Is. 4: The Branch of the LORD

Isaiah 4:5 "Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy."

Continuing on this theme of dirty women, it seems like seven of them (large numbers) will confront one man and demand that he make them legitimate...I suppose to give them children. Seems like not a bad deal if you were a man, except you'd be furthering yourself (and the women) from God, and intensifying God's anger. Bad times.

I think the branch of the LORD is his protection over those who chose to keep the covenant with Him. Can you imagine how hard it must have been while the rest of their society crumbled? You would begin to wonder what the point was. Why bother following God if it doesn't matter? But the message here is that they will be protected. They will survive this trial by fire, this scrubbing clean of the filth that encrusted Israel like dust and hair on a hot dog that fell behind the refrigerator 8 and a half months ago. He'll clean up, and he will bring back that pillar of fire and clouds that he used to lead Israel through the promised land. And he will protect his people again.

Smile!

Ps. 127: Ascent for Children

Psalm 127:5 "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

There are a couple of great truths here in the 127th Psalm. I imagine David writing this Psalm while thinking of his son, Solomon.

I don't want to skip over verse one's idea that unless the LORD builds the house, the labor is in vain, and without God's protection, the watchmen are in vain. Good to know, and I hope that the LORD is building my "house." I suppose you can have all the money and the land and a gigantic fortress of a house, but unless God is watching over it, it can never be completely impregnable. It could fall easily without his guard.

I guess the latter half of the chapter could be construed as a command from God to have a lot of kids. I guess I don't see it that way. IF one has a lot of kids, its a blessing from God, not an overwhelming burden. At least, that should be the opinion. Maybe Israel was at the point where they needed a lot of manpower, and the more a man had, the more he could contribute to the defense and protection of Israel.

Ps. 23: The LORD is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

This Psalm is probably the most iconic, or the most famous at least. I remember as lad having to memorize the entire chapter as part of Awana curriculum. Through no fault of Awana's I never really gave much thought to what the words meant. Or the context. Or what the author went through that led to this writing. It was a bunch of nice sounding words that you could sing.

So what makes this one so great? On the surface, it is very encouraging and empowering. It is the answer to the question, "So what happens when I choose to follow God? What are the things God will do in my life?"

The answers are very simple, and short, making them conducive to teaching the very young about God. 

When I think about a shepherd, I think about how closely he guards his sheep. A shepherd's sheep are his life. His business. What keeps him going. Can we think of ourselves as that critically important to God? Of course God wouldn't die without us, but the 23rd Psalm makes me think we are very important to Him. He is who provides for us.

Green pastures, still waters...pretty idyllic. Away from the distractions, the danger, the sparseness, the desert. I can't think of a better place for a person to restore his soul. Maybe a cobbler.

Verse 3 says "he guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." I never really grasped what that meant. The words were a jumble. But I think the concept is that we reflect him in our deeds. In our righteousness, we show God to others. But God is righteous, and what other path would he guide us on? That's who he is. 

God is protective of us, his children. We can take comfort that he will be our protector. And sometimes he has to use weapons. I don't think the rod and the staff were exclusively to keep us on a certain path. Likely he swung them at predators, bringing the pain train.

I love verse 6. Goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life! Who doesn't want that? It doesn't say "happiness and ease," so I don't want to get that impression. Life is hard, and even David had that revealed to him in sometimes heartbreaking ways. But we can count on God's goodness and His love to bring us through the tough times that set upon us.

Psalm 23 reminds me of:

23 by Deliverance

You Never Let Go by Matt Redman

The Lord is My Shepherd by Keith Green

Ps. 9: Terror for the Enemy

Psalm 9:16 "The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands."

David spent a lot of time at war with his enemies. Wars that were commanded by God to eradicate squatters in Israel's promised land. In spite of this command by God, and His blessings on military action, David still had fear. In spite of this fear, even more incredibly, David found time to praise God for the wonders He has done. David had this amazing realization that God's power and glory did not cease to be real in times where we think He may be distant. To praise God in time of trouble is a hard thing to grasp, especially when all you may be thinking about is taking your next breath. But in David's mind, God didn't stop being awesome or worthy of his praise.

The ninth Psalm paints a rather hopeless picture for those who refuse to turn to God, those who are wicked. They will be ruined, forgotten and destroyed with a vengeance. However, the righteous, those who praise God and walk in His covenant will be protected and blessed and provided for. 

David appears to see God as his avenger of blood, a concept spoken of in Numbers 35. Someone who would avenge a murdered family member. That is a snapshot of the closeness David felt with God. That God would avenge David if anyone took his life. And its likely refuge cities would not apply.

Ps. 2: The Chosen King

Psalm 2:12 "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

David, the author of the Psalms appears to be describing what was happening around him, as the other nations plotted against him and Israel. So confident, so faithful in God is David that he knows these conspiracies are in vain. As long as David sticks close to God, and doesn't turn to the left or to the right, God's hand of blessing and protection will be over the land. That was the specific promise made to the kings.

With this truth in mind, David can put trust in what God has promised him. That David is THE king. Whatever comes up against him, God can scoff at, as a father laughs at a toddler who thinks he can eat more than his dad. Or something like that. It's not a scornful scoff. It's one of, "OK, we'll see." Because these nations don't have any knowledge or sense of what God is fully capable, and can do through a person who holds to their faith.

The second Psalm is sort of a way of telling these other nations to pump their brakes, because they better recognize who Israel is, the God she serves, and how terribly praiseworthy God's wrath and justice can be.