Day 71: Psalm 71- Which Season Are You In?

Dear Readers,

Psalm 71 is like music to my ears. Maybe it’s because I can relate. Take a moment and read verses 18-23.

¹⁸ Now that I am old and my hair is gray, don’t leave me, God.
    I must tell the next generation about your power and greatness.
¹⁹ God, your goodness reaches far above the skies.
    You have done wonderful things.
    God, there is no one like you.
²⁰ You have let me see troubles and hard times,
    but you will give me new life;
    you will lift me up from this pit of death!
²¹ You will help me do even greater things.
    You will comfort me again!
²² I will play the harp and praise you.
    My God, I will sing about your faithfulness.
I will play songs on my lyre
    for the Holy One of Israel.
²³ I will shout for joy,
    singing songs of praise to you for saving me.

The Psalmist is looking back at his life. He has faced trials and feels like he is in a pit. He knows God will deliver Him. He asks for God’s help to revive them again. He knows he will sing songs again and praise God. He knows the seasons and understands that he is in a winter season. If he knows this, he will not panic!

A wise man and or woman of God discerns which season they are in. Is it summer, winter, spring, or fall? Once one identifies the season, they can then devise a plan of action. The Bible also tells us to be instant in season and out, so just because we might be signing the winter blues, does not mean that we are exempt from doing God’s work!

So what season are you in? What does that mean for you?

Psalm 71 -Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

71 LORD, I depend on you for protection.
    Don’t let me be disappointed.
² You always do what is right, so come and save me.
    Listen to me and save me.
³ Be my Rock, my place of safety.
    Be my fortress, and protect me!
You are my Rock and my protection.
⁴ My God, save me from wicked people.
    Save me from cruel, evil people.
⁵ Lord GOD, you are my hope.
    I have trusted you since I was a young boy.
⁶ I depended on you even before I was born.
    I relied on you even in my mother’s womb.
    I have always prayed to you. ^[a]
7 You are my source of strength,
    so I have been an example to others.
⁸ I am always singing about the wonderful things you do.
⁹ Don’t throw me away just because I am old.
    Don’t leave me as I lose my strength.
¹⁰ My enemies make plans against me.
    They have met together and are making plans to kill me.
¹¹ They say, “Go get him!
    God has left him, so there is no one to help him.”
¹² God, don’t leave me!
    My God, hurry and help me!
¹³ Defeat my enemies.
    Destroy them completely!
They are trying to hurt me.
    Let them suffer shame and disgrace.
¹⁴ Then I will always trust in you
    and praise you more and more.
¹⁵ I will tell people how good you are.
    I will tell about all the times you saved me—
    too many times to count.
¹⁶ I will tell about your greatness, my Lord GOD.
    I will talk only about you and your goodness.
¹⁷ God, you have taught me since I was a young boy.
    And to this day I have told people about the wonderful things you do.
¹⁸ Now that I am old and my hair is gray, don’t leave me, God.
    I must tell the next generation about your power and greatness.
¹⁹ God, your goodness reaches far above the skies.
    You have done wonderful things.
    God, there is no one like you.
²⁰ You have let me see troubles and hard times,
    but you will give me new life;
    you will lift me up from this pit of death!
²¹ You will help me do even greater things.
    You will comfort me again!
²² I will play the harp and praise you.
    My God, I will sing about your faithfulness.
I will play songs on my lyre
    for the Holy One of Israel.
²³ I will shout for joy,
    singing songs of praise to you for saving me.
²⁴ My tongue will sing about your goodness all the time,
    because those who wanted to kill me
    have been defeated and disgraced.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71&version=ERV

 Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!

Day 70: Psalm 70- Is God On Time?

Dear Readers,

David writes Psalm 70 to help people remember. Everyone needs reminding from time-to-time. When we get in a pickle, we can get caught up in what is going on, as well as what others are saying about us or trying to do to us. I remember what is was like going to high school; I hated all of the drama. It made it hard to focus on God sometimes because I felt overwhelmed. And who wants to be teased and called four-eyes all the time?

Verse five is the most important verse in this Psalm because it says “God is my helper….. don’t be too late.” He has put his trust in God. He is hoping beyond hope that God will not be too late. The Bible tells us that our times are in His hands. This means we can trust that God is in control and that He will never be too late. He will be right on time!

Psalm 70 -Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

To the director: A song of David to help people remember.

70 Please, God, rescue me!
    LORD, hurry and help me!
² People are trying to kill me.
    Please disappoint them.
    Humiliate them!
They want to hurt me.
    Make them run away in shame.
³ May those who make fun of me
    be too embarrassed to speak.
⁴ But may those who come to you
    be happy and rejoice.
May those who love being saved by you
    always be able to say, “Praise God!” ^[a]

⁵ I am only a poor, helpless man.
    God, please hurry to me.
You are my helper, the one who can save me.
    LORD, don’t be too late!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+70&version=ERV

Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!

Day 69: Psalm 69- Can You Make Sense of It?

Dear Readers,

Read Psalm 69 twice. What are the key verses? What does God speak to you in this Psalm? We are less than seven days for ending this summer reading Bible challenge. Are you getting better at understanding God’s word?

After you have spent some time reading and praying about these verses, click on the commentary below to check your insights.

http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=19&c=69

Psalm 69 -New International Version (NIV)

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

⁶ Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    may those who hope in you
    not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
    may those who seek you
    not be put to shame because of me.
⁷ For I endure scorn for your sake,
    and shame covers my face.
⁸ I am a foreigner to my own family,
    a stranger to my own mother’s children;
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, 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, 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;
    deliver 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^[b] 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 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
    may your salvation, 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 hooves.
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.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+69&version=NIV

Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!

Day 72: Psalm 72- Should We Pray for Our Leaders?

Dear Readers,

Psalm 72 was either written to King Solomon, by King Solomon, or from a book of songs. This is what some scholars tell us. The following is my perspective on Psalm 72. I think this Psalm is included because it is like a prayer Psalm. It is written to King Solomon (some say). The Bible tells us to pray for our elders and those in authority over us. Why? Our leaders make difficult decision moment after moment. This requires wisdom. We should also pray for our leaders that they stay strong and remain ethical. For this reason, I think this is why it was included in the Psalms.

Can you think about a teacher, leader, president, pastor, parent, or anyone else that comes to mind that you could pray for? Good! Now pray!

Psalm 72 -Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

To Solomon. ^[a]

72 God, help the king be like you and make fair decisions.
    Help the king’s son know what justice is.
² Help the king judge your people fairly.
    Help him make wise decisions for your poor people.
³ Let there be peace and justice throughout the land,
    known on every mountain and hill.
⁴ May the king be fair to the poor.
    May he help the helpless and punish those who hurt them.
⁵ May people always fear and respect you, God,
    as long as the sun shines and the moon is in the sky.
⁶ Help the king be like rain falling on the fields,
    like showers falling on the land.
⁷ Let goodness grow everywhere while he is king.
    Let peace continue as long as there is a moon.
⁸ Let his kingdom grow from sea to sea,
    from the Euphrates River to the faraway places on earth. ^[b]
9 May all the people living in the desert bow down to him.
    May all his enemies bow before him with their faces in the dirt.
¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and all the faraway lands by the sea bring gifts to him.
    May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring their tribute to him.
¹¹ May all kings bow down to our king.
    May all nations serve him.
¹² Our king helps the poor who cry out to him—
    those in need who have no one to help them.
¹³ He feels sorry for all who are weak and poor.
    He protects their lives.
¹⁴ He saves them from the cruel people who try to hurt them.
    Their lives are important to him.
¹⁵ Long live the king!
    Let him receive gold from Sheba.
Always pray for the king.
    Ask God to bless him every day.
¹⁶ May the fields grow plenty of grain
    and the hills be covered with crops.
May the fields be as fertile as Lebanon,
    and may people fill the cities as grass covers a field.
¹⁷ May the king be famous forever.
    May people remember his name as long as the sun shines.
May all nations be blessed through him,
    and may they all bless him.

¹⁸ Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel!
    Only he can do such amazing things.
¹⁹ Praise his glorious name forever!
    Let his glory fill the whole world.
Amen and Amen!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+72&version=ERV

Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!

Day 68: Psalm 68- What Is Impressive About Psalm 68?

Dear Readers,

I am posting from my phone; sorry for the incorrect posting date.

Psalm 68 is a model of praise; it’s a simple but radiant praise, that when read, immediately blesses God, going before Him like incense.  I think this is a Psalm that everyone should have marked with a post-it for those I don’t know what to say, think, or pray at moments. Thank you David for this impressive song of praise!

Psalm 68 -Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

To the director: A praise song of David.

1 God, get up and scatter your enemies!
    May all your enemies run from you.
² May your enemies be scattered
    like smoke blown away by the wind.
May your enemies be destroyed
    like wax melting in a fire.
³ But let good people be happy.
    Let them gather before God and enjoy themselves together.
⁴ Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!
    Prepare the way for the one who rides on the clouds.
His name is YAH. ^[a]
    Worship before him with joy.
⁵ God, who lives in his holy palace, is a father to orphans,
    and he takes care of widows.
⁶ God provides homes for those who are lonely.
    He frees people from prison and makes them happy.
    But those who turn against him will live in the desert.

⁷ God, you led your people out of Egypt.
    You marched across the desert.
Selah
⁸ The ground shook and rain poured from the sky
    when God, the God of Israel, came to Sinai.
⁹ God, you sent the rain
    to make a tired, old land strong again.
¹⁰ Your people ^[b] came back to live there,
    and you provided good things for the poor.
¹¹ My Lord gave the command,
    and many people went to tell the good news:
¹² “The armies of powerful kings ran away!
    At home, the women divide the things brought from the battle.
¹³ Those who stayed home will share in the wealth—
    metal doves with wings covered in silver and feathers sparkling with gold.”

¹⁴ God All-Powerful scattered the kings
    like snow falling on Mount Zalmon.
¹⁵ Mount Bashan is a great mountain
    with many high peaks.
¹⁶ But, Bashan, why are you jealous of Mount Zion?
    That is where God has chosen to live.
    The LORD will live there forever.
¹⁷ With his millions of chariots,
    the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
¹⁸ You went up to your high place,
    leading a parade of captives.
You received gifts from people, ^[c]
    even those who turned against you.
    The LORD God went up there to live.
¹⁹ Praise the Lord!
    Every day he helps us with the loads we must carry.
    He is the God who saves us.
Selah

²⁰ He is our God, the God who saves us.
    My Lord GOD saves us from death.
²¹ God will smash the heads of his enemies.
    He will punish those who fight against him. ^[d]
22 My Lord said, “If they run up to Bashan or down to the depths of the sea,
    I will bring them back.
²³ So you will march through pools of their blood,
    and there will be plenty left for your dogs.”

²⁴ God, everyone can see your victory parade—
    the victory march of my God and King into his holy place! ^[e]
25 Singers come marching in front, followed by the musicians;
    they are surrounded by young girls playing tambourines.
²⁶ Praise God in the meeting place. ^[f]
    Praise the LORD, people of Israel!
²⁷ There is the smallest tribe, Benjamin, leading them.
    And there comes a large group of leaders from Judah.
    Following them are the leaders of Zebulun and Naphtali.

²⁸ God, show us your power!
    Show us the power you used for us in the past.
²⁹ Kings will bring their wealth to you,
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
³⁰ Punish the people in Egypt.
    They are like cattle in the marshes, like bulls among the calves.
You humiliated them.
    You scattered them in war.
Now let them come crawling to you,
    bringing their pieces of silver.
³¹ Messengers from Egypt will come bearing gifts.
    Ethiopia will offer God their tribute.
³² Kings on earth, sing to God!
    Sing songs of praise to our Lord!
Selah

³³ Sing to him who rides his chariot through the ancient skies.
    Listen to his powerful voice!
³⁴ Tell everyone how powerful he is!
    He rules over Israel.
    His power fills the skies.
³⁵ God, you are awesome in your Temple!
    The God of Israel is the one who gives strength and power to his people.

Praise God!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68&version=ERV

Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!

Day 67: Psalm 67- Does God Smile Upon You?

Dear Readers,

Psalm 67 is a song of praise, but reads like a prayer too.  It extends out to the corners of the earth spreading hope to all who love and worship God! It is a prayer for all humanity.

I love verse one because it is asking that God’s face would smile on us and favor us. Isn’t that what we all want? I want God to look down from heaven and smile because He is proud of me. I hope for God’s favor because I have caught the glimpse of His gaze. But I also want Him to look down at the earth that He has saved and see His glory and splendor. I hope that He will bless us because we have made Him smile, and  I desire for there to be a great harvest soon.

When God looks down from heaven, do you think He smiles at you?  Why, or why not?

Psalm 67 -New Living Translation (NLT)

For the choir director: A song. A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.

¹ May God be merciful and bless us.
    May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude

² May your ways be known throughout the earth,
    your saving power among people everywhere.
³ May the nations praise you, O God.
    Yes, may all the nations praise you.
⁴ Let the whole world sing for joy,
    because you govern the nations with justice
    and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude

⁵ May the nations praise you, O God.
    Yes, may all the nations praise you.
⁶ Then the earth will yield its harvests,
    and God, our God, will richly bless us.
⁷ Yes, God will bless us,
    and people all over the world will fear him.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2067&version=NLT

Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!

Day 66:Psalm 66- What Does It Mean to Make Your Praise Glorious??

Dear Readers,

Psalm 66:1 tells us to “shout for joy to God…”, to “sing the glory of his name, and to “make his praise glorious”! Verses 2-20 are an example of how to do this. You may be reading this and saying to yourself, “what does it mean to sing the glory of his name and to make his praise glorious”

Webster’s Dictionary.com  writes that glory means “(1) very great praise, honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown: to win glory on the field of battle, (2) something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; a distinguished ornament or an object of pride: a sonnet that is one of the glories of English poetry.  (3) adoring praise or worshipful thanksgiving: Give glory to God, (4) resplendent beauty or magnificence: the glory of autumn.  (5). a state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity. Thus, when we sing the glory of His name, we are singing about all of the wonderful things that have been accomplished through God’s name. If I report about one or more of these things, that means I am giving glory to God’s name.  If I add an “ious” to the word glory, it means to full of or have the quality of. This means that I am going to make sure that my praise shimmers, that it is set apart and higher than any other praise, and that it magnifies God greatly. 

In short, this praise and glory is more magnificent than a classical musical concert, more splendid than a playoff game’s cheering crowd, and more superb than the beauty of a wedding or engagement ring. It’s over the top adoration that illuminates the resplendentness of God.

Psalm 66 -New International Version (NIV)

¹ Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
²     Sing the glory of his name;
    make his praise glorious.
³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power
    that your enemies cringe before you.
⁴ All the earth bows down to you;
    they sing praise to you,
    they sing the praises of your name.”^[a]

⁵ Come and see what God has done,
    his awesome deeds for mankind!
⁶ He turned the sea into dry land,
    they passed through the waters on foot—
    come, let us rejoice in him.
⁷ He rules forever by his power,
    his eyes watch the nations—
    let not the rebellious rise up against him.

⁸ Praise our God, all peoples,
    let the sound of his praise be heard;
⁹ he has preserved our lives
    and kept our feet from slipping.
¹⁰ For you, God, tested us;
    you refined us like silver.
¹¹ You brought us into prison
    and laid burdens on our backs.
¹² You let people ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and water,
    but you brought us to a place of abundance.

¹³ I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
    and fulfill my vows to you—
¹⁴ vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
    when I was in trouble.
¹⁵ I will sacrifice fat animals to you
    and an offering of rams;
    I will offer bulls and goats.

¹⁶ Come and hear, all you who fear God;
    let me tell you what he has done for me.
¹⁷ I cried out to him with my mouth;
    his praise was on my tongue.
¹⁸ If I had cherished sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened;
¹⁹ but God has surely listened
    and has heard my prayer.
²⁰ Praise be to God,
    who has not rejected my prayer
    or withheld his love from me!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+66&version=NIV

Please take time to reflect about this Psalm. What is God speaking to you?  Feel free to email me @ illyguana@hotmail.com with any questions or concerns. You can also send me a message in FB to Illy Reich (Frontline-student Ministries)!