lord (V16-17). I want to keep it clear and right that in my life, God will be my strength. In him, things will not and cannot go wrong. I will turn my eyes upon Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangly dim in the light of his glory and grace.

Aileen: I always struggle at work because i see so many unethical practices taking place and when i see the school politics at work, i often shake my head in disbelief. The thing is i'm really reminded that God is my strength and that he is a righteous God and I belief that when i set my eternity on him, everything else is just temporal. so.. vindicate me lord! haha

Sara: Surely the Lord has been good to me, and yet, I have almost slipped and lost my foothold many times, for I envied the arrogant when i saw the prosperity of their ways and desired the same for myself. But the Lord shall be my staff and my strength, and the path that I shall choose will be the one that He has chosen for me. Let not my desires and impatience get the better of me, and hinder the Lord from doing His work in my life. And indeed, it is truly good to be near the Lord, for He keeps me from yielding to temptation and from going my own way. Thank you Lord, let me stay near you all the days of my Life!

Crow: I find this psalm so honest and true... So many times i so easily lose my footing and almost slip, but the Lord is so so good and merciful.. In verse 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Indeed so many times my heart and my flesh fail... I pray that God will always be the strength of my heart and my portion forever.. Yup dear Lord please be the strength of my heart!!!!

Dellia: keep my heart pure Lord, that I will always do what is right and believe in it!

Psalm 72

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God,
the royal son with your righteousness.

2 He will ^[a] judge your people in righteousness,
your afflicted ones with justice.

3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people,
the hills the fruit of righteousness.

4 He will defend the afflicted among the people
and save the children of the needy;
he will crush the oppressor.

5 He will endure ^[b] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon, through all generations.

6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.

7 In his days the righteous will flourish;
prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.

8 He will rule from sea to sea
and from the River ^[c] to the ends of the earth. ^[d]

9 The desert tribes will bow before him
and his enemies will lick the dust.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores
will bring tribute to him;
the kings of Sheba and Seba
will present him gifts.

11 All kings will bow down to him
and all nations will serve him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.

13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.

14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
May gold from Sheba be given him.
May people ever pray for him
and bless him all day long.

16 Let grain abound throughout the land;
on the tops of the hills may it sway.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon;
let it thrive like the grass of the field.

17 May his name endure forever;
may it continue as long as the sun.
All nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does marvelous deeds.

19 Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Chin Ling: The last prayer that David made, was for his son, Soloman. And, I pray that I'll also become the person that David prayed in this prayer, this sort of leader. And, I want to pray the same prayer for my people. Amen.

Pam: This is a very very apt Pslam for me... so comforting n so much promises to claim.. And I want to claim v12-13 esp. v12.. The Lord will deliver me... the Lord is a victorious God and I will rest in His truth! Thank you God for your gentleness.

Eunice: Even as I am preparing for QQS, I want to be the one who is going out to bless the nations, and indeed, I am very very excited about it. WE, are goin out to bless, and may those who go out, be blessed as well. All glory to Lord

Aileen: I think my prayer today is really to ask God to bless my department that we'll bring in more students and that they'll learn good english here. So that we can bless the lord's name. amen

Huijuan: The prayer of David really reflects his heart for his son. I pray that as my ppl rise up, they will inherit the characteristcs in today's prayer.

Sara: Again, this psalm speaks of hope to me. I was reading a book which talks about the life of a boy who saw his country going through phases of war, and from riches to rags, from a life of comfort to suffering. As I read this, I felt that the Lord's glory is indeed upon our nation, and upon us people, who are so richly blessed, and never to have to go through such poverty and suffering. I thank God for what He has blessed us with... and I pray this for all other nations, that they too will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed.

Crow: Today the Lord says to me that as i serve the needy children together with the other coaches and volunteers, He will give supernatural favour and will pave the way for us. Today we had an outdoor event for the children and my school was really quite a mess.. So difficult even to gather them together... But i thank God that on the bus ride back to the school, the Lord blessed with favour to be able to gear them towards the future sessions, even as we talked to them about their misbehaving.. it ended well. I praise God and commit all future sessions to Him. Well, i learn that i am incompetent, yet the Lord's favour is upon me. PRaise the Lord!

Dellia: Indeed, the Lord's heart is with the weak and the meek and He will help and deliver them.

Psalm 71 - Tuesday

Psalm 71

1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.

3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of evil and cruel men.

5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.

6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.

7 I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.

8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.

11 They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."

12 Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.

13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14 But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.

16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

17 Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.

19 Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?

20 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.

21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.

22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.

24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

Chin Ling : Jesus taught me how to turn my complaints into praises. He showed me that the reason why David was so close to God's heart because he watched his tongue and only sang praise instead of complaints when in need or pain. He remembers the good things that God has done and placed his hope in God and his track records. So, in place of that, I just want to praise and tell of his righteous acts!

Aileen: I'm trusting the lord in his righteousness and that his name will be honoured in my workplace!

Sara: This psalm speaks of hope to me! And i'm learning to put my hope in the Lord, for every detail of my life, for when i am old and grey, I want to be able to praise Him and to speak of the hope He has given me, His love and blessings in my life, to the next generation, and after!

Crow: The word for me is hope too! Just to share, last week was quite a bad week for me at work! things that happened made me lose focus and all, but as i began this week with the Lord, he has indeed renewed my hope and strength. I am reminded of the verse "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Indeed Lord help me to focus back to YOU, to hope in you cuz all who hope in you will not be disappointed too... U have the perfect plan! thank u Lord

Huijuan: Iwas just reminded of my purpose in serving God, sometimes i serve until i find no reason, find no hope, jus wana hide in my small corner and be happy. But God reminded me that i will proclaim of His goodness to the next generation. How the next generation know and experience God really depends on us. God, help me to always hope in u!

Dellia: I'm reminded that the Lord is watching over me and I can rest in Him. He knows me since I'm form and He can be my guide throughout! thank you Lord

Psalm 70

Psalm 70
For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

1 Hasten, O God, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.

2 May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

3 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.

4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

5 Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.

Chin Ling: Dear Lord, Jesus, I am giving this day over to you. That you'll be my provider, rescuer and all things even at the beginning of this new week. What can stand against you and the praises of your people? Absolutely nothing and so, I will give praise to you for you are God of all my days!

Dellia: Be glad and rejoice cos V4 says that those of us who seek the Lord will always rejoice and be glad! Lord, I wanna exalt Your name! Let me always sing Your praise and boldly proclaim Your salvation!

Eunice: Dear Jesus. Help me! to those who have hurt me in one way or another, Lord, i release forgiveness. God, i know you are my help and deliverer. Strengthen my heart, i renew my strength in you.

Pam: Dear Lord, I want to be glad n be able to rejoice just simply cos I m your child...!

Aileen: I choose to rejoice and be glad cause i know he will fulfill my needs

Sara: I want to exalt God in all circumstances too! And I thank God for the enriching experience we had yesterday when we were brought to our feet to start our 1 hr long prayer. I could hear groans and grunts all around, and I didn’t want to respond the same way, even though my heart agreed with the rest. It was of reluctance to get up from my seat, from my morning stoning, from my snacking on sweets to keep awake, somewhat like getting up from my comfort zone. But I knew that was exactly what we needed. As Pastor Khong shared, that if we couldn’t do so previously, then now's the best time to start doing so! I realised that the 1 hr passed so quickly and before long, we had already prayed for more than an hr! I learnt that no one likes discipline, but it is necessary for us to grow. And because we had people around to spur and encourage one another to press on, it was more bearable than doing it alone! May this 1 hr prayer be pleasing in His sight!

Crow: Dear Lord, help me to enlarge my vision beyond myself to the world around me, to choose to see things in your perspective, through your eyes. Dear Lord, I know that u forever will be my true help and deliverer, and u will not delay.. Thank u Lord. Help me dear Lord to exalt u above all...

Psalm 69 - Sunday

Psalm 69

For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of David.

1 Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.

2 I sink in the miry depths,
where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters;
the floods engulf me.

3 I am worn out calling for help;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail,
looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me without reason
outnumber the hairs of my head;
many are my enemies without cause,
those who seek to destroy me.
I am forced to restore
what I did not steal.

5 You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.

6 May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel.

7 For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.

8 I am a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons;

9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;

11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.

12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But I pray to you, O LORD,
in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
answer me with your sure salvation.

14 Rescue me from the mire,
do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
from the deep waters.

15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
or the depths swallow me up
or the pit close its mouth over me.

16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love;
in your great mercy turn to me.

17 Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.

18 Come near and rescue me;
redeem me because of my foes.

19 You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
all my enemies are before you.

20 Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I found none.

21 They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

22 May the table set before them become a snare;
may it become retribution and ^[a] a trap.

23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever.

24 Pour out your wrath on them;
let your fierce anger overtake them.

25 May their place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute those you wound
and talk about the pain of those you hurt.

27 Charge them with crime upon crime;
do not let them share in your salvation.

28 May they be blotted out of the book of life
and not be listed with the righteous.

29 I am in pain and distress;
may your salvation, O God, protect me.

30 I will praise God's name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.

31 This will please the LORD more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

32 The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!

33 The LORD hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,

35 for God will save Zion
and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;

36 the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there.

Chin Ling : I will bless you at all times because I know in your good time, you cause all things to happen! :)

Dellia: I'm reminded that the Lord will always deliver and safe us! But we must not take God's grace for granted.

Crow: Dear Lord, help me not to lament like the first parts of the psalm, and spend time moaning and groaning about things, but instead help me to let my first reaction be to submit it all to u in prayer. Help me Lord to be more thankful and give u praise.. Ah, Lord i need ur help!!

psalm 68 - Saturday

Psalm 68

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. A song.

1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.

2 As smoke is blown away by the wind,
may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.

3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.

4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds ^[a]—
his name is the LORD—
and rejoice before him.

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.

6 God sets the lonely in families, ^[b]
he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

7 When you went out before your people, O God,
when you marched through the wasteland,
Selah

8 the earth shook,
the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.

9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.

10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.

11 The Lord announced the word,
and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:

12 "Kings and armies flee in haste;
in the camps men divide the plunder.

13 Even while you sleep among the campfires, ^[c]
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold."

14 When the Almighty ^[d] scattered the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.

15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains;
rugged are the mountains of Bashan.

16 Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the LORD himself will dwell forever?

17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.

18 When you ascended on high,
you led captives in your train;
you received gifts from men,
even from ^[e] the rebellious—
that you, ^[f] O LORD God, might dwell there.

19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Selah

20 Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.

21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.

22 The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,

23 that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes,
while the tongues of your dogs have their share."

24 Your procession has come into view, O God,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.

25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the maidens playing tambourines.

26 Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.

27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
there the great throng of Judah's princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

28 Summon your power, O God ^[g] ;
show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.

29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.

30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may it bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations who delight in war.

31 Envoys will come from Egypt;
Cush ^[h] will submit herself to God.

32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord,
Selah

33 to him who rides the ancient skies above,
who thunders with mighty voice.

34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the skies.

35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!

Chin Ling : GOD IS SO POWERFUL AND GOOD! after reading the psalm, i just want to respond to all his goodness and greatness and majesty!

Crow: Thank u dear Lord, for being my best friend and for daily carrying my burdens.. Lord help me to solely depend on u! :)

Dellia: V5-6 reminds me that I must always remember the weak and the poor and do just like what the Lord does....