“When I remember God, then I am disturbed; when I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” (Psalm 77:3-4)

How often do you go through life with the Lord as an add-on? Is He in the center of your life, or an afterthought except in times of trouble? The Lord is the One who holds all things in His hands. It is He who is there in every time of need. Look closely and you will see that it is the Lord who has been there in every hour of need. The Lord alone will never leave you nor forsake you.

Lord, You are there, but often like an ungrateful child I go about my day as if You were not. Hold my eyelids open to see the light You have caused to shine in me that I may know that it is You who guides all things. Lead me through the troubled waters of this age that I may keep my eyes upon You. Help me now and always to simply hold fast to the truth that You alone are God.

Lord Jesus, You purposefully walked amongst us that we may see the light and follow where You lead. Yet, like sheep in a field without a shepherd, I wander aimlessly sometimes. Guide me, O Lord, to walk with You always. Lift me up when I am down and guide me according to Your purposes that I may never look anywhere but to You in, through and for all things. Amen.

“My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; my voice rises to God, and He will hear me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; in the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; My soul refused to be comforted.” (Psalm 77:1-2)

The Lord hears every cry from the heart. He knows what will happen. Come to the Lord, lift up your voice and know that He hears you. In times of trouble, come to the Lord. In times that are good, give Him praise. In all things, place the Lord in the center, for He is the One who holds all things together. Know that it is the Lord who goes before You and that He who knows watches over you.

Lord, I sometimes feel alone, but these are only feelings. Guide me, O Lord, to walk with You knowing that You know the days of my life as a book that is already written. Help me now and always and in all seasons to lift my eyes up to You, for You are the help of all people. Lead me into Your presence and guide my heart to know that only in You is there life and joy.

Lord Jesus, You demonstrated to us how to pray without ceasing and to come before the Father’s presence. You have told us that a sparrow does not fall to the ground that the Father does not know about. Turn my life around that I would live into the promise You give by grace and know from the inside out that in every time, You are there and have plans for whatever may come. Amen.

“Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared. He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 76:11-12)

The Lord is good and the Sovereign God of all. Those in this world who hold positions of power are there only by the grace of God. All power and authority belongs to Him. Come then into His presence and give your offerings, for all you give was really His first. He graciously supplies that we may have abundance and calls us to share what He first gave to us.

Lord, help me see the truth that You are God. You ask us to come into Your loving presence and live according to Your will. Lead me, O Lord, away from the things of this world and help me see in You the hope You alone can give. Guide me according to Your purpose to live according to Your law that I might grow in the righteousness You give through grace. You alone are to be feared.

Lord Jesus, You who has all authority and power, have come humbly that we may follow where You lead. Guide me, O Lord, according to Your will that I would forever hold fast to Your goodness, grace and mercy. Help me now and always to see in You the hope of salvation and to humbly submit as You submitted for the glory of the Father. Guide me today into the Father’s will. Amen.

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.” (Acts 3:19-21)

Can Marie Antoinette be relevant to you?

You know Marie Antoinette, the infamous queen of France beheaded during the even more infamous “reign of terror.”  Marie had a laundry list of sins to her name, and the French people largely hated her.  Stripped of honor and wealth, her husband executed, her friends murdered, and her children taken from her, she had good reason to be afraid, ashamed, and bitter as she approached the guillotine.

Yet I just recently read her last letter, written to a friend after her condemnation.  It shines with a strange contentment as well as a clear confession of faith in Jesus Christ.  “I sincerely implore pardon of God for all the faults which I may have committed during my life,” she wrote.  “I trust that, in His goodness, He will mercifully accept my last prayers . . . to receive my soul into His mercy . . . . I pardon all my enemies the evils that they have done me.”   Eyewitnesses say that she approached her death with the same sort of serenity.

Marie Antoinette, who may seem to have nothing to do with you, knew what St. Peter described: times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord to those who repent.  There’s freedom in being the wrong one, especially when you’re loved by the Wronged One.  Risen, He is present to you and for you, having taken away the sins of the world.

LET US PRAY:  Forgive me, Lord.  Forgive even my poor repentance.  For even as You have pardoned countless souls besides me, I trust that You have pardoned me, shedding Your own blood for my sake.  Buried in those wounds, I confess Your mercy.  Give me Your saving help again, and teach me to find the greatest joy in Your greatness alone; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever.  Amen

Pr. Steven K. Gjerde

Zion, Wausau

“When God arose to judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. For the wrath of man shall praise You; with a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself.” (Psalm 76:9-10)

What is it in sinful man that things have to come the hard way? We bring it upon our selves and then give God the blame for the harshness that we have brought on our selves. God does arise to judgement and it comes through what He has already established. Ultimately, God takes it all on Himself and we see the wrath of all sin hanging on the cross with Jesus. There He takes our punishment for what we have done.

Lord, is it that You do not bring retribution upon us, but step back and do not stop what is coming because of what we have done? You get blamed when things go bad and are harsh, yet You are not praised when we are provided for and are given all we need. Lord, help me see through the wickedness of this age to see that You are always good, gracious and merciful.

Lord Jesus, You have come to bear the wrath of sin as You were girded with it on the cross. You did this for our sakes. Open my eyes to see the truth of what You have done and the truth of what we have done. Guide me away from the wickedness of this world and into Your glorious light of life and truth. Help me now and always to see what is right and true and to walk with You. Amen.

REFLECTIONS ON THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM
Devotional for Good Shepherd Sunday, April 22, 2018

What do you think David had in mind when he wrote the Twenty-Third Psalm, the psalm for Good Shepherd Sunday? Can you even imagine having such a gift with language and such a close relationship with God that you could write something like that? Later in life, when David was reflecting back on what he had written, what kinds of thoughts and feelings do you think might and must have been going through his mind? Maybe something like this –

“The Lord is my shepherd”

In David’s day, as well as at the time of the birth of Jesus, being a shepherd was an occupation that was looked down on. When Samuel, who had come to Bethlehem to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be king, asked whether all the sons were present, Jesse replied, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 16: 11). Later, when David went to visit his older brothers who were in the army, his oldest brother Eliab asked him, “Why have you come here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness?” (1 Samuel 17: 28)

David took an occupation that was looked down on and gave it dignity and value by using that image to describe his relationship with God. Reminds me of what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “So whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10: 31).

“He restores my soul”

There were many reasons why David’s soul needed to be restored. After his sin with Bathsheba the prophet Nathan had told him, “The sword shall never depart from your house” (2 Samuel 12: 10), which turned out to be painfully true. Son Amnon raped daughter Tamar, whereupon son Absalom murdered Amnon. After stealing the hearts of the people, Absalom stole the kingdom from his father, publicly humiliated his father, and eventually met his death after his short-lived rebellion.

David experienced unimaginable sorrow, as the prophet Nathan had said he would. But still, God called him a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13: 14). His soul was also restored in the birth by Bathsheba of Solomon, who would build the Temple that David had wanted to build and would be the ancestor of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.

“Your rod and your staff – they comfort me”

David was confronted by a wise woman from Tekoa for refusing to reconcile with his son Absalom. He also was confronted by the prophet Nathan regarding his sin with Bathsheba. “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12: 7) Realizing the greatness of his sin, David experienced the greatness of God’s mercy and wrote a most powerful psalm of repentance. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51: 1).

“You spread a table before me in the presence of my enemies”

David spent many of his younger years fleeing from Saul, who, because he saw him as a threat to the throne, wanted to kill him. Whatever was happening in David’s life when he wrote Psalm 22 also shows how many enemies he had. This is a psalm which Jesus prayed from the cross, beginning with the lament, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (verse 1) Verses such as “All who see me mock me” (verse 7), “They stare and gloat over me” (verse 17), and “They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots” (verse 18) also show the remarkably close parallels between the experiences of David and Jesus.

“My cup overflows”

David had wanted to buy from Araunah the Jebusite a threshing floor where he would erect an altar to the Lord, but Araunah wanted to give it to him at no cost. David replied, “I will not offer to the Lord my God sacrifices that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24: 24). First Chronicles 29 records the enormity of David’s gift towards the project of building the Temple. How much David must have rejoiced over the resources God had given him so that he would be able to make such a large contribution and in doing so also inspire other leaders of Israel to give significantly. The Bible tells us that the people rejoiced over the generosity of the king.

“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life”

The prophet Nathan, who later would confront David over his great sin, earlier in David’s life comforted David with the promise that after his death, his son would build the Temple that David had wanted to build, and his house, kingdom, and throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7: 16). It would not all end with David.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”

For days David had prayed that God would spare the life of the child that was born out of his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, but on the seventh day the child died. At that point David rose from the ground, washed himself, changed his clothes, went into the house of the Lord and worshipped, and then went home and went on with his life. When asked why he had responded in that way David replied, “Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12: 23). Normally people go through death only in one direction. David was saying, “Someday I too will die and will go to where my son is. But he will never return to where I am.”

The Twenty-Third Psalm has given comfort, strength, encouragement, and hope to millions of people for three thousand years. I believe it also did the same for the one who wrote it – the shepherd who became king. Could he have written a psalm of such depth, insight, and beauty if it did not speak so powerfully to his own life? How does the Twenty-Third Psalm, the Psalm for Good Shepherd, speak to you and your life?

Dennis D. Nelson
President of the Board and Director of Lutheran CORE

“You, even You, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still” (Psalm 76:7-8)

You have created us in Your image and we reflect in small ways the truth of who You are. Of course the antics of sinful humans is angering. Help me never to stand in Your anger, but lead me to stand in Christ that I may walk in the way You have established for all. Lead me away from myself and into You that I may not be afraid of You, but love You in respect and fear of the Father Almighty.

Lord, the world tries to convince believers that You are not kind and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. But You are all of these things and more. Lead me, O Lord, to walk humbly in Your ways and to seek to not anger You. I need the grace You have given and Your countenance to rest upon me. Lead me, O Lord, and give me willing feet to always follow.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving all that I need. You have come to lift up those who look to the goodness of the Father that we may walk humbly with You our God. Guide me through the Holy Spirit to learn to listen and then to obey. Help me now and always to see the hope granted by grace and to have a willing heart to live into the promises You have made possible from the cross. Amen.

“The stouthearted were plundered, they sank into sleep; and none of the warriors could use his hands. At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.” (Psalm 76:5-6)

The Lord is Master of all. He has given us our will, but what we do will never overcome what He has purposed. Yes, the wicked rise and plunder, but the Lord is not overcome. The rebuke of the Lord is powerful and He will do what is necessary for His righteous ones to come unto Him. He loves all and calls all and as many as believe come to Him and are under His guidance.

Lord God, You know us better than we know our selves. You know our times of trouble and our difficulties. You cause to slumber those who should be awake and you allow those who should slumber to be awake. You have purpose in all that comes to pass. Lead me, O Lord, in Your ways that I would humbly walk with You no matter what comes and live according to Your purposes.

Lord Jesus, refuge of the weary and the One who lifts up the broken hearted, guide me not just in trying to figure things out, but in the way You would have me walk. Lead me according to Your purposes to live into the life to which I have been created to live. Let me not be plundered by wickedness, but help me stand strong in the righteousness You give me by grace. Amen.

“There He broke the flaming arrows, the shield and the sword and the weapons of war.  You are resplendent, more majestic than the mountains of prey.”  (Psalm 76:3-4)

To whom shall the Lord be compared? There is nothing that can compare to the splendor of the Lord. Above the highest mountains, more powerful than all the mighty men, the Lord is above all things. His hands are those which shaped all things and He holds all things together.

There are terrors of this world, O Lord, which come against Your faithful. They rail, but none are able to stand against You. For a night and no more, but then morning comes; You breathe a word and they come to naught. Guide me, O Lord, to not tremble at those who are in this world, but at You, the One who made all worlds. Guide me by Your light and Your life that I would forever hold fast to You.

Lord Jesus, God who has come, lead me, lead us, lead Your faithful to walk humbly through every valley of the shadow of death that we would be with You knowing that You have already overcome death and the devil. Guide me to sing Your praises and walk humbly before the Father forever, for in You, in Trinity, is hope, life and eternity. You are worthy of being praised now and forever. Amen.

“God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.  His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion.”  (Psalm 76:1-2)

The Lord is known.  There are those who want to pretend He does not exist, but He is known.  His home is peace and He dwells in eternity.  He from whom all things come has spoken and those who hear know of His peace and long for His dwelling place.  This is the promise to the faithful, that He will be their God and they will be His people forever.  Come to the Lord gratefully and sing His praises.

Lord, there is no peace upon the earth and what You have given is ignored.  Guide me, O Lord, away from the ways of this world and into Your presence of peace and eternal purpose.  Lead me according to Your ways that I may sing Your praises here now and then there.  You are the Mighty One who lives forever and You have reached out Your hand to Your servants here that we may know You.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have given us the peace which surpasses all understanding.  You have come that we may be with You where You are.  Lead me in Your Holy Spirit, O Lord, to walk with You all the days of this life in preparation for all that is to come.  You are the One who has come that we may walk forever in Zion and dwell in Your house forever.  Amen.