July 13 – 19 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
July 13
Psalms 64:2-6
2. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3. Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4. That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6. They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
David’s life story gives us instruction concerning the secret counsel of the wicked. It teaches that the tongue is the powerful servant of an evil heart. It is the outward instrument of inward conspiracy. Notice the plotting that is exposed in this Psalm. First, the evil workers sharpen their weapons, encouraging themselves through means of communication. They confirm each other’s intentions, until they are firmly convinced they are in the right and all restraint from godly fear is cast aside. Then they deliver, as archers would bend bows, draw back and release with a maximum degree of strength. The tongue accomplishes this malicious business with bitter words that incite violence and administer venomous sniper attacks. They seem to come from nowhere.
This was certainly true in Saul’s case against David. With his corps of secret servants, Saul plotted his death. David often was unaware of his danger and on one occasion, Jonathan became his informer and saved him. “Surely”, Saul thought, “God has delivered my enemy into my hands.” He searched the depths of his fallen nature to come up with a self-justified, carefully devised murder plan. It is a fearful thing.
July 14
Psalms 64:7-10
7. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
10. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
We can do nothing better than to put our defense in God’s hands. The power of the word of God is just as sure in destruction as it was in creation. David trusted in the Lord in his conflict with Saul. His intelligence system could not penetrate the depths of the plot against him. He told his men that God would bring his enemy down. Saul’s popular support disappeared in the hour of crisis and his wound was self-inflicted – he fell on his own spear.
There are times when awakening comes to the general populace as the Spirit of God moves. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and when men learn to fear God, He opens their spiritual eyes. It is no wonder that the demons of this age have come up with so many psychological arguments to ward off godly fear. We need to pray, work, and preach so as to restore it.
David often turns his private prayers or testimony into concern for the “trusters”, those in whom God works to establish His righteousness by faith. They have surrendered themselves wholly into His hands. Their day will come for rejoicing, as fear grips people’s hearts and they begin to wisely consider God as a reality. He will bring many to repentance and salvation.
July 15
Psalms 65:1-3
1. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3. Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
Prayer is the vehicle by which we approach God. This Psalm contains certain ingredients, which prayer must contain in order to produce the desired results. First, prayer must be based on a desire to see God glorified and praised. Secondly, there must be a performance on the part of the petitioner of his covenant vows – that which he has promised God that he would do. Thirdly, he must draw near to God with the whole heart. Fourthly, there must be recognition of sin, its awfulness, and its prevailing power over human nature. Fifthly, prayer must contain faith in the power of God to cleanse away that sin, though it is red like crimson. Prayer must not languish in the hopelessness of iniquity. There must be a firm conviction that God is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. Sixthly, there must be vision for the extension of His kingdom among all the peoples of the earth. The prophets foretold the expansion beyond the borders of Israel. David, more than any other king, saw this in his day. “Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen.”
July 16
Psalms 65:4-5
4. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
God begins His work by choosing a man and bringing him into His presence to taste heavenly things. Let a man develop a taste for God and you have the groundwork for hungry, desperate prayer. He will be one, who can be satisfied with nothing less than goodness and holiness in his being, which is the temple of God.
The Amplified Bible translates verse five: “By fearful and glorious things - that terrify the wicked, but make the godly sing praises...” God will not inspire us to pray, unless He intends to answer. If God, in His goodness and mercy, pours the natural blessings upon the earth, so that people in its far corners and on the islands of the sea have learned to confide in Him, is there not reason to expect God to water the earth with spiritual revival. Can we apply the rest of this chapter to such an outpouring?
July 17
Psalms 65:5-13
5. By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6. Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
9. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
10. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.
Mountains have a great deal to do with weather. They are rain catchers, which reach up into heaven, breaking up rhythms and patterns, drawing out its wasted moisture and redirecting it to a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water. God sets the mountains in their place. Spiritual mountains of righteousness draw from heaven’s supply and cause times of refreshing for thirsty souls. The Lord quiets the noisy tumult of the sea, representing the stormy affairs of the world’s people. Joy and awe accompanies the sun’s rising and setting, depicting the hope of a new day and rest at day’s end. Suddenly we are in the throes of a divine visitation, as the river of God waters the earth. This is the only river that can produce heavenly fruit twelve times a year. Earthly rivers produce earthly fruit that cannot satisfy the heart of God. Only God’s rain can soften the soil, a type of man’s heart, that in dry seasons seems so impenetrable, unreceptive, and barren. The crowning glory of the year and the reward for spiritual labor are the rich fields of harvest that seem to overflow with abundance. The grain falls from overloaded wagons.
Not only are the cultured fields full, but also the pasturelands and the uneven hillsides burst with lushness, dotted with the flocks of sleek cattle and sheep. It is a time of fullness of joy. Such is the nature of revival in a spiritual sense. It fills the church with the cultured fruit of godly character and abounds to the hillsides of the heathen. All come under the influence of divine blessing, saturating heaven’s vats and swelling its folds.
July 18
Psalms 66:1-7
1. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
2. Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
3. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
5. Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6. He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7. He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
All those who truly honor the name of the Lord have a vision for world missions. Praise and world missions are tied together. The motive behind missions is to make His praise glorious in all the lands. Through revival, the Lord makes known His terrible works on a worldwide basis. His enemies submit unto Him and many find their place at the foot of the cross. They become worshippers in spirit and truth.
Phillip invited Nathanael to “come and see”. Jesus said to him, “Thou shalt see greater things than these.’” What sights are in store for the people who draw near to God through Christ! See what He has done and know that “He ruleth by His power forever.” What He has done, He will do! At this moment, He is preparing for great deliverances by His mighty hand. Rebels, who deny God and think to accomplish something without Him, have an eye looking down upon them. Ask Him to end the exaltation of man and manifest His glory.
July 19
Psalms 66:8-20
8. O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9. Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
13. I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14. Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
15. I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19. But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
“All things are of God” are words of assurance for those who walk according to the new nature. He is in charge of their affairs and is totally faithful. Though He takes them through the hot refinery, though they are ensnared, afflicted, and seemingly overcome by an evil generation, going through flood and fire, yet their feet will not be moved and victory lies ahead. “Go ye into all the world...and lo I am with you all the days.”
Trials remove our dross and Christ’s silver shines through. “We are cast down, but not destroyed.” Trouble strengthens us towards greater commitment and devotion. It works more depth into the life and improved service.
“Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” God will not hear the prayer of those who entertain sin in their lives. The soul that is genuinely forgiven is also empowered to forsake his iniquity. Open lines of communication with heaven highlight sin’s removal. The cleansed heart will pray the kind of prayer that only God can answer and know the joy of definite, supernatural attention. That is proof of his acceptance in the courts of heaven.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Recommended Books
Post a Comment