Day 10: Psalms 28-30

Psalm 28

1	O LORD, I call to you; my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; *     lest, if you do not hear me,     I become like those who go down to the Pit.
2	Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, *     when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
3	Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the                               evildoers, *     who speak peaceably with their neighbors,     while strife is in their hearts.
4	Repay them according to their deeds, *     and according to the wickedness of their actions.
5	According to the work of their hands repay them, *     and give them their just deserts.
6	They have no understanding of the LORD'S doings, nor of the works of his hands; *     therefore he will break them down and not                                build them up.
7	Blessed is the LORD! *     for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
8	The LORD is my strength and my shield; *     my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped;
9	Therefore my heart dances for joy, *     and in my song will I praise him.

10	The LORD is the strength of his people, *     a safe refuge for his anointed.
11	Save your people and bless your inheritance; *     shepherd them and carry them for ever. I am intrigued by this verse "The LORD is the strength of his people…"  Does that mean God gets his strength from his people?  Or that the people get their strength from God?   I want it to mean God gets his strength from his people. Psalm 29 1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *     worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; *     the LORD is upon the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *     the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor. 5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *     the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon; 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *     and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire; the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *     the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *     and strips the forests bare. 9 And in the temple of the LORD *     all are crying, "Glory!" 10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *     the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore. 11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; *     the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace. "Ascribe to the LORD, you gods."  What "gods" is the psalmist referring to? In verse 6, we read "He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox."  What a pleasant coincidence.  I am at the Mount Hermon retreat center for a women's retreat this weekend.  I'm not sure I want to skip like a young wild ox. Psalm 30 1 I will exalt you, O LORD, because you have lifted me up *     and have not let my enemies triumph over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *     and you restored me to health. 3 You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *     you restored my life as I was going down to the grave. 4 Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *     give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *     his favor for a lifetime. 6 Weeping may spend the night, *     but joy comes in the morning. 7 While I felt secure, I said, "I shall never be disturbed. *     You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as                               the mountains." 8 Then you hid your face, *     and I was filled with fear. 9 I cried to you, O LORD; *     I pleaded with the Lord, saying, 10 "What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *     will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness? 11 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; *     O LORD, be my helper." 12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; *     you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy. 13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *     O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever. The psalmist thanks God for saving him from enemies.  Verse 6 I have heard many times.  "Weeping may spend the night, but joy comes in the morning."  Everything is better after a good night's sleep.  I like the translation from The Voice:  "The deepest pains may linger through the night, buy joy greets the soul with the smile of morning." That tells my my pain may still be there and is not forgotten, but joy is available when I am ready.