03/05/2023–Powerful Prayer
[BASED ON] Psalm 73 (AMP–Bible Gateway)
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A PSALM OF ASAPH
(A Revelation of Evilness Compared to Righteousness)
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(Click on Video Thumbnail Below, to Watch on YouTube)
SCRIPTURE:
from the Amplified Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015,
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 (All Rights Reserved).
Less than 1000 verses of scripture used by general permission.
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1 — Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2-3 — But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped, for I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4-5 — For there are no pains in their death; their body is fat and pampered, they are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind.
6-9 — Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them [like a long, luxurious robe], their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires], the imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness], they mock and wickedly speak of oppression, they speak loftily [with malice], they set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue swaggers through the earth.
10-11 — Therefore his people return to this place, and waters of abundance [offered by the irreverent] are [blindly] drunk by them. They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge [of us] with the Most High?”
12 – Behold: these are the ungodly, who always prosper and are at ease [in the world]; they have increased in wealth.
13-14 — Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long have I been stricken, and punished every morning.
15 — If I had said, “I will say this,” [and expressed my feelings], I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16-17 — When I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful, until I came into the SANCTUARY OF GOD. Then I understood [for I considered] their end!
18-20 — Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places; you cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are completely swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, O Lord, when stirred, [You observe the wicked]; You will despise their image.
21-24 — When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within [as with the fang of an adder], Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You. You have taken hold of my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.
25-28 — Whom have I in heaven [but You]? Besides You, I desire nothing on earth! My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful and have abandoned You. But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God. I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in You, that I may tell of all Your works.
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COMMENTARY:
by Linda
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This is so very powerful—in any day or time—including NOW! It SO describes how those who do all the plotting, keep openly bragging about their plans, and “getting all puffed up” in pride, which is probably why we have the saying, “Pride comes before a fall.” This does NOT mean that you can’t be proud of something you’ve accomplished, or that (for instance) our wonderful Christian musicians shouldn’t receive recognition for the music they’ve given us through their own revelation of God and His power. It DOES mean that when mankind decides that THEY are actually GOD, they are on a HUGE slippery slide, that will take them down to a much deeper ending than they envisioned!
On the other hand, Asaph, upon entering the TRUE presence of God (in His Sanctuary–which would have been the Holy Place…not the Holy of Holies) immediately knew how wrong his thinking had been–simply because he walked into the presence of God’s evident Glory! Suddenly, he realized that–as another scripture (Psalm 84:10) says–“A day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God, than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.“
Then he did what David did so often, which we also need to remember to do, always. He encouraged his SOUL (his mind, will, and emotions), and realized how well-off he REALLY was–even though oppression surrounded him.
How much MORE should WE be continually realizing that, and teaching OUR souls to be strong in the Lord? We LIVE IN GOD! We ARE the Temple of the Living God! We LIVE–not die–in the Holy of Holies—the place where ALL of God’s Glory is available to us, WITH NO CONDEMNATION!!!
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OUR PRAYER–TODAY–THEN…? THANK YOU, LORD!!! AMEN!
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“Thank You, Lord” (by Don Moen)
The lyrics to the song are in the video’s Description.
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“Songs of Hope and Joy” (My YouTube Playlist)
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Powerful Prayers (Listed on My Website)
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