Written by: Philip Haines
Psalm 21 v 1-7
LORD, the king rejoices because of your strength; he is so happy when you save
him!
You gave the king what he wanted and did not refuse what he asked for.
You put good things before him and placed a gold crown on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him, so his years go on and on.
He has great glory because you gave him victories; you gave him honour and praise.
You always gave him blessings; you made him glad because you were with him.
The king truly trusts the LORD.
Because God Most High always loves him, he will not be overwhelmed.
Notes
Not many of us are “kings”. Have you been team captain, or troop leader, or
project co-ordinator, or head of shift, or all the way up to whatever ceiling
your particular situation presents? Whatever power we have is less than the
King of Kings. So let us bow the knee before Him - whether we are President
or peasant, boss or bell-boy.
And, there’s more … whatever good things, or glory, or victory experiences we’ve had have been the gifts of God.
And, there is the possibility of relationship with the Lord – even a King asks for what He wants. There is trust and there is love.
The Lord gives what is good, honourable and praiseworthy.
Most of us know how to moan and complain. We claim to be misunderstood, undervalued - the whole world is against us.
But the Lord comes to save – to bless – and help us ride the waves so that we are not overwhelmed. On an Angolan beach as a toddler, the tide caught me up and scrambled me away into the sea. At the very moment of unbearable fear, my dad stepped into the water, put out an arm and scooped me up. Sixty years later the memory of that day is crystal clear. Our heavenly Father will not let us be overcome. He is the God who saves!
A question: When did you last “count your blessings”?
Think about these words, and use them to help you pray:
“Lord, the measure of Your love to me is the measure of my trust.”
Psalm 21 v 8-13
Your hand is against all your enemies; those who hate you will feel your power.
When you appear, you will burn them as in a furnace.
In your anger you will swallow them up, and fire will burn them up.
You will destroy their families from the earth; their children will not live.
They made evil plans against you, but their traps won’t work.
You will make them turn their backs when you aim your arrows at them.
Be supreme, LORD, in your power.
We sing and praise your greatness.
Notes
Some of my friends love and worship the Lord – but many do not.
Some of my enemies could not care less about the Lord, they are indifferent – but many hate the Lord and try to destroy faith.
The first lesson is to understand that the Lord is all-knowing, always present, all-powerful. He is supreme and His enemies will not prevail.
Secondly, opposing the Lord is a choice. Men who make “evil plans” do so with full knowledge and malice aforethought. If you stand with those who set traps for the righteous, expect the Lord to swallow you up.
Third, there is a place for singing and praise of the Lord’s great goodness. It is a right reaction of those who have observed Him at work in their lives and in the lives of others.
A question: How do you react to the awesome power and authority of the Lord? With a shrug, or with a lifestyle?
A prayer:
“Lord, help me to forgive my enemies.
Lord, show your enemies the heat of Your justice.
Lord, teach me to wonder at Your greatness.”
Psalm 22 v 1-5
My God, my God, why have you rejected me?
You seem far from saving me, far from the words of my moans.
My God, I call to you during the day, but you do not answer.
I call at night;
I am not silent.
You sit as the Holy One.
The praises of Israel are your throne.
Our ancestors trusted you; they trusted, and you saved them.
They called to you for help and were rescued.
They trusted you and were not disappointed.
Notes
Rejection is tough - whether it is written large in the tabloid talk of politics,
or in the broken intimacy of relationships, or in the mind-shattering moment
when my sin and yours, and yours and yours, was dumped on the Saviour at
Calvary.
When I distance myself from God it is to do with my rebellion, my busy-ness, my selfishness.
When God is distant from me it is because He must not be tainted or taken for granted. It does not mean God does not care. Because He cares, He will not compromise with sin.
Rejection is not a good place to be. Seeking the Loved One’s face for salvation and restoration is hard and it is worth it.
When you truly know you cannot go on without Him, the Holy One reaches out and saves you.
How often has God been disappointed in you? You will never be disappointed in Him.
And, there’s more… What makes God happy? Of course He hears our prayers, our confessions, our pleas for mercy – but it is our PRAISES on which He sits as King, on which He bounces for pleasure, on which He rests with confidence.
A question: Will your descendants say, “S/He trusted God and was saved?”
A prayer:
Lord, I cannot bear the distance between us. Cleanse me again so that we can
be together. Amen
Psalm 22 v 6-11
But I am like a worm instead of a man.
People make fun of me and hate me.
Those who look at me laugh.
They stick out their tongues and shake their heads.
They say, “Turn to the LORD for help.
Maybe he will save you.
If he likes you, maybe he will rescue you.”
You had my mother give birth to me.
You made me trust you while I was just a baby.
I have leaned on you since the day I was born; you have been my God since my
mother gave birth to me.
So don’t be far away from me.
Now trouble is near, and there is no one to help.
Notes
This scripture passage reminds me vividly of the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.
I was not there, of course, but in just a few words I am teleported in my imagination to the heat and the noise and the dust.
There is a power play as old as time and utterly up-to-date. In every school playground, sometimes in families, often in the office and factory – there is the bully and his cronies. If you are despised for Jesus’ sake, remember He was despised for yours.
In your going about today you will hear men and women snap and snarl. They will abuse the name of Jesus. This is the time to bless and not to curse. This is the time to practice Jesus’ prayer: “Father, forgive…”.
Many of us can join the psalmist in giving thanks to God for a lifetime of trust in Him. All of us need to perfect that trust so that we can lean on Him.
A question: Has your trust in God grown and matured, or been truncated at baby-stage?
A prayer:
Lord, do not hide me from trouble but stand with me when I face it. Amen
Psalm 22 v 12-18
People have surrounded me like angry bulls.
Like the strong bulls of Bashan, they are on every side.
Like hungry, roaring lions they open their mouths at me.
My strength is gone, like water poured out onto the ground, and my bones are
out of joint.
My heart is like wax; it has melted inside me.
My strength has dried up like a clay pot, and my tongue sticks to the top of
my mouth.
You laid me in the dust of death.
Evil people have surrounded me; like dogs they have trapped me.
They have bitten my arms and legs.
I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me.
They divided my clothes among them, and they threw lots for my clothing.
Notes
This scripture passage is vivid – drawn in stark bold colours. So vivid it
hurts. This is “in your face” pain.
What kind of crucifix do you have on the wall? Is it a pretty piece of jewellery to be stroked and shined and kissed – or is it the gruesome reality of weakness: bone-wrenching, ugly nakedness where the Saviour’s clothes are raffle prizes in a celebrity auction.
If you dare … feel the hot breath of ravening lions; kick your captive limbs against the ripping and raging “dogs” who tear and bite and slobber.
The Prince of Heaven died. His strength and beauty were poured out. Like melted wax, His innermost being was splattered at the foot of the cross.
The psalmist painted this word-picture of an event yet to be out of his own experience. From palace glory to runaway refuge. He knew the pain of loss, betrayal and family treachery.
And, what is your experience? Is your Christian life forged in the hot fire, held in gripping tongs and hammered into shape? Out of the embers comes a purified life.
A question: Have you signed up to Christ for an easy life? Will you “take up your cross daily” to follow Him?
A prayer:
Lord, I offer my tears to wash Your wounds. I offer my pain so that I may gain
Your look of love. Amen
Psalm 22 v 19-24
But, LORD, don’t be far away.
You are my strength; hurry to help me.
Save me from the sword; save my life from the dogs.
Rescue me from the lion’s mouth; save me from the horns of the bulls.
Then I will tell my fellow Israelites about you;
I will praise you in the public meeting.
Praise the LORD, all you who respect him.
All you descendants of Jacob, honour him; fear him, all you Israelites.
He does not ignore those in trouble.
He doesn’t hide from them but listens when they call out to him.
Notes
I suppose there are people who are self-sufficient and standalone. It took
a great English poet to coin the expression: “No man is an island”. The Lord
is close, but not so close as to stifle, nor so far away that He needs to
be shouted at to gain His attention – and I am so glad!
He is THE GOD WHO SAVES. And there is a response of hearts and lives which is right and God-honouring.
The writer here promises to tell his fellows. This is quite difficult. It is sometimes easier to speak of the weather, the family, the football team. Our fellows know us best and it is in our daily witness that we speak of the Saviour.
He says he will tell of the Lord in the public meeting. Thus the one who follows the Lord is exposed. But he speaks out of experience – not from what he has been told, nor read in a book.
He calls on those who also know the Lord to praise Him. We who are able to speak of the Lord who saves are also called to strengthen and encourage others.
Very occasionally when I have spoken to my fellows, or in the public meeting, or to those who generally respect Him – I have experienced rejection and mockery. So what?
Take courage. Speak of Him often. Let His Name be your natural conversation. God is at work in the hearts of men and will bless your witness.
And, God is good because He listens when we call on Him. I need the GOD WHO LISTENS.
Suggestion for prayer:
Now would be a good time to tell Him your troubles and praise the Lord.
Psalm 22 v 25-31
LORD, I praise you in the great meeting of your people; these worshippers will
see me do what I promised.
Poor people will eat until they are full; those who look to the LORD will praise
him.
May your hearts live for ever!
People everywhere will remember and will turn to the LORD.
All the families of the nations will worship him because the LORD is King,
and he rules the nations.
All the powerful people on earth will eat and worship.
Everyone will bow down to him, all who will one day die.
The people in the future will serve him; they will always be told about the
Lord.
They will tell that he does what is right.
People who are not yet born will hear what God has done.
Notes
So where do you fit in this list of those to whom the Lord speaks?
Are you in a great crowd or in a lonely place?
Are you amongst the poor and hungry?
Are you a proud member of one of the “families of the nations”?
Are you amongst the powerful whose every word changes the lives of thousands?
Surely you are one who will one day die – the human condition.
The word of God speaks to all sorts and conditions of men. This universality brings all men to the place where the Lord is to be acknowledged, to be praised and to be worshipped. It is not enough to see another fulfilling his vow. It is not enough to say God is great. (Though both of these are worthy actions.) You and I are called to worship Him completely because He rules the nations!
History is great. The Bible is packed with tales of what God has done. But I have a future faith, too.
The poet here speaks to my time and times yet to be. Even as one generation goes down to the dust, so my generation picks up the challenge to serve Him. And you are the future generation. And generations yet to be will hear and rejoice in what the Lord has done. Brilliant!
A question: What will you leave to future generations? Money in the bank? Pollution and disease? Knowledge of God?
A prayer:
Lord, You are God.
Lord, You are God of all that has been.
Lord, You are God of today – and tomorrow. Amen
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes