This is week 7 of our extended time in Psalm 119 of this lengthy psalm, verse 49 through 56, covering the seventh letter in this Hebrew acrostic, known as Zayin.

I know that if we look at this passage in most of our Bibles, we’ll see that Hebrew letter over it as a header, but as I read these eight verses, I want to write the word “HOPE” – in all capital letters, like a neon flashing sign – above this portion of Psalm 119. It’s steeped in HOPE. HOPE in God’s promises. HOPE in God’s precepts, statutes, and teaching. HOPE in His comfort. HOPE in His protection. HOPE in His provision. HOPE in His presence. HOPE in the time He has me as a foreigner in this world. And HOPE in the blessing of His salvation.

How many of us as the Father’s under-shepherds claim the hope that is in Jesus, yet do not make obeying, guarding, watching, protecting, keeping, and preserving His precepts our practice, a true habit, a priority???

When it’s the darkest, when there are, in fact, illicit, illegal, and immoral activities happening in our world, do we “remember” or “consider” His name, so that we consider His regulations, His Word? As an under-shepherd, do we stand up for right? Do we remember Truth and speak out on behalf of the Father’s statues in a healthy, godly manner?

Our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd never forgets us. We are always on His mind. He always considers us! He knows the number of hairs on our heads, the number of tears that we’ve cried, and the exact number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds we will have on this earth until He comes again or until He takes us home.

Very few of us, I would guess, truly have a God-honoring kind of raging, feverish, scorching indignation grasping us because of the evil ones who have deserted or rejected the teaching of the Good Shepherd. Too few of us really are His godly under-shepherds even when it gets hard, or when times are turbulent, or even when we’re the only one left – as far as we know – on our work team or in our school, or sometimes, even in our church, who stands for the Father and His law.

But this psalmist was that kind of under-shepherd. He “remembered” God’s Word, commemorating it, and considering every part of it, standing up for it.                  

That is devotion, my friend. And that is how we are to view God’s Word and His law today

For the psalmist, that constructive action was writing songs that speak truth and are still edifying and encouraging us to walk in the light of God’s Word three thousand years later.

What is the constructive action the Father has been prompting you to take?

Is there something the Father has asked you to provide for the flock under your care, but you’re resisting? Is there a portion of His precepts, His teaching that He has called you to protect, but you have yet to act? Has the Holy Spirit prompted you to demonstrate presence in a way that stretches you, maybe even makes you uncomfortable and you are hesitating?

Consider the sacrifice the Good Shepherd made for you, out of obedience to His Father.

May we all be challenged today to move beyond service to those around us, to submission to the Father, that is often demonstrated through sacrifice, giving up what we desire or prefer for the good of another, for what the Father is asking us to do.

Thank you for joining me. May you shepherd well this week!

This is week 6 of our time in Psalm 119 and we are covering the sixth letter in this Hebrew acrostic, known as Waw (Vaav). 

When I read Psalm 119: 41-48 in preparation for today’s podcast, the song writer’s desire was to honor the Father in how he responded to others in every situation. It was so clear when he was mocked, in public and in private, with those with much influence and with those of little influence. In every situation, his desire was to give godly answers, without embarrassment or shame. 

The psalmist apparently had been lied about, slandered, and his life threatened and, still, his request was that he respond in the manner that honored the Father because he loved Him and trusted in God’s Word. 

We know that in those moments, we must be prepared for battle with the enemy. We must be suited up with God’s armor, a part of which is the belt of truth, so we know the truth and can speak truth in every situation. That was the psalmist’s desire and it must be our desire as well. 

We also know there are those moments when we send what some call “telegraph prayers” to the Father, seeking His immediate help and assistance. They’re almost like an SOS message or 9-1-1 call. They’re swift, and they’re urgent! 

In the midst of challenging situations, when confronted with speech that leaves us at a loss for words or when faced with mental turmoil that tempts us to respond in a manner inconsistent with representing our Good Shepherd, or when confronted with slander, lies, or inquiries about our faith that trigger fear and uncertainty in articulating a response—these are the moments when we must engage in a specific kind of prayer, akin to a "telegraph prayer." In this prayer, we earnestly seek immediate insight and wisdom from the Father. We ask for a quick recall of His teachings and meditations, so that, grounded in the Scriptures, we can articulate His words in His way. This intentional form of prayer serves as a lifeline, guiding us through challenging moments with grace and clarity. 

I can think of moments when, in milli-seconds, I sent a request to the Father to hear my prayer, provide His wisdom, and fill my mouth with His words to literally let the Holy Spirit speak through me. You have probably done the same thing. 

So, as we look at this passage, these seven verses, we are reminded that both God speaks to us and, often, at the same time, the enemy is speaking, which is why we must know the truth we hear that God’s people speak to the Father, as demonstrated as the telegraph prayers mentioned earlier, we are reminded how we live matters and it speaks for the Lord – almost on behalf of Him as we are surrounded by the sheep of His pasture, and that we speak to others.  

My dear under-shepherd, we need God’s Word in our lives, His precepts, so that we might study them, meditate on them, know them, and live them. 

How we must stay so closely connected to the Father that we can and do, in fact, call upon Him in the SOS and 9-1-1 moments of our lives, as well as when we begin a day, when we end our day, and when we take pauses throughout our day. 

We must be in constant communication with Him so that we can fall more and more in love with Him, More and more in love with His commandments, His way, and His will, relishing every fragment of His counsel. 

It is only then that as the sheep of His pasture, we can truly shepherd well the sheep entrusted to our care. 

Thank you for joining me. I pray you will in fact live deeply into your calling this week. 

Today we continue our deep-dive into Psalm 119 where we are on the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, He (Hay).

When I read verses 33-40 of the longest psalms, it seemed the song writer was seeking divine understanding and a deeper desire for obedience.       

As I researched the passage, my suspicion was affirmed, because in Hebrew, the English word for “understanding” is expanded beyond our general context – which is to “perceive an intended meaning of something, to include, to discern, to realize, to be prudent even to care for, to have skill, insight, and to instruct”.

What a wonderful prayer that is for us as shepherd leaders, that we would understand and discern the Father’s Word and His Will for us! That we would care for what He says so deeply that we would have the skill, insight, prudence to obey Him, as well as know His Word so deeply that we have the ability to instruct others in it!

Is there any portion of that passage that you need to pray more deeply over so that you can read it or pray it and mean it? Now is the time to do just that, fellow under-shepherd!

The psalmist speaks of learning, of obeying, of delighting, of fearing, and of longing.

Does that describe you as an under-shepherd of the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd? Does that describe you as a shepherd mom, shepherd dad, shepherd pastor, shepherd business operator? Do you long for God’s Word, His will, and His ways?      

Do you want to learn more of God’s word and understand what it means for you? Do you truly desire to obey Him? Do you delight in what He says?? Are you in awe of our God? Do you long for Him???

Our God does see us clearly. And if you’ve listened deeply to this psalm, you may feel like I feel and need to admit there’s room to grow in your learning, your obedience, your delight, your fear, and your longing toward God.

May the “He” (Hay) portion of the Hebrew acrostic known as Psalm 119 touch you and change you deeply today!

Thank you for joining me this week....

Today we are in the fourth acrostic of Psalm 119, entitled Daleth, the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

As I read through Psalm 119: 25-32, they made me think the author was deeply grieving, full of sorrow and maybe even despair, but wanted the strength of the Father. Although they were struggling, they truly wanted to understand the ways of Yahweh and to choose His path.

Whatever it is you hear in these eight verses that speaks to where you are in life as the Father’s under-shepherd, the one from whom the sheep in your life are to receive provision, protection, and presence through, it is that direction you are to follow today.

I urge you to sit a bit in these 8 verses. Take time to process each phrase of these powerful words of admission, request, and commitment.

Ask the Father where you are to apply it and then listen for His response. Rely on what you hear. And follow it closely.

Thank you for joining me. I pray your desire to shepherd well increases exponentially with every moment we spend together in Psalms and that you live deeply into your calling this week!

Today, we’re in the third acrostic of Psalm 119, entitled Gimel, third letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

While the theme of this psalm, as a whole, is the practical use of the Word of God in the life of the believer. These eight verses remind me of what we need to do to obtain true discernment or knowing God’s Word, His ways, and His instructions so well that we have the ability to judge well and to make good decisions.

Please join me in reading Psalm 119: 17-24

17 Deal bountifully with your servant,

  that I may live and keep your word.

18 Open my eyes that I may behold

  wondrous things out of your law.

19 I am a sojourner on the earth;

  hide not your commandments from me!

20 My soul is consumed with longing

  for your rules at all times.

21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,

  who wander from your commandments.

22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,

  for I have kept your testimonies.

23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,

  your servant will meditate on your statutes.

24 Your testimonies are my delight;

  they are my counselors.

Deal fully with me, Lord, as your servant, so that I might keep, watch, observe, and guard every single word you say!

Tell me, uncover, reveal to me what I need to know so that I may gaze upon, consider, and look at the wonderful, marvelous, amazing even hard parts of your law, teachings, and instructions.

The psalmist, whomever it may be, deeply desires the discernment to know what God wants him to do and how God wants him to live because He knows he is simply on this earth for a brief time.

Fellow under-shepherd, do you feel as the author of this song did?

Do you desperately, with every bone in your body, with your whole self, with every breath you take, every minute of your life, desire to know the Father more deeply? Desperate to understand his precepts more fully? Desperate to obey Him completely?

Do you remind yourself on a daily basis that you are an alien, a stranger, a foreigner on this planet?

That your time here is short, but our time with the Father is eternal?

Dear shepherd leader, I encourage you to sit on, meditate over, the precepts of the Father today. Keep them, watch them, observe them, guard them, as this song says in verse 17.

Hang on to every single word God says, literally every unit of His speech, the whole of His communication, not just selected portions that appeal to you, or that are easy for you, or that you’re already doing or agree with.

And ask Him where you need to shepherd more effectively, where He wants you to step up, where He is counting on you to know and apply His stipulations and regulations.

Thank you for joining me this week. May you live deeply into your calling as leader and shepherd well this week.

Today, we’re in the second acrostic of Psalm 119, entitled Bet – the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 

Verses 9 through 16 of Psalm 119 talk of the need to pursue purity and cultivate wisdom through God’s principles and instructions. 

Just as a true Jewish teacher would do, the psalmist begins this portion of the song by asking his students a question.  

Let’s worship together by reading Psalm 119, verses 9 through 16.

 Beth 

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? 

 By guarding it according to your word. 

10 With my whole heart I seek you; 

    let me not wander from your commandments! 

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, 

    that I might not sin against you. 

12 Blessed are you, O Lord; 

    teach me your statutes! 

13 With my lips I declare 

    all the rules of your mouth. 

14 In the way of your testimonies I delight 

    as much as in all riches. 

15 I will meditate on your precepts 

    and fix my eyes on your ways. 

16 I will delight in your statutes; 

    I will not forget your word. 

It seems to me there are some key words in this passage that help us stay on the path of purity and wisdom. 

The first is GUARD. Here the psalmist is literally saying we must assure our way is pure by keeping committed to purity, watching out for where we could fall, observe closely all that’s required to be pure. We are to be careful, beware and cling to purity as outlined in God’s Word. 

Notice this is not a passive action but, in fact, a very intentional decision accompanied by intentional actions to remain pure according to God’s Word. 

Verse 10 contains the word WHOLE when it refers to how we are to seek God. It’s pretty clear that we are to seek God with our entire beings — not just where it’s comfortable. 

No matter the translation, there’s another key word that requires intentionality — STORED, which literally means “to hide, conceal, store up, treasure, cherish.” 

There is no other way to truly remember God’s statutes than to deliberately, in a planned and purposeful way, memorize them, store them deep in our souls, and hide them there for the moments we will need to recall them. 

And the remaining key words: MEDIATE, FIX, DELIGHT, and REMEMBER, all of which are applied by the psalmist to God’s Word. 

When was the last time you truly meditated on God’s Word, not just read it, reviewed it, or scanned it, but mused over a passage, considered and thought deeply on what it meant, even telling others about it?  

This is how you cultivate wisdom — by learning, studying, knowing, and remembering God’s principles and instructions, all of which require a deliberate and intentional commitment to the Father and His Word. 

May our actions be seen in the PROVISION, PROTECTION, and PRESENCE we demonstrate with the sheep in our lives.

Today we’re in Psalm 119, the longest song in the Psalter we call the book of Psalms, with 176 verses.                           

To be honest, knowing that Psalm 119 was coming up in this series nearly gave me a sense of foreboding. Not just because of its length but because of its depth.    

Then, as I took a deep breath and prayed for wisdom, I realized I was NOT going to cover 176 verses in 1 or 2 podcasts. Instead, with the amount of practical application for today’s under-shepherds that is in each of

the passages the 22 successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet represent, I knew this psalm deserved 22 separate Psalms for Shepherds podcasts.

With that in mind, let me welcome you to Part 1 of the Psalms for Shepherds series for Psalm 119. Today, we’re in verses 1 through 8, entitled by the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet, Aleph, which means “Master.”

Let’s dig in and start with a narrated version of Psalm 119, verses 1 through 8...  

1  Blessed are those whose way is blameless [without defect, of good faith, secure, full, whole], 

who walk in the law of the Lord! [or travel in the regulation, teaching, instruction of God’s Word]   

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies [a formal written copy of the precepts and stipulations of God’s covenant], who seek him [or inquire or consult with God] with their whole heart [or, by extension, our inner person, the seat of thought and emotion, our conscience, courage, mind, and understanding], 

3 who also do no wrong [or wickedness, evil, injustice], but walk [or follow, travel, or literally fade away] in

his ways [or continually follow God’s path, road, or route]! 

4  [And now the psalmist turns to speak to the Lord directly when he sings:] You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently [observed, guarded, secured]. 

5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast [firm and established] in keeping your statutes! [obeying your decrees of what God says we should do] 

6 Then I shall not be put to shame [disgraced or ashamed], having my eyes fixed on all your commandments [prescriptions or instructions]. 

7 I will praise you [give thanks, extol, make a public confession or an admission, speak of His excellence]; with an upright heart [with honesty and integrity], when I learn your righteous rules [are taught or instructed in the just law, God’s standard, His regulation or prescription]. 

8 I will keep [obey, observe, guard] your statutes [your clear communication of what someone should do]; do not utterly forsake me! [exceedingly abandon, reject or desert me] 

These first 8 verses of Psalm 119 remind us of God’s requirement that to receive His blessings, we must keep His laws, to live with honesty and integrity in all that we do, following His ways in every situation, and to do so not begrudging what He requires, but with praise, commending Who He is, publicly confessing that belief and faith in Him, and speaking of His excellence.  

In other words, our relationship with Him is to be wholehearted.

It means doing more than just reading His Word and checking it off of a to-do list each day, but rather a

method by which we listen for and hear His voice, studying His Word, loving Him more each day, and pleasing Him with a deep, true, complete surrender to Him.

So, fellow under-shepherd, how does this first passage from Psalm 119 apply in your life today? 

How would you rate your dedication to God’s precepts?

How about your integrity? Do you have strong moral principles based on God’s Word? And do you follow them or just talk about them? 

Dear fellow under-shepherd, together let’s commit to following the path our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd has paved for us.

May we live deeply into our calling as shepherds in the lives of those entrusted to our care directed by the Almighty Himself. 

Today we’re in Psalm 118, the song that sits between the shortest and the longest psalm.

I haven’t mentioned it yet as we’ve worked our way through the Hallel, but I think it’s important that we remember our Savior hosted the most special of Passover meals the night He was betrayed.

Just picture this psalm being sung by our Lord, with His disciples present, as they completed the Passover meal that night. Yes, it seems that Jesus may have sung this song, entitled ‘His Steadfast Love Endures Forever,’ with those He knew were not ready to yet fully return His love for them. I believe He does the same with us.

Please join me in worshipping our Lord by reading together Psalm 118…

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 

3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 

4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 

5 Out of my distress

I called on the Lord; 

 the Lord answered

me and set me free. 

6 The Lord is on my side;  I will not fear. 

What can man do to me? 

7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; 

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 

8 It is better to take

refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 

9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord 

than to trust in princes [or

those in authority. 

10 All nations surrounded me; 

    in the name of the Lord, I cut them off! 

11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on everyside; 

in the name of the Lord, I cut them off! 

12 They surrounded me like bees; 

they went out like a fire among thorns; 

in the name of the Lord, I cut them off! 

13 I was pushed hard [by the enemy], so that I was falling, 

but the Lord helped me. 

14 The Lord is my strength

and my song; 

he has become my salvation. 

15 Glad songs of salvation 

are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, 

16  the right hand of the Lord exalts, 

the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” 

17 I shall not die, but I shall live, 

  and recount the deeds of the Lord. 

18 The Lord has disciplined

me severely, 

 but he has not given me over to death. 

19 Open to me the gates of

righteousness, 

that I may enter

through them 

and give thanks to the Lord. 

20 This is the gate of the Lord; 

the righteous shall

enter through it. 

21 I thank you that you have answered me 

and have become my salvation. 

22 The stone that the builders rejected has

become the cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord's doing; 

it is marvelous in our eyes. 

24 This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

25 Save us, we pray,

O Lord! 

O Lord, we pray, give us success! 

26 Blessed is he who comes

in the name of the Lord! 

We bless you from the

house of the Lord. 

27 The Lord is God, 

and he has made his light to shine upon us. 

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, 

up to the horns of the altar! 

28 You are my God, and I

will give thanks to you; 

you are my God; I will extol you. 

29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

for his steadfast love endures forever! 

Wow! What is there to add to this song?!

Along with the psalmist’s joy and the confidence, this psalm reminds us of God’s steadfast love, His provision, His protection, and His presence.

The Jews knew the Father was shepherding His nation through the work Nehemiah led, and it is clear the people felt His presence and, as a people in worship together, they sang every word to their God.

We, dear shepherd-in-training, must do the same. We must thank the Lord at all times. We must trust in Him in every crisis. We must glorify our Lord after every victory. And we must see our Lord in every experience because He is, in fact, there! Watching over us, loving us recklessly, waiting for us to worship, honor, and return His love by following Him closely, trusting Him deeply, and obeying Him fully.

Dear fellow under-shepherds, I pray that if you are in one of those difficult moments in life right now, where you are feeling the hard life of leadership, where it feels like the walls and the gates have been torn down, and you are completely unprotected and without our Lord, that you will take time to read this psalm out loud and with confidence in Him until you know it!

Today, we are in Psalm 117, which continues in the Hallel, the collection of psalms traditionally sung by the Jewish people at the close of the Passover meal.

We often hear that less is more, and I think today’s psalm is an example of just that since Psalm 117 consists of just two verses. It is the shortest psalm, but in this short psalm, there is a magnificent message.

Let’s praise God together by reading Psalm 117, entitled, The Lord's Faithfulness Endures Forever:

117 Praise the Lord, all nations!

    Extol him, all peoples!

2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,

    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

Dear Shepherd leader, as we can read in this psalm, you are dearly, steadfastly, passionately, and recklessly loved by our Father, so praise the Lord — every people, every tribe, and every nation. ALL peoples, let’s praise His name for His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of our Lord endures forever!

No matter where you shepherd — wherever you influence and impact the sheep of His pasture — may you do so with the confidence of the Father’s love, with the conviction that your mercy and love are to mirror His, and with His strength that allows you to fulfill your responsibilities of Provision, Protection, and Presence to those you lead.

May you live deeply into your calling this week, and may you shepherd well the sheep entrusted to your care.

Today, we’re in Psalm 116, a psalm that has significant meaning to me. As  I prepare this podcast, my husband, Doug, and I are amid a medical saga that began 23 days ago with an expected 5-to-7-day hospital stay.                

Truly, we made plans, but the Lord directed our steps. After open heart surgery, Doug spent 17 days in the hospital with complications and, as the doctors put it, “too many blood clots in his lungs to count.”       

Now, as we round out our time with another six days in a nearby hotel waiting to be released, 450 miles from home, I find myself in Psalm 116.

There are no coincidences with our sovereign God!

Just as this song was personal for the psalmist, since “I,” “my,” and “me” are used over 30 times in these 19 verses — this psalm is personal, in this very moment, for me.

Please join me in reading Psalm 116, entitled “I Love the Lord.”

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard

    my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me,

    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me;

    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

    I suffered distress and anguish.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:

    “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

    our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;

    when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;

    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,

    my eyes from tears,

    my feet from stumbling;

9 I will walk before the Lord

    in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke the words,

    “I am greatly afflicted”;

11 I said in my alarm,

    “All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord

    for all his benefits to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation

    and call on the name of the Lord,

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord

    is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, I am your servant;

    I am your servant, the son [or in my case, the daughter] of your maidservant.

    You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

    and call on the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,

    in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

So, fellow under-shepherd, did you offer a praise of thanksgiving to our Lord today? If so, why?

I want to challenge you to take 15 minutes and journal your answers and jot down the ways God has saved you as He did the psalmist who authored Psalm 116.                 

Remember the thanksgiving and the praise you need to offer to Him again, and give a word of testimony about what God did in your life.      

Take a moment and, as the psalmist did, shout “PRAISE THE LORD!” And, maybe those you influence and impact will be inspired to do the same.

Thanks so much for joining me this week. May you live deeply into your calling.