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Lowell Brueckner

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February 26 – March 4 Daily Meditations in the Psalms

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February 26

Psalms 17:1-5

1.  Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2.  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3.  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4.  Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5.  Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

     David’s prayer is righteous, because he prayed in the will of God. Having nowhere else to go but to God, David cried, “Hear… attend…give ear.” He speaks from his heart and is honest with God.
     He is open to receive whatever sentence the Lord will decree. His spirit is blameless and unafraid. “He that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds might be manifest that they are wrought in God.” God has visited him in the night with trials, which uncovered David’s heart. He is confident in the work that God has done and that it has removed the dross. Down deep things are right, but the more superficial things are prone to be influenced by the environment. Therefore, he purposes to keep his mouth from evil and is determined to bring it into subjection.
     He speaks first of his heart, then of his mouth, and finally of his feet. Coming from the spiritual realm, he now deals with men. The Word of God always runs crosscurrent to the ways or works of men. Through the attention and obedience given to God’s word, he has been kept from the destructive paths of men. Obedience to divine order, requires divine assistance. He cannot make it alone. The way of God is a precarious path, unless He upholds us. “Save me, Lord, or I perish”, cried Peter and the Lord rescued him.




February 27

Psalms 17:6-14

6.  I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7.  Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8.  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9.  From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10.  They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11.  They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12.  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13.  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14.  From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

     David is not beating the air. He prays because God silences heaven that He might hear prayer. He is a ‘truster’ and trust or faith works by love. He has a revelation of the marvelous lovingkindness of God and knows the power of His right hand. On God’s part, there is a will and a way and this is the basis of David’s faith. Now he cries for a demonstration.
     Enemies drive us to God. The King James translators see the wicked as His sword and His hand (verses 13-14). The more modern mind may have difficulty with such thoughts, but it is not strange to the over-all revelation of scripture. God uses the wicked to bring and keep God’s people on their knees. Time after time through the Psalms, David cries for deliverance from his enemies.
      The oppression of enemies draws out the tender mercies of God. God will protect his own, as men would keep the pupil of the eye, that very tender and important part of the body. He will hide them by the covering of His wings. It is a hiding place that a persecutor will never discover, regardless of his proximity.
     The Psalmist depicts the state of the righteous in this world as one of leanness, necessity, and as sheep among carnivorous beasts; that of the wicked, as one of fatness, pride and self-confidence. The enemies are deadly and strong and keep us dependent upon our God.


February 28

Psalms 17:10-15

10.  They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11.  They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12.  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13.  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14.  From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15.  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

     Let all God’s people see the characteristics of the people of the world and the sharp contrast between godliness and worldliness. The worldly have their portion in this life. They want it now and God gives it to them. They live for themselves and their families. Rather than pouring out their children as an offering to God, they keep them for selfish purposes. The emphasis on the family today is not improving it. Shift the emphasis back to God and seek first His kingdom. The worldly man sees to it that he gets his portion in life, and then leaves his inheritance to his children. The preacher in Ecclesiastes says, this is also vanity. It is selfishness and worldly. As for me, says the Psalmist, “I am looking for God and His righteousness.” What about you? Are you looking to be the reflection of His image for His glory? We are to fit our children into that purpose and submit them to His eternal will. The rebellious, blasphemous child in the Old Testament was stoned and the parents would cast the first stones. In the New, Jesus said that he, who loves son or daughter more than Him, was not worthy of Him. David’s heart was right, because it was totally removed from the temporal and placed in the heavenlies. His only satisfaction was in God.



February 29

Psalms 18

1.  I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
3.  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4.  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
5.  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
6.  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7.  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8.  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9.  He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
10.  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
11.  He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12.  At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
13.  The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
14.  Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
15.  Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

     This is a song of praise, which slips from second to third person and back again. It begins with a declaration of love and is a song of trust in the strength of the Lord. He is proclaimed as a defense against all enemies, strategies, and attacks. It is by calling on Him that salvation and deliverance come.
     “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” He may be afraid, in sorrow, overwhelmed, or in distress, but it only drives him to seek God. In Revelation, the prayers of saints quieted heaven and from that prayer, the Lord rained judgment upon the earth. Likewise in this Psalm, desperate prayer brings Him to the defense of His people.
     God shakes the earth in anger. There is smoke and fire, as the heavens lower and darkness prevails. He is the God of darkness as well as light for He created day and night. God hides, while thick clouds, dark waters, hail stones, coals of fire, thunder and lightning perform His work. He is behind it all, coming in close for a sweeping attack on His enemies. The earth is discovered and her secret places are laid bare. Security and defense is swept away and those who trust in her are dismayed because of her vulnerability.


March 1

Psalms 18:16-41

16.  He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17.  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
18.  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19.  He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20.  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21.  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22.  For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.
23.  I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24.  Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25.  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26.  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
27.  For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28.  For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29.  For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
30.  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
31.  For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32.  It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33.  He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34.  He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
35.  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36.  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37.  I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.
38.  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.
39.  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.
40.  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
41.  They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

     God comes out of hiding to reach out to his trusting ones, who are caught in the fury of the storm. Their enemies are too strong and they cannot prevail against them.  They give themselves to prayer and the fearful storm becomes their deliverance. Remember, it was when He hid His face that He was working towards that end.
     The Psalmist speaks of a ‘large place’. The enemy is always trying to entrap them in a corner or down a narrow corridor, where they are extremely vulnerable. The Lord brings them out into a broad plain, where sniping is impossible. This is the place of clear revelation and discernment.
     The Lord’s delight in righteousness and clean hands prompts Him to work deliverance. In union with God and walking in obedience to His ways, there is a denial of self. It is a trade of what is ours for what is His. We can then expect Him to act on our behalf and we will reap what we sow.
     He supplies strength to walk in His way. He takes us supernaturally through the amassed forces of the enemy and over the high obstacles, which would fence us in, if we walked as mere men. He cannot fail and, as it was for David, so is the promise to all that trust in Him. When His ways become our ways, then our ways are perfect. Who else can provide perfect assurance, protection and deliverance? He gives supernatural agility to climb above the reach of our enemies and supernatural strength to break the strongest weapons. He provides gentle teaching to His trusting ones, but fierce destruction to our enemies. He leads our feet on firm ground, as the enemies slip and slide. Their pretended religion was powerless to save them.



March 2

Psalms 18:42-50

42.  Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
43.  Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44.  As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
45.  The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46.  The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47.  It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48.  He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49.  Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
50.  Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

     It is clear that this Psalm is Messianic. It is the Son of Man who has overcome perfectly. To Him is given the inheritance of the heathen. His kingdom stretches to the far corners of the globe, to the godless and unevangelized. From those citadels of heathen darkness will come forth a people, which, as soon as they hear, will obey and submit to holy service. The fear of the Lord will reign.
     The Lord lives, let Him be blessed and exalted! The glory and victory belong to Him, because He intervenes before an enemy, who is too strong for us. Let Him wear the laurel wreath, let us exalt His name among the heathen and sing praises to Him. His deliverance belonged to David, whose root and seed was Christ. It belongs eternally to Christ Himself and it belongs to all, who have been grafted in, so as to be partakers of the everlasting inheritance. “I and the children God has given me.” (Hebrews 2:13)


March 3

Psalms 19:1-6

1.  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5.  Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6.  His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

     Creation speaks! There is enough evidence in nature to cure the soul of the unnatural disease of atheism. Only God can make a tree and put life within it, so that it grows of itself and reproduces. As someone has said, there is a forest in the tiny acorn.
     The heavens speak to us! Its scorching sun, silvery moon, distant stars, billowy clouds, mid-day blue sky, multi-colored rainbows, and soft, rosy sunsets, all say, “We are the product of the mind and whims of a glorious Creator, whose inner beauty and wisdom we manifest.”
     Nature speaks everyone’s language. Babel and its confusion of tongues have not affected her. It easily reaches the most savage headhunter and the most remote tribe. It addresses all, if they will listen. They are without excuse.
     The champion of heaven’s spokesmen is the sun. His testimony is worldwide and his effects touch every individual. All can look to the same sun. The Mexicans called it “the poor man’s blanket.” The sun is no respecter of persons. Its rays warm rich and poor alike. Everyone rejoices as it peaks through the clouds after days of gloomy weather. Its light brings hope and joy. Its rays dispel the night, dry the rain, and melt the snow. It is a gift to mankind from his beneficent Creator. It tells of His glory, faithfulness, wisdom and goodness.



March 4

Psalms 19:7-10

7.  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8.  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.


     The law of the Lord is perfect, whether written on tables of stone, in a book, or on fleshly tables of the heart. It does more to revive the soul than nature can do. Its rays penetrate to the inner man and warms the cold  heart. It reveals the nature of God to man. The testimonies are sure witnesses of God’s wisdom. Let the unlearned and ignorant look into them and he becomes wiser than his contemporaries. The poor heard Jesus gladly and could see the rightness of His teaching. The right statutes of the Lord strike a cord within the human heart and His commandments bring light to the spiritual eye. They uncover error and show the wayward soul his mistake, so he might recover. The fear of the Lord, because of its cleanness, condemns the filthy soul. It drives him to his knees for mercy, forgiveness and cleansing. The judgments of the Lord contain no guile or falsehood. They free the soul from the deceiving grip of hypocrisy. They deal absolute rectitude in every case; therefore David invited them into his life. They could only do him good.
      Often, man avoids the strict dealings of God, but we are to desire them. They do more for the life than silver or gold, “yea, than much fine gold”, and are sweeter than the honeycomb. What man finds in the Lord will convert, enlighten, make wise, rejoice the heart, endure forever, and bring truth and righteousness. Tell me where man can work eight hours a day to obtain virtues such as these.



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