1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hey there, and welcome to another Prayer through 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: the Psalms episode of the Praying Christian Women podcast. I 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: am Jamie, and today we get to talk about and 4 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: pray through Psalm sixty six zero. And before we do, 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: as always, let's get started with some prayer. I'm just 6 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: definitely feeling a little bit scattered, and life circumstances for 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: me have changed a little bit. I've actually been starting 8 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,560 Speaker 1: training for like a practitioner training that I'm going to 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: be doing for kind of a career shift, and so 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff is going on that has my 11 00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: brain pretty much like not just swirling, but kind of mush. 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: So I would love for us to just take some time. 13 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: I am certain that you have your own things going on. 14 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: This is spring, so this is kind of just a 15 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: crazy time for everybody. If you have kids in school, 16 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: it's kind of wild because you've got lots of end 17 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: of year things happening. Sports are probably shifting and transitioning, 18 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: and if you're not, Spring is just kind of a 19 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: busy time. We've got, like, you know, a lot more 20 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: stuff going on because the weather could be maybe a 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: little bit better than it has been, and maybe you're 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: starting to make summer plans. But whatever you're doing today, 23 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: whatever is swirling around in your brain, My hope in 24 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: my prayer is that we can take this moment and 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: just regroup and kind of dedicate this time to God. 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: And I haven't done confession in a long time, so 27 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to do a little time of confession for 28 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: us also because I've been missing that too. Let's pray, Lord, God, 29 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: thank you so much. For seasons, things would get kind 30 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: of stale and we would probably end up just going 31 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: through the motions. If we didn't have seasons to shake 32 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: things up, if we didn't have weather changes, or if 33 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: we didn't have activity changes and shifts, if our families 34 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: never changed, if our kids never got older, if our 35 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: friendships weren't fluid, if our church lives didn't shift and 36 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: ebb and flow, and our prayer lives do the same. 37 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: We just pray that instead of fighting against seasons, you 38 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: would help us to really just go with the flow, 39 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: that we would be able to ride the wave of 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: the seasons we're in and do it with grace and 41 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: with confidence, knowing that you are in them and that 42 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: you are equipping us even as we go. That we 43 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: don't have to worry that we won't be able to 44 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: handle the things coming up or that we haven't done 45 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: well the things that are in front of us, because 46 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: we have you, and you can help us course correct, 47 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: You can help us assess our schedules, all of the 48 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,119 Speaker 1: things that don't seem spiritual, like scheduling and work and 49 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: decision making and all of the things that just seem 50 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: very practical and methodical. When we invite you in to 51 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: those things, when we invite you into our seasons, you 52 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: are faithful to guide us and to direct us. And 53 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: we just thank you for that, thank you for that relationship. 54 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: As we come into your throne room, Lord, as we 55 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: come to read your Holy Word and meditate on it, 56 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: and as we come to meet with you, we just 57 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: pray that you would help us to shed any baggage 58 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 1: we're carrying, and that includes sinful thoughts, words, attitudes, actions 59 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 1: that we've done or held, or are holding or are doing. 60 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 1: And we just pray that at this moment, that just 61 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: during this minute or so of silence, that your Holy 62 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: Spirit would really search us, that your Holy Spirit would 63 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: draw out things that aren't immediately visible to us that 64 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: are sinful, and that as we wait and we just 65 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: listen for you, that the things that come to mind 66 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: easily would just be things that we could write down 67 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: and set aside, and that the things that don't come 68 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: to mind easily, Lord, that your Holy Spirit would dredge 69 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: them up, and like that refining process of silver that 70 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: you describe in scripture, that that dross would just precipitate 71 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: out and rise to the top so it can be skimmed. 72 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:25,119 Speaker 1: Not for us to wallow in self pity or self 73 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: deprecation or hopelessness, but so we could be free, so 74 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: we could walk out of here lighter than we came in, 75 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: because that is a gift, a gift because of the 76 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 1: blood of Jesus, because of his death and resurrection, we 77 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,359 Speaker 1: are able to shed those things and instead take on 78 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: a cloak of righteousness. And likewise, you tell us that 79 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags. I 80 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: pray that you would help convict us about things that 81 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: we're doing that look good on the surface, but that 82 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: aren't coming from a place of service to you, of 83 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: love for you, and love for our fellow brothers and 84 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: sisters in Christ and brothers and sisters in the world. 85 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: Help us to identify the things that are masquerading as good, 86 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: because those can be the things that are the hardest 87 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: to see. Expose lies of the enemy, expose deception, and 88 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: expose the things that are that are evil masquerading as light. 89 00:05:28,839 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: Speak to us, Lord, Thank you Lord for meeting with us, 90 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 1: for gently convicting us of the things that need to 91 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: be convicted. We just pray that you would help us 92 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: to deal with those things not in a spirit of despair, 93 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: but that you would help us to see them as 94 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: things that we can walk out of. We just pray 95 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: that this time meditating on Psalm sixty would change us, 96 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: that it would transform us, That your word would literally 97 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,559 Speaker 1: just wash our souls clean, that your word would stick 98 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,599 Speaker 1: with us, That your Holy Spirit would do exactly what 99 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: Jesus said and just bring to mind the words that 100 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,679 Speaker 1: come straight from you throughout our week. That it wouldn't 101 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: just be a one time thing that we would ruminate 102 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: on these words and these lessons, and that as situations 103 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: come up in our lives, that you would just bring 104 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: them to mind and help us to learn from them 105 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: and just to walk in them in Jesus' name. Amen. Okay, well, 106 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 1: let's look at this. This is Psalm sixty and the 107 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: title is lament over defeat in battle and prayer for help. 108 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,679 Speaker 1: The subtitle is for the choir director, according to Shushan Edith, 109 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: and that literally means and so what we've found. If 110 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: you've joined us before, you know that, according to blank, 111 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: usually means it's like according to the tune of a 112 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: different song. So it means according to literally the Lily 113 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: of Testimony. So maybe that's a song that was known 114 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 1: and these words were used and overlaid with that melody. 115 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,000 Speaker 1: A mik tom of David. We've talked about mick tom before. 116 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: A mik tom is either an epigrammatic poem or an 117 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: atonement psalm, so we're not sure which it is, but 118 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: it is of David, and it says to teach when 119 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: he struggled with Aram Nahareim and with aarm Zobah and 120 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: joe Ab returned and smoked twelve thousand of edom in 121 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: the valley of Salt. So I looked this up because 122 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: all of these names are crazy to me. But what 123 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 1: I found is that these places when he struggled Aram 124 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: Nahareim literally means Aram of the two rivers, and it 125 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: was likely between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and then 126 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: aram Zoba is north of Israel, So yeah, so he 127 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 1: struggled with Aram between the Tigers and Euphrates. He struggled 128 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: with aram Zoba in the north. And then Joe aberturned 129 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt, 130 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: which was to the south. So basically, he's not just 131 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: fighting a war with one group. It's not just the 132 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: Philistines or the whoever's right. He's surrounded and he talks 133 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: about this in some of the other psalms, but this 134 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: is the first one where it's really like fleshed out 135 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: for me. Sometimes he's like in a cave and he's 136 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: surrounded by enemies, but this is, you know, kind of 137 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: like modern day Israel is literally surrounded on every no 138 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: matter where you go, whatever direction you travel, you've got 139 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: people that want to kill you. And so you've got 140 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: David here, same thing he's got all around. He's got enemies. 141 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: They literally surround him. So that is where he's coming from, 142 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: and it sounds like he's got some struggles going on 143 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: that don't look like they're going so well. And then 144 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: Joe averturned and smote twelve thousand of etam in the 145 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: Valley of Salt. The Valley of Salt sounds like there's 146 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: a victory that happened there, and I think it's really interesting. 147 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: I don't know if this is related in any way, 148 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: but when I think of the Valley of Salt, so 149 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: I actually live near Salt Lake City, so I'm familiar 150 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: with salt and barrenness, you know. And we lived in 151 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: Las Vegas a few years ago, many years ago, and 152 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: we went to Death Valley, which was not too far 153 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: from there, and there was literally salt flats. It was barren, 154 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: and it was one of the you know, Death Valleys, 155 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,079 Speaker 1: like one of the hottest places on the face of 156 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 1: the earth at certain times of the year. And there's 157 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: this valley of salt there and it is you can 158 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: see it. It looks like snow sometimes because it's kind 159 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: of white. But the very cool thing is with this 160 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 1: reminds me of they're having the victory in the Valley 161 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: of Salt. One of the years that we lived there, 162 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: my neighbor said, you have to come out to Death 163 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: Valley with us this weekend. She knew kind of the 164 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: area more than I did, and I thought, okay, whatever 165 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: we'll go. And we went out and they had like 166 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: this one hundred year bloom. It was a desert bloom 167 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,839 Speaker 1: because of the rain that had come, because of the 168 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: climate that year. I don't know what it was. But 169 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: every once in a while you get this incredible, like 170 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: robust blooming in the salt flats and you look around 171 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: and they're these like I don't know if they're crocuses 172 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: or what the flowers are they. I remember these little 173 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 1: purple ones. They're just there everywhere, all these different flowers. 174 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,719 Speaker 1: And the crazy thing is, if you were to go 175 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: there any time of year other than that, you would 176 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: think this was a barren waste land where nothing could grow. 177 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 1: And so this is what I see in this you know, 178 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: even this introduction is David is surrounded by enemies and 179 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: then he has this victory here in the valley of salt, 180 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: and to me it seems like symbolic the valley of 181 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: barrenness is where this victory happens. So anyway, we can 182 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: all relate right to having situations where it feels like 183 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: everything around us is going wrong, and then maybe just 184 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: in the midst of that barrenness comes victory from God. 185 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: It blooms out, and it doesn't mean that when it 186 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: looks barren and it looks like defeat, that there's not 187 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 1: a victory there. In fact, if you were to look 188 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 1: at it like the desert bloom any other time of 189 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: the year, you would see barrenness. But in God's season, 190 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,280 Speaker 1: in the exact season that he means it to come, 191 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: there will be that victory. And it's there those seeds 192 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: or bulbs or whatever it is. I don't know. I'm 193 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: not a horticulturist, but those seeds and bulbs of stored 194 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 1: up life are existing, dormant, but they're there, and that 195 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: is the victory, and it will be exposed in its time, 196 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: but it's already there. So let's actually get into the psalm. 197 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: Though this is important again, I want to disclaim that 198 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: I am not a theologian, so I really hope that 199 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: I'm kind of interpreting thing these things correctly with history. 200 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: I would love it if you guys ever catch me 201 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: with an incorrect don't ever trust what I say, because 202 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: I do my best research, but I'm not a theologian 203 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 1: or historian. If I come up with stuff that is 204 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: not accurate, I would love you to email me at 205 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: pray at Praying Christianwomen dot Com and just let me 206 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: know so I can issue a correction because I do 207 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 1: hold God's word very dearly and I don't want to misspeak, 208 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: and if I do, I really want to be caught. 209 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: That's one of my prayers is that if I ever 210 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: say something wrong that might mislead someone, that God would 211 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: just allow me to be made right and corrected. So 212 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: all right, let's read Chapter sixty Psalm sixty. Oh God, 213 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: you have rejected us, you have broken us, you have 214 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: been angry. Oh restore us. You have made the landquake, 215 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: you have split it open, heal its breeches for it totters. 216 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: You have major people experience hardship. You've given us wine 217 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: to drink that makes us stagger. You have given us 218 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: a banner to those who fear you, that it may 219 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: be displayed because of the truth Selah, that your beloved 220 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,160 Speaker 1: may be delivered. Save us with your right hand and 221 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: answer us. So this is kind of like what David 222 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: loves to do. He gives this just heartfelt lament of God. 223 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: You have rejected us. We are not seeing victory. You 224 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: have literally broken us. You've been angry, You've made us 225 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: experience hardship. I mean, he's not just saying we are 226 00:14:54,280 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: experiencing hardship, which is evil on the world. He's saying 227 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: you have made that happen and attributing God's hand to 228 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: even lowering their senses as if they were drunk, to 229 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: make them stagger and not be effective. I'm guessing at warfare. 230 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: But in verse four it shifts and he says, you 231 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: have given a banner to those who fear you, that 232 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: it may be displayed because of the truth. So a 233 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: banner in these military terms is usually displayed as like ownership, 234 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: like whose you are. When they see the banner or 235 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: the flag or whatever it is, it's telling whose army 236 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: you're in, what king are you fighting for? And he's saying, 237 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: you have given a banner to those who fear you, 238 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: So if we fear him, if he fears God, then 239 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: he's under God's authority. And it's almost like David is 240 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: complaining about being under God's thumb and his lordship when 241 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: God does these bad things, And yet he's saying, I 242 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: still fear you. I know this stuff is happening, I 243 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: know you're on the throne. I'm still waving your banner, 244 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 1: and yet you have given us this banner, that it 245 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: may be displayed because of the truth that your beloved 246 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: may be delivered. Save with your right hand and answer us. 247 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: So it's like almost accepting that if God can bring 248 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: this punishment, he can also bring the victory. And I 249 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: trust you and I'm here for it. That's how I 250 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 1: read it. And it's not always easy. And I love 251 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: that David writes in the midst of his difficulty, because 252 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: it's he's claiming that lordship no matter what comes, whether 253 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: it's victory or defeat, He's the Lord's Verse six, God 254 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: has spoken in his holiness, I will exult, I will 255 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 1: portion out Shechem and measure out the valley of Sucketh. 256 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: Gilead is mine, and Vanessa is mine. Ephraim also is 257 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: the helmet of my head. Judah is my Moab, is 258 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: my washbowl? Over eat them? I shall throw my shoe 259 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,400 Speaker 1: shout loud, Oh Philistia, because of me, who will bring 260 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: me into the besieged city? This is David talking again. 261 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: I think who will lead me to eat them? Have 262 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,879 Speaker 1: not you, yourself, oh God, rejected us? And will you 263 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 1: not go forth with our armies? Oh God, Oh give 264 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: us help against the adversary for deliverance by man is 265 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: in vain. Through God, we shall do valiantly, and it 266 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: is he who will tread down our adversaries. So again, 267 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's almost like he's sort of trying 268 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 1: to manipulate God by saying, oh, you know, Lord, have 269 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: you you know? Haven't you rejected us? Will you not 270 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: go forth with your people and display your greatness. It's 271 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 1: almost like he's kind of trying to use human persuasion 272 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:56,159 Speaker 1: to persuade God to come with him. But again, he 273 00:17:56,280 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: just gives this very kind of permission for us as 274 00:18:01,920 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: humans who live in the confines of time and space 275 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: where we're not experiencing that victory at this moment. We're shielded, 276 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: we're we're cloaked, we don't have vision to see the 277 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: big picture. And so he's expressing his humanity. But at 278 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: the same time, deliverance by man is in vain, and 279 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,360 Speaker 1: I think what he's saying is, if you have forsaken us, 280 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 1: then we have no hope. I have a lot of armies, 281 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: I have a lot of military skill and prowess, and 282 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 1: yet without you I will not do valiantly. It reminds 283 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: me of Moses and This is in Exodus thirty three, 284 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: when thirty three to three and the Golden Calf incident happened, 285 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,200 Speaker 1: where Moses went up onto the mountain to hear from God. 286 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: He comes back down and the people are all making 287 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,320 Speaker 1: this golden calf and worshiping it because they just they 288 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: need something to worship. And basically God tells Moses, I'm 289 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: going to still send you to the Promised Land. I'm 290 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: not going to go with you. You guys can go on, 291 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: you can have the great land that I've prepared for you, 292 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: but I'm not going to be there. And Moses basically says, 293 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:13,360 Speaker 1: we don't want the land if you're not coming with us. 294 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: Your presence is what makes this people great. It's not 295 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: the land. The land is just a bunch of dirt. 296 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 1: And that's kind of what I think of when I 297 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: hear David saying this to God, won't you come with 298 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: us because we can go and we can do our best. 299 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: I mean, in his case, he's saying, you know, God 300 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 1: is not going to If God doesn't go, then there 301 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 1: will be no victory. But he's saying, through God, we 302 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 1: shall do valiantly, and it is he who will tread 303 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: down our adversaries. He's like, I don't we don't want 304 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: to go if you're not going to be with us. 305 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: So what I take away from this whole psalm is, 306 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: no matter what, no matter whether our situation right now 307 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: feels like we're being surrounded on all sides by enemies, 308 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: whether it seems like there's barrenness and lack of victory. 309 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: Maybe you feel like God isn't even really hearing you 310 00:20:16,119 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: or speaking back to you. Maybe you're looking for wisdom 311 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: or guidance or direction and there's just silence that just 312 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: because things seem barren, just think back to that desert 313 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: bloom and death valley and think that there are bulbs 314 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 1: and seeds and maybe rhizomes. I don't know, I don't 315 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: know what they're called. But there are life giving structures 316 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: that are lying dormant under this cracked, salty, dead looking space. 317 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: And in God's time it will bloom and it will grow. 318 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: And just claim him as your banner, because he's the water. 319 00:20:55,320 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 1: He's that water that creates the conditions in which you 320 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: and your circumstances will flourish to their most perfect degree. 321 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 1: And without him, I believe that barrenness is real. Even 322 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: though there's potential. But without God, without that water, without 323 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: that infusion of divine, there will be no bloom. So 324 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 1: let's pray. Father, God, you are everything, and regardless of 325 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: our circumstances, we can be joyful, we can be hopeful, 326 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: we can be confident that there are bulbs and seeds 327 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:44,679 Speaker 1: under the desert, under the salt, under what looks permanently gone. 328 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: But when the rains come we will see. In your time, 329 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: we will see victory. But right now, even as we 330 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 1: look on salt, crusted desert dirt, we acknowledge you as 331 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:03,399 Speaker 1: our Lord, as our banner. You are good, You are 332 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: all powerful, and whatever comes, whatever you have for us, 333 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: whether it's earthquake and defeat in the moment, or perceived 334 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:18,360 Speaker 1: defeat or perceived failure, whatever it is, we still call 335 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 1: you Lord. And we wouldn't go into the Promised Land 336 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: without you, because you are the reward, not our circumstance. 337 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: I just pray for each person now, for the person 338 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 1: right now who feels your silence, and who sees that crusted, 339 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 1: salt dusted dirt that looks pointless and hopeless and bleak 340 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 1: and desolate. I pray for hope. I pray for faith, 341 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: I pray for people to surround them that will build 342 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: them up, that will pray for them when they don't 343 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: have the words. And I do pray that you would 344 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: break through God in Jesus name, that you would give 345 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 1: them a glimmer of hope and light, that you would 346 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:04,159 Speaker 1: bring the reins and show them that there is indeed 347 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:11,200 Speaker 1: life in Jesus' name. Amen. We'd like to take just 348 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: a quick second to thank the team at Life Audio 349 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: for their partnership with us on the podcast. If you 350 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 1: go to lifeaudio dot com, you will find dozens of 351 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,120 Speaker 1: other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got shows 352 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 1: about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and so much more. That's 353 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: life audio dot com.