How can David say, “As for the head of those who surround me, may the mischief of their lip cover them. May burning coals fall upon them; may they be cast into the fire, into the deep pits from which they cannot rise. May a slanderer not be established in the earth; may evil hunt the violent man speedily.” Psalm 140:9-11 Can we truly wish the demise of someone? What is the basis of these thoughts of David? These wicked men were against God and seeking the demise of David. How does the character and opposition of these men against God allow David to seek their downfall? The character and identity of David was grounded in his relationship with God. This relationship with God afforded David the confidence to proclaim that the wicked will never proper because God was in control. “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God; give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications. O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Do no grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not promote his evil device , that they not be exalted.’” Psalm 140:6-8 Continue Reading…
Boldness birthed out of God’s sufficient supremacy: Psalm 140
The weight of hopelessness removed at the cross of Calvary: Psalm 139
What is the source of the inner hurt and pain that consumes your life? Do you ever think that no one cares about you or that no one has truly endured a life like your own? Deep down every person wants to know that there is someone who knows their hopes, dreams, fears, worries, pains, and desires. We search out someone who will fulfill that desire in our life and when we fail to find the perfect soul mate we turn to our idols to meet our needs. Do you feel a weight of hopelessness because no one is there to help you? Has everyone let you down and you dwell in a state of continual despair? Where can your hope be found? I can tell you today that there is someone who knows you better than you know yourself. God almighty the Lord of heaven and earth is the one that your are craving to know because He fully knows you. “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:1-4 Continue Reading…
Find your trust in God’s faithfulness and sufficiency: Psalm 138
Do you believe that God answers every prayer? Do you view answered prayers as the ones with results matching your expectations? Do not fall into the habit of believing that God’s care and concern for you is summed up in whether you get what you desire. Remember that when God decides that your desire is not ultimately best for your life that He is answering your prayer. Are you willing to rest in God and wait on Him? Do you respond with humility, thankfulness, and reverence to God? Do you find strength in God? ”On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:3 It is imperative that we trust God and believe that He will work for our best when we come to Him in prayer. ”The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8 Will you trust in God’s faithfulness? Will you trust in the sufficiency of God? Continue Reading…
In the midst of persecution and trouble God is enough: Psalm 137
Complete devastation and captivity in Babylon laid heavy on the lives of the people of Israel. Gone were the days when vigor and vitality defined their spiritual life. The continual disobedience of Israel led to their captivity within Babylon and the razing of Jerusalem. The psalmist of Psalm 137 is in the midst of great pressure and persecution by captors filled with spite and pride. “For there our captors demanded of us sons, and out tormentors mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the ons of Zion.’” Psalms 137:3 What is to be done in the face of such oppression? What hope is there when we find ourselves surrounded by pressure and persecution through our actions or the actions of another? Continue Reading…
God’s lovingkindness is truly everlasting: Psalm 136
What comes to mind when you think about the lovingkindness of God? Is the lovingkindness of God a solitary act or a renewing act for mankind? Was it loving kindness that caused God to create this creation we live in? Was it lovingkindness that continually delivered the people of Israel from themselves? Was the lovingkindness expressed wholly upon the cross of Calvary? Was it lovingkindness that brought you through life to this exact moment? The lovingkindness of God is not a small act played out in a single moment but it is woven throughout time from the past, through the present, and into the future. The lovingkindness of God speaks to His unfailing faithfulness and covenant with mankind. “Who remembered us in our low estate, for His lovingkindness is everlasting, and has rescued us from our adversaries, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; who gives food to all flesh, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 136:23-26 Continue Reading…
Turn aside from the Idols of the world: Psalm 135
Will you join me in praising God, the Lord of heaven and earth and creator of all things? The situation you find yourself in today will not change the truth that God is worthy of your praise and adoration. Do you praise God and wholeheartedly adore Him? Do you find yourself wondering why God should be praised? As we face life’s monotony and a varying array of trouble there hope for us found in praising God. What is the basis of praise? In Psalm 135 we are exhorted by the psalmist to praise the Lord but along with this exhortation we are given a reason to praise Him. “For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods.” Psalm 135:5 The foundation of praise is built upon the deeds of God and intrinsically found in His nature. Continue Reading…
Who sits on the throne of authority in your life: Psalm 134
Have we become so busy that we cease worshiping God? Our days become more and more cluttered with tasks and errands as we continue in the race of life. We have bills to pay, food to provide, shelter to pay off, and clothing to purchase on a continual basis but has this grind of life drawn us away from worshiping God? We have taken our belief and trust that God will provide for our needs and taken the burden of provision upon our own shoulders. What would happen if we returned to our first love? We so easily say that God will provide for us but then we do not rest and wait for Him. What would happen if we took time regularly to rest before God and share our heart with Him in worship? When we return to our first love of God we will find that all of the worries and concerns don’t press upon our lives as they once did. God stands ready for you to cast aside your burdens and worries of life upon Him. In His complete sufficiency there will be total satisfaction and rest. Will you return to worship the God who loved you so much He gave you eternal life through His only son? Continue Reading…
The greatest act of unity occurred upon the cross of Calvary: Psalm 133
Do you dwell in a continuous state of strife with the world around you? When you are at home with your family do you add to the contention and strife? While toiling at work are you scheming to climb the corporate ladder using whatever means necessary? Do you have genuine friendships with people or have you only collected relationships that solely benefit your life? If you have found your life consumed with strife, scheming, or shallowness I encourage you to look at Psalm 133 for a renewed life purpose. David is describing how great it is to live in unity with the fellow believers. It is good and pleasant when believers can put aside strife, scheming, and shallowness to live in unity. ”It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – life forever.” Psalm 133:3 Continue Reading…
Taste the pure faithfulness of God: Psalm 132
What is faithfulness? We too easily perceive with a feigned understanding the truly unknowable faithfulness that is sourced in God alone. We cannot know God or comprehend the depth of His faithfulness to us. In Psalm 132 the return of the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem is recalled and celebrated as the great faithfulness of God is praised. The psalmist cries out for God to remain faithful to His promises to the line of David. He knows that God is the true source of hope because He remains faithful to His lovingkindness. We look upon our friends, family, or pets as examples of faithfulness but this faithfulness is built upon flawed humanity and our emotional expectations cannot be truly faithful. Have you tasted the pure faithfulness that is found in God alone? Can you rely on God’s lovingkindness? In your helplessness will you trust in God’s faithfulness? Continue Reading…
Dawning of God’s deliverance shatters darkness: Psalm 130
When we are weighted down by the worries of life and all around us are idols that seek to cause our heart, mind, soul, and strength to fail and run away away from God what are we to do? Are we to run towards the first thing we see that would ease our anxiety or offers us a distraction? Will this thing we choose to run to bring help? When we turn to sin for comfort we will only find deeper despair and a soul filled with an ever increasing emptyness. What ultimately can we do? What should we do? We need to fight every inpluse that compels us to run away from God and wait for Him. Continue Reading…
