Psalm 119 | Part 7 | Psalms for Shepherds

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Psalm 119 | Part 7 | Psalms for Shepherds

An audible devotional on Psalm 119 | Part 7

December 2, 2023 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:49–56

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This is week 7 of our extended time in Psalm 119 of this lengthy psalm, verse 49 through 56, covering the seventh letter in this Hebrew acrostic, known as Zayin.

I know that if we look at this passage in most of our Bibles, we’ll see that Hebrew letter over it as a header, but as I read these eight verses, I want to write the word “HOPE” – in all capital letters, like a neon flashing sign – above this portion of Psalm 119. It’s steeped in HOPE. HOPE in God’s promises. HOPE in God’s precepts, statutes, and teaching. HOPE in His comfort. HOPE in His protection. HOPE in His provision. HOPE in His presence. HOPE in the time He has me as a foreigner in this world. And HOPE in the blessing of His salvation.

How many of us as the Father’s under-shepherds claim the hope that is in Jesus, yet do not make obeying, guarding, watching, protecting, keeping, and preserving His precepts our practice, a true habit, a priority???

When it’s the darkest, when there are, in fact, illicit, illegal, and immoral activities happening in our world, do we “remember” or “consider” His name, so that we consider His regulations, His Word? As an under-shepherd, do we stand up for right? Do we remember Truth and speak out on behalf of the Father’s statues in a healthy, godly manner?

Our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd never forgets us. We are always on His mind. He always considers us! He knows the number of hairs on our heads, the number of tears that we’ve cried, and the exact number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds we will have on this earth until He comes again or until He takes us home.

Very few of us, I would guess, truly have a God-honoring kind of raging, feverish, scorching indignation grasping us because of the evil ones who have deserted or rejected the teaching of the Good Shepherd. Too few of us really are His godly under-shepherds even when it gets hard, or when times are turbulent, or even when we’re the only one left – as far as we know – on our work team or in our school, or sometimes, even in our church, who stands for the Father and His law.

But this psalmist was that kind of under-shepherd. He “remembered” God’s Word, commemorating it, and considering every part of it, standing up for it.

That is devotion, my friend. And that is how we are to view God’s Word and His law today

For the psalmist, that constructive action was writing songs that speak truth and are still edifying and encouraging us to walk in the light of God’s Word three thousand years later.

What is the constructive action the Father has been prompting you to take?

Is there something the Father has asked you to provide for the flock under your care, but you’re resisting? Is there a portion of His precepts, His teaching that He has called you to protect, but you have yet to act? Has the Holy Spirit prompted you to demonstrate presence in a way that stretches you, maybe even makes you uncomfortable and you are hesitating?

Consider the sacrifice the Good Shepherd made for you, out of obedience to His Father.

May we all be challenged today to move beyond service to those around us, to submission to the Father, that is often demonstrated through sacrifice, giving up what we desire or prefer for the good of another, for what the Father is asking us to do.

Thank you for joining me. May you shepherd well this week!

Psalm 119 | Part 20 | Psalms for Shepherds

May 4, 2024 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:153–160

Today, we’re looking at verses 153 through 160, the stanza of this Psalm that is based on the 20th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Resh. As I read this psalm, I thought how much the psalmist sounds like us when we come before our Lord in desperation. We often ask for him to save us from whatever we’re facing. And, while making the request to Him, we often remind Him of His mercies, how we are promised from His Word – which we believe is true and faithful – that those mercies are new every morning, and we beg Him to shower them down upon us in this day and at this time. We want God to see our needs, just as the psalmist wanted the Almighty to see his needs. In fact, the psalmist used the same word here that Abraham used when he assured Isaac that God would “see to it” or, in other words, provide the sacrifice necessary for the altar Abraham had built. Abraham knew that God would provide a way to rescue Isaac. And the psalmist knew our Lord would rescue him. Fellow under-shepherd, please be as assured as Abraham was with Isaac that He will provide what you need during this time. Please be assured that He is full of mercy, and that His Word is truth. He will and is shepherding you perfectly during this time. My prayer is that you will hear His voice, that you will respond with obedience, and that your faith will be bolstered while you experience His mercy and follow His truths. Thank you for joining me.

Psalm 119 | Part 19 | Psalms for Shepherds

April 6, 2024 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:145–152

This is Holly Culhane with Presence Point and welcome to week 19 of 22 in our series on Psalm 119. Today, we’re looking at verses 145 through 152, the stanza of this Psalm that is based on the 19th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Qoph (pronounced KUPH or KOPH). This passage is a reminder to us as under-shepherds, to go often to the Father on our behalf and on behalf of the sheep n our lives and to do so as an act of love, with our eyes open, to watch and pray as Nehemiah did, and as Jesus, Paul, and Peter commanded us “to watch and pray”, to be alert, ready, and aware of what is happening around us, because as Warren Wiersbe alerts, “We are soldiers in a battle and we dare not go to sleep while on duty.” We are, in fact, on duty, fellow shepherd. We are, in fact, responsible for those we lead, for how we influence those with whom we come in contact, for the behaviors we demonstrate, for watching out for the well-being of those who report to us, of those we report to, and of those we work, stand, and fight with - at home, at church, and in our communities. I pray that we will often reach out to the Father IN LOVE, not with an ask, but in gratitude. And may we, in fact, remember that ARE in a battle, that the sheep of our pasture are counting on us, and that we dare not go to sleep. Thank you for joining me.

Psalm 119 | Part 18 | Psalms for Shepherds

March 30, 2024 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds, P4S • Psalm 119:137–144

This is Holly Culhane with Presence Point and welcome to week 18 of our series on Psalm 119. Today, we’re looking at verses 137 through 144, the stanza of this Psalm that is based on the 18th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tsadhe (pronounced SAHdi). the Puritans had a deep and meaningful prayer life, as illustrated in the collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions in the book, The Valley of Vision. One of those prayers reminded me of the portion of Psalm 119 we are reviewing today. Please join me in praying this Puritan prayer, in an updated format for the 21st Century. O GOD MOST HIGH, MOST GLORIOUS, The thought of Your infinite serenity cheers me, For I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed, but You are forever at perfect peace. Your designs cause You no fear or care of unfulfillment, they stand fast as the eternal hills. Your power knows no bond, Your goodness no stint. You bring order out of confusion, and my defeats are Your victories: The Lord God omnipotent reigns. I come to You as a sinner with cares and sorrows, to leave every concern entirely to You, every sin calling for Christ's precious blood; Revive deep spirituality in my heart; Let me live near to the great Shepherd, hear his voice, know its tones, follow its calls. Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth, from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit. Give me a more intense faith in the eternal verities, burning into me by experience the things I know; Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel, that I may bear its reproach, vindicate it, see Jesus as its essence, know in it the power of the Spirit. Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill; unbelief mars my confidence, sin makes me forget You. Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots; Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to You, that all else is trifling. Your presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong, and happy. Abide in me, gracious God. Amen. I pray, dear fellow shepherd leader, that you will camp a bit on the words on Psalm 119, verses 137 to 144, that you will listen to that prayer again, praying it for yourself, and that the Father’s righteousness will, indeed, spur you on to faithful obedience. He deserves it. We should be compelled to it. Our sheep - the sheep of His pasture who have been made in His image - merit it. Thank you for joining me.