Psalm 3 song - I look to You

I'm reading through Psalms in the mornings at the moment.

Last week I was struck by Psalm 3, and the idea to turn it into a song came to me (yes, I do know that it was already a song!).

In the deep val-ley

And in the dark-ness

I look to You

When foes surround me

And say you won’t help

I look to You

They call out to me

“Your G-od can’t help”

I look to You

Many march out just

To bring me down

I look to You

For You are my shield

My strong protector

I cling to You

When times are tough

You will never let me down

So I can sle-ep

In sweet comfort

You care for me

(I) can lie in my bed

Completely at peace

You care for me

It doesn't have any music to go with it at the moment.  I'm not very good at that.  

Perhaps you would like to write some music for it? :-)

the dark days

In our chaplaincy group we have been talking about depression and anxiety.

At one point we read this Psalm.  Can you relate to this?

Psalm 88: A Cry of Desperation
A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

 1 LORD, God of my salvation,
I cry out before You day and night.
 2 May my prayer reach Your presence;
listen to my cry.
 3 For I have had enough troubles,
and my life is near Sheol.
 4 I am counted among those going down to the Pit.
I am like a man without strength,
 5 abandoned  among the dead.
I am like the slain lying in the grave,
whom You no longer remember,
and who are cut off from Your care.
 6 You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,
in the darkest places, in the depths.
 7 Your wrath weighs heavily on me;
You have overwhelmed me with all Your waves.         

 8 You have distanced my friends from me;
You have made me repulsive to them.
I am shut in and cannot go out.
 9 My eyes are worn out from crying.
LORD, I cry out to You all day long;
I spread out my hands to You.
 10 Do You work wonders for the dead?
Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?       

11 Will Your faithful love be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
 12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness
or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
 13 But I call to You for help, LORD;
in the morning my prayer meets You.
 14 LORD, why do You reject me?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
 15 From my youth,
I have been afflicted and near death.
I suffer Your horrors; I am desperate.
 16 Your wrath sweeps over me;
Your terrors destroy me.
 17 They surround me like water all day long;
they close in on me from every side.
 18 You have distanced loved one and neighbour from me;
darkness is my only friend.


I've been in a place like that.  Have you?

Good to know that the Bible touches real life.

Thankfully today hasn't been a day that bad, but it certainly hasn't been a good day.

awesome homework

"Your homework is to read Psalm 104 and reflect on it."

I love Bible College.  I love moments like this.

This really is a beautiful Psalm.  It celebrates the wonderful creative and sustaining power of Yahweh.

It uses beautiful poetic language to describe the ease with which Yahweh made the world.  Just as we can flick up a bed sheet to billow in the air, so Yahweh spread out the sky.  Just as we cover ourselves with clothes, so Yahweh clothed the earth with water.  He is in control.  It is not hard work for him, but is like child's play.

Furthermore, he did not just create things and let them run their course.  He continues to sustain and uphold them.  He provides food (v14).  Not only that, but he doesn't just supply the food we need, he also supplies abundance and niceness.  He supplies things to make our hearts glad (v15).

He did not create in a mindless or uncaring way either.  He made everything with wisdom (v24).  I was reminded of this when studying physiology at uni.  God made us in a really amazing and smart way!

The Psalmist keeps oscillating between the second and third person (you and he).  I'm not quite sure they are doing that.  But I wonder if he's just so amazed.  He talks about the amazing things Yahweh has done and is doing, so he can't help but address him directly.  Then lastly he responds in the first person.  What is his response?   "I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live" (v33).

And now to you: "Your homework is to read Psalm 104 and reflect on it." ;-)