Psalm 39:1-3

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence." I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:

Help me, Lord, to consider the effects of my tongue and to choose my words with care; to examine each word before it escapes from my mouth. Each word needs to be carefully tested against the four-fold filter of necessary? kind? truthful? loving? And teach me, Lord, to not hold back for fear of ridicule, rejection, or disagreement for these are all manifestations of pride of self.

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Psalm 38:17-22

For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. (19) But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. Those who render me evil for good accuse me because I follow after good. Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

My hope is in You, Lord, my hope is in You. We lean on You in this day of new beginnings. Especially a very, very precious friend, do not be far from her, guide her every footstep. Purge her from every temptation to revert ot the old habits of drugs and alcohol. Teach her to rely on You and You alone, that you are her strength and her salvation.

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Psalm 38:13-16

But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes. But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. For I said, "Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!"

I see, Lord, to be deaf and mute to the blandishments of the world but to be hearing and rejoicing in Your love. Keep those whom I minister and testify to from rejoicing in my failures but show them them power of Your love as You pick me up and set my feet on Your path once again.

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Psalm 38:9-12

O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes--it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

It is a life of continuous self-examination, continuous repentance and re-turning to You. A life of continuously seeking sanctification. A life of beating down the old man and invigorating the new man. A constant seeking Your strength and leading to turn from sin and to turn to You. You are the risen Lord who enables this process. Praise You, Lord.

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Psalm 38:1-8

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

What is there in my soul that has not been exposed to the Light? What filth and deception is hiding within me to separate me from You? Show lurking sin no mercy, Lord, excise it and restore to me a clean heart. Continue that work of sanctification in me that began with the cross and will end at Your return. Your love and mercy knows no boundaries, Your grace is triumphant over all my sin.

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Voices Together:

Psalm 37:34-40

Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (35) I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. (36) But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. (37) Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. (38) But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. (39) The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. (40) The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.

Wait on the Lord, -- patience, little man, patience. Keep His way -- perseverance, little man, perseverance. Take refuge in Him -- not in someone or something else, little man, in Him alone.

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Psalm 119:142-144

Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight. Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Righteous forever! Your righteousness and Your testimonies! A perfect North Star to guide me, never obscured by clouds only by vision dimmed by unwillingness. Where ever I go, where ever I am, no matter what the situation I am in, if I look to Your Word, it is righteous and true, never failing, the source of wisdom and understanding.

Psalm 37:12-33

The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish--like smoke they vanish away. The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives; for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. (26) He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. (31) The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death. The LORD will not abandon him to his power or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

The reward that is promised here is if I turn away from evil and seek Your face. To be upheld by You, to be kept from shame in times of great evil and to enjoy the abundance of Your provision in times of famine, to know that I inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, to know that when I trip You are there to catch me and keep me from stumbling, that my children will be cared for by You, that the word of my mouth are Your wisdom and Your justice, that Your law is written in my heart, and that You will not abandon me to the power of the wicked. Praise You, Lord.

Psalm 37:1-11

Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Oh, this is hard, Lord, it is so much easier to fret. To continue to trust in You as the world collapses around me, to continue to carry out Your directives for my life in the face of trials and temptations. To watch others live lives of idleness as You lay out areas of ministry for Betty and I. But the joy of being with You and in Your will far exceeds the temptations of the world.

Psalm 36:10-12

Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

I am dealing with arrogance, Lord, but is it the arrogance of others or mine? If mine; lead me in the path of repentance and transformation. If of others; lead me in the path of humility and love. And in all, give me the wisdom to recognize the source and respond appropriately.

Psalm 36:5-9

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

This morning, this beautiful morning as I sat in my chair, reading, studying, meditating and praying Your word, the day was dawning. Your sun was rising and revealing all the beauty of Your creation before me as its light lifted the darkness. Mountains, fields, trees, colors, shadows, stone walls, fences, barns, flower beds, all shouting the glories of the creation with their own voices. Praising Your goodness. I am awestruck by the display and filled with joy.

Psalm 36:1-4

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Lord, the ability of the unrepentant heart to justify and excuse behavior is an ability without superior. I know, deep in my heart that a course of behavior is wrong, but I can explain and justify why it is appropriate at this time and in these circumstances. I can conveniently forget that You hate evil and abhor sin. I am a master of self-justification and delusion.