Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day One
Introduction
Our devotions for this series
are taken from Psalm 119. This psalm is an acrostic poem; the verses of each
stanza begin with a corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This
arrangement is a (ni-‘mä-nik) mnemonic device to make it easier to remember the
Psalm. So, because of this, we understand that it supposed to be committed to
memory. Also, we can deduct from this fact that God must consider these pieces
of wise counsel and insights from the Psalmist to be of the greatest importance.
It will, therefore, help us to understand, that the chapter is written from a
devoted man’s perspective. It is man speaking to, and about God, rather than God
speaking directly to man. This, however, does not take away from the inspiration
of these verses, and they bear the stamp of God’s approval, and are in harmony
with Divine truth.
Chapter 119 is also the
longest chapter in the Bible. The reason that it has not been divided into two
or three chapters, I believe, is because it should be understood as a whole.
Now, let us consider this
important chapter in God’s Word:
The first 8 verses are the
context for the next 2 devotions; now let us look at the first 2 verses for a
closer picture of what the Psalmist is saying.
The first two verses read:
‘ Aleph
1 [a] Blessed are they whose
ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law
of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep
his statutes
and seek him with all their
heart.
Many, if not most, Evangelical
Bible translators translate the word ‘blessed’ as happy in these verses.
So, really what the Psalmist
is saying here is, “If your ways are blameless, then you will be happy. And, if
you want to be blameless, then you must walk along God’s path, and keep his
Commandments, and seek Him with all your heart!
So, if you conduct yourself in
such a manner, then you will be happy!”
Jesus said much the same thing
in the Beatitudes, when He said:
Blessed are they which do
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6)
Now, the question today that
both you and I must face is, “Are we happy?”
And, if the answer is, No;
then there must be a reason.
Is it because there is sin in
our lives? That is not always the case; but it is usually the first place that I
go to find out why I am unhappy.
In Ephesians 4:30, Paul says:
And grieve not the holy Spirit
of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness,
and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with
all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
In light of this scripture,
could it be that we are unhappy simply because of disobedience and we sense,
therefore, that the Holy Spirit is grieved?
The fact is; we were made in
the image of God. That’s what the Bible teaches in Genesis chapter 1, verse 26;
and Romans 8:29 inform us that the purpose of Redemption is to restore us to
that image.
However, many of us have
remade ourselves into something that God never intended for us to be—that is, a
sinner! And, when we conduct our self contrary to God’s created intentions for
us, then, we will be unhappy. Why? The reasonable answer is that we are unhappy
because we are not in harmony with God’s original intention. So, when that
happens, we do not function properly, mentally, or spiritually.
It is just as simple as that!
Prayer
Lord give me the insight to
sense when I have offended you, and correct my ways to reflect your will for me
in my life. May I not grieve the Holy Spirit that you have given me, and as your
servant David prayed long ago, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a
right spirit within me.” (Ps. 51:10) I want to be healthy mentally and
spiritually. Amen.
Day Two
Previous Devotion
In our last devotion we
learned that we are blessed (or happy) if we walk blameless before God. We also
learned that we will be healthier mentally and spiritually when we walk
blameless before our God, who created us in His image.
Today we continue that theme,
beginning with Psalm 119: 3-7:
3 They (the blameless) do
nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were
steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to
shame
when I consider all your
commands.
7 I will praise you with an
upright heart
as I learn your righteous
laws.
Notice that in verse 7, the
Psalmist says that he “will praise [God] with an honest (upright) heart as [he]
learns [God’s] righteous laws.”
So, many times we tend to get
the cart before the horse. We presume that a wicked heart can learn righteous,
and decide to become good as the occasion demands. No! We must approach God on
our knees in praise with Prayer and thanksgiving before we can really understand
His righteousness.
St. Augustine, Bishop of
Hippo, observed that faith precedes knowledge. And, we should add, faith prompts
us to praise; which in turn prepares us with an open heart for understanding.
Prayer
Father, give us the wisdom to
praise you at all times, regardless of the circumstances so that our hearts may
be prepared for your intentions for us. Give us understanding, Lord, we pray.
For as David our spiritual forefather has written: Thou art holy, O thou that
inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3) Amen.
Day Three
Previous Devotion
In the first 7 verses of the
magnificent Psalm 119, we discovered that we are happy when we walk in praise
before God blamelessly and that praise prepares our hearts for understanding
God’s purposes for us.
All men and women of God have
a healthy appreciation for God, and of His worthiness to accept praise.
Sometimes, however, we are so struck with His holiness, and our total depravity
that we become frightened and intimidated. Apparently, this happened to David,
for we read in verse in verse 8 says:
8 I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
Here the psalmist exerts his
will—this we must all do!—he will obey God’s commandments.
Then in a most transparent way
he says, “Do not forsake me.” We should not let this confuse us. God has no
intention of forsaking him. He will never forsake us. It is we who forsake him!
Jesus assured us that he will never leave or forsake us. Yet, there are times
from a human perspective that we sometimes feel as if God has forsaken us.
However, we must remember when interpreting this Psalm that God is not speaking
here, except in an indirect way. These are the words of the psalmist. His
doubts. His frustrations. His desires.
In another part of the Bible
the Prophet Isaiah says,
(18) Come now, let us reason
together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (19) If
you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; (Isa. 1:18,
19(a)
That is God’s message to us.
Therefore, let us all
determine that we will not just give lip service to God, but really following
and obey Him with all of our hearts. If we do, we shall be blessed.
Prayer
Father, today we confess that
we do not always follow in obedience. Sometimes, we must admit, it seems more
reasonable to us to fudge a little, perhaps, even tell a fib, or play the role
of a hypocrite. These are not easy sins to confess, but we realize that it is
necessary to walk straight and upright before you in obedience at all times, if
we want your blessings. Therefore, give us the strength of heart to obey you at
all times, under the most diverse circumstances. In Christ name we pray. Amen
Day Four
Previous Devotion
The struggles of youth are
real, and they are serious. Hormones run rampant, testosterones are high.
Curiosity is at its peak. And, life long habits are being formed. So, it is wise
for a young man, or woman to ask, How can I keep pure? Saying, No! is not
enough. Passion sometimes takes over, and the false notion of what love really
is, confuses the issue. So, how is a young man or woman to keep pure?
Well, the psalmist has the
answer. He too struggled with the emotions of youth, He asks:
b Beth
9 How can a young man keep his
way pure? Then answers with: By living according to your word. In other words,
to keep pure; we must live according to God’s word.
Paul the Apostle must have had
this verse in mind when he advised another young man.
“Timothy,” he said, “flee
youthful lusts: follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace, with them that
call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:22)
And, of course, today, the
advice is still valid.
Now, let’s listen to the other
ways David kept himself pure. He says:
10 I seek you with all my
heart;
do not let me stray from your
commands.
The Psalmist is not a passive
bystander. “I will seek you with all my heart,” he affirms.
So, we see that the first step
that David takes to make sure he has a pure heart, and obedient to the commands
of God is that he will seek God with all of his heart.
The promise of God is, and has
always been that if we seek him with all of our heart, we will find him.
Listen to God’s promise to
Israel through the Prophet Jeremiah, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye
shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
The assurance is the same with
Christ, who promised: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Luke 11:9
Now, let’s look at the steps
David took to keep himself pure.
First of all, in verse 9, he
says, a young man keeps himself pure by living according to God’s word.
Now, that is pretty good
advice, when we consider all of the other possibilities. Think of the alternate
paths a young person is offered in this sinful world. There is the feel good
route of many talk show host, and secular psychologists. There is the easy route
of giving in to peer pressure from young hedonists—and, college is full of them,
today; sometimes even Christian colleges!
Temptations are pulling from
every direction.
David’s answer to these
distracting and sinful tugs and pulls on his life was to live according to God’s
word, and to seek God with all his heart! (vs. 9, 10)
David then shows his
seriousness by pleading with God to not let him stray from His commands. Of
course, as we have already seen, God has no intention of forsaking anyone that
seeks him with all their heart. Yet, we all must solemnly resolve to seriously
seek God, and obey his Commandments—not just 10 of them; but all his
commandments!
So, what did David do to
fortify himself against the temptations of youth? He said,
11 I have hidden your word in
my heart
that I might not sin against
you.
David, did the right thing. He
tucked God’s word away in his heart as a buffer against temptation. He also
realized that all sin is ultimately a sin against God.
Solomon, David’s son,
collected a list of proverbs, and it is possible that he had this Psalm in mind
when he wrote: “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he:” (Prov. 23:7) Of course,
we do not know for sure; but, whether he took the proverb from the lips of his
father, or someone else, it still stands true.
God’s word must become part of
our thinking process. And, the only way that is made possible is by filling our
heart, which is the very seat of your emotions, with the words of the Lord. As
Saint Augustine said, “We must think God’s thoughts after Him.”
Prayer
Precious Holy Spirit, we pray
today that you will strengthen us so that we may keep ourselves pure by living
according to your word. For, we like David, have determined that we will seek
you with all our heart. We have hidden your word in our hearts for that very
purpose; therefore, we ask that you fortify us spiritually and emotionally so
that we do not wander off track, and sin against you. In Christ matchless name,
we pray. Amen
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Five
Previous Devotion
Yesterday, we discovered that
living a good life is serious business. The consequences of disobedience are far
too dangerous to ignore.
Think of all of the ruined
lives because someone gave in to the lusts of youth. Or, decided to party it up
after high school graduation. The cemetery is a solemn reminder to teenagers
just out for a night of fun. Of course, that is not always the case. Many times
the consequences of a night of foolishness take months or years to become
evident. AIDS is one example. Or, experimenting with drugs just one time too
often. Or the psychological scars of aborting an unwanted child; or the slavery
of getting hooked on pornography. Some of these sinful indiscretions form habits
that haunt a person for a lifetime. So, fleeing the lust of youth is serious
business, that’s for sure.
We have also discovered that
there are ways a young person can stay pure, so let me recap those for you.
1 David’s answer to the
distracting and sinful tugs and pulls on his life was to live according to God’s
word, and to seek God with all his heart! (vs. 9, 10) David then shows his
seriousness by pleading with God to not let him stray from His commands. Of
course, we know that the Bible teaches us that God will never forsake us, if we
truly repent.
2 Then in verse 11, David
says, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Listen to what he said in the
very first Psalm
3 [Happy is the man who
delights] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
4 And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his
leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Is it any wonder that Paul
said that David was a man after God’s own heart? (Acts 13:22)
Any successful Christian must
talk to God daily. They must also listen to what God has to say. Sometimes, God
speaks to us in different ways, but usually through his word. The Prophet Elijah
said,
11And he said, Go forth, and
stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a
great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before
the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake;
but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12And after the earthquake a
fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle,
and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came
a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1 Kings 19:11,12)
The smart man or woman doesn’t
really have to go searching for God’s will for their lives, because for the most
part it is contained right in God’s word. Not in some sensational encounter. His
word is good enough. David knew this. And, that is why we read later in Psalm
119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
So, he was determined not to
stray from the path set before him by hiding the word of God in his heart.
Prayer
Father, we are so thankful
that we that we can say in the words of the poet and song writer that:
“In shady green pastures, so
rich and so sweet, god leads his dear children along. Where the waters cool flow
bathes the weary one’s feet, god leads his dear children along.”
Chorus:
“Some through the water, some
through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood. Some
through great sorrows, but god gives a song, in the night season, and all the
day long.” Amen (“God Leads His Dear Children Along,” Words and music by George
A. Young, 1903)
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Six
Previous Devotion
David it seems, reflects for a
moment in verse 12, and then breaks out into a spontaneous praise. He says,
Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. The Psalmist realizes that you
can not think the thoughts of God, nor can God teach us unless we praise and
recognize Him as Lord. Humility and reverence is the mark of a good man.
David also knew that even if
the word of God was ingrained into his very being it change his heart unless God
gave him understanding. So, that is why he says, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
Obedience without understanding breeds repetitious fanaticism, not a pure heart.
Monkeys can be trained to be obedient; however, no one would say that their
hearts are pure.
David wanted a pure heart;
therefore, he asks to be taught, so that he could understand.
Next, the Psalmist says,
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from
your mouth.
So, it is not enough to just
actively praise God, or be willing to be taught, one must also constantly remind
themselves of God’s commandments.
In verse 14, he says:
14 I rejoice in following your
statutes
as one rejoices in great
riches.
Joy always is a result, not an
effect. Reviving up a congregation, or ourselves, personally, with lively
Christian music, or artificial shouts of joy as if someone just scored a goal in
a world soccer match, will never produce enough fervor to maintain steady and
consistent Christian living. No, firstly, we must hide his Word in our hearts.
Then we must praise Him, and become teachable. That is not enough, either.
We must constantly remind
ourselves of His word to us. Then we will have the privilege of rejoicing in His
Word, as one who discovers a pot of gold.
The Psalmist doesn’t stop
here, however. He continues:
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
Here we discover an important
aspect of living close to God. A man or woman who rejoices in the Word of God
will or at least should spend time meditating on the beauty and logic of God
guidelines (precepts-NIV) for living a happy life.
The Psalmist also implies that
effective meditation will reflect on the “ways,” of God; that is, the direction
or paths, that God lays out for us.
And, dear Listener, if you and
I pattern our lives on the principles that we find in these first 15 verses, we,
too, with the Psalmist can say, as in verse 16:
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
And, thereby, affirm to
ourselves and to God that we will stay on the straight and narrow path that
leads to our eternal reward!
Prayer
Father, we think you for the
beauty of your word. It is indeed a lamp that shines brightly on the path that
you have set before us; and we praise you for your precious word. When we wake
in the morning, or lie down to sleep in the dark hours of the night—yes, all
through the day; we rejoice that it is ever before us. Give us the strength to
never falter along the way, we pray. Amen
Day Seven
Previous Devotion
Those that are pure of heart
appreciate God’s word. They see it as a light that shines brightly on the path
before them; whether in a storm or in the sunshine, they know that God is right
there beside them to lead them gently on. It’s all in God’s hand.
The Psalmist realizes that, he
says:
g Gimel
17 Do good to your servant,
and I will live;
I will obey your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
Here in verse 17, he prays,
“Do good to your servant, and I will live!” As we grow older, especially are we
aware of the fact that our life depends on his goodwill.
Isaac said in Genesis 27:2: “I am now an old man
and don’t know the day of my death.” This is of course in line with what the New
Testament says concerning death. Hebrews 9: 27 reads: . . . it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” So, the thoughtful
person prepares for that eventuality.
That appointment with death is
up to God. God decides, and the reason is a mystery that only He knows. The good
man or woman, however, need not fear for His love for us assures us that He will
be with us throughout life, and at that fateful day.
So, we can say with Psalmist:
1The LORD is my shepherd; I
shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD for ever. (Psalm 23 KJV)
May our Prayer be that we,
like the Psalmist, will have the wisdom and understanding to follow God each
step of the way.
Prayer
Father, give us we pray
understanding. Open our eyes so that we may see the wonderful things in your
laws. We worship you, today, in the beauty of your holiness. Truly your ways
are above our ways. We therefore acknowledge that our very breath depends on
you, and your goodness towards us. Give us the strength to follow you, so that
we, too, may have a pure heart, pleasing in your sight. Amen
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Eight
Previous Devotion
David in today’s lesson
continues with his humble admission that he is but a stranger on earth, and
entirely dependent on the Lord for his very survival.
He says,
19 I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from
me.
Pilgrim’s Progress written by
John Bunyan is a Christian classic, primarily, I believe, because it speaks so
well to the human condition—some would say, human predicament, and they are
probably closer to the truth here. We are strangers, in a sense, on this earth;
our home is not this world, it is heaven, if we are truly Christian.
We must never loose sight of
the fact that we are made in the image of God.
It is interesting, to me at
least, that the Greek Orthodox Church places such great emphasis on man carrying
within him the very image of God, out of which emanates beauty, intellect,
creativity, and basic goodness. This, of course, is in reference to the very
soul of man. Of course the very opposite of that is the belief that man is
innately evil, carnal, selfish, full of greed, and so forth. The true, I
believe, lies somewhere in between.
Therefore, it seems to me,
that the old adage that “There is no honor, save that among thieves,” is simply
untrue.
So, when God said, “Let us
make man in our image, in our likeness …” (Genesis 1:26) we must take it very
seriously in order to understand the condition of fallen man.
That is why Jesus said to
Nicodemus, “You must be born again, if you want to experience the Kingdom of
Heaven.”
A corpse looks human, but is
not; so it is with the spiritually dead.
David, recognized this, and so
we see in the very next half of the verse, it is as if he is saying, Yes, Lord,
I am a stranger on earth; therefore, do not hide your commands from me. (v.9)
We are lost in sin, and do not
know our way out, unless God reveals His commandments to us.
We need to know the rules to
survive!
As Born Again Christians, we
find ourselves yearning with David for more of God’s word. In verse 20, he says,
for instance, “My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.”
David consuming passion was to
know and obey God’s laws at all times. His was not “a Sunday-go-to-meet’n”
religion. No, it was 24/7, as they say.
Prayer
Father, we praise you for the
spiritual uneasiness that we sense in our souls. Truly, this world is not our
home, and we thank you that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus, into the
world, so that we have access to our real home in Heaven. So, we ask, today, in
the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ that you will continue to lead,
guide and direct us by your precious Holy Spirit. Instruct us, Lord. Teach us
your ways. Amen
Day Nine
Previous Devotion
As strangers here on earth, we
humbly remind ourselves that even though we are children of God, we dare not
stray from the path chosen for us.
For we know, as David reminds
us in the next verse that
21 [God] rebukes the arrogant,
who are cursed
and who stray from [His]
commands.
This verse pretty much
explains itself; however, it should be noted that arrogance is an act of the
will, not something we inherit. The will is the key player in all of our lives.
Sadly enough, however, Peter speaks of men in the last days that men will be
willingly ignorant. And, how true this is. Think of all of our school text
books, not a one contains one line about the Creator of the universe! In reality
most modern scientist are “willingly ignorant.” Indeed, the 21st Century fool
has said in his heart (he has willed) there is no God.
Since, acknowledging God and
staying on course is therefore really primarily an act of the will; we must,
like David in verse 22, ask God to “Remove from [us] scorn and contempt,” and
determine to keep [His] statutes. Here, also the Psalmist recognizes that a
Divine act is necessary to root out or remove scorn and contempt from his heart;
otherwise, we can not control our wills.
On another occasion he prays,
“Create within me, O God, a clean heart; and renew a right spirit within me.”
(Ps. 51:10) And, of course, this is the message that Jesus gave Nicodemus, when
he said to him in John, chapter 3, verses 3 and 7, “I tell you the truth, no one
can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” And, more precisely, he
adds, in verse 7, “born from above.” This change is God given, not something
that we can accomplish successfully on our own.
Notice, also, that in verse 22
of this Psalm, David was a righteous man: he kept the commandments or statutes
of God. Yet, he had bitterness in his heart, and knew that was something that
only God could take away.
In short, we must be changed
on the inside out, to please God.
David knew that his enemies
would provoke him, as we see in the next 2 verses; yet, he turned a deaf ear to
those ridiculed him.
23 Though rulers sit together
and slander me,
your servant will meditate on
your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my
delight;
they are my counselors.
David would let nothing
distract him from meditating on God’s word.
Put this in a modern setting:
Not September 11th, not Al Queida, not keeping up with the neighbors, not the
distractions of entertainment. No! His delight came from meditating on the
things of God. His counselors were not the men who surrounded him. No! He took
counsel from God!
What does that say to us?
It says that we should filter
all advice through the Scripture first, and then take action.
Prayer
Father, once again we are
reminded that in you is wisdom and good counsel. Give us the strength to follow
you more closely, and to love you more dearly, for you alone are able to sustain
us. Guide us. Lead us. Protect us from self inflicting ourselves with scorn and
contempt for our enemies, and help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us.
In Christ name, we pray. Amen.
Day Ten
Previous Devotion
David was determined not to
let gossip, or slander defeat him, or cause him to get bitter and scornful. He
also knew that the best way to avoid that was to listen only to God, and not
men. Naturally, however, he grew discouraged at times.
In the next couple of verses,
he acknowledges that he is down, but not out. He said,
d Daleth
25 I am laid low in the dust;
preserve my life
according to your word.
Here the Psalmist is at his
lowest. Probably depressed, even fearful of his life. But, to his credit, he
acknowledges that the future is in the hands of God. Nothing will happen unless
God allows it. In David’s case, only God can rescue him. This is consistent with
the rest of Scripture. The Bible says that “… it is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment:” (Romans 9:27) God decides. Not our enemies.
God preserves our lives. The decision is his.
26 I recounted my ways and
you answered me;
teach me your decrees.
David does what most of us
would do, he reflects on the past. Here, I am sure, he thinks not only of the
good deeds, but the bad ones he committed. And, when he is down, God remembers
him. He hears his heart’s cry. Romans 8:26 tells us that “… the Spirit helps us
in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who
searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes
for the saints in accordance with God's will.”
So, it is very important that
we know God’s will. His precepts are his will. Therefore, it is comforting to
know that the Holy Spirit is praying right along with us in order that we may
know God will.
27 Let me understand the
teaching of your precepts;
then I will meditate on
your wonders.
Learning, however, is never
the answer, unless you understand. And, it is only after you understand that you
can meditate—that is, feast (or meditate) on the awesomeness of God.
28 My soul is weary with
sorrow;
strengthen me according
to your word.
My, David is really down here.
His very soul is weary with sorrow. Why? We do not know. We can only speculate
on that. There were many things in his life, however, that could have brought
about such sorrow. He was betrayed by friends. His wife did not respect him, at
least on one occasion, and even made fun of him as he danced before the Ark of
Covenant as it was being returned to the tabernacle. (1 Samuel 6) He also had to
listen to the scolding rebuke of the Prophet Nathan, after David had sent an
innocent man, Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, to the battle front to be slaughtered,
only because David wanted to marry her. Such a terrible deed could not but have
haunted David day and night. And, of course, as a result, he lost a son.
The point is, however, that no
matter how low we get, the answer is not wallowing in our sorrow, or pining away
in our grief; but, rather, drawing strength for the day from God’s word. When we
bath in His word on a daily basis, that is meditate on his ways, we gain
strength.
Prayer
Father, today, we pray with
David, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable
in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer.” (Ps 19:14) Amen.
Day Eleven
Previous Devotion
Some of my Buddhist friends
feel that if you sit in yoga fashion and clear your mind of every thought that
you are well on your way to perfection. Well, that’s not the Bible’s answer for
perfection, nor was it David’s. David did not sit in the lotus position for
hours on end trying to clear the cob webs out of his mind, either. No, he
meditated on God’s word.
David knew that his real
spiritual strength came from the word of God, Jehovah God.
29 Keep me from deceitful
ways;
be gracious to me
through your law.
Perhaps, in verse 29, David is
remembering the consequences of his deceitful ways. Yet, again to his credit, he
asks for no special favors; all he asks is that God will be gracious to him
according to the law. He chooses justice, tempered by grace. Otherwise, he knew
that he would be completely doomed. Amazing isn’t it, that it took Martin Luther
to remind us once again that it is by grace that we are saved. (Eph. 2:5) The
Bible has taught this all along; yet, we so easily forget.
30 I have chosen the way of
truth;
I have set my heart on
your laws.
David, once again, resolves to
follow truth, not matter where it leads. So, many times it is tempting to just
stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich, and ignore reality. Not so with
David. He chose to follow truth. As a matter of fact, he set his heart on it!
What a lesson to us. We, too, must not just choose, but determine in our heart
that we are going to follow after righteousness.
31 I hold fast to your
statutes, O LORD;
do not let me be put to
shame.
Contrary to popular theology,
God does sometimes allow us to go through some embarrassing situations. Even
those that may cause us shame. Romans 8:28 and 29, states that all things work
according to a pattern that God has for us. Good things, and bad things,
everything works for our good, if we allow it.
And, what is that good?
Well, according to Romans 8:29
that good is that we are being made into the image of Christ. This is why, no
matter what the circumstances are, we must hold true; keep a steady course; and,
not react negatively to the unpleasant circumstances that may surround us. The
same goes for the pleasant circumstances, too. We must never let complacency set
in; or feel that we are special, better than the next person, simply because we
have pleasant circumstances. Otherwise, pride and arrogance may take root in our
heart, and defeat us. Once I hear a very prominent Christian say, after looking
at a drunk man, “there but for the grace of God, go I.”
Prayer
Savior, we praise with your
blessed mother, [Our] soul magnifies the Lord, and [our] spirit rejoices in God
[our] Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of us his servants. We
acknowledge, as she did, our human predicament. We, also, admit that we can not
be pleasing to you unless by your mighty grace and power you save us! Do not let
us be put to shame, we pray. In the Name of The Father, and The Son, and The
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Twelve
Previous Devotion
David realizes that purity,
holiness and righteous was a matter of choice; i.e., following after God and
keeping his commandments. The Psalmist did not, however, just follow after God,
he ran.
David was an urgent pursuit,
as we see in the next verse:
32 I run in the path of your
commands,
for you have set my
heart free.
The Psalmist is so eager to
obey God, he runs. Why? Because he had discovered that obeying God brought
freedom. He was no longer emotionally shackled to sin, because his heart had
been set free. Centuries later, our Master said, “Whosoever committeth sin is
the servant of sin.” (John 8:34) David knew this, also. And, although, he died
centuries early, I am sure he would have rejoiced to have heard Jesus say, “You
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8: 32)
God’s principles are eternal,
and operative in all generations!
Continuing on into the second
part of verse 32, it is interesting that David recognizes that it is when we are
most busy doing good, that we sometimes must me on our best footing. He says,
even when I run, I must remind myself that I have this freedom because of God.
He has set my emotions, my heart, free. Yes, when God set us free, we are free,
indeed! And, that is Scripture. Jesus said, in John 8:36 “If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Are you free, today? Or, are
you still bogged down in self pity, or guilt; yes, even shame? Well, then set
your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col. 3:2)
If we allow ourselves to dwell
on earthly things that are carnal, and lustful, then we become despondent. Why?
Because, we were made for better things. We were made in His image, and we must
allow Him to restore that image through His grace. So, we dare not get too busy
doing good, that we forget to be good!
Prayer
Father, we thank you that we
have been set free. May we, too, sense the urgency and run after your commands;
so that we may continue in that freedom! For we know that the prize goes not to
the swift, or to the faint of heart, but to him that finishes the race. You have
promised that “[That] they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint. Help us, O Lord, we pray, to keep our heart and
soul on the goal, and obey you each step of the way! In the name of Christ, our
Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.
Day Thirteen
Previous Devotion
We have seen that David
eagerly pursued righteousness. He was also very practical. He knew that, as his
son, Solomon, later said, “[T]hat the race is not to the swift, nor the battle
to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of
understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to
them all.”
David realized this, so we see
in verse 33, he prays,
h He
33 Teach me, O LORD, to
follow your decrees;
then I will keep them
to the end.
The goal that David had in
mind was to finish the race! And, he knew that he needed to know the rules, so
that he could keep them until the end. To be taught something, and to understand
what one is taught is not always the same. So, David asks for understanding.
Blind obedience is never a good thing. That leads to fanaticism. God wants us to
understand as well. So, David prays,
34 Give me understanding, and
I will keep your law
and obey it with all my
heart.
This is a refrain that you
will see over and over in the Psalmist David’s writings. Teach me, give me
understanding: both are important if we are to follow after God. St. Augustine
once remarked that our duty is to think God’s thoughts after Him. If we do, and
clearly understand, then we should keep His laws with all our heart, as well as
understand them with our minds.
Socrates was of the opinion
that if a man truly understood truth, and the ramifications of not acting
properly, then he would adjust himself accordingly. I am not sure that is true,
since much of what is true is very evident, and yet we still have bad people. In
any case, our Prayer should be: Teach me. O LORD … and give me understanding,
because I want to obey You!
In the 1974 Olympics, Zola
Budd from South Africa clipped the heels of American Mary Decker in the 3,000m
race, and sent the home favorite sprawling off the track, and losing the race.
What an unfortunate thing to happen; but it is even more unfortunate when this
happens spiritually. Let us pray that God will help us to finish the race that
we have begun, spiritually.
Prayer
Father, we know how easy it is
for us to get tripped up along the way, when we are doing our best to follow
you. Prepare us for the race by teaching us your laws, and give us the
understanding so that we may obey them with all of our hearts. We ask this in
the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Fourteen
Previous Devotion
Yesterday, we discovered that
David not only wanted to follow God, but he wanted to understand the directions.
A much easier route would have been to simply follow the directions without
question. This of course only breeds fanaticism. No, God created us with the
ability to reason, and understand; and, expects us to ask for understanding.
Unlike the brave 600 in The
Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, ours is to reason why.
Remember the second stanza?
Let me read it for you.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
How sad! Our Prayer should be,
Teach me, O LORD!
Afterwards, when we have been
taught, we feel comfortable enough to pray with
David,
35 Direct me in the path of
your commands,
for there I find
delight.
Of course, David is speaking
from experience here. He knows that if God directs him in the path of His
commands, that he will be delighted. Why any sane man or woman would want to
walk along the highways and byways of life, rather than in a path that God has
prepared is beyond me. What possible good could come from that? However, some,
even to this day, refuse to be taught. They only serve Him blindly, and without
reason. Paul says, “Brethren, [in] understanding be men.” [1 Cor. 14:20] God
expects us to understand the consequences.
Being human, however, we must
at times pray, as did David,
36 Turn my heart toward your
statutes
and not toward selfish
gain.
Here David is standing at
crossroads, one leads to a life of selfishness, the other along the path that
God has prepared. David realizes that the choice is not one of the intellect
here, but of the heart. Therefore, he prays, “God turn my heart (my emotions)
toward your direction, not towards selfish gain.” Why? Because, as we see in the
next verse, all material gains are worthless things. They do not bring life.
Only God’s word can do that. Just a casual reading of the Book of James points
that out. And, David’s son, Solomon, knew it, too. All worldly gain is vanity,
to put it in his words. Chasing after the wind, as it were. Or as the Prophet
Hosea put it: “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind!”
Therefore, David Prayer in the next verse is:
37 Turn my eyes away from
worthless things;
preserve my life
according to your word. [b]
Prayer
Father, give us the wisdom to
ask for understanding. It is so easy to head in the wrong direction with bad
advice, or our carnal emotions, or just plain ignorance. We appreciate your
patience with us, and we confess that we like sheep have been gone astray. Teach
us, Lord, we humbly pray. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.
Day Fifteen
Previous Devotion
In the last verse, verse 37,
you will remember, David prayed, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.” This
should be our Prayer, also. Many years ago, Paul said, “Yes, everything [is]
worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have
Christ and become one with him.” That, according to Romans 8:28 is our destiny;
that is, to be one with him! Every other pursuit is worthless.
Now, in the very next verse,
David ask, speaking to God,
38 Fulfill your promise to
your servant,
so that you may be
feared.
Why would anyone want to God
to put fear in their heart? Well, the answer is simple: He did not want to
suffer the consequences of disobeying God. Many centuries later, one of the
authors in the New Testament wrote, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31)
I know that there are some who
would like to restrict the word ‘fear’ to mean ‘awe,’ and I have no real
argument with that, other than we must also include a wholesome fear, as being
part of the ‘awe’ we have. Who else but an awesome powerful God could follow
through on His promises? Those promises include both rewards and consequences.
Rewards if we obey; consequences if we do not.
David, however, is not worried
about God rewarding him unjustly; he is worried about the disgrace that his
actions will bring upon him. Therefore, he prays:
39 Take away the disgrace I
dread,
for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your
precepts!
Preserve my life in
your righteousness.
He prays this Prayer because
he realizes that “whatsoever a man sows, he reaps!” If he commits a despicable
act; he suffers disgrace. For sure, he loses the respect of his peers; but the
worst is to lose God’s grace. More about that tomorrow, however.
Prayer
Father, we never like to think
of the worst that could happen to us. We prefer to treat our sins as minor
discretions. We sometimes say that we, or others, simply misspoke, when really
it was an outright lie. We tend to cover our sins with excuses. Give us the
dread of your displeasure; so that we may change our ungodly conduct, and seek
your forgiveness. In Christ name, we pray. Amen.
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Sixteen
Previous Devotion
One can only speculate, but it
seems as if David is really going through a downtime in his life at this point.
In yesterday’s verse we heard him say ask that God take away the disgrace that
he so dreaded. No doubt he reflected on when Samuel said to King Saul, "You have
rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over
Israel!" [1 Samuel 15:26]
So he cries out:
w Waw
41 May your unfailing love
come to me, O LORD,
your salvation
according to your promise;
42 then I will answer the one
who taunts me,
for I trust in your
word.
Well, David, as we have seen,
and shall see throughout this Psalm faces all types of difficulties. One of the
annoying things that one faces in life is those who taunt him. There is nothing
more annoying, or unnerving than someone taunting you. Perhaps, David is here
thinking of Shimei, who threw stones and cursed David once. He even said that
David was a murderer and full of the Devil (2 Sam. 16:7, 13)
Yet, what is David’s response
here? He asks that God’s unfailing love come to him, before he answered his
critics. David wanted to sense the loving presence of the Lord, before he
responded. He wanted to answer his critics in love.
Jesus taught centuries later
us to: "Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned
that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and
you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the
unthankful and to those who are wicked.” (Luke 6:35)
43 Do not snatch the word of
truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope
in your laws.
The Psalmist, as we clearly
see, was completely transparent in this great psalm. His fear in this instance
was that God would not speak through him, and he knew that he did not have the
will power at times to speak the truth.
Prayer
Our most precious, loving
Heavenly Father, we implore you today to let sense the presence of your love. We
want to bask in the atmosphere of your love that surrounds us at all times.
Protect us. Save us. Help us in all times, and at all places, to reflect upon
that love before we respond to our circumstances. We ask this in the name of the
Holy Trinity, The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.
Day Sixteen
Previous Devotion
Life is full of choices. An
agnostic has chosen not to choose. The atheist has chosen not to believe in
God. A Christian has chosen Christ. A Muslim has chosen to follow Mohammed.
David made a wise choice to follow Jehovah. He said in the previous verse that
he had placed his hope in God’s law. He then reiterates in the next few verses
his determination to follow God. So, we see that it is one thing to place our
hopes in a certain philosophy, or religion; and, yet, quite another to
diligently follow a certain belief.
He writes,
44 I will always obey your
law,
for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in
freedom,
for I have sought out
your precepts.
Or, as the Amplified Bible
reads:
45And I will walk at liberty
and at ease, for I have sought and inquired for [and desperately required] Your
precepts.
What a wonderful statement!
David was at ease with the decision. It freed him from the stresses and strains
of trying to trudge his way through life trying to figure the rules for abundant
living out on his own.
E. Stanley Jones, a mentor for
many aspiring missionaries and ministers, wrote an inspiring book entitled “The
Divine Yes” when he was in his late eighties, confined to a wheel chair, and
virtually speechless because of a stroke. The whole premise of the book was that
the wise man surrenders his will to God’s will in each and every circumstance he
faces in life. The decision to do that, he convincingly argued, frees us up to
enjoy life at its’ fullest.
David was so comfortable with
his choice, and convinced that he had made the right decision that he wanted to
share his discovery with others! He said,
46 I will speak of your
statutes before kings
and will not be put to
shame,
47 for I delight in your
commands
because I love them.
My, what a thought to feast
on! He loved to obey. And, he had the confidence to share his belief in the
wisdom of obeying God. As a matter of fact, he was so committed to God’s will
that he lifted up his hand in worshipful surrender to God’s commands, and found
delight in meditation upon them. He says:
48 I lift up my hands to [c]
your commands, which I love,
and I meditate on your
decrees.
It is never enough to
surrender. Any fearful person can do that. However, when one surrenders to
another in love, it shows devotion. David was devoted to God, and believed with
all of his heart that the wisest course was to follow after Him. Obedience of
this sort, however, requires not only commitment, but also understanding;
therefore, he meditated on God’s commandments in order to fully understand them,
so that he could fully obey them.
The longer I live, the more I
realize that God’s Word is not something that we can just commit to rote memory,
and then it will somehow heal our souls. No, it is never that. We must reflect
daily on His goodness, and understand, as best we can, His will for our lives.
Prayer
Father God, we come humbly
before you, not in fear and trepidation; but in awe at the marvels of your
goodness towards us, and the wisdom of your commandments. Your Word declares
that You are good to all; And Your tender mercies are over all Your works. Psalm
145:9 Therefore, we also lift up our hands to You and surrender willingly to
Your commands, because we love You, and meditate on the wisdom of Your plans for
us. In Christ name we pray. Amen.
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Seventeen
Previous Devotion
David was a man of commitment,
and when he decided that a certain direction in his life was God’s will, he
threw all of his energies into it. Yet, he was also very human, and would from
time to time become discouraged.
Today we read about one of
those times. He implores God to:
z Zayin
49 Remember your word to your
servant,
for you have given me
hope.
50 My comfort in my suffering
is this:
Your promise preserves
my life.
51 The arrogant mock me
without restraint,
but I do not turn from
your law.
52 I remember your ancient
laws, O LORD,
and I find comfort in
them.
53 Indignation grips me
because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your
law.
54 Your decrees are the theme
of my song
wherever I lodge.
55 In the night I remember
your name, O LORD,
and I will keep your
law.
56 This has been my practice:
I obey your precepts.
These words speak for
themselves; but let us consider the highlights of his commitment, and the reason
behind it. Firstly, David considered himself a servant of God, and did not try
and rest on his own merits, or rely on his ability to solve the problem of
worry. Quite frankly, he said, “I am not up to the task. I am suffering. I even
fear for my life. My enemies are so confident that they even criticize me
openly, and arrogantly, at that!”
So, what did he do? He
remembered God’s laws! They had proven trustworthy in the past, and they would
for the future, also. Many times we tend to forget the goodness of God, and the
wisdom of following His proven ways. However, since God is always faithful, and
His mercies endure forever, we are wise to remember His counsel, and direction
for our lives.
So, instead of allowing
indignation to seethe into revenge and lash out at our critics, we, too, would
be wise to cheer up, and make God the central theme of our lives!
Prayer
Father we thank you for the
good practical example that your servant David has left us. Help us to also sing
of your goodness and reflect on your ways all through the day and all night
long, too. We ask the matchless name of God, our Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ—in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we pray, Amen.
Day Eighteen
Previous Devotion
Yesterday, we discovered that
the secret of David living triumphantly was in making God’s will the center of
his focus, and the central theme of his songs. In a word, He enjoyed obeying
God.
Once again, today, he shows
his determination to correct his ways and obey God, and has high expectations
that he will be rewarded for doing so.
We read,
x Heth
57 You are my portion, O
LORD;
I have promised to obey
your words.
58 I have sought your face
with all my heart;
be gracious to me
according to your promise.
59 I have considered my ways
and have turned my
steps to your statutes.
60 I will hasten and not
delay
to obey your commands.
61 Though the wicked bind me
with ropes,
I will not forget your
law.
62 At midnight I rise to give
you thanks
for your righteous
laws.
63 I am a friend to all who
fear you,
to all who follow your
precepts.
64 The earth is filled with
your love, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.
So, regardless of the
circumstances both real and imagined, he set his face like a flint towards God.
He was determined. Interestingly, also, he chose friends who were committed to
God, too! He said, in verse 63: “I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who
follow your precepts.” That’s another one David’s great secret of success,
spiritually.
Then, David says something
rather strange, considering the circumstances. He says in verse 64: “The earth
is filled with your love, O LORD; teach me your decrees.” A less insightful
person would say, “Look at all the misery that I am in, and the threats that
surround me, the earth is full of woe; and an all powerful God like Jehovah must
be a partner in all of this evil.” Not so, David instead says, “The earth is
filled with your love, O LORD.” And, just in case David had any doubts about
that, he says, “Teach me your decrees, Lord.”
Having a teachable spirit is
essential in following after God. David knew that, and was willing to learn.
Many times some people think they know it all. Not so with David. He was
teachable.
Prayer
Father God, teach us your
ways, so that we may sing like Paul and Silas in the midnight hour, regardless
of the circumstances. Like David, Lord, help us to see love when there is hate
and evil all around us. We admit that we are not capable on our own to deal with
criticism; and, yes, sometimes even physical threats, so we ask you help us. For
we ask this in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Our Purpose Is To Reach 10 Million
Souls For Christ In The Next 10 Years.
Day Nineteen
Previous Devotion
Commitment and focus is the
theme of David’s success as a servant of God. That is not to say that he never
strayed. He did at times, but only temporarily. It is significant to see,
however, that he was not alone in all of this. God was helping him. “How’s
that?” you many say.
Well, verse 67 gives us the
answer; and I must quickly add, it is not a pleasant answer. But, let us begin
with verse 65:
X Teth
65 Do good to your servant
according to your word,
O LORD.
66 Teach me knowledge and good
judgment,
for I believe in your
commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I
went astray,
but now I obey your
word.
So, God used pain to set him
on the right path. That is the message, sometimes that we all must learn. Pain
is not always bad; particularly, when we allow it to draw closer to God for help
and comfort. Paul says in Romans 8:28 “All things work together for our good!”
The secret is that we must let them drive us towards God, instead of inward and
outward against ourselves and others.
Speaking of evil, it
has been said that “Those
who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Prison is full of repeat offenders. Why? Well, to put it bluntly, ‘They are
either unwilling or unable to learn from the past!’
If they are unable, in my opinion, then they should be in a mental institution,
not a prison. Most, however, are simply unwilling, and are therefore doomed to a
life of misery and incarceration. Most of us, however, do not belong in either a
mental institution, or in prison. We are, however, victims of our own
foolishness, or of our own unwillingness to follow after God. And, when we
suffer, we sometimes fail to learn from the experience. Or when pain comes our
way, we fail to allow it to drive us closer to God.
Prayer
Precious Heavenly Father, help us in our infirmatives, when times are hard, and
the road ahead looks rough. May we see that in it all you are there as our guide
and instructor to lead and teach us each step of the way. May the night never
become too dark, or the blinding sun too hot for us not to see you standing
along side us, teaching and comforting us along the path that lies ahead. In
Christ Our Redeemer’s Name we pray. Amen.
Day Twenty
Previous Devotion
For the real man or woman of
God heart ache and disappoints may come and go, but they never permanently
detour us for following after God. The commands of God are good for us, because
God is good.
David affirms this in the next
verse,
68 You are good, and what you
do is good;
teach me your decrees.
And, once again, David shows
his real mettle by declaring that,
69 Though the arrogant have
smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts
with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous
and unfeeling,
but I [will] delight in
your law.
In hindsight he says,
71 It was good for me to be
afflicted
so that I might learn
your decrees.
However, we would be wise in
understanding that a pleasant hindsight is only made possible when we have had
good foresight! Good foresight is not, however, something that we pick up and
put down at every troublesome whim. It is an attitude that we must adopt as a
central principle in our life. David had that. Notice he says in verse 72,
72 The law from your mouth is
more precious to me
than thousands of
pieces of silver and gold.
What a delightful attitude. He
knew that even though he may not always know the twist and turns that lay ahead,
he nonetheless could trust in God, and to him that was more precious than
riches!
y Yodh
73 Your hands made me and
formed me;
give me understanding
to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you
rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope
in your word.
You see, David was firmly
convinced that no one knew him better than God. Although science was not as
developed in those days as it is today, David knew that he could trust the one
who had made his DNA, and caused him to grow into the human being that he was.
Further, David realized that
God was not through “growing him” either. God was still forming his spiritual
character by directing his steps along the paths of righteousness. Never
satisfied with blind obedience, however, David constantly prayed for
understanding. He knew that an understanding heart is a better pupil and more
inclined to obey than an ignorant one; so he prayed for understanding, not
selfishly, but in order that others would be encouraged by his example.
Prayer
Father, you are more precious
to us than silver or gold. You hold the wealth of the world in you hands.
Nothing can compare to you. You are good and a true friend in times of trouble.
Teach us your ways, so that we may be pleasing to you, and an example to others.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit may you energize us for faithful service.
In Christ Holy Name we pray. Amen.
Day Twenty-one
Previous Devotion
Money, position,
or fame, is never the goal of the Godly. Obedience comes before all else.
Obedience is the key to spiritual success; and it is also the standard by which
God judges us. Jesus asked, “And why call ye
me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46 On another occasion
Jesus also said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven.” Matt. 7: 21
Kingdom dynamics have not
changed since Biblical times, either. The principle still holds true, as it did
for the Psalmist, and for those to whom Christ addressed the remarks that we
just heard from the New Testament. Personally, it seems so obvious to me, at
least, that David constantly addresses God as LORD, or Jehovah, if you prefer.
Both connote the same principle, that is, He is indeed worthy of honor, respect
and reverence. He therefore acknowledges in the next verse [75] that he knows
that Jehovah’s laws are righteous, and considers it a sign of God’s faithfulness
that He has afflicted him. We read:
75 I know, O LORD, [he says]
that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you
have afflicted me.
First of all, we must ask,
“How did David know?” The answer is that he knew from experience, and considered
God’s sometimes gentle, sometimes not so gentle nudges, or afflictions to be a
sign of His faithfulness and unfailing love and compassion. For in verses 76 and
77 we read:
76 May your unfailing love be
my comfort,
according to your
promise to your servant.
77 Let your compassion come
to me that I may live,
for your law is my
delight.
My, there is so much here that
is good for us to remember, that one hardly know were to start! Consider, for
instance, that David found comfort in knowing that God truly loved him, and did
not see hardships as something to get angry with God over. He knew God
intimately; and from past experience, he knew that he was worthy of trust.
Normally, masters do not confide in servants; but God did, and that was proof
enough that he loved him, as far as David was concerned.
Upon closer examination of
verse 77, we understand that God’s compassion sustained The Psalmist. Sometimes,
even on a human level, all we have left to sustain us is compassion. I am
reminded of when our little 18 month old grandson drown in the family swimming
pool. At the funeral, his older brother sat weeping, and one of the cousins,
another grandson, came and sat along side him. He put his arm around him and
said, “Jay, there is nothing I can do to bring him back. But, I can sit here and
cry with you.”
What a wonderful thing to do!
And, it is this type of compassion that gives us just an inkling of what David
must have sensed from God. Make no mistake about it, our God is a loving and
compassionate God who really cares.
Prayer
Father, we must confess that
at times we have turned away from those in need, and excused ourselves because
we were too busy, or did not have enough money to help, or a thousand other
excuses. However, we now realize that compassion can heal a broken heart, and
touch the hurting like nothing else can. Give us a heart of compassion. Give us
the heart of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Day Twenty-two
Previous
Devotion
In our previous devotion we
discovered that God is a God of compassion, and that in times of distress He is
there to comfort and console. David was so convince of this that determined that
no one, or any hardship would distract him from following after God.
Today’s scripture verses
continue that theme. For we read:
78 May the arrogant be put to
shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on
your precepts.
79 May those who fear you
turn to me,
those who understand
your statutes.
80 May my heart be blameless
toward your decrees,
that I may not be put
to shame.
I think it is significant that
David sees three possible hindrances to his spiritual progress. One, the
arrogant critic; two, the God fearing; and, three, he, himself.
Many times, we are prone to
fight fire with fire. If someone lashes out at us, we want to lash back. Not
David. He refused to get all tied up settling old accounts, or getting even. No,
he said, “I will meditate on God’s word!”
Then there are times that even
our closes friends, brethren in Christ, as it were, will shun us because of some
perceived fault in us. But, it is in times of trouble that we need one another.
David knew this, so he prayed, “May those who fear you turn to me.” [79]
And, lastly, he prayed that
his “heart would be blameless before God,” since he knew that sometimes we are
our own worst enemy. However, God can see right through the sham, and veneer of
pretense. He sees right into a man’s heart, the seat of his emotions. He knows
us like no other. Not even our spouses, or our parents know us any better. So,
David prayed that he could stand blameless before God, with a clean heart.
And, if we are to live a
successful Christian life, we, too, must pray that hearts will be blameless
before God. For you see, it is not so much sin, or others, but the attitude of
the heart that ultimately keeps us from following after God.
Prayer
Father, God, with David we
pray that you will create within us a new heart, and renew the right spirit
within us. Give us the strength to stop blaming others, and making excuses for
not following you more closely. We freely admit that the reason we are not
growing spiritually is within. It is a heart problem that only you can heal. May
our hearts, therefore, be blameless before you, we pray. Amen.
Previous
Devotion
In yesterday’s devotion, we read that David
prayed to the Lord, “May my heart be
blameless toward your decrees.” (v. 80)
The heart
determines one’s attitude. Christ said, “ A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good;
and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is
evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” [Luke 6:45]
**
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