Showing posts with label Daily Meditations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily Meditations. Show all posts
June 4 – June 14 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
June 4
Psalms 47:5-9
5.
God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6.
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing
praises.
7.
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with
understanding.
8.
God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his
holiness.
9.
The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the
God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly
exalted.
We are coming close to the
day, when we will see the clear manifestation of His sovereign reign. From
resurrection to judgment, He must rule until all enemies are subdued under His
feet. Jesus has ascended up on high to the shouts and trumpets of angels. His
resurrection victory marks the pivotal point of history, though it was settled
in the mind of God before the foundation of the earth. Let us join with the
angels, as the revelation, which they have long known, becomes clear to us.
Jesus is victor! “His right hand and His
glorious arm have gotten Him the victory!” Shout and sing! He is the King
of all the earth. He reigns over the heathen upon the throne of holiness. All
the nations are as a drop in a bucket in comparison to His eternal kingdom. All
power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and proclaim in
the Holy Spirit that He is ruler over hearts. Observe a holy people snatched
from the heathen, as He gathers them from among the inhabitants of the earth.
They are made princes, who were conquered by His throne and inducted into His
kingdom. He calls them together now, the people of the God of Abraham, the
father of nations. The formation of that kingdom, which shall have no end, is
in progress. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The silver and gold are
His and He possesses the shields of the earth. He has the resources to work all
things after the counsels of His will.
Monday, June 02, 2014 | 0 Comments
May 28 – June 3 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
May 28
Psalms 44:17-25
17.
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have
we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
18.
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy
way;
19.
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us
with the shadow of death.
20.
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to
a strange god;
21.
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22.
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as
sheep for the slaughter.
23.
Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
24.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our
oppression?
25.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the
earth.
24. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’
sake.
In the midst of a trial, the Psalmist
comes to the end of himself. He is in an intolerable position. He cannot accept
the statis quo, settle into it or
call it the norm. It is dishonorable and shameful. Should God’s people reek
instead of sending forth a sweet aroma? Should they submit to the storm of
unrighteousness? No, David will not give in. He will not forget God or forsake
His covenant. He will not turn back in his heart or stop walking in God’s
direction. He has been broken down and shadows have come, but “to whom shall we go” - there is no
alternative for the true seeker. He is conscious of the omniscience,
omnipresence and omnipotence of God. He cannot stray or render credit to
another god. He lives and prays “for Thy sake”.
The desperate condition calls forth mighty
intercessions. The Psalms are scripture, Holy Spirit-breathed and mighty.
Breathe them in! Write them on your heart and bear them on your lips! “Awake,
oh Lord!” This kind of boldness had better not be offered presumptuously. It
had better be deep calling unto deep. If it is, then watch out, because all of
heaven will respond and this poor, little planet will shake from pole to pole.
Monday, May 26, 2014 | 0 Comments
May 21 – 27 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
May 21
Psalms 40:5-8
5.
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and
thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto
thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6.
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou
opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7.
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8.
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Verse five gives the main
theme of this Psalm. Praise evokes for what preceded, for what now follows and
for uncounted blessings beyond human capability to enumerate. Many are the
Lord’s thoughts and works for our benefit, abundantly above what we ask, think
or can appreciate. It is God’s way to go above the necessary to an overflow
that exceeds our intake abilities.
The Lord’s thoughts, which are far above
ours, are towards those who trust in Him. His is an inward work of the heart.
Without it, our outward works are useless. What is needed far more than
religious busybodies is a person with spiritual ears and divine revelation. Let
there be one John the Baptist who can proclaim the Lamb of God, rather than the
priests in the temple, who offer daily sacrifice. What is needed is not someone
who offers of his possessions, as Cain did, but one who is purchased of God,
re-created and wholly set apart for the Lord – body, soul and spirit. Christ’s
life was a personification of perfection in godliness, that He might be the
firstborn among many brethren.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014 | 0 Comments
May 14 – 20 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
May 14
Psalms 36:9, 12
9. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy
light shall we see light.
12. There are the workers of iniquity fallen:
they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
To sin against the light is to sin against
life. We toy with death when we resist its rays and ignore its warnings. How
many thought they could harbor one hidden sin and entertain it in the privacy
of their own heart, who are ashamed today and are as exposed as a naked man on
a hill? How irritated they were at the voice of the preacher of righteousness!
They branded him a critic, a legalist, or a negativist. Now where are the wraps
of false grace and licentious love they held so close to their frames?
Our comfort and peace can be due to a
resistance to the light. May our personal history have a happier ending. May
we, like the Samaritan woman, rejoice in having found the Christ of truth and
righteousness, who tells us all things that ever we did, for this One alone
gives the living water that springs up into everlasting life.
“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we
say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the
truth...if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and CLEANSE US from ALL unrighteousness.”
Saturday, May 17, 2014 | 0 Comments
May 7 - 13 Daily Meditations in the Psalms,
May 7
Psalms 36:8a
8.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and
thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
God, Who never lies, yet swore with an
oath to Abraham, is not content that His people be just satisfied, but will
have them abundantly satisfied. What
is the source of their satisfaction? It is His house and to better describe the
contents of the house, the Holy Spirit applies the word fatness. Now picture, if you will, a mansion, a palace, a castle,
or the White House, with servants scurrying here and there, with storerooms of
supply, and a kitchen with cooks and bakers. All of these will fall far short
of giving you an idea of the fatness of His house. The Light of Life must
illuminate our spirits through an experiential discovery in prayer.
What treasures unfold to those who seek
those things, which are above! God’s house is “where it’s at” and heaven, which
will one day be ours by sight, is now ours through the eyes of faith. We look
for a city whose builder and maker is God. An enlightened Abraham can never be
attached to the earth with more than tent
stakes. His house with a foundation
is above. It is an insult to God, when we scratch in the earth like chickens,
eking out an existence, and pursuing fleeting pleasures.
Tuesday, May 06, 2014 | 0 Comments
April 30 – May 6 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
April 30
Psalms 36:6, 12
6.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great
deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
12.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall
not be able to rise.
We must go to the Bible to
learn the two most fatal consequences for sin: a) The Lake of Fire – an
eternity of unspeakable, undying torment, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. Here is a destiny of darkness, without the faintest ray of
light or hope, into which God will cast billions of unredeemed sinners, to be
forever separated from His presence and future world. Their sin will never
again bring its filthy stench to God’s holy nostrils. b) The Cross of Christ –
the deepest judgment of all. A revelation of the cross has brought salvation to
hundreds of thousands, as the full impact of the sacrifice of the Son of God
crushes the soul. When I see Heaven’s jewel, Heaven’s sweetest joy, separated
from His beloved Father, under the smiting fury of the full wrath of God, for
and because of my sin, that will break me once and for all from my blindness to
the awfulness of my sinful state.
“I saw one
hanging on a tree, in agony and blood
Who fixed His
languid eyes on me, as near the cross I stood
Sure, never till
my latest breath, can I forget that look
It seemed to
charge me with His death, tho’ not a word He spoke
Alas! I knew not what I did-but now my tears are vain
Where shall my trembling soul be hid, for I the Lord have slain.”
So wrote the blood-washed slave trader,
who also penned, “Amazing grace, how
sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 | 0 Comments
April 23 – 29 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
April 23
Psalms 36:1-3
1.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no
fear of God before his eyes.
2.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found
to be hateful.
3.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be
wise, and to do good.
There is nothing about an
unregenerate man that is credible. “The words of his mouth are iniquity and
deceit” (verse 3). As he sees himself in his own eyes, so he will communicate
with his lips. He will attempt to convey a flattered image of himself. How can
you believe him? Hear what the friendly neighbor says about you in the privacy
of his own home, when your dog digs up his flower garden. The cheerful words of
the corner grocer are for his good customers, the ones who feed his family and
help him fulfill his life’s dreams. See the amicable smile erase from the face
of the commentator as the TV camera swings around and he is off the air. Come
backstage and watch the preacher/entertainer change his demeanor as he
discusses business with his staff.
“He hath left off to be wise, and do
good.” Outside of heart-felt, God-breathed Christianity, there has been no real
wisdom or goodness in this world since Adam. How can we think anything good can
be derived from it? The “all truth is
God’s truth” adage is subject to how one defines the word “truth”. It is
better to start with the true God and learn truth from His word, the Bible,
than to start with that which society may call truth and try to find something
of God in it. The world’s society left wisdom and goodness far behind when it
forsook obedience to Him.
April 24
Psalms 36:4a
4.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is
not good; he abhorreth not evil.
God judges thoughts and
intents, as well as deeds. The most wonderful deeds can come from the most
horrible motives. Most pleasant words can hide the most terrible thoughts.
Saul, the king, was one whose words and thoughts did not coincide. Saul said David could have his daughter as
wife, but Saul thought to make David
fall (see 1 Samuel 18:22, 25). The sharp sword of the word of God penetrates
the deep, unseen regions and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart. He who handles the word of God is expected to go beneath the apparent
and superficial and reveal the secrets of the heart, if he expects the
unconverted to confess, “God is in you,
of a truth.”
Thursday, April 24, 2014 | 0 Comments
April 16 - 22 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
I am sorry
that I am two days late posting these Psalms. I thought that this series
started on the 18th. My apologies…
April
16
Psalms 35:1-10
1.
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against
them that fight against me.
2.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3.
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute
me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4.
Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let
them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD
chase them.
6.
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD
persecute them.
7.
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without
cause they have digged for my soul.
8.
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath
hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9.
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his
salvation.
10.
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest
the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from
him that spoileth him?
What we examine today is not self-defense
or self-vindication. The Bible exploits no such thing. Here is a man firmly and
intrinsically identified with his message and ministry. He was God’s man, His
ambassador, with His heart. Therefore, his enemies were God’s enemies. Jesus
said, “And these things will they do unto
you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me.” It is clear also that
these are not common personal enemies with a simple grudge against another man.
These are mad, devilish rebels, who are using David in order to attack His God.
They pursue the eternal destruction of souls.
The
Almighty has a shield, buckler, and spear. Who can stand before Him? All the
threats of the enemy come to nothing and they are caught in their own net. It
is cause for joy for those, whom God defends, because victory is certain.
Salvation is of the Lord and He helps the poor and needy to triumph over the
strong spoiler. They have no other recourse, but to hope in the Lord. Are we
weak enough to qualify for divine help? It is a most fortunate position in
which to be.
Friday, April 18, 2014 | 0 Comments
April 9 – 15 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
April 9
Psalms 32:8-11
8.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I
will guide thee with mine eye.
9.
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding:
whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD,
mercy shall compass him about.
11.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all
ye that are upright in heart.
The Lord Himself interrupts the Psalm and
David’s prayer. Prayer, you see, is a two-way street. Says the Lord, “Let’s go
on to instruction and guidance in my way.” He teaches that bits and bridles are
for self-willed animals, forced restraints to keep them from their wild ways.
God’s salvation is for the broken and contrite heart. It is broken to the
extent that it doesn’t even need outward restraints. God desires people who
obey from the heart, through the slightest prompting. His wish is their
command. Romans six proves that Christ Jesus has dealt a death-blow to the old
man with his selfish, rebellious ways.
Trust is the crux of this whole matter of
doing business with God. The merciful work of Jesus is fulfilled in
righteousness in those who wholly cast themselves upon Him. At the completion
of that work, there is cause for joy in excess. We stand complete and accepted
without reservation before the Almighty.
Monday, April 07, 2014 | 0 Comments
April 2 – 8 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
April 2
Psalms 30:1-4
1.
I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made
my foes to rejoice over me.
2.
O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3.
O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me
alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4.
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the
remembrance of his holiness.
This is a Psalm of celebration and
victory. If there is to be any lifting, God has to do it. Let us not be delving
into a work that belongs exclusively to Him. No amount of pep talks, positive
thinking, and motivational stimulus can do more than lift us by our bootstraps.
When
his battles were over, David stood as perhaps the greatest king of his day, a
testimony to the One in Whom he trusted. David cried unto the Lord. He saved
David from death, lifted and healed him. It was unquestionably a work of God,
without interference from man and therefore, He reaped the praise and man did
not. David invites his people to join him in honoring the Lord. They are holy
ones, who remember His holiness. What God desires to be the overriding
characteristic of men is also the most celebrated attribute of God. We can be
happy, when we see God takes steps in our lives, so that we might acquire
holiness, for that is a sign of His favor. An uncaring God would leave us as we
are.
Wednesday, April 02, 2014 | 0 Comments
March 26 – April 1 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
March 26
Psalms 27:1-8
1.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is
the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2.
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up
my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though
war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4.
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may
dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of
the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
5.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the
secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I
will sing praises unto the LORD.
7.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and
answer me.
8.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face,
LORD, will I seek.
God’s ability eclipses the natural assets,
which came to me through birth or which I have acquired. The Lord is the source
of light, salvation and strength. When the attributes of God become mine, the
fear of man is removed. I can trust in the Lord and rest assured, though
surrounded by enemies. What foe can stand before Him?
The Lord is secretary of our
department of defense, leaving us free for one
single-hearted purpose: “One thing have I desired of the Lord” (verse 4). Paul
said, “This one thing I do....” Jesus
said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” The one
passion, the one goal in the life of
every saint is to dwell in the place of God’s presence. There are two good
reasons for it: First, it is to enjoy and to contemplate Him; to be as the
living creatures, full of eyes, in order to attempt to take in as much of Him,
as we possibly can. Secondly, we seek to inquire at the source of wisdom for
the answers to those things, which pertain to Christ and His kingdom. It is the
theme of this Psalm.
We sense the attraction and hear the call.
I believe it to be the cry of the Spirit
of God today – “seek ye my face” It is the single quest, which we are now
considering. The born-again spirit warms and responds, “Thy face, Lord, will I
seek.”
Tuesday, March 25, 2014 | 0 Comments
March 19 - 25 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
March 19
Psalms 24:1-6
1.
The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they
that dwell therein.
2.
For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the
floods.
3.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his
holy place?
4.
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his
soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the
God of his salvation.
6.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O
Jacob. Selah.
Does this Psalm teach universal salvation
because all the people are the Lord’s? Not at all. The Owner has the right to
save and the right to condemn. Who, of mankind, shall excel and ascend unto
God? Those, who intend to outlive this world, rise into the presence of the
Lord, and stand in His holy place must come with clean hands and a pure heart.
They have come to understand the vanity of humanism. They have repented of the
human method of guile (by which all humanity operates and gains promotion) and
submit to the godly way of truth and honesty. They receive the blessing of God
and the imputation of righteousness.
The last verse refers to a generation. It
does not define people in relation to time, but in relation to kind. Bred and
born for the purposes of God, they are a spiritual race. They will enter into
salvation, the blessing of God and be clothed with divine attributes. They are
born, not made. They are generated, following the pattern of Jacob (the name
means supplanter), who became Israel (prince of God), through a
supernatural transformation. By this means they have been saved, their hearts
and hands have been cleansed, and they will ascend into the eternal, holy hill
of God.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 | 0 Comments
March 12 - 18 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
March 12
Psalms 22:1-16
1.
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from
helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2.
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night
season, and am not silent.
3.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
4.
Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
5.
They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were
not confounded.
6.
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the
people.
7.
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they
shake the head, saying,
8.
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him,
seeing he delighted in him.
9.
But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope
when I was upon my mother's breasts.
10.
I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's
belly.
11.
Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
12.
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
13.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart
is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my
jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16.
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me:
they pierced my hands and my feet.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 | 0 Comments
March 5 - 11 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
March 5
Psalms 19:11-14
11.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
12.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression.
14.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable
in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
The Bible, on the one hand,
carefully warns and illuminates us concerning every possible pitfall and
danger. On the other hand, it inspires and motivates us to great reward. It
invokes prayer, because we see that we need God, in order to be preserved or
rewarded. We do not know the deceit in our own heart. What we might think
totally justifiable, can be an abomination to Him and condemn our soul. We need
to open the scriptures in faith and trust God. Let Him reveal the unknown
faults and also give us the strength to overcome known sins, for from Him alone
comes the enabling. Only in His spotlight can I be upright, blameless and
innocent.
The Psalm in the last verse expresses the
noblest desire of the human heart. It states: let me be acceptable, not before
men, but before God; not only in actions, but also in words; not only in words,
but also in thoughts and motives. Let me be totally right before you, Lord. Let
me make You smile, but not by my own strength or self-righteousness. Bring the
two graces of strength and redemption into my life. You are the source of my
strength. You are my Redeemer, who bought my soul, cleansed and renewed it, and
brought me into fellowship with You.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014 | 0 Comments
February 26 – March 4 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
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.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 | 0 Comments
February 19 – 25 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
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.
Monday, February 17, 2014 | 0 Comments
February 12 - 18 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
February 12
Psalms 12:2-3
2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
How much of what is called fellowship today is actually what the Psalmist called vanity? What do you hear when church people gather in fellowship halls around a cup of coffee? The double-minded man’s hobby is Christianity, but most of his thoughts, time and energy are involved in worldly pursuits. Is it any wonder he seldom speaks of God, even when in company with his fellow Christians? Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Double-mindedness and flattery are brothers. The one, whose mind is stayed on Christ, speaks the truth to his neighbor. He, who looks for earthly advantage, flatters to gain his end.
Flattery is the art of speaking well of our fellow man for selfish motives. I recall a young flatterer who used to visit us, but was looking for a place of ministry. The flattery ceased once it was clear that no opening would be given. Then, he turned to slander. The flatterer will build your ego, while he uses you to satisfy his. It is flesh reciprocating flesh and there is much of it today, but God hates the exaltation of flesh. Flattery is like a condemned tree. Let every Christian separate himself from its shade, lest it fall on him.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 | 0 Comments
February 5 - 11 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
February 5
Psalms 10:1-2
1. Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
2. The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
David asks questions in his prayer. Though his feeling is deep, he is not demanding, but is open to better understanding. He realizes that God is all wise, therefore he questions: Why do you stand afar off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?
One of the reasons is for the creation of this Psalm. The dealings of God press down and imprint, not only upon David’s heart, but also on paper, to become an eternal word of the Holy Spirit for the benefit of all God’s people. Deep trouble and turmoil produce long-lasting impressions, which in turn help the afflicted one later to minister to God’s people.
David presents His case. He knows that pride is one of the seven cardinal sins and that the Lord abhors it. He contrasts the pride of the wicked with the lowliness of those who trust in the Lord, in order to stir God to move on behalf of His people. Above all, it is pride that causes the sinner to justify his sin and ultimately condemns him.
Monday, February 03, 2014 | 0 Comments
January 29 - February 4 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
January 29
Psalms 7:11-17
11. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
12. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
14. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
16. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
17. I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Every sinner ought to know, that he never opens his eyes from a night's sleep, but that God is angry with him. Every day his soul awakes to the greatest peril. While he persists in his sinful state, the wrath of God burns against him. It is only a question of time, with no guarantee that the time will be long, before he is eradicated. God is at war with the sinner and what is the sinner's arsenal against His? Is there a shield to ward off the arrows of the Almighty or is there armor to stop the thrust of His sword? There is none, even in this day of sophisticated resistance. Though they may shake the earth, hydrogen bombs bounce off heaven's doors like cotton balls. Do not be deceived, God is equipped with instruments of death and He can kill and cast into hell. The Psalm declares that He premeditates and preordains the death of the wicked. Only timely repentance can save him.
Is God just in executing fierce retribution against men? Remember that every sinner is a threat to human well-being and a reproductive channel of future evil. He is a pregnant bombshell, a birthing agent of deception and mischief. His own inventions will turn against him. He has birthed them to his own destruction and they will snap back in his face. David used Goliath's sword to cut off his head. Every weapon of the enemy is a self-destructive boomerang.
For this, David gives praise to God. It is a demonstration of His righteousness, not a calamity, when wickedness is judged. We are not holy or merciful, if we recoil against His acts. If we do, we may be demonstrating rebellion against His righteousness.
Monday, January 27, 2014 | 0 Comments
January 22 - 28 Daily Mediatations in the Psalms
January 22
Psalms 5:8-10
8. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
All around us are enemies, whose chief purpose is to cause the righteous to fall. Their words are worthless and they have no intention of keeping them. Words are a means to gain their end and nothing, which binds them to integrity. We are to expect no good from them, for the heart, from which their words proceed, is filthy. When it vents itself, as it does through the medium of speech, it is as the stench of uncovered graves. Do not let their commendation impress you. They utter it only to gain a higher position for themselves and it has nothing to do with an appreciation for the listener.
David asks for the destruction of the wicked. While we seek God's mercy, in order that sinners be separated from their sin, we must also know that all those, who persist in sin, have no other end than perdition. We must be rid of sin. It is certain that we must deal with it and put it away. Preferably, the human being can separate from it, but if he will hold to his sin, he must be destroyed with it. The release of God's hand will cause him to fall immediately, because of his own foolish counsel. He is a rebel, unfit to have any place in heaven or any part in the eternal realities of God. He is to be cast outside the presence, love, and blessing of a good God.
Monday, January 20, 2014 | 0 Comments
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