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Excerpts from Psalm 78 (Teach your children the stories of the Bible)

“O my people, listen to my instructions. Open you ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past- stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.

For He issued His laws to Jacob; He gave His instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them – even the children not yet born – and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.”

Psalm 78: vv. 1-7, NLT

Excerpts from Psalm 73

This is a psalm of Asaph (a musician on the Temple)

In the beginning of Psalm 73, Asaph envies prosperity of those who were wicked. He envies their lives that seemed to not be troubled or or have problems. He goes on to say they are like “fat cats” who have everything their heart could wish for. (v.7) NLT

Then Asap figures it out. “So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into Your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, You put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When You arise, O Lord, You will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Then I realized why my heart was bitter and was only torn up inside . I was so foolish and ignorant – I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You. Yet still I belong to You: You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, leading to a glorious destiny.

Whom have I in heaven but You? Desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.

Those who desert Him will perish, for You destroy those who abandon You. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.” (vv. 16-28) NLT

Psalm 67

“May God be merciful and bless us. May His face smile with favor on us.

May Your ways be known throughout the earth, Your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise You, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise You. Let the whole world sing for joy, because You govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.

May the nations praise You, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise You. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear Him” (NLT)

God is our Refuge and Strength

“O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the heart, I cry to You to help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for You are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in Your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of Your wings!” Psalm 61: 1-4 (NLT)

“I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT)

“O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8 (NLT)

“God has spoken plain, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to You; unfailing love, O Lord, is Yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they ave done.” Psalm 62:11 (NLT)

Verses of Praise and Encouragement from Psalms

Psalms 46:10-11 NLT – “Be still, and know that I m God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”

Psalm 47:1-2 NLT -“Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise! For the Lord Most High is awesome, He is the great King of all the earth.”

Psalms 48:9-10 NLT- “O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love as we worship in Your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, You will be praised to the ends of the earth.”

Psalm 51:1-2 NLT – “Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.”

Psalm 51:10-12 NLT -” Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a clean spirit with me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”

Psalm 52:9 NLT – “I will praise You forever, O God, for what You have done. I trust in Your good name in the presence of Your faithful people.”

Hope from Discouragement Psalms 42

“My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be; I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Whys my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again – my Savior and my God!” (vv. 4-5) NLT

“But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life.” (v. 8) NLT

“Why am I discouraged: Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again – my Savior and my God!” (v11) NLT

Words of Encouragement from Psalm 37

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.” (v.3) NLT

“Commit everything you to do the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like a noonday sun. Be sill in the presence of he Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”Stop being angry! Do not lose your temper- it only leads to harm.” (vv. 5-8) NLT

“The Lord direct the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” (vv. 23-24) NLT

“The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from His path.” (vv. 30-31) NLT

“Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along His path.”(v. 34) NLT

Psalm 36

Another Psalm from King David. His message is as pertinent today as it was in his lifetime.

“Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked that really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil.

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; Your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.

You feed them from the abundance of Your own house; letting them drink from Your river of delights. For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Pour out Your unfailing love on those who love You; give justice to those with honest hearts. Don’t let the proud trample me or the wicked push me around. Look! Those who do evil have fallen! They are throw down, never to rise again.”

(Translation this chapter is from the New Living Translation)

Excerpts Psalm 35

Psalms 35 is another Psalm of King David where he asks the Lord to protect him from those who are trying to trap and destroy him.

“O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. (v.1) NLT

“I did them no wrong, but they laid a trap for me. but yet they dug a pit to catch me. (v. 7) NLT

“Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair. ” (vv.11-12) NLT

“But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know;they slander me constantly. They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.” (vv. 15-16) NLT

“They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business. They shout, “”Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we saw him do it!” (vv. 20-21) NLT

“Declare me not guilty, O Lord, my God, for You give me justice. Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles. Don’t let them say, “”Look, we got what we wanted. Now we will eat him alive!”” May those who who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced.

Let those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor. But give great joy who came to my defense. Let them continually say, “”Great is the Lord, who delights in blessing His servant with peace.”” Then I will proclaim Your justice, and I will praise You all day long. ” (vv. 26-28) NLT

Excerpts Psalm 34, Part II

“Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watches over those who do right; His ears are open to their cries for help. But the the Lord turns His face against those who do evil; He will erase their memory from the earth.

The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces may troubles, but the Lord come to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and the who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve Him. No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.” (vv. 11-22) NLT