Two men, approximately the same age in their late 60s or early 70s when these observations took place.

The first, Joe N, an emigrant from a European country, with close ties to others from the same country would spend Sunday afternoons with his cronies exhaling their Germanic based language while inhaling a noxious exhalation from their cigars. We children sat quietly inhaling through the noxious smoke and NOT complaining.

The second, Joe S, a son of an emigrant from Scotland, would, at least in the late summer months, sit outside in the shade of a very large weeping willow, surrounded by his grandchildren, relating stories about growing up in a miners family where an apple was a rare treat. Sitting, peeling an apple with an old buck knife and sharing his stories and his love for Jesus and his apples. Grandma and Grandpa almost always had a truant living with them who otherwise would have been a guest of the state. Guess which grandfather most influenced his grandchildren? 8 of his 14 grandchildren have been or are involved in prison ministry.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 11:4-7, ESV
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Psalm 11:4-7, JN paraphrase
A right down the middle of the LORD, GOD, the Almighty's loves and hates

The Righteous vs the Wicked

Righteous deeds vs Wicked deeds

The results

Behold His Face vs a rain of burning coals and sulfur, a scorching wind.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 119:9-16, ESV
Beth How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:9-16, JN paraphrase
Goal: Keep my way pure by:
1) Guarding my way according to the Word of the LORD.
2) Storing the Word in my heart
3) Examining possible actions against the lens of the Word.
4) Listening to the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT.
5) Meditate, delight, remember.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 11:1-3, ESV
To the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Psalm 11:1-3, JN paraphrase
The key to my protection is the foundation of the Word of the LORD. It is the only reliable protection against the slings and arrows of the evil one. Therefore I must be unfailing in maintaining the integrity of my understanding of the Scripture and application to my life.
My first question, is every circumstance, must be “What saith the LORD?” If the response is “Nothing or don’t worry”, pack your bag and run, John, there’s an arrow headed in your direction.

Recommended Reading

How about Table Talk, A monthly devotional with a stimulating series of daily devotionals and short commentaries on related subjects. We find it to be a very valuable wrap-up to our day in the trenches.

Psalm 10:16-18, ESV
The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Psalm 10:16-18, JN paraphrase
The ear of the LORD. The LORD, King forever, banish-er of nations, the ear of the afflicted, the bringer of justice to the fatherless and oppressed, the One who insures that Satan will strike terror no more against the Lord’s own.

Recommended Reading

Providence by John Piper. Piper takes two words, "God’s Benefice," replaces it with one word, "Providence" and then takes 704 pages to explain what he means. Truly a delightful read.

Psalm 10:13-15, ESV
Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.

Psalm 10:13-15, JN paraphrase
Can’t you just see the Wicked One shaking his fist at the LORD, God, the Almighty and declaring that the LORD does not exist and if He did anyway, He will have no right to call the critic to account. We, His people, are directed to step in and help the fatherless, and chastise the wicked one.

Recommended Reading

Providence by John Piper. Piper takes two words, "God’s Benefice," replaces it with one word, "Providence" and then takes 704 pages to explain what he means. Truly a delightful read.

Psalm 119:1-8, ESV
Aleph Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

Psalm 119:1-8, JN paraphrase
Complete perfection is marked by total obedience to the Word of the LORD. Their life is a walk that is marked by conformance to t he Law in every aspect.

Your Law is to be kept diligently—that is kept in every aspect. Then and only then will I be able to hold my head up as a diligent child of the LORD, God, the Almighty.

Then and only then will I be able to praise You with an upright heart. Guide me step by step.

Recommended Reading

Providence by John Piper. Piper takes two words, "God’s Benefice," replaces it with one word, "Providence" and then takes 704 pages to explain what he means. Truly a delightful read.

Note

The publication of“ Voices Together” and my participation in the Gathering and the Cafe, will be somewhat erratic for a time to come. Some medical problems will interfere from time to time. 17+ years of publishing VT without missing a day has come to an end.

I need to look at this phase of my life as a time of learning to minister to the elderly. The next step.

Psalm 10:12, NKJV
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.

Psalm 10:12, JN paraphrase
Brother Stan Gale wrote today in his column, “Rooted in Christ” that “we are to live lives consecrated to our God and conspicuous of His grace.” I believe that a consequence of this directive is that we will live in the shadow of His grace whether afflicted or not.

What a joy!

Recommended Reading

Providence by John Piper. Piper takes two words, "God’s Benefice," replaces it with one word, "Providence" and then takes 704 pages to explain what he means. Truly a delightful read.

Note

The publication of“ Voices Together” and my participation in the Gathering and the Cafe, will be somewhat erratic for a time to come. Some medical problems will interfere from time to time. 17+ years of publishing VT without missing a day has come to an end.

I need to look at this phase of my life as a time of learning to minister to the elderly. The next step.

Psalm 10:1-11, NKJV
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

Psalm 10:1-11, JN paraphrase
Why do You desert me, LORD? Here I am faced with a scoundrel who tops all scoundrels and You are hidden from me?

His arrogance tops all; he is convinced that You do not exist or if You do, his wisdom is superior to Yours. He knows not how to convince but only how to denigrate those who oppose him. The helpless are crushed by his venom; his triumph is the destruction of faith.

Recommended Reading

Providence by John Piper. Piper takes two words, "God’s Benefice," replaces it with one word, "Providence" and then takes 704 pages to explain what he means. Truly a delightful read.

Psalm 9:15-20, NKJV
The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah

The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Psalm 9:15-20, JN paraphrase
We have dug our own cesspool; we have lined it with foot entangler to insure maximum damage to all involved. We are indeed snared by our own hands. We cannot deny our involvement.

All who have forgotten the LORD, God, the Almighty, all the wicked, will be banished to the realm of the dead, but the poor will continue to struggle. LORD, may they continue the battle to support Your Holy Name.

Recommended Reading

Knowing God by J.I. Packer. Excellent for small group study, especially one that loves a paragraph-by-paragraph style of study.

Psalm 9:10-14, NKJV
Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

Psalm 9:10-14, JN paraphrase
I must sing my praises to the LORD so that His work as an Avenger in the causes of the afflicted will be recognized. Then I will be enabled and encouraged to praise the LORD where ever He puts me. Praise His Holy Name.

Recommended Reading

Knowing God by J.I. Packer. Excellent for small group study, especially one that loves a paragraph-by-paragraph style of study.

Psalm 119:169-176, NKJV
Taw Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.

Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Psalm 119:169-176, JN paraphrase
I need understanding of the Word of the LORD, understanding of the Word according to the Word. Deliverance according to the Word. Praise according to the Word. I will sing according to the Word.

I need Your hand to help as I seek to follow Your precepts for that is only the beginning of the battle. I have gone astray. I do not forgot so much as I deliberately ignore.

This is the conclusion of my first attempt to paraphrase the Psalms. A most useful exercise which I expect to repeat. Beginning next week.

Recommended Reading

Restore Us! A Call to Serious Prayer for Revival by T. M. Moore