Monday!!!  November 14, 2022.

Psalm 71.   24 verses.  Most commentators say this Psalm is anonymous, however, there are a few who attribute it to David.  Most say 71 is about “God’s help in Old Age.”  I can identify with this!  The reason some ascribe it to David is because they believe it may have been part of Psalm 70 which was written by David.  In 71, we see expressions used by David in other Psalms such as “rock of refuge” & “my rock and my fortress” in v.3; ”my enemies” in v.10; “do not be far from me” & “my God, hurry to help me” in v.12.  There are others & these tell us that 71 very well could have been wtitten by David.  As we walk through 71, I believe it is prudent to believe that David is writing in his old age.  One other hint that makes me believe that David is the author is this tidbit.  The Psalms are divided into 5 books.  This Psalm is in the second book.  Book 2 includes Psalms 42-72 & in 72:20 it states: “This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse”.  Further evidence to me that David is the author of 71.  This is my opinion only,  but I believe what I read in God’s Word.  This Psalm is clearly about old age & is for everyone who is older like me & for those who one day will be old.  Sooner or later, everyone reaches that point in life.  Many commentators have their ideas as to how many parts exist in 71.  I believe the main thing is for us to know there are 4 affirmations about the Lord & the help He gives to those who call on Him & trust Him.  Those topics are: 1-old age & its problems; 2-how the past looks from the perspective of old age;

3-the future in terms of what is yet to be done; 4-praise from one who has lived long enough to have seen God’s faithful ways.  So, we will begin to look at the first affirmation tomorrow.  May God bless all of you as we draw near to the Thanksgiving holiday. This time of year is always a good time to examine why you are thankful & what are you thankful for.  It is a time to examine ourselves.  Love One Another because Jesus 1st loved us!   Have a great week!

Pastor Mike

Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

Psalm 71.  Yesterday, I told you that we  will consider that David is the writer & that he gives us 4 affirmations about the Lord & the help He gives to those who call on Him & trust Him.  Again, 24 verses & we begin with verses 1-4.  Remember, David is older in age as he writes about his confidence in his faith as he was strengthened by his many experiences.  Getting older has its advantages, but there are also some disadvantages.  There was a time in America when older folks were respected.  People valued them for their wisdom.  Today,  I don’t see it.  Like David, many of us older folks have serious problems because of our older age.  Sometimes,  those problems are just the very basic problems we face.  In these first 4 verses, David is telling us the Lord will help him now because he calls on his Lord.  “Lord, I seek refuge in You.”  I would say that one of the most noticeable things about getting older is the loss of energy & strength.  Our vision deteriorates, our hearing is less, our memory seems to decay.  In v.9, David asks the Lord to not abandon him as his strength fails.  David is asking the Lord to protect him & deliver him so he can stay true to his faith & not be ashamed.

Read 1 John 2:28.  David still looks to God as his refuge, his “rock of refuge” where he can always go.  In v.3, he says: “You are my rock and my fortress.”  Doesn’t that give you comfort knowing that God is waiting on you to call on him & He will answer?  No matter how many threats come his way, David continues to hope in his Lord as he has done since he was as young man.  David had faced many difficulties throughout his life & those things do not go away as we get older.  That is what David is finding out.  His enemies are still after him.  It is the same with us.  And the thing is this;  as we age, we are far less able to deal with them as we did in our younger days.  David recognized that as he grew older he had fewer people to help him.  Same with us, especially when we lose a spouse or our kids are too busy to check on us.  What does David do?  In v.4, he asks God to “deliver him from the power of the wicked.”  David may have fewer people to help him—BUT— he still has the Lord.  If you are a Christian,  you too still have the Lord.  Truthfully, He is the only One who is with us & able to help us when we are alone.

David wasn’t going to run away & hide.  He is as simply asking the Lord for the strength he needed to face life’s challenges.  In closing for today, know this.  The word “righteousness” is mentioned 5 times in this Psalm.  It is referring to one of God’s attributes.  It is also telling us that God is faithful to keep His word.  He helps us in our time of trouble or difficulty.  He is our refuge, our rock & fortress.  Reach out to someone in need.  Love One Another.  Pastor Mike

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Psalm 71.  David gives us 4 affirmations about the Lord & how He helps those who call on Him & trust Him.  Yesterday, we looked at the 1st affirmation: The Lord Helps us Now-Today.  Today, we look at the 2nd affirmation: We look back at how the Lord has helped us in the Past.  Verses 5-13.  The very first thing David says in v.5:  “For You are my Hope, Lord God”.  Is the Lord God your hope?  If you have never entered into a personal relationship with Jesus, there is no better time than now!  The Bible says: “Today is the day of salvation.”  Today can be the day you ask Jesus to be your Savior.  Today can be the day you can know for certain that IF you died today, you will go to heaven & enter paradise with Jesus, the hope of your salvation.  Then, like David, you too can say: For You are my hope, Lord God.  Settle that in your heart today!  As David reflects on his life, he begins to look back on his life & recognize the many blessings he has experienced in the past.  Maybe he was discouraged about getting older or maybe how bad it is to grow old.  Some of it was because of the enemies after him.  Listen.  God gives us old age as a gift.  Even in old age, we are to live life abundantly.  John 10:10.  Read it!

We should live in our older age to glorify the Lord & to be a blessing to others.  David is reflecting on his earlier years & what he has learned ftom God.  He says in v.5:

“…my confidence from my youth.”

V.6.  “I have leaned on You from my mother’s womb.  My praise is always on You.”  Think about that.  Are you praising the Lord always?   David is saying that from conception to birth & from birth to a young man, the Lord was with him.  It is the same with us.  David is telling us that no matter what he experiences,  he was not about to abandon the Lord in his old age.

Like David, those of us who have reached olde age, we understand the problems that come our way.

Look at v.7.  What do you think David meant when he says: “I have become an ominous sign (portent) to many”?  It can mean “wonder” which can mean a special display of God’s power.  It can mean something good or bad.  Maybe it shows how God has protected & blessed David or it could refer to the greatness of his sufferings.   As he reflects, maybe it is both.  We too can reflect on trials & sufferings & remember that God is still our hope.  I believe David is simply asking God to sustain him in his old age.  I certainly desire that.  There were many times in David’s life that he endured, but he never stopped trusting the Lord & he never denied the Lord.  In v.9,  he tells the Lord to not “discard him in his old age.”   His enemies will continue to talk behind his back & plot against him—but—-he asks God to stay close to him & hurry to “rescue him.”  David knows the Lord will disgrace & destroy his enemies.  Why?  V.5: “For You are my hope, Lord God.”

As Christians,  we never retire from serving Christ, because Jesus is our HOPE!!!  Lots to think about.  Have a wonderful Hump day & even in our older age, Love One Another & share the Hope of Jesus!  Pastor Mike

Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Psalm 71.  We are 2 days into David’s 4 affirmations about the Lord & how He helps those who call on Him.  The 1st was “The Lord Helps Me Now.”   In his old age, David recognized the Lord still was available to him.  The 2nd was David remembering “The Lord Helped Him in The Past.”  So today, we look at the 3rd affirmation.   David had hope that “The Lord would Help Him in the Future.”  Verses 14-21.  Let’s take a look.  David says: “But I will hope continually and will praise You more and more.”   Think about getting older.  I see many older people complaining about getting older.  They are cranky & basically unhappy.  Maybe their circumstances warrant cranky & unhappiness.  Maybe their aches & pains cause them to be cranky & unhappy.  Maybe it is their past that makes them feel this way.  David did not see it that way. David  looked back in his past & remembered God’s faithfulness & goodness over the long years of his life.  The remaining verses are all about David proclaiming God’s wonderful works & His power to “another generation.”  V.18.  He knew his future was secure.  Our future is secure when Jesus is our Lord & Savior. David’s hope in v.14 means that he will be patient in the Lord’s delays & in his disappointments.  David knew there was more work to do as noted in v.18 as he testified about those coming generations.  Today, as we grow older, we will see some fall away from the Lord & deny Him.  I have heard men say: “Well, I have served the Lord for many years.  I am old & it is time for the younger folks to pick up the slack.”.  My grandfather was a great example for me.  He was 96 when he went to be with the Lord & he faithfully served Jesus right up to the day God called him home.  There is no retirement in kingdom work.  David knew that.  We have the responsibility to teach those younger than us.  David would continue to be faithful & be a witness for his Lord

& so should we!  We have been around longer than the young people & the Lord has equipped us to help them. David wanted, he desired to tell the next generation what the Lord could do for them.  That is 1 reason why he would continue to praise his Lord.  In verses 19-21, David knew that even death wouldn’t separated him from his God.  V.20 is important.  David admits the Lord caused him to experience “many troubles and misfortunes.”   The phrase “from the depths of the earth” tells us that no matter how far we fall—the Lord is mighty to save.  David knew that no matter what happened, no matter what his enemies said about him or did to him—the day would come when God Almighty would honor him & reward him for his faithfulness & his obedience.  May our faith be strengthened to know the Lord will help us in the future.   Have a great day & finish your week strong!

Pastor Mike

Friday, November 18, 2022.

We come to the end of the week & the end of Psalm 71.  So, we have talked about David’s 4 affirmations about the Lord & the help He gives to those who call on Him & trust Him.  In the final 3 verses, David praises the Lord for His Help.   Let me remind you that David received many gifts from God.  He was a poet, a singer & he played instruments.  He used all of his gifts to praise the Lord.  Everyone of of us has a gift. We possess some kind of gift to be utilized in growing the kingdom of God.  What is yours?  If you have not discovered your gift,  that tells me you are probably not serving somewhere.  To discover your God given gift,  you must step out of your comfort zone & get involved.

Get involved where the Holy Spirit is working in & through others & He will direct you to the place He needs you most—BUT—you must get involved!  In v. 22, David calls His name the “Holy One of Israel”.  That name is used only 3 times in the Psalms.  (78:41 & 89:18) It is used 30 times in Isaiah.  David gives his best to his Lord.  Spurgeon says: “Love so amazing calls for sweetest praise.”.  In verses 8 & 24, David praises & honors & proclaims by singing & shouting praises to His Lord “all day long.”   Do you ever think of the Lord during the day & just shout out praises to Him?   David opened 71 by asking God to make sure he would never be put to shame & confusion.  Now, here at the end, he closes with the assurance that his enemies would be put to shame & confusion.  David looked back.  He looked at his enemies around him.  He looked ahead at his old age & the problems he faced & in v.20, he even looked into the “depths of the earth.”   But, when David looked up, he realized that God’s “righteousness reaches heaven.”

That gave David confidence & assurance so that he left all his worries with the Lord.  How about you?  Are you a worry wart?   David’s 4 affirmations.

1-The Lord helped him Now!   He will do the same for us—IF!

2-The Lord helped him in the past.  If you are a Christian & trust the Lord—look back & remember how He has helped you.

3-David knew the Lord would continue helping him in the future because David remained faithful.

4-David praised the Lord all day long & we should too!  David realized the Lord had discipled him his entire life.  Discipleship must be life long.  We all face trials & we can have the same confidence as David as we go through them. Have a great weekend.  The planning for Thanksgiving has already begun.

Be blessed!  Pastor Mike