[070]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – EXCERPTS FROM CERTAIN PSALMS: PART 1 – PSALMS 64, 3, 103
{{Psalm 96:1-2 “SING TO THE LORD a new song. SING TO THE LORD, all the earth. SING TO THE LORD. Bless His name. Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.”}}
These next several postings in illustrations will feature a series of Psalms. They all have special meaning for me especially concerning God’s care and His protection and deliverance. There are three Psalms in this posting. I have taken the thoughts, and often the wording in each Psalm, to compose those in poem form.
Every Psalm in the series has metre of 8-6-8-6 and can be sung if you like. There are many well-known tunes that fit that metre and here are some here - https://hymnary.org/search?qu=meter%3A8.6.8.6%20in%3Atunes&sort=totalInstances
** Psalm 64 begins with the opposition and persecution of wicked men, but ends with God stepping in to take control. This is a Psalm of deliverance.
** Psalm 3 begins with the triumph of the adversaries, but it is short lived for God is our shield and great defence. The Psalm is also a plea for God to take care of the enemies.
** Psalm 103 is so encouraging and comforting, and contains many wonderful verses including:
*** {{Psalm 103:8 “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness.”}}
*** {{Psalm 103:11 “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving-kindness toward those who fear Him.”}}
*** {{Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”}}
Please regard these poems as a meditation on the word of God containing all the richness of this beautiful section of the bible.
I hope you enjoy them.
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EXCERPTS FROM CERTAIN PSALMS – PSALMS 64, 3, 103
OOOOO - PSALM 64 - OOOOO
Preserve my life from dread and fear.
O God, hear my complaint.
For evildoers’ counsel reigns -
Hide me, Your prayerful saint.
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Their tongues are sharpened like a sword;
They aim their bitter speech.
Concealed, to shoot the blameless ones,
The guiltless lives they breech.
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Their evil purpose they hold fast
And strike out fearlessly.
They talk among themselves of snares
That they’ll lay secretly.
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Injustices do they devise;
They think no one can see.
They draft their plot that’s well conceived.
Deep thoughts from inwardly.
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But God, an arrow shoots at them;
They’re wounded suddenly.
Betrayed they are by their own tongues,
And they will stumbled be.
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All men declare the work of God;
Consider what He’s done.
The righteous man has refuge glad,
And glories in what’s done.
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O O O O O O O -- O O O O O O O
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OOOOO - PSALM 3 - OOOOO
Adversaries have multiplied;
Against me they all rise.
And many say then of my soul,
“With him no rescue lies.”
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But You, O Lord, about me are,
My shield and great defence;
My glory too, and He who lifts
My head from danger, thence.
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And I was crying to the Lord;
My voice was raised to Him.
And from His mountain answered me
When all seemed very grim.
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Then I lay down and slept in peace;
By God I was sustained.
I will not fear ten-thousand men,
Against me, if obtained.
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Arise, O Lord, and save me now,
For all my enemies,
Have smitten cheeks and shattered teeth.
Salvation, our God sees.
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O O O O O O O -- O O O O O O O
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OOOOO - PSALM 103 - OOOOO
O bless the Lord, my soul within,
O bless His holy name.
Forget none of His benefits
Who pardons without blame.
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Diseases - He will heal them all,
And crown you with His love.
Your youth renewed as eagles are,
That soar in realms above.
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Your life redeemed from out the pit
Is with compassion crowned.
Your years with good things satisfy,
With lovingkindness bound. (found)
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The Lord performs His righteous deeds
For all who are oppressed.
His ways makes known to His own;
His people all are blessed.
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Compassionate and gracious is,
And slow to anger too.
His lovingkindness does abound;
Not always, strive with you.
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And not according to our sins
Has He dealt with us so.
Nor will He keep His anger too,
But penalties forego.
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As high above the earth is heav’n,
So great towards all those
Who fear Him, is His kindness shown;
Compassion to them flows.
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As far as east is from the west
Thus far has he removed
Transgressions paid to our account.
His love has that approved.
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A father has compassion on
His children all the same.
So has the Lord compassion too
On those who fear His name.
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For He, Himself, knows our weak frame,
Is mindful we are dust.
Just as a flower flourishes,
But dies with windy gust.
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From everlasting to the same
His lovingkindness is.
To children’s children this is true -
Their righteousness is His.
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To those who keep His covenant,
Who do His precepts too,
To them the promises of God
Are found to be so true.
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You angels who perform His word,
You bless the Lord in strength.
And all His works will bless Him too
Through His dominion’s length.
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O O O O O O O -- O O O O O O O
4 July 1999 + for a few weeks R E Ferguson 8-6-8-6
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