Category: Psalms Devotionals

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Psalms Devotionals

My gate. My righteousness.

Psalms

Father, you have opened up to me the gates of righteousness.

Jesus is my gate (John 10:9). He is my righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30)

And now through him, I have access to you. (Hebrews 10:19-22)

So now, Father, I enter into our presence with thanksgiving, because you have answered me and become my salvation. (Psalm 118:19-21)

The stone that the builders rejected and put on a cross has now become the cornerstone of your church, Father. (Psalm 118:22, Acts 4:10-12, Ephesians 2:19-22)

This is from you, Father, and it is wondrous in our sight. This is the day you have made. I will rejoice, and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:23-24)

You are good, Lord. Your steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

God’s love and faithfulness

Psalms

I’ve been preparing a message on the latter part of Jacob’s life this past week. Jacob went through a tough time. He lost his wife. He lost his father. And he lost his beloved son Joseph for 20 years.

Perhaps, he could have said at that time very cynically,

Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

But at the end of his life, he realized, “God is not capricious. Everything he does has a purpose. And he is good.”

This song was written long after he died, but I could imagine singing to himself,

Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and shield. (9)

For a long time, Jacob probably thought he had been forgotten. But at the end of his life he could sing,

The Lord remembers us and will bless us.

He will bless the house of Israel…
he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike. (12-13)

So if you’re going through a tough time, if you’re feeling abandoned, remember Jacob’s story. And with hearts filled with faith, let us sing,

Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth. (1)

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Psalms Devotionals

A prayer

Psalms

Lord, you struck our Rock, you struck Jesus on the cross and now through him we have living water.

Quench our spiritual thirst. (1 Corinthians 10:4, Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:7-11, John 4:10, 7:37-39)

You brought us out of slavery to sin and Satan’s kingdom.

Now, Lord, let us be your sanctuary. Let us be your dominion. (Ephesians 2:16-22, Revelation 1:5-6)

In Jesus’ name amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

The God who came down

Psalms

Psalms 113-118 were traditionally sung during the Jewish Passover feast.

When Jesus and his disciples were singing during the last supper, they were probably singing these hymns. (Matthew 26:30)

With that in mind, verses 4-6 really struck me.

The Lord is exalted above all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God—
the one enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth? (Psalm 113:4-6)

Yet God did not simply stoop down to look. He actually set aside his glory, came down, and became one of us. And he did it to die for our sins. (Philippians 2:5-8)

And because of what Jesus did for us, we have been raised from the dust, from the trash heap of our sin, and are now seated with him as children of the King. (Psalm 113:7-8, Ephesians 2:1-7)

So as we remember that, let us sing with the psalmist,

Hallelujah!

Give praise, servants of the Lord;
praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and forever.

From the rising of the sun to its setting,
let the name of the Lord be praised. (Psalm 113:1-3)

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Psalms Devotionals

Marked by Christ’s character

Psalms

In verse 1, the psalmist says,

“Happy is the person who fears the LORD,
taking great delight in his commands. (Psalm 112:1)

But what does that kind of person look like?

The Pharisees claimed to be such people. And yet while you could say they had a form of righteousness, you could not say they were marked by graciousness or compassion.

A person who truly fears the Lord, who truly takes great delight in his commands, are marked by all three things: graciousness, compassion, and righteousness.

That’s what Jesus was like.

Too many Christians embrace the commands of God, and yet throw out graciousness and compassion.

On the other hand, other Christians embrace graciousness and compassion at the expense of God’s righteousness.

“Oh, those commands aren’t for today. God does not really expect you to live that way.”

As Christians, we need to be marked by all three.

May we all be marked by Christ’s character.

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Psalms Devotionals

A prayer to our Priest and King

Psalms

Jesus, you were David’s Lord, and you are my Lord. (Matthew 22:41-45)

You sit at your Father’s right hand, and you reign. (Hebrews 1:3, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2)

Not only that, you are my priest forever. You are able to save me completely because you always live to intercede for me. (Hebrews 7:24-25)

So Lord, I freely offer myself to you in this spiritual war we are in.

We are not fighting people. But we are fighting spiritual forces that would destroy people. (Ephesians 6:12)

Use me today to touch those around me with your love.

Here I am, Lord. Send me.

In your name, amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

Our joy. Our hope.

Psalms

This is pure speculation on my part, but I’ve been reading John 14-16 a lot recently.

And I just have to wonder, whenever Peter and the other disciples sang this psalm, how often did their minds go back to what Jesus told him in those chapters.

At that time, Jesus was about to go to the cross, and so he told them he was going to leave. More, he told them they couldn’t follow him to where he was going.

Peter, brimming with self-confidence, couldn’t accept this and insisted that he was willing to die for Jesus.

ut Jesus told Peter that he would instead deny Him three times. Hearing all this, Peter and the other disciples became emotionally distraught. (John 13:33-38)

So Jesus told them,

Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1)

How much did those words ring in their hearts when they sang David’s words in the years after Jesus’ resurrection?

My heart is confident, God;
I will sing; I will sing praises
with the whole of my being. (Psalm 108:1)

Like David, they learned not to be confident in their own abilities, but in God and his faithfulness toward them.

When Jesus told them that he was going to leave for a while, they probably thought as David did.

God, haven’t you rejected us?
God, you do not march out with our armies. (Psalm 108:11)

But Jesus reassured them,

I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. (John 14:18-19)

Years later, filled with the Holy Spirit, knowing Jesus’ presence in their lives, how triumphantly did they sing David’s words.

With God we will perform valiantly;
he will trample our foes. (Psalm 108:13)

And whenever they sang those words, did the recall Jesus’ final words to them that night?

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)

How much did their hearts sing out as they remembered their risen Lord:

I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your faithful love is higher than the heavens,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

God, be exalted above the heavens,
and let your glory be over the whole earth. (Psalm 108:3-5)

Like the disciples, we serve a living Savior. Like them, let us always have hearts that rejoice in the hope that we have in him.

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Psalms Devotionals

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so

Psalms

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” (Psalm 107:1-2, ESV)

Those last words really made me stop a moment.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

Say what?

The Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever.

It’s easy to say that when things are going well.

But how about when things aren’t going so well?

There are times when we sure don’t feel like the Lord is good. There are times when it seems his love has failed.

But our feelings don’t change the truth of those words.

And it is especially during those times when we don’t feel the truth of those words that we need to consciously remind ourselves: “The Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever.”

We have such short memories. We so quickly forget all the good the Lord has done for us. That was the Israelites’ problem. (Psalm 106)

Let us not follow their example.

Are you struggling right now?

Stop a moment, and think about the good things God has done in your life. Remember his goodness to you in the past. As you do, thank him for his goodness to you.

And choose to speak out these words of faith:

The Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever.

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Psalms Devotionals

A disciple’s prayer

Psalms

Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

Lord, I have tasted your goodness. I want to taste more.

As I read your word, let me taste your goodness.

As I pray and I hear you speak to me, let me taste your goodness.

As I see you answer my prayers, let me taste your goodness.

When I’m depressed because I have fallen into sin yet again, let me taste your goodness, knowing the sweetness of your forgiveness.

When I go through struggles and trials in my life, when I am so totally aware of how weak and inadequate I am, let me taste your goodness. Especially as I come to understand that your grace is sufficient for me and that your power is made perfect in my weakness.

As I go out into this world and touch others, let others taste your goodness.

Let my family taste your goodness through me.

Let my friends, coworkers, and neighbors taste your goodness through me.

Let the people at church taste your goodness through me.

And as that happens, let me taste your goodness as I see you work in me, imperfect child of yours though I may be.

Each day, Lord, let me taste your goodness in some way.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

Taking God and his grace for granted

Psalms

Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp
the significance of your wondrous works
or remember your many acts of faithful love… (Psalm 106:7)

I wonder how often those words describe us. We don’t grasp the significance of God’s wondrous work of salvation, the faithful love he showed at the cross.

Instead, we forget all he has done for us. (13a)

Instead of seeking his counsel, we follow our own. (13b)

We crave the sinful things of our old life. (14a) 

We test God, questioning whether he is really with us or not. (14b)

We despise the good things he has given us, and question his promises. (24)

We grumble against him and do not listen to him. (25)

We adopt the ways of our culture, while rejecting what God has said. (35)

The gods our culture follows become snares to us and we serve them. (36)

 We defile ourselves with our actions and act unfaithfully to God. (39)

And yet, despite all that, when we repent, we find grace. 

As Moses and Phinehas stood in the gap and interceded for the people when they sinned, so Jesus does for us. (23, 30)

Let us never take that grace for granted. Let us never take Jesus and what he suffered for us for granted. 

Rather let us always keep hearts full of thanksgiving and praise, singing,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting. (48)

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Psalms Devotionals

Seeking God’s face…always

Psalms

Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4)

“Seek his face always,” the psalmist says.

Not just when you’re in trouble. Not just when you feel overwhelmed.

Always.

How often, though, do we rely on our own strength and wisdom.

I know I do.

“I’m okay, God. I’ve got this handled. You can just sit down and relax over there.”

And then we fall flat on our faces.

Often times this happens after a great victory in our lives.  

Joshua and the Israelites did this when entering the promised land…twice. (Joshua 7, 9)

King Asa did as well. (2 Chronicles 16)

Let’s not fall into that trap.

Instead,

Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always. (Psalm 105:4)

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Psalms Devotionals

God’s goodness, God’s provision

Psalms

As I read Psalm 104, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ words in his Sermon on the Mount.

Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Aren’t you worth more than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)

I’m not sure, but maybe Jesus took some of his ideas from this psalm. Time and again, we see in this psalm God providing food, water, and shelter for the animals of this earth.

And if God cares for them, how much more will he care for us?

How often do we meditate on our worries each day?  

How much better to pray as the psalmist did?

I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him;
I will rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:33-34)

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Psalms Devotionals

When God looked down

Psalms

He looked down from his holy heights—
the Lord gazed out from heaven to earth—
to hear a prisoner’s groaning, 
to set free those condemned to die,
so that they might declare 
the name of the Lord in Zion 
and his praise in Jerusalem when peoples and kingdoms are assembled to serve the Lord.” (Psalm 102:19-22)

Those words reminded me of the Lord delivering the Israelites from Egypt.

They were groaning and condemned to die in slavery. But God looked down and heard them, setting them free. (Exodus 2:23-25, 3:7-10)

And because of that, they praised the Lord, declaring his name, and serving him.

In the same way, we were all groaning and condemned to die because of our sin. But God looked down and heard our cries. And by his grace he saved us. 

And the day will come when people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will stand before him to serve and worship him forever. (Revelation 7:9-17)

So when we are weak, when we are crying out to him, let us always remember what an awesome God we serve!

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Psalms Devotionals

To be like You

Psalms

Lord, I will sing praise to you because you are a God of faithful love and justice. Lord, I desire to be like you. (Psalm 101:1)

Let me be a man of integrity, not only where people can see me, but at home as well. (2) 

Lord, may worthless things not control the way I think. May you and your Word alone shape my thinking.

And though I am in the world, may I not be of it. Don’t let the sins of this world cling to me. Rather, let your light shine through me. (3-4)

Come to me Father. Come to me Jesus. Make your home in me. (John 14:23)

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

Living as if we were already in heaven

Psalms

When reading Psalm 100 today, it struck me that it describes what life in heaven will be like.

We will shout triumphantly because of the victory that we have in Jesus. (Psalm 100:1)

We will serve the Lord with gladness.

We will come before him with joyful songs. (2)

We will acknowledge and rejoice in the fact that we are his. (3)

We will enter his presence with thanksgiving and praise. We will bless his name. (4)

For he is good, his faithful love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (5)

What an awesome depiction of heaven!

But why wait for heaven? Why not live that way each and every day?

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Psalms Devotionals

God’s priests, God’s children

Psalms

As I read Psalm 99, I thought about how amazing it is that we have the same kind of position with God that people like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel did. We are priests before him.

When we call on him, he answers. He reveals himself to us, speaks to us, and teaches us his ways.

Oh, we may not see him in a pillar of cloud, but we have something better. We have his Holy Spirit himself dwelling within us.

When we fail, God is forgiving towards us, but he doesn’t ignore our sin. He deals with it. He brings discipline into our lives.

Most amazing of all, this exalted and holy God humbled himself and became a man, taking our sin upon himself at the cross.

It is because of what Jesus did that we can stand before God as his priests and as his beloved children.

Those are pretty awesome things to think about.

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Psalms Devotionals

Hating evil, choosing to rejoice

Psalms

Two verses caught my eyes this morning. They made me think of the attitudes of my heart.

O you who love the Lord, hate evil! (Psalm 97:10)

It is impossible for those who truly love the Lord, to love evil.

But how much do I hate it? How much do I hate the sin in my own life? Are there sins I embrace? Or maybe I don’t embrace them, but I make excuses for them.

Lord, help me to hate sin in my life.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name! (12)

There is lots I could complain about in this world. But we are called to rejoice in the Lord. To give thanks to him.

How much would my attitudes change if I chose to rejoice, if I chose to give thanks every day? To rejoice in his salvation. To give thanks for his love. To rejoice in his goodness. To give thanks for the blessings he has given me.

Lord, help me to have a heart that rejoices each day. And give me a thankful heart.

I choose to rejoice in you today. And I choose to have a thankful heart.

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Psalms Devotionals

A reason to rejoice

Psalms

Lord, I live in a dark world. I see moral decay around me. I see people living without hope.

But Lord, you have called me to rejoice. To sing to you a new song (Psalm 96:1-2).

And why not?

After all, you saved me, forgiving my sin and giving me new life.

And now you have called me to proclaim your salvation from day to day. To declare your glory and your wondrous work of salvation to a people who are dying. (3)

Lord, they worship worthless idols that cannot save them. But we worship you.

You are great and highly praised. You reign! And you are coming back to judge this world in righteousness and faithfulness. (4-5, 10, 13)

Lord, I look forward to that day.

But many people around me don’t know you. They don’t know your goodness. They don’t know your salvation.

Let them see your joy in me. And give me the opportunity and courage to proclaim your wondrous work of salvation to them.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

A prayer to the Rock of my salvation

Psalms

Lord, you are the Rock of my salvation. Just as the rock was struck at Massah and Meribah giving the people life-giving water, you were struck on the cross giving me eternal life (Exodus 17:1-7, I Corinthians 10:4, John 4:10-14, 7:37-39).

I rejoice in you, Lord, because you have triumphed over Satan, sin, and death! And I’m so grateful for the grace that you have given me. (Psalm 95:1-2)

You are the great God, the King of all other “gods.” You are the Creator of all things. (3-5)

So Lord I bow down to you. I worship you. You are my God, my shepherd. I am your sheep. I am yours. (6-7)

Help me to always remember that, Lord. When trials come and I’m struggling, let me never question you, asking “Are you really with me?” (Exodus 17:7)

You’ve already proven your love and goodness to me. So help me to trust you. And no matter what happens to me, let me enter your rest, rejoicing in you today, and every day.

Thank you Lord for your goodness.

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Psalms Devotionals

The Lord reigns

Psalms

The Lord reigns…

Your throne has been established
from the beginning;
you are from eternity. (Psalm 93:1-2)

In a world filled with trouble and turmoil, those are heartening words.

The Lord reigns. He is in control.

He was in control from the very beginning.

For he himself existed before anything was ever created.

And when the flood waters of Covid or other problems arise, he’s not worried. He is greater and mightier than them all.

So in these troubled times, let us reflect on those truths.

Our God reigns.

OUR GOD REIGNS!!!

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Psalms Devotionals

Keeping perspective

Psalms

The psalmist’s words really struck me this morning.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praise to your name, Most High,
to declare your faithful love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night… (Psalm 92:1-2)

To be honest, these are things I need to do more often.

Often times, the first thing I’m listening to in the morning is the news, which is not something that often puts me in a particularly worshipful mood. On the contrary, it can have a negative effect on my attitude right from the get-go.

And his faithfulness is also not something I spend a lot of time reflecting on at night before I go to bed.

How much would my attitudes be different throughout the day, if I started and ended each day rejoicing in his faithful love in the morning and reminding myself of his faithfulness to me at night.

Something to think about…

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Psalms Devotionals

No fear

Psalms

I don’t know about you, but Psalm 91 has always seemed to promise too much, as if we’ll never have any problems if we just trust in God.

Obviously, Satan tried to misuse this psalm to tempt Jesus. “Hey, jump off the building and the angels will catch you. That’s what God promised, right?”

And some Christians today misuse it to say that Christians should never get sick or have problems.

But as I read this passage today, it made me think of the Israelites’ experience in Egypt.

The Egyptians experienced a lot of the things the psalmist talked about as judgment from God. They experienced plague and pestilence. And of course they experienced terror at night as all their firstborn sons died.

On the other hand, the Lord protected all his people from experiencing that terrible judgment.

You see that pattern time and again in the Bible. The wicked are eventually judged, but God’s people are spared from God’s judgment (Ezekiel 9, 2 Peter 2:4-10, Revelation 7:1-3; 9:1-21)

In the same way, God will eventually judge this earth. But if we belong to him, if we have made him our refuge, putting our trust in him, we do not need to fear his judgment.

As John put it,

God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. (1 John 4:16-18)

So if bad things are happening to you, and you think it must be because God is punishing you, understand that God isn’t. Jesus already took your punishment on a cross 2000 years ago.

But not only do we not have to fear God’s judgment, we also don’t have to fear the enemy’s attacks on us.

In scripture, Satan is depicted as a serpent and a lion. (Genesis 3, 1 Peter 5:8)

I find it interesting that when Satan tempted Jesus, he quoted verses 11-12, and skipped verse 13,

You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the young lion and the serpent. (Psalm 91:13)

Maybe it reminded him too much of what God told the serpent about the Savior who would come.

He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

Satan will strike us. But like the damage he did to Jesus, that damage will not be permanent. He can kill our bodies. But he cannot destroy our souls.

And the day will come when we will rejoice and worship God because of it. (Revelation 7:9-17)

So let’s not fear God’s judgment nor Satan’s attacks. Rather, let us remember God’s promises to us:

Because he has his heart set on me,
I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he knows my name.

When he calls out to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.

I will rescue him and give him honor.

I will satisfy him with a long life
and show him my salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)

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Psalms Devotionals

Reflecting on God’s Word

Psalms

How often when we do our Bible reading do we just kind of speed through it, without reflecting on the words.

We read our passage for the day, and say, “‘Okay, I’ve done my Christian duty for the day.”

I will admit, there was a time in my life when that’s how I did my Bible reading.

But that’s not how Jesus’ apostles did it. They thought on those words. They reflected on them. They pondered them.

I think Peter was doing that with Psalm 90 when he wrote his second letter.

Take some time to read 2 Peter 3 in combination with this psalm.

Look at how Peter talks about the theme of God’s judgment that Moses sings about in this psalm. (Psalm 90:3-8)

Look at how Peter quotes Psalm 90. Think about how Peter responds to Moses’ prayer, “Return, Lord! How long must we suffer in this broken world?”  (Psalm 90:4, 13)

Why is it that God seems to be waiting so long? What is he waiting for?

According to Peter, how will the Lord answer Moses’ prayer in verses 14-17.

And until he returns, what does it mean to live wisely, in the fear of God? (Psalm 90:10-12)

All these things, Peter reflected on in his letter. Let’s take the time to do so too. Not just with today’s passage, but with every passage we read in the Bible.

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Psalms Devotionals

His

Psalms

In the Old Testament, God called the Jews to be his special people, and Jerusalem was called the city of God.

But Psalm 87 looks to a future Jerusalem, a heavenly one. (Hebrews 12:22-23)

What had to be amazing to the Jews who read this psalm was that it points to a time when even the Jews’ greatest enemies would be counted among God’s people.

People from Rahab, (i.e. Egypt), Babylon, and Philistia, would become God’s people.

People from Tyre and Cush (i.e. Ethiopia) would also be counted among God’s people.

God will say of them, “They are not outsiders. These people were actually born in my city. They are full-fledged citizens.” (Psalm 87:5-6)

John writes about this in Revelation.

After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:9-10)

So remember who you are.

Who are you?

You are his.

It doesn’t matter if you’re Japanese, American, Australian, Chinese, Korean, or whatever you may be. You were born again into the kingdom of God when you put your trust in Jesus.

Paul puts it this way,

(When you were ‘outsiders’), you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ…

He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household… (Ephesians 2:12-13, 17-19)

So let us always remember who we are and rejoice with all of God’s people, singing,

My whole source of joy is in you. (Psalm 87:7)

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Psalms Devotionals

An undivided heart

Psalms

Teach me your way, Lord,
and I will live by your truth.
Give me an undivided mind to fear your name.

I will praise you with all my heart, Lord my God,
and will honor your name forever.

For your faithful love for me is great,
and you rescue my life from the depths of Sheol. (Psalm 86:11-13)

How often is my heart undivided?

How often is it distracted by my worries and anxieties?

How often is it pulled away by sin and the things of this world?

Lord, your faithful love for me is great. You have rescued my soul from death and hell.

Though I am unfaithful, you are always faithful to me.

So Lord, give me an undivided heart. Take each of my thoughts captive. Take all my worries, every sinful thought, all my affections, and bring them under your rule.

Let my whole heart be yours so that I may worship and honor you every day in everything I do.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Psalms Devotionals

The Answer to our cries

Psalms

This psalm was possibly written after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. As we see in Ezra and Nehemiah, however, they were still struggling with hardship after their return.

And so while the psalmist recognizes God’s mercy to them (1-3), nevertheless, he cries out to God,

“Return to us, God of our salvation, and abandon your displeasure with us.

Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger for all generations?

Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you?

Show us your faithful love, Lord, and give us your salvation.” (Psalm 85:4-7)

So many questions born out of pain. And ultimately, all of them are answered in Jesus.

Because Jesus bore the Father’s wrath on the cross, God will not be angry with us forever. He will revive us again so that we may rejoice in him.

In Jesus, God shows us his faithful love and gives us salvation.

In Jesus, God declares peace to us. (Luke 2:14, Ephesians 2:17)

In Jesus, faithful love (or “grace”) and truth join together (John 1:14, 17)

In Jesus, righteousness and peace embrace. (Hebrews 6:20-7:3)

That’s the hope we have in times when God seems far and we start to doubt his love.

Jesus is our hope. So in these difficult times in which we sometimes doubt, in which we often cry out, let us cling to him as the anchor of our soul. (Hebrews 6:18-20)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Because the Father looks on the face of Jesus

Psalms

I truly love this psalm, and I could write many things on it, but today, here were the verses that struck me.

Lord God of Armies, hear my prayer;
listen, God of Jacob.

Consider our shield, God;
look on the face of your anointed one. (Psalm 84:8-9)

In verse 9, the psalmist asks God to consider their shield, and to look on the face of their anointed one.

Both “shield” and “anointed one” refer to the king at that time, but ultimately they look forward to Jesus Christ.

(“Messiah” and “Christ,” by the way, both mean “anointed one,” that is, the one God anoints to be king.)

But anyway, has it ever occurred to you to wonder why God would hear our prayers?

It’s certainly not because we deserve his favor. Rather, it’s because the Father considers our Shield.

He looks on the face of his Anointed One. He looks at what Jesus did on the cross for us. And because of Jesus, he looks on us with favor.

It is because of Jesus, that we can enter the very presence of God.

It is because of Jesus, that we are able to pass through the valley of tears, going from strength to strength.

And it is because of Jesus that one day, we will be home with him.

So let us praise God each day for his glorious grace.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Praying for a world hostile to God

Psalms

We live in a world that is hostile to God. They hate the idea that they are under his rule and are answerable to him.

And so Asaph recognizes that though the nations surrounding Israel hated them and wanted to destroy them, the ultimate reason for their hatred of Israel was that they hated God first.

It is a truth that Jesus himself recognized and applied to himself and his disciples. (John 15:18-25)

The day will come, though, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)

Some will do it in love and gratitude. Others will do it reluctantly and with hatred.

I think that’s what we see in this psalm.

All the world will one day recognize that God is sovereign over all, including them. (Psalm 83:18)

Some in their shame, will be destroyed, and justly so because of their sin. And so our prayer is that for those who refuse to repent, God will bring justice. After all, a God who never brings justice is not a good God.

But more than that, we pray that in their shame, they would repent and seek God’s face. (16)

Why? Because God in his grace showed mercy to us too. And he desires that no one should perish. (Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:3-4)

So let us pray for this world that is hostile to God. Pray that they would seek his face, and in his grace find him.

May they know that you alone—whose name is the Lord—are the Most High over the whole earth. (Psalm 83:18)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Commanded to rejoice

Psalms

Verses 4-5 of Psalm 81 were very interesting to me when I read them.

In verses 1-3, Asaph says things like, “sing aloud,” “shout for joy,” and “raise a song” to God.

Then he gives the reason in verses 4-5. It is a statute, a rule, a decree. One which God gave the Israelites after he rescued them from Egypt.

Why was it important to God that they did this? So that they would remember all he had done to save them. How he had lifted away their burdens, delivered them from slavery to Egypt, and led them through the desert to the promised land.

In the same way, God commands us to rejoice as well.

Rejoice that he has lifted from us our burden of sin and set us free from Satan’s kingdom. Rejoice that he is always with us, leading us to his eternal kingdom.

Why is it so important for us to remember that? So that we will trust him, obey him, and open our mouths wide to his Word (verse 10, see also Ezekiel 3:1-3 and Jeremiah 15:16).

And as we do that, we find his blessing in our lives (16).

How much more would we trust and obey him if we would remember he loves us and desires to bless us.

And how much more would we remember that truth if we remembered what he did to save us and rejoiced in it?

That’s one reason why communion is important. It’s a time to remember and rejoice.

I know in this time of pandemic, many churches haven’t been able to do that. I’m looking forward to remembering and rejoicing with all God’s people in that way again.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The One who restores us.

Psalms

Three times we see basically the same prayer repeated.

Restore us, God; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved. (Psalm 80:3)

Restore us, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved. (7)

Restore us, Lord, God of Armies; make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved. (19)

Our only hope of salvation is found in God restoring us, turning our hearts to him.

And ultimately, that was accomplished on the cross where verse 17 was fulfilled.

Jesus, the Son of Man, the one who sits at the Father’s right hand, suffered and died for our sin.

The Father’s hand was on Jesus, strengthening him so that he might complete his mission.

And now, because of Jesus’ work, the Father’s face shines on us. He turns our hearts toward himself. And he saves us.

Let us each day rejoice in this awesome grace we have received.

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Psalms Devotionals

Passing our faith on to the next generation

Psalms

This passage is a challenging one for me as a parent, especially, the first seven verses.

Here are questions I’m asking myself.

How often do I tell my daughter all the wonderful things God has done in my life? (Psalm 78:4)

How faithful am I to pass on to her the teachings God has given us in his Word? (5-6)

In my words and in my actions, do I teach her to put her confidence in God and obey him? (7)

Am I willing to share my failures with her so that she won’t make the same mistakes I have? (8)

Lord, help me to pass on these things to my daughter that she might know you, love you, and follow you.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Though we don’t see him

Psalms

Your way went through the sea
and your path through the vast water,
but your footprints were unseen.

You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Psalm 77:19-20)

Throughout the first part of this psalm, Asaph mourns at God’s silence in the midst of his troubles.

That’s what makes these last two verses so striking.

At the Red Sea, God made a way of deliverance for his people. And yet they couldn’t see him. His “footsteps were unseen.” (Exodus 14)

Nevertheless, he was leading them. He had not abandoned them.

There are times when God seems to have abandoned us. Times when he seems silent in our suffering.

But though we cannot see him, though we can’t see his ‘footsteps,’ he is leading us. He is making a way for us.

So let us wait in hope, singing,

God, your way is holy.
What god is great like God?
You are the God who works wonders…(13-14)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The One who drank our cup of judgment.

Psalms

God is the Judge:
He brings down one and exalts another.

For there is a cup in the Lord’s hand,
full of wine blended with spices, and he pours from it.

All the wicked of the earth will drink,
draining it to the dregs. (Psalm 75:7-8)

As I read this passage, I think of Revelation 14, where it talks about a very similar theme: God’s judgment on the nations.

It uses the same imagery of God pouring out his cup of wrath on all those who rebel against him. (Revelation 14:9-11)

And that day is indeed coming.

But there was another day when God’s cup of wrath was poured out. It was poured out on a cross 2000 years ago.

It was a cup that Jesus wanted to avoid, but one that Jesus drank for our sake. On the cross, he drank in the undiluted wrath of God.

And because he did so, we no longer have to. Instead, now we sing with the psalmist,

We give thanks to you, God;
we give thanks to you, for your name is near.
People tell about your wondrous works. (1)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Resetting our sights

Psalms

It can be easy at times to lose perspective. To lose sight of what is true.

Three times, Asaph uses the word “indeed.”

Twice, Asaph uses it with correct perspective.

God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart. (Psalm 73:1)

And,

Indeed, you put [the wicked] in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin. (18)

But in between is another “indeed” that is hidden in the English translation.

Asaph says, “Indeed I purified my heart and washed my hands in innocence for nothing.” (13)

That is especially striking when you look at verse 1 where he said God is good to the pure in heart.

But in seeing the prosperity of the wicked, he lost perspective. And in the process, he became bitter and foolish. (21-22)

How often does the same happen to us? Truth gets twisted because of what we see around us. Whether it’s the evil on society, or the troubles we have in our own lives.

The result?

We become bitter. We entertain foolish thoughts.

How do we regain perspective? We find the answer in verse 17.

Reenter God’s sanctuary. Come into God’s presence and gaze upon him. Listen to him. Worship him.

Only then, will you start to see things rightly again.

You don’t need to go to church to do this. You are his sanctuary. He dwells in you.

So wherever you are, quiet your heart before him and enter his presence. Put aside your smartphone. Turn off the internet and your TV. And come before him with an open Bible and an open heart.

As a start, try meditating on the final verses of this psalm from verses 21-28.

Think on them. Pray them. And let God correct your perspective.

God is indeed good…

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The King we place our hope in

Psalms

I think we all long for good leaders.

Leaders that are just.

Leaders that help the helpless.

Leaders under whom the righteous prosper.

Solomon prayed to be such a leader in this psalm.

And while in some ways he was a good king, in others, he wasn’t. (1 Kings 11:4-8, 12:4).

Ultimately, Solomon’s prayer wasn’t fulfilled in himself or in any other king or leader. It will only be fulfilled when Jesus returns and sets up his kingdom.

On that day, he will “rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 72:8)

All nations will be blessed by him and call him blessed, and the whole earth will be filled with his glory. (17, 19)

So if you read the news and are frustrated by our political leaders, pray for them.

But remember, our hope is not in them.

It is in God who “alone does wonders.” (18)

Jesus promises us,

I am coming soon. (Revelation 22:20)

So each day, let us look up to him in hope, praying,

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20b)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

When God allows hard times

Psalms

You caused me to experience
many troubles and misfortunes… (Psalm 71:20a)

That seems a little cruel doesn’t it?

God causes us to experience many troubles and misfortunes?

Yes, he does.

This is not to say that God actively wields a bat against us.

Many times, the troubles and misfortunes we face are of our own making. Sometimes, they are the results of others’ actions. And other times, they are the result of living in a broken world.

God could, I suppose, actively intervene and keep those troubles and misfortunes from us. And by his grace, he sometimes does.

I would dare say there are many troubles or misfortunes that God in his grace has protected us from that we are totally unaware of.

But he does allow us to experience troubles and misfortunes in our lives.

Why? Because God is cruel? Because he hates us?

No.

Rather, as David says,

…but you will revive me again. You will bring me up again, even from the depths of the earth. (20b)

Through our troubles, we learn to lean on him. (6)

We learn to hope in him. (14)

And as he raises us up, we learn that he is indeed good. (16-17)

We stand in awe of him and cry out with David,

 Your righteousness reaches the heights, God, you who have done great things; God, who is like you? (19)

But as you go through your trials, remember one more thing. Jesus knows what it means to endure suffering too.

The writer of Hebrews says,

For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings…

[Jesus] had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement, for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:10, 17)

Yes, God causes us to go through suffering. But he caused his Son to go through it first. And because of that, the writer of Hebrews can tell us,

For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted (or “tested”, the word is the same in Greek), [Jesus] is able to help those who are tempted (“tested”). (Hebrews 2:18)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Day after day

Psalms

Day after day he bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19)

I wonder how often we consider this.

How much does God do for us that we don’t even notice?

Instead, in the midst of our troubles, we think God has abandoned us.

But God never abandons us. Day after day, he bears our burdens.

And of course, on the cross, Jesus bore our greatest burden.

So in our darkest times, when the weight of the world seems to be crushing us, let us cry out with David,

Blessed be the Lord!
Day after day he bears our burdens;
God is our salvation. (19)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

As we face a new season

Psalms

As we face new seasons in our lives, it is natural, I think, to pray for God’s blessing. And that’s what David prays for here, using the prayer of blessing found in Numbers 6:24-27.

I myself am facing a new season as I will start teaching in junior high schools for the first time in 7 years. So I pray for God’s blessing on me as I do that.

But let us remember that our prayers for blessing are not to be purely self-centered. Rather, we pray for God’s blessing,

that your way may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations. (Psalm 67:2)

Our desire is that all people will see God’s hand on us, and that they will desire that for themselves.

We pray for the day when they too will fear and praise God and know his salvation and blessing in their lives.

So as you face a new season in your life, don’t just pray for God’s blessing in your own life. Pray that through you, people may know God’s way and find his salvation in their lives.

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Psalms Devotionals

The wonder of forgiveness and grace

Psalms

God’s forgiveness and grace never cease to amaze me.

It apparently never ceased to amaze David either.

He said,

Iniquities overwhelm me;
only you can atone for our rebellions. (Psalm 65:3)

I wonder if David was thinking of his own sins of adultery and murder as he wrote this.

The guilt we feel because of our sins can be overwhelming. So can the consequences we reap from them.

There is nothing we can do to “make up” for our sins. Nothing we can do to atone for them. But through Jesus, God does. And he forgives our sin.

Not only that, God chooses us as his children and he draws us close to himself. He gives us blessings that we do not deserve.

And so David says,

How happy is the one you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!

We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple.

You answer us in righteousness,
with awe-inspiring works,
God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the distant seas. (4-5)

That’s the wonder of forgiveness and grace. Let us reflect on and rejoice in that grace each day.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

You are my God

Psalms

This morning, I was reflecting on David’s words, “You are my God.”

What did he mean by that?

Ultimately, I think it comes down to this. He was saying, “I have seen your steadfast love in my life.”

Despite all his troubles, despite being on the run in the wilderness as he wrote this psalm, he could say, “I have seen your steadfast love in my life.”

It’s one thing to say, “I believe in God.”

Or to say, “God’s power and glory are breathtaking.”

It’s another thing to be able to look back on your life, and say, “I have actually seen God’s steadfast love in my life.”

To really be able to look at points in your life and be able to say, “God showed his steadfast love to me in this way, in this way, and in that way.”

It is through those experiences that we say with confidence, “God is my God! And I am his.”

And it’s because of that confidence, we “follow hard” after God. (Psalm 63:8)

We thirst for more of him in our lives. (1)

We lift up our hands in praise to him. (3-4)

And our hearts turn to him even as we go to sleep at night. (6)

So let us take some time and meditate on those words, “You are my God.”

In what ways has God shown steadfast love to you? What times in your life can you point to?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Things to meditate on

Psalms

Just looking at this Psalm, here were some observations I made this morning.

In verses 1-2, David simply states as fact,

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV)

But in verses 5-6, he is exhorting and reminding himself,

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (ESV)

There are times we simply have to remind ourselves and exhort ourselves to believe what we know is true.

In verse 2, he says, “I shall not be greatly shaken,” almost sounding as if he’s saying, “I may wobble a bit at times, but I will not fall.”

But in verse 6, he exhorts himself, “I will not be shaken at all.”

In verses 1 and 5, he talks about waiting for God silently.

In verse 8, he talks about pouring out our hearts to him.

We need both in prayer. We see David pouring out his heart in verses 3-4, complaining about his enemies.

But in verse 7-8, he confidently waits in silence before God.

In verses 1 and 5, “salvation” and “hope” are used as synonyms. Our hope, our salvation, is from God alone.

Finally, two things to meditate on that bring the whole psalm together.

  1. Power belongs to God.
  2. God is a God of steadfast love.

God is not a God who is loving toward us but powerless to help us.

Neither is he a God who is powerful but doesn’t care two cents for us.

Rather he is a God who is powerful to save.

And he is a God whose faithful love caused him to send his Son for us.

Even if you forget everything else, let’s meditate on those two truths today.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Made to see hard things

Psalms

You have made your people see hard things;
you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. (Psalm 60:3, ESV)

Those words struck me today. Sometimes God does make his people see hard things, things that make us stagger.

I’ve seen my father go blind in an accident. Years later, I saw his life fading away in a hospital.

I have seen the company I work at go bankrupt forcing me into unemployment for nine months.

I have seen friends die before their time.

And of course, we have all seen the effects of Covid-19.

And yet David says,

You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
that they may flee to it from the bow. (4, ESV)

Those words remind me of Exodus 17:15, where Moses called the Lord Himself, “Our Banner!”

He is the one we run to. He is the one we rally to when are afraid and struggling. And he is the one who brings us salvation.

Suffering and hard times are a part of life. But those times are never in vain for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. Rather, as Paul said,

…affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

That love was proven to us on the cross (Romans 5:6-8).

So in these times, let us rally to the cross, remembering that Jesus is no longer hanging there, but has conquered death itself. And because of him, we will ultimately find victory! (Psalm 60:12)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

This I know

Psalms

This I know: God is for me. (Psalm 56:9)

For whatever reason, those words resonated with me.

“This I know.”

There is no doubt in my mind.

“God is for me.”

GOD is for me. The Almighty God, the Creator of this universe, my Father, He is for me.

God IS for me. It’s not that he used to be for me, but has now cast me aside. He is for me now.

God is FOR me. He encourages me. He strengthens me. He picks me up when I fall.

God is for ME. Not just for the super-Christians I know. For me. For me who often fails. For me who often sins.

How can I be so certain of this?

He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. (Romans 8:32)

Because of what Jesus has done, I have been rescued from death and now walk before God in the light of life. (13)

He knows my wanderings into sin. He knows all the struggles I go through in life.

He puts my tears in a bottle.

He has recorded them all.

But one day,

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

Because of him, I have hope.

He is on my side.

This I know.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Three choices

Psalms

David wrote this concerning Doeg, whose actions led to the murder of God’s priests. (I Samuel 22:6-23)

How do we respond when we see the evil that people do in the world? I think we can see the answer in David’s words.

  1. Choose to trust in God’s faithful love toward us. That no matter what happens to us, nothing can separate us from it. (Romans 8:35-39)
  2. Choose to give thanks to him. Thank him that justice will ultimately come. But also remembering to thank him for all that he has done for us in the past, and all that he is doing for us now.
  3. Choose to wait for him, putting our hope in God. He will execute justice in his time. And he will make all things right.

In doing so, we become that olive tree planted in the house of God.

What is an olive tree like? It lives long, provides food, and through its oil brings light and healing.

In the same way, we will be people that endure through the hardest of times, and at the same time provide, light, healing, and spiritual food to a hurting world.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

If you are willing…

Psalms

David had committed an unspeakable sin. He had murdered a man and taken his wife.

In light of that, verse 7 really is quite stunning.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)

Here David compares his sin with leprosy, something that in that time was incurable and ostracized a person from the presence of God.

(That is, a leprous person could not approach the tabernacle/temple as well as his community. See Leviticus 13:45-46, 14:1-32 and especially verses 6-7, Numbers 5:3-4)

And yet he says with utter confidence, “You can make me clean.”

It reminds me of something a leper once said to Jesus. With the same confidence that David had, he said to Jesus,

Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean. (Matthew 8:2)

Jesus’ response?

I am willing; be made clean. (Matthew 8:3)

Because of the cross, no matter how terrible our sin, no matter how great our guilt, Jesus can cleanse us. All we have to do is humble ourselves and ask.

And he will make us clean.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Thinking on God’s love

Psalms

As I read this psalm this morning, it was verse 9 that arrested my attention.

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God… (Psalm 48:9, ESV)

How often do we take the time to stop and think on, contemplate, and mediate on God’s steadfast love for us?

We often say, “God loves me.” But how often do we reflect on the myriad ways God has shown his love in our own lives?

There was a song I used to sing in church.

Think about his love.
Think about his goodness.
Think about his grace that brought us through.

For as high as the heavens above,
So great is the measure of our Father’s love.
Great is the measure of our Father’s love.

Can I encourage you to do something? Don’t just skim past these words and go on with your day.

Stop.

Think on these things.

In what ways has God shown his faithful love to me?

In what ways has God showed his goodness to me?

Through what trials has God’s grace brought me through?

And as we meditate on these things, let’s not just keep them to ourselves.

Let us instead tell the future generations, our children and all those who come after us,

This God, our God forever and ever—
he will always lead us. (14)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Remembering to praise our King

Psalms

We live in a world now where it is so easy to get caught in our worries and complaints.

It is especially in these times that we need to remember to worship God.

That is, in fact, the point of our this whole psalm.

Clap your hands, all you peoples;
shout to God with a jubilant cry. (Psalm 47:1)

And,

Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our King, sing praise! (6)

That’s four calls to praise God in just one verse.

Why should we, though? Why praise God?

For the Lord, the Most High, is awe-inspiring,
a great King over the whole earth. (2)

And again,

…for God is King of the whole earth.
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne. (7-8)

When we focus on our problems, we lose perspective. Our problems seem like immovable mountains.

But when worship God and remember who he is, we regain our perspective. And we remember, “He is the King! And he is in control.”

So let us get our eyes off our problems and on to God. And if we do, all our problems will seem but mere shadows in the light of him.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Guarding our hearts in turbulent times

Psalms

I don’t think there is any doubt that we live in turbulent times.

And if there is one thing that can overwhelm us in such times, it’s anger. I see a lot of anger around me. I see it on social media. I see it from social commentators, both Christian and non-Christian, liberal and conservative.

With all this anger around us, it can be very easy to get swept right along with it and become angry people ourselves. I know I struggle not to give in to it.

Closely associated with that anger is fear. Fear of the future. Fear of what may happen in our country. Fear of what might happen to us. And I believe it is that fear that drives much of our anger.

David knew both feelings. He was being attacked and slandered by his enemies. He knew what it meant to be afraid and angry. And so he cried out to God,

Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.

You freed me from affliction;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1)

To his enemies, he said,

How long, exalted ones, will my honor be insulted?

How long will you love what is worthless
and pursue a lie? (2)

And all around him, people were saying,

“Who can show us anything good?” (6)

But in the midst of all the anger and fear surrounding him and within himself, he said,

Be angry and do not sin;
reflect in your heart while on your bed and be silent. Selah

Offer sacrifices in righteousness,
and trust in the Lord. (4-5)

The word “anger” has the idea of great agitation, and usually is translated “fear” in the Bible, although anger is certainly another possible translation.

But whatever the source of our agitation, we are to guard our hearts and not sin.

Rather, we should take the time, especially at the end of the day, to reflect in our hearts and be silent before God. To make sure our hearts are right before him. And to once again, reorient our hearts to him, putting our trust in him.

The people all around us are filled with fear and anger and are often controlled by these things.

But we are not to be this way. If we let ourselves be dominated by our fear and anger, we are no different from them, and no light will shine out through us.

And this is a world that desperately needs to see that light, especially now.

So while this world gives in to fear and anger, let us turn to the Lord, trusting him. Only then will we know his joy in the midst of the turmoil. And only then, will we be able to say with David,

I will both lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety. (8)

The God of peace be with you in these troubled times.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

When God seems distant

Psalms

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so I long for you, God.
I thirst for God, the living God. (Psalm 41:1-2)

Many times when we see these verses, we think of it as, “God I already have this close relationship with you, but I want to draw even closer.”

But as you look at these two psalms, that’s not what David was saying. Far from feeling close to God, he felt distant from God.

“When can I meet with God? I remember those days leading worship in the temple. But now I feel overwhelmed by the waves of life. Why have you forgotten me, Lord?” (Psalm 42:2-4, 6, 9)

But again and again in these two psalms we see David speaking to his own heart.

Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?

Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God. (42:5,11; 43:5)

Why would he repeat these words three times? Because despite his faith, he still struggled with his emotions.

Jesus’ disciples knew what that was like. Like David, they were being overwhelmed by the waves. And though Jesus was in the boat with them, he was sleeping, as if he didn’t care.

And they cried out, “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to die?” (Mark 4:38)

After Jesus calmed the storm, he asked them,

Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Our emotions can be strong. They can threaten to overwhelm us.

But in our times of fear, depression, and discouragement, let us choose to put our hope in God. Let us choose to believe him. And let us choose to praise him.

After all, two thousand years ago he came to this earth and proved on a cross he is worthy of that trust.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Why Jesus came

Psalms

Here in Japan, it is Christmas Eve, and though Psalm 40 is not often (if ever) thought of as a “Christmas psalm,” it does give us the reason for Christmas.

We find it in verses 6-8.

You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
you open my ears to listen.

You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.

Then I said, “See, I have come;
in the scroll it is written about me.

I delight to do your will, my God,
and your instruction is deep within me.” (Psalm 40:6-8)

Though David speaks these words, the author of Hebrews sees its ultimate fulfillment in Christ (Hebrews 10:5-9).

David was merely saying, “You don’t just want sacrifices and offerings from me, you want my whole life.”

But when Jesus said them, he was saying, “The reason this world needs a Savior is that all the sacrifices and offerings people can offer cannot wash away their sins.”

Then Jesus tells the Father, “I have come to do your will.” 

And so Jesus came to this earth as a little baby. Throughout his life, he did his Father’s will, never falling into sin.

Then on the cross, he followed his Father’s will by dying to take the punishment for our sin. 

That’s the meaning of Christmas. 

So with David, let us proclaim God’s faithfulness and salvation to this world, declaring to them his grace and his truth found in Jesus. (9-10)

And with David, let us cry out in praise,

The LORD is great! (16)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Our hope

Psalms

The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations;
he thwarts the plans of the peoples.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart from generation to generation. (Psalm 33:10-11）

This is our hope.

When Herod tried to kill Jesus, his plans were frustrated.

The Jews and Romans crucified Jesus but couldn’t keep him in the grave.

And through the centuries, all of Satan’s attempts to destroy the church have failed.

It is the Lord’s plans that have stood through the centuries.

And when Jesus returns, we will see his salvation.

We wait for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.

For our hearts rejoice in him
because we trust in his holy name.

May your faithful love rest on us, Lord,
for we put our hope in you. (20-22)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The blessedness of forgiveness

Psalms

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity…(Psalm 32:1-2, ESV)

When was the last time you thought of the blessedness of forgiveness? I mean really thought about it?

David knew that blessedness after his sin with Bathsheba. The weight of his sin was crushing him. But in His mercy, God forgave him. (2 Samuel 11-12)

Peter knew that blessedness after denying Jesus 3 times. He bore incredible guilt for what he had done. But with one conversation, that guilt was wiped away. (John 21)

The woman caught in adultery knew that blessedness. She should have died for her sin. Instead, she found mercy. (John 8:1-11)

Why is it that we so often fail to marvel at the blessedness of forgiveness?

Perhaps it is because we take our sin so lightly now. We don’t think our sins are so bad.

Or perhaps it’s because we are so overwhelmed by feelings of guilt that we feel there can be no forgiveness for us.

Both extremes are wrong.

Remember the cross. Remember the suffering Jesus went through because of our sin. Not just the “major” ones. Every sin. For even the “smallest” sin, even the sin we take lightly would have sent us to hell.

Remember the cross. God doesn’t just pardon us because he’s a nice guy. He pardons us because his Son paid a terrible price for us.

And when he died, he said, “It is finished! Your debt of sin is paid in full!”

Now because of Jesus’ work, there can be forgiveness for even the worst of our sins. There is no sin that is unforgivable if we repent.

Look to the cross.

Marvel at the grace we have been given.

And sing with David,

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity… (1-2)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

God’s favor for a lifetime

Psalms

I was just meditating on David’s words in verse 9 today.

He said,

What profit is there in my death,
if I go down to the pit? (Psalm 30:9, ESV)

For David, there was no profit.

But hundreds of years later on the cross, the answer to that question was quite different.

Through Jesus’ death, there was great profit: our salvation.

And because of his death and resurrection, our mourning is turned into dancing. God’s anger was shown but for a moment on the cross, but now his favor toward us lasts a lifetime.

So this Christmas season, let us sing out in praise with Paul.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

When God nudges our hearts

Psalms

I have always loved Psalm 27. But one verse in particular spoke to me.

My heart says this about you:
“Seek his face.”

Lord, I will seek your face. (Psalm 27:8)

There are times in life when we are simply exhausted, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

We know in our hearts that it is especially in those times that we need to seek God.

And so our heart whispers to us, “Seek his face.”

But often times, we instead say, “I’m too tired now. Maybe tomorrow.”

The next day comes and nothing changes.

Our heart again whispers to us, “Seek his face. He is the one you need.”

But we again make excuses. “I’m too busy. I’ve got this to do. And that to do.”

And as the days pass, we fall deeper and deeper into darkness.

Let us not ignore God’s gentle nudgings.

Instead, let your answer tonight be, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Because Jesus went before us

Psalms

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)

If you think about it, those are weighty words.

Who, after all, has completely clean hands before the Lord? Who has never done a sinful thing?

And who has a perfectly pure heart before the Lord? Who has never struggled with wrong thoughts and wrong motives?

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

By those standards: no one.

Only one person ever perfectly fulfilled those requirements: Jesus.

He then went to the cross to pay the price for our sins. Upon doing so, he ascended to heaven, entered the holy temple there with his own blood. And because he went before us, the author of Hebrews writes,

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus—he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)—and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23)

No, none of us are worthy to ascend the mountain of the Lord. None of us are worthy to stand in his holy place.

But because of Jesus, we receive blessing from the Lord. And the greatest blessing, is that the God our salvation clothes us with Christ’s righteousness. (Psalm 24:5)

So with full confidence, let us draw near to him!

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

His name is Yahweh

Psalms

In the Bible, we find that God’s name is Yahweh. (Exodus 3:15)

Unfortunately, most translations obscure that name by translating it as “LORD” in all capital letters. But whenever you see “LORD” in your Bibles, know that it is the divine name “Yahweh.”

But many times, other words are added to that name, and we see even more clearly what kind of God he is.

In Psalm 23, we find that God is “Yahweh Raah,” Yahweh, our shepherd.

But in our times of need, we also find that he is “Yahweh Yireh” (Genesis 22:13-14), Yahweh, our provider. (Psalm 23:1)

When we are lost and hurting, he is “Yahweh Rapha” (Exodus 15:26), Yahweh, our healer. (Psalm 23:3)

When Satan accuses us, God is “Yahweh Tsidkenu” (Jeremiah 23:6), Yahweh, our righteousness. (Psalm 23:3)

In our darkest times when we are fearful, he is “Yahweh Shalom” (Judges 6:24), Yahweh, our peace.

In those times, he is also “Yahweh Shammah” (Ezekiel 48:35), Yahweh, ever-present. (Psalm 23:4)

And in the face of our enemies, he is “Yahweh Nissi” (Exodus 17:8-15), Yahweh, our banner. (Psalm 23:5)

So as we face different situations in our lives, let us never forget who God is.

He is our shepherd, but he is much more than that. He is also our provider, healer, righteousness, our peace, our ever-present one, and our banner.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

A reason to be thankful

Psalms

Sadly, here in Japan, people don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.

But with this being the fourth Thursday of November (in Japan, anyway), I thought it would be good to remember the things we ought to be thankful for, especially in a year where it seems that there has been precious little to be thankful for.

The Psalmist wrote,

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name. (Psalm 100:4)

Why? What reason does he give?

For the Lord is good, and his faithful love endures forever;
his faithfulness, through all generations. (5)

“The Lord is good.”

It’s easy to say that in good times. But how about in the bad times?

Why can we say the Lord is good? Ultimately, we look to the cross. For it was there that God proved his faithful love to us.

While we were still sinners, when we had no inkling of even drawing near to him, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

From Adam who sinned in the garden, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with all their failings, to the people of Israel who repeatedly failed to trust God, to all the Christians throughout the centuries, God has proved his faithfulness again and again.

He did so to a people who have not always served him with gladness and who have not always acknowledged him as God in their lives.

And yet, though we have at times been faithless, he has always been faithful. (2 Timothy 2:13)

And he will continue to be.

Now that’s a reason to be thankful.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Our King, our Savior, our Intercessor

Psalms

In a lot of ways, Psalms 20-21 are connected. In Psalm 20, you see the king asking for God’s help. In Psalm 21, you see the king praising God for the help he was given.

Obviously, David was thinking of his own experience as he wrote these songs.

But in them we can also see Jesus in whom these words were ultimately fulfilled.

By raising Jesus from the dead and giving him life eternal (Psalm 21:4), we see that the Father remembered and accepted the sacrifice Jesus gave on the cross. (Psalm 20:3)

The Father has crowned him as King, and conferred on him majesty and splendor. (21:5)

And when Christ returns, he will rule over all. (21:8-12)

But one thing that strikes me is this word:

You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not denied the request of his lips. (21:2)

This matches with the earlier prayer found in Psalm 20.

May he give you what your heart desires
and fulfill your whole purpose. (20:4)

One of the wonderful truths that we have as Christians is that Jesus as our high priest intercedes for us. And when he prays for us, the Father always answers yes.

He answered yes concerning our salvation. And he will answer yes to Jesus when he prays for us in our struggles as Christians. (Hebrews 7:25-26)

So as the writer of Hebrews says,

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

A prayer for holiness

Psalms

How do we respond to God’s word?

In this passage, we see both his unspoken word in creation, and his spoken word in the scripture.

Do we wonder at his unspoken word, the heavens he created? Do we marvel at his greatness and power? Do our hearts overflow with thanksgiving and worship?

Or do we simply take it all for granted?

When we look at his written word, what is our response?

Do we rejoice in it, seeing it as life-giving words? Does it make our heart glad and our eyes light up to see the truth in it? Do we desire it more than gold? Is it sweeter to us than honey?

Or is it a burden, a weight that drags us down?

Ultimately, our response to God’s word in creation and scripture should be one of worship. It should be a strong desire for holiness, a desire to be like our God who loves us.

And that’s what we see in David’s prayer at the end. May it be our prayer too.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.

Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Heart searching

Psalms

I’ve been doing some heart searching the last several days, reflecting on my attitudes, my words, my actions.

I suppose that’s why verses 1-2 really struck me today.

Lord, who can dwell in our tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?

The one who lives blamelessly,
practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2)

I always try to do right, think right, speak right. But I don’t always live up to that standard.

As Paul said, even when my conscience is clear, it doesn’t mean that my heart is completely right. (I Corinthians 4:4)

What’s my point?

We live each day by the grace of God. We strive to become more like him. We strive to be holy. But at the end of the day, we live by his grace.

And the good news is, his mercy is new every morning. Great is his faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

And when Satan or even our conscience accuses us?

God is greater than our hearts. He knows all things. He knows our failings. But he also knows our our love for him, and our desire to be more like him. (1 John 3:19-20).

He knows where we are as people. But he also knows what we will be. Peter found that out. (John 21:15-19).

So whenever we feel unworthy to dwell in his tent, to live on his holy mountain, let us go to Jesus and rest in his love and grace.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The war over words

Psalms

As I read this psalm, I can’t help but think about the war over words that is going on in our culture.

For many in our culture, they say,

Through our tongues we have power;
our lips are our own–who can be our master? (Psalm 12:4)

And that is how they live. They transform culture through their tongues, all the while denying their rightful Lord.

We now live in a culture where “marriage” no longer necessarily means the joining of a man and woman before God.

We live in a culture where you can talk about there being a hundred different genders instead of two.

We live in a culture where a person can insist on being called “they” instead of “he” or “she.”

We live in a culture where abortion can be redefined as “reproductive health care.”

We live in a culture where “racism” no longer simply means having animus towards a person of another race. Now you need to possess “power” to be a racist, which means in America that a black person could never be racist.

And though you’ve always respected people of other races, you can still be called one if you refuse to capitulate to all the claims of woke culture.

Words are being redefined left and right to change the narrative in our culture.

In contrast, David says,

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. (6)

Unlike us, God doesn’t change. What he says, he holds to. And one day he will judge us all by those words. And all our attempts to change language will fall apart.

Or as the apostle Paul put it,

Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar, as it is written:
That you may be justified in your words and triumph when you judge. (Romans 3:4)

Let us not accept the redefinition of terms promulgated by our culture. Let us rather hold to the pure words of our God.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The heart of the wicked

Psalms

So often, when we think of wicked people, we think merely of their actions. But what truly makes people wicked is their hearts. Even more than their actions, a person’s heart defines whether they are wicked or not.

What is the attitude of the wicked person?

1. They curse or despise the Lord in their hearts (Psalm 10:3). For some people they are openly hostile to God. For others, they simply don’t think he’s that important.

2. In their pride, they deny his existence. And even if some do acknowledge his existence, they refuse to seek him. (4)

3. They deny any accountablity to God. (11, 13)

All these are wicked attitudes in the sight of God. And he will judge people who hold them.

So often, we look at the people around us and think, “They are so nice. How could God possibly judge them?” And so we do not think it is necessary to share the gospel with them.

But how many of them hold these wicked attitudes in their heart? Let us not fool ourselves concerning their hearts and let us not allow them to deceive themselves either.

As Jeremiah said,

The heart is more deceitful than anything else,
and incurable—who can understand it?

I, the Lord, examine the mind,
I test the heart,
to give to each according to his way,
according to what his actions deserve. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Let’s share the gospel with them, that they may repent, be healed, and find true life in Jesus Christ.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Who am I?

Psalms

When I observe your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you set in place,
what is a human being that you remember him,
a son of man that you look after him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

This coming Sunday, I will be giving a message from Psalm 1.

One of the things I will note in that message is that when the psalmist says God knows us, he does not simply mean that God knows we exist. The psalmist means that God actually loves and cares for us.

How often do we wonder at that truth? The infinite God who created this vast universe…thinks about you.

Let that be your meditation today. Take the time to stop, be quiet, and reflect:

This infinite God who created this vast universe…thinks about me.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Though we may sorrow

prayer

Life is not always easy. David himself knew this and wrote many songs of lament, including this one, Psalm 5.

But though we sorrow in the midst of a broken world, here are some things to remember.

1. Who God is. Namely, who God is to us. He is our God. And he is our King (Psalm 5:2).

What does that mean practically? It means we are to honor him. And we are to obey.

Christians nowadays like to think of God as Father or Friend. And he is those things.

But in the midst of our complaints, let us not forget he is also our God and King. And he is worthy of our honor and obedience.

2. God’s character. Sometimes, we look at the evil around us, and we start to question God’s character. We wonder if he is truly good.

But remember that though he may sometimes seem “slow” when it comes to dealing with evil, he will ultimately bring justice (2 Peter 3:8-10).

And on that day, all will know the truth of David’s words.

You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with you. (Psalm 5:4)

No matter what evil we may see around us, let us never grow cynical about God’s character.

3. We too come before God only by his grace (7). We may get angry at the evil people around us, but let us remember with humility that without God’s grace, we’d be under God’s judgment as well.

4. Our need for God’s leading and his help to do what’s right. Especially when we’re in the midst of adversity. So with David, let’s pray,

Lord, lead me in your righteousness
because of my adversaries (or problems, as the case may be);
make your way straight before me. (8)

Finally, let us choose to rejoice and boast in our Lord (11).

It is so easy to fall into a spirit of complaining when troubles come.

Let us rather choose to take refuge in our God, and rejoice in him.

It will amaze you how much your perspective will change and how much smaller your problems will seem in the light of God’s greatness. 

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

My Glory

Psalms

Psalm 3 is one of my favorite psalms, and I’ve probably read it hundreds of times, but today, I was thinking about one thing David said.

He said, “God, you are my glory.”

What does that mean: “God is my glory”?

What do we glory in?

Many people glory in their physical beauty. Many others glory in their position or accomplishments. These are the things they boast about. These are the things they feel give them personal worth.

But for David, God was his glory.

Perhaps that truth hit home at the time when he was exiled from Jerusalem, with his own son Absalom trying to kill him.

All his “glory” had been stripped from him: his kingdom, his position as king, all gone. Only one thing remained: God. When everything else was gone, God was his glory.

David no longer boasted in his position or his accomplishments. His self-worth no longer came from these things. His self-worth came from one thing: His relationship with the God who loved him.

And so David said, “God, you are my glory.”

Paul said something similar hundreds of years later.

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8)

So as God told Jeremiah,

The wise person should not boast in his wisdom;
the strong should not boast in his strength;
the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.

But the one who boasts should boast in this:
that he understands and knows me… (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

What is your glory?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Who we walk with

Psalms

How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

I wonder if the psalmist had Deuteronomy 6:6-7 as he penned those words. Moses had told the Israelites,

These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.

Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Who do we walk with?

Who do we stand and chat with?

Who do we sit in fellowship with?

Most importantly, what is the foundation of our conversations?

Are our beliefs, our thoughts, and our actions grounded in God’s words? Or are they coming from our culture? Are they coming from the opinions of the people around us?

Let’s choose to ground our thoughts in God’s words, making his thoughts our own, and basing our every decision and action on what he has said.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Keeping a right heart

Psalms

One thing God seems to constantly be reminding me is to keep a right heart before him.

So words like these always strike me:

Do not be agitated by evildoers;
do not envy those who do wrong. (Psalm 37:1-2)

I don’t typically have a problem envying those who do wrong. But agitation?

Try anger. Especially when I see the evil rampant in society and the corruption in government.

But time and again, God reminds me,

for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. (James 1:20)

Instead, when I see evil that would lead me to anger,

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. (1-2, ESV)

In short, don’t worry about the evil others in society may be doing. Keep trusting God, keeping being faithful to him, and do the good he has asked you to do.

More,

Take delight in the Lord… (4)

If we make the Lord our joy, all other things that would normally anger or agitate us will pale in comparison.

And so God tells me,

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the person who carries out evil plans.

Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.

For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land (7-9)

Instead of getting all worked up at the evil that I see, be still. Wait for him. If I let myself get angry, it will only lead me into sin.

And then there are these words:

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just.

The instruction of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not falter. (30-31)

It’s kind of hard to utter words of wisdom and justice when my heart is ruled by anger. And so I want my heart to be reigned by God’s word.

More, I want each word I speak to be bathed in his grace and truth.

That’s hard to do in these times. But that’s what God is telling me. What is God telling you?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

At all times

Worship

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1)

How much would our lives be different if we lived this way?

How much would our attitudes in life be different if God’s praise was always on our lips?

How small would our problems seem if we remembered how big our God is?

And how much power would we know in our lives if we would spend less time complaining about the state of the world to each other and instead proclaimed God’s name and exalted him together to this world? (3)

We have a message that can bring hope to this world.

We have a message that can bring life to this world.

But we can easily forget that message ourselves if we lose a heart of worship.

I know I can.

So take some time today to worship today.

Think of things you can thank God for.

More than that, take time to worship him for who he is.

And each day, let us live by David’s words.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. (1)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Though our world seems to be falling down around us

Psalms

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not be afraid (Psalm 46:1-2)

How often do we face situations in our lives where we are afraid?

We’re afraid because life seems crazy and out of control.

Or as the psalmist puts it,

the earth trembles
and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,,,
its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. (2b-3)

Do you ever feel like the world is like that? Do you ever feel your life is like that?

But the psalmist says in the midst of all the chaos, “We will not be afraid.”

Not because we are strong enough to handle it all. But because we have someone who is far greater than our problems, a Helper who is always found in times of trouble.

And it is because of Him, not because of how strong we are in ourselves, but because of Him, that we will not be afraid.

The psalmist continues,

There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns. (4-5)

The psalmist speaks here of Jerusalem, but it strikes me that as Christians, we ourselves are now the holy dwelling of the Most High.

God dwells within us, and streams of Living Water, the Holy Spirit himself flows within us to refresh and strengthen us. (John 7:38-39)

And because of this, we will not be toppled no matter what happens. God will help us. As Jeremiah wrote,

his mercies never end.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

So often we struggle against our circumstances as if God has left us to flail around on our own.

But God says, “Stop fighting. Stop striving. Be still. Know that I am God.” (10)

So let us exalt him in our lives, as all the earth someday will. (11)

And remember,

The LORD of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (11)

Categories
Mark Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

The one who understands our suffering

Psalms

As I was reading Mark 15 this morning, I thought about Jesus’ words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus was of course quoting from Psalm 22, and as I read it, I came across these words.

For he has not despised or abhorred the torment of the oppressed. He did not hide his face from him but listened when he cried to him for help. (Psalm 22:24)

Jesus knows what it’s like to have the Father hide his face from him. To feel abandoned. (Although the Father never truly abandoned Jesus).

And it is for that reason that he does not despise or abhor those who are suffering.

Although we may feel abandoned by God at times, or feel as if he is ignoring our prayers, he does not hide his face from us. And he does turn his ears to our prayers.

So whatever you’re going through now, turn to him. And remember the words of the writer to the Hebrews.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

Thankfulness and worship

2 Kings

Today, I was reading 2 Kings 4 as part of my Bible reading plan, but I was also reading Psalm 145-146.

And I could just imagine all the people God helped in 2 Kings 4 worshiping him with those two psalms.

We often ask for God’s help. But how often do we thank him and praise him when he does?

Has God answered one of your prayers recently? Has he helped you in your time of trouble?

If so, have you spent time thanking him and praising him for it?

Categories
1 Kings Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

Two questions

Kings & Psalms

Very short and sweet today.

Read 1 Kings 20:42-43, 21:20, 25-29. Then take a look at Psalm 141 and ask yourself these two questions.

1. Who has influence in my life?

2. How do I respond when I am rebuked?

May God speak to your heart today.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

In a world where wrong is called right

Psalms

We live in a world now where wrong is called right.

Where people think the greatest happiness is in living as they desire.

Where things that were once called sinful are now celebrated.

The scary thing is that many in the church are falling into that trap.

But look at the attitude of David.

How happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk according to the LORD’s instruction!

Happy are those who keep his decrees
and seek him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:1-2)

David doesn’t say, “Happy are those who live as they wish (just so long as they’re not hurting anyone else).”

He says, “Happy are those whose ways is blameless.”

What is his definition of blameless?

It’s those who walk according to the Lord’s instruction. Who seek the Lord with all their heart.

And there is no way to separate “seeking the Lord with all your heart” from keeping his decrees.

Many people say, “I love the Lord!” But when it comes to keeping his word, they say, “Well, that part is not relevant to me.”

To be sure, there are commandments in the Old Testament that are not directly relevant to us in that Jesus and the apostles specifically tell us they are not (Mark 7:14-19, Colossians 2:16-17, Hebrews 9-10 are some examples).

Even in the Old Testament itself, God would sometimes say, “this is unclean for you.” Not, “This is unclean or sinful.” But “This is unclean…for you.” (See Leviticus 11).

The implication being that it was okay for other nations, but not for the Israelites.

God gave the Israelites certain commandments that they were to keep as a sign that they were different from other peoples, as a sign that God was separating the Israelites for himself.

But there were things that God clearly said were evil for all people. (See Leviticus 18).

But when many people say, “That part is not relevant to me,” they don’t mean what I’ve just laid out.

They mean, “I don’t agree with God’s word, and so I’m just going to live how I want.”

And they (and unfortunately their churches) follow the wave the culture is on.

But look at what David said.

How can a young man keep his way pure? (Psalm 119:9a)

How? By following the cultural wave? No.

By keeping your word. (9b)

More than that, David treasured God’s word (11).

David proclaimed God’s word (13).

David rejoiced in God’s word (14).

David meditated on God’s word (15).

David delighted on God’s word (16).

How about you? Is that your attitude toward God’s word?

If it isn’t, you need to take a close look at whether you truly are a Christian or not.

How do you see God’s word?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Commanded to rejoice

Psalms

At my church yesterday, we were looking at the story of Jehoshaphat and how in the face of an unwinnable battle, he placed the worshipers out in front of the army. What did those worshipers sing?

Give thanks to the Lord,
for his faithful love endures forever. (2 Chronicles 20:21)

I wonder if the song they were singing was actually Psalm 136?

At any rate, in choosing to worship, they remembered who God was and what he had done for them. And as a result, God brought about great victory.

I couldn’t help but think of that story as I read Psalm 81. For in it, Asaph tells us,

Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

Lift up a song—play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp. (Psalm 81:1-2)

And then he says,

For this is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob. (4)

In other words, God commanded the Israelites to worship.

In this case, Asaph was probably pointing to the Feast of Tabernacles when the people remembered their journeys in the desert after God had freed them from Egypt.

Why did God command the people to worship?

To help them keep their eyes on him.

To remember who he is, and what he had done for them.

So that they would trust him, living by every word that comes from his mouth, not turning away from him as their ancestors did again and again.

And why did their ancestors turn away? Because they forgot who God was and what he had done for them.

And so it made me think. How much is worship a part of my life? I used to do it a lot when I was younger, and then kind of got away from it for some reason.

Of course, worship is much more than just singing songs. But that doesn’t mean singing is not important.

God commands us to rejoice. To sing to him. And so that’s what I want to do more of going forward.

Lord, help me to sing and rejoice in you as you have commanded. Set my focus on you in the good times and the bad.

I rejoice, Lord, because you are good. And your faithful love endures forever. Amen.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

God’s grace and truth

Psalms

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

Grace and truth. These two words are the Greek equivalent to two words often found in the Old Testament. In the CSB, they are translated, “faithful love” and “truth.”

The ESV translates them “steadfast love” and “faithfulness.” (The CSB also translates “truth” as “faithfulness” at times).

However you translate these words, they came to us through Jesus Christ and his cross.

Even so, these things were present for God’s people in the Old Testament, because God’s people were looking forward to the day when their Messiah would come.

All that you see in the tabernacle and the tabernacle sacrifices and rituals pointed to him.

And so David could sing about God’s grace and truth, which he did quite often.

God sends his faithful love and truth. (Psalm 57:3)

For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds. (57:10)

God in his steadfast love will meet me.  (59:10, ESV)

But I will sing of your strength
and will joyfully proclaim
your faithful love in the morning. (59:16)

Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him (the king, that is, David himself). (61:7)

God indeed has sent his grace and truth to us in Jesus.

His grace toward us is as high as the heavens and his faithfulness to the clouds. And God in his grace meets with us.

So let us sing of his grace every morning of our lives.

And let us ask that he would appoint his grace and truth to guard over us each day.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

This I know

Psalms

In a time when the Philistines had seized David in Gath, David’s words ring with faith.

This I know: God is for me. (Psalm 56:9)

Do we have this confidence?

When things are falling apart around us, and everyone seems against us, can we say, “This I know: God is for me”?

So many times, God seems far away and it seems he doesn’t care. But David says,

You yourself have recorded my wanderings.
Put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book? (8)

More, David knew God’s promises to him, that he would be king someday. He knew that God always keeps his word. And so he sang,

In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mere humans do to me? (10-11)

But for us, God’s word is not something that is merely on a page, or something we have heard.

God’s Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

He rescued us from eternal death, and now we walk before God in the light of life. (13)

So let us remember and praise the Living Word. For as Paul said,

If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but offered him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? (Romans 8:31-32)

And let us sing with David,

This I know: God is for me. (9)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Whose counsel are we taking?

Psalms

Recently, I made the observation on Facebook that when the church’s message becomes so like the world’s that you can’t tell the difference between the two, you know the church is in trouble.

As I said that, I was particularly thinking of the moral breakdown of society, and how many churches are caving into the cultural pressure.

And so we as Christians need to think, “Who are we taking our counsel from? Where are we getting our standards of wrong and right?”

Are we getting them from this world that takes their stand against God and his Anointed, and cries out,

Let’s tear off their chains
and throw their ropes off of us. (Psalm 2:3)

Are these the people whose counsel we walk in? Are these the people we stand with when it comes to morals?

Are these the people we join together with, standing in judgment over God’s word, and scoffing at what it says concerning wrong and right?

Or are we delighting in the Lord’s counsel, in his instruction? Are his words the ones we meditate on?

The psalmist reminds us that counsel of the wicked leads to ruin. (1:6)

Those who follow it will be judged. (1:5)

But the Lord’s counsel leads to life.

And as we meditate on his words, we will become fruitful trees in a dying world. (1:3)

Whose counsel are you following?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The 23rd Psalm from the Lord’s perspective

Psalms

Last Sunday, I heard a message touching on the 23rd Psalm, and it helped me to see the Psalm from God’s perspective.

I AM your shepherd; you shall not want.

I make you lie down in green pastures.

I lead you beside still waters.

I restore your soul.

I lead you in paths of righteousness for my name’s sake.

Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
fear no evil,
for I am with you.

My rod and my staff,
they will comfort you.

I prepare a table before you
in the presence of your enemies;

I anoint your head with oil;
your cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you
all the days of your life,
and you shall dwell in my house forever.”

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Joy

Psalms

This psalm was written by David, probably after his sin that took place in I Chronicles 21. And it talks about the joy of forgiveness and restoration.

But I also see Jesus in this psalm.

On the cross, the Father hid his face from Jesus. But Jesus wasn’t suffering for his own sins as David did. He suffered for ours.

And while David, cried, “What gain is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit?”, there was great gain in Jesus dying for us. On the cross, he paid the price for our sins.

But he didn’t stay dead. The Father brought him back up from the grave and has lifted him up, giving him the name above every other name.

And because Jesus suffered God’s wrath for a moment, now we can enjoy his favor for a lifetime…for eternity.

Because he wept, we now have joy.

So whatever you’re going through, remember the cross. Remember that because of Jesus, we have hope.

And let us sing with David:

Sing to the Lord, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name. (Psalm 30:4)

I will exalt you, Lord…Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (1, 12)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Captivated by grace and truth

Psalms

When I read Psalm 26, the first thing I saw was some parallels between this psalm and Psalm 1. If you have time, check it out.

But the thing that really struck me was verse 3.

For your faithful love (or “grace”) guides me,
and I live by your truth. (Psalm 26:3)

Often times, you will see that combination of words in the Old Testament: Grace (faithful love). And Truth.

John once said of Jesus, “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)

Without Jesus, there would be no grace for us. Nor would we know what truth is.

But with Jesus, we have both. The question is, are these gifts from Jesus what we live by?

Is the beauty of his grace constantly before our eyes, guiding us? Do we see the beauty of his truth?

It is when we see the beauty of his grace and truth that we fall in love with Jesus, and our lives start to change. We start trusting him. We start walking in integrity. We start loving being in his presence.

How about you? Do you walk in the grace and truth of Jesus? Are they beautiful in your eyes? Are you captivated by them?

Are you captivated by Jesus?

Categories
1 Corinthians Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

Keeping a pure heart

1 Corinthians

Today I was reading I Corinthians 5 and Psalm 19, and as I meditated on them, the two passages connected in my heart.

In I Corinthians 5, Paul was talking about sin in the church and the need to discipline Christians living in unrepentant sin.

But as I read that passage, I also thought about how it applies to our personal lives.

Paul said concerning the Corinthian church’s response to this man,

And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this? (1 Corinthians 5:2)

Again, he’s talking about dealing with a Christian living in unrepentant sin.

But how often do we have that same attitude toward our own sin? Instead of grieving over our sin and asking God’s help to remove it from our lives, we blatantly continue to live in it.

Paul later tells the church,

Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven, leavens the whole batch of dough?

Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.

Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

A little sin can spread quickly in our lives, and soon we start making excuses for everything we do.

So Paul says, get rid of the old leaven, the sin that dominated our lives before we became Christians, and live in sincerity and truth.

Christ cleansed us of our sins on the cross. Why go back to it?

What does this have to do with Psalm 19? David’s words and prayers at the end of it. May it be ours as well.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.

Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:12-14)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Being honest with yourself: Wisdom from the Psalms

Psalms

One theme that runs throughout Psalm 15 is integrity. And as I read verse 2, it really struck me.

In one translation, it reads this way,

“[He] speaks truth in his heart.” (ESV)

Another reads,

[He] acknowledges the truth in his heart.” (CSB).

It is impossible for us to people of integrity if we cannot even be honest with ourselves.

If we lie to ourselves about our motivations, our weaknesses, our failings, our sins, we will find ourselves in all kinds of trouble.

By lying to ourselves about these things, we can justify any sin we do, any wrong action we take.

“I don’t really have a problem with my attitude. Everyone just misunderstands me.”

“I don’t really have a problem with pride, lust, (or whatever your sin may be). Sure I fall sometimes, but doesn’t everyone?”

“I know the Bible says this is sin, but my case is special because….”

We can’t live that way. And the problem is, the more we tell ourselves these lies, the more we start to believe them.

As the old saying goes, “The worst kind of deception is self-deception.”

How about you? Do you acknowledge truth in your own heart? Or do you try to hide from it?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The One who is on the throne

Psalms

Sometimes, we look at the world, and it can get discouraging. We see all the evil and all the people who are hurting. Sometimes we ourselves are hurting.

And we wonder where God is.

But to David, the answer was very clear. God is on his throne. He has not abandoned it. He is not out on vacation somewhere.

He is on his throne. And the day will come when he will judge evil and bring justice to this world.

And for all those who are hurting now, he will bring healing and peace.

So if you’re struggling, if you are wondering where God is, remember: he is on his throne.

He has always been there, and he always will.

So let us worship and sing,

Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever! (Revelation 5:13)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

The Lord is my salvation

Psalms

As I read Psalm 3, the very last verse struck me: “Salvation belongs to the LORD.”

That is pretty much what Jesus’ name means. “The Lord is our Salvation.”

Those are words that are worth meditating on: “The Lord is our Salvation.”

When we were dying in our sin, Jesus died for us on the cross: “The Lord is our Salvation.”

And even now, when we go through the problems of life. “The Lord is our Salvation.”

When we cry out to him, he answers from heaven: “The Lord is our Salvation.”

When our Enemy attacks, he is our shield: “The Lord is our Salvation.”

When we’re down and depressed, he lifts up our head: “The Lord is our Salvation.”

Do you believe that?

Throughout the day, meditate on those words: “The Lord is my Salvation.”

Or “Jesus is my salvation.”

If you’re having a good day, remember your salvation and thank him. “The Lord is my Salvation.”

If you’re struggling, hold on to Jesus, and cry out, “Jesus is my Salvation.”

Salvation belongs to the LORD;
may your blessing be on your people. (Psalm 3:8)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Declaring God to the next generation

Psalms

As I was looking at Psalm 145 today, these words struck me.

One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)

And then David seems to model what he said in the next few verses.

I will speak of your splendor and glorious majesty and your wondrous works.

They will proclaim the power of your awe-inspiring acts,

and I will declare your greatness.

They will give a testimony of your great goodness and will joyfully sing of your righteousness. (5-7)

The question is, who do “they” proclaim and give testimony to? To their own generation certainly. But also to the next. And by God’s grace, those who follow them will keep that cycle going.

They will speak of the glory of your kingdom and will declare your might, informing all people of your mighty acts and of the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (11-12)

May we be people that pass on what we know of God to our children and to all who come after us, that they may declare together with us,

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your rule is for all generations. (13)

Categories
2 Samuel Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

How we see sin

In these passages, we see one of the horrid sins of David, committing adultery with Bathsheba and then murdering her husband. And God had some hard words for David concerning that sin.

“Why then have you despised the Lord’s command by doing what I consider evil…you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife. (2 Samuel 12:9-10)

Think about this a minute. David sinned terribly against Bathsheba and against Uriah. And yet, God looked at that sin and said, “You have sinned against me! By that sin, you have despised me!”

David recognized that in his psalm of repentance. He wrote,

“Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.” (Psalm 51:4)

How do you look at your sin? Do you see it as God does…as despising him? Because at root, that’s what sin is.

When you say something or do something that wounds a loved one or coworker or whoever it may be, you’re not only despising them, you’re despising God.

When you hold bitterness and unforgiveness in your heart towards someone, you’re not only despising them, you’re despising God.

So when we sin, let us recognize it for what it is: despising Jesus who went to the cross to die for our sins. And let us pray as David did.

“God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Trust

Psalms

As those of you who follow this blog know, this has not been an easy week for me.

And when we come face to face with the storms and trials of life, it’s easy to ask, “Why.”

The truth is, many times we will never find out that answer. We simply can’t see all that God is doing. His purposes are much greater than we can possibly comprehend.

So when we face those times, we can respond in two ways. We can scream and cry out “Unfair! Why?”

Or we can trust.

David chose to trust. He said,

“Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.

I do not get involved with things
too great or too wondrous for me.

Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul
like a weaned child with its mother;
my soul is like a weaned child.” (Psalm 131:1-2)

Will you trust God, even when you can’t understand what he is doing?

It can be a very hard thing. But remember this: because Jesus became a man he understands you.

He understands your pain. He himself experienced pain, even to the point of death. But because of his death, we now have hope.

His pain and suffering were not in vain.

And neither is ours.

So people of God,

“put your hope in the Lord,
both now and forever.” (3)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Hearts set on the highway

I love this psalm. It is a beautiful psalm from start to finish. I could spend days meditating on it.

But here’s what struck me today.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:5-7, ESV)

So often, we forget a very important truth: this earth is not our home. Our home is in Zion, that is, Jerusalem. Not the earthly Jerusalem, but the heavenly one.

And so our hearts are not to be set on this world, on this life. Our eyes are always to be lifted to our true home.

In this world, we often go through the valley of “Baca,” that is, the valley of tears. But as our eyes turn to God, he fills us with the fresh and living water of his Spirit.

We don’t walk this path, this highway alone. The Holy Spirit walks with us, filling us with new strength day by day. And he will do so until the day we appear before God in heaven.

That’s how people like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived. All of them suffered through pain, loss, and tears in their lives. (Genesis 23:1, 24:67, 47:9, 48:7).

All of them experienced times of silence from God. But they all remembered that they were mere foreigners, or at best, temporary residents of this world.

And so they kept walking the path God had given them, believing that he is good.

As the writer of Hebrews put it,

These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one.

Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)

So through all our trials, all our troubles, all our fears, let us all keep walking down that highway, with the Spirit at our side, setting our sights on the city God has prepared for us all.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

His faithful love

Psalms

You’ll have to pardon the direction my thoughts naturally go this week.

As I mentioned yesterday, my pastor and friend passed away this week, and today is the day of his funeral. Thinking about him colors a lot of what I’m reading, and I’m seeing the scriptures in new ways.

More so than ever, the first few lines of this psalm ring in my heart.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.

Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”

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

Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1-4)

“The Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever.”

That’s the whole reason we have hope, isn’t it? If he were not good, if his love were a fickle thing that comes and goes, we’d have no hope at all.

But now, Jesus through the cross has become our salvation. And so even in the darkest of times, we can cry out with confidence,

 I will not die, but I will live. (17)

And when Jesus comes  to take us home, at heaven’s gates we will sing with joy,

Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the LORD’s gate;
the righteous will enter through it.

I will give thanks to you
because you have answered me
and have become my salvation. (19-21)

So while we’re here on earth, in all we go through, both good and bad, every morning as we wake, let us turn to God and sing,

You are my God, and I will give you thanks.
You are my God; I will exalt you. (28)

And remember always: His faithful love endures forever!

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Costly

Psalms

I suppose it’s apropos that this passage come up at this time of my life.

I actually was thinking on this passage a couple of days ago, when for the second time in several months, I lost a pastor to cancer. I hadn’t seen either of them in some time, but both made their marks in my life.

Leave it to God’s timing to bring this passage up again in the devotional I’m going through.

The ropes of death were wrapped around my two friends and eventually took them. They encountered trouble and sorrow, and yet in their dying days, they both cried out as the psalmist did,

I believed, even when I said,
“I am severely oppressed.” (Psalm 116:10)

But what strikes me is something that was noted by the writer of the devotional I mentioned. In verse 15, the psalmist wrote,

The death of his faithful ones
is valuable in the Lord’s sight. (15)

Most translations say that the death of his faithful ones are “valuable” or “precious” in God’s sight. But another possible translation is “costly.”

The death of God’s faithful ones is costly in his sight. It breaks his heart to see his beloved fall to death. To see them suffer. To see the grief that their deaths leave behind in their loved ones.

But the truth is, we all deserve death because all of us have sinned. Yet God was not satisfied to let his people simply die for their sin.

He saw our brokenness, he saw our grief, he saw our pain…and he sent his Son.

There on the cross, Jesus bore the ultimate cost of our sin. And so while we still face death in this world, it is not the end.

Instead, because of Jesus, even in death, we can say,

Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, Lord, rescued me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.

I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living. (7-9)

How can we repay the Lord for all his good he has done for us? We can’t. All we can do is lift up the cup of salvation he has offered to us and call on his name.

O Lord, I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. Hallelujah. (17, 19)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

What is my heart saying?

Psalms

What is my heart saying?

In good times?

In bad times?

In normal times?

What our heart says often shows to whom we belong.

It’s clear who David’s heart belonged to.

My heart says this about you:
“Seek his face.” (Psalm 27:8a)

And so David cried out to God,

Lord, I will seek your face. (8b)

How often does my heart cry out for God? How often does it cry out, “Bruce, seek God!”

How often is my heart’s desire for him? To behold his beauty. To seek him?

How often does my heart cry out for other things instead, without even a thought toward God?

What is my heart crying out?

Who does it belong to?

How about you? What is your heart saying?

Who does your heart belong to?

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Why we have hope

Psalms

Psalm 88 is probably the most depressing psalm in the Bible. And yet as I read it today, I saw something different: I saw Jesus.

This is not what is typically thought of as a Messianic Psalm. And of course, not all of it applies to Jesus. But much of it does, particularly on the cross.

I can easily imagine him singing this psalm in Gethsemane.

Lord, God of my salvation,
I cry out before you day and night.

May my prayer reach your presence;
listen to my cry. (Psalm 88:1-2)

Then on the cross, abandoned by his friends, with death drawing near, and God’s full wrath falling upon him, Jesus could have easily lamented,

For I have had enough troubles,
and my life is near Sheol.

I am counted among those going down to the Pit…
Your wrath weighs heavily on me;
you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

You have distanced my friends from me;
you have made me repulsive to them…

Lord, why do you reject me?
Why do you hide your face from me?

Your wrath sweeps over me;
your terrors destroy me. (3-4, 7-8, 14, 16)

Then while his body was within the tomb, his spirit may have sung,

I am counted among those going down to the Pit.
I am like a man without strength,
abandoned among the dead.

I am like the slain lying in the grave,
whom you no longer remember,
and who are cut off from your care.

You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit,
in the darkest places, in the depths. (4-6)

But the amazing thing is that the answers to the psalmist’s darkest questions are found in Jesus.

Do you work wonders for the dead?
Do departed spirits rise up to praise you?

Will your faithful love be declared in the grave,
your faithfulness in Abaddon?

Will your wonders be known in the darkness
or your righteousness in the land of oblivion? (10-12)

For the psalmist, the answers were all negative.

But in Jesus, the answers are all yes.

God worked wonders for the dead, raising Jesus to life. Not only did Jesus’ spirit rise to praise him, his body did as well.

Through Jesus, God’s faithful love and faithfulness were declared by angels at the empty tomb, and his wonders and righteousness proclaimed in a land darkened by sin and death.

And because of that, we have hope. We have hope that no matter how bad things get, God is faithful, and his love never fails. Or to use Jeremiah’s words,

Because of the Lord’s faithful love
we do not perish,
for his mercies never end.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Categories
2 Samuel Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

The God who came down

Psalms

It’s strange how my diverse reading plans come together at times. I was reading Psalm 18 yesterday, and by chance came across 2 Samuel 22 today. They’re two different passages, but the same psalm are in them.

Something struck me today that didn’t strike me yesterday. David is talking here towards the end of his life about how God had delivered him throughout his life. And one theme we see time and again is that God came down to help David.

David talks about how in his despair when he thought he was about to die, God “bent the heavens and came down.” (Psalm 18:9)

And again,

He reached down from on high
and took hold of me;
he pulled me out of deep water. (Psalm 18:16)

And again,

You have given me the shield of your salvation;
your right hand upholds me,
and your humility exalts me. (35)

That word “humility” is translated multiple ways. “Gentleness” (ESV), “help” (NIV), you stoop down (old NIV), and “condescending gentleness” (Darby translation).

At any rate, it all has the same idea. God lowered himself to order help David when he was in trouble.

And in Jesus, he did the same for us. For Jesus,

who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.

Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.

And when he had come as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross. (Philippians 4:6-8)

The eternal God becoming man was an incredible display of humility.

Jesus bent the heavens, coming down as a tiny, helpless baby, dependent on a human mother and father, subject to sickness, weariness, hunger, and thirst.

Nor did he come as a king to rule, but as a servant. And after 33 years of life here, he died on an ugly death on a cross.

Why? To save us. We deserved nothing from him except judgment for our sins. But he loved us enough to die for us.

So let us meditate on his love for us, and sing as David did,

The Lord lives—blessed be my rock!
The God of my salvation is exalted. (46)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Grace and truth

Psalms

We all face troubles at times. David certainly did so, running for his life from Saul. What sustained him?

Two things: God’s faithful love and truth.

God had promised that he would make David king. And because of God’s faithful love and unbreakable word, David could say with confidence, “God will fulfill his purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2)

He sang,

He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.
God sends his faithful love and truth. (Psalm 57:3)

Faithful love and truth. Those words are repeated time and again in the Old Testament. And when the Old Testament was translated into Greek, it came out “grace and truth.”

Sound familiar?

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…

Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14, 16-17)

God’s faithful love and truth. These things are also given to us.

Through Jesus, God reached down from heaven to save us, challenging Satan who tries to trample us. In Jesus, God sent his faithful love and truth. And he will fulfill his purpose for us. What’s his purpose?

For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)

And so Paul says,

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

So in the midst of our troubles, let us remember God’s faithful love and truth, singing like David did!

I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

God, be exalted above the heavens;
let your glory be over the whole earth. (9-11)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Continually

Psalms

There are advantages to a more “literal” translation at times. And one of those advantages is that you can see repetition of words more clearly within the same passage.

This is one of those cases, and so I’ll be using the ESV for this particular post. (I must say, though, the CSB has really grown on me).

It strikes me that so often, we come to God by his grace, but after being saved by his grace, we then so quickly abandon it.

Perhaps abandon is too strong a word, but we do not continually make of practice of dwelling in it.

But look at what David says,

Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come. (Psalm 71:3)

My praise is continually of you. (6)

But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more. (14)

Even when he doesn’t use the word continually, similar words keep popping up.

My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day. (8)

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge. (15)

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long. (24)

Do I continually come before the Lord, trusting him to be my refuge? Or do I trust in my own wisdom and strength?

Do I continually put my hope in him? Or do I put it in money, financial security, or other such things?

Do I forget the grace he extends to me day by day? Or am I often reflecting on how every day his mercies are new every morning.

And is my mouth constantly filled with his praise because of what he has done for me. That for reasons I cannot grasp, he gave the command to save me. (3)

One more thing strikes me here.

So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come. (18)

I’m starting to get up there in age. Who in the next generation am I to proclaim God to so that they can know him as I do?

O God, do not let me leave this world until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Striving…to rest

Psalms

As I read Psalm 62 today, I saw it in a different way from how I’ve always seen it.

David writes,

I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1)

And again,

Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from him. (5)

Obviously, David is talking about resting in God in times of trouble. And he was looking for physical salvation from his enemies.

But today, I looked at this psalm from a spiritual point of view.

So often we strive to be holy. Or we strive to succeed in ministry.

Now those are good things, but for what reason are we striving?

For many Christians, we still feel somehow that we need to earn God’s favor. “Oh yes, I’m saved by grace. But I’ve got to prove to God that he made a good choice in saving me.”

And so we pour all our time and energy in trying to prove ourselves to God. (And to others, for that matter. “I’m a good Christian! See all that I’m doing?).

The result? We get tired. We burn out.

But God says, “Rest. You have nothing to prove to me. I love you. I chose you. You’re already mine. Rest.”

And if we can truly understand that, our whole motivation for everything we do changes.

We strive to be holy, we strive to serve God’s kingdom, not to prove ourselves to God or others, but out of a heart of joy and gratitude. Because we are already accepted. We are already loved. We are already saints.

Are you tired because of ministry? Are you burnt out from trying so hard to be holy?

Rest in God. Your salvation comes from him. And if you must strive, strive as the writer of Hebrews commands us.

 Let us then make every effort to enter [God’s] rest. (Hebrews 4:11)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Conscious of our sin

Psalms

I’ve probably seen (and sung) Psalm 51 hundreds of times.

Today, verse 3 strikes me. David writes,

For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. There are two kinds of problems Christians face when it comes to sin. (Psalm 51:3)

One is a complete lack of consciousness of their sin.

The other is an overwhelming sense of sin and guilt despite the fact that God has already forgiven them.

After David’s sin was exposed, he was overwhelmed by guilt.

No doubt the fact that his child born of adultery was dying kept his sin ever before him. This despite the fact that Nathan had proclaimed God’s forgiveness to David. (2 Samuel 12:13)

God will forgive, but that does not mean he will take away all earthly consequences for our sin.

Perhaps one reason is to remind us just how awful it is. And it is a reminder to us that though we may be suffering the consequences of our sin, the price Jesus paid for us was much more costly.

So if your sin is ever before you because of the consequences you face, look to the cross. Remember what it means.

You may be paying a price for your sin. And it may be painful.

But Christ paid the ultimate price for your sin. And because of it, your debt is paid in full. Because of Jesus, your sin is blotted out.

Cling to that truth. You are forgiven.

But perhaps a worse problem Christians face is not feeling guilt at all for their sin.

For a long time, David felt no real guilt when it came to his sin with Bathsheba.

I’m not saying that he was not aware of it at all. If that were the case, he would have brazenly told Uriah to his face what he had done.

And there would have been no subterfuge in first trying to hide the fact from Uriah and then murdering him. He would have done it for all to see. (Think of Herod the Great or Herod Antipas for example).

No, David knew better. And yet he was not even close to repenting.

It’s hard to say what he was thinking, frankly. What kind of excuses was he making for his sin to shove down the guilt he was feeling.

And so the question for me is, how lightly do I take my sins? Am I even conscious of them? What excuses do I make for them?

Lord, let me become more conscious of my sins. Help me to see them as clearly as David saw his. And let those sins drive me to your cross. To weep at the incredible love for me that nailed you there.

Day by day cleanse me. Create a clean heart for me, and renew a steadfast spirit in me, a spirit that revels in your grace and sings of it, so that those around me may find that grace for themselves.

Categories
1 Samuel Devotionals Psalms Devotionals

Stop fighting!

Be still

As I was looking at these two passages today, I saw a connection there.

Here is David running for his life from Saul. But as he did, he found what the author of Psalm 46 discovered.

God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

What do we make of what happened to Saul at the end of 1 Samuel 19? Perhaps it was God’s way of saying to him,

“Stop your fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

God humbled Saul that day. Yet Saul never stopped fighting God.

Had Saul ever stopped struggling against God, he would have found peace. He would have found that God is our refuge and strength. Instead, he constantly lived in fear, sinned greatly because of it, and eventually perished.

As I think back to my last blog, I can’t help but draw parallels between Jacob and Saul.

Like Saul, Jacob struggled to say, “My God.”

Like Saul, Jacob struggled against God.

But unlike Saul, Jacob learned to stop fighting God, and to follow after him. As a result, he ultimately found peace.

How about you? Are you still fighting God, doing things your own way, living only for yourself?

Or do you look at him and say, “You are my God. You are the one I trust”?

If we will do so, we too will find that,

The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Psalm 46:11)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

Failing to see God and ourselves for who we are

Psalms

There are two kinds of blindness in this world. And one affects the other.

There is the blindness as to who God is. David writes,

An oracle within my heart
concerning the transgression of the wicked person:
Dread of God has no effect on him. (Psalm 36:1-2)

In other words, they can look at God and they don’t see his holiness. They do not see his justice. And because of that, when they see God, it doesn’t faze them. They see nothing special about him.

That in turn leads to the second blindness: blindness to their own unholiness. David says of them,

For with his flattering opinion of himself,
he does not discover and hate his iniquity. (2)

So many people today think, “I’m not so bad. Actually, I’m better than most.”

But they cannot see the sin in their own heart. They are completely blind to it. Or they shrug them off as “minor faults.” Nothing to really worry about.

Contrast that to Isaiah who when standing before God in all his glory, cried out,

Woe is me for I am ruined
because I am a man of unclean lips
and live among a people of unclean lips,
and because my eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of Armies. (Isaiah 6:5)

So many people think of “unclean lips” as minor faults.

“Okay, so I swear sometimes. No big deal. And sure my tongue can be a bit sharp sometimes. Sometimes things just slip out.”

But as James said,

And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:6)

Before I get too far off topic though, when we see God, do we see him for who he is? A holy God. A God whose “righteousness is like the highest mountains,” and whose judgments like “the deepest seas.”

Do we even pause at seeing his holiness? Or do we just walk by without a second thought?

You will never know how awesome a thing the faithful love of God is until you understand his holiness.

That this holy God could love a sinful people like us should make us stand in wonder at his grace.

How often do you stop to ponder the holiness of God? Only when we do will we truly understand David when he cries out,

How priceless your faithful love is, God! (7)

Categories
Psalms Devotionals

For whom the fruitful tree prospers

How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.

He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Here we see that when we are rooted in and watered by the Word of God, we bear fruit and prosper.

But have you ever thought about for whom we bear fruit? For whom we prosper?

The fruit tree doesn’t primarily bear fruit to nourish and bless itself. Rather it is meant to nourish and bless others.

So with us.

So often, people take these passages and think, “If I meditate on and delight myself in God’s Word, I will be blessed.”

That is true.

But what’s more important is that through his Word, we become fruitful so that God can use us to bless others.

May we all be such trees, channels of God’s grace to everyone we touch.