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Lowell Brueckner

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February 19 – 25 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

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February 19

Psalms 14:4-7

4.  Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
5.  There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
6.  Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
7.  Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

     The children of men are at enmity with the children of God and there is no ground for relationship. They mock and refuse the counsel, which the poor – that is, those who are poor in worldly wisdom – receive from the Lord. They cannot understand or tolerate the ones who belong to Him. They chew him up, as though he exists for them to feed upon.           
     They know no lordship, but their own cravings and ambitions. Their ignorance of God is voluntary and persecution stems from their hatred of Him. The righteous upset their godless peace, as the only reminder that they have a Creator. They see and fear the reality of God in their lives.
     Here is a plea for the revival of the righteous. The Psalmist prays for God Himself to deliver an Israel, which is bound, and set him free from the persecuting enemies. Oh Jesus, Emmanuel, come by the Holy Spirit in fresh manifestation to your people. Set them free from the bondages of the world around them and cause them to live in the lofty heights of Mt. Zion.

 

February 20

Psalms 15:1

1.  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

     The questions of David are not casual curiosities. They are of infinite and eternal consequence. Every man, who inquires after salvation, must grapple with them. The Lord’s tabernacle is the only place of eternal happiness and he, who would have eternal life, must abide there. His holy hill is the only place high enough to free us from the temporal and death that follows.
     The way into the Holy of Holies was not yet opened in the Old Testament. The priests came and ministered in the tabernacle, but they could not dwell there. Only the high priest entered the Holy of Holies and that only once a year. It was not a friendly habitation for men. If the Old Testament types were holy, fearsome and unapproachable, what of the reality? All in those times went down to Sheol, rather than up to heaven.



February 21

Psalms 15:2-3

2.  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

     Beginning in verse two, the emphasis in this Psalm is on actions, deeds, and words. The Apostle John stated clearly, “He that doeth righteousness, is righteous”. That is a principle, about which there can be no confusion. Whereas deeds do not make a person righteous, they are the evidence of inward righteousness. Those who dwell eternally with the Lord are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” This is the New Testament way to the holy hill of God.
     On the positive side, the righteous walks, works and speaks. There is no mistaking this person’s day-by-day lifestyle. It shows integrity and seriousness. He speaks from his heart and the words are truthful and forthright, for he has nothing to hide. He takes action to promote righteousness, which is, in fact, his life’s work.
     On the negative side, there are things he denies himself. In other words, although inward godliness manifests itself in positive form, it also wars against the flesh and its uprisings. He does not backbite, does not work evil, and does not take up a reproach. Because his speech is honest, he is careful not to mix in untruths and insinuations, for he has no desire to destroy character. He does not turn against his friend. He wants the best for him and he stands by him faithfully. He does not want to stir up strife and so is careful in all his doings and words to deny the flesh in its insistent war against the spirit.


February 22

Psalms 15:4-5

4.  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5.  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

     The person who will abide in God’s presence is not a passionless “nice guy” or a spineless jellyfish. He knows how to appreciate and how to despise. He takes a definite stand against the enemies of God and all that is destructive to His kingdom. He honors the one who walks in the fear of God, both in his heart and before others. He commends the man who does not act to promote his own benefits, but carefully observes the will of the Lord. He will stand on God’s side and speak in no uncertain terms, though it is devastating to personal advantage. Here is the most important characteristic: He does not change. One of the most disheartening matters in Christianity today is indecision or wavering. There are many, who take a stand one day, who cannot be found anywhere near that stand the next. Honorable is the man who does not compromise, but sticks to his guns. He is dependable and consistent. People go to him, when they become serious about God, because they know he will be there.
     The one who abides in the holy hill of God is not a lover of money and he is not looking for personal profit. Financial advancement is not a consideration. Money does not influence his decisions, principles or judgment of people. When you find this kind of person, you find someone who has dug deeply into God. His roots are in the firmest of spiritual soil and he will remain there steadfastly throughout eternity.


February 23

Psalms 16:1-3

1.  Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2.  O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;
3.  But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

     David and the prophets were enveloped in Christ long before He came to earth. They were partakers of His sufferings and triumphs. David wrote the Messianic Psalms, which foretold the coming, life, death and resurrection of Christ, because they were real in his life. They can be as real and alive to saints today, who by faith make His life their own. They are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.
     Jesus was the great ‘Truster’. “He trusted in God,” the Jews said, however sarcastically, but it was true. It was acutely evident in Him, in Whom the Father was well pleased, and we now live by His life and faith. Paul lived by the faith of the Son of God and so did David. “The spirit of Christ within (him) testified.” It is the kind of faith, in which God is interested.
     David trusted Him to be Lord over his life. There was no good in him that could meet God’s expectations, but God imparted to him sanctified longings of the heart.
     David identified with the called-apart ones, just as Jesus did. The saints are the peculiar possession of God, partakers of the Divine nature, who manifest godliness in the world. “Thine they were,” Jesus stated in His high priestly prayer, “I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one…I am glorified in them.” Jesus rejoiced over them. They are His delight and the fulfillment of His purposes on earth. It is the saints’ excellent inheritance that God should transfer the joy and glory of Christ to them and complete it in them.


February 24

Psalms 16:4-7

4.  Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
5.  The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6.  The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7.  I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

     The saint must separate himself from all forms of idolatry. He finds satisfaction in the person of God and in nothing else. As the Levite, the Lord is his portion of inheritance. He is his “cup of tea”, to use an old expression. Let the 2 1/2 tribes have the heritage outside the promised land, the other 9 1/2 inside, the priests possessed the area roped off by God Himself, the ancient landmarks established in pleasant places, which endure forever. The Lord maintained and secured his place in life. God was Abraham’s reward. He let Lot have the well-watered lands and the king of Sodom keep the booty. Why should we lay claim to a corner of creation, when the Creator gives Himself to us?
     The guiding reins for counsel and instruction in our life belong to Him, to Whom we submit lordship. Jesus is our example: “I do nothing of Myself….My doctrine is not Mine”. We will have reason to bless the Lord, if we follow Him.


February 25

Psalms 16:8-13

8.  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10.  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11.  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

     Where have you set the Lord? It is your privilege to keep Him before you always, where you can fix your eyes on Him and follow in His footsteps. In priority, He must always come before you. Lordship is the key to divine help and strength. He gives Himself to the person who gives Him his rightful place over his whole being. He becomes the soul’s stability, the gladness of the heart and the hope of the body.
     Paul and Peter recognized that this Psalm came to a fulfillment, which was far beyond David. From the fruit of his loins came the Son of Man, whose soul triumphed over hell and whose body triumphed over the grave. This Man turned the tide of human destiny, robbing hell of its inhabitants and will again restore in resurrection power that which earthly soil has claimed. “Up from the grave He arose.” It was impossible that the grave should retain Him, in the first place, because of His divine nature. He is life personified. Secondly He arose, because He trusted in the Father. Thirdly He arose, because the scriptures so state. The Word of God is surer than death. The scriptures tell us, “Because He lives, we shall live also.” 
     Is it grievous to make Him Lord? God is not the God of somber grayness. He strips us of the temporal, only to clothe us with the eternal. He is the path of life, in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are eternal pleasures.


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