Meditations From The Psalms

Psalm 91 (Part One)

2007-08-13T04:40:00.001+01:00

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." (vv 1-2)

At the end of a stressful day, you may heave a relieved sigh as you insert your key into your front door, shutting the day's troubles out behind you. On the other hand, that act may weigh you down as it simply heralds a different set of problems inside your home. With the comforting words above, the psalmist reveals the hope of every one who trusts in Christ; which is freely available to anyone who faces life's never-ending troubles.

God is a refuge and safe haven.

Our Saviour awaits with arms wide open when we run to Him for safety. We saw from Psalm 90 that God is our home, and Psalm 91 reveals Him as an unfailing Shelter from the storms of life. The psalmist makes the following declaration to anyone within earshot, (possibly including himself) that God ALONE is his refuge. David also paints a glorious picture of this wonderful relationship with our Maker:

"He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." (Psalm 23:2 NLT)

As we explore today's psalm, one thing becomes clear. As long as you live on earth, you will be exposed to the deadly evils that plague the world (vv 5-7 Amp). However, there is no need to fear, for:

"He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." (Ps 91:3-4)

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. When the angel of death plagued the Egyptians, He hid the Israelites under the safety of His blood. When famine ravaged the land of Gerar, Isaac prospered because He trusted in God's promise to provide for him (Gen 26) . In Gen 19, the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah were set to be destroyed, but first, God took Lot under his protection and preserved his family. We also read throughout the book of Judges that God repeatedly rescued the Israelites each time they called on Him for help.

I encourage you to make the same declaration of God today - He is your home, your refuge and place of safety. Read and meditate on the above examples, and begin to see yourself under God's protection.

Take a look at the following lyrics from a song by Alvin Slaughter:

God's gonna do it again, just like He did way back then,
He's still the same as He's always been,
God is God, God's gonna do it again.*

Come under His protection today, and He will keep you safe as He has done for generations of His children throughout the ages.

Dear Lord,

Please open my eyes to see You as my Protector, Redeemer and Refuge. I entrust myself and all that concerns me into Your loving care today.

Amen

Psalm 91 Full Reading

*Revive Us Again / Alvin Slaughter
Words and Music by David Baroni, Niles Borop
1994 Integrity's Hosanna!/Integrity's Praise! Music

Psalm 90 (Part Two)

2007-07-18T08:17:00.001+01:00

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (vv 10, 12)

Moses wrote Psalm 90 as a description of the Israelites' lives during their sojourn in the wilderness. Despite all the miracles they witnessed as they escaped the bands of slavery in Egypt, they did not believe God would help them possess the promised land. Instead, they sinned against God by accepting the evil tidings reported by 10 of the spies sent to scope out the land (see Numbers 13-14). God's response was to decree that no man over the age of 20 would enter Canaan. Since they wandered around the wilderness for 40 years, it meant most of them died at the maximum age of 80. Moses mourns the Israelites' self-wrought situation, however, he goes beyond that to teach us a valuable lesson.

Even though we are not subject to the same decree, we would be wise to examine his words closely. In the earlier verses, he set the scene by describing the brevity of man's time on earth vis a vis God's eternal existence (see Ps 90 part one); from which the discerning reader will realise we all have a short time on earth. We will eventually die and account for our earthly sojourn before God. (Heb 9:27)

It follows then that the prayer Moses brings to God in verse 12 (repeated here for emphasis) should be every Christian's regular petition:

"...teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Or, as Paul put it:

"...be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." (Eph 5:15-17)

We must be mindful of our limited time in this world and strive to live the fullest and best life we can. Only by single-mindedly focusing on God and His plan for our lives can we fully enjoy what Christ came to give us. Take a look at what the Lord Jesus told his disciples:

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) [John 10:10 Amp]";

Live as though today might be your last by squeezing every drop out of each day. Do not be afraid to take Spirit-led risks, or allow sickness, lack or any other obstacle life throws your way to hinder you from maximising life. Above all, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."(James 1:5 NLT).

This was the essence of Moses' prayer and it will certainly help you live out God's predestination for you.

Dear Lord,

Teach me to count each day a blessing from you, to be wise, and to finish my days having pleased and glorified your name. May I leave behind the legacy of one who has experienced the life of God in all its abundance.

Amen

Psalm 90 (Part One)

2007-07-18T08:16:00.000+01:00

"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. " (vv 1-2)

From Moses, a man who knew God like no other, we receive this divine revelation: The Lord God is our dwelling place. The New Living Translation puts verse 1 this way:

"Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!"

Paul expands on this thought when speaking to the Athenians:

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring." (Acts 17:28)

Every believer in Christ should rejoice to know that God is our habitation; and that He is our certainty in a world of constant change. In vv 4-6, the psalmist emphasises the brevity of life - it is but a nanosecond's breath compared to God's longevity:

"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. "

Any doubts about these facts can be dispelled by simply looking around the world today: earthquakes swallow up lives and dwellings whole, flood waters carry homes and possessions away in one swoosh; thieves and robbers invade what should be sacrosanct and people no longer feel safe in their own homes, even behind lock and key.

With this in mind, take the psalmist's words to heart. When you regard God almighty as your eternal dwelling, you can feel secure in the knowledge that He is an impenetrable fortress. Proverbs 18:10 gives more insight into the psalmist's revelation:

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Our safety is in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our refuge from life's storms, our tower of deliverance, our hiding place. Satan tried but could not destroy Him because, from everlasting, He was and is God. He also gives us the security of His blood which was shed at Calvary, that we might have eternal life. The wonderful thing to note is that this privilege is not reserved for a selected few. As Paul tells us in Romans 10:13:

"whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Dear friend, if you have lived in fear because of the terrors of this life, and if the enemy of God's children has tormented you with threats to your safety and well-being, take up residence in the impregnable dwelling place that is the name of Jesus Christ. Feed on the Scriptures, for when Christ came under attack from the devil, they were His weapon of choice. You need not try and figure out the intricacies, just know that God's Word works, and that there is victory in the name of Jesus Christ. Take a look at the following scriptures:

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deut 31:6)
"Fear not: for they that be with [you] are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16)
"You shall seek them and not find them— those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a non-existent thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’" (Isaiah 41:12-13 NKJV)
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt 10:28)

These and many more such words of encouragement are scattered throughout the Bible. If you've been living in fear, begin to feed on them. Make them your mantra, until they become part of you. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and His provision your source. And above all, rejoice in the conviction that throughout eternity, He is your God! (v 2)

Psalm 90 Full Reading

Psalm 89

2007-07-16T22:41:00.000+01:00

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. (v 1)

The writer, Ethan, begins his recital by establishing his theme: God's faithfulness. The word "faithfulness" appears no less than 6 times in this psalm, used both by the psalmist and God Himself. If there were ever any doubt, we see from this psalm, and from generations succeeding its writer, that God is faithful.

The word faithful "implies unswerving adherence to a person or thing or to the oath or promise by which a tie was contracted" (Webster's dictionary). This definition is amplified when considered in light of Psalm 89. The writer, for his part, vows to praise God's mercies and declare His faithfulness throughout the ages. In reality, he cannot do this because, being mortal, he has died and gone to be with the Lord. However, the Faithful One of whom he sings makes it possible, because a) the writer will live on to make his declaration in the resurrection, and b) more pertinently, thousands of generations later, we declare the psalmist's words as immortalised in the Bible.

Furthermore, God speaks in vv 3-4:

I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.

Even though the psalm writer despairs and feels God has abandoned the Israelite nation by the end of his recital (vv 39-51), we know today that God kept His word, as stated in vv 33-36. In the ultimate fulfilment of the promise, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth as David's seed, and by Him, we are assured that God's faithfulness endures forever. As you meditate on this psalm, take special note of God's words in verse 34:

My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

Whatever promise you have received from God is certain to be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, for as Paul confirms in his epistle to the Corinthians:

...the Son of God, Jesus Christ... was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:19-20 NIV)

His coming, death and resurrection are the eternal confirmation of God's enduring faithfulness. He will do (and has already done) what it takes to ensure the fulfilment of His promise to you. To assure you of this truth, take a look at 2 Peter 1:3:

...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

God has never failed, and He will not begin with you. So, I encourage you today to wait patiently for the Lord's promise. He may not arrive early, but He will not be a day late to give you that desire of your heart.

Prayer

Faithful Lord, I ask for the patience to wait on the fulfilment of your promise in my life, and as I wait, I will sing of and declare your mercies and faithfulness, that the world might know that you are eternally faithful.

Psalm 88

2007-07-04T05:22:00.000+01:00

Psalm 88 is the first psalm in which despair so overwhelms the writer, that he sees no reason to be hopeful, let alone rejoice, in his sufferings. Heman, the author, lists a catalogue of woes, among which are:

...my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength...Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. (vv 3-4, 6-7)

Here is a man who does not hesitate to be real before God. He feels no compunction to praise God when his life is in a complete mess. If anything, he is certain he is about to die in his affliction. He even goes so far as to consider God the source of his troubles, as we read in vv 14-17:

LORD, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

Despite the mournful tone of the psalm, however, Heman's first words reveal his conviction that he still has no other place to turn for deliverance, except to God, and his prayers ascend to heaven night and day.

O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee (v 1)

He does not stop seeking God, or keep silent. We sense that he is like a child who repeatedly runs to a father who is able to deliver him, and is bewildered when help is not forthcoming.

Child of God, you are in good company, if you identify with Heman's dilemma. Our Lord Jesus experienced the same at His death, as revealed in His prayer on the cross:

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ( Matthew 27:46)

Even the Son of God felt abandoned by His Father.

When battered by the storms of life, you may feel like this psalmist - as though God has turned His back on you; or that He is even responsible for your predicament. You've prayed, fasted and cried out to God from the depths of your heart, but His ears are deaf to your pleas. No amount of encouragement from others can give you a glimmer of hope and every thing within you longs to mourn the passing of your loving relationship with Him.

Friend, if you are in the middle of a never-ending night of despair, bring your complaints before God all the same. Like Heman, you need not camouflage them with sweet words. Open your heart and let Him see how much you hurt. Hebrews 4 tells us that Jesus Christ our High Priest, is familiar with our afflictions and trials, having faced them Himself. It may not seem like it, but He is interceding for you before God the Father:

It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)

May I offer a prayer on your behalf?

May the Lord visit you in your affliction, lift up your head and heart, give you respite from your sorrows, and grant you His peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray you may have the power to understand the depth of God's love, and experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully and that you be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God almighty through our saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen

Psalm 88 Full Reading

Psalm 86 Part Three

2007-05-25T04:47:00.000+01:00

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. (vv 8-10)

In the middle of his petition, the Psalmist stops to remind himself of God's majesty and power. He has historical records, and personal experience of His Creator's status as the only true God. Surrounded at the time by idol-worshipping nations, David declares with unwavering conviction, that there is no God comparable to the Israelite God. Others may have attributed their blessings to their gods, but David brings them a news flash - in the end, they would all end up on their knees before his God.

The reason? He created them! No matter how man tries to authenticate his right to his existence, or worse, attribute it to other gods, or the big bang, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Ruler of creation.

God created everything through him [Jesus Christ], and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created (John 1:3-4 NLT {words in parenthesis mine})

You may be aware of people who deny God's existence. You may even have your own doubts about Him. If you are in that unenviable position, let David's words enter your heart and be your meditation, until the truth is revealed to you.

Not only is God the eternal Sovereign, He does wondrous works. Man's ability to perform good/wondrous deeds are but a pip and fragment of what God can do with a breath. Pharaoh put this theory to the test when Moses appeared before him. At first, his magicians replicated the miracles - when Moses rod became a snake, they cast their own spells, but right there, their snakes were swallowed up by Moses' rod. On and on it went, until, by the tenth plague, the Egyptian nation was in ruins because they chose to resist God's might.

As God's child, you can choose to remain on Israel's side and watch Him perform His mighty acts on your behalf. Trust in Him. He alone is God, which means, He is Omnipresent - everywhere at all times; Omnipotent - All powerful; and Omniscient - All seeing and all knowing. Nothing escapes, is too hard for or is beyond His capability.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (v 12)

Lift up your own song of praise today, then stand back and see what the power of God can do for you!

Psalm 86 Full Reading

Psalm 86 Part Two

2007-05-24T07:26:00.001+01:00

For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (v 5)

As children of God, we have His nature within us. In the above verse, the psalm writer expounds on a characteristic of God that we should emulate as His representatives on earth.

God is good.

In the words of the Lord Jesus Christ:

...love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? (Matt 5:44-46)

God, in His eternal patience and long-suffering, has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), and does not want anyone to perish, but that all, through the Lord Jesus, might be saved (1 Tim 2:4). He loves us with an everlasting love, and even when we are faithless, remains faithful (2 Tim 2:13). When we consider these elements of His character, we might find it a tall order to live up to His standards. One would have to be a veritable saint, you might say, to be as good as God!

But that, my dear friend, is who God says you are. A saint is not someone who has lived a full, godly existence before going on to a peaceful rest in the sweet by and by. Take a look at Paul's epistles to the churches of his day. They are addressed to the saints in Rome (Rom1:7), Corinth (1 cor1:2), Achaia (2 Cor 1:1), Ephesus (Eph 1:1) and Philippi (Phil 1:1) to name a few. A quick study of those letters will show that those Christians were by no means free from the issues we deal with today. In fact, most of the epistles were instructional manuals to help them be holy and faith-filled in a godless world. Our goodness is nothing apart from God, but through Christ, we have received all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

As you consider your ways and deeds today, remind yourself that you, the son or daughter of God Almighty, are just like your Father - good and always seeking to do good. The same was said about our brother and model, Jesus Christ:

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38 NLT)

From the above scripture, it is clear that the Holy Spirit was the power behind the miracles and every good thing Jesus did. Also, God was with Him. Your ability to make a difference in someone else's life does not depend on what you know or have, but on the truth that the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

So as you go about your business, keep your heart tuned in to God's voice and your eyes open to His people, and let the good God work His goodness through you!

Psalm 86 Full Reading

Psalm 86 Part One

2007-05-23T04:45:00.001+01:00

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. (vv 1-2)

Once again, we are given an insight into the prayers of a man who loved God with all his heart. David never vacillated when it came to approaching God for help.

Man's natural instinct is self dependency, and when faced with problems; we attempt to solve them after our own fashion. Without minimising our God-given skills and abilities, we can learn a great lesson from this valiant warrior. David single-handedly killed a giant who had terrorised nations; fought at the helm of King Saul's army, and had an anthem recorded about him:

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands (1 Samuel 18:7)... Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? (1 Samuel 29:5).

The secret to his success was what David did in secret. His life was defined by relationship with the Lord; and he considered himself poor and needy (v 1) without God at the centre of his life. God alone was able to preserve him; and he fully trusted God to help whenever he was in trouble.

Where does your trust lie? In your abilities? In your list of past successes? In the applause and approval of men?

If you find yourself in trouble today, remember that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and David, is your God. He will come and save you (Isaiah 35:4); if you are spiritually or physically hungry, He will ably feed you (Psalm 37:25; Isaiah 40:11). If you need guidance, He is the source of wisdom (James 1:5). If you seek promotion, He grants divine favour (Psalm 75:6-7, Psalm 5:12).

You cannot go wrong if, like David, you make seeking and serving God your priority. If you give precedence to God's and His ways, you leave yourself wide open to His assistance, blessings, provision and increase. Indeed, you will be able to say, in the psalmist's words:

Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me. (v 17 NLT)

Psalm 86 Full Reading

Psalm 85

2007-05-22T05:45:00.001+01:00

Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. (v 1)

This psalmist begins his song with an announcement: God has shown mercy to Israel once again. Even though things are not completely back to normal (vv 5-7), they recognise that God is no longer angry with them for their sins.

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. (v 2-3)

As part of the commandments He gave Moses in the wilderness, the Lord provided a means of atoning for the sins of Israel - a statute that was still in place when this psalm was written:

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:21-22)

On the day of atonement, the High Priest, after receiving forgiveness for his own sins, confessed the Israelites' sins over the scapegoat, which was then led into the wilderness, taking the people's sins away from the camp. Once this was carried out, God forgave them for all their sins during the past year. Because of His mercy, you and I were grafted into the heritage of the sons of Abraham, and now have the same covenant; except, where the atonement for Israel took place annually, we received everlasting redemption when Jesus Christ's blood was shed on the cross.

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. (v 9)

His salvation is near to all those who call on Him in truth (Ps 145:18), and as we continue walking with Him, the psalmist reveals, we also receive God's mercy and truth, His righteousness and peace; that which is good, and increasing prosperity. (vv 10-12).

Have you accepted the love Jesus Christ extended to you when He died on the cross? Then, this psalm is a reminder of the good news that He has forgiven your sins and given you His own righteousness. His righteousness enables you to boldly come before the throne of God - where you will find grace and help when you are in need (Hebrews 4:16)! His peace has broken down the wall of sin that separated you from God, and you now have access to every blessing in Christ and all you need for life and godly living!

And if you do not know the Lord, the above awaits you. All you have to do is ask - for Him to save, deliver you, and bring you into the family of Christ. You don't have to go through a convoluted process either:

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 AMP)

Praise God for Jesus Christ!

Psalm 85 Full Reading

Psalm 84 Part Three

2007-05-21T06:25:00.001+01:00

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem. (vv 5-7 NLT)

In the above verses, the psalmist goes on to describe the person whose trust is in God, and whose heart's desire is to be where God resides. This Christian makes knowing God their life's aim.

"Their hearts are set on the road that leads to [G0d]" (God's Word Translation).

When they go through trials (the valley of weeping) such people have a unique outlook on their experience. The apostle, James, described it this way:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 NKJV)

The psalm writer confirms the above. Indeed, he encourages us to draw on our strength in God as we pass through the low times of our lives, for when we are weak, God is strong. When we view our trials as times of refreshing in Him, we are able to anticipate the benefits that await us when we become 'perfect and complete.' Only the Christian who completely trusts God and whose strength is in Him can begin to understand this.

Jesus made the following promise: "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33), thereby disabusing the impression that the Christian's life should be as blissful walking in the park on a sunny day. But, thanks be to God, it doesn't end there, for Christ went on to give an assurance that this psalmist must have instinctively understood - God is in control.

In that knowledge, our valley of weeping becomes a spring of refreshing, as we wait patiently for God to relieve our suffering. In addition, the writer tells us that the person who endures their trials will 'continue to grow stronger' (v 7).

Dear Friend, if you are in the pit of despair, take solace from this psalm and draw on God your strength. Let the following scripture be your prayer today:

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ( Psalm 73:25-26)

May the Lord keep you strong, spirit, soul and body. May His gracious hand guide you through the valley of sorrow to the plain of rejoicing and on to the heights of His eternal blessing and rest!

Amen

Psalm 84 Full Reading (AMP)

Psalm 84 Part Two

2007-05-20T07:56:00.000+01:00

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God (v 2)

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt 26:41) is a scripture often used to justify lukewarmness towards the things of God. The psalmist's words above prove we don't have to be ruled by fleshly shortcomings. The writer longs for God - spirit soul and body! His desire for his Lord is a gut-wrenching thirst that cannot be quenched by anything other than proximity to God.

...for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Rev 4:11)

We frequently try to satisfy the hunger within - placed there by God - with material things. We long throughout our lives for... something, so we buy, we sell, we add titles to our names. We eat, seek out friends, and add money to our bank accounts. But since God placed that craving, if you will, in us, only He can satisfy it.

So, here we see the psalm acknowledging that desire. We've got to love the way he describes it: "I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord. With my whole being, body and soul" (v 2 NLT). He is pining away without God; neither will his hunger be satisfied with meat that is not found in God. Don't subscribe to the thought that your Christianity can be categorised alongside your job, family, financial situation and relationships. God should matter to you more than friends, colleagues, children and even your spouse.

He is your life.

Moreover, the strength of our connection to God gives substance to other elements of our lives and relationships. The closer we draw to Him, the more we want of Him; and of what we draw from Him, we can give to others. In this is our hunger for life satisfied.

Dear Friend, make Psalm 84 your prayer and confession today. Ask the Lord for an understanding of the psalmist's yearning; and for the Holy Spirit to saturate your life with God's presence.

Lord, we long to be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You (Eph 3:19). We pray that You will swamp us with so much of Yourself that our lives overflow with Your goodness. For the rest of our existence, may our hearts' cry be 'More, Lord! More of You!'

Amen

Psalm 84 Full Reading

Psalm 84 Part One

2007-05-18T08:02:00.001+01:00

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. (vv 1-2)

In this wonderful love song, the psalmist waxes lyrical about the intoxicating effect of attending church! You may be perplexed as you read this - what is the big deal about going to church on a Sunday? Depending on what happens during your worship services, you may agree in varying degrees with the psalmist, or have no idea what he's talking about. Or, you may even realise something is missing in your own experiences in God's tabernacle.

The tabernacle of God is the place where He dwells, and where His people meet with Him. During the writer's times, it was the Jewish temple (or the tent of meeting during the Davidic era). Today, when we think of God's dwelling place, we are referring to the gathering of Christians. That said, if you have seen the grandeur of pre or early 20th-century church buildings, you might understand what the psalmist means in verse 3:

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young— even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

God's house is a sanctuary - a place where you can find rest, and be secure in the knowledge that the all-seeing, all-knowing, almighty God is your protector and shield. No wonder the birds sought sanctuary in God's house. When you think about the previously-mentioned church buildings, you may be thinking cold, huge, utility guzzlers that cost a fortune in upkeep. Or you might see them as a place to meet with God in peace and quiet. Those buildings which are being torn down to make way for modernity may be your respite from life's hustle and bustle.

Whatever your opinion, when next you attend church, think about WHO you're going there to meet. God awaits you when you seek Him in the sanctuary. Let your anticipation build as you prepare for your encounter with the King of the Ages, the Shepherd of your soul, and the most loving and excellent God. Then go one step further and get excited because you are going to meet with other believers - for together we make up the house of God...

....to be continued

Psalm 84 Full Reading

Psalm 83

2007-05-17T06:39:00.001+01:00

Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. (vv 1-3)

This powerful psalmist is doing again what he did best - petitioning God on behalf of his people. Enemy nations had invaded and terrorised Israel through the years, and, naming them one by one, Asaph asks God for help. As a reference point and reminder of God's ability, he calls to mind kings and nations that had come up against Israel's mighty God and been destroyed:

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. (vv 9-12)

Although the psalmist asks that the enemy be dealt frightening and dangerous blows (vv 9-16), his ultimate intent is found in verses 16 and 18:

...that they may seek thy name, O LORD....That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Saint of God, are you persecuted for being God's child? Are you trying to live for God yet find yourself being constantly tripped up by that enemy of Christ, Satan, and his wiles? Or, on a wider scale, are you heartbroken at the sad state of the church as you observe all manner of atrocities committed within or on the body of Christ? How often do you stand before God on this? When you listen to world news, you feel physical pain for God's nation, Israel (for she is still God's chosen nation)?

We could ask ourselves question after question arising out of our meditation on this psalm, however, as you read through Psalm 83, consider the following:

God is the same yesterday today and for all eternity. He delights in the prosperity of the saints, and He will arise and fight for His own. He has done it before and will do it again. But He is calling you, upon whose heart He has placed this burden, to pray. When you give yourself to prayer, God will use your tongue, like the pen of a ready writer, to speak His will into existence. Then, when His purpose is accomplished, men will see, fear, and put their trust in the Lord; and He will be glorified.

Pray for peace in Jerusalem, pray for the nations, pray for the church of God, pray for those who spitefully use you and pray to withstand the deceitful wiles of the devil.

Child of God, whatever else you do today, please pray!

Psalm 83 Full Reading

Psalm 82

2007-05-16T09:13:00.001+01:00

God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? (vv 1-2)

Here we see ample evidence that nothing is hidden from God's sight. He is privy to the highest echelons of power. The word 'gods' in verse 1 refers can be translated 'judges', or 'mighty ones'.

If you are a child of God, now is a good time to rejoice and count your blessings. Men may judge unfairly, as we see here, and may have even experienced ourselves; but not our God. He is impartial, merciful and compassionate. Asaph admonishes the judges of the earth to be like God in their dealings with the poor and needy, warning them to:

Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. (vv 3-4 NLT)

God expects us, when in positions of authority, to be scrupulously fair in our dealings with people, especially those who are disadvantaged. We are not to be swayed by the affluence of the rich, or to succumb to anything remotely resembling bribery or flattery. James also warns us to be fair in our decision-making.

Judges who fail to honour their positions of power are ignorant, the psalmist tells us in verse 5, and their poor judgement distorts the balance of justice and fairness. As a result, 'the world's coming unglued' (Message translation). How true this is of today's world. When those with political clout influence the law, oppressive rulings and unjust decisions result in permissiveness.

I said, “You are gods,.... But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. (v 6-7)

But they will get their just rewards, says the psalmist. Though they may be untouchable here on earth, as Hebrews 9: 27 states, "...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement."

At this time, those who were mini-gods here on earth will be judged in the highest Court of all!

Psalm 82 Full Reading

Psalm 81

2007-05-15T05:05:00.000+01:00

Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. (vv 1-4)

Those listening to this song are encouraged to sing loudly, lustily even, at their feasts; even during the solemn ones. We gather then, that God was as much a part of their festivals as their worship services. Such exuberant praise celebrations are a commandment from God (vv 4-5); a fact that is confirmed in the following verses, when He begins to speak:

I heard an unknown voice say, “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. (vv 6-7 NLT)

There is a heart-wrenching sense that God longs for a relationship with His children in this psalm. He responded to their cries for help and freed them from oppressive burden. In turn, they shrugged off His call to them and wandered off to serve other gods! Dear Saint, God's desire is still the same today. He set you and me free from the bonds of death and adopted us into His family. But those who come to Him must do so wholeheartedly. As Jesus told the Jews:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matt 6:24)

The Israelites brought their sacrifices to God, but they were only going through the motions of worship. This was not acceptable to God then, and isn't now. (Isaiah 29:13-15) God is calling you into a meaningful relationship - one where He is your Lord and you are His servant. He is a jealous God and will accept no less than full devotion to Him. The thing to note is, when you fully receive what He offers, you win!

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things... I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock. (vv 10, 16)

Make up your mind to follow only God Almighty for the rest of your life. Let your acts of worship be truthful and meaningful. If you are a musician, play skilfully and often for your heavenly audience of One. If you're a singer, let Him hear you dulcet tones in resounding praise.

And if you are neither, praise Him wildly and joyfully, anyway!

Psalm 81 Full Reading

Psalm 80

2007-05-14T15:27:00.001+01:00

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. (vv 1-2)

This psalm is a plea for the ultimate key to deliverance from the enemy - revival. The writer appeals to the Leader and Protector - Israel's Shepherd's - on behalf of three tribes who have evidently suffered greatly at the hands of their enemies. But he is aware of a need that transcends the alleviation of their current problems.

The Israelite nation has to return to God.

As long as they continued to bow to other gods, they would suffer dire consequences. However, because salvation belongs to God, only He could restore the nation to the path of righteousness. The psalm writer is not under any illusion that they would turn from their evil ways in their own strength, so thrice he makes this plea:

Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. (v 3)
Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. (v 7)
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. (v 19)

This prayer should be on our lips as we cry out for God to glorify His name in our day. No amount of good deeds can cause a spiritual awakening without fire from heaven, so we must fervently pray for the Lord to fulfil His salvation plan. Only He:

... is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. (Hebrews 10:25 Amp)

As the above scripture points out - not only is He able to save, Jesus is in prayer as we speak. Let us join voices with Him. Let us intercede, not only for our families to know Him, but on behalf of our nation's church leaders and those in authority, including teachers, political and business leaders, judges, and other decision makers ( 1 Tim 2: 1-5). Let us pray for the Lord to turn our nation's hearts to Him.

Dear Father, we pray for your mercy upon our land. We ask that you cause the flame of revival to burn in our hearts, and spread like wildfire through our nation. Add the souls of many to your church in the coming days.

Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Amen

Psalm 80 Full Reading

Psalm 79

2007-05-13T19:10:00.000+01:00

O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps... How long, LORD? Wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire? (v 1,5)

The Israelites were being slaughtered and captured by their enemies; and all hope appeared to be lost. The violence in Asaph's day was really a fulfilment of God's judgement on Israel's idolatry, in violation of His commandment to the Israelites:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Ex 20:5-6)

The psalmist falls into the second category of the people mentioned in Exodus 20 - he loves the Lord. He may even have been mindful of the promise God gave King Solomon:

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. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

So Asaph, in this song of petition relied on what he knew of God’s nature – that God is loving, forgiving and loves to show mercy. He asks:

How long, LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire.... Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” (vv 5, 10)

In light of God's obvious anger with Israelite nation, you may marvel at the psalmist's boldness in approaching God in this manner. But, remember, he has learnt how to pray from his predecessors. Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah in a similar fashion (Genesis 18: 17-33). In fact, in that instance, God initiated the dialogue – and we can’t help wondering if He wanted to be persuaded to change His mind about destroying the two nations. A similar discussion took place with Moses about God's intention to destroy the Israelites for worshipping the calf in the wilderness.

You can do the same, child of God. He is actively seeking to engage in dialogue with those who love Him, on behalf of injustice, evil, and even His own judgement. If an event takes place that smacks of the judgement of God, stand before God and plead for mercy. If you are aware of a believer, church, or nation paying the price for sin, or suffering because they’ve offended God, don’t judge them, plead with God for mercy.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Sometimes, our intercessory prayers might be just what is needed to avert that certain tragedy.

Psalm 79 Full Reading

Psalm 78 (Part Three)

2007-05-12T10:25:00.001+01:00

And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness, And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? (vv 17-20)

As we've seen in our first meditation on this psalm, lessons abound for us in the Psalmist's account of Israel's history.

God has done so much for them, but they've reciprocated with unbelief. In a quick summary we discover the following - They did not keep God's covenant (10), they rebelled against God (17), tested His wisdom and belittled His power(18-20), didn't trust in His salvation (32), paid Him lip service (36), grieved Him (41) - the list goes on.

We may wonder how the Israelites could so easily turn against God after all His miraculous and marvellous acts in Egypt and afterwards. How could they not trust God to provide for them when He so powerfully wrenched them out of Pharaoh's clutches? How could they doubt that He would feed them when He caused water to gush forth from a rock?

However, these verses, if truthfully studied, can be held up as a mirror to our own lives. When we do not trust God to meet our needs, heal our bodies, or keep us and our children safe; are we any different from the Israelites? If we believe God does not love us because we cannot see Him doing things for us - we are the same as those Israelites.

They saw God destroy Egypt, provide manna and meat for them in the wilderness, deliver them from enemy after enemy; yet they continued to provoke God with their unbelief and by turning to idols. We cannot relate to God by what He does for us, because when we ask and do not receive, we might be tempted to blame or even reject God. If we only love and worship God because He DOES for us, then we will find it difficult to honour or obey Him when He DOESN'T.

If God never gave you one more thing for the rest of your life - would you still love Him? If you discovered today that you would live out your days in sorrow, would your heart still pant after God?

Learn from the Israelites and begin to revere God for WHO He is.

Psalm 78 Full Reading

Psalm 78 (Part Two)

2007-05-11T09:28:00.001+01:00

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. (vv 10-11)

The Israelites had immense difficulty adhering to God's commandments, and as people often do, they began to let things slide, and then found it easier to ignore the law altogether. Unfortunately, once they'd rejected God's law, they soon forgot He'd ever done anything for them. Then, when the enemy attacked, realising they could not defend themselves, they fled. They'd forgotten that God parted the Red Sea and the Jordan river so they could pass through on dry land. They forgot that the sun and the moon stood still when they fought against the Amorites (Joshua 10:13).

This principle applies just as much to us today. If we disobey God's word, or choose to follow Him only when it suits us, our commitment to His commands eventually begin to wane. The more we neglect them, the less we are able to trust in Him and we soon forget how powerful He is. Before we realise it, we've given the enemy ground, and are fleeing for our lives. The Lord gave Joshua some advice to help him fulfil God's call to leadership:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

It is not enough to just read the Bible - God's word must come from our lips as well. We must confess the Scriptures daily, as a reminder of God's mercy, power and of our eternal covenant. During His temptation in the wilderness, the Lord Jesus did not command His angels to fight Satan. Instead, He responded to each trial with the words: 'It is written'. (Mark 4:3-11)

If Jesus, our model, responded to temptation with God's word, surely we owe it to ourselves, not only to know what the word says, but to respond to life's trials based on our knowledge of God and His word. When you immerse yourself in God's word, you will be able to withstand the enemy, for the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword (Hebrews 4:12)

We neglect God's word at our peril.

Psalm 78 Full Reading

Psalm 78 (Part One)

2007-05-10T09:17:00.000+01:00

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. (vv 1-4)

The second longest psalm in the bible serves as a summary of Israelite history, spanning their deliverance from Egypt to the time of Israel's return to captivity. The narrator asks his listeners to pay careful attention: he's about to pass on accounts that transcend generations. In verse 4, we come to understand why he has gone to all the trouble of recounting and recording what his listeners must have heard a thousand times: to ensure future generations do not forget God's power and goodness.

In these few verses, we discover a very crucial reason to know God through studying His word. The removal of Christian prayers from class assemblies in the 1960s was at a terrible cost, as forty years later, our society continues on a downward spiral. In a once-Christian nation many freely blaspheme using the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Atheism is a valid religion, as Christianity continues to be marginalised. The teenage pregnancy rate is scandalous, and drugs and STD problems have the authorities stumped. Children are led by their television idols to believe that celebrity status, the latest fashions and toys all make life entirely meaningful. The endless list of atrocities is heartbreaking.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD," we are told in Psalm 33:12, and fearfully, we have to admit that the nation who abandons God is in great danger.

As Christian parents, writers, musicians, politicians or leading figures, we must listen to psalmist's cry in Psalm 78, and assign ourselves the same task. Let us tell show:

...to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. (v 4b)

Let us regale our children with wondrous deeds of an almost-forgotten God, because, as the writer tells us, we make it easier for them to: set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments (v7) when they know Him.

If they hear often of His miraculous doings that cannot be replicated in what they see on television, or on the streets, we give them hope. When the church begins to walk in the mighty power of God, they will sit up and take notice. If we pass on the good news that God loves and is willing to do great things on their behalf, we give them a legacy that God can work with.

Dear friend, open your mouth today, and utter hidden things of old, that God's glory might once again be revealed to today's youth.

Psalm 78 Full Reading

Psalm 77

2007-05-09T09:24:00.001+01:00

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord... (vv 1-2 NIV)

Asaph, finds himself in a similar position to that of David in many of the psalms we have studied. He does not seek to solve his problems by turning to man for help. Instead, he resorts to God.

Neither is he ashamed before God. Twice, he tells us he cried out to God with his voice, revealing his desperation and lack of self-absorption. When you approach men for help, instinctively you don't want to come across as desperate or despondent for fear that you will be kicked when you are down. So you strive to maintain your dignity. Before God, you can be yourself. You can scream with frustration, cry as loudly as your voice can bear, and come away knowing He can heal your hurt and hide your shame.

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. (v 2)

We also sense a sustained approach on the part of the psalmist as he remained, unflagging with his petition, before God. Day and night, he refused solace until he heard from God. Eventually, the lengthy time spent before God caused his focus to subtly shift from his sorrows to remembrance. He began calling to mind long-forgotten times in God's presence.

I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. ( vv 5-6a)

The Christian life is a journey to eternity in God's company, and as we apply ourselves to loving Him and drawing near to Him, we experience the riches of His glorious presence. He places a song, and an awareness of His goodness and grace within our hearts. For example, we read, in Ephesians 1: 4-8, that before He made the world, God decided to adopt us into His family. You and I did nothing to deserve this. It gave Him pleasure to do so! Further along in vv 13-14, we see that God sent His Holy Spirit to live in us as a guarantee (down payment, if you wish) on our eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus! Glory to God!

If, like the psalmist, you are overwhelmed by your troubles, remember the day you became Christ's. It may have been years ago, or just last night, but you experienced God in a manner unshared by anyone else. In that moment, God drew you to Himself with His loving hand. Whether it was through troubles, a desire for a new life, or even nothing momentous, He initiated the exchange that brought you to Christ.

Read through the rest of this psalm to see how the writer completely abandons thinking about his trials and meditates on God's greatness and awesome power!

The psalmist follows a pattern worth studying: He cried - to God. Then he remembered - his times with God. He then considered - the works of God; and finally, spoke - concerning God. Let this cycle bring you out whenever misery threatens to drown you. God is waiting to hear from you. In the words of the sons of Korah (Psalm 46: 1-2):

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea!

Psalm 77 Full Reading

Psalm 76

2007-05-07T06:28:00.001+01:00

This psalm can be regarded as a culmination of Asaph's interaction with God that began two songs before. In Psalm 74, he cried out to God for help; God responded with encouragement in the psalm that followed, and here, we see the praise report - God has come through for Judah and Israel! Let's read on:

In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. (v 1)

God's name has literally become a by-word among the Hebrews. They have watched Him destroy their enemy. In one fell swoop, horses and charioteers have been decimated, brave soldiers are no more, warriors have been rendered powerless (vv 5-6), and God has brought peace and salvation to His people.

Dear friend, never forget this: GOD IS A MIGHTY WARRIOR

Although it may appear that He hasn't responded to those who oppose you; and people slander His holy name without consequence, Yahweh is a terrible Adversary. Any doubts on your part will quickly be dispelled if you study Israelite history. God frequently waged war against their foes, and sometimes, set Himself against His own people. Each time, the casualties were frightening.

In today's world, the name of our Lord is a mere profanity to many. Others regard the Christian God as an old, toothless fuddy-duddy in the sky. To the atheist, He doesn't exist at all. These beliefs do not make Him any less God, or less worthy of reverence. According to the psalmist:

Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? (v 7)

The name of the Lord should actually instil terror whenever it is spoken. His mighty acts in the Bible caused men's hearts to fail. Rahab the prostitute said as much to the two spies who came seeking refuge:

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you... And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. (Joshua 2:9-11)

God is the one you should fear. Each time you think of His name, let a whisper of reverence cross your lips, and never cease to marvel at the awesome and terrible God's mercy in choosing you for His own. And never, ever, be afraid of what men can do to you.

In the words of our Lord Jesus:

...fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt 10:28)

Make His praise glorious, and let all around you know the power of the God you serve.

He deserves nothing less!

Psalm 76 Full Reading

Psalm 75 (Part Two)

2007-05-07T03:48:00.001+01:00

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (vv 6-7)

Many people believe their destiny lies in the hands of others, and they constantly strive to please their employers, line managers, church leaders and anyone else in authority over them. The psalmist has a word from God to us on this matter; but, first, let's read what Paul has to say about the way we should conduct ourselves at work:

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Col 3:22-24)

The charismatic/pentecostal term for becoming born again is 'giving our lives to Christ'. That action renders Almighty God our Master, Employer, Owner, Boss, Line Manager, Leader, etc. In other words, He is our Paymaster and source, and He should be the reason we diligently apply ourselves to our employment. Also, only God can reward us commensurate to our hard work.

If you believe your road to success lies with men, you will work to fulfil their criteria. Then you can only hope they will be satisfied enough with your performance to give you the promotion you surely deserve. On the other hand, if you decide God is able to make you successful, you will hold yourself to higher standards of excellence.

Keep the following in mind as you serve God in your workplace:

Your job - at whatever level - is a gift from God like every other good thing in your life, and your conduct reflects on your Christian witness. Don't murmur or complain about the status quo; if you don't agree with managerial decisions, pray. Discuss the matter with God - He knows and can actually do something about the situation!
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col 3:17) Work wholeheartedly; joyfully, even. Don't set your sights on that end-of-year bonus, or getting a good review. Let your work be loving service to the Lord.
Expect Him to reward you. As the Lord Jesus told His disciples, 'the labourer is worthy of his hire' (Luke 10:7). Viewing God as your source opens your heart to opportunities for unexpected blessings.
Not only are you working for God, but you can expect the Holy Spirit to help you achieve your best.

Which brings us right back to Psalm 75. God is responsible for your promotion; and He can, and will, decide how to reward you. According to the NLT, He alone decides 'who will rise and who will fall'. When its time to promote you, people may even fall for your sake! If you bear this in mind, you will not despair when you are passed over for that job you set your heart on.

Your promotion is on the way from the just and righteous Decision-Maker!

Psalm 75 Full Reading

Psalm 75 (Part One)

2007-05-05T13:59:00.001+01:00

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. (v 1)

In the previous psalm, the writer cries out to a God who appears to have poured out His wrath on a helpless Israel.

So we may wonder at the first verse of today's psalm, but not for long. God has answered the psalmist's prayers, and he is thankful. We have established a pattern throughout the psalms - the writers don't hesitate to ask God for help, and they are quick to give Him thanks for answered prayer. In this case, it does not appear that the psalmist has been delivered from his enemy, but he has received a word from God in response to his prayers.

We often throw a barrage of prayer requests towards heaven because our needs are usually as many as the day is long, but let us examine the heart of our psalmist. He gives thanks, not because the Lord has brought immediate relief (for that is yet to come), but because the heavens are once again open. God is no longer silent. (cf Ps 74:9 NLT)

Child of God, you may not always receive immediate answers to all your prayers when you want; you may not even see some of them come to pass for many years, but learn to give thanks in everything.

If you have breathed an exasperated prayer for a parking space, give thanks to God when one suddenly opens up. If you feel neglected by God, and someone gives you a word of encouragement, thank God for sending that person to you. Learn to see God adding beauty to your life in the budding spring flowers, to feel His caress in the cool evening breeze, and to hear Him singing over you in the melody of songbirds.

God is interested in every detail of your life; but beyond that, He has an eternal plan, of which we are not always aware. So while He works that out, give thanks for the days you have lived under His loving, protecting hand; and learn to wait, because, as you can see in the psalmist's words:

God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. (vv 2-3)

There is a set time for God to move in every situation; and until then, you may think He has ignored your predicament, or left you at the mercy of evil. This is not the case. The wicked will not get away with evil; justice will prevail.

As you read the rest of the psalm, let me encourage you. God has not forgotten you. His plan for you will unfold in due course. In the meantime, He would have you know that He loves and is watching over your life.

These are His words to you today:

... no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 Amp)

Psalm 74

2007-05-04T04:03:00.000+01:00

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. (Ps 33:12)

Asaph laments the apparent reversal of the above scripture in today's psalm. Rather than enjoying the privileges of a nation blessed and loved by God, Israel is experiencing His anger, as their enemies invade the land and defile God's dwelling place (v 7). All the places of worship have been burned down, and sadly, there are no answers from the Lord (v 9).

The heart that seeks after God surely feels the same today. Godlessness seems to rampage through the nations; places where God was once worshipped and His name proclaimed are desecrated. Churches are torn down, replaced with shopping malls and apartment complexes, or, much worse, converted for use by other religions!

But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24 NKJV)

We must not cease raising our voices in prayer for our nation. As the enemy roars (v 4) and breathes threats towards God's people, we must be all the more urgent in our prayers and calls for Him to intervene.

Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name... Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. (vv 18, 20)

In verse 12, the psalmist recalls God's past saving power as a prelude to trusting Him for the future. This God, to whom Asaph calls, has triumphed throughout the ages; and rules supreme over earth, sky and sea. Like Moses, his predecessor, Asaph reminds Jehovah that his enemies foolishly mock and dishonour His name, because of His failure to deliver His people. Then he goes one step further and reminds God of His covenant.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? ( Num 23:19)

Asaph knew God could be depended on to keep His covenant.

When your heart is burdened and longs for the name of the Lord to be broadcast across the land, begin a similar dialogue with God. He is looking for those who will stand before Him in intercession on behalf of their nation and cry out for righteousness to prevail (Ezekiel 22:29-31). Let your voice be heard. Remind God of His promises. Here is one scripture which you can bring before Him today as you stand in the gap for your nation:

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. (2 Chr 7:14)

Psalm 73

2007-05-03T04:00:00.000+01:00

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (vv 1-3)

The psalmist wonders, as many saints have done through the years, why the wicked prosper and God's people don't. Why do evil, ungodly people seem to have it all? They laugh in God's face, amass worldly wealth, and enjoy healthy, robust lives. On the other hand, God's people suffer persecution, get bypassed for promotion, pray to be healed, but don't get better, are poor, broken and seemingly abandoned by God.

They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" (v 11)

The dilemma may have occurred to you. You may even be one of the godly to whom the psalmist refers, and you wonder if there is any point 'playing by the rules' (v 13 Message translation). Stay with the psalmist, though, and you'll realise this life-changing fact: temporal provision does not translate to eternal blessings.

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. (v 17)

To arrive at this conclusion, Asaph needed a shift of focus. When he concentrated on the wicked, and material things, his world view was gloomy. But once he spent time in God's presence, he saw the wider picture. There is no benefit to comparing yourself with the wicked, because, when they arrive at their eternal resting place, they would change places with you in a heartbeat! As Christ said to the disciples, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? (Matt 16:25-26 )

Your life may presently be filled with heartbreak and pain, but even that is temporal. Before you conclude that you have no hope or help in God, revisit the psalmist's first words, which I repeat here for emphasis:

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. (v 1)

God is only good. His goodness extends to all, especially the pure in heart. He is gracious, compassionate, loving and merciful. He desires that you prosper and be in health (3 John 2). He delights in the prosperity of His servants (Ps 35:27). Take a look at this paraphrase of Psalm 103: 3-5:

He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. He redeems you from death and crowns you with love and tender mercies. He fills your life with good things.

God's goodness extends towards you, all the time. Don't let temporary circumstances convince you otherwise.

Psalm 72

2007-05-02T05:58:00.000+01:00

GIVE THE king [knowledge of] Your [way of] judging, O God, and [the spirit of] Your righteousness to the king's son [to control all his actions]....May he judge and defend the poor of the people, deliver the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor, so that they may revere and fear You while the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. (vv 1, 4-5 Amp)

This psalm, penned by Solomon, is generally believed to be a prayer uttered from the lips of David, his father. However, as is habitual with many psalms, the prophetic runs throughout the verses, clearly pointing beyond Solomon's reign to the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. The words foretell things to come. They point to the eternal reign of Jesus, when He will come to (among other things):

Judge the earth, (v 2)
Cause righteousness to reign (v 3)
Right the wrongs perpetuated by oppressors and abolish evil (v 4)
Bring peace and cause the righteous to flourish (v 7)
Rule over nations. (vv 8, 11)

Let this psalm ignite hope as you allow the words to sink into your heart.

Jesus is coming back one day, and when He returns, He will bring with Him the answer to your every desire (as placed in you by God Himself). Psalm 72 is proof that our hope in Christ is not in vain.

Moreover, your cries will not go unanswered, even now, for our Lord already reigns. Your life is precious in His sight, and you are of more value to Him than a flock of helpless sparrows, for whom He assumes daily care (Luke 12: 6-7). Meditate on the words of this psalm, until you are confident of your salvation, and of God's love and plans to help you in your hour of need.

Then lift up your voice and join the throng of those who call Him blessed. Let his praise rise on the tide of hope that swells within you as you rejoice in the knowledge that you have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved for eternity.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Psalm 72 Full Reading

Psalm 71

2007-04-18T06:44:00.001+01:00

Here, we see the testimonial of a man, who, having walked throughout his life with God, is confident enough to seek His help in old age.

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. (vv 5-6)

As he casts his mind back over his lifelong relationship with God, he acknowledges that God has been with him from birth. His Maker's presence was a viable part of his life, from his youth. He has learned to trust in, and seen the Lord do wondrous things on his behalf.

You can do the same today. If you candidly look back over your life, you will have cause to testify of the Almighty's goodness towards you. An old song, Angels, puts it this way:

God only knows the times my life was threatened just today;
A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way
Near misses all around me, accidents unknown
Though I never see with human eyes the hands that lead me home.
(Amy Grant: Age to Age 1982)

In the psalmist's words:

My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know. (v 15)

The fact that you are alive today, enjoying whatever blessings you are surrounded with, is proof that God has been with you from birth. You don't know how many times His angels have rescued you and kept you from harm. You don't know how many dangers they have averted on your behalf. Because he could testify to God's help throughout his life (and possibly because he noted the acts of which he was aware), the psalmist could count on God's help in his old age.

Take two things away from Psalm 71:

Teach your children (or the young around you) about the Lord as early as possible. The Hebrews, during the psalmist's time, were raised knowing God was always with them, He was taught to them as ever-present and part of their existence. That way, they grew up able to trust in His ability to deliver them, and they could experience Him personally.
Recount often, to the Lord, yourself and others, how God has blessed you. Ask God to open your eyes to see how He has always been with you. Then give Him thanks.

Today, write Him a letter of testimony and thanks, just like this psalmist, so that in days to come, you can refer to it and reinforce your confidence in His ability to look after your future.

Psalm 71 Full Reading

Psalm 70

2007-04-16T07:19:00.001+01:00

MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD. (v1)

David's prayer here, although largely for God to remember and deliver Him, could also be assessed as the prayer for two types of people in his life: he asks for deliverance from his enemies (those who sought kill him) and for God's blessing on his fellow believers.

Much as we prefer otherwise, there are those who want to harm us. They do not wish any good to come to the believer (you), either due to your trust in Christ, for their own evil advancement, or because they are tools of our eternal Enemy, Satan. David felt justified in calling for God to deliver him from their evil deeds. In fact, he asked God to help him quickly.

We learn from this psalm that we can seek God's help in an emergency. When you need rescuing, let God bear the brunt of your urgency. Before rushing off to consult with friends, the bank manager, your Pastor, or anyone you feel may be able to assist you, stop and ask the Lord to help you, and don't be shy about your demands.

The widow woman whose story Jesus told in Luke 18: 2-5 was not intimidated by the judge's godless attitude. She pestered him until she got what she wanted. God expects the same from you. Let heaven hear the sound of your voice, and the cries from your heart. Don't be lacklustre about what you need from God; and never feel God is probably fed up with hearing you. If there's one lesson you should take away from the Psalms, it is that God never tires of hearing your voice.

More pertinently, God is willing to act on your behalf, when you ask Him to move swiftly.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (v 3)

In the second half of the psalm, David prays for the righteous; those who love God and His salvation. Those, we would say today, who have reached out to accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

That, my friend, is you. For,

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10: 9-10)

If Jesus is Lord of your life, this portion of the psalm speaks directly to you.

Rejoice and be glad in Him. Praise His name continually. Let God be so magnified in your sight (see Him through eyes that wonder at His greatness), that everything else (including your enemy) becomes small and insignificant.

Then you will, like the psalmist, be able to trust that He will hastily come to you!

Psalm 70 Full Reading

Psalm 69

2007-04-15T04:59:00.000+01:00

This song, another of David's cries to God about false accusations and injustice, is quoted several times in the New Testament as a parallel for Christ's life.

The Christian who meditates on this psalm will likely experience mixed feelings - of comfort in reading what was prophesied about the Saviour centuries before His advent, and unease in knowing He was taking our place; of joy in the knowledge that He came to rescue us from suffering, and heartbreak at what He had to endure.

The following scriptures are directly referred to in the New Testament:

v 4: Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully; (John 15:25)
v 9: Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. (John 2:17)
v 21: They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Matt 27:34)

Other indirect references include:

v 7: Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face.
v 8:I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children;
v 12: Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of the drunkards.

As you read through this psalm, consider Christ. Consider His suffering. Consider the glory He exchanged for sin-stricken man. Consider the following:

He bore our disgrace and reproach, that we might be included in the family of God (v9,19)
He was despised that we might be accepted (v 8)
He took our sins upon Himself, that we might have His life (v 7)
He sought and found no comfort, that we might be comforted (v 20)
He was made poor that we might be rich (v 29)
His salvation set us on high (v 29)

Surely, our response to His goodness, mercy, and the suffering He endured must be worship and adoration: to join our voices with heaven to praise Him, and raise our song with the seas (v 34). And to declare His saving grace to a dying world.

Consider Him.

Psalm 69 Full Reading

Psalm 68

2007-04-14T07:32:00.000+01:00

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. (v 4)

This lengthy psalm lends itself to a study of some of God's characteristics, for which we can give Him praise. The impact of God's presence on His (and your) enemies is vastly different from His effect on the righteous. The enemies are scattered, decimated, crushed, and the godly are blessed, sing for joy, and exult before Him.

To enhance our view of God, the psalmist tells us the following about Him. He is the:

Defender (vv 1-2, 12, 21-23)
Protector of the helpless and Advocate of the disadvantaged (v 5-6)
Leader and Guide (v 7)
Victorious Warrior (vv 11-12, 14, 17-18)
Ruler over nature ( vv 4, 15, 33)
Strong and mighty Saviour ( vv 20, 28)
Source of our prosperity ( vv 10, 12-13, 19)
Triumphant King over the nations ( vv 32-35)
One to whom every knee will bow (vv 18, 31)
Reigning King (v 24)
Source of life (26)

David also recalls Israel's mighty deliverance from their captivity under Pharaoh. It is a reminder that God prepared a dwelling place for them (vv 9-10), set them free from bondage and led them out of Egypt (v 7), conquered the enemy inhabitants of the promised land , and provided for His children.

The psalm mirrors the legacy of those who have been born into Christ.

We have been delivered from the power of death (Hebrews 2: 14-15), called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:10), Christ is preparing an eternal resting place for us (John 14:2-3), we have been set free from bondage to sin (Romans 6:13-14) and the devil (1 John 3:8), and God has promised to and will supply all our needs according to His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19, 2 Peter 1:3, John 10:10).

So you see, child of God, you have just as much reason to rejoice and be glad, as the Israelites to whom this psalm was addressed. God is your Father, Defender, Vindicator, Comfort, Source and King. Take David's words to heart today, meditate on the above characteristics /names of God and make a choice, regardless of your circumstances, to:

Sing praises to God, and to His name. Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord -- rejoice in His presence! (v 4 NLT)

Psalm 68 Full Reading

Psalm 67

2007-04-13T10:27:00.001+01:00

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. (vv 1-2)

The psalmist seeks a blessing upon himself and the hearers of this song, to the end that God's glory might be seen all over the earth. Verse 1 is an assurance from God that we can seek His blessings for ourselves. In fact, what we should seek is that He smile on us (God's Word Translation). What an awesome feeling to have the God of heaven single you out with His smile!

But the psalmist does not ask for this selfishly. Though he will benefit from God's favour, the psalmist's ultimate reason for this petition is that others will see God at work in his life and eventually experience God's saving power. On the day of Pentecost, God smiled down on the 120 disciples in the Upper Room in the person of the Holy Spirit. At this time, they were surrounded by Jews from all over the world, and as the Blessing was poured out on the Christ's disciples, this is what the onlookers said:

“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” (Acts 2:7-11 NLT)

Out of this blessing resulted the first crusade meeting in which thousands gave their lives to Jesus Christ!

The psalmist must have felt a similar desire, and passion, as he penned the words of this song. Again, his goal was not that the nations stop at experiencing God's blessings, but that they would know His ways. That He might be revealed to them in all His glory. He asked for the outpouring so that God might be seen not just as a boon-giver, but as a God of justice, a Ruler of nations, a Comforter (Young's Translation) [verse 4] and provider (v 6). He wanted the whole world to know God wholly.

Everyone needs the salvation of God (v 2) and one sure way this can happen is when they see God's blessing working in your life. Consider this psalm a confession and profess it to God often. Let your tongue be that of a prophet used by God to speak His will for revival to sweep through the lands. Let your life be a source through which God reveals Himself to your neighbours. I pray the following over you today:

May the Lord bless you, may the peace of Christ rule your heart and mind, may His glory radiate through your life; and may your light so shine before men that they would see your works and give honour to His holy name.

Amen

Psalm 67 Full Reading

Psalm 66

2007-04-12T08:01:00.001+01:00

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. (vv 1-2)

It's time to praise and worship the Creator. The Psalmist bursts into this song of complete adoration and exaltation, his entire attention devoted to the glories of God. He invites and is prepared to guide the whole earth through the act of worshipping the majesty of the King of kings.

“Say to God, How awesome are Your works! (v3a)

Praise is an offering to God in which we speak of His wondrous works. Of His great deeds. You can offer praise to God either by telling Him (or others) what you know about Him. To praise God is to lift your voice (in word or song) to proclaim His excellency.

The psalmist does just this. It doesn't matter whether others know God from personal experience; the psalmist has prepared a list of reasons why everyone should praise Him. Let's take a look at some of them:

Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. (v 3b): As Lord over all, all creation is destined to submit to God's awesome power. By His grace, we can give our lives to Him and have that great power working on our behalf, but eventually, every knee (willing or otherwise) shall bow before Him.
He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot ( v6): Israelite history records these amazing deeds. God turned the Red Sea into a passageway for their exit from Egypt. Again, He dried up the Jordan River as they passed over to Jericho. In the same manner, the Lord Jesus walked across the sea to His disciples. Nature is created of God and subject to His rule.
He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves (v 7): The all-seeing Eye watches over all. The Israelites saw God defeat nation after nation on their behalf. The psalmist here suggests (as he does in verse 3) that the rebellious should by no means be proud of their enmity against God, for they do not know the extent of His might. The Egyptian nation was completely destroyed because Pharaoh opposed God.
Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved. (v 9): There should be no mistaking this fact: God is the reason we exist. He breathed life into each living soul, and as soon as He withdraws his breath, we expire. The advances of man's knowledge are but a speck compared to His glory. Without Him, we are nothing. In Him, we are all we should be.

As you meditate on this psalm today, keep in mind that the highest praise you can offer God is all about Him - who He is, what He has done, and who He will always be. Learn from the psalmist's words and dedicate yourself to declaring His glorious praises. You will find several of God's names, and reasons for which you can praise Him on this website.

Spend some time calling Him by His name today - tell Him how wondrous He is. Praise Him for His mighty acts, praise Him for His glorious deeds. Lift up to Him the reasons why, if no one else will, you choose to praise His awesomeness.

God deserves nothing less.

Psalm 66 Full Reading

Psalm 65

2007-04-11T06:14:00.001+01:00

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. (v 2)

What a joy to read this wonderful exposé of the goodies awaiting those who approach God. If there were any doubt in your mind that God listens when you pray, erase it now by memorising the above verse. God hears when you call out to Him. Prophesied by David in this psalm, this promise is repeatedly confirmed in the Bible (see Romans 10:12, Isaiah 35:4, Acts 2:21). So, whatever your needs, do not hesitate today to bring them before the Lord, truthfully and sincerely (Psalm 145:18).

You may also find pleasure in the knowledge that He does not restrict His help to a few. The psalmist stresses that ALL flesh will come to the Lord. If you have an unsaved one who appears beyond help, here is a promise that God will never turn them away. Many people feel they cannot approach God because of sin, thinking He is waiting to pour out wrath upon them for the lives they've led. As we see from this psalm, this is not the case. God wants everyone to come to Him and Jesus Christ died to make this possible. This assertion is confirmed in verse 3-4:

Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. (NLT)

There is no one too sinful for God to save, He wants them, not to do penance, or first make themselves worthy, but simply to believe in Jesus, as that most famous of verses points out:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

And as they approach the Lord, there is a glorious celebration. In Jesus' own words:

...there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (Luke 15:7 NLT)

If you are already saved, and your heart weighs heavy for someone who is not, all God requires is that you pray fervently, sincerely and persistently for them. He willingly pays attention to your every prayer, especially those offered according to His will and you can be certain your loved one(s) will not remain lost to Him forever.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14-15)

Psalm 65 Full Reading

Psalm 64

2007-04-10T05:54:00.001+01:00

Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear. (vv 2-4)

In this psalm, we see how great a weapon the tongue is, and how it can be used to deflate, distress and destroy, as David finds himself on the receiving end of treacherous plots against his person and reign.

The tongue, when employed in flattery and lying can be entirely deceitful. The wicked often use their tongues as arrows and swords to destroy, slander and cut righteous reputations to pieces. Their evil plots are also characterised by secrecy. But the child of God need not fear the secret plotting of evil people.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (Hebrews 4:13)

In 2 Kings 6, the king of Syria waged war against Israel. To his dismay, every time he tried to set an ambush against the Israelites, his plans were foiled. The following conversation ensued between the king and his men:

The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called his officers together and demanded, “Which of you is the traitor? Who has been informing the king of Israel of my plans?”
“It’s not us, my lord the king,” one of the officers replied. “Elisha, the prophet in Israel, tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!” (2 Kings 6:11-12)

You see, their secret plans were constantly exposed because God was right there in their midst. David knew this, so rather than expend his energy trying to figure out how to avoid being harmed, he simply reported his enemies to the omniscient One who was able to thwart their schemes.

James tells us that the tongue can kindle a fire, and while the evil use their tongues to concoct lies and destroy, children of God can use the power of the tongue as a weapon against the Enemy of our souls.

Just as the wicked create destruction with their tongues, you can create life with yours. When you constantly speak the truth found in God's word - over your life, circumstances, family and even over the nation - you generate power to turn around even the most hopeless of situations.

Why not go into warfare today? Only, unlike the wicked, choose to speak good. Let the words coming from your mouth be seasoned with salt, and full of life, so that the hearer is blessed, good seeds are sown, and in due season, you will reap a harvest of blessings.

Psalm 64 Full Reading

Psalm 63

2007-04-05T04:30:00.001+01:00

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. (v 1)

Being stuck in the wilderness and not knowing when his trials would end did not stop David from carrying out a blatant love affair - with God. Years of relationship - through good times and bad - stood him in good stead, and gave him the impetus to pen this love song to God, during a particularly difficult time of his life.

Our problems can often push us away from God, either by presenting themselves as bigger than Him, or worse, making Him out to be their source. David's attitude was entirely the opposite. There was a thirst in his soul that only God could fill, and being away from the place where he freely and publicly expressed his appreciation for His Lord was virtually unbearable. Also, his affection for God was not merely spiritual, even his physical body desperately yearned for God's presence. In an attempt to rediscover that glory and power he experienced in the sanctuary (v 2), David did the best he could in a terrible situation. He called on his memories.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. (vv 6-8)

If you've ever been away from a loved one, remembering the good times can be a lifeline, so you picture them in your mind's eye, wonder how they're doing and recall all sorts of meaningful elements of your relationship. David's attention was focused, not so much on his problems, but on that special something in his relationship with God. He called to mind God's wonderful works in his life, and spent so much time meditating (contemplating, reflecting on, pondering and mulling over) the good times that he eventually began to see God alive and working in his current situation. Suddenly, his enemies weren't so powerful after all (vv 9-10), and they would definitely get what was coming to them.

God, whom David loved and served, is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is a sun and shield who gives grace and glory to those who walk uprightly, to those who love and obey Him. As described by another psalmist:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1)

If you are fairly comfortable with your life right now, it is the ideal time to cultivate that loving, thriving relationship with God. Get to know Him. Begin a marker of all He's blessed you with, so that when the need arises, you'll be able to recall and meditate on them.

On the other hand, if your life is a turmoil-ridden wilderness, take a leaf out of David's book and begin to recall the beauty and power of God. If you cannot recollect any specific events in your life, open up the scriptures and ask Him to shed light in your heart over His great deeds. Take a look in Exodus for the miracles he did on behalf of the Israelites. Check out the way He delivered David from the Philistine giant; walk with Christ through the first few chapters of Mark's gospel to see His concern and provision for those who approached Him with difficulties we can only imagine.

Then begin to meditate on these examples until a vision of God comes alive within your heart, and as your perspective changes, you will be assured enough to sing, like David:

I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. (vv 4-5 NLT)

Psalm 63 Full Reading

Psalm 62

2007-04-04T05:46:00.000+01:00

Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (vv 1-2)

David often approached God with petitions; but this psalm is a meditation and observation rather than a prayer request. In his soul and mind, where turmoil takes place, where worry, stress and pressures can cause the greatest unrest, David has found refuge in the presence of God, and there he waits.

Quietly. Silently. Observantly.

He is silent; having long recognised that without God’s prompting, no person can help him. He will not seek go running to others to complain about his problems, let alone seek their assistance. He will not depend on man. Instead, he sits in silence before the Lord, watching and waiting.

“…he who talks much of his troubles to men is apt to fall into a way of saying too little of them to God” — Charles H Spurgeon

He is quiet: refusing to panic or be worried. Quietness is defined by the dictionary as a situation 'marked by little or no motion or activity', 'free from noise or uproar'. Having repeatedly heard God's voice, knowing that God is powerful, and full of loving kindness, He confidently expects his salvation to come from that higher source.

He is observant: Tucked away in an impregnable fortress from which he views the world around him, he recognises the wicked's efforts for what they really are - ineffectual. While he is under God's protection, they can do him no harm. In God's sight, the high and the low become insignificant (v 9).

Our lives are hid with Christ in God. So says Paul to the Colossian Christians (Colossians 3:3), and in this psalm we begin to understand how that works. As you rest in God's presence, do not be distressed about when your victory will come, because it's a certainty - God will come through. Do not worry about being overwhelmed by your problems - God is working on your behalf.

Like a man clings to a rock in the middle of turbulent seas, David knows that his enemies' huffing and puffing will not move him as long as his attention remains fixed on God; and from this posture, we learn the following:

God is totally dependable
God has power to save
God gives honour
God is merciful
God's love is unfailing

Let your full confidence and trust be in the Lord, he advises. Go before His presence and empty your heart of your fears, struggles, bitterness, sorrows and desires. (v 8)

You will reap the rewards of patience in due course (v 12)

Psalm 62 Full Reading

Psalm 61

2007-04-03T17:14:00.000+01:00

The Four "I Wills"

In David's communion with God, he intends to take four steps, purely as an act of his will. Let us make the same our heart's determination as we journey through this psalm.

...from the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed (v 2): There may be great distance between him and God - as far as the North end of the earth is from the South - but David will not stop calling out to the Lord. When our Lord Jesus Christ hung upon the cross, under the horrific weight of our sin, He cried out to God, despite knowing that God turned His back on the sin Jesus carried (Matthew 27:46).

No matter how long the answer to your prayer takes, keep calling upon God. It takes determination to carry on knocking on a steadfastly closed door, so be resolute. The more overwhelming your trials are, the more familiar heaven should be with your voice.
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever (v 4a): Our problems must draw us closer to God's presence. We must not, when we have financial troubles, choose that time to stop serving Him. Our marital difficulties should not give us reason to abandon the house of the Lord, and problems with other Christians cannot justify us leaving church altogether.

God resides in every Christian's heart, but it is up to you and me to cultivate that awareness of His presence. Problems can amplify themselves so much in our lives that God's presence is marginalised and we find ourselves bowing down before the altar of our troubles. We cannot replace prayer with busyness. Do not move house, change location, or take your prayers and service elsewhere. Instead:
I will trust in the covert of thy wings (v 4b): Or, as another psalmist put it: My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (Ps 121:2)

God knows where, when and how your situation will be resolved, and His solution to your problem will far exceed anything you may come up with. Don't let the enemy's whisperings convince you that God isn't thinking of you. You are not an invisible speck to His all-seeing eye. Trust that He will move you closer to Him as you seek His face, and that He will deliver you from trouble, and subdue the enemy on your behalf.
So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (v 8): In light of the above, David's final decision is to praise God. He knows where his confidence lies, and regardless of the time or outcome of his present circumstances, he will be a Praiser.

Exchange the garment of sorrow for rejoicing as you wait on God. Know that He is: Worthy of your praise and adoration; greater than any situation you may face; full of might and power; able to part the Red Sea before you, and full of grace and glory.

Even if you never receive one more blessing from God all your life, He still deserves your praise - for He created you for His own pleasure (Revelation 4:11).

Let David's "I will's" be your determination today.

Psalm 61 Full Reading

Psalm 60

2007-04-02T02:17:00.000+01:00

O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. (v 1)

David begins this prayer with a cry that has surely ascended to heaven from many hearts before his time and since. In verses 1-3, we see him calling upon God to revisit His people, for reasons of which we are unaware (perhaps he recalled Israel's staggering defeat by the Philistines that resulted in the deaths of King Saul and his sons, or it might refer to an unspecified defeat suffered during the present battle [see psalm header]). What is clear is that at some point while writing this psalm, David felt abandoned by God.

Why does God sometimes appear invisible?

He has promised never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but we will go through trials during which we cannot see God at work. The following scriptures may point to some of the reasons:

The presence of sin: If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; (Psalm 66:18 NIV)
Building godly character: ...but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV)
Strengthening our faith: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Producing patience and maturity: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)

For these and other reasons (including the fact that we may simply need to retune our listening frequency to hear God clearly - see Elijah's encounter with God), God may be silent, or seem to ignore our plight.

For we walk by faith, not by sight: (2 Corinthians 5:7)

But the psalmist does not stop there. God had guaranteed that Israel would inherit the promised land, and right there, as he stood in God's presence, prophetic words began flowing from David's lips:

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.

Even in the midst of your greatest trials, as you bring your griefs and burdens to God, He can and will speak to you. He will remind you of His promises. Just be sure to listen. Don't approach Him listlessly, but like the woman with the issue of blood, let your grief and desperation place a demand on His power. Let there be no doubt in your heart that, as David says,

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

God's faithfulness never, ever fails.

Psalm 60 Full Reading

Psalm 59

2007-03-31T06:41:00.000+01:00

For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without my fault... (v 3-4)

David's astute observation is worthy of note and study. The wicked have set a steadfast watch to trap him; not because of anything he's done, but in response to the errand of their master, King Saul. The fact that he is innocent, or hasn't offended them in any way makes no difference to their diligence in fulfilling their task.

In like manner, our Enemy, determined to ensure the downfall of believers in Jesus Christ, has assigned minions - human and spiritual - to trap or trip us up. They do not care whether you are at fault or not. They are not interested in your innocence. All they do is their master's bidding.

As we meditate on this psalm, are we as determined to heed our Master's call? When He commands, do we find reasons not to obey? When He calls us to pray, are we often too tired? The Lord told his disciples that the children of this world are wiser than the children of light (Luke 16:8). In the service of their lord, they will not turn back until their purpose is achieved. If the church today were as focused on serving our Lord and King, as David's enemies apparently were, how great a victory we would accomplish!

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor 10:3-5)

We are under as much attack today as David was. Our greatest battle, however, takes place in our minds, as the enemy tries to make us stumble in our decisions and thinking. Pictures we see on television, billboards, in newspapers, many books and magazines are all geared towards shaping our thinking, and every follower of the Lord needs to be aware that the devil is not slacking off in his attempts to manipulate our thoughts.

We should therefore, take care, not only to walk in the spirit, in order to prevent us falling prey to the wiles of the devil, but also to watch that we steadfastly fulfil the bidding of our own Master.

Psalm 59 Full Reading

Psalm 58

2007-03-31T03:35:00.000+01:00

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies... break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. (vv 3, 6-7)

Fed up with unjust rulers and their oppressive and crooked dealings, David takes up this prayer against those responsible. It seems to him that more and more people are born wicked, and in righteous indignation, he prays that they be rendered powerless by God's mighty hand.

As believers in a largely corrupt world, we must offer frequent prayers against injustice, especially in light of the following scripture:

...The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. (James 5:16-17 Amp)

Prayer can accomplish what complaints and grumbling cannot. If you are willing, God can take you right in the midst of decision-makers to effect untold changes. As the above scripture tells us, Elijah was every bit as human as you and me, but through him, God accomplished tremendous victories against the corruption that ravaged Israel in his day. God's ultimate plan is that He be glorified in all the earth, and He uses the prayers of the saints to execute His will.

When you hear news of an impeding legislation that is clearly against the purpose and plan of God, pray for righteousness to flow through the courts of justice. If you see the weak and the poor oppressed by evil decrees, bring your petition to the Court of the Most High.

Sign up to God's prayer army today. Don't consider yourself too insignificant, too young or old to be used of God. The prerequisite for James 5:16 is righteousness, and that has been provided for you in Christ Jesus. As you set your self to pray, keep this other scripture in mind:

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] (Eph 5:20)

It's all by Him, in Him and for Him.

Be His willing vessel.

Psalm 57

2007-03-30T14:39:00.001+01:00

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (v 4)

As he writes this psalm, David's life is a complete mess. Like an Old Testament Robin Hood, he is surrounded by men who would kill for him at the drop of a hat. They have to live by their wits, not knowing what one day holds from the next. Far from becoming Israel's king and living in palatial splendour as prophesied by Samuel, he's taken up residence in a cave as leader of a pack of outlaws. And instead of being worship leader for the King and nation of Israel, he finds himself playing to an audience of One.

In a perfect world, life would run smoothly, with things happening how and when they're supposed to. But we all know that's not the case. Just when you've received a word telling you that God is about to take you to the next level of His blessing, things fall apart. You are convinced that the job you've applied for is God-sent, until the rejection letter drops through your letter box. And as soon as you set your heart on a closer walk with God, your fleshly desires flare up and you slip further away.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. (vv 7-8)

Thankfully, God's promises do not change in spite of our circumstances, for His ways are not ours. David is determined to turn the turmoil of adversity into a place of praise, since all he's going through is a prelude to glory. So, he sets his heart upon God, and calls on every thing within him to take note of his decision. It is not for David to sit around morose and depressed; instead, his voice of praise rouses everyone else in the morning. This King-in-the-making is triumphant in the face of difficulty.

I will praise and give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.

Caught up in the throes worship, David suddenly catches a glimpse of his future restoration.

God's plans never change.

Whatever you're struggling with today, fix your heart. Don't be moved and tossed around by your circumstances. Tarry (wait patiently) in God's presence until He becomes so real that you can feel Him, and receive a renewed awareness of His promises. And while you wait, keep your mind on this word from Him:

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Psalm 57 Full Reading

Psalm 56

2007-03-29T04:10:00.000+01:00

David was a man whose life was fraught with troubles and danger, and in this psalm, he catalogues the ways his enemies plotted his downfall as follows:

I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me...They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me. They come together to spy on me—watching my every step, eager to kill me (vv 2, 5-6 NLT)

But this song doesn't end with his fears, as we see in verse 3:

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

David was right to be afraid of his enemies, for they were capable of taking his life. So he turned to God - his Unseen Champion. You see, David knew God was greater than all his enemies put together, and that their might held no power over him when he was under God's covering. The writer of Psalm 91 put it this way:

This I declare about the Lord: he alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him....The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. (Ps 91: 2,14-15)

Although David's enemies were mostly human, we all have one ultimate Enemy, who comes in guises human and otherwise. The thing to remember is that your Creator is greater than any enemy you may face. Encourage yourself in this: greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Run to that place of safety in Him today, and let His love and peace cast out your fears. Paraphrasing David's words in verse three: Whenever you are afraid, trust in God.

The key to doing this?

I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? (v 4 NLT)

As you praise God for His promises, you will become convinced that you are not without hope in this world. The Bible is stacked with His promises to protect, keep and guide you; to provide for, heal and deliver you. When you are able to focus on these facts and begin to praise Him for them, your heart will immediately be lifted up. And even when your situation appears insurmountable, keep one thing in mind: God never fails. He is faithful beyond what you can imagine. Faithfulness is His nature and He cannot deny Himself (see 2 Timothy 3:13).

Pore through and devour the scriptures for the promise concerning your situation. Meditate on both His faithfulness and that promise until it becomes a living, breathing word within you. Then look your enemy (in whatever guise) squarely in the face. You do not need to be afraid. Shout out your victory, like David did when he faced the terrifying hulk, Goliath. You have the Lord of Heaven's armies backing you up. Almighty God, the Possessor of all the earth, the great King above all gods is your father. He is the Lord that heals all your diseases, and forgives all your sins.

Any way you look at, you are covered, so why be afraid of what man (or anything else) can do to you?

Psalm 56 Full Reading

Psalm 55

2007-03-28T08:03:00.000+01:00

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. (vv 6-7) ...For 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: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them (12-15).

Betrayal. Distress. Heartbreak. We all experience these at some point in our lives, and Psalm 55 disabuses us of the notion that great biblical figures were exempt from similar emotional traumas. David is so upset, he prays for death to swallow up his enemy.

You may be experiencing similar feelings as you read this entry. Perhaps you have suffered great disappointment from someone close to you, or you're surrounded by people whose dearest wish is to see your downfall; and without realising it, you find yourself praying for misfortune to strike and get them out of your way, if only for a short while.

While these feelings may be understandable, what is the Christian response to betrayal? In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ prescribes a five letter reaction that goes against the grain:

Grace.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matt 5:43-45)

The Lord Jesus experienced betrayal in its greatest form when His close friend gave him up to those who would eventually take His life. But in the face of such wickedness, Jesus did not pray that his enemies come to a bitter end. Instead, as He hung bruised and dying on the cross, He extended grace in those immortal words:

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

Grace was God's answer to the great Let-Down in the garden of Eden; to Israel as they continually threw His loving actions back in His face; and Grace remains His continued response to you and me today, as we repeatedly falter in our walk with Him.

Betrayal is just another tool the enemy uses to separate us in our relationships with one another. And while it is not pleasant, the Lord can use the experience to extend His love and mercy through you. Our Lord forgave those who betrayed Him (remember Peter's denial and the other disciples' fleeing when He needed them most?); and restored them to Himself, resulting in the loving relationship you enjoy with Him today.

If you've been affected by the hurtful actions of a friend, lay your feelings at the Master's feet today, and allow the healing balm of His presence to soothe your pain. Then, sincerely ask Him to help you forgive those who have hurt you, and to pray for the Lord to bless them.

With the Holy Spirit's ever present help, you will find yourself able to let go and let God do what He does best: make beauty out of the ashes of your relationship.

Dear Lord, heal the hurting heart today, replacing the pain of betrayal with the joy of the Lord. Strengthen weakened relationships, and pour out abundant measures of your restoring grace.

Psalm 55 Full Reading

Psalm 54

2007-03-27T04:23:00.000+01:00

Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

While in hiding from King Saul in Ziphite territory (1 Samuel 23:19-24) David discovers that they have betrayed him into the hands of the king. Rather than taking matters into his own hands and defending himself against Saul, David reports the situation to God. He was determined not to touch the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24: 5-11), and spent many years avoiding the conflict with King Saul by running from him.

Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. (v 4)

In making the above statement, David shows absolute confidence in the fact that his enemies would eventually reap the rewards of their wickedness. Do you feel like your life or livelihood is in danger from a physical or spiritual enemy? Instead of trying to fight back or defend yourself, take the case to the high court of heaven. Bring the matter before the most High Judge, for He is able to vindicate and set you free. Whether your good name or your life is under threat, remember that those who seek your downfall do not know what God is able to do on your behalf (v 3).

As Paul told the Corinthians, the enemies of Christ knew nothing of His status or power, or they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Your enemy may be unaware that you have the might of the Lord of Hosts behind you, but you should not forget this fact. No matter the gravity of your situation, God will come to your aid. When David looked to men to protect him from Saul (even men on behalf of whom he defeated Philistines), God informed him that they would betray him at the first opportunity. You must place your whole-hearted trust in the Lord, because He alone will guarantee you help when you need it.

God is (y)our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

He is right there in the thick of your troubles, ready and waiting to help you. In fact, according to v 4 (NLT) of this psalm, the Lord is the one who keeps you alive! Be like David and choose the sacrifice of praise instead of worry. Place your confidence in the Lord, instead of fearing the enemy, and be assured that He will deliver you from your troubles and help you triumph over your enemies! (v 7)

Psalm 54 Full Reading

Psalm 53

2007-03-20T06:42:00.000Z

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. (v 2)

This psalm, a repetition of Psalm 14, shows the psalmist's concern for the condition of the wicked. Only a fool would say God does not exist. The psalmist, well aware of God's existence from his own relationship with His Creator, pities those who believe otherwise. He further states that God not only exists, but He searches throughout the earth for those who believe in, and seek after Him. According to 1 Chronicles 16:9:

...the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

God is scrutinising the earth, seeking to do mighty things for those who please Him, those who constantly seek His face. Would you classify yourself as such today? David says those who fix their minds on God have real understanding. In fact, unlike the fool who does not fear God, according to Proverbs 9:10, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. The man who fears God grows in wisdom and knowledge.

...There were they in great fear, where no fear was (v 5)

This fear of the Lord is not the terror experienced by the wicked fool, but an awe and reverence of His glory, a recognition of His greatness and majesty, and a realisation that nothing compares with Him, for all things, including the fool, are created by Him. As you develop a healthy fear of the Lord, something wonderful happens. The heart of the foolish will fail when terror grips them, but those who seek the Lord will fear no evil, even when under the shadow of death.

To be in this state of mind, though, you must dedicate yourself to knowing and fearing God. Make up your mind to meditate on God's word; to discover as much as you can about not only His exploits, but His ways. Spend time in His presence, basking in His glory and enjoying Him, and in due course, you will find your heart occupied with the things on His heart.

And, as your thoughts begin to line up with His thoughts, like the psalmist, you will begin to anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus and restoration of His people.

Psalm 53 Full Reading

Psalm 52

2007-03-19T01:44:00.001Z

Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually. (v 1)

In this response to betrayal by his enemy (1 Sam 21:1-9, 22:6-22), David contrasts the end of the wicked and the righteous. While his enemy may boast in his mischievous actions - his scheming lies resulted in the murder of godly priests - David's trust is in God.

First of all, it is worth noting that when Doeg betrayed David, his intention may have been to get into Saul's good books, but with a few words of betrayal, innocent lives were endangered and lost. The godly should guard the use of their tongues.

...A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. (James 3:5-6 TM)

The difference between the righteous and the wicked is where their confidence lies. The wicked trust completely in their wealth, which could only lead to more wickedness (v 7), whereas, David is certain he will prosper because his confidence is in the Lord. He looks forward to the demise of his enemy, and to experiencing God's unfailing love.

Children of God will experience betrayal and adversity because we have an Enemy who works through men to thwart our progress in life. If your plans have been derailed by someone used of the devil, encourage yourself with David's thoughts. The triumph of the wicked man is temporary. God will eventually strike down your Enemy once and for all (v 5 NLT).

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. (v 8)

With your eyes fixed on the Lord, hold your head up high in the knowledge that His love for you never fails. Instead of being a victim, triumph in what the Lord has already done and will do for you (v 9). Wait for His mercies, for He will vindicate you in due course (click here for further notes on this).

Like David, make the choice to dwell in the secret presence of God, where you will be safe and secure from the enemy's plans. And even if he appears to succeed, do not despair, for his reward will come in due course. Instead, keep your eyes on the prize and high calling in Jesus Christ.

The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible]. Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment]. (Psalm 92:12-14 Amp)

Scripture quotations marked TM are taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Psalm 52 Full Reading

Psalm 51

2007-03-18T23:51:00.000Z

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (v 1)

David not only sinned in his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, but his attempts to cover his tracks had dire repercussions for all involved (2 Samuel 11-12:23). Once his sin was exposed, however, David no longer tried to hide his atrocities. In Psalm 51, he lays everything bare before the Lord and throws himself on God's mercy. It turns out that, in spite of his actions to the contrary, David's sin has constantly been on his mind:

For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. (vv 3-4 NLT)

Anyone who has been touched by, and truly loves God will never thrive in sinfulness. The effects of sin, like a cancer, will gnaw at the conscience until we either run from God completely, or take the brave steps David did and cast ourselves on His mercy. David recognised that his adulterous and murderous actions, even though they were against Uriah, were first and foremost, rebellion against God. Through this act of penitence, David reveals faith that God will hear his prayer, cleanse and forgive him and lead him in the way of wisdom (v 6).

In today's world, the concept of sin has been replaced by political correctness at best, and total absolution of moral responsibility in the farthest extreme. People cannot help their sexual proclivities, we are told, because it is in the genes, an unbreakable habit, or they were born that way. The spouse-beater shirks responsibility for their behaviour, claiming that fits of rage run in the family, or that they were provoked. Indiscipline is virtually encouraged, as deprivation is blamed for children robbing one another. Society then scrambles to work out how to deal with the resulting violence, vandalism, lack of respect and breakdown of family values.

Indeed, David admits that sin may be in his genetic make-up (v 5), but he realises that his relationship with God, can help him rise above the tendency to sin. We need to take responsibility for our actions. For as long as David tried to hide, his conscience ate away at him until he was no longer able to sleep at night, and he felt his intimacy with God slipping away.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Is sin disguised as a 'bad habit' in your life? Have you called adultery by any other name? Or are you running away from God because you think He has banished you from His presence? Repent before God so He can expose those hidden sins, and wash you with the cleansing blood of Jesus. There is no sin too great for Him to forgive, and no habit He cannot help you break. But you must sincerely ask, and be prepared to let God guide you in the path of righteousness.

Sin encroaches like a polluting darkness in the soul, and only true repentance can restore the light of God's favour and the joy of His presence.

Psalm 51 Full Reading

Psalm 50

2007-03-14T04:55:00.000Z

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. (vv 3-5)

According to 1 Peter 4:17, judgement begins in the house of the Lord, and in this psalm (addressed to those who call Him Lord and offer Him regular sacrifices), God sets the record straight: He is not looking for ritualistic worship, neither do insincere offerings bring Him pleasure.

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

The Israelites regularly brought suitable sacrifices before God but, as far as He is concerned, their religion is false. God's charge against His elect falls into two categories:

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. (vv 14-15)

On the one hand, there are those who worship God as though they're doing Him a favour. They bring sacrifices, but exclude Him from every other area of their lives.

How would you categorise your relationship with God? Do you pay a routine, token visit to a church building on a Sunday, sit at the back, drop your weekly offering into the basket, and then live as though God has no part in the rest of your business? God accuses the Israelites of thinking they can compartmentalise their lives. They bring Him offerings, but trust in themselves for their existence. They pay Him no homage, but He is not at the centre of their day to day activities.

God wants to be first and last in your life. Anything short of this is unacceptable to Him. Instead He expects us to:

...be filled with the Spirit... making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ... (Eph 5: 18-20)

God expects you to commune with Him daily. As the source of all that is good in your life, you should give thanks to Him at all times, trust Him fully, and give glory to Him for all He does. It's worth noting that as you give God the honour He deserves, He promises you deliverance.
The second indictment is against those who believe that if they bribe God, He will overlook their wickedness (vv 16-21). He accuses them of regularly spouting His word from their lips , while turning their backs on His commandments. They consort with thieves and adulterers, are full of lies and deceit, gossip and slander. These are among the things the Lord hates (see Prov 6:16-19), and He informs them that His silence should not be take for approval of their lifestyle.

God desires that we worship Him in truth. If, by chance, or because of life's pressures, you've found yourself slipping into auto-pilot in your worship and service, rekindle the fires of your love for God and re-commit to serving Him in spirit and in truth. Be mindful of the company you keep. Instead of the unlawful deeds of darkness:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

Psalm 50 Full Reading

Psalm 49

2007-03-13T08:18:00.000Z

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, (vv 5-7)

The writer of this psalm puts out a call to everyone - rich, poor, young and old - and draws their attention to some universal factors. Having spent time considering the evilness of his day, and being surrounded by the wicked, he decides he has nothing to fear. No matter how much they try to harass or distress him with their might and power, he has no reason to be afraid or feel any other negative emotion towards them. In fact, we suspect that he actually pities them.

His reason: their wealth, which is the substance of their lives, is fleeting, and cannot buy their lives from God or prevent one certainty - they will eventually die. The psalmist is pointing out the folly of placing our trust in worldly wealth or achievements; or building monuments to our egos:

Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] and after their own names. But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. (vv 11-12 Amplified)

The Lord Jesus solemnly warned us about the same thing:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6: 19-21)

While God is not against us having riches or being wealthy, we are in great danger if we allow the pursuit of such things to rule our lives. For a start, we must remember that Christ has paid the ransom to rescue us from eternal death to life in God. By virtue of the price He's paid, all that we are and own now belong to Him.

Like the psalmist, you may be aware of some person/s whose entire lives revolve around their possessions or accomplishments. Spare a thought for them today. God provided Christ for their ransom as much as yours, and He desires their salvation just as much, for:

...even the Son of man came...to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Send a prayer their way, asking that Christ's sacrifice have as much effect on their lives as it has for you.

And while you are at it, take stock of where your treasures lie and ask yourself what kind of legacy you are building for eternity. If you have invested more in earthly riches than your heavenly heritage, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to help you fix your mind on the Author and Finisher of your faith, on the reason He created and saved you, and on things eternal.

Psalm 49 Full Reading

Psalm 48

2007-03-12T07:18:00.000Z

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (vv 1-2)

God is continually praised in His dwelling place. In Revelation 4, we read of an everlasting worship service going on in heaven:

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

While God resided in the temple during the psalmist's days, we know He now lives in His born again children through His Holy Spirit:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The day you submitted to His Lordship, God's Spirit established His throne in your heart and life.

In today's psalm, we learn that the God's dwelling is a magnificent place of beauty. In the first instance, the psalmist is referring to Mount Zion; and perhaps, a prophetic picture of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:1-3); but we can also apply these words to our lives. Psalm 149:4 tells us that the Lord beautifies the humble with His salvation. When you turn the reins of your life over to the Holy Spirit, you become a carrier of God's presence. There is something striking about God's glory as it radiates in people who have been with Him. When Moses spent 40 days and nights with God on the mountain, the Lord rubbed off on him so much that Moses had to to wear a veil to shield the Israelites from the radiance.

The psalmist then goes on to talk about God's role as defender of His residence (vv 3-5). His glory terrifies the enemy, and they flee. Christ told His disciples:

...these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils.

The enemy flees from the power of God's presence in our lives. Of course, this power does not have the desired effect unless we spend ample time meditating on God's faithfulness (v 9); and giving Him the praise He deserves. We must attend to God for His power to fill and work through us. Paul told the Ephesians to be continually filled with the spirit:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. (Eph 5:18 Amp)

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with God's power. The demons flee at His power. Sickness bows to the word spoken in His power. All creation is awaiting the manifestation of this power in His children.

God is calling you to His presence today, so that the whole world will see His beauty and glory through your life. Spend some time worshipping Him, as you consider this psalm; meditate on Him for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. As you do so, and watch His might explode through your life!

Psalm 48 Full Reading

Psalm 47

2007-03-09T09:07:00.000Z

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (v 1)

We are invited to join the audience of the triumphant King as they joyously celebrate His awesome power. In reading this psalm, we sense that these people have just returned victorious in battle, but are well aware that they have accomplished this victory, not by their own hands, but the hand of God. We see in this a picture of a King who has led his people in battle and won. He has seized enemy territory and given it to them as their possession.

Several times in the Bible, we see God taking enemy nations to task on behalf of the Israelites, while the latter stood by, and then picked up the spoils. He led them by His mighty power out of Egyptian captivity into Canaan, which He had promised them (v 4), and delivered it into their hands.

We serve the same God today. He still appoints victory for His children. He still fights our battles when we align ourselves with Him. David puts it this way in Psalm 108:13:

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

You do not need to fear, because God will fight your enemy on your behalf. All you need do, like a trusty soldier in battle, is ensure you have on your armour. Not only has God promised us the victory, He has supplied the armour so we are not harmed when we face the enemy's attacks. Since we face a battle of a spiritual nature, we clearly will not need to be kitted out in earthly armour. We are given further details in Ephesians 6:

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armour of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. (14-18 NLT)

Our weapons against the enemy of our souls are truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, God's word and prayer. When we clothe ourselves in these and go about our daily business, we give room for our King to fight deadly enemies for us, and we are assured of the victory.

Before you set off on your day, be sure to put on your spiritual armour, praying in the power of the Holy Spirit at all times, and rest in His victory.

Psalm 47 Full Reading

Psalm 46

2007-03-08T05:34:00.000Z

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. (vv 1-3)

This psalm makes one thing clear: it is vital to know God and familiarise ourselves with His character. Day after day, we hear news of plagues and earthquakes in far and near lands. There are wars and rumours of wars. Terrorism looms on the horizons of our lives as the media spews out tidings of random violence all over the world. Our only certainty in life is that, plan as we might, we have no idea what tomorrow will bring our way.

But the psalmist reminds us that we can absolutely depend on God, because in the midst of all the turmoil, He remains the same: loving, shielding, protecting, reassuring. The psalmist goes on to point out that in the city where God's glory dwells, He:

...is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early (v 5).

We are His dwelling place, and for as long as we remain on this earth, we can expect Him to come to our aid. However, unless we are truly familiar with this fact, we can struggle under the weight of the troubles we face daily.

What is your first reaction when you receive bad news? The psalmist encourages you to look to God when everything is shaken around you. When you need somewhere to hide, run to God - He is a great hiding place. This is how David says it elsewhere:

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. (Ps 32:7)

How well do you know Him? How many of God's exploits are you personally familiar with? If you cannot honestly say you've seen Him at work, then dive into your nearest bible. Spend enough time in there, and you will be amazed at the wonders he has performed in both the Old and New Testaments.

Study even more and you will begin to sense that these wonders were not reserved for biblical times. God's plan is to preserve your life when you place your trust in Him. Not only do you have the Holy Spirit to strengthen and help bear your burdens, God has awesome plans for your life that will bring glory to His name. Stay in His presence until you discover what they are.

Jesus told us that we would have tribulations in this life - our world is a fallen one, and will not be made perfect until His return - but He also encouraged us:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

He has given you the key to finding peace - peace is found in Him. While the present world system has nothing of eternal benefit to offer us, in Christ we find strength, peace, help, solace, and refuge. Make the following scripture your declaration today:

This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue (me) from every trap and protect (me) from deadly disease. He will cover (me) with his feathers. He will shelter (me) with his wings. (adapted from Psalm 91: 2-4 NLT)

Psalm 46 Full Reading

Psalm 45

2007-03-02T07:52:00.000Z

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. (v 1)

This beautiful song, rendered possibly to an Israelite king, is a picture of the relationship between the Messiah and His church; the ultimate glorious marriage that should be the anticipation of every believer. This song of adoration gives a glimpse, among other things, of:

The beauty of our Lord (v2)
His power and majesty (vv 3-5)
His righteous nature (7)
His love for His church (11)

You, the bride of Christ, should become engrossed in the Bridegroom King's awesome glory, the psalmist says, and worship Him. Often, when we come to worship and praise the Lord, it is for what He has done for us, but this psalm gives us other wonderful reasons to do so - His beauty is beyond compare; His glory and power cannot be denied; He is anointed with the oil of joy; He is the King who rules with justice and wisdom.

And He has chosen us to be His bride. In fact, the NIV translation tells us He is enthralled by our beauty (v 11).

When you consider the state of the church today, or even take a good look at yourself, you may see nothing that could, by any stretch of the imagination, make you desirable to God. But, God perceives your beauty and righteousness through the Lord Jesus Christ, who, when He returns to the earth, will bestow His own glory upon you:

[But] in that [future Messianic] day the Lord of hosts shall become a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the [converted] remnant of His people (Isaiah 28:5 amp)

The Lord is preparing a spotless and glorious church for Himself. He gave His life for just this purpose, as we see in Ephesians 5:25-27:

...Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].

You have a wedding to look forward to which, in its glory, surpasses any celebration imaginable - your marriage to the Lamb of God. When you truly meditate on the glory waiting for you on His return, every earthly experience and consideration will pale into insignificance. The troubles you presently face are temporary, the best you currently have is infinitesimal compared to the glory that you can expect when you step into eternity.

As you go about your business today, think on the beauty and fairness of your Lord Jesus. He is perfection personified, and He wants to lavish love upon you. Enjoy Him, as you consider the prospect of being dressed up in the best finery eternity has to offer, so you can be presented to Him.

Q:What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever - Westminster Shorter Catechism

Psalm 45 Full Reading

Psalm 44

2007-03-01T07:19:00.000Z

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. (v1)

The Israelite nation was taking a battering from enemy forces, and the psalmist decides to take their plight to the Lord. To get into the right frame of mind, he begins with a recap of their past God-given victories as recorded by his forebears, thereby assuring himself that he's going to the right place for help (vv 1-8 NLT).

In these words, we find a remedy for hopelessness: remembrance. When you can recall past blessings and victories, you can trust God for a better future. When you remember His past faithfulness, you know He will both come through for you, and bring you through.

But, in circumstances akin to verses 9-16, you may be facing the toughest times of your life, where even the little hope you cling to withers away, and you begin to suspect God has decided you are His enemy. Ideally, Christians should have no trials, and everything about our lives would be wonderfully rosy. Unfortunately, as we see here, that is not the case.

The psalmist has raised a legitimate complaint to God. After all, He gave some wonderful promises to the Israelites through Moses:

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. 2 You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:... “The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!. (Deut 28: 1-2, 7 - see verses 3-13 for the full list of blessings)

Yet, at the time the psalm was written, it felt like God's people were under a curse, even though they'd given themselves totally to obedience. It is right for the psalmist to wonder where everything went wrong, since, in his own words:

All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way; (vv 17-18)

Even when you've obeyed the Lord to the best of your ability, been truthful to Him and served Him faithfully, you may still find yourself under unwarranted, severe attack. The psalmist gives a reason for this:

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. (v 22)

We have an enemy who hates us simply because we are God's children. According to the apostle Peter:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

We are sometimes attacked because we are followers of Christ. But as we recollect His past intervention on our behalf, and as we meditate on His word, we can conclude that:

He is watching over us;
He is very much in control:
He will not let us the enemy triumph over us,
We have the victory, and most important of all,
Nothing can separate us from His love.

This is the way Paul puts it:

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8: 35,37 NLT)

No matter how aggressive the enemy's attack against your life is today, rest in the knowledge that absolutely nothing can come between you and God's love in Christ Jesus. Draw from His strength within and look the enemy in the face; declaring that no weapon formed against you will prosper, greater is He in you than he that is in the world, and that you have overcome through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then wait patiently for the Lord to bring you through to your manifest victory. Your joy awaits!

Psalm 44 Full Reading

Psalm 43

2007-03-01T06:27:00.000Z

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 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? (v 2)

Circumstances and the actions of men have conspired to prevent this psalmist from enjoying his relationship with the Lord. He is being oppressed by his enemies, there seems to be no justice for him, but most painful of all, it feels like God has deserted him. But his feelings do not lead to him turn his back on God. As much as he wants justice and vindication, the psalmist's desire is that he might find his way back into God's presence - for God is his joy.

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 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. (v 3)

Your current experience may lend itself to the belief that God has abandoned you. Let the writer's words speak to you here. When darkness surrounds, let the light of his word lead you right back to His presence. Unlike the Old Testament times, you don't have to wait until you attend a church service to experience the loving touch of God. You don't have to offer sacrifices of bulls and goats, for God to accept you into His presence. Christ has given us access to boldly come before God's throne to obtain the help we need (Hebrews 4:16).

Delve into His word, and commune with the Holy Spirit who resides in you. Encourage yourself with songs of worship. Keep company with other believers who can testify of God's goodness, and remember that He is no respecter of persons. He will keep His promises to you. Remember,

...the joy of the Lord is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

"The better we understand God's word, the more comfort we find in it; the darkness of trouble arises from the darkness of ignorance."- Matthew Henry

Psalm 43 Full Reading

Psalm 39

2007-02-21T04:05:00.000Z

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am. 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 (vv 4-5)

How often do you consider your life in light of eternity? At the end of the above verses, the psalmist inserts an interlude ('Selah' means to pause and calmly consider the preceding thought), encouraging us to consider our existence through God's eyes.

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. (v 6 NLT)

The dictates of society leave little room to consider the above thought. We are encouraged to amass as much wealth as possible and dedicate ourselves to furthering careers, while those who struggle to make ends meet long for the day they can begin to climb ladders of success. But the psalmist points out that in the end it all boils down to nothing.

You can't take any of it with you.

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (James 4:13-14 NLT)

Solomon, the richest and wisest of men, spent a considerable time acquiring wealth, lands, slaves, and treasures (Eccl 2: 4-9), and he eventually came to the conclusion that it was all like chasing after the wind.

If, like David, we bear the brevity of life in mind, we will reassess our priorities. Our success will be judged, not by our possessions, but by our impact on those around us. Christ, who is our model and example, came to make a difference in the lives of those who followed Him. As Peter testified:

...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

The Lord has called us to be like Him, and to carry out His mission until He returns; and while we may not all be evangelists, pastors or preachers, we are all anointed with the same Spirit. We are all able to make a difference in our environment, but unless we bear eternity in mind, we might just miss that part of God's intent for our lives.

You can probably point to a longing in your heart that you may suspect comes from God; a desire to do something fulfilling - for others, your community - or it may just be a deep yearning to draw closer to God. Life is too short not to take such thoughts into account, and in the end, Christ's words ring true:

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Psalm 39 Full Reading

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved

Psalm 38

2007-02-20T06:26:00.000Z

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. (vv 1-2)

In another psalm of penitence, David cries out to God in the middle of his suffering. His sins have brought God’s anger upon him, but instead of hiding, David turns to God in penitence. His doesn't try to avoid discipline, but prays that God should temper his anger with mercy. He owns up to his responsibility for the sickness that ravages his body, and asks for forgiveness. There are several lessons to be learned from meditating on this psalm:

When we sin, God gets angry:- the loving nature of God shouldn't blind us to His holiness. (See Prov 6: 16-19 ). God is long-suffering, and in His mercy does not always respond to our sins in the way we deserve, but we should not take that to mean He doesn’t detest sin.

Even when we ask for forgiveness, we may still face the consequences of our sins. David acknowledges that his disease directly results from his sins; he is also frank about the fact that he deserves to be punished. In 2 Samuel 24:1-17, David sinned against God, and even though he immediately repented, God would not let the nation go scot-free:

"‘This is what the Lord says: …Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you… three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land.” (vv 12-13)"

God will temper His justice with mercy: In 2 Samuel 24, David, knew he could not escape punishment and chose God’s wrath, which led to a three day plague upon the nation. But in verse 16:

“... as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!”

Perhaps David was hoping the Lord would have mercy and change His mind when he chose God’s direct punishment. Fully aware of the consequences of God's wrath, and knowing he deserves anger, he does the same thing in Psalm 38. He could have suffered silently, hidden his sin from God, ridden out the sickness, or ignored his conscience; but David boldly approaches God to confess what he has done. In similar terms to Psalm 51:4, he determines that his sin is first and foremost against God – and that is where he must make amends.

The sincere Christian will be quick to acknowledge sin in their lives. Christ died so that we might be forgiven of our sins, but until we are made perfect, we will sin occasionally. When we suffer the consequences of our sins, we might want to disguise our culpability, or explain away our actions. But like David, we should be asking the Lord for forgiveness, and throwing ourselves upon His mercy.

When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from our wickedness. (1 John 1:9)

Psalm 38 Full Reading

Psalm 37

2007-02-19T09:16:00.000Z

In one of his most encouraging psalms, David acknowledges the apparent prosperity of wicked people. They seem to have everything going for them as they plot against the righteous, get away with wicked schemes and oppress the poor and needy. However, their end result is encapsulated in verse 22:

For such as are blessed of God shall [in the end] inherit the earth, but they that are cursed of Him shall be cut off. (Amplified Bible)

David has some advice for those who would be blessed by the Lord - the righteous and blameless - as follows:-

What not to do-

Fret because of evil doers (v 1)
Be envious of those who do wrong (v 1)
Be angry when schemers succeed. (v 8)

What to do-

Trust in the Lord and do good (v 3)
Delight in the Lord (v 4)
Commit your way to the Lord (v 5)
Be still, and wait patiently for the Lord (v 7)
Turn from evil and do good (v 27)
Wait for the Lord and keep His way (v34)
Consider the blameless and observe the righteous. (v 37)

As we consider the above, we realise David's counsel boils down to perspective. If we fixate on the events around us, it can only lead to: worry when things don't go our way or work out as they should; envy when those we think don't deserve success prosper; and anger at the situation, which in itself could only lead to more evil (v8).

Let us consider what we are to do to change our outlook on life. Our job, as we wait on God's providing hand, is to trust Him. The Amplified Bible defines trust in God as: leaning on, relying on, and being confident in His ability to do whatever we depend on Him for.

In addition to trusting God to help us, David suggests we delight ourselves in Him. The true believer, while acknowledging God's ability to provide for their needs, will love and honour God, not only for His blessings, but because He is Lord and Ruler of their lives. Jesus spoke similarly in Matthew 6:33:

...seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Instead of concern about others' success and worry about our failures, we should enjoy God through time spent in His presence, in His word, and on doing His will. Romans 12:1-3 (The Message) takes us through the process: As we offer every detail of our lives to God (with His help), we are transformed from the inside out and our desires are merged with His, thereby accomplishing His good and perfect will.

1 John 5:14-15 puts it this way:

... we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.

A study of David's life reveals that he was truly blessed throughout his days and for future generations, because of his love for God. In fact, the Bible refers to him as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). Delighting in God will turn us away from selfish, earthly pleasures, and yield our will to His as we fill our minds with His Word and obey His commands.

Next, the psalmist advises us to commit our way to the Lord. Whether you are starting a project, facing a trial, or just burdened, turn it over to the Lord. Allow the Lord who knows exactly what you need, and when you need it, to 'make your path straight' (Proverbs 3:5-6). From His vantage point as the Beginning and End, God knows where your blessings lie, and how to get you there from wherever you are right now. Instead of being anxious, David advises you to rest in the Lord, and wait quietly and hopefully for Him.

God is working everything out for your good; and while He may appear to be taking His time, His ultimate plan is to give you a hope and a future. As you wait patiently for the answers to your prayers, remember that He has never failed.

He's not about to begin with you.

Psalm 37 Full Reading

Psalm 36

2007-02-18T04:51:00.000Z

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil. (vv 1-4 NLT)

The psalmist begins his meditations in amazement at the wicked's absorption with rebellion, self-deceit and hatred. By turning their backs on God, they are open to the manipulation of the evil one, and in succumbing to sin, become blind to their own foolish ways. The heart that does not fear God will be ruled by sin.

Then, in sudden contrast, David is overcome with an awareness of God's steadfast love, righteousness and faithfulness. As he takes his eyes off the wicked, the psalmist's tone changes, and we sense a lightening of his heart.

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast (vv 5-6 NIV).

After spending considerable time with God, Moses became hungry for the glory, rather than the acts and miracles he'd witnessed in the deliverance of Israel. When he asked God to reveal Himself, the following happened:

Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. (Exodus 34:6NLT)

David, in penning this psalm, was aware of these facets of God's nature, and has clearly chosen to focus on the unfailing love of God and His ability to preserve his creation (v 6).

You may feel like David at the beginning of this psalm, as you hear reports of murder, terrorism, corruption, sexual perversion and every form of wickedness imaginable from all over the world. For every solution tendered, evil seems to re-invent itself and appears to grow stronger. Such news can strike fear in the heart, and those who do not know the Lord will surely wonder where the world is going, and how it will all end.

Don't let your heart be troubled. Instead, look up to the heavens where the mercy and steadfast love of God reign supreme. In verse 7 we are told that we can find safety in the shadow of God's wings. Instead of fearful wickedness, a feast of abundance and life awaits those who take refuge in God. The light of God overcomes the darkness emanating from the wicked. Instead of being overwhelmed by what you hear on the news, become absorbed in God's Light, as described to us in John 8:12 (NLT):

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Lord, in the darkness that surrounds us, You are Light. In the hatred we see around us, You are Love. Surrounded by wickedness and deceit, we recognise Your steadfast love and tender mercies. May our hearts be filled with your love, that we might be beacons of your light and bring hope to the world.

Psalm 36 Full Reading

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved

Psalm 35

2007-02-17T04:14:00.000Z

Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. (vv 1-3)

If anyone had repeated cause for vengeance, it was David. Having done his best to serve King Saul, he was threatened with death. He faithfully served Israel as their king, only to be usurped and ejected from the land. His servants plotted against him, and his subjects railed curses on him. Many times in his life, David could be justified for wanting swift fire from heaven to consume his enemies.

An awesome warrior and King, David could have destroyed everyone who withstood him. He had seasoned soldiers at his beck and call, many of who would die for him, but whenever he came under personal attack, he often chose to pray for deliverance. In this psalm, he asks God to fight on his behalf, and not only does he fully expect an answer, he determines in advance to praise God for His response (vv 9-10, 18, 28). David, through his relationship with the Lord, knows a secret that Isaiah later reveals to the children of Israel:

But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. (Isaiah 49:25)

Today's believer should assess this psalm in the following context:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)" (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph 6:11-13)

Just as David had enemies wanting his downfall, however much we try to be good and to help others, and no matter how religious we are, we have an enemy roaming the earth looking for whom he may devour (see Job 1:1, 6-11). The powers, principalities and rulers of darkness referred to in Ephesians 6 are all under the command of the devil, who has opposed mankind since creation. When people go out of their way to attack our person, we should recognise their actions for what they are - the enemy's ploy to undermine us. When sickness hits our bodies, or our finances fall under attack, we should see that these are the devil's plans to defy God and steal the glory we would otherwise give Him.

God can use some of our trials to build character in us (James 1:2-4), but as David says in verse 27 of this psalm:

...Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

The Lord's thoughts towards us are continually good, and He desires our well-being. He created us to enjoy abundant life. When we keep this in mind, we will call on Him to fight our ultimate enemy, and stand still, praising and watching for His deliverance.

Psalm 35 Full Reading

Psalm 33 (Part Two)

2007-02-10T08:03:00.001Z

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. (vv 10-11)

While evil rampages throughout the earth, rest assured that God is very much in control. In fact, the psalmist declares that the Lord will thwart the heathen's plans. We can sometimes feel despondent as we see the world 'going to the dogs', but here is a reminder that God knows what He is doing, and, although the earth is in the hands of men, nothing happens that He does not allow. That thought may prove difficult for us to accept at times, but God, from His vantage point in heaven, sees man's every orchestration (vv 13-15), and this psalm assures us of His intervention where it is necessary to accomplish His will.

There are several examples in the bible where the Lord steps in to influence men's hearts into co-operating with His purpose. In Proverbs 21:1, we read:

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

When Pharaoh thought he could withstand God, his country ended up paying dearly for his stubbornness (note God's involvement in hardening Pharaoh's heart); Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to exalt himself above God cost him his sanity; and the devil's plot, through Pilate, Herod and the Jewish leaders, to kill the Lord Jesus Christ resulted in our eternal salvation!

Nothing is hidden from God's sight, so do not despair when you see the wicked prosper, or in the psalmist's words:

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. ...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. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth." (Psalm 37: 1, 7-9)

Sometimes we long for the destruction of the wicked, and wonder, like Habakkuk, why God doesn't put an end to evil. But the Bible tells us that the Lord is slow to anger and of great mercy, (Joel 2:13) and His faithful nature, upon which we rely for our very existence, extends to the world around us. Peter puts it this way:

The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 Amp)

Salvation is the ultimate plan of God for all He has made. While He is able to destroy the wicked in one day (remember Sodom and Gomorrah?), His desire is that every man be saved. And it is this counsel that will stand forever.

Psalm 33 Full Reading

Psalm 33 (Part One)

2007-02-09T10:14:00.000Z

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. (vv 1-3)

Calling the righteous ones; all who love the Lord and live by His word. The psalmist encourages you to bring praises before the Lord because you look great doing so! Isn't this a wonderful thought? He urges musicians to serenade and celebrate the Lord with their instruments, and for singers to create new melodies in God's honour. In Eph 5:19-20, Paul puts it this way:

Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ. (The Message)

Praise looks good on the righteous.

You may insist you have nothing to offer if you don't play an instrument, or feel your voice should not be heard outside the confines of the shower, but that is not God's perspective. For a start, He gave you that voice, and knows exactly how it sounds - yet He encourages you to lift it up to Him. Secondly, God is looking for sincere worship, and if yours is from a loving, pure heart, the praise you offer is beautiful, according to this psalm. Sometimes we are intimidated by the skills and talents of others, and may feel inferior when faced with beautiful singing and music, but the Lord looks beyond apparent vocal beauty, searching the hearts instead (v 15). If yours is full of love and adoration, let those emotions pour from your lips in joyous praise; the way you sound will not surprise Him.

When you are going through trials, or your very existence is hanging by a thread, it can be difficult to find reasons to praise God. Often, we may consider singing and praising God when we think of something He's done specifically for us; but not find it so easy when times are rough. Let's learn from Paul and Silas' experience in Acts 16:

" A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!" (vv 22-26 NLT)

The apostles were hauled off to prison for preaching the gospel and setting a slave girl free from demonic possession (vv 16-21). They had every reason to be miserable and question God; but their actions went against logic. They accompanied their prayer with songs of praise, and God responded by sending an earthquake(!) to set them free; revival broke out in the jail, and the jailer and his family were born again! Throughout the Bible, amazing victories often resulted from praising God. (see the battle of Jericho)

We may not always be in such high profile situations, and sometimes our deliverance may be delayed, but we can find reasons to praise God if we search hard enough. The psalmist gives us a few:

"For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect." (vv 4-10)

We can praise God for what He has done in the past; for His awesome works; for His power; for His infallible word; His provision; His divine protection; and for the very fact that He is God! Look around at God's creation, remember His works from the beginning of time, consider His eternal plan for you and me, and in time you will be able to praise Him and rejoice!

And who knows? He just might stun you with a Jericho-style victory!

Psalm 33 Full Reading

The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved

Psalm 32

2007-02-08T05:22:00.000Z

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. (vv 1-2)

This psalm is one for the bookmarks, as it speaks God's loving nature in extending forgiveness to those who repent. As the Christian knows, He does not require sacrifices from us, nor demand that we clean ourselves up before He accepts us into His beloved family. Instead, God has already made provision, through Jesus Christ His Son, that whoever calls upon Him shall be saved (Romans 10: 11-13).

However, the psalmist acknowledges that each of us will sin, (as does the Apostle John in 1 John 1:8-10), and stresses the need to recognise this before God. The types of sin mentioned here are:

transgression = rebellion
sin = missing God's mark/way
iniquity - moral depravity
guile = deceit

and for each one, God provides a way of escape by forgiving, covering and erasing them from our record.

The honest believer would acknowledge that sin appeals to the sensual part of us, which constantly battles against our inherited spiritual nature (Galatians 5:16-18); but those who would be triumphant and joyous in Christ are advised to confess their sins and receive His proffered forgiveness. While David failed to confess his transgressions, his body literally weakened from guilt and the disciplining hand of God on his life; but immediately he recognised his sin before the Lord, he was forgiven and restored. How wonderful to know that there is no sin too grievous for our Lord to forgive those who call on Him in truth.

The psalm also points out one of sin's major drawbacks: it hides us from the presence of the Lord (cf Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:8-11) and sets us apart from His gracious guiding hand.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (v 8)

God has a purpose for every person, but as long as we are steeped in sinful ways, we cannot receive His direction. He has given us the Holy Spirit for this very reason - to reveal Christ and His ways to us. But the Holy Spirit, being God Himself, is grieved by sin, therefore, the Christian who would be guided by Him recognises this and keeps himself pure. The above verse makes us understand that God's intention is to guide us in the way of truth and righteousness (Psalm 23:3), and for as long as we heed Him, we will not stumble into the path of, or remain in sin. Christ has made us righteous before God, and He would keep us continuously so, if we are truthful to confess whatever sins we commit in thought or in deed.

If you have missed the mark, or there is hidden sin in your life, confess it before the Lord today, receive His forgiveness and joyfully go your way, knowing you are blessed and highly favoured!

Psalm 32 Full Reading (NLT)

Psalm 24

2007-01-31T04:34:00.000Z

Cf: Psalm 15

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.(vv 1-2)

Let there be no doubt in the reader's heart as to the origin and ownership of this earth. If you have not done so already, read Genesis 1 for an account of creation. God also backs up the psalmist's words in Isaiah 66:1:

Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool...

Having acknowledged this fact, the psalmist doesn't stop with admiring God's handiwork, but chooses to draw closer to the Creator. It is not enough for us to focus on His feet, when we can look upon the Lord's face. In David's own words:

Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. (1 Chr 16:11)

However, we cannot just wander into His presence without preparation - the person who approaches the Lord must have clean hands, a pure heart and an undeceiving tongue . To enter God's presence, we must be sinless in thought, word and deed, for only the pure in heart will see God (Matt 5:8). Only that person will receive the Lord's blessing and remain in right standing with Him, according to the psalm under consideration. (vv 4-5)

This is the generation [description] of those who seek Him [who inquire of and for Him and of necessity require Him], who seek Your face, [O God of] Jacob. (v 6 Amplified)

These are the ones to whom God will reveal Himself, which He has promised to do, if we search for Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

God's righteousness is all we need to be born again, but the believer who wants to experience the fullness of God's riches and blessings must be holy. The Holy Spirit can, and will convict the true believer of sin, and forgiveness is available through the righteousness that comes from Jesus Christ (John 16:7-11). Finally, we are assured by the psalmist that the King of glory will enter into the heart whose gates are flung wide open; as the Lord Himself confirms:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:19-21)

If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about unconfessed sin, be quick to repent and receive His cleansing so that the Lord of glory might reign supreme over your life. He brings an abundance of blessings with Him, and the certainty that you will sit with Him on his throne in eternity.

Pray with me today:

Lord, I repent of my sins, and ask for your forgiveness. Purify my heart, soul and mind, that my deeds, thoughts and words may be acceptable in your sight. I open up my heart and ask that the glorious King enter in today and always.

Psalm 24 Full Reading

Psalm 22 (Part Two)

2007-01-28T06:27:00.000Z

Read this first

But we rejoice in the knowledge that our Lord's suffering was not in vain, as David continues....

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. (vv 22-24)

Those dreadful hours in that resulted in Christ's death and subsequent resurrection were the mechanism by which God restored us to Himself. Those who are under the yoke of sin are now able to break free and turn to God. God did not despise His Son, or turn away from Him, but He used Christ's death to rescue you and I - according to His purpose!

...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

Let's see what Isaiah 53: 4-5; 10-12 says as it gives us a better picture of what happened on the cross.

".... Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. "

".... Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see [the fruit] of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself [which He possesses and imparts to others] shall My [uncompromisingly] righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God), for He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt [with the consequences, says the Lord]. Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], and He shall divide the spoil with the mighty, because He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious)."

Thank God for His love towards us. We have Christ to thank for securing our eternal destination; and we must always thank God for Christ's death and resurrection; for now, Christ reigns supreme over all creation. He has received the Kingship and the Kingdom (Psalm 22:28).

Now Christ will be worshipped; He will be glorified and praised for what He has accomplished.

It is finished!

At some point today, take a moment to bow before the Lord in thanksgiving and worship. Be first in line to pledge your allegiance to the King of eternity; to serve Him and to tell of His wonders to the next generation!

Psalm 22 (Part One)

2007-01-27T21:50:00.000Z

Psalm 22 vv 1-18

One of the most profound and prophetic psalms recorded in the Bible, Psalm 22 is an introduction to the events leading up to and arising out of Jesus's crucifixion. The words spoken by Christ on the cross have their parallel in this psalm as follows: Matt 27:46 (Ps 22:1); John 19:30 (Ps 22:31 Amplified) .

As we progress through the psalm, we see the Lord's transition from suffering messiah to King of kings. David obviously faced many enemies, and may have written this as a prayer to God, but posterity shows that it is a look into the heart, life and eventual rise of Christ's Kingdom.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? My God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. (vv 1-2)

In the above heart rending cry, we experience Christ's sorrow as he hangs on the cross, enveloped in mankind's sins, and unable to enter into the presence of the holy God. Jesus knows God answers prayers from personal knowledge (He was God after all, He knew God's character, and he'd also answered prayers Himself), and as demonstrated throughout history, but at this point on the cross, sin has separated Jesus from His God. He hangs on the cross, the object of mockery and scorn; enemies, both physical and spiritual, baying for His blood, which is then poured out like water, as He weakens and finally gives His life up for us. Oh how we praise Him, how worthy He is!

Let us, with gratitude in our hearts, spend time considering the cross of Jesus Christ and what it means to us. The suffering servant bled, and died that we might live. He laid His majesty down so that we might receive adoption into the family of God.

Take time today to re-commit to the Lord who has given His all that you might have eternal life!

Psalm 22 Full Reading

Psalm 21

2007-01-26T09:42:00.000Z

Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. ... He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. (vv 2, 4)

He wanted a good life; you gave it to him, and then made it a long life as a bonus. (v 4 The Message)

David here rejoices in the saving strength of his God, and in the knowledge that God has not only answered his every prayer, but has given him even more than he desired. As we read the above verses, let us consider why this might be the case. The scriptures tell us that David was a man after God's own heart as recorded in Acts 13:22:

...he (God) raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

David could testify that God has given him every desire of his heart because he only wanted God's will. David loved God with all his might, and always sought to please Him. He may have fallen prey to his human frailties on occasion, but whenever God brought him up on his sins, David was quick to repent, and never went back.

Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalm 37:4)

The key to having all our prayers answered is to love God with every fibre of our being, seek after, and pray for His will to be done. In pursuing God's glory and desires, we will be able to say the same as David - that He has given us every desire of our heart. Even when we go through trying times (of which David had many), we will testify to the Lord's goodness, because we know we are right in the centre of His will. As v 6 says:

For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence. (NKJV)

The joy of spending time in God's presence and delighting in His will is an eternal blessing only few enjoy, but also the key to consistent answered prayer.

Lord, may we learn to enjoy the blessings that come from remaining in Your presence, as our desires meld into Yours. May all our prayers, uttered from lips that honour You, find their answers in You.

Psalm 21 Full Reading (NKJV)

The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.

Psalm 19

2007-01-24T07:11:00.000Z

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (vv 1-3)

Everywhere on God's earth, without a single voiced word from nature, His glory can be seen. As we examine this Psalm today, a snowy carpet has settled over the United Kingdom, yet another testimony to the glory of God. Psalm 19 attests to the fact that the Creator can be known by simply waking up and going to sleep. All around us is the beauty that God created, as without fail, day follows night, and night follows day. Creation's consistency should warm the heart of those who believe in God - we know He is because we see His handiwork.

However, as we progress through the psalm, we learn more. Believing in God is believing His word; and in that we have even more comfort and joy. For, as the psalm tells us:

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (vv 7-9)

God's word is infallible. He has placed it in such high esteem - we cannot but trust His word. Jesus told us that God's word is truth (John 17:17) and elsewhere, David says:

'...for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!' (Psalm 138:2 Amplified)

Rather than being wearisome, God’s commandments refresh the soul; in keeping them, we find rest. As we meditate on them, wisdom, guidance and enlightenment will be ours. Time spent in God’s word is time spent with God Himself; and in that we discover the fear of the Lord (the beginning of knowledge). No wonder the psalmist is so excited!

What can we learn from this psalm? The truth about God can be discovered when we seek Him in spirit and truth. God’s commandments, instead of being a yoke around our necks, are by far the most desirable; worth more than anything we could seek; and the key to knowing our heritage as children of God’s kingdom.

Psalm 19 Full Reading

Psalm 14

2007-01-18T05:39:00.000Z

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. (vv 1-2)

Only a fool denies the existence of God. This Psalm is a necessary caution for the righteous in these dangerous times, and ample evidence of the Word's timelessness in its portrait of a society rife with evil, corruption, and moral bankruptcy. The heart that does not acknowledge God will gravitate towards abominable works, because there is no middle ground; every one takes sides - for or against God.

We are told that God looks down from heaven on the entire human race searching for one thing: The God-Seeker: one who scours His word for instruction and truth; the one who is earnest and desperate for His appearance. This person, the Psalmist says, has understanding. If God's children fail to seek Him, if we do not understand these perilous times, the boundaries can easily become blurred, as evil disguises itself as good. There is no measure by which to judge the truth outside God's word. God's children would be wise to follow after Him continually, for in so doing, we are guided down the path of righteousness and peace, and away from the path of evil. (Psalm 23:2-3)

There were they in great fear: (v 5)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7; 9:10). Terrors will come, but whoever fears the Lord need fear no evil, because the Lord will protect His people. When we pursue God and fellowship with those who are like minded, we are truly blessed; and find ourselves in the best of company, for:

...God is in the generation of the righteous!

Psalm 14 Full Reading

Psalm 8

2007-01-12T04:13:00.000Z

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (v.1)

Let praise flow to God from your heart as you meditate on this Psalm. Consider His excellent name and the works of His fingers: the earth, the heavens, the moon and the stars; the sheep in the fields, the cattle, the birds in their variety, the fish and all that swarm the seas, mankind and every good thing that He has made. (see Gen 1:20-24 The Message)

Then stop to consider yourself in light of this God; who in His infinite wisdom considers you His most precious possession; the apple of his eye. (Zech 2:8)

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? (v.4)

The Psalmists asks this question, and so must you, as you meditate on the awesome splendour and majesty of the Creator, the God of glory, the Lord of Hosts, King of Kings and Lord of Lords; Almighty God, Everlasting Father; I AM THAT I AM, the Owner and Possessor of the Universe.

Consider Him who .... has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it. (Nahum 1:3-5 NKJV)

He is ... the LORD, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea, and its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name) (Jeremiah 31:35 NKJV)

By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen. Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy. (Job 37:10-13 NKJV)

Meditate on His wonders, and the grace by which you stand blameless in the sight of a Holy God; the love that led Him to sacrifice His only Son, thereby accepting you in the beloved. Then lift up your voice and join in the chorus:

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (v.9)

Psalm 8 (Full Reading)

New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000."

Psalm 7

2007-01-11T03:26:00.000Z

O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me : Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. (vv 1-2)

Yet another Psalm in which David calls upon the Lord for help. Do you sense a pattern here? God is real to this man. Whether his throne is being usurped, or he's being hunted, betrayed or slandered by his enemies, David turns to the Lord.

O LORD my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. (vv 3-5)

In this instance, David seeks the Lord's exoneration based on his own innocence. His conscience is clear; he is not guilty of the crimes of which he's been accused. Can you say the same today, Child of God? Are you being falsely accused? Turn to God for vindication. Note, David does not attempt to justify himself to his accusers. Instead, he files his report at the judgement seat of God. You see, David is aware of the Lord's pronouncement to the Israelites:

To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste (Deut: 32:35)

We are reminded of this promise in Romans 12:19:

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Borrow a leaf out of David's book today. Bring your enemies before the Lord in prayer. If you've been wrongly accused, don't seek to justify yourself without receiving God's counsel on the matter. Let God be your Judge and Defence (v10) for, when He arises on your behalf, you can be sure of swift victory. Listen to what David says:

The LORD shall judge the people... (v8): judgement is certain;

....the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. (v9): He knows the motivations of man. Nothing is hidden from His sight;

....God is angry with the wicked everyday. If he (the wicked) turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. (11-12): The wicked person's actions do not go unnoticed by God, and if he doesn't change his ways, he will be swiftly punished by God.

On the other hand, the Enemy may seek to accuse you of present sin in your life, for which you deserve judgement. In such cases, you have an advocate in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 1:30 NLT). Through Him, you are made right with God. Repent and turn from that sin, let your conscience be cleansed, then stand firm. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1)

While you wait for the certain outcome of your petition before God, be like David and ...sing praise to the name of the Lord most high! (v 17)

Psalm 7 (Full Reading)

Psalm 6

2007-01-10T03:37:00.000Z

O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. (vv1-4)

In our second meditation on Psalm 5, we explored a fearful side to God's nature - He actively detests sin. In this Psalm, David refers to God's anger, and hot displeasure (wrath) as the outworking of that detestation.

On his sick bed, he will only cry out to God (see first meditation on Psalm 5), and he does not allow wrongdoing to drive a wedge between him and God.

David appeals to God's mercy. Acknowledging his frailty and need for healing, he pleads with the Lord to save him; not because he deserves mercy, for he does not, but because he knows God's love is unfailing.

Like a father who draws a child near after discipline, David trusts God to be merciful. Many run from God for fear that their sin would lead to death in the hands of a vengeful God. They rightly fear that, were they to approach His presence, His holy fire would consume the sin in their lives. The voice of God and man's enemy, Satan, also stands ready to accuse and convince them that God would have nothing to do with sinners.

But the Psalmist knows a secret - God declared the following about Himself to Moses:

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6 see also, Joel 2:13; Psalm 145: 7-9)

The Psalmist recognises the following:

1. He deserves God's punishment.
2. His sin is before God alone.
3. God is compassionate.
4. When he asks God for mercy, forgiveness, healing, deliverance, rescue; God hears him.

Do you need one, or all of the above today? Has the Enemy taunted you in your sinful state? Does he call you evil, forgotten, hopeless and unlovable? You are not without hope; Christ died to make sure of that.

In the words of the Prophet Jeremiah:

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God wants to forgive our sins in ways we'll never understand, so do not let sin hold you back from seeking His mercy. Don't let anything keep you from running to God. He waits for you to return to Him. Christ's blood was shed that we might receive not only forgiveness of sins, but the inheritance of sons and daughters of God. Run to God. Repent, and then depend on His steadfast love to forgive, heal and restore you.

Then, like David, you can say to the Accuser:

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. (vv 8-9)

Psalm 6 (Full Reading)

Psalm 2

2007-01-05T04:44:00.000Z

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (1-3)

There is never a doubt about the Truth of God's word. In Psalm 2, we see prophesied the coming of our Messiah and the promise of His persecution, and ultimate execution for our salvation. The gospels testify to the fulfilment of David's prophetic insight.

But how does this Psalm apply to today's Christian? Turn on the news and you find episode after episode of the authorities (religious and otherwise) attempting to break the bands of the Creator. 'He is too restrictive', 'He doesn't understand us', 'He knows nothing about humanity', they cry, and regulate away the Truth of His Word.

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (6-8)

In this fallen world, the Christian should be aware that there is one King, and Lord of all. His precepts are just, His ways are true, and we would be wise to take heed and follow Him. We can take comfort in the knowledge that while the world hurtles towards an expected end , we have been inherited by His Son. He has asked the Father and received us as His possession. What joy to know that we are His; that we have been separated to receive, not His wrath, but His love and protection.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (11-12)

And what does He require of us? To serve Him reverently. To rejoice in our salvation and pledge our allegiance to the Ruler of the kingdom that cannot be destroyed. He calls for our loving affection. Our adoration. Our delight in His being.

Kiss the Son, the Psalmist would say to the Christian. Love and adore Him; not for fear of His wrath, but for joy in the refuge and blessings that come from trusting in Him.

Psalm 2 (Full Reading)