2008 08Aug

Praising God

Psalm 33

In Psalm 32:11 we read, Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. In this Psalm we see an example of praise offered to God. In offering praise, the Psalmist speaks of his knowledge and experience with God. He not only sees God as the creator and sustainer of all life but also as the One who chose and blessed the nation of Israel. As the Psalmist thinks of his knowledge and experience with God, his heart fills with joy. We try to teach people to praise God, but sometimes I wonder how profitable this is. This statement may sound strange, but have you noticed that when people get excited about something they can't help but talk about it.

There is nothing in this world that is any more exciting than God and His work in this world. To know God is to love God, and to know and love Him is something that ought to stir our hearts to praise. Our heart could be so full that the words cannot be held inside. Therefore, I 'm not sure that we need detailed lessons on worship and praise. Instead, what we need, is a heart of faith that experiences God in life.

Here the Psalmist calls on God 's people to praise Him with joyful music. I often hear people talk about the different kinds of music that they like, but we need to be careful here. Many things including some music may appeal to my sinful flesh that is not pleasing to God. Most important in worship and praise is pleasing and honoring God. We need to ask God to give us the wisdom to praise Him acceptably. Note in particular, the phrase in verse 8, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. We ought to take care that we maintain reverence to God in our public worship. Some things may be appropriate in our prayer closets and homes that would not be appropriate in public worship. For example, we read in verse 3, play skillfully; In some cases, singing praise is best done in the shower. It is not just the skill, but the heart of the worshiper that is important. In verse 1 we read, sing; you righteous. We have all seen that there are professional entertainers who sing songs of praise to God whose public life is less than righteous. This is not to say that we should look at everyone with a critical eye, but in some cases, God is clearly not honored. Do you have a heart that is full of praise to God? If not, why not?

Pss.33
[1] Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
[2] Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
[3] Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
[4] For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
[5] He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
[6] By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
[7] He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
[8] Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
[9] For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
[10] The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
[11] The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
[12] Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
[13] The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
[14] From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
[15] He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
[16] There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
[17] An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
[18] Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
[19] To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
[20] Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
[21] For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
[22] Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

080202dw

3rd

The Lord A Provider And Deliverer

Psalm 34:1-22

      "The Psalm is in two main parts: The Song 1-10, and The Sermon 11-22, The first part is devotional and the second is doctrinal. In part one life is saved, and in part two life is sanctified. In the one part we see the gracious LORD, and in the other, the righteous LORD; and in both parts is Thanksgiving, personal and social"(Scroggie). "This Psalm is a personal song of thanksgiving, on the one hand, and a wisdom psalm on the other. In it David recounts his deliverance and adjures others likewise to trust in God."(R. Alden).

      In verses 1 and 2, the Psalmist offers praise to God. "What he proposes to do it is right to do, but it is often very difficult to bless the Lord at all times. It is easy to sing a song in the day of prosperity, but David will sing also in the night of adversity, and his song will be in his mouth."(Scroggie) In verse 3, David urges others to join him in exalting God's name. In verses 4-7 David bears witness to God ’s deliverance as he experienced the mercy of the Lord and points out that others have been blessed in the same way. In verses 8-10 the psalmist encourages us to put the Lord to the test; taste and see; fear Him, seek Him and you shall not want any good thing.

      In the first part of the Psalm David testifies and in the second part he teaches. He "would instruct them and us in what true religion consists verses13 and 14, and he urges the practice of it in view of God's care for the righteous, and His hostility to the wicked 15-22"(Scroggie)

      It is good to see the things Jehovah does. He answers, delivers, hears, He is near, keeps, redeems. We see the nearness, sensitiveness, ready help, and mighty power of the Lord.

      Thought: You do not have to be perfect to work for the One Who is. (The Lifeline)

Pss.34
[1] I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
[2] My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
[3] O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
[4] I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
[5] They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
[6] This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
[7] The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
[8] O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
[9] O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
[10] The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
[11] Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
[12] What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
[13] Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
[14] Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
[15] The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
[16] The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
[17] The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
[18] The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
[19] Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
[20] He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
[21] Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
[22] The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

080302kdd

4th

The Lord, The Avenger of His People
Psalm 35

Today as Christians, let ’s ask a thoughtful question! Do our tongues always speak of God's righteousness and do we praise God all the day long, even among great adversity? Here we see a wonderful example of what we, as God's children, can do, if we daily and obediently go to the Lord our God. In the midst of our busy lives, whether in good times or bad, lean on His Wisdom and Power to help us through each day.

      King David is expressing to God his troubles and attacks. There are people who were attacking him and his integrity. You know, as true and obedient Christians, we too, will suffer attacks against us and even in our families, if we are truly standing and serving, working and witnessing for the Lord. Praise God! So David goes to the King, the King of Kings, to present his case and lets God know all the details of his troubles. What a great example for us, to go to God in prayer and let Him know of every detail in the situation. This is what is better known as laboring in prayer. It takes time and it takes effort to do so, but Who better to go to, than to the Lord! True Prayer takes time and effort and work and labor and sacrifice, and David goes to God with his petitions.

      David was even experiencing the enemy to the point of lying and perjury. Have you ever experienced this? Oh how terrible it is and how degraded it makes us feel, and so David prays even more diligently and specifically that God would Act on his behalf without delay. He even prays in sack cloth and ashes and humbles himself with fasting. What a glorious example, that is sadly, little practiced today among Christians. The very act of humbling ourselves before God in sack cloth and ashes, and the very act of fasting. It's something hardly even talked about much anymore. What could be accomplished today for the Lord, if we walked as David did, in much prayer, humbleness and fasting?!

      Through it all, the wonderful example given to us here is that David ultimately praises God all the day long, and talks of His righteousness among the people.

Oh Lord, would to God Almighty, that we could have this same type of heart to praise You, our Savior, and to speak of all Your wondrous works both in our lives and other believers too, all the day long! In our Great Saviors name, Jesus we pray. Amen!

Pss.35
[1] Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
[2] Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
[3] Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
[4] Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
[5] Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
[6] Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
[7] For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
[8] Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
[9] And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
[10] All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
[11] False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
[12] They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
[13] But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
[14] I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
[15] But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
[16] With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
[17] Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
[18] I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
[19] Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
[20] For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
[21] Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
[22] This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
[23] Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
[24] Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
[25] Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
[26] Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.
[27] Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
[28] And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

080402dm

5th

Wickedness of Men and the Loving Kindness of God
Psalm 36: Second Psalm of the Wicked

      Introduction: This Psalm is in three sections, The first section (verses 1-4) shows the ten sins of the wicked. The second part (verse 5-9) gives the ten characteristics of God's blessings on the righteous. Third, (verses 10-12) we count four requests for the righteous.

      The wicked is not bothered by his transgressions, nor is there any fear of God. He is filled with self-flattery and has a bitter heart toward the righteous. His mouth is filled with deceit and he rejects wisdom. (In other words, He is double-tongued and despises wisdom). He rejects any and all forms of goodness or godliness and plans what sin he can get into next. He sets himself against the godly and loves his sins so much that he will use any and all means to attain his sinful goals. The truly born again Christian has difficulty in thinking in the above mentioned circles.

      In the second section (verses 5-9), God's mercy is revealed, (loving kindness) to the angels in heaven and to men upon the earth. The sky, mountains are recipients of God's faithfulness and God is long suffering to mankind, not willing that any should perish. The Psalmist refers to many of God's attributes. Encouraged by the consideration of goodness, the children of weak, frail, sinful man shall take heart and lay aside their natural timidity and gather themselves under the shadow of His ever protecting wings. (vs. 9) For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. From the following we see Jesus, 1 John 1:5. This then is the message which we have heard of him, (Jesus) and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

      Finally, we see the third time, one of the attributes of God is referred to THY LOVING KINDNESS. David's petition to God is brought to light in verse 11, Don't let the feet of the proud come near me, nor allow me to walk in pride as they do and let not the hands of the wicked draw me away from you, my God.

This should be the prayer of every believer, Let not my hands touch any wicked thing nor my feet walk in the ways of the ungodly. Please help me to keep my good testimony before the wicked ones and may the words of my mouth glorify You my Saviour.

Pss.36
[1] The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
[2] For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
[3] The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
[4] He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
[5] Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
[6] Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
[7] How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
[8] They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
[9] For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
[10] O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
[11] Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
[12] There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

080502rjs

6th

The Security of the Believer
Psalm 37

      One day in Bible College, I was very frustrated over some things that were just plain wrong. This happens to all of us from time to time. So, I opened my Bible and asked God for help and encouragement. My Bible opened to Psalm 37 and my eyes caught the first phrase, fret not because of evil doers. I was fretting so much about evil doers that I almost closed my Bible and went on to something else. Thank God that I didn 't. For in those next few moments, as I read this Psalm, the Spirit of God brought peace to my heart and soul. God has never promised us that evil will never triumph in this life.

      Like the Psalmist, we need to remember the big picture. In some cases, we may even have to wait for eternity to see the books balance. This was not the experience of the Psalmist. He said that it was just a little while and the wicked were no more. I remember when I was a student in Bible College. Things were in turmoil because of the doctrinal defection of some. Today the churches are as doctrinally strong as ever and those who trouble us are gone along with their error. Evil and error don 't last. It is interesting to note in this regard that only orthodox Christianity has survived, unbroken, since Jesus walked this earth. All other doctrines, on the other hand, come and go like fads. The wicked do not hurt God 's purpose on this earth, they serve God 's purpose. God works all things together for good. He is able to take the wrath of man and work it to His praise. Why is it that we look for favor in places where our Lord found only hatred and death?

      When evil prospers, we need to purpose in our hearts not to give way to evil, because if we do, we will reap as we have sown, and come to ruin. We will pass along with the evil. Let us not succumb to evil, but take hold of faith, love and hope, and live our lives with humility and patience. Then, we will learn wisdom. We will learn that both the suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked is short lived. Remember, weeping endures only through the night, but joy comes in the morning. Thank God even through the night, our God will never leave us nor forsake us! If we are to find security and blessing in this life, we must take hold of faith and righteousness. I wonder have you found the peace and security that David did? If not, open your heart to God.

Pss.37
[1] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
[2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
[3] Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
[4] Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
[5] Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
[6] And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
[7] Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
[8] Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
[9] For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
[10] For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
[11] But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
[12] The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
[13] The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
[14] The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
[15] Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
[16] A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
[17] For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
[18] The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
[19] They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
[20] But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
[21] The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
[22] For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
[23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
[24] Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
[25] I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
[26] He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
[27] Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
[28] For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
[29] The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
[30] The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
[31] The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
[32] The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
[33] The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
[34] Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
[35] I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
[36] Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
[37] Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
[38] But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
[39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
[40] And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

080602dw

7th

Prayer Of A Suffering Penitent
Psalm 38:1-22

      There are seven Psalms referred to as Penitential Psalms: Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. This Psalm is the third such Psalm. A penitent person is "one that repents of sin, one sorrowful on account of his transgressions."(Webster, 1828). Penitential means"Preceding from or expressing penitence or contrition of heart."(Webster). Another word for it is repentance. "This is a sad Psalm, and one that will never be out of date while there is sin, suffering, sorrow, and sighing in the world. It is the cry of a wounded soul, and the writer teaches us in song what he had learned in suffering." (Scroggie). Another title given to this Psalm is "A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance."(Spurgeon).

      "David felt as if he had been forgotten of his God, and, therefore, he recounted his sorrows and cried mightily for help under them."(Spurgeon). "A reading of the opening verses leaves the impression that David was physically sick."(Alden). Was he writing with the idea in mind that sickness is a punishment for sin? It may be true in some cases, but not always. When the man born blind was brought to Jesus, his disciples asked Him: Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3 Sin does have effects: "ulcers, headaches, and hypertension are just three common maladies provoked by worry, jealousy, or guilt."(Alden). Some things here remind us of statements found in Job, such as arrows verse 2, Job 6:4; bones verse 3, Job 33:19; "the aloofness of friends was the lot of this psalmist & Job, verse 11, Job 19:3-19."(Alden). He does not despair, his hope is in God.

      Thought: The Lord's knowledge of us is our hope.(Scroggie)

Pss.38
[1] O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
[2] For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
[3] There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
[4] For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
[5] My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
[6] I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
[7] For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
[8] I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
[9] Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
[10] My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
[11] My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
[12] They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
[13] But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
[14] Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
[15] For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
[16] For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
[17] For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
[18] For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
[19] But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
[20] They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
[21] Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
[22] Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

080702kdd

8th

A Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness
Psalm 39

      How many days are in a person's life? The Bible tells us the average is around 70 years and if blessed, maybe 80. This is just an estimate though, of the average person's life span because we also know that God, our Creator, holds in His Sovereign hand, each breath that we take and each heartbeat that pulses in our bodies. Sadly, people live today as if there is no tomorrow and as if they are literally immortal, with no thought of when their end may be. As we honestly take a look today at this subject, how many years, or days, or minutes do you have left, if you were in the average person category? How many days and hours and minutes do you have left to serve the Lord? What would you have done differently in your life, if God were to take your vaporous life today, instead of the average years? These are some of the questions that we need to ponder as we evaluate our lives before God and bring ourselves into an obedient perspective of how God looks at our lives instead of our small outlook of what tomorrow may or may not hold.

      King David asked God to help him know his end and how frail he really is. He acknowledged that his age was nothing before God, that at best, his life was a vapor, and that every man walks about like a shadow, here but for a moment. He continues to say that many busy themselves in vain, Heaping up riches that do not last. That is exactly what we see in our society and many families today. May it be kindly asked; where do you stand in your life today before God? Are you busy serving Him? Do you know when your end will be, and what will you be able to answer to God, when you stand before Him to give account of your life, as surely as all men will?

      David ends this Psalm with a heart of obedience as he asks the question, And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. As David also did in verse 10, we too should pray that God would remove His plague from us as we are consumed by His hand. God will and does rebuke and correct us for iniquity. Ultimately, to cause us to turn our thoughts and our hearts toward Him. O Lord, forgive us of complacency and focusing on worldliness instead of on You, our Creator and Savior! Cause us to learn to love You with all our being. Amen.

Pss.39
[1] I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
[2] I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
[3] My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
[4] LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
[5] Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
[6] Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
[7] And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.
[8] Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.
[9] I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.
[10] Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.
[11] When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.
[12] Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
[13] O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

080802dm

9th

God Sustains His Servant, David
Psalm 40 - Seventh Messianic Psalm

      This Psalm seems to be in three portions: Introduction (1-3); Praise of God and promise of obedience (4-10); and Prayer to God (11-17).

      1st: 1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, (Syriac version of the above, "the pit of perdition and the mud of corruption.") and set my feet upon a rock, ("This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One, This Rock is Jesus, The only One" --from the song In Times Like These) and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

      2nd: 4-10 Read these verses from your Bible, and you will see these great principles of a blessed person, then count your blessings. These are the Messianic verses. They include the sevenfold ministry of Christ.

10th

Trouble and Sorrow of Heart
Psalm 41

      Both the righteous and the wicked will experience most of the things that we see in this Psalm. In many ways, the experience of all humanity is the same. The rain falls on both the just and the unjust. Here David is sick and in trouble. He recognizes that he has brought this trouble on himself. We read in verse 4, I have sinned against thee. Though we usually don 't feel good, God 's chastening hand is a source of great blessing and ought to be a great source of comfort to us. The wicked don 't experience this. God does not chasten the wicked.

      Here, David is fleeing from Jerusalem and from his son Absalom. He sees this as part of God 's correction in his life. During this time his enemies greatly rejoice and false friends surface. I think one of the most difficult experiences that we go through as God 's people is that of betrayal by those who profess to be our friends. I don 't believe that we ever really lose friends, we just find out who our friends really are. In Proverbs 17:17, we read that A friend loveth at all times. We never lose friends, but sadly, some profess friendship for personal advantage. Here, David 's false friend is Ahithophel. Ahithophel is one of David 's counselors. He is a man of unusual ability and wisdom. He is bitter against David. His granddaughter is Bathsheba. He may have taken up her first husband's offense. We don 't know for sure.

      Notice the words we read in Psalm 41:9. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. The Lord Jesus experienced the same betrayal at the hands of Judas Iscariot. I don 't know of any pain we experience in this life that is any more difficult. There may be those such as Ahithophel that set themselves against us. David found that Psalm 41:11 mine enemy doth not triumph. Absalom could not win this fight even with Ahithophel 's help because God would not allow it. Yes, David had grievously sinned against Ahithophel, but God would not allow him to be removed from the kingdom. In His infinite wisdom, David would be forgiven and his kingdom preserved.

      Ahithophel was very wise, but in his wisdom he was not mindful that it was God who sets up kings and takes down kings. We will all find trouble and sorrow in this life, but if we are wise it will be in fellowship rather than in rebellion to God.

Pss.41
[1] Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
[2] The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
[3] The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
[4] I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
[5] Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
[6] And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
[7] All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
[8] An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
[9] Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
[10] But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
[11] By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
[12] And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
[13] Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

081002dw

11th

Trusting In God When In Trouble And Exile
Psalm 42:1-11

      Psalm 42 and 43 seem to go together and "constitute a single poem of three stanzas."(Alden;Scroggie). The first two stanzas, (i.e., the whole of Psalm 42), are basically a personal lament. In the third stanza, Psalm 43, the psalmist turns to petitioning God. The Psalms fit the trouble and trust category, as well."(Alden). Since we are dealing only with Psalm 42 in this devotional, we will look at it.

      The background for the psalm points to the fact that the Psalmist was in exile somewhere. "It is the cry of a man far removed from the outward ordinances and worship of God, sighing for the long-loved house of his God; and at the same time it is the voice of a spiritual believer, under depressions, longing for the renewal of the divine presence, struggling with doubts and fears, but yet holding his ground by faith in the living God. Most of the Lord's family have sailed on the sea which is here so graphically described."(Spurgeon). "Evidently the writer was prevented from going up to the temple at some feast time, and his grief here finds expression. These Psalms give expression to conflicting emotions, such as the people of God have experienced in all ages. Sorrow and song, fear and faith, doubt and devotion are strangely intermingled."(Scroggie). We have probably felt like that.

      "The opening verses are dear to many of God's children to this day. The picture is of a thirsty deer panting for a drink from a mountain brook. So the psalmist's soul, meaning the man himself, is anxious to meet God again."(Alden). "No one who truly pants and thirsts for God will fail to find Him.";(Scroggie)

      Thought: Some people think the Sunday church service is like a convention, many families send just one delegate.(The Lifeline)

Pss.42
[1] As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
[2] My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
[3] My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
[4] When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
[5] Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
[6] O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
[7] Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
[8] Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
[9] I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
[10] As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
[11] Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

081102kdd

12th

A Prayer to God in Times of Trouble
Psalm 43

      This Psalm is a great one to read, pray, and meditate on when we are experiencing times of great tribulation and trouble in our lives. It reminds us of many great truths of who God is and what we can do to remind ourselves that our lives are held by the Creator and that we need to get our minds and our hearts focused back on God Almighty.

      The writer starts off by asking God to vindicate him and to plead his case, just like we would do if we were standing before the Judge in a court of law. We can ask God to vindicate us from ungodly, deceitful and unjust people, because God is our strength, our light, and our truth! We see a wonderful truth to be claimed and used, when we go to God and ask Him to help us in our various times of difficulty. He brings to our lives the source of great Joy, the overwhelming peace that passes understanding, that other people just do not have. In fact, when we go to God as we should, we will not only experience great joy in the face of tribulation, but we can also praise God in the midst of our most difficult times, because then our hearts' focus is where it ought to be. On God and who He is, instead of on our problems and ourselves.

      The question then is, "Why are we cast down, in our souls?" Why are we trusting in ourselves instead of in God and His Word? Why do we think that we can take care of our problems, no matter how small they may be? Why not go to the Lord and cast our cares upon Him? Why not rest in the truths of His Holy Word and experience the peace that passes all understanding? Why not spend our days in praise unto the Lord for all He has done? Why not put our complete hope in the God of all Creation, the Father of lights, The God of comfort, the God of Hope, the God of our salvation, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Father?! Do these truths cause a stir in your soul?

      Heavenly Father, forgive us when we fail. Keep us and guide us when we go through difficulties. Help us to focus our hearts on You and guard our countenance so that others too can see You at work in our lives. We praise You and exalt Your Holy Name and we lift up the wonderful name of Jesus forever and ever, in Whose name we pray, Amen.

Pss.43
[1] Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
[2] For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
[3] O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
[4] Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
[5] Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

081202dm

13th

Former Deliverance and Present Troubles
Psalm 44: Fifth Psalm of Instruction

      This Psalm is made up of four parts: 1) The writer recounts the victories of the past and concludes that he will help in the present emergency. 2) He describes the emergency they are going through. 3) The problem has not been because of our infidelity or rebellion. 4) Prayer for deliverance.

      1) God's eight fold deliverance of Israel under the leadership of Joshua. Verses 1-3 record praise and gratitude for God's deliverance. Looking back and recalling the power of God over their enemies causes the Psalmist to rejoice in the conquest of the Promised Land. The eight fold confidence in God the Deliverer of Israel in (vvs. 4-8). They believed that they could again be victors by trusting in God and His leadership. I will not trust in my weapons (vs.6). They praise God for fighting their battles. They could take no credit for vanquishing the enemy.

      2) Verses 9-16, with each judgment Israel blames God and He refused to take the chastisement for their sins. How short their memories were! They are again suffering persecution because they have turned from God and are worshipping the heathen gods. They are in the midst of a pity party because God has given the enemy victory over them. We are scattered among the heathen. We are put-down by our neighbors. They have even spoken about us in derision and disrespect. The Hebrew for "byword" here refers to a proverb or parable.

      3) Eight fold accusation of God and His declaration of innocence. Verses 17-22 are filled with excuses and refusing to take the blame for their sins. All humanity is related to Adam, when he was guilty before God of eating the forbidden fruit, he immediately blamed Eve. When counseling a person about marital problems, they are never the guilty party, it is the spouse that has caused all the trouble.

      4) Prayer for deliverance from distress. Verses 23-26 seems to be an awakening in their hearts. Israel is repenting and pleading for God to vanquish their problems. They are prostrating themselves in the dust of the earth. Come now O God, hear our prayers, deliver us and restore our former blessings for Thy mercies sake.

Pss.44
[1] We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
[2] How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
[3] For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.
[4] Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
[5] Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
[6] For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
[7] But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
[8] In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
[9] But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
[10] Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
[11] Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
[12] Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.
[13] Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
[14] Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.
[15] My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
[16] For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.
[17] All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
[18] Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;
[19] Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
[20] If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
[21] Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
[22] Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
[23] Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
[24] Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
[25] For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
[26] Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

080302rjs

14th

The Marriage of the King
Psalm 45

      This Psalm is full of references to Jesus Christ. This is an inspirational Psalm. The Psalmist is full of emotion as he thinks of the King. This great emotion gives way to well-spoken praise. He says, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. The phrases in this Psalm are similar to what we find in the Song of Solomon. In that book, we read of our Lord, that He is altogether lovely, the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, and the fairest of 10,000.

      Here it is said of our Lord, that grace is poured into thy lips. We tend to think that if one is truthful, he tells it like it is, but this kind of talk can 't be characterized by grace. When it comes to majesty, he thinks of truth and meekness and righteousness. Meekness in the heart fills the lips with grace. In John's gospel, we read that our Lord was full of grace and truth. His beauty is not just a matter of speech, but includes sweet smelling perfumes of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia.

      When it comes to moral character we read of the king, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness. The world tends to think of such a person and life as dull and no fun, but we read of our Lord, God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness. Our Lord was the man of sorrows, but there was also great joy. This is not the shallow feeling of pleasure that comes from sin, but the deep abiding feeling of contentment and excitement that comes from being in the presence of God. As young boys grow older, they come to get feelings of excitement being around girls. This feeling is nothing compared to the feeling of being in the presence of God.

      As I observe the lives of some that profess faith, I cannot help but wonder if they really know anything of the experience that is described here. I wonder if they realize that it is one thing to know about God, but another to know and experience God. The marriage relationship involves a bonding and uniting of man and woman from two to one. Salvation involves a bonding and uniting with Christ. It is through this uniting that all believers become one body in Christ. In Ephesians, we read about the dynamic of the husband wife relationship, but Paul writes, I speak concerning Christ and the church. Do you know anything of this kind of experience? If not why not seek God in faith and open your heart to Him today?

Pss.45
[1] My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
[2] Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
[3] Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
[4] And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
[5] Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
[6] Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
[7] Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
[8] All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
[9] Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
[10] Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
[11] So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
[12] And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
[13] The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
[14] She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
[15] With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
[16] Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
[17] I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

081402dw

15th

God, The Refuge Of His People
Psalm 46:1-11

      Other titles for this Psalm are: Rock Safe (Scroggie), A Psalm of Trust In God, or The Song of Holy Confidence (Spurgeon). "In Psalm 46, the leading idea is the presence of Jehovah in the midst of His city and people as the ground of their confidence."(Scroggie). The Psalm divides into three parts, each marked at the end by Selah. "The first stanza declares the truth that the Lord is the refuge of His people 1-3; the second, that the recent deliverance is evidence of this truth 4-7; and the third, that this their Lord shall finally be supreme over all the nations 8-11."(Scroggie). "Essentially all three stanzas say the same thing: though the world is in turmoil, in our God there is quiet and safety."(Alden).

      It is a Psalm of confidence and "begins with a statement that God is both the defense and offense of His people. He protects them as well as fights for them. That is the meaning of refuge and strength. Verses 2 and 3 describe violent natural catastrophes. The description sounds like a combination of earthquake, landslide, ocean storm, and flood. The passage simply means that no storm of life can assail us and no disaster in nature can overwhelm us since we are safe in God."(Alden). In these opening words we see "the Old Testament counterpart of Paul's great utterance in Rom. 8:31-39."(Scroggie).

      "What is it that inspires this confidence? It is God, refuge, strength, and help. His presence and His power acknowledged & welcomed, make all the difference between defeat and victory, failure and success, fear and faith. The Lord of hosts is with us."(Scroggie)

     Thought: He who only SAMPLES the Word of God can never appreciate its true SWEETNESS.(Daily Bread, 1978)

Pss.46
[1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[2] Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
[3] Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
[4] There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
[5] God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
[6] The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
[7] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
[8] Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
[9] He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
[10] Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
[11] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

081502kdd

16th

Praise to God, the Ruler of the Earth
Psalm 47

      Have you ever been to a church service where there was such godly singing and rejoicing and clapping of hands and shouting that it caused your heart to be stirred in wonder of our Great God and Savior?! Sadly, it would honestly have to be said that in most churches, people's hearts are not where they really ought to be, and many, many good Christians miss out on true praise. This Psalm shows us what walking obediently with the Lord can cause us to do, in bringing true and righteous praise to God. As we read through it and meditate on its truths, we begin to focus on the Lord God Almighty, and on His Greatness. Let's take a few moments and consider these wonderful truths together.

      There are basically 2 parts in the chorus of this Psalm. The first one focuses on God as the Victorious King and Warrior. It calls us to worship in verse 1 and then gives us the reasons in verses 2 - 5. It starts out with, The Lord Most High is Awesome, and then lets us know that He will subdue those who bring turmoil and persecution under our feet, because He loves us!

      The second part of the chorus states that God is the Sovereign King and Governor of all mankind in verses 6-9. Verse 6 again calls us to worship and then gives us the reasons. We see the most wonderful truth of all, that God is King over all the earth! God reigns over all the nations and He also sits on His holy throne. Praise God! In verse 7 it tells us that we are to sing praises with understanding! In other words, we are to put forth acceptable effort unto God to know what it is we are saying and doing, and ultimately, to offer the sacrifice of praise from our lips to God. What have we given up (sacrificed) unto God, that we can then offer as praise to our Great God through the God honoring songs of worship that we then sing to Him? Do we really understand why we are praising God for what He has done and for who He really is to us?

      In the last part of verse 9 then, we see the code for true worship, as we know in John 4:24 that God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. "He is greatly exalted!" Lord God on High, may we worship You acceptably in our hearts and lives for You are King of all and greatly to be exalted! Amen!

Pss.47
[1] O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
[2] For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
[3] He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
[4] He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
[5] God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
[6] Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
[7] For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
[8] God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
[9] The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

081602dm

17th

The Beauty and Glory of Zion
Psalm 48: Twelfth Messianic Psalm

      This Psalm is in two divisions, verses 1-8 and 9-14. The first section is filled with praise to God and gratitude for the Holy City, Jerusalem.

      Psalms 46, 47 and 48 seems to be a triad of rejoicing by Judah because God has delivered the city from the destruction of Sennacherib. They were again remembering that God is the LORD of Hosts. Meaning THE LORD JEHOVAH OF THE HEAVENLY ARMIES, also known as "Adonahy Jehovah Sabaoth." It is believed this refers back to II Kings Chapters 18-20 where Sennacherib promises to wipe Jerusalem from the face of the earth, but God intervenes and the angel of the Lord visits the Assyrian camp. In one night, one hundred eight-five thousand Assyrian soldiers died. Sennacherib returns to Assyria and two of his sons kill him while he is at prayer to his heathen gods. Note, how Israel in their praise recall several other times where God was the Defeater. This writer loves the prophetic reference to the City of Jerusalem as being an everlasting city, verse 8 Established forever.
      Psalm 48:9-14 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. 13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. The above verses are filled with praise and adulation to God. Yes, this is one of the great praise Psalms. The Jerusalemites were thanking: 1) God for His loving kindness. 2) God's abiding in the holy Temple. 3) God's holy Name. 4) His right-hand is full of righteousness. 5) His judgments are always right. 6) He is the everlasting God. 7) He will guide unto death and for those who love him. He will be their everlasting Father.

      If we would take more time praising God, we would not be finding fault with our fellow Christians.

Pss.48
[1] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
[2] Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
[3] God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
[4] For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.
[5] They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.
[6] Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
[7] Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
[8] As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
[9] We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
[10] According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
[11] Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
[12] Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
[13] Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
[14] For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

081702rjs

18th

Trust In God or Riches
Psalm 49

      In this Psalm, we read of the prosperity of wicked men. They are described as being prosperous, filled with pride and a false sense of security. You and I cannot look into the heart and see what is there, but we don 't need to do that. In this instance, God tells us about people like this. He says, Psalm 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. As I have traveled and met many rich and powerful men in our nation 's capital, this would seem to be true to me if God had not said it. I have a hard time understanding how one can see monuments to so many earlier generations whose houses have come to naught and still believe that their houses shall continue for ever, but they do.

      The first pastor I worked under in ministry used to say that people like this put more planning into a two week vacation than eternity, and I have found this to be true. I hear people say that they find faith difficult. I don't believe that. You talk about faith, these lost rich people exercise the greatest faith. What is difficult, is submitting ourselves to God and the righteousness that comes by faith. This is an abomination to the natural man.

      Think about the words of this Psalm, 49:17-19, 17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. 18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. If damnation is the lot of people like this, no wonder God calls them foolish. These people may live in a way that gives them the greatest feelings of superiority. They may be well bred, well educated and cultured as they look with contempt on poor and ignorant people who in their eyes lead their lives like animals. Yet morally, God concludes these thoughts by saying these people are like animals in His sight. You see, it matters little how we feel and judge things in this life. What really matters is what God sees and how He feels about things. This life is but a vapor that quickly passes away. This life is but a testing ground for eternity. Sadly, many that feel the greatest satisfaction and security will only come to find damnation. They will have impact that is no more lasting in this world than that of a dead dog. Yet, they don 't have a clue, and succeeding generations never learn.

Pss.49
[1] Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
[2] Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
[3] My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
[4] I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
[5] Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
[6] They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
[7] None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
[8] (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
[9] That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
[10] For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
[11] Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
[12] Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
[13] This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
[14] Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
[15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
[16] Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
[17] For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
[18] Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
[19] He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
[20] Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

081802dw

19th

God, The Judge Of The Righteous And The Wicked
Psalm 50:1-23

      This Psalm "is a VISION OF JUDGMENT, in which God is both the Plaintiff and the Judge. The Psalm is in four distinct parts: an INTRODUCTION 1-6, A CONCLUSION 22,23, and the two divisions between, the first rebuking FORMALISM 7-15, and the second rebuking HYPOCRISY 16-21. The INTRODUCTION tells first of The Coming of the Lord, and then, of The Opening of The Judgment. This is a grand theophany! God is introduced as EL, ELOHIM, JEHOVAH, the mighty, awe-inspiring, and covenant God. He has been silent, but He will be no longer."(Scroggie).

      Evidently, the worshipers had been unfaithful to their covenant vows made with God because they are summoned to give account of their integrity in sacrifices made, Verse 5. God, who is the Judge, accuses His people of not possessing the qualities essential to those who claim to be His people: loving-kindness, faithfulness, or mercy. "God's first requirement is integrity (uprightness, honesty). Sacrifices only show a worshiper's overt obedience."(Alden). It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. I Cor. 4:2. It is important that God's people have a heart right toward God. In all worship God examines the motives of believers, not just the acts.

      God rebuked their formalism and hypocrisy, and then gave them encouraging words. Offer unto God thanksgiving: and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me. Verses 14 and 15 God says: Let Me deliver you, and you glorify Me. "It is the offering of true thanksgiving that glorifies God."(Alden).

      Thought: It is what we are that God regards.(Scroggie)

Pss.50
[1] The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
[2] Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
[3] Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
[4] He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
[5] Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
[6] And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
[7] Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
[8] I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
[9] I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
[10] For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
[11] I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
[12] If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
[13] Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
[14] Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
[15] And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
[16] But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
[17] Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
[18] When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
[19] Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
[20] Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
[21] These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
[22] Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
[23] Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

081902kdd

20th

A Contrite Sinner's Prayer for Pardon
Psalm 51

      King David was a sinner in the worst of ways and we would probably rank him among the lowest of sinners as we read of his adulterous affair with the wife of another man and then his murder of her husband. Yet, we also read in God's Holy Word that David was a man after God's own heart. Interestingly indeed, how can an adulterer and a murderer still be accepted and loved by God? The answer is simple. We must repent as David did. Repentance is the key to the door of salvation, which is Jesus Christ. Repentance is the beginning process of humbling ourselves before God, as we ought. Repentance brings us to our knees and brings glory to God! Repentance keeps the saved in proper standing before God. Unsaved people will never know what true repentance really is. They just are not willing to repent and turn from their wicked ways. They enjoy their sin and their evil ways too much and sadly, go into eternity without God and into eternal damnation. And yet, they too could be forgiven, if only they would repent as David did. God is able and will forgive those who repent, who turn from their sin and confess it to Him and then walk in a life of obedience for Him.

      Repentance involves a 180 degree turning; turning from sin and self 180 degrees toward God and His righteousness! In 2 Chronicles 7:14, we are given the prescription for true healing repentance. It says, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. We must first humble ourselves, then we must pray to God and seek His face. Then we must turn from sin and our wicked ways. Then and only then, will God hear us from heaven and will forgive us and heal our lives and our land that we live in. You see sin not only affects us individually, it also affects our families and our church and our nation, too.

      Oh, Gracious and Merciful God. We humbly come before You and confess our sin to You. We want to turn from our ways, to Your ways, and we ask You to forgive us and to bring true spiritual healing to us and our families and to our nation as we seek Your face. Thank You for cleansing us from unrighteousness, because of Christ's work. Amen.

Pss.51
[1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
[2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
[3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
[4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
[5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
[6] Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
[7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[8] Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
[9] Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
[11] Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
[12] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
[13] Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
[14] Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
[15] O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
[16] For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
[17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
[18] Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
[19] Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

082002dm

21st

Futility of Boastful Wickedness
Psalm 52 - Destinies of the Wicked and the Righteous

The tongue seems to be the biggest problem in Psalm 52, Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Psalm 2, Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. The tongue here is pictured as a whetted razor and is compared to a sword or a sharpened spear. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. These underscored words are all in the accusative. Now comes the destiny of the sower of words that destroy other believers. 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. The above words are so strong we had to quote them and tell you what the Bible says rather then what we might say. 3 John 9-10 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Now we see the contrast of the Wicked in verses 6 and 7; The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. In the following we see the position of the Righteous; 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. 9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. I share with you another translation of the two above verses; but as for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God for ever and ever. I will give thanks for ever, for Thou hast done (it). And I will wait on Thy name for it is good in the presence of thy beloved. These words are not in a boastful attitude, but rather in total humility and gratitude towards God and His faithfulness to the righteous. James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Pss.52
[1] Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
[2] Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.
[3] Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
[4] Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
[5] God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
[6] The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
[7] Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
[8] But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
[9] I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

082102rjs

22nd

The Natural Man
Psalm 55

      In this Psalm, David longs for peace and rest in the middle of hateful and irreconcilable enemies. There will be no peace in this earth as long as the Devil is able to stir up evil in the hearts of wicked men. Jesus said until He comes again there would be wars and rumors of wars. It would help if we could get all the righteous on one side of the fight and all of the wicked on the other, but that is not the purpose of the enemy. The purpose of the enemy is to destroy, confuse and corrupt humanity. In this environment, we need to learn to be content without being complacent.

      In the first part of this Psalm, David expresses his frustration that God does not intervene and his frustration over the shameless evil of wicked men. This is both a messianic and an imprecatory Psalm. In Samuel 15:31, we read about Ahithophel 's betrayal of David. one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. Evidently, this trusted counselor was a loved and valued friend of David 's. Psalm 55:12-14 it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. What we read here is not just David 's sorrow and betrayal, but propheticly that of Jesus Christ at the hands of Judas.

      It is interesting to note that the duplicity is much the same. Psalm 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his

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