Psalm 77 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 77.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/77/1/s_555001

Meditate on verses 1-2.

 

My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud;

my voice rises to God, and He will hear

 me.  In the day of my trouble, I sought

 the LORD; in the night, my hand was

stretched out without weariness;

my soul refused to be comforted.

 

Asaph was distressed when he wrote this psalm, so distressed, he could not sleep, and so troubled, his soul refused to be comforted (vs. 2, 4).   Perhaps the LORD’s lovingkindness had ceased; maybe His promises had come to an end (v. 8).

As Asaph’s grieving eyelids refused to close, he remembered God’s deeds:

1.     Your way, O God, is holy (v. 13).

2.     You are God who works wonders (v. 14).

3.     You make known Your strength among the peoples (v. 14).

4.     You redeem Your people by Your power (v. 15).

 

Sometimes it seems like God has withdrawn His compassion.  If you are experiencing one of those times, recall God’s faithfulness toward you and those you love.  Remember His paths are in the mighty waters; you may not be able to see His footprints but know that they are there (v. 19).

Pray Psalm 77:1 and 19-20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “My voice rises to You, God, and I will cry aloud! 

My voice rises to You, God;

 please hear me!  Keep _______ and me

on Your path in these mighty waters;

 let us see and know Your footprints.

 Lead us like Your flock.

By Your hand, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 42 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 42.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/42/1/s_520001

Meditate on verses 6a and 8.

 

O my God, my soul is in despair within me. 

The LORD will command His

lovingkindness in the daytime, and

His song will be with me in the night,

 a prayer to the God of my life.

 

The psalmist was desperate.  God brought him to a seemingly hopeless place, so he could only be brought out of his despair by the LORD.  Just as the refreshing stream satisfies a parched and panting deer, only God could quench his desperate thirst (vs. 1-2).

What situation threatens to roll over you and those you love?  Has the LORD allowed it, so your only hope is to hope in Him?  Pray to the God of your life, using the words from Psalm 42:1-2, 5-6, 8, and 11 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“As the dear pants for the water brooks,

so my soul pants for You, O God. 

My soul thirsts for You, the living God;

I come and appear before You. 

My soul is in despair; it is disturbed within me.

 I hope in You, God, for I shall again praise

 You for the help of Your presence. 

O my God, my soul is in despair within me;

 therefore, I remember You!  LORD, command

Your lovingkindness in the daytime!

 Let Your song be with me in the night. 

This is my prayer to You, the God of my life!

 My soul is in despair and disturbed within me!

 I hope in You, God, for I shall yet praise You,

 the help of my countenance and my God.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Psalm 41 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 41.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/41/1/s_519001

Meditate on verse 1.

 

How blessed is he who considers the helpless;

 the LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. 

 

David had problems with enemies; they poured out wickedness upon him, speaking evil against him, lying to him, and wanting him dead (vs. 5-8).  Despite such horrific opposition, David helped others less fortunate than himself (v. 1).  Observe the benefits of caring for the helpless:

1.     The LORD delivers you in a day of trouble (v. 1).

2.     The LORD protects you and keeps you alive (v. 2).

3.     God calls you blessed and does not give you over to the desire of your enemies (v. 2).

4.     The LORD sustains you on your sickbed, restoring you to health (v.3).

 

What an amazing protection plan David had with God!  Instead of feeling sorry for himself and being the helpless one, he helped others, trusting God to deliver him from his enemies.

Are you in the midst of a difficult situation?  Care for the needs of others.  As you do, God will miraculously take care of you. 


Pray Psalm 41:1 and 11-13 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, bless _______ and me as we consider the helpless. 

Deliver us in a day of trouble.  Make us pleasing to

You; do not let our enemy shout in triumph over us. 

Uphold us in our integrity and set us in

Your presence forever.  We will bless

You, LORD, from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

Psalm 39 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 39.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/39/1/s_517001

Meditate on verse 10a.

 

Remove Your plague from me.

 

As I write this devotional, we are in the midst of a world-wide plague.  By the time you read this devotional, hopefully, the plague will be a distant memory, but if not, this is a psalm to pray in the midst of the plague.  And even if you are reading it after the plague is over, there is probably something plaguing you, for that is the nature of our human existence.  Thankfully, we serve a Living God who has been sovereign over lots of plagues in the past and is sovereign over the one you experience today. 

 

Pray His Words from Psalm 39:4-8 and 10-12 over your plague as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, make me to know my end and what

is the extent of my days.  Let me know how

 transient I am.  Behold You have made my

days as handbreadths and my lifetime as

 nothing in Your sight; surely every human

at their best is a mere breath.  Surely every

human walks about as a phantom; surely we

make an uproar for nothing; we amass riches

and do not know who will gather them.  And

 now, LORD, for what do I wait?  My hope is in You.

 Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me

not the reproach of the foolish.  Remove Your plague

 from me; because of the opposition of Your hand I am

 perishing.  With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity;

You consume as a moth what is precious to him;

 surely everyone is a mere breath.  Hear my prayer, O

 LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent

at my tears, for I am a stranger with

You, a sojourner like my fathers.

Let me sojourn with You, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 37 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 37.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/37/1/s_515001

Meditate on verses 12-13 and 18-20a.

 

The wicked plots against the righteous and

gnashes at him with his teeth.  The LORD

laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming. 

The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and

their inheritance will be forever.  They

will not be ashamed in the time

 of evil, and in the days of famine they will

 have abundance.  But the wicked will perish.

 

What a contrast between the righteous and the wicked!  Both have a day coming, that day when the righteous receive their eternal inheritance in the LORD, and the wicked eternally perish. 

 

There is no need to fret because of the wicked; instead, pray for them to become righteous through the blood of Jesus, for without Christ, we are all wicked.  As you pray for others to know Jesus, think about these contrasts in Psalm 37:

 

1.     Evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD will inherit the land (v. 9).

2.     The man of peace will have posterity, but transgressors will be altogether destroyed (vs. 37-38).

3.     The posterity of the wicked will be cut off, but the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD (vs. 38-39).

 

Pray Psalm 37:27 and 39 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman who need to be made righteous in Jesus (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, let __________ depart from evil and do good, so

they will abide forever.  Salvation of the righteous is

from You, LORD.  Please save and make __________ righteous,

 so You will be their strength in time of trouble.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 27 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 27.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/27/1/s_505001

Meditate on verse 4.

 

One thing I have asked from the

 LORD, that I shall seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the

LORD all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of the LORD

 and to meditate in His temple.

 

David’s greatest desire was to be in the presence of the LORD forever.  Is that your heart’s desire, to be with Jesus all the time for eternity?  If you are Christian, God has granted you that request.  Hear what Jesus says to you:

 

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you

another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot

receive, because it does not see Him or know

Him, but you know Him because He abides

with you and will be in you.

 I will not leave you as orphans; I will

come to you.  After a little while

the world will no longer see Me, but

 you will see Me; because I live, you

 will live also.  In that day you will know

that I am in My Father, and

you in Me, and I in you.”

—John 14:16-20

 

What a magnificent promise—God with you forever!  With the Holy Spirit inside you, praise the LORD with Psalm 27:1-3 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, You are my light and my

 salvation; whom shall I fear? 

LORD, You are the defense of my

life; whom shall I dread? 

When evildoers come upon

 me to devour my flesh, make

my adversaries and my enemies

stumble and fall.  Though a host encamp

 against me, my heart will not fear;

though war arise against me, in

 spite of this, I shall be confident.

Because You are my confidence, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Psalm 23 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Psalm 23.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/23/1/s_501001

Meditate on what the LORD does for you for the sake of His name (vs. 2-3):

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness.

 

Despite the evil all around him, David knew God would take care of him for His name’s sake.  If you are in relationship with Jesus Christ, you, too, do not need to be afraid because God is true to His name, which is now part of your name: Christian.  Be confident in Christ that His goodness and lovingkindness will follow you all the days of your life.

 

Pray Psalm 23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, You are ________ and my shepherd; we shall not want. 

Make us lie down in green pastures.  Lead us beside

 quiet waters.  Restore our souls.  Guide us in the

 path of righteousness for Your name’s sake.  Even

though we walk through the valley of the shadow of

 death, let us not fear evil, for You are with us.

 Your rod and staff comfort us.  Please prepare

 a table before us in the presence of our

 enemies.  Anoint our heads with oil; let our cups

 overflow.  Surely Your goodness and lovingkindness

will follow us all the days of our lives!

 Let us dwell in Your house, LORD, forever.

Because we belong to You, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Psalm 2 - Praying God's Word

 

This fourth volume of The Watchman on the Wall began with Psalm 118:24:

 

This is the day which the LORD has

made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Then continued with 1 & 2 Thessalonians, encouraging you to be on the lookout for references to the Day of the LORD and Christ’s return.  Perhaps you gained insight into the LORD’s return as you read and prayed Matthew, Thessalonians, and Acts.  From now until December 31, the remainder of the devotionals will come from books of the Bible that specifically refer to the return of Christ and the Day of the LORD.  The LORD has much to show us, so lift your head and fix your eyes on Jesus, for your redemption is drawing near (Hebrews 12:2; Luke 21:28).  This will be an amazing 100-day journey!

 

Please read Psalm 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/psa/2/1/s_480001

Meditate on verses 11-12.

 

Worship the LORD with reverence and

 rejoice with trembling.  Do homage to

 the Son, that He not become angry, and

you perish in the way, for His wrath

may soon be kindled.  How blessed

 are all who take refuge in Him!

 

Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm.  In fact, Jesus is speaking in verse 7:

“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:

He said to Me, ‘You are My Son;

 today I have begotten You.’”

 

Notice the references to Christ: Anointed (v. 2), King (v. 6), and Son (vs. 7, 12).  Observe the contrasts between the kings of the earth and the LORD’s King.  The LORD laughs and scoffs at earthly kings plotting against Him (vs. 1-4). 

Take comfort from this psalm.  The world around you may be in an uproar, and the earthly kings and rulers may think they are in charge, but God has already enthroned King Jesus on His holy mountain (v. 6).

Use Psalm 2:10-12 to pray and worship the LORD as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let _______ and me show discernment

and pay attention to Your warning.

We worship You with reverence and rejoice

with trembling.  We give homage to

You, Jesus.  We do not want You to become

 angry with us.  Do not let us perish in the

way of Your wrath that will soon be kindled.

 Bless us as we take refuge in You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Job 42 - Praying God's Word

Please read Job 42.  Job is speaking.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/42/1/s_478001

Meditate on verses 3-4. 

 

“’Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

 Therefore, I have declared that which

 I did not understand, things too wonderful

 for me, which I did not know.

 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask

You, and You instruct me.’”

 

God asked Job 64 questions in chapters 38-41; Job was able to answer one of them: “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” (Job 38:2; 42:3). 

 

“It is I, LORD, I have declared things that I really don’t understand; I have talked of things about which I really know nothing” (v. 3).

 

Job then uses God’s words to humbly ask Him to teach him (Job 38:3; 42:4).  

 

The purpose behind Job’s suffering is complete when he not only hears God but sees Him and is able to pray for his friends instead of bitterly arguing with them (vs. 5, 10).

 

Job learned so much about himself, others, and God because of suffering.  What a blessing! 

 

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you

encounter various trials, knowing that the

 testing of your faith produces endurance.

 And let endurance have its perfect result, so

that you may be perfect and complete,

lacking in nothing.

—James 1:2-4

 

Pray Job 42:2-6 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, I know You can do all things, and no purpose of Yours can

 be thwarted.  I have declared that which I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.  I’m sorry, LORD. 

Now, I will ask You.  Please instruct me, LORD.  I have heard You by the

hearing of the ear, but now, my eye sees You; therefore, I retract,

and I repent in dust and ashes.  Please forgive me.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell