October 12 - 18 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
October 12
Psalms 102:13-28
A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.
13. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
15. So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
16. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
19. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;
20. To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
21. To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22. When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
23. He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.
24. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.
The heart of the writer is in tune with a spiritual clock. He discerns that at this hour the people are showing a certain readiness. God’s servants are manifesting a heart concern for the glory of God upon the earth and they are concerned with minute details. Each stone in Zion is of interest to them and no dust escapes their attention. All must be built and maintained in a way that honors God. They work in conjunction with Him, as He arises in mercy and favor upon Zion, and the heathen fear. His manifest presence is at the heart of edification and revival. He Himself comes in glory to build. There is awareness, even among the outsiders, that something climactic is taking place. The atmosphere radiates with glory. He answers the prayer of the destitute and brings glory to bless this age and preserve its reality for the future. Out of this move of God comes a new generation to give forth fresh praise. The name, which is above every name, is declared in the streets and upon the housetops.
God weakens us, even to the point of shortening our lives, to drive us to Him, who endures forever. That is the theme of this Psalm. “Though the outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day. Life coming from Him overwhelms the overwhelmed. The process turns us from our dying self life and fixes our eyes on the only One who can make a mark on this generation, on that which is to come, and bring forth children who will abide forever.
October 13
Psalms 103:1-6
1. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
It meant something when the true devotee mentioned the name of the Lord. The name Jesus is to be pronounced with the utmost love and awe. It should fill us with the tenderest thoughts. When the Spirit of revelation shows us Jesus that is what happens. There is a sense of mercy that surpasses our highest contemplations, yet reverence that levels us to the ground.
Stir up the soul, the whole inner man, to bless God. The Lord is grieved with an outward show. Hold nothing back from Him who gives all His benefits, forgives all our iniquities, and heals all our diseases. Do not forget His benefits. Write them in a book, that they can be easily brought to mind, so that soul-deep praise can be poured at His feet. Do not think of the benefits you may obtain from blessing Him, but only seek to satisfy the heart of Him who has literally showered us with benefits. Look what He has done. He has forgiven, healed, redeemed and crowned the oppressed. He is the fountain of youth through the new birth.
October 14
Psalms 103:7-14
7. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
In your contemplations, do not stop with His acts, but go beyond and learn His ways. In other words, learn to know His heart. This mighty Lord and fearsome King, at the root of His unchanging nature, is gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. When He is angry, it is for a purpose, and fulfilling that purpose, His disciplines abate. Oh, we anger Him all right. Our sins gall Him, force His hand to move against us, but in righteousness, without compromising His perfect law and nature in the least, He deals with us in the highest form of mercy. It is not according to our iniquities, which would condemn us eternally in the lowest hell. We must rise with the apostle in a declaration of wonder, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ... Who hath given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?” He has separated our transgressions from us in immeasurable light years. He has found a way to pity us, remembering our absolute helplessness and dependency upon Him.
October 15
Psalms 103:13-22
13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18. To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
God is wonderfully considerate of our human make-up. Man is so very temporal. Death comes and he is forgotten, even in the place where he was most prominent. God alone offers eternity and it is for them that fear Him. God has given mercy freely, but not carelessly. It is for those who do not want to displease Him or commit sin. They have His covenant continually in mind and His commandments are their rule of life.
The Lord overrules from a throne that dwarfs the composite governments on earth. Heaven blesses Him and the soul of the redeemed enters the universal praise unto God. That is the note upon which this Psalm begins and ends. “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
October 16
Psalms 104:1-13
1. Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
6. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7. At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
9. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
12. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
Psalms of like theme are often placed together to confirm and complement one another. I would like to think that the Psalms are a long trip filled with experiences, revelation and prayer for the man who “walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of the sinner, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” I would like to think that there is a building process through the Psalms that ends with an overflow of gushing heartfelt praise.
We have come to two Psalms, in which the soul is stirred to bless the Lord. Our soul is awakened and turned towards God to view Him. We are stirred by His salvation and merciful dealings with us. Man and his circumstances are nothing. God is very great, clothed with honor and majesty. Light itself is His clothing, the heavens His draping and He builds His house on heavenly waters. He rides the clouds and walks on the winds. Angels perform His whims and wishes. He built the earth with an indestructible foundation, yet hung it on nothing. He used the flood to carry out His purposes, and then subjected the waters to boundaries never to be crossed, from that time to the present. He tamed them and made them useful. The same waters destruct or give life according to His purpose.
October 17
Psalms 104:13-35
13. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16. The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17. Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20. Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping
innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26. There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31. The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33. I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
35. Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Natural water is the source of earthly life and spiritual water is the source of heavenly life. Jesus is Lord over all. He can turn water into wine via the grape vine or through the spiritual power of His word. He is Creator and Lord. The Lord was satisfied with His work and said that it was very good. The grass and vegetables give food for man and beast. Trees grow and provide a home for the birds. The hills and rocks house animals. The moon and the sun faithfully fulfill their function. The night caters to the beast of prey and as day dawns, man appears to begin his daily tasks. The Psalmist stops in wonder to praise the greatness of the Lord. He writes of the sea, its inhabitants and man’s ships. All these are dependent on their Creator and His blessing is their life, while His curse is their death. He is the God of revival and can recreate and resurrect. His look causes trembling and His touch volcanic reaction. It is our life’s business to sing and praise, to meditate and be glad in our Creator. Sinners may be expendable, but saints are made to bless the Lord forever.
October 18
Psalms 105:1-24*
1. O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
8. He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10. And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11. Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12. When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
14. He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15. Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
17. He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
19. Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
20. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22. To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23. Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24. And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
(* Note - Because of the length of this Psalm and the next two, we will not print all the verses. However, please, read the whole account in your Bible.)
Let your heart join with the Psalmist in Holy Spirit passion to see the Lord exalted and served. Give thanks, call upon him, and make His deeds known. Sing and talk Jesus, for that is your business and there will be time for no other.
The one earthly occupation that brings heart rejoicing is to seek the Lord and glory in His holiness. Seek His strength for your empowering and seek His face for enlightenment. Stir up your memory and believe Him for today’s needs. His is not a dead word of the past, but is fully in force in the 21st century.
Notice the context around verse 15. It pertains to His people at any time. They are set apart for His purposes, placed in vulnerable situations, but kept from the harm designed against them by powerful men. The Lord began with a few, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and made a covenant with them. He brought a famine upon the earth in order to continue His purposes through Joseph. The God of all the earth sent His missionary to teach Egypt. He led the clan of Israel to the capital of the world, so that all nations might see the glory of God. He increased His congregation, until it became a mighty force. The Pharaoh came into play to accomplish the bidding of the King of Kings. The Lord is faithful to His covenant and purposes, though His people may be tried to extreme measures.
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