DELIVERED! SAFE AND SOUND!

THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICE!!!

May the righteous be glad

and rejoice before God;

may they be happy and joyful.

Psalm 68.1-3

Psalm 1.1 tells us three of the many kinds of destructive experiences with people that damage and limit our lives.

Psalm 3.1 calls the effect of these destructions our "foes."

Psalm 4.1 calls these effects our "distress."

The rest of the Psalms continue to help us identify the destructive experiences and effects in us and by us.

When the Psalmist tells us that he "cries out," "cries aloud," "weeps," and so forth, it is because of his suffering, shame, guilt, failure, pain, shame, and so forth that come from his "foes" and "enemies" that are tormenting him his heart, because of what is happening to him. What is happening usually adds to what has happened, making matters worse and causing hopelessness, fear, anger, hardness, and depression.

Life is hard, and we fight our failures and weaknesses day and night.

Psalm 68, however, speaks of being "happy and joyful."

Psalm 1.3 describes this happy state as being like

"a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaves do not wither."

This happy state comes about from our seeing, believing, and trusting the love, power, and wisdom of God to "deliver us safe and sound." The Psalms help us to see and realize the damage we experience. But, they also show us the grace, goodness, and glory of God that delivers us and establishes us in righteousness and holiness, renews and restores His image within us, so that His glory is reflected to everyone around us.

We must look for, believe, and trust what God says He wants to do for us in these Psalms. We must follow the example and the commands of God they apply to us in daily situations. As we do, the Holy Spirit leads us into more and more freedom, joy, happiness, love, and peace--and much, much more, called "the abundant life" by Jesus (John 10.10).

The "happy state" comes about

1. As we identify ("confess") our destructions with the help of the lists of destructions common to men the Psalms provide for us.

2. As we believe that God will extend to us all the goodness, grace, wisdom, and power of God that the Psalmist lists--and much, much more.

3. As we trust and follow the Lord in the ways of godliness, righteousness, and holiness.

The Lord watches over the way of the righteous.

Psalm 1.6

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over you.

Psalm 32.8

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4.17

Come.

Follow Me.

I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 4.19