Psalm 88 Hello Darkness my old friend

Psalm 88

This is not a particularly happy Psalm - hence the quote from a popular song lyric in the title!

Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. 

May my prayer come before you

Turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.

Effectively the author of the Psalm feels at, if not literally his life's end, the end of his strength.

It is interesting some of the questions here - there is no particular belief here in the afterlife.

There are branches of Christianity that seem to preach that it will all turn out right in heaven - I personally don't know for sure if there is an afterlife.

I live life, believing by faith in an afterlife - but just in case I am wrong I would like to leave this world better than I found it.

I believe in eternity - but it starts here and now. 

God help me not to put off doing the good I can do today.

Before I go. 

I had a notice from Google about cookies that will appear on my blog page.

Cookies are embedded in the website from Google, They are used to provide analytics. I can see how people find the blog and what country they are in, which browser and Operating system they use - If I choose to access the information (which sometimes I do out of interest). I get no information that identifies you personally.

If you are in the EU Google notifies you of these cookies.

If you are outside the EU Google does not have to inform you - but they do use cookies.

1. Definition of:cookie. cookie. A small text file (up to 4KB) created by aWeb site that is stored in the user's computer either temporarily for that session only or permanently on the hard disk (persistent cookie).Cookies provide a way for the Web site to recognize you and keep track of your preferences.

cookie Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia

www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/40334/cookie

Psalm 87 Glorious things of thee are spoken

Psalm 87

This is a Psalm of the sons of Korah - it seems to be in praise of Jerusalem, though seen through either rose tinted glasses or from a spiritual realm.

Have you ever read the Narnia books by CS Lewis? I first read them when I was young and still love them. In the final book, the last battle the characters are forced through a stable door to discover the land of Narnia on the other side- but a more perfect Narnia with all the characters from the earlier books.
Aslan (the metaphor for Jesus) tells them  that they are in heaven where no good thing is ever lost and invites all the people to come "further up and further in" to the great adventure that is heaven.

Even on the earthly plane that we inhabit, Jerusalem is a unique city - it is holy in 3 of the worlds major religions, the psalm records Rahab and Babylon, the lands of the Philistines, Tyre and Cush as places and people who acknowledge God.

It is interesting that Jesus was not actually born in Jerusalem - and wept over Jerusalem as he entered for the last time.

I find it hard to get enthusiastic about cities.
I don't feel any more British having been born in the Capital city than my brother who was born in Hastings.... 

In the scheme of things I guess it is where God is present that makes a place special - that can be a bustling city, but just as easily a remote hermitage. 

Psalm 86 A poor and needy prayer

Psalm 86

I thought that the Psalms of David were finished some time ago - yet here we have a new Psalm attributed to David.

The Psalm starts with David asking God to hear him and answer him, guard his life as he is faithful.

God is unique to David as he is the only god that actually answers him

David Prays in the Psalm "Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness.
Give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.

I will glorify your name forever, for great is your love toward me.

Changing the subject - Today in the news it seems that probably portions of the oldest Koran in the world has been discovered in a collection of books donated by the Christian philanthropist (and chocolate maker)  Mr Cadbury who wanted to encourage Birmingham as a centre of religious studies - even if the religion is not one that was shared, Cadbury wanted to encourage the search for God from whatever source.

Psalm 85 The goodness of God

Psalm 85

You, LORD showed favour to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered al their sins.
You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fuerce anger.

Some of the last few psalms have been asking why God is so angry with Israel and mourning the destruction of the nation.

In verses 4-7 the same questions are being asked,God still appears to be angry with his people.

I will listen to what God the LORD says; He promises peace to his people, his faithless servants - but let them no turn to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him that his Glory may dwell in our land.

The Psalm finishes with an image of the land where God dwells .

Love and faithfulness meet together; Righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth and Righteousness looks down from heaven.

The Lord will indeed give what is good and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 84 Chez God

Psalm 84

This is a psalm of the Sons of Korah - According to Gittith the introduction says.

My most precious and amazing memories are of times when I found myself in the welcoming presence of God, spending time in the presence and house of God is truly amazing.
The Psalmist agrees with me here - listen

How lovely is you dwelling place, LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD, my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Birds of the air make their nests in the temple, close to the alter - and the writer is a bit jealous as it seems!
Interesting that Jesus said "Birds have their nests, foxes their dens, but I have nowhere" the temple in Jerusalem was the most holy place on the planet, but the son of God did not live there!

Those who live in the house of God are blessed - forever praising God their strength.

Blessed are  those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

In my time I have been on pilgrimage 3 times on a particular pilgrimage - I decided a really good description of a pilgrimage is a physical journey through spiritual realms and to a spiritual destination.

The feeling of joy and thanksgiving I had when we arrived at the slipper chapel at Walsingham was very profound.

The Psalmist says that one day with God is better than a thousand days anywhere else, and the doorkeeper of the house of God is better off than living in the luxury of the wicked.
For the Lord is a sun and a shield, bestowing favour and honour.

Psalm 83 When God is deaf and silent

Psalm 83

This is another Psalm of Asaph.

I'm honestly not sure about this particular Psalm - let's have a look and I'll try and explain

O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads, with cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.

Here is the bit I find a bit difficult - I don't believe that my enemies are necessarily the automatic enemies of God as is suggested in this psalm.

The Psalm goes on to suggest to God carries out certain punishments and retributions against his enemies, again I don't suggest that this is up to us.

I guess I can agree with the last verse - Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD - that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalm 82 Judging the "gods"

Psalm 82

This is another Psalm of Asaph.

The Psalm starts with God in judgement, presiding in the great assembly rendering judgement among the "gods"

How long will you (the Hebrew is plural) defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?

The judgement of God is to to defend the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 
Rescue the weak and the needy and to deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

The "gods" know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk aboiut in darkness, all foundations of the earth are shaken.

The Bible seems to have little understanding of the concept of polytheism - so far the Bible seems to have a real downer on worshipping other gods.

"I said "you are gods, you are all sons of the Most High"
"But you will die like mere mortals, you will fall like every other ruler"

Rise up, O god, judge the earth for all the nations are your inheritance.


So, what do I think about this psalm? God is the judge of the world - I believe that, to quote Abraham "Surely the Judge of the earth will do right?" 

I think that Abraham is quite right - God will do the right thing and he will judge everybody on earth one day, and he will be fair.

I believe in a Just and Holy God who will judge all people fairly - if you do not believe in God, that's up to you, one thing though, if God does exist - he believes in YOU!

The rest I leave for you to ponder....

Psalm 81 Sing for Joy!

Psalm 81

There is  a recurring theme in the Bible, not in every chapter but quite often - Rejoice

This psalm starts off with the injunction "Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre. Sound the trumpet....

In other words "Strike up the band"!
I bought the trumpet in as in the version of the Bible I have with me it talks about sounding the ram's horns at the regular lunar festivals, but as a trombonist I thought it deserves including in with the "lesser" stringed, woodwind and percussion instruments!

The Psalm mentions that the full moon and new moon festivals were a command from God.

"I heard an unknown voice say - I removed the burden from their shoulders, their hands were set free from the basket.
In your (Emphasis is mine) distress you called and I rescued you"

Interesting change of tense here - God removed Their burden, but when you called out I rescued YOU.

Interesting I think here that God cares to listen to and rescue "you"

I'm writing this from a hotel room in Shanghai, China, and during this trip I noticed a couple of things - I have sold a lot of my information to Google in return for a lot of things including e-mail, this blog is hosted by Google and you tube (my channel is the Eccentric Milliner if you have not seen it!) - but Google are not in China - getting my e-mail and so much I take for granted is a real pain! (I'm using a VPN to access this site)
One thing I also noticed - prayer works here just as well as it does when I can freely access Google, and no VPN is needed to talk to God!

The psalm continues with a plea, if you would only listen and hear me, my people, don't go chasing other gods.

I am the LORD your God who bought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

There is another theme that occurs here as well as several other places - 
"If my people would only listen to me, would only follow my ways....."
You would be fed with the finest of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Psalm 80 The Shepherd of Israel

Psalm 80

This is another Psalm of Asaph - this is to the tune of "The Lillies of the Covenant" 

Following on I think in theme from Psalm 79 where God is angry with Israel, this Psalm is looking back into the history of Israel.

God is described as the Shepherd of Israel.

However God has allowed Israel to be invaded by enemies and the flock of God has been scattered.

The Psalm ends with 

Return to us, God Almighty!

Look down from heaven and see!

Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised for yourself.

Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; 

Revive us and we will call on your name. Restore us LORD God Almighty; 

Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.