September 21 - 27 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
September 21
Psalms 93:1-4
1. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
The Lord has girded Himself. John the Baptist was not worthy to unloose His shoe locket, though he was the greatest of prophets. He said, “I should be baptized of Thee.” His greatness stemmed from his proximity to the Lord Jesus and was dependent upon Him. Peter fell to his knees and cried, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, oh Lord.” Who is worthy to gird the Lord? He, in His singular majesty and sovereign rule, must draw from His own omnipotence. There is none beside Him, no helper, no counselor, no equal, who can lend or contribute to His all-sufficiency.
His throne was already established before time began. Nothing threatens or influences it from the past, present or future. He is infinitely mightier than any would-be challenger. Though floods arise and carry everything in their path, covering land, tree and hilltop, they will not touch the Lord’s position. He is not even dampened by the spray. He is uniquely unassailable in His person and reign.
September 22
Psalms 93:5
5. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
You can bank on the Lord’s word. What He has testified is untarnished truth. What He has promised is unfailing future. What He has commanded is purest holiness and holiness is a description of the nature of God. Man has tried to categorize holiness. Love does not balance holiness, but compliments and is a part of it. The reason that hell exists is because love is subject to holiness. Only holiness inhabits heaven. All true preachers are holiness preachers, and their theme certainly should not be balanced by “non-holiness” preachers. How do you balance the nature of God? Holiness is the wardrobe from which He draws, when He girds Himself. No theological tailors may deck Him with the fabled emperor’s clothes of human imagination. Instead, may the Holy Spirit clothe them with that from which God clothes Himself and make them “partakers of the divine nature.”
September 23
Psalms 94:1-11
1. O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
2. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.
3. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4. How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5. They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.
6. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7. Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10. He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Vengeance is sweet, when it is in the hands of Whom it belongs. We can thank God that He has not entrusted it to man, for it is much too delicate a matter for him to handle. However, we do right to call upon the God of vengeance. The Lord does not conform to the unobstructed triumph of the wicked and His people should not be passive. On their part, the battle is waged in prayer that God would arise in judgment and stop the progress of the wicked.
What can man give to the Lord that has not already been His throughout eternity? The Creator has lent to man, all that he now knows and has been able to do. Before creation, He desired a people for Himself. They are His inheritance from the earth. When we see that Satan-inspired rebels seek to obstruct the purpose of God, we do right to pray for justice and judgment to rise against them. God is looking for people, as the Psalmists, who want to be heard in his judgment hall. His opponents are most often in the majority, inspired by wicked leadership, as in the days of Elijah. The Lord is often betrayed in His own house. We see Him stand in His meekness, without opening His mouth, while men revile and mock Him. How deceived man is! Do they think Him helpless? The great folly of men is that they suppose that they can commit insurrection against the Almighty and live.
September 24
Psalms 94:12-17
12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
13. That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.
16. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
17. Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.
Blessed is the man, whether he is a saint or sinner, who receives instruction and correction from the hand of a perfect Master. The worst of men can be changed and God is merciful in His correction. We foolish humans, as Balaam, often beat the beast that refuses to assist us on our way to destruction. Blessed is the man, who will turn in his heart from the way he intended to go, leave his insurrection and kneel humbly before a good and merciful heavenly Father. He does not realize how his stubborn will opposes His good purposes and eternal intentions. He is not just doing his thing, but he is fighting against God.
He will bring discipline, not destruction to those who will be His people. His judgment upon them will correct and turn them to righteousness. God is faithful and will not leave His business unattended. Submit to God’s dealings now and you will experience personal revival and soon know fruitfulness in righteousness.
September 25
Psalms 94:18-23
18. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
19. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.
20. Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
21. They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
22. But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
23. And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.
Discipline is pure mercy, designed to keep our feet from slipping. Through it, the Lord holds us up, when we would have fallen. Learn to find delight and comfort in the Lord’s good and faithful work within your soul. He is helping and saving you from folly, He is breaking down obstructions to His will, in order that His word might have free course and His eternal purposes might prosper through you.
In any place where man builds himself a throne, whether it is raised in the church or simply in his own heart, iniquity will follow. Fellowship with God will cease. Unfortunately, when men become kings, through popular ministry, they often begin to compete with God for the throne of their heart. In the final analysis, He will not support the formation of another kingdom. Self-willed Saul must come down. Great is the sin of those who insist on a man-led kingdom! Its legislation, principles and rules are documents of man and the Holy Spirit calls it mischief. So we have mischief in Christianity today, just as Christ had in Judaism in His day. Traditions of men and whims of rulers become chief opponents of the purpose of God. The great Avenger must defeat wickedness.
People, who will have this Man from heaven to rule over them, must appeal now to a higher court. They must knit their hearts to the Psalmist’s by the same Holy Spirit, who inspired him, in order that the same purpose, which was in progress in his day, should be continued in theirs.
September 26
Psalms 95:1-7
1. O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Song should be based on revelation. It is born in the spirit of a person, who is God-conscious. The spirit of man is the seat of his relationship with God. He “sees” God, not in the mind or imagination, but in his deepest being, perceiving His greatness and sovereign kingship. Often, it finds expression in song or shouts, as a fountain will spring up and spill over from deep within the earth. God is God of the depths and of the heights, of the sea and dry land. This Psalm begins with a passionate cry for corporate song and continues in verse six with an appeal for worship. First, we see Him, then long to join ourselves to Him in relationship, as lowly, unworthy sheep, yet secure in the knowledge that He is our maker and God. Nothing bows us before Him more than this heart understanding.
I do not like to bring up physical position often, because people find it easy to comply physically, without heart-conviction to support their posture. However, a kneeling position is the proper one for worship, exceeded only by a prostrate one. We approach in song and kneel in worship. We are His sheep for the use of our Shepherd and His creation for our Creator’s pleasure.
September 27
Psalms 95:7-11
7. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8. Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11. Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
The key Spirit-breathed word in this Psalm is if, as it is to the church of Laodicea. “If ye will hear His voice” and “IF any man hear my voice.” The condition of entering into the exceeding excellence of God comes with the ability to hear. We ought to diligently seek to improve our spiritual hearing capacities. It will help to worship, keep silence, and listen, but the most important aid is obedience. Harden not your heart to His voice, but learn to respond immediately. This is a today Psalm. It is not a reflection of past experience or a preparation for the future. In moments like these, the enemy seeks to get us off track, or shall I say, off the hook, in order to harden us. This Psalm demands a here and now response. It brings us to crisis and will not wait. It warns of the awesome danger of grieving God and the consequence is, by sworn declaration, that we will not enter into His rest. Fear and tremble before the curse of missed opportunity. Too many are cursed to a lifetime of aimless, wilderness wandering. Do not miss this one. God, in His mercy, has given us another today.
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