I Will Always Praise The Lord

Songs of Refuge - Part 8

Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD, O my soul!  2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.  3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.  4 When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.  5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,  6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;  7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.  9 The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.  10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!

- Psalm 146:1-10

Under God's Care

Songs of Refuge - Part 7

“A PSALM OF DAVID.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

- Psalm 23:1-6

Be Spiritually Awake

Songs of Refuge - Part 6

“A PSALM OF DAVID.O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! 5 Let a righteous man strike me- it is a kindness; let him rebuke me- it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds. 6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant. 7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol. 8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! 9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.”

- Psalm 141:1-10

Wait For the Lord

Songs of Refuge - Part 5

“OF DAVID.  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?  2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.  4 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.  5 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.  6 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.  7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!  8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."  9 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!  10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.  11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.  12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.  13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”

- Psalm 27:1-14

The People Who Delight In God's Truth

Songs of Refuge - Part 4

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;  2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.  4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;  6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

- Psalm 1:1-6

Where Justice Blooms

Songs of Refuge - Part 3

“OF SOLOMON.  Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!  2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!  3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!  4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!... 12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.  13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.  14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.  15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!  16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!  17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!  18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!  20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.”

- Psalm 72:1-4, 12-20

Faith & Reason Lighting the Way

Songs of Refuge - Part 2

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF DAVID.  In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, "Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" 4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test, the children of man. 5 The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.”

- Psalm 11:1-7

A Song For The Shaken

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. OF THE SONS OF KORAH. ACCORDING TO ALAMOTH. A SONG. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Selah)  4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.  5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.  6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.  7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Selah)  8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.  9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.  10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"  11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Selah)”

- Psalm 46:1-11