Psalm 119 | Part 6 | Psalms for Shepherds

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Psalm 119 | Part 6 | Psalms for Shepherds

An audible devotional on Psalm 119 | Part 6

November 25, 2023 • Holly Culhane, Psalms for Shepherds • Psalm 119:41–48

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This is week 6 of our time in Psalm 119 and we are covering the sixth letter in this Hebrew acrostic, known as Waw (Vaav).

When I read Psalm 119: 41-48 in preparation for today’s podcast, the song writer’s desire was to honor the Father in how he responded to others in every situation. It was so clear when he was mocked, in public and in private, with those with much influence and with those of little influence. In every situation, his desire was to give godly answers, without embarrassment or shame.

The psalmist apparently had been lied about, slandered, and his life threatened and, still, his request was that he respond in the manner that honored the Father because he loved Him and trusted in God’s Word.

We know that in those moments, we must be prepared for battle with the enemy. We must be suited up with God’s armor, a part of which is the belt of truth, so we know the truth and can speak truth in every situation. That was the psalmist’s desire and it must be our desire as well.

We also know there are those moments when we send what some call “telegraph prayers” to the Father, seeking His immediate help and assistance. They’re almost like an SOS message or 9-1-1 call. They’re swift, and they’re urgent!

In the midst of challenging situations, when confronted with speech that leaves us at a loss for words or when faced with mental turmoil that tempts us to respond in a manner inconsistent with representing our Good Shepherd, or when confronted with slander, lies, or inquiries about our faith that trigger fear and uncertainty in articulating a response—these are the moments when we must engage in a specific kind of prayer, akin to a "telegraph prayer." In this prayer, we earnestly seek immediate insight and wisdom from the Father. We ask for a quick recall of His teachings and meditations, so that, grounded in the Scriptures, we can articulate His words in His way. This intentional form of prayer serves as a lifeline, guiding us through challenging moments with grace and clarity.

I can think of moments when, in milli-seconds, I sent a request to the Father to hear my prayer, provide His wisdom, and fill my mouth with His words to literally let the Holy Spirit speak through me. You have probably done the same thing.

So, as we look at this passage, these seven verses, we are reminded that both God speaks to us and, often, at the same time, the enemy is speaking, which is why we must know the truth we hear that God’s people speak to the Father, as demonstrated as the telegraph prayers mentioned earlier, we are reminded how we live matters and it speaks for the Lord – almost on behalf of Him as we are surrounded by the sheep of His pasture, and that we speak to others.

My dear under-shepherd, we need God’s Word in our lives, His precepts, so that we might study them, meditate on them, know them, and live them.

How we must stay so closely connected to the Father that we can and do, in fact, call upon Him in the SOS and 9-1-1 moments of our lives, as well as when we begin a day, when we end our day, and when we take pauses throughout our day.

We must be in constant communication with Him so that we can fall more and more in love with Him, More and more in love with His commandments, His way, and His will, relishing every fragment of His counsel.

It is only then that as the sheep of His pasture, we can truly shepherd well the sheep entrusted to our care.

Thank you for joining me. I pray you will in fact live deeply into your calling 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.