Psalms 135:1, 8:1, 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Psalm 10. I asked if we could meet in the Psalms today. Psalm 10:17-18 caught my attention, and it’s where the Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind:

Psalms 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Psalms 10:18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

The Psalm begins with a question I know I’ve asked, and one I have heard many ask: “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1). The Psalmist proceeds to present his complaint against the oppressor of the poor (Psalm 10:2-11). He then presents His petition for God to deliver the poor from the oppressor (Psalms 10:12-15), and concludes with assurance from GOD that He is King, and will act intentionally to judge the cause of the poor (Psalm 10:16-18).

Who are the “poor”? The word poor is used to translate two Hebrew words in this Psalm.* On refers to someone unfortunate, obscure, or unknown. The other means one who is lowly, needy, afflicted: of humble circumstance and station.

Biblical use of the word “poor” is not limited to persons who are impoverished and unable to provide for themselves and their families. It applies to anyone who is without sufficient strength to protect themselves from the oppression of those above them in rank or social station. It is especially applicable to those who are humble, even if rich or wealthy.**

The other keyword in this Psalm is humble. Like poor, there are two words translated as “humble.”

One is found in Psalm 10:10 and describes the oppressor, the abuser, the wicked: “He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.”***

These evil people pretend to be lowly; they feign identification with the poor to hide among them while they lay their snares and nets to take and devour them.

The other word translated as “humble” in Psalm 10:10 is from the root that is also translated as “poor.” This refers to a truly humble person, the sort Jesus described as “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3).

Along the still waters, I asked what moved the Lord to “cause [His] ear to hear” the cry of the oppressed, to listen intentionally?

Psalm 10:17 tells us the LORD prepares their heart and intentionally directs His attention to their prayers.

We know God resists the proud, but gives grace to the lowly (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). He is attracted to the humble (Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”).****

God leans in to listen intently to the desires of a humble heart. (The adverb intently includes the ideas of intensity with intentionality.)

The Spirit exhorts us to prepare our hearts to seek the LORD (2 Chronicles 12:14; 19:3; Ezra 7:10). Our Psalm tells us God will “prepare their heart,” in connection with causing His ear to hear (Psalm 10:17).

The work of preparing our hearts to seek the LORD must focus on humility. God will “prepare” various means by which He works to deepen our humility to make room for more of Him and His blessing in our lives. Sometimes, these preparations can be difficult (Job 42:5-6). This is not cruel or demeaning. Its purpose is to help us position our petition to attract His favorable attention to our heart’s desires.

Two believers went into the Temple to pray. One recommended himself to the LORD, citing his personal righteousness and good deeds. The other smote his breast, pleading, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:10-14). Only one went home justified! Which do you suppose it was?

In the valley, Jesus renewed His call to humble myself before Him, to deny myself, to reckon myself to be dead to sin, to acknowledge that any life I have is to be used in service to Him: “If any man,” He called, “will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, we discussed some things He is doing in my life right now that the Devil is attempting to use to “provoke” me, but God intends they will “move me” into deeper conformity to Him, and in the direction He pleases that I should move. I must respond by humbling myself to Him (1 Peter 5:6). I prefer to “move” with God than react to Satan’s provocation (2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1).*****

He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed me as I followed Him into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v78x1cw-shepherds-pasture.html

[* The first is לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה (pronounced Luh-Khay-luh-kaw’). It refers to one who is unfortunate, “dark,” as unknown and obscure. The other word translated poor in this Psalm is עָנִ֑י (Ah-nee’), and it means lowly, needy, afflicted, of humble circumstance and station. The spelling and pronunciation of this word are only very subtly distinguishable from the first-person, personal pronoun “I.”]

[** In fact, the word that is translated humble in Psalm 10:12 is עֲנָוִֽים (Ah-na-veem) constructed on the root of Ah-nee.]

[*** יָשֹׁ֑חַ (Ya-Show-Akh) and means to bow down, or lower oneself to hide that he might sneak up on his prey.]

[**** The word that is translated humble in Isaiah 57:15 is from the same word that is used in Psalm 10:10, only in Psalm 10:10 it describes one who makes himself low, like a lion crouching to sneak up on prey. In Isaiah 57:15, it describes someone who lowers himself under God among men.]

[***** God moves while Satan provokes. The story of David’s sin of numbering the people “otherwise than it is written” (see 2 Chronicles 30:18) is a biblical illustration of how God moves through authority that I have often used. This same principle can and does apply generally: anytime God moves, Satan attempts to provoke. It’s important to respond humbly in the direction God moves, and never allow Satan to turn the matter into a provocation that perturbs our minds and sets us up for failure to “do His will.”]