Living As Light

Category: living in the Psalms

  • Call upon Him in truth!

    Psalms 75:1 NKJV
    [1] We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.75.1.NKJV

    Psalms 145:18 NKJV
    [18] The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.145.18.NKJV

    Psalms 104:28 NKJV
    [28] What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.104.28.NKJV

    James 1:17 NKJV
    [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/jas.1.17.NKJV

    His gifts to us are the works of His hands. He draws near to us as we lift up our hands and our hearts to Him. There are times when our greatest needs are beyond ourselves, and God alone can provide.

    Jehovah Jireh, our God provides; in His name is provision. He supplies our every need!

    We might not have everything we want, but He provides what we need, as we draw near to Him. He draws near to those who call upon Him in truth. He searches and knows our heart. He knows our deepest needs. When we pour out our hearts and our deepest grievances, and the stuff that is dragging us down and holding us back, He hears from heaven and sees our anguish and despair. He’s near to the brokenhearted, and great is His promise and His faithfulness. To those who call upon Him in truth, the truth will set them free

  • The righteous shall flourish

    Psalm 72:5-7 ESV
    [5] May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! [6] May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! [7] In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.72.5-7.ESV

    As Solomon prays for Israel, so these words apply to all who live by faith, trusting in the Lord and fear His name, “while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.” (Psalm 72:5)

    So we are to pray for our nation and its leadership; our President, vice President, Congress, Supreme Court, governors, mayors, and all officials, elected or appointed.

    As we pray for our leadership and hold them accountable, we are being faithful and obedient citizens, of both this earthly kingdom and the Kingdom of God. We are temporary citizens in this physical realm, but we are citizens of God’s eternal Kingdom as well.

    Our nation will flourish as we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, while praying for this land, this earthly place of our existence.

    This is how we flourish, as both a nation, and as individuals, living in this world, but knowing that we are not of this world, which is perishing every day.

    When we, the righteous, seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, we will flourish like Palm trees, like the cedars of Lebanon.

    Psalm 92:12-15 ESV
    [12]  The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. [13] They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. [14] They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, [15]  to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.92.12-15.ESV

  • Prisoner to my flesh or prisoner of God!

    We will all serve one or the other. Truth is, we get to choose daily who we will serve!

    The poor in spirit and the prisoner of the Lord:

    This is the state of those who humbly seek the Lord and His righteousness and His guidance;


    The Lord hears the poor and does not despise His prisoners Psalms 69:33

    We go to church and contribute of our tithes and offerings, sing hymns and songs of worship, we pray, we offer our help with church programs, etc. but is your  heart fully surrendered to God? Are you poor and needy? Are you the prisoner of the Lord? What does this mean for practical, daily living?


    Paul, in Ephesians 3:1 refers to himself as “the prisoner of Christ.” A prisoner is one who is in custody; more than a servant, much like a slave. But in this case Paul has surrendered himself; heart, mind, soul, and strength, offering himself as a living sacrifice to God. This is our reasonable act of worship.


    To be poor in spirit means to empty one of himself before God. When I come to the inner revelation that I have nothing to offer to God but myself; all of me, I realize how poor and needy I truly am; naked and destitute. There is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. My only response is to offer myself a living sacrifice before God. This is what it means to poor in spirit and the prisoner of Christ. I belong to Him, for I was bought (redeemed) at a great price. Therefore, my fitting response is to be fully committed to Him.
    The only way one can obey His commands to love God and one another is to become poor in spirit and surrender as a prisoner in chains.

    Psalms 69:30-33 NKJV
    [30] I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. [31] This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. [32] The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. [33] For the Lord hears the poor, And does not despise His prisoners.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.69.30-33.NKJV

    Psalms 28:7 NKJV
    [7] The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.28.7.NKJV

    Psalms 50:13-15 NKJV
    [13] Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? [14] Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. [15] Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.50.13-15.NKJV

    Psalms 34:2 NKJV
    [2] My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.34.2.NKJV

    Psalms 22:26 NKJV
    [26] The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.22.26.NKJV

    Psalms 68:6 NKJV
    [6] God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.68.6.NKJV

    Ephesians 3:1 NKJV
    [1] For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

    https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.3.1.NKJV

  • Out of the depths my soul cries

    Psalm 130:3-4 ESV
    [3] If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? [4] But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.130.3-4.ESV

    Nahum 1:6-7 ESV
    [6]  Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him. [7]  The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/nam.1.6-7.ESV

    Stronghold, refuge; we see these words often in the scriptures, especially in the Psalms, which are mostly prayers with accompanying music. In times of great struggles and trials, turning to God for comfort and strength. God ministers to us on the inside, in our hearts. He is our stronghold, our Rock, our refuge and strength. In Him we find safety and protection from the enemy that wars against our soul, attempting to rob our peace, kill our dreams and potential, and destroy us from the inside out.

    There is nothing so bad that God cannot forgive and lead us through. No matter how evil or wicked one thinks they are, God can forgive your past sins and cleanse your heart from the stains of iniquity.

    When life seems to have gotten the best of you, take refuge in Him, in God’s hands. He will shine His grace upon you. His mercies are new every morning, and great is His promise and His faithfulness. He will lead you like a Shepherd. He will provide for you and protect you. Trust in Him and His unfailing love. 

  • Take up your mighty shield of Faith!

    Psalm 64:10 ESV
    [10] Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.64.10.ESV

    Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
    [16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.6.16.NKJV

    I John 5:4-5 NKJV
    [4] For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. [5] Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.5.4-5.NKJV

    I John 2:13 NKJV
    [13] I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.2.13.NKJV

    I John 4:4 NKJV
    [4] You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.4.4.NKJV

    NLTPsalms 64:1-10 NLT
    [1] O God, listen to my complaint. Protect my life from my enemies’ threats. [2] Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. [3] They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. [4] They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly. [5] They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. “Who will ever notice?” they ask. [6] As they plot their crimes, they say, “We have devised the perfect plan!” Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning. [7] But God himself will shoot them with his arrows, suddenly striking them down. [8] Their own tongues will ruin them, and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. [9] Then everyone will be afraid; they will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all the amazing things he does. [10] The godly will rejoice in the Lord and find shelter in him. And those who do what is right will praise him.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.64.1-10.NLT

    All day long the enemy is at work, attempting to infiltrate my mind with the fiery darts of the wicked one and his worldly schemes.

    His goal is to shake my faith and cause me to fear man and his twisted thoughts and words, and to doubt God and the promises of His word.

    The greatest enemies are my own thoughts in the hands of the evil one. The devil will use other people and outside influences to invade my territory and take control of my heart, mind and soul, zapping my strength as I lose focus on the Lord and His firm grip on me.

    Paul instructs the church in Ephesians 6 to put on the full armor of God, which includes the shield of faith, with which we can quench the fiery darts of the enemy; those opposing thoughts, worldly philosophies, ideologies and mindsets; the strongholds of the world.

    When we raise our shield of faith, the enemy will not be able to penetrate that piece of armor, provided by the Holy Spirit living and working in me, that is, in my soul, at the core of my being.

    When we interlock our shield of faith with the shields of others, the enemy will be no match. When we stand together, as the Church, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we will be stronger yet, and be enabled by the Holy Spirit to love God and one another, as Jesus commands us to. This joining together fortifies and strengthens each of us, as we encourage and support each other in times of weakness and crisis.

    We will rejoice greatly as He hides us in the shadow and shelter of His wings. We will be enabled to walk uprightly and praise God in the presence of our enemies. That shield of faith is ours, because God freely provides it for the spiritual warfare we fight every day, knowing that the battle belongs to Him, and that in Him we have nothing short of victory in Jesus name!

  • The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need:Psalm 23:1

    Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
    [1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. [3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.23.1-6.NKJV

    Psalms 23:1 NIV
    [1] The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

    https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.23.1.NIV

    Isaiah 40:11 NLT
    [11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.40.11.NLT

    Psalms 78:52 NLT
    [52] But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.78.52.NLT

    Jeremiah 31:10 NLT
    [10] “Listen to this message from the Lord, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant coastlands: The Lord, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.31.10.NLT

    Ezekiel 34:11-12 NLT
    [11] “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep.

    [12] I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock.

    I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/ezk.34.11-12.NLT

    Jesus is the good shepherd

    John 10:11, 14 NLT
    [11]  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
    [14]  “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,

    https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.10.11-14.NLT

    1 Peter 2:25 NLT
    [25] Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.25.NLT

    Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
    [20] Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— [21] may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.13.20-21.NLT

    Psalms 34:9-10 NLT
    [9] Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. [10] Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.34.9-10.NLT

    The imagery of a shepherd leading his flock is used frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. Sheep are seen as simple, feeble, followers. They will follow whoever feeds them. They will keep on eating without paying attention to where they are going. Give them a hillside or field and they will wander, unless they have boundaries and a shepherd watching over them, feeding and protecting them from attacks of wild animals; wolves, foxes, etc.

    David, who is the writer of the 23rd Psalm, knew what a shepherd was from first hand experience. He was a shepherd boy when Samuel anointed him to be the king of Israel and the covenant bearer between God and Israel, as well as a prophetic type of Christ. In his bloodline there would always be a king, leading up to the coming Messiah, who will not only save His people from their sins, but lead them like a Shepherd, calling His lost sheep home and even leaving the 99 in the field, to go out and search for the sheep who have strayed and are lost.

    Here the Psalmist declared, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need, I lack nothing, I shall not be in want.” In other words, my God is the one who provides my every need, including my deepest needs.

    So often we are inclined to go after what we want and what we think we need and are entitled to, according to the world’s ways of thinking. From the time we are born, we are taught to provide for ourselves, to go after what we want, to be a go-getter. That is a noble thing. We should be able to use our own abilities to provide for ourselves and take care of our family and friends and our own needs. But often, need turns into greed, and we find ourselves lusting over that which we don’t have. Lust turns into coveting, which is one of the ten commandments; “thou shalt not covet.” Lusting and coveting go hand in hand. They are synonymous with one another. We lust for and covet what we do not have

    Declaring “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all I need” is the believers identifying, like David did, that God alone is my portion and my strength. I’m declaring within my heart, mind and soul, that Jehovah Jireh, God who provides, is watching over me. He will feed me, clothe me, shelter me. He is my provider, who will supply my every need. I will be satisfied with all He has provided. If there’s anything else that I need to I will wait for Him to provide.

    The Lord is my Shepherd

    The Lord is my portion

    I lack nothing that I need.

    Am I content with whatever God provides each day?

    Give us this day our bread for the day. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s bread and provision. Each day will bring its own portion. Be content with what you have and be thankful.

    1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT
    [6] Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.6.6-8.NLT

    Matthew 6:33 NLT
    [33] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.33.NLT

  • Psalm 19:12-14 God reveals himself to us internally.

    Psalms 19:12-14 NKJV
    [12] Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. [13] Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. [14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.19.12-14.NKJV

    As we observe the world above us, God reveals himself through His handiwork in the heavens and in the firmament above us.

    As we begin to see God through His creation above us and around us, we will be led to seek Him personally. Through the Word of God, Jesus Christ, who took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14) we can see God at work; in the world around us and in the world within us.

    As we read and meditate on the scriptures, the written word of God, our holy Bible, we come to know and experience the living power of God’s word as recorded in the scriptures. It is here that we might come to know God personally and intimately as Lord and Savior. This is God’s tabernacle, His sanctuary, our hearts yielded to Him, and His Holy Spirit taking up residence in our hearts. This is God’s internal revelation to each of us, at the core of our being. This place of Holy Communion is where we meet with God daily, 24/7.

    As we respond to God through His external revelation through the world above us and the world around us, He will reveal himself more personally and intimately, on the inside of us.

    The Psalmist asks, “who can understand his own errors, these sinful ways within his heart?” The truth is, the deeper we go with God, the more personal and intimate he will become with each of us. Conviction of sin and unrighteousness will intensity, and we will become more aware of our sinful nature and wickedness. We will come to the realization that there is nothing good in our flesh, as Paul alluded to in the book of Romans. As we see our own moral depravity and spiritual bankruptcy before a holy and righteous God, we will be led to the cross, where our redemption, salvation and forgiveness were paid for in full, as Jesus Christ was crucified, died, was buried, and rose from the dead, once for all time.

    Who does your heart belong to? That’s the question that comes to mind here. Who is directing your path and your steps? Many of will say “we believe in God and follow His ways”. But it really comes down to my heart. The ones He will reject at the judgement seat are the ones he never knew. They were religious, went to church, served the poor and did many noble and great things, but their hearts were still their own. They were not born again and they were directing their own path. When we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first, everything else will follow, including our motivation and purpose in doing good works. Our internal world must be connected  with and submitted to God so that we can properly love and serve the world around us. Loving as Christ loved, living as He lived, serving as He served.

    Who will lead you as you strive to understand your ways, and presumptuous sins; the ones we know full well to be wrong and sinful when we commit them.

    Who will enable you to see your hidden faults; those sins we commit unknowingly or without our realizing we have done wrong?

    Is He your Strength and Redeemer?

    It is only when our hearts are surrendered and bowed down to God, in humble submission to His presence and His will, that we can see what’s really going on inside of us, in our own heart.

    God will reveal Himself to us on the inside of our hearts, our inner sanctuary. It is here that He will bring His peace, comfort and strength as we struggle to live out our lives on our own terms. Let go and let God be God of your heart, and the director of your life and your ways.

  • Help, O Lord, for the godly are MIA

    Psalm 12

    The treachery of Man vs the constancy of God

    https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.12.NLT

    It often seems overwhelming when we look at the world and how it operates. Many times it seems like religious people aren’t any better. They claim to be Christians and followers of Christ, but act like everyone else in the world. This is way the world has been operating from the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned and were booted out of the garden. The goal of Satan from the beginning was to deceive us, destroy us and keep us separated from God.

    When Adam sinned and fell away from God, he immediately experienced separation from God, fracturing his one on one relationship with God, which was eventually restored through the finished work of Christ on the cross (Romans 5:14-19)

    The Psalmist, David, reflecting on the depraved nature of man vs the constancy and pure nature of God, came to the realization that all men are liars, murderers and thieves in their hearts; that the heart of man is desperately wicked and the only way to escape this foolishness and folly is to put their faith and trust in the promises of God and His word, which produces fruit leading to righteousness, holiness, justice and goodness. These are the traits of those who are citizens of God’s Kingdom. The kingdoms of this world operate according to its god, Satan, and his wicked ways, entrenched in darkness and deception.

    It’s not a new thing, nor a sign of the times, that the godly seem to be MIA and quickly disappearing from the earth.

    It has been said that evil thrives when good men stand by and do nothing. I would venture to say that these “good men” may not even be paying attention, because they’re caught up with the treacherous ways of this world,  compromised, and not focused on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is what true Christians seek first. When we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first in our lives, the wicked schemes and treacherous ways of this world become more noticeable and less desirable, as we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds, day to day.

    As we continue to feed on the word of God, our spirit will grow and our flesh will starve. The works of the flesh will have nowhere to go or grow and will give way to the Holy Spirit, working on the inside of our soul.

    Psalms 12:1-8 NLT
    [1] Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! [2] Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts. [3] May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues. [4] They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?” [5] The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.” [6] The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. [7] Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, [8] even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.12.1-8.NLT

    Micah 7:2-3 NLT
    [2] The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers. [3] Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/mic.7.2-3.NLT

    Isaiah 57:1 NLT
    [1] Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.57.1.NLT

  • Blessed be the Lord forever, Amen!

    Many of the Psalms end with a similar benediction or final words, which is the theme of the book of Psalms.

    Praise and worship of the Lord our God and Savior, forever, from everlasting to everlasting. God has always been present in the redemption of His people, from the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, to the book of Revelation. From beginning to end, God has been an ever-present help in time of need and great trouble.

    The Gospels record the time when Christ came, “in the fullness of time, to redeem those who were born under the law” (Galatians 4:4-5). The Gospels are the fulfillment of the law, the prophets and the Psalms, which is why many of the Psalms conclude with such words of praise and adoration. (See Luke 1:68ff)

    All of the Psalms, at some point, contain such words of praise, adoration, and recollection and reflection of God’s glory on His people.

    It is good for us to begin and end each day with our own words of praise, worship and thanksgiving. When our hearts and minds are in a right place to worship Him in spirit and in truth, then our prayers will be properly aligned with His heart and mind. Our prayers will then become more focused on God and His will, as opposed to our own will. Then we will truly be “servants of the Lord.”

    Psalms 41:13 NKJV
    [13] Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.41.13.NKJV

    Luke 1:68-75 NLT
    [68] “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. [69] He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, [70] just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. [71] Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. [72] He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— [73] the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. [74] We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, [75] in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.1.68-75.NLT

    Psalms 72:18-19 NLT
    [18] Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. [19] Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

    https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.72.18-19.NLT

    Psalms 89:52 NKJV
    [52] Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen.

    https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.89.52.NKJV

  • Live together in love and unity: Psalm 133

    Psalm 133:1-3 ESV
    [1] Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! [2] It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! [3] It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

    https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.133.1-3.ESV

    In Exodus, the anointing oil used for Aaron and his sons symbolized their consecration and set apart status for holy service to God, representing divine grace and spiritual authority.

    Divine Grace:
    The pouring of oil on Aaron’s head was seen as a symbol of God’s grace and favor being bestowed upon him and his descendants.

    Spiritual Authority:
    The anointing oil, along with the priestly garments, conveyed the authority and power needed to conduct religious rituals and represent God to the people.

    Unity and Blessing:
    The oil’s flow from Aaron’s head down to his beard and clothing in Psalm 133:2 is often interpreted as a symbol of unity and blessing flowing from God to the priests and then to the people.

    No imitation:
    The oil was “holy for the Lord” and no one was to make any like it, symbolizing the uniqueness and sacredness of God’s grace and power.

    Today, God’s divine grace and favor is poured out on every believer who repents of their sin, turns to Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest, and receives Him as Lord and Savior. His eternal sacrifice is applied, like oil poured on the head of Aaron, running down onto his beard. Covered from head to toe with God’s grace and favor.

    When we dwell together in unity, there is great love; grace,mercy and forgiveness, which completes the picture presented in Psalm 133, of the anointing oil that was poured out on Aaron and his sons, setting them apart as priests, chosen and anointed by God by His grace and power

    1 Peter 2:4-9 NLT
    [4] You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. [5] And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. [6] As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” [7] Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” [8] And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. [9] But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

    https://bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.4-9.NLT

    Because of God’s great grace and mercy poured out on us who have believed in His name, received Him as Lord and Savior, we can now share this same love and goodness with others. This is the complete picture as presented by the Psalmist here in Psalm 133. It’s a perfect picture of God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness and favor, poured out on us, anointing every believer to be His priests and intercessors, interceding on behalf of others. When we come together through prayer and support of one another, we are fulfilling God’s calling on our lives, which is the Great commandment.

    Love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. So many pictures that point to the will of God in our lives, living together in love and unity