Psa 123:1 A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

The enemies of God's people ask: Where is your God? Our answer: Our God is in the heavens. In an earlier psalm, the psalmist asked: “From whence cometh my help?” (Psalm 121:1). He said he lifted his eyes upon the hills. The hills were tall and great. But they could not help him. He said instead: “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). We are to lift up our eyes to God: “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes” (v.1). God dwells in the heavens. Heavens are above us. If we want to go to heaven, we have to look up to God. Anyone who wants to go to heaven but do not want God is having a hopeless dream. God is in the heavens and therefore, to seek God, we need to look up. The Psalmist looked so high that he could look no higher; God dwells higher than the hills. The psalmist looked beyond the hills. It is most natural to think of God as being above us, in that glory-land which lies beyond the skies: “O thou that dwellest in the heavens” (v.1b). Where else would you look for God? Above, of course! It is good to have someone to look up to. What does it mean to look up to someone? Looking up to someone means you want to follow his footsteps. It means he is someone you admire and respect and want for your role model; you look up to him like looking up at a hero. We need our role models for various reason like giving us directions and motivations. Unfortunately, our role models are rarely perfect; they fail us. When I was a teenager, I admired one preacher for his great preaching skill. I said I want to preach like him. Well, he left his wife for another woman and quit on God. What a disappointment! He wasn’t the only “great” preacher who fell from grace. There is only one role model who is perfect. He is our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter exhorts: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:21, 22). Our Lord did not sin; He is perfect. He is the one we should lift up our eyes to. The Scripture says: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is the perfect role model. We are to look to His holy life, to His patience and perseverance in trials, to what He endured in order to obtain the crown, and to His final success and triumph. Jesus shows us how to be victorious in this Christian race. When we cannot look to any helper here, it is greatly wise to look above us. The One who created all things both in heaven and on earth can certainly do great things for us. God wants us to look up. If you are constantly walking with your eyes on the ground, you are going to miss out on so much in life. Look at the people today; they are constantly looking down at their handphones. They don’t realise they are missing out on so many things in this life. Still, the most important thing they may miss out is heaven: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). God wants us to look up. I like this statement by one writer: “If the outlook in your life is disturbing, try the uplook.” The world is a distraction; look up. Who is your role model? To Christians, there is only one; He is the Lord Jesus.

Psa 124:1 A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say.

The theme of this psalm is, “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side.” The psalmist is reminding his readers that had it not been that God was on their side, their condition now would be miserable and deplorable. But God was on their side. He was for them, with them, and among them. The psalmist hypostasised what would have happened to them had the LORD not on their side when the enemies rose up against them: 1. They would have been swallowed up alive by their enemies (v.3). 2.  The proud waters would have covered them (v.4). The psalmist could have had references to these two events in Israel’s history: 1. The wicked and proud Haman who almost succeeded in annihilating the entire Jewish race (Esther 3:6-15). Fortunately, God was on their side. He was with them and through Esther and Mordecai, delivered the nation from destruction. 2. The deliverance at the Red Sea (Exodus 14). The waters of the Red Sea could have covered them just as they covered the Egyptian chariots. What if the Lord was not on their side? They would be non-existent! The psalmist knows what it would have meant if the LORD had not been on their side. What about us? Have we ever given some thoughts to this question: What would have become of us had the LORD not on our side? We are far too slow in declaring our gratitude. We are too quick to complain about the weather, the traffic jam, the train breakdown, the food on the table, the stresses in our jobs, etc. We complain about every small incident that happens. We are quick to blame God. Why do I say we should thank God when “bad” things happen? The simple reason is: It could have been worse. For example, if the car that you were driving was hit from behind and suffered a dent while you and your family in the car suffered no injury, thank God. Had it not been that God was with you, it could have been worse. What about a traffic jam? It may be a blessing in disguise. We should not jump to conclusion when “bad things” happen nor rejoice with too much of “good things”. The prophet Isaiah reminded Israel that had it not been Jehovah God was on their side and left them a small remnant, they would have become non-existent like Sodom and Gomorrah: “Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:9). But God had, by His infinite power and goodness, restrained their enemies, and preserved them from total destruction. What if the LORD were not on your side? Have you ever given that question any thought? The psalmist wants us to think about what our life would have been like if the LORD had not been on our side. What about me? What would have happened if the LORD had not been on my side? I know what would happen… 1. I would have been hit by a huge coconut which dropped right in front of me. 2. I would have been killed when a platform I was standing on gave way. 3. I would have been run down by a speeding car which beat the red light. 4. I would not have met and married my wonderful wife. Good things happen when the LORD is on our side. If you have lost your job today, fret not; I lost mine before. And the journey from that point has been only good ever since. Think for a moment: Would you be at this point today had the LORD not on your side? Give thanks to God for He is good!

Psa 125:1 A Song of degrees. They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Can you move a mountain? Can you move mount Zion? It’s impossible to move mount Zion. To the Hebrews, Zion was the image of eternal steadfastness. Hence, the psalmist wrote: “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever” (v.1). And, the reason is because the LORD surrounds them with protective care as the mountains surround Jerusalem: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore” (v. 2, ESV). They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion - The message the psalmist is trying to bring across is that the man who truly trusts in God is unshakable as a mountain. He is steadfast, unwavering, fearless, confident, unmovable, and stands solid as a rock. Our Lord tells a parable of a wise builder who builds his house upon a rocky foundation. He says: “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:25). Such is the man who truly trusts in God: he will not be beaten by the storms of this life. His faith is steadfast and unmovable. We remember Job. Job would not be beaten by the storms of life. Even when everything, including his children and his health, were taken away from him, he could still say: “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). Job’s faith in God is as mount Zion. But, the man who has little faith is like a builder who builds his house upon a sandy foundation: “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:27). Such is the man who has little faith: his faith will be beaten by the storms of life. His faith is shaky. We recall Job’s wife asking him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). Her faith was shaken by the events that had happened to her family. She was not as mount Zion. We see the difference between Job and his wife. They had the same events happened to them. Job had one extra affliction; he suffered severe boils all over his body. But Job’s faith remained strong while his wife’s faith crumbled. Only true faith will stand in the midst of trials. When we trust the Lord completely, it removes fear and doubt. Satan wants us to be confused and worried, but God wants us to be at peace and rest. We must take a serious look at our faith or the lack thereof. The trusting Christian is the one who abides steadfast forever. No doubting, no wavering, just trust – in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, in success and in failure, and in happiness and in sorrow. It is the fruit of the heart that is completely depending on God and resting in His faithful promises.                        When we let God be God in our lives, we will see His will fulfilled in our lives. We must trust that He will lead us to green pastures. The way to get to green pastures may be difficult. We may have to cross deserts, rivers, swamps, and encounter storms and scourging heat. But they are parts of the journey to get there. Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Don't lean on your own understanding, trust God, and acknowledge that He is the One who is working in your life. If you fully trust in Him, you will not be shaken: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).

Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

The message of this psalm is, “We can do nothing at all without the Divine co-operation.” The psalmist gives two examples – a house and a city (v.1). If God deems that a house should not be built, those who build it will labour in vain. If God deems that a city should fall into the hands of the enemy, the watchman’s awake will still be in vain. An example is in the construction of the tower of Babel recorded in Genesis 11:1-9. The people wanted to build a tower that reached up to heaven and they began to build it. But God said NO. God confounded their language so that they could not understand one another’s speech. Frustrated, they left off building the city: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Nehemiah desired to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Samaritans tried to stop the work. They got the king to stop the project. But God was with the Jews. Nehemiah said: “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build” (Nehemiah 2:20). They completed the project with God’s help (Nehemiah 6:15).                                                                                                                                     The psalmist is reminding us that the success of all our undertakings depends so entirely upon God’s blessing that it is in vain to attempt anything without His blessing on it. It is in vain to build houses and cities, or to endeavour to uphold families, unless He prospers the design. A rich man wanted to build bigger barns to store his goods (Luke 12:13-21). He has his life laid up nicely for himself. Unfortunately, he left out God in his plans. His plans did not take off because his life was cut short. Man proposes but God disposes. Put God in our plan. James wrote: “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit". Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that"” (James 4:13-15, ESV). If the Lord wills - The people of the world plan far ahead, think every step in the plan quite secure, and boast accordingly. Today and tomorrow are quite safe. But today may be their last and there will be no tomorrow. Let us never say we will do anything before we say: “If the Lord wills.” Some will say: “But many beautiful houses and cities are built by those who deny God.” The psalmist doesn’t mean that the unbelievers of this world can’t build houses or keep cities safe. But when they do, it’s because of the help of the very God they deny. Our Lord says: “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Our concern should be: What’s the point of a new house or a secure city if one does not have God? It is a question that concerns eternity. What’s the point of having wealth if one does not have eternal life in heaven? (Matthew 16:26). Unbelievers succeed because of God. But they will not succeed in the next life. David wrote about the destiny of the righteous and unrighteous: “But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble” (Psalm 37:38, 39). The richest man without God will be destroyed. Do you have God? Let us put God in our plans.

Psa 133:1 A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Behold, how good and how pleasant – Unity among brethren is, according to this psalm, a good and pleasant thing. On the other hand, disunity is bad and hateful. The former is from heaven; the latter, from hell. For brethren to dwell together in unity - The key word in this verse is the word “unity”. People may dwell together but not in unity. Family members may dwell together under one roof and yet not united. The psalmist cares little for external unity, if the spirit of oneness does not animate the corporate whole. He says the only good and pleasant thing that can happen among brethren is only when they are dwelling together in unity. Christians can worship together in the same building but not in unity. We see it in the church in Corinth. The Christians were dwelling together. They were together in worship. But they were not dwelling together in unity. How did they dwell together? Paul said of them: “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). The whole church at Corinth was divided into different factions; they were divided. While the Corinthians had not separated into various denominations, they had formed several parties within the church. There were four existing parties: A Pauline party, named after the one who started the church; a party of Apollos, who were probably carried away by their admiration of his eloquence; a party of Peter, called here by his Hebrew name of Cephas, who were perhaps thinking he was the chief among the apostles; and a fourth party who followed only Christ. The experience in Corinth is similar to that which is happening in the world today. The Christendom (the collective body of those who claim to follow Christ throughout the world), is divided into thousands of sects and all claiming to follow Christ while calling themselves by different names. They meet together and share pulpits but they are not united. Each sect holds on to its doctrines and all claim to be Christians. Paul has this question for them: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). Paul will not allow himself to be flattered even by those who made his name their party cry: “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (1 Corinthians 3:5). Why should a party be formed which should be named after Paul, or after Luther, or after Wesley, etc? Paul said he was but a minister of God, used by the God of all grace. How will the psalmist view the current state of Christendom? Will he say it is good and pleasant? You know the answer. God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). Only on this basis can there be unity: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). That ye all speak the same thing – It refers to the teachings and preaching. Do denominations preach the same doctrine? To “speak the same thing” stands opposed to speaking different and conflicting things. Paul says there is only one faith, referring to the system of faith, the entire body of doctrines (Ephesians 4:5). He says if anyone preaches a different doctrine is cursed (Galatians 1:6-9). God desires unity. Christ prayed for it (John 17:21). Unity in truth is good and pleasant.

Psa 134:1 A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

This is a very short psalm consisting only three verses. And the word “bless” appears three times in this psalm, once in every verse. The night ministers of the sanctuary are told to bless the LORD (v.1, 2). And when they bless the LORD, the LORD will bless them (v.3). "Bless ye the Lord … the Lord bless thee." When we bless the LORD, He will bless us in return. But, how do we bless God? We must remember that when God "blesses" men, they are thereby helped and strengthened and made better off than they were before. Men are benefited when God blesses them. But, when men "bless" God, He is not helped or strengthened or made better off; men cannot do anything that improves God. God is perfect; He cannot be benefited by men’s blessings. So, what does it mean when we are called to “bless” the LORD? 1. We bless God when we offer Him our Worship. When we ascribe to Him all power, wisdom, faithfulness, holiness, mercy, and truth, we bless His holy name. Psalm 103:2 reads: “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” 2. We bless God when we offer Him our Thanksgiving. The following verses confirm this idea: Deuteronomy 8:10  When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.  Psalm 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. The word “bless” in the above two verses can be replaced with “give thanks.” 3. We bless God when we offer Him our Praises. Psalm 104:1: “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. ” 4. We bless God when we Exalt Him in front of people. 1 Chronicles 29:10: “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.” 5. We bless God when we Live a life that Glorifies Him: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).                   We see that to bless the Lord means to praise Him, exalt Him, give thanks to Him, worship Him, and live a life that glorifies Him. And throughout the Psalms, these ideas of praising, giving thanks, worship, and exalting God are seen in almost every psalm. God is glorified when we bless Him in the form of praise, adoration, thanksgiving and worship. This is what we were created for – to worship God. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God created men for His glory: “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7). Therefore, the ultimate purpose of man, according to the Bible, is simply to glorify God: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The psalmist lived to bless God. He blessed God in their psalms. May our lives be always to bless God too: “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (v.1). Best Daily Devotional

Psa 135:3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.

                                                                                                                                                   
This psalm calls on God’s people to praise the LORD. Three reasons for praising God were given:

1. Because God is Good (v.3a)
2. Because God’s Name is Pleasant (v.3b)
3. Because God is Great (v.5).

1. Because God is Good (v.3a)
God is good to mankind on earth. Paul said that He did good in that He gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17). James says every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights (James. 1:18).

God is so good to have provided for all our material needs in this life. Therefore, we should be thankful and praise His name. A thankful heart will praise the name of God. He will acknowledge that his blessings are from God: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm 103:2).

And the greatest benefit God has given to men is the gift of salvation. God is good because of His offer of redemption in Christ (John 3:16). God the Son came down from heaven and died for the sins of men that they might be saved (Romans 5:8). Yes, God not only provide for our physical needs, but also our spiritual needs. The spiritual blessings in Christ are far greater and more important than the material blessings (Ephesians 1:3). So there can be no doubt to the honest observer that our God is good and therefore should be praised.

2. Because God’s Name is Pleasant (v.3b)
Some names such as Cain, Judas, Ahab, Haman, Jezebel, and Delilah, are not pleasant to the ears; we will not name our children after those names. But names such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, James, Paul, Ruth, Sarah, and Mary, are pleasant names.

Yes, names are important. We name our children according to the character we want them to be. Certainly you will not name your daughter Jezebel but Ruth because you associate certain characteristics to those names. You know what Jezebel stands for and you would not want your daughter to be like her. Ruth is a much more pleasant name.

God is known by His names too. God’s names exceed all those names in pleasantness. The first name we find of God in the Bible is Elohim (Genesis 1:1). The prefix "El" signifies" one who is great, mighty, dreadful. It is also a plural word that suggests the fact that God is a Holy Trinity--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another name, El Shaddai, suggests He is God Almighty. Another name, Adonai, suggests His Lordship, the one who rules over everything that exists.

And, the name God is known most frequently is Yahweh, which has been transliterated in English into Jehovah. Jehovah means The Eternal One and The Self-Existent One. Jehovah is the name God revealed to Moses: “I Am That I Am” (Exodus 3:14; read also 6:3).

God’s names are pleasant. Every name of God is worthy of our praise.

3. Because God is Great (v.5).
God’s greatness is not only seen in His names but also in His works. The creative power of God shows forth His greatness and intelligence (v.6, 7). Hence, the psalmist exclaims: “Our Lord is above all gods” (v.5b).

Our God is an awesome God. He is indeed worthy of our praises. Praise ye the LORD!