Psalm 23 - beautifully translated in Bahasa Indonesia

With our choral group Grace Notes not meeting up for practice since the month of March, I am still trying to connect each other by encouraging all of us to do a daily devotion together. 

So some of us are doing this devotion from YouVersion: Journal - Psalms courtesy of International English Service Jakarta.

It is a very good reading plan. 

In the devotion on Psalm 23, we were recommended to read the psalm in Bahasa Indonesia with it being a beautiful translation of the Hebrew. 

I can't find an online Malay Bible, and so looking at the Bahasa Indonesia version, it is indeed very beautiful written:

 

Mazmur 23

TUHAN adalah gembalaku, takkan kekurangan aku.

Ia membaringkan aku di padang yang berumput hijau, 

Ia membimbing aku ke air yang tenang;

Ia menyegarkan jiwaku. 

Ia menuntun aku di jalan yang benar oleh karena nama-Nya.

Sekalipun aku berjalan dalam lembah kekelaman, aku tidak takut bahaya, 

sebab Engkau besertaku; 

gada-Mu dan tongkat-Mu, 

itulah yang menghibur aku.

Engkau menyediakan hidangan bagiku, 

di hadapan lawanku; 

Engkau mengurapi kepalaku dengan minyak; 

pialaku penuh melimpah.

Kebajikan dan kemurahan belaka akan mengikuti aku, seumur hidupku; 

dan aku akan diam dalam rumah TUHAN sepanjang masa.

I'm so thankful to the LORD, kerana saya dapat berdiam diri bukan sahaja di rumah saya sendiri, tetapi lebih pentingnya seumur hidupku boleh saya berdiam diri dalam rumah Tuhan sepanjang masa. 

pearlie

I am thankful

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! 

His faithful love endures forever. 

Has the LORD redeemed you? 

Then speak out! 

Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalm 107:1-2 (NLT)

I'm only so thankful to the LORD for what he has done in all my life, even the little thing today which is a big thing to me. 

Thank you Abba. 

pearlie

When I didn't feel like attending church

I've been getting quite stressed up lately and I didn't feel like going to church this morning, which doesn't happen in all my life. 

Well, not that it doesn't, just that it's very rare.

However, I made the decision to go anyway. I know I didn't feel like it but I know I had to. 

So I turned up for service, and it turns out it's a good thing I did. 

I have always looked forward to Dr Leong Tian Fock's sessions and I didn't know he was preaching today. 

His sermon on Psalm 44, A House of Prayer: Through the Psalms of Lament was what I needed. 

He said at one point that there is no point in hiding from God. Because if we do, we are denying the fact that he is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving. 

He knows anyway, and he has the power to do something and he loves me. 

That's all I need to know for now to get myself right again with him. 

pearlie

A sunburst of musical diamonds

I have always found public praying hard and would rather not do it, but I still have to as a worship leader, and so when I came across this book, I quickly bought a copy and began reading.

Leading in Prayer, A Workbook for Worship

by Hughes Oliphant Old

I have only just started but have already found it very useful. My next rostered duty will be a month away, which gives me enough time to finish reading it.

It will definitely become my reference book from now on when I prepare to worship lead. 

It is also a very good read. Whilst reading the chapter on The Psalms as Prayer, there is a considerable section on singing the Psalms. And I read this line, highlighted here:

I like how the author described it as "a sunburst of musical diamonds." 

Wow, it definitely makes me want to check it out. 

It is indeed lovely and I wish I'll be able to one day sing it in a cathedral with the most wonderful acoustics. 

Check it out, if you do appreciate 15th century high church music, that is. 

pearlie

Tired but happy

I'm tired but happy.

It was a really long day today with back to back meetings but I'm happy with how the day went.

My colleague did say to me once that it seems to take very little to make me happy. 

I'm not sure if that's the case but now at this age, I think I have lowered down my life expectations. 

Life's not perfect but nonetheless, I feel I'm blessed and I'm thankful to God for it. 

Trust in the LORD, and do good; 

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD, 

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

~ Psalm 37:3-4 (ESV)

pearlie

Create in Me a Clean Heart

I was leading worship today, and with today's theme according to Psalm 51, I chose this song by Sovereign Grace and like most of their songs, it's timing is quite interesting. Take a listen. It's quite a good one.

pearlie

Praying the Psalm: Psalm 139

Psalm 139:1-24 ESV

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 

you discern my thoughts from afar. 

You search out my path and my lying down 

and are acquainted with all my ways. 

Even before a word is on my tongue, 

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before, 

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 

it is high; I cannot attain it. 

Where shall I go from your Spirit? 

Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! 

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 

If I take the wings of the morning 

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

even there your hand shall lead me, 

and your right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, 

and the light about me be night," 

even the darkness is not dark to you; 

the night is bright as the day, 

for darkness is as light with you. 

For you formed my inward parts; 

you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Wonderful are your works; 

my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you, 

when I was being made in secret, 

intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; 

in your book were written, every one of them, 

the days that were formed for me, 

when as yet there was none of them. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 

How vast is the sum of them! 

If I would count them, they are more than the sand. 

I awake, and I am still with you. 

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! 

O men of blood, depart from me! 

They speak against you with malicious intent; 

your enemies take your name in vain. 

Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? 

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 

I hate them with complete hatred; 

I count them my enemies. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart! 

Try me and know my thoughts! 

And see if there be any grievous way in me, 

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Amen.

pearlie 

The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear?

Psalm 27:1-14 (ESV)

The LORD is my light and my salvation; 

whom shall I fear? 

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; 

of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, 

my adversaries and foes, 

it is they who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me, 

my heart shall not fear; 

though war arise against me, 

yet I will be confident.

One thing have I asked of the LORD,

that will I seek after: 

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, 

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; 

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; 

he will lift me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, 

and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; 

be gracious to me and answer me! 

You have said, "Seek my face." 

My heart says to you, 

"Your face, LORD, do I seek."

Hide not your face from me.

Turn not your servant away in anger, 

O you who have been my help. 

Cast me not off; 

forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, 

but the LORD will take me in. 

Teach me your way, O LORD, 

and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 

Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; 

for false witnesses have risen against me, 

and they breathe out violence. 

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 

Wait for the LORD; 

be strong, and let your heart take courage; 

wait for the LORD!

pearlie

Ten years ago: Oh, that I had wings

 

And I say, 

"Oh, that I had wings like a dove! 

I would fly away and be at rest;
yes, I would wander far away; 

I would lodge in the wilderness; 

Selah.

Psalm 55:6-7

These have always been my favourite verses, since school days. I still remember those late nights studying and being so tired. I would recite these verses and feel at peace with God knowing that His grace is sufficient for me. 

I still love these words - they bring me peace to know that I can be alone with God and be safe.

That was me 10 years ago. I still feel the same today, 10 years later.

pearlie 

My times are in God's hands

 

pearlie

Who am I that you would care for me?

Psalm 8 (NLT)
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

pearlie

Bono and Eugene Peterson

My hubby showed me this video today which I thought was very good. This short documentary was released by Fuller Studios, which I presume is tied to the Fuller Theological Seminary. 

It is quite insightful to listen to them both talking about music and lyrics, the inevitable violence in this world, and the honesty of Christian music. It's worth a watch, and what a lovely to live in where Eugene Peterson's home is. What a spectacular view. It's also quite amusing how Mrs Peterson was chiding Bono at the end of the video as he was leaving. 

It is also featured in this article in Huffington Post: Bono Wants Christian Music To Get More Honest. 

pearlie

Psalms 37:1-11

1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.

pearlie

Deep and comforting Psalms

Today's sermon was based on Psalm 42, one of my favourites, with a most beloved refrain:

Why are you cast down,
O my soul,
and why are you
in turmoil within me?
Hope in God;
for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

The main sermon points were two: (1) like the Psalmist, be honest in our emotions with God in our worship and prayer, and (2) in our deepest hole of depression, there is hope in God.

I checked my Logos library and found this book I didn't realise I bought. It will be a good read. Walter Brueggemann is an excellent scholar and writer.


Spirituality of the Psalms
by Walter Brueggemann

I love his introduction of the Psalms:

The Psalms are a strange literature to study. They appear to be straightforward and obvious. They are not obscure, technical, or complicated. Yet, when one leaves off study of them, one is aware that the unresolved fascination endures. Any comment upon them is inevitably partial and provisional. That is certainly true of such a limited manuscript as this. The reason for the partial, provisional character of this study is not simply because of such limitations, but because of the nature of the material. There is simply more than can be touched and handled. So one finishes with a sense of inadequacy, of not probing enough. That, of course, is why the Psalms continue to nourish and nurture long after our interpretation has run its course. We are aware that the claims of the literature have not been exhausted.

Ah, I am accumulating more and more books to read and I shall not start too many at one go. I already have three books I am currently reading now. I had better finish reading at least one of them before I start on this. But I certainly look forward to it.

I read somewhere or was told that the Psalms are usually appreciated by the more matured. It is when we have encountered much in life, these words of the Psalmist speak to the very depth of our hearts, lamenting to God, seeking his presence, trusting his counsel and praising his faithfulness and sovereignty.

Let all who has breath praise the Lord.

pearlie

Psalm 62

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;
I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;
I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man according to his work.

pearlie

A Prayer

Psalm 25 (ESV)
Teach Me Your Paths

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed,none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
and forgive all my sins.

Consider how many are my foes,
and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
for I wait for you.

Redeem Israel, O God,
out of all his troubles.

pearlie

The LORD's gift of a psalm to me today

Psalm 9
For the director of music. To the tune of "The Death of the Son." A psalm of David.

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

4 For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

6 Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

7 The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

16 The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion. Selah

17 The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.

18 But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

19 Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.

20 Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah

Psalm 63 - what an amazing psalm

I was not feeling all that great this morning and believe me or not, I actually wanted to hear someone familiar - and I turned to Dick Lucas! The sermon that happened to be on cue in my thumbdrive was Psalm 63. I wasn't quite listening to him, just bits here and there, but I was quite enthralled by the psalm.

I spent a bit of time in the day ruminating about it, but I still could not get enough of it, and as such I could not pin down much things other than the fact that the psalm is just amazing.

I let it speak for itself here.

Psalm 63 (NIV)
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God,
      earnestly I seek you;
      my soul thirsts for you,
      my body longs for you,
      in a dry and weary land
      where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
      and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
      my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
      and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
      with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
      I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
      I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
      your right hand upholds me.

9 They who seek my life will be destroyed;
      they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword
      and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
      all who swear by God's name will praise him,
      while the mouths of liars will be silenced

pearlie

Our Committed Heavenly Father

I was listening to Dick Lucas' sermon on Psalm 23 today on my way back from work and it was an encouragement. In his own words, it is good to be reacquainted with an old friend. And here is Psalm 23 in the good ol' king's English:

Psalm 23 (KJV)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Dick Lucas emphasised that even though this psalm is quite an individualistic one, it focuses on God - He is the shepherd, He makes, He leads, He restores, He leads, He prepares, He anoints.

Moreover, it makes less sense to refer to "committed sheep" than to the "committed shepherd" -- in the same way, it is less of "committed Christians" (though it is good that we are) and more of our "committed Father". It is not amazing that in our troubled and mixed up lives that our Heavenly Father is ever so committed to shepherd us, to lead us and to guide us. We would no doubt still face our valley of shadow of death and be in the very presence of our enemies - there will be storms and tempest in our lives - but God will be there for us. His rod and his staff, they will comfort us.

He will cover us. In Hebrew, the psalm begins with "The Lord" and ends with "the Lord", i.e. The Lord is my shepherd ... I will dwell forever in the house of the Lord. We begin and end everything in the Lord. Isn't that lovely, even in the midst of ugliness of this fallen world.

If you are interested in Dick Lucas' sermon, check it out here.

pearlie
Photo (c) 2007 Reza Vaziri

I will not wither

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers
(Psalm 1:3 NASB)

This verse in the psalms encouraged me tremendously this morning. I have just started a new job - as much as I am enjoying myself, I am pretty much exhausted ... and I am only at it about 3 weeks now.

Which was why when I read Psalm 1 and verse 3, it lifted my spirit. I am being assured that I am like a tree planted by streams of water, I will yield fruits in season, I will not wither and in whatever I do, I will prosper (with the "whatever I do" and everything else in verse 3 dependent on verse 1 and 2 of course).

I thank the Lord for his goodness.

pearlie