Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day two hundred and ninety seven.
The Psalms book three Psalms 73 to 89,
Psalms 73, a Psalm of asap.
Truly God is good to Israel to those whose hearts are pure.
But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping and I was almost gone for, I envied the
proud when I saw them prosper.
Despite their wickedness, they seem to live such painless lives.
Their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They don't have troubles like other people.
They're not plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothed themselves with cruelty.
These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for.
They scoff and speak only evil in their pride.
They seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens and their words strut throughout the earth.
And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
What does God know?
They ask?
Does the most high even know what's happening?
Look at these wicked people enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
I get nothing but trouble all day long.
Every morning brings me pain.
If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have
been a traitor to your people.
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper, but what a difficult task it is.
Then I went into your sanctuary, oh God, and I finally understood
the destiny of the wicked.
Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the
cliff to destruction in an instant.
They are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
When you arise, oh Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas.
As a person laughs at dreams in the morning, then I realized that my heart
was bitter and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant.
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
Yet I still belong to you.
You hold my right hand, you guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven?
But you, I desire you more than anything on earth.
My health may fail and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains
the strength of my heart.
He is mine forever.
Those who desert him will perish for you.
Destroy those who abandon you.
But as for me, how good it is to be near God, I have made
the sovereign Lord my shelter.
I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 74, a Psalm of asap.
Oh God, why have you rejected us so long?
Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?
Remember that we are the people you chose long ago.
The tribe you redeemed as your own special possession.
And remember, Jerusalem, your home here on earth.
Walk through the awful ruins of the city.
See how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary?
There, your enemies shouted.
Their victorious battle cries there.
They set up their battle standards.
They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest with axes and picks.
They smashed the carved paneling.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground.
They defiled the place that bears your name.
Then they thought, let's destroy everything, so they burned down all
the places where God was worshiped.
We no longer see your miraculous signs.
All the prophets are gone and no one can tell us when it will end.
How long?
Oh God.
Will you allow our enemies to insult you?
Will you let them dishonor your name forever?
Why do you hold back your strong right hand?
Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them?
You, oh God, are my king.
From ages past bringing salvation to the earth, you split the sea by your strength
and smash the heads of the sea monsters.
You crush the heads of leviathan and let the desert animals eat him.
You caused the springs and streams to gush forth and you dried up rivers that never
run dry both day and night belong to you.
You made the starlight and the sun.
You set the boundaries of the earth and you made both summer and winter.
See how these enemies insult you?
Lord, A foolish nation has dishonored your name.
Don't let these wild beasts destroy your turtle Doves.
Don't forget your suffering people forever.
Remember, your covenant promises for the land is full of darkness and violence.
Don't let the downtrodden be humiliated again.
Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name, arise
oh God, and defend your cause.
Remember how these fools insult you all day long.
Don't overlook what your enemies have said.
Or their growing uproar.
Psalm 75 for the choir director, a Psalm of asap, a song to be sung to the tune.
Do not destroy.
We thank you.
Oh God, we give thanks because you are near people everywhere.
Tell of your wonderful deeds.
God says, at the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked.
When the earthquakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who
keeps its foundations firm interlude.
I warned the proud.
Stop your boasting.
I told the wicked, don't raise your fists.
Don't raise your fists in defiance at the heavens, or speak with such arrogance.
For no one on earth, from east or west, or even from the wilderness,
should raise a defiant fist.
It is God alone who judges.
He decides who will rise and who will fall.
For the Lord Holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.
He pours out the wine in judgment and all the wicked must drink
it, draining it to the drags.
But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done.
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
For God says, I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will
increase the power of the godly.
Psalm 76 for the choir director, a Psalm of asap, a song to be
accompanied by string instruments.
God is honored in Judah.
His name is great in Israel.
Jerusalem is where he lives.
Mount Zion is his home.
There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy, the shields and
swords and weapons of war interlude.
You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
Our boldest enemies have been plundered.
They lie before us In the sleep of death.
No warrior could lift a hand against us At the blast of your
breath, oh God, of Jacob, their horses and chariots lay still.
No wonder you are greatly feared who can stand before you.
When your anger explodes from heaven, you sentenced your enemies.
The earth trembled and stood silent before you.
You stand up to judge those who do evil, oh God, and to rescue
the oppressed of the earth.
Interlude, human defiance only enhances your glory for you.
Use it as a weapon.
Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them.
Let everyone bring tribute to the awesome one for He breaks the pride
of princes and the kings of the earth.
Fear him.
Psalm 77 for Judean, the choir director, a Psalm of asap.
I cry out to God.
Yes, I shout, oh, that God would listen to me.
When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord all night long.
I prayed with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.
I think of God and I moan overwhelmed with longing for his help.
Interlude you.
Don't let me sleep.
I am too distressed even to pray.
I think of the good old days long since ended when my nights
were filled with joyful songs.
I search my soul and ponder the difference.
Now, has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion interlude and I said, this is my fate.
The most high has turned his hand against me.
But then I recall all you have done, oh Lord, I remember your
wonderful deeds of long ago.
They're constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
Oh God, your ways are holy.
Is there any God as mighty as you?
You are the God of great wonders.
You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations by your strong arm.
You redeemed your people.
The descendants of Jacob and Joseph Interlude.
When the Red Sea saw you, oh God, it's waters looked and trembled
the sea quaked to its very depths.
The clouds poured down rain.
The thunder rumbled in the sky.
Your arrows of lightning flashed.
Your thunder roared from the whirlwind.
The lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook your road led through the sea.
Your pathway through the mighty waters a pathway no one knew was there.
You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep with
Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.
This concludes today's Immer Reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.