No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.



Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Some things that you want to do, like take revenge, is not for you to do. It's God's job to repay, and just becuz he doesn't do it on your perfect timing, doesn't mean he won't do it. The same goes for exalting people. Because, no matter what you say itt's not going to matter anyway.

psalm 116 - a thankgiving psalm

The psalms are narrowed down to three main subjects:
1. Lament
2. Praise
3. Thanksgiving
I've focused a lot on Praise and Lament psalms but right now I want to focus on Thankgiving Psalms.  A Thankgiving Psalm has four characteristics:
1. The call for praise
2. Problem
3. Solution
4. Praise
Now, the 4 characteristics go in the order given. Let's look at psalm 116 for an example:

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came upon me;

I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :

"O LORD, save me!"

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the LORD

in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore I said,

"I am greatly afflicted."

11 And in my dismay I said,

"All men are liars."

12 How can I repay the LORD

for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD

is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;

you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD

in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—

in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.

The call for praise. It's the first part of verse one, the part in bold.

The problem is in verse 3

The solution is in verse 8

The praise is started in verse 13 but the most of it is in verse 19.

I did a little research, ( this is kinda rough,) but psalms has the word praise in it 176 times! The entire bible, ( I think this is a very rough estimation) Has the word praise in it 352 times. that's like..... a third of the word praise in that one book! David of course, also needs lot's of help asking God to save him at least 43 different times!

David's youth

Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,  my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

He said that he trusted God in his youth and at birth. At birth!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, andwhen he is old he will not depart from it."

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.

What a comfort to have a God that shares your troubles. He's a merciful God, I mean, he's GOD! He doesn't have to came down andhelp us or share our burdens and troubles. And it's not only the big things, like losing a brother or sister, it's also the smaller things, like every woe  of a 2 yr. old. God's always there for you.

The Lord announced the word,

and great was the company of those who proclaimed it

 

Great was the company of those who proclaim it. Do we proclaim the words of God as strongly as we should? Do we proclaim it as boldly as we should?

 I'm gonna start to find a new blogger template. comment and tell me what ya think!