WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.700 Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're 00:00:03.700 --> 00:00:05.740 taking this journey together to read the Bible 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.839 in a year. Today we're continuing with the Psalms 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:11.259 of Praise and Thanksgiving, commemorating God's 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:13.939 works of salvation and victory. And today we're 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:19.399 reading Psalms 39, 62, 50, and Psalms 73 through 00:00:19.399 --> 00:00:24.239 76. Psalm 39, inscription, to the chief musician, 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:27.760 to Jedisun, a psalm of David. I said I will guard 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:30.859 my ways, lest I sin with my tongue. I will restrain 00:00:30.859 --> 00:00:33.039 my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:35.920 before me. I was mute with silence. I held my 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:38.500 peace even from good, and my sorrow was stirred 00:00:38.500 --> 00:00:41.780 up. My heart was hot within me. While I was musing, 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:44.179 the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:47.079 Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:49.759 measure of my days, that I may know how frail 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:52.600 I am. Indeed, you have made my days as hand breath, 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:55.560 and my age is as nothing before you. Certainly 00:00:55.560 --> 00:00:58.899 every man at his best state is but vapor. Salah. 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:01.840 Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:04.560 they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up riches 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.659 and does not know who will gather them. And now, 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:10.359 Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:12.980 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:15.560 make me the reproach of the foolish. I was mute, 00:01:15.659 --> 00:01:18.299 I did not open my mouth, because it was you who 00:01:18.299 --> 00:01:21.319 did it. Remove your plague from me. I am consumed 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:24.239 by the blow of your hand. When with rebukes you 00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:26.640 correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:29.819 melt away like a moth. Surely every man is vapor. 00:01:30.019 --> 00:01:32.819 Salah. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:35.859 my cry. Do not be silent at my tears, for I am 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:38.819 a stranger with you, a sojourner as all my fathers 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:41.719 were. Remove your gaze from me, that I may regain 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:45.799 strength, before I go away and am no more. Psalm 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:49.799 62. Inscription. To the Chief Musician. To Jedusun. 00:01:49.900 --> 00:01:53.420 A Psalm of David. Truly my soul silently waits 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:56.599 for God. From Him comes my salvation. He only 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:58.900 is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense. 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:02.000 I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.659 attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:07.560 like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:10.080 only consult to cast him down from his high position. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:13.099 They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:16.699 but they curse inwardly. Salah My soul waits 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:19.560 silently for God alone, for my expectation is 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:21.939 from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:25.370 He is my defense. I shall not be moved. In God 00:02:25.370 --> 00:02:27.909 is my salvation and my glory, the rock of my 00:02:27.909 --> 00:02:31.069 strength, and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him 00:02:31.069 --> 00:02:33.590 at all times, you people. Pour out your heart 00:02:33.590 --> 00:02:37.289 before Him. God is a refuge for us. Salah. Surely 00:02:37.289 --> 00:02:40.629 men of low degree are a vapor. Men of high degree 00:02:40.629 --> 00:02:43.030 are a lie. If they are weighed on the scales, 00:02:43.289 --> 00:02:46.050 they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not 00:02:46.050 --> 00:02:48.509 trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery. 00:02:48.729 --> 00:02:51.250 If riches increase, do not set your heart on 00:02:51.250 --> 00:02:54.349 them. God has spoken once. Twice I have heard 00:02:54.349 --> 00:02:57.370 this. The power belongs to God. Also to you, 00:02:57.389 --> 00:03:00.050 O Lord, belongs mercy, for you render to each 00:03:00.050 --> 00:03:04.090 one according to his work. Psalm 50, Inscription, 00:03:04.310 --> 00:03:08.250 A Psalm of Asaph The Mighty One, God the Lord, 00:03:08.449 --> 00:03:10.969 has spoken and called the earth, from the rising 00:03:10.969 --> 00:03:13.870 of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the 00:03:13.870 --> 00:03:17.110 perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our 00:03:17.110 --> 00:03:19.830 God shall come and shall not keep silent. A fire 00:03:19.830 --> 00:03:22.030 shall devour before Him, and it shall be very 00:03:22.030 --> 00:03:24.699 tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to 00:03:24.699 --> 00:03:27.000 the heavens from above, and to the earth, that 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.580 he may judge his people. Gather my saints together 00:03:29.580 --> 00:03:32.080 to me, those who have made a covenant with me 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:34.879 by sacrifice, that the heavens declare his righteousness, 00:03:35.159 --> 00:03:39.120 for God himself is judge. Salah Hear, O my people, 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:41.580 and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:45.439 against you. I am God, your God. I will not rebuke 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.560 you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.319 which are continually before me. I will not take 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:52.740 a bull from your house, nor goats out of your 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:55.340 folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:58.080 and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.159 the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.759 of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:05.319 not tell you, for the world is mine in all its 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:08.080 fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.759 the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.620 and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:15.840 me in a day of trouble, I will deliver you, and 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.160 you shall glorify me. But to the wicked, God 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.319 says, What right have you to declare my statutes, 00:04:21.420 --> 00:04:23.879 or take my covenant in your mouth? seeing you 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:26.279 hate instruction, and cast my words behind you. 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:28.980 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:31.639 and have been a partaker with adulterers. You 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:33.860 give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:36.360 deceit. You sit and speak against your brother, 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.180 you slander your own mother's son. These things 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:41.699 you have done, and I kept silent. You thought 00:04:41.699 --> 00:04:44.399 that I was altogether like you, but I will rebuke 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:46.819 you, and set them in order before your eyes. 00:04:47.259 --> 00:04:50.500 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:52.800 tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.220 Whoever offers praise glorifies me, and to him 00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:58.800 who orders his conduct aright, I will show the 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:03.639 salvation of God. Psalm 73, Inscription, A Psalm 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:07.339 of Asaph Truly God is good to Israel, to such 00:05:07.339 --> 00:05:10.040 as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:13.019 had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped, 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:15.680 for I was envious of the boastful, when I saw 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.899 the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:20.439 pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:23.310 They are not in trouble as other men. Nor are 00:05:23.310 --> 00:05:25.930 they plagued like other men. Therefore pride 00:05:25.930 --> 00:05:28.629 serves as their necklace. Violence covers them 00:05:28.629 --> 00:05:31.170 like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance. 00:05:31.490 --> 00:05:34.490 They have more than heart could wish. They scoff 00:05:34.490 --> 00:05:36.889 and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They 00:05:36.889 --> 00:05:39.670 speak loftily. They set their mouth against the 00:05:39.670 --> 00:05:42.050 heavens, and their tongues walk through the earth. 00:05:42.470 --> 00:05:44.970 Therefore his people return here, and waters 00:05:44.970 --> 00:05:47.629 of a full cup are drained by them. And they say, 00:05:47.730 --> 00:05:50.050 How does God know? And is their knowledge in 00:05:50.050 --> 00:05:53.319 the Most High? behold these are the ungodly who 00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:56.639 are always at ease they increase in riches surely 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:59.180 i have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:01.560 hands in innocence for all day long i have been 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:04.420 plagued and chastened every morning if i had 00:06:04.420 --> 00:06:07.220 said i will speak thus behold i would have been 00:06:07.220 --> 00:06:09.839 untrue to the generation of your children when 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:12.680 i thought how to understand this it was too painful 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:15.100 for me until i went into the sanctuary of god 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:18.350 then i understood their end Surely you set them 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:21.129 in slippery places. You cast them down to destruction. 00:06:21.490 --> 00:06:24.230 Oh, how they are brought to desolation as in 00:06:24.230 --> 00:06:27.050 a moment. They are utterly consumed with terrors, 00:06:27.050 --> 00:06:30.250 as a dream when one awakes. So, Lord, when you 00:06:30.250 --> 00:06:32.870 awake, you shall despise their image. Thus my 00:06:32.870 --> 00:06:35.329 heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. 00:06:35.470 --> 00:06:38.069 I was so foolish and ignorant. I was like a beast 00:06:38.069 --> 00:06:41.089 before you. Nevertheless, I am continually with 00:06:41.089 --> 00:06:43.910 you. You hold me by my right hand. You will guide 00:06:43.910 --> 00:06:46.310 me with your counsel, and afterward receive me 00:06:46.310 --> 00:06:49.379 to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:51.600 there is none upon earth that I desire besides 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.759 you. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.779 strength of my heart and my portion forever. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.019 For indeed those who are far from you shall perish. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.420 You have destroyed all those who desert you for 00:07:02.420 --> 00:07:05.160 harlotry, but it is good for me to draw near 00:07:05.160 --> 00:07:08.319 to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God that 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:13.480 I may declare all your works. Psalm 74 Inscription 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:17.360 A Contemplation of Asaph O God, why have you 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:20.079 cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:22.540 against the sheep of your pasture? Remember your 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:24.680 congregation, which you have purchased of old, 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:26.920 the tribe of your inheritance, which you have 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:29.660 redeemed, this Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:32.540 Lift up your feet to the perpetual desolations. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:35.079 The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:37.500 Your enemies roar in the midst of your meeting 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:40.420 place. They set up their banners for signs. They 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:43.120 seem like men who lift up axes among the thick 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:45.790 trees. And now they break down its carved work 00:07:45.790 --> 00:07:48.930 all at once with axes and hammers. They have 00:07:48.930 --> 00:07:51.250 set fire to your sanctuary. They have defiled 00:07:51.250 --> 00:07:53.009 the dwelling place of your name to the ground. 00:07:53.189 --> 00:07:55.610 They said in their hearts, let us destroy them 00:07:55.610 --> 00:07:58.129 altogether. They have burned up all the meeting 00:07:58.129 --> 00:08:00.850 places of God in the land. We do not see our 00:08:00.850 --> 00:08:03.810 signs. There is no longer any prophet, nor is 00:08:03.810 --> 00:08:06.790 there any among us who knows how long. O God, 00:08:06.829 --> 00:08:09.509 how long will the adversary reproach? Will the 00:08:09.509 --> 00:08:12.120 enemy blaspheme your name forever? Why do you 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:14.879 withdraw your hand, even your right hand? Take 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.519 it out of your bosom and destroy them, for God 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:20.379 is my King from of old, working salvation in 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:22.620 the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:24.779 your strength. You broke the heads of the sea 00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:27.079 serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of 00:08:27.079 --> 00:08:29.680 Leviathan in pieces and gave him as food to the 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:32.080 people inhabiting the wilderness. You broke open 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:34.419 the fountain and the flood. You dried up mighty 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:37.399 rivers. The day is yours. The night also is yours. 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.940 You have prepared the light and the sun. You 00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:42.159 have set all the borders of the earth. You have 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:45.059 made summer and winter. Remember this, that the 00:08:45.059 --> 00:08:47.740 enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:50.580 people has blasphemed your name. O, do not deliver 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:53.159 the life of your turtle dove to the wild beast. 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:55.259 Do not forget the life of your poor forever. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.580 Have respect to the covenant, for the dark places 00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:00.860 of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:04.919 O, do not let the oppressed return ashamed. Let 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.549 the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, O 00:09:07.549 --> 00:09:10.389 God, plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish 00:09:10.389 --> 00:09:13.309 man reproaches you daily. Do not forget the voice 00:09:13.309 --> 00:09:15.590 of your enemies. The tumult of those who rise 00:09:15.590 --> 00:09:27.889 up against you increases continually. We give 00:09:27.889 --> 00:09:30.549 thanks to you, O God, we give thanks. For your 00:09:30.549 --> 00:09:33.049 wondrous works declare that your name is near. 00:09:33.389 --> 00:09:36.509 When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:38.860 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.639 I set up its pillars firmly. Salah. I said to 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:45.200 the boastful, do not deal boastfully. And to 00:09:45.200 --> 00:09:47.779 the wicked, do not lift up the horn. Do not lift 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:50.440 up your horn on high. Do not speak with a stiff 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:53.559 neck. For exaltation comes neither from the east, 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:56.419 nor from the west, nor from the south. But God 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:59.740 is the judge. He puts down one and exalts another. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.679 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:05.519 the wine is red. It is fully mixed, and he pours 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:08.110 it out. Surely its dregs shall all the wicked 00:10:08.110 --> 00:10:10.889 of the earth drain and drink down. But I will 00:10:10.889 --> 00:10:13.230 declare forever, I will sing praises to the God 00:10:13.230 --> 00:10:15.950 of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will 00:10:15.950 --> 00:10:18.169 also cut off, but the horns of the righteous 00:10:18.169 --> 00:10:23.850 shall be exalted. Psalm 76, Inscription To the 00:10:23.850 --> 00:10:27.009 chief musician, on stringed instruments, a psalm 00:10:27.009 --> 00:10:30.950 of Asaph, a song. In Judah God is known, his 00:10:30.950 --> 00:10:33.990 name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his 00:10:33.990 --> 00:10:36.960 tabernacle. and his dwelling place in Zion. There 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.360 he broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:42.320 sword of battle. Salah. You are more glorious 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:44.940 and excellent than the mountains of prey. The 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:47.200 stout -hearted were plundered, they have sunk 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:49.320 into their sleep, and none of the mighty men 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:52.039 have found the use of their hands. At your rebuke, 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.600 O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:57.519 cast into a dead sleep. You yourself are to be 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.259 feared, and who may stand in your presence, when 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:02.860 once you are angry? You cause judgment to be 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:05.139 heard from heaven. The earth feared and was still. 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:08.000 When God arose to judgment to deliver all the 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:10.759 oppressed of the earth. Salah. Surely the wrath 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.980 of man shall praise you. With the remainder of 00:11:12.980 --> 00:11:15.639 wrath you shall gird yourself. Make vows to the 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.419 Lord your God and pay them. Let all who are around 00:11:18.419 --> 00:11:21.120 him bring presents to him who ought to be feared. 00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:24.179 He shall cut off the spirit of princes. He is 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:31.850 awesome to the kings of the earth. I hope you 00:11:31.850 --> 00:11:34.149 enjoyed today's reading as much as I did and 00:11:34.149 --> 00:11:36.090 I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow to 00:11:36.090 --> 00:11:38.350 continue on our journey. God bless you and have 00:11:38.350 --> 00:11:38.889 a great day.