October 19 - 25 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
October 19
Psalms 105:25-45*
25. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26. He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27. They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28. He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
36. He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37. He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39. He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
42. For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44. And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45. That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the
LORD.
(* See note under October 18)
When it was time for the plan of God to take its next step, He stirred up enmity against His people. Through mighty deeds, He vindicated and freed them. Do not be surprised today, if He follows a similar pattern. He may send darkness our way, but blessed is the person, who does not rebel, when He does.
The Lord was behind every circumstance that had to do with Israel and revival was in the making. His people were empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit, so there was not one feeble person among them. Fear fell among the heathen. He led the Israelites through the wilderness by a cloud and fire. He was their only provision in a world of nothingness. Joy and gladness are the inheritance for those, who by faith take the land of the heathen for the Lord. He remembers His covenant. Let us remember it today and walk in it, so that His word to a thousand generations may come alive among us.
October 20
Psalms 106:1-8*
1. Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
3. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
6. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
8. Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
(* See note under October 18)
The fact that “His mercy endureth forever” is the only hope for the people mentioned in this Psalm. As we go through it, we see nothing but failure and sin followed by punishment, but the Psalmist calls on the Lord to save, because He never forgets His covenant.
Our finite mind, in great part, is unsuccessful in its quest to grasp the things of God, therefore, we miss much. The acts of the Lord are too wonderful for any writer to define. That which he sees, staggers his ability of expression. Faith makes up for what our mind cannot tell us and we are at no disadvantage in a walk that is honorable to Him. We can, by a walk of faith, keep judgment and do righteousness at all times. God must be faithful to His name, even when His people have sinned. His honor is an unchanging need, regardless of their state. However, we want Him to be honored because of us, not in spite of us. Our hearts should yearn for it, as did the Psalmists’ heart.
October 21
Psalms 106:7-22*
7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
13. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
16. They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
19. They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
20. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
21. They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
22. Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
(* See note under October 18)
Consider some failures of Israel, early in their history, which finally brought them into the bondage of Babylon and scattered them among the nations. First, they understood not and they remembered not. Their lack of spiritual perception doomed them to the tricks of the carnal mind. People have been detained in their spiritual walk, since that day to the present, by an inability to comprehend and a bad memory. Secondly, they waited not. We see an unwillingness to have things God’s way and an insistence on going forward on human initiative. It brings some results, but an empty soul. Thirdly, they were envious of position or rank. The New Testament tells us that for envy, the Jews wanted Jesus killed. The earth will swallow the company that loves the honor of men and strives for recognition at any cost. They were preoccupied with the persons of Moses and Aaron and were not aware of the promotion that comes from God alone. Obviously, this attitude did not stand the test of fire and will fare no better at the judgment seat of Christ. Fourthly, they turned to outright idolatry. They fabricated their own God. This follows in sequence after a lack of spiritual perception, selfishness and man-consciousness. They could not understand the ways of God, see any benefit for themselves in their situation and their leader Moses was out of sight. They decided to return to the lifestyle that they experienced and understood in Egypt, complete with its gods.
October 22
Psalms 106:23-48*
24. Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
28. They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
32. They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
33. Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
34. They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
35. But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
44. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
45. And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
46. He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
47. Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
48. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.
(* See note under October 18)
Yesterday, we considered four flaws in Israel’s character, early in its history, which brought it ultimately to captivity in Babylon. We begin today with the fifth: They despised God’s best. They failed to comprehend the good things that God had prepared for them. Their continual contrariness hurt the Lord and finally, the hurt turned to anger and that whole generation perished in a howling wilderness.
Their sixth mistake was to choose death, rather than life. They entered into pagan, religious practices and worldly religion always kills. Death breeds death. Moses stepped in to intercede and saved the flock from extermination. That leads us to the seventh cause of downfall and that was to provoke the divinely appointed leadership. Their repeated complaints and selfishness spoiled Moses’ ministry and this powerful and good man was taken away from them. His humanity came to the surface. He acted on impulse one time and was refused entrance into the promised land.
Finally, they refused to destroy the heathen nations, mixed with them, learned their ways, turned to idols and gave their fruit to devils. Consequently, God gave them over to the rule of another lord. He showed them just what it was like to be under demon-inspired human influence without the hand of God’s mercy to guide and rule them.
Yet, He did not utterly abandon them. He heard their cry, remembered His covenant and delivered them. From beginning to end, His mercy endures. Even in the captivity judgment, He was merciful to them. Now it is time to call on Him again to separate His people from the heathen and the powerlessness, which binds us to them. We need the victorious life of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit that we might be to His everlasting praise.
October 23
Psalms 107:1-31*
1. O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
4. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
6. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
8. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
10. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11. Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
13. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
15. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
17. Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
19. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
21. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
23. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
27. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
(* See note under October 18)
We have another anthem that sings the mercy of God. Where would mankind be without His mercy? The redeemed of the earth are living testimonies to it. The Psalm tells the story of four hopeless cases of people, who called upon the Lord and thereby found mercy. First, we look at wandering, pointless, and wasted lives. From their emaciated souls, they cried to be fed, and He not only delivered them, but then led to assure they would not return to their error. He satisfied and filled them. The second example is a rebellious crowd. They despised and neglected the word of God and reaped the consequences. Their spirit was oppressed with a life, which was more than they could bear. They fell under the load and none of their old confidences could lift them. They cried and surrendered to the Lord and He lightened their darkness and broke their bands of brass and iron. Then, we consider the foolish sinners whose lusts and desires have carried them away. These are the sin-sick who are dangerously approaching the second death. They cry and He heals them, saves them from destruction, and provides a sacrifice for their sins. At last, we come to the tempest-tossed, who have left their natural habitat and reel upon the waves of that which is false and unreal. These are sensitive to the supernatural and the realm of spirits. However, things have gotten out of hand and they have lost control to other powers. They do the one wise thing man can ever do – they call upon the name of the Lord. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” They find a haven of rest and join with the rest in praising the Lord.
October 24
Psalms 107:32-43*
33. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34. A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35. He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37. And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
40. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
(* See note under October 18)
It is God’s mercy that afflicts and brings down the wicked, dries their rivers and water springs, bares their fruitful land, but then turns to revive the wilderness and dry ground. Once again, men build, sow, plant, reap and multiply. When man’s heart is lifted up with pride, he must be brought low, but God blesses and praises the lowly. The righteous rejoice in the ways of the Lord, which are consistent from the beginning of the Bible to its end. He destroys men’s pride, but loves and is kind to him, when he is humbled. Observe these things and be wise.
October 25
Psalms 108:1-5
1. O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
3. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
David is an early and consistent worshipper, who has his best moments in public praise. In his boyhood, he learned to sing privately from his heart with all the faculties of his being, accompanied by psaltery and harp. Throughout his life, among the saints and before the heathen, David was determined to propagate and perfect praise unto the God he knew and served. God was real to David. He meditated upon His attributes and experienced them from His youth. Often he refers to mercy and truth, as two attributes that lead to the outbreak of praise. “Be thou exalted, O God!” he cried. Can David raise God to be something higher than He already is? No. It is in the hearts of the people that God should be exalted above the heavens and His glory should be recognized over all the earth. People need to lift their eyes above the present delusions of earth and gaze far beyond the light years of the stars unto Him, who is above them all. There they will find more mercy and truth than can be contained in the entire universe.
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