Kept in Safety -Psalms 12:5-7

This promise is an encouragement to those who are oppressed or needy (which I think we all experience at various points in our life). God promises to set us in safety and to keep us. I also find verse six fascinating, which talks about how the words of God are pure...

...I'm thinking that its referring to verse five, in which the promise is a direct quote from God...God spoke the promise that He will keep us safe, and that promise was spoken with pure words. In other words, God is using the purity as of His words as a reminder that His promise is pure and not corrupt.

Just what I'm thinking, but I believe some research into the Hebrew is required :)

""For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O LORD, You shall preserve them from this generation forever."

Reap in Joy -Psalms 126:5-6

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

You Shall Revive Me Again -Psalms 71:20-21

"You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side."

The Savior of all Men -1 Timothy 4:10

"For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

Rest in the Days of Adversity -Psalms 94:12-15

"Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD, and teach out of Your law, That You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgement will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it."

Partake of the Consolation -2 Corinthians 1:5-7

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation  also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation."

The God of All Comfort -2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

I really like how the end of this verse points out that God comforts us so we can in turn comfort others.

Understand the Lovingkindness of God -Psalms 107:39-43

"When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."

Those Who God Down to the Sea in Ships -Psalms 107:23-32

This is a long passage, but really good. This was the promise from Scripture that my Dad shared with me at my senior piano recital when I graduated from high school.

When we are going through life, we will hit rough times...we just need to remember to cry out to God!

"Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders."

Healing -Psalms 107:17-22

"Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing."

He Delivered Them -Psalms 107:4-7

"They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; They found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place."

Remember the Works of the Lord -Psalms 77:10-20

I know this passage is long, but I thought it was really good. In the first nine verses David poured out the trouble and sorrow that he was experiencing. After that, he went into the next eleven verses, highlighting some great promises. David encourages himself through looking at the past, and seeing how God was faithful in His promise to lead and to redeem. The following verses also talk about God's strength.

"And I said, "This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook. Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

How Great is Your Goodness -Psalms 31:19-20

"Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!"

Considering the Poor -Psalms 41:1-3

"Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed."

Leap Over A Wall -Psalms 18:27-29

"For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall."

This was good for me to read today...I've been in a position where I don't know for sure what God wants me to be doing right now...so to read that God will "enlighten my darkness" is an encouraging promise.

On top of that, I also have been busy with a ton of school...so to hear that "By my God I can leap over a wall" is an encouragement to keep pressing forward...


Rest in His Promises!

Hope Does Not Disappoint -Romans 5:1-5

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

My Feet in a Wide Place -Psalms 31:7-8

"I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place."

You Will Answer Me -Psalms 86:7

Well, I haven't really been writing anything extra in my posts lately. Maybe it's because I've been a little lazy, but probably it's due to the fact that I've been swamped with a lot of school! On top of that, I'm pretty bad with my schedule, so I tend to not post until really late...

But I just wanted to comment on this one, as this encouragement is huge for me right now. I really feel like the things God has me going through are really bringing to light all the weakness and failures that I have. It's hard when multiple struggles hit you all at once!

This verse, however, reminds me to put my hope in and seek help from God...why? Because God will answer me.

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me."

Take Heart!

Temporary v.s. Eternal -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Afflicted No More -Nahum 1:12-13

"Thus says the LORD: "Though they are safe, and likewise many, Yet in this manner they will be cut down when he passes through. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more; For now I will break off his yoke from you, And burst your bonds apart.""