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.
February 20
Psalms 15:1
1.
LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy
hill?
The questions of David are not casual
curiosities. They are of infinite and eternal consequence. Every man, who
inquires after salvation, must grapple with them. The Lord’s tabernacle is the
only place of eternal happiness and he, who would have eternal life, must abide
there. His holy hill is the only place high enough to free us from the temporal
and death that follows.
The way into the Holy of Holies was not
yet opened in the Old Testament. The priests came and ministered in the tabernacle,
but they could not dwell there. Only the high priest entered the Holy of Holies
and that only once a year. It was not a friendly habitation for men. If the Old
Testament types were holy, fearsome and unapproachable, what of the reality?
All in those times went down to Sheol, rather than up to heaven.
February 21
Psalms 15:2-3
2.
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the
truth in his heart.
3.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour,
nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
Beginning in verse two, the emphasis in
this Psalm is on actions, deeds, and words. The Apostle John stated clearly, “He that doeth righteousness, is righteous”.
That is a principle, about which
there can be no confusion. Whereas deeds do not make a person righteous,
they are the evidence of inward righteousness. Those who dwell eternally with
the Lord are “created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
This is the New Testament way to the holy hill of God.
On the positive side, the
righteous walks, works and speaks. There is no mistaking this person’s
day-by-day lifestyle. It shows integrity and seriousness. He speaks from his
heart and the words are truthful and forthright, for he has nothing to hide. He
takes action to promote righteousness, which is, in fact, his life’s work.
On the negative side, there
are things he denies himself. In other words, although inward godliness
manifests itself in positive form, it also wars against the flesh and its
uprisings. He does not backbite, does not work evil, and does not take up a reproach. Because his
speech is honest, he is careful not to mix in untruths and insinuations, for he
has no desire to destroy character. He does not turn against his friend. He wants
the best for him and he stands by him faithfully. He does not want to stir up
strife and so is careful in all his doings and words to deny the flesh in its
insistent war against the spirit.
February 22
Psalms 15:4-5
4.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that
fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against
the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
The person who will abide in God’s
presence is not a passionless “nice guy” or a spineless jellyfish. He knows how
to appreciate and how to despise. He takes a definite stand against the enemies
of God and all that is destructive to His kingdom. He honors the one who walks
in the fear of God, both in his heart and before others. He commends the man
who does not act to promote his own benefits, but carefully observes the will
of the Lord. He will stand on God’s side and speak in no uncertain terms,
though it is devastating to personal advantage. Here is the most important
characteristic: He does not change. One of the most disheartening matters in
Christianity today is indecision or wavering. There are many, who take a stand
one day, who cannot be found anywhere near that stand the next. Honorable is
the man who does not compromise, but sticks to his guns. He is dependable and
consistent. People go to him, when they become serious about God, because they
know he will be there.
The one who abides in the holy hill of God
is not a lover of money and he is not looking for personal profit. Financial
advancement is not a consideration. Money does not influence his decisions,
principles or judgment of people. When you find this kind of person, you find
someone who has dug deeply into God. His roots are in the firmest of spiritual
soil and he will remain there steadfastly throughout eternity.
February 23
Psalms 16:1-3
1.
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
2.
O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness
extendeth not to thee;
3.
But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom
is all my delight.
David and the prophets were enveloped in
Christ long before He came to earth. They were partakers of His sufferings and
triumphs. David wrote the Messianic Psalms, which foretold the coming, life,
death and resurrection of Christ, because they were real in his life. They can
be as real and alive to saints today, who by faith make His life their own.
They are bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.
Jesus was the great ‘Truster’. “He trusted in God,” the Jews said, however
sarcastically, but it was true. It was acutely evident in Him, in Whom the
Father was well pleased, and we now live by His life and faith. Paul lived by
the faith of the Son of God and so did David.
“The spirit of Christ within (him) testified.” It is the kind of faith, in
which God is interested.
David trusted Him to be Lord over his
life. There was no good in him that could meet God’s expectations, but God
imparted to him sanctified longings of the heart.
David identified with the called-apart
ones, just as Jesus did. The saints are the peculiar possession of God,
partakers of the Divine nature, who manifest godliness in the world. “Thine they were,” Jesus stated in His
high priestly prayer, “I pray that thou
shouldest keep them from the evil one…I am glorified in them.” Jesus
rejoiced over them. They are His delight and the fulfillment of His purposes on
earth. It is the saints’ excellent inheritance that God should transfer the joy
and glory of Christ to them and complete it in them.
February 24
Psalms 16:4-7
4.
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their
drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my
lips.
5.
The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou
maintainest my lot.
6.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly
heritage.
7.
I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct
me in the night seasons.
The saint must separate himself from all
forms of idolatry. He finds satisfaction in the person of God and in nothing
else. As the Levite, the Lord is his portion of inheritance. He is his “cup of
tea”, to use an old expression. Let the 2 1/2 tribes have the heritage outside
the promised land, the other 9 1/2 inside, the priests possessed the area roped
off by God Himself, the ancient landmarks established in pleasant places, which
endure forever. The Lord maintained and secured his place in life. God was
Abraham’s reward. He let Lot have the well-watered lands and the king of Sodom
keep the booty. Why should we lay claim to a corner of creation, when the
Creator gives Himself to us?
The
guiding reins for counsel and instruction in our life belong to Him, to Whom we
submit lordship. Jesus is our example: “I
do nothing of Myself….My doctrine is not Mine”. We will have reason to
bless the Lord, if we follow Him.
February 25
Psalms 16:8-13
8.
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I
shall not be moved.
9.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall
rest in hope.
10.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption.
11.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy;
at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Where have you set the Lord? It is your
privilege to keep Him before you always, where you can fix your eyes on Him and
follow in His footsteps. In priority, He must always come before you. Lordship
is the key to divine help and strength. He gives Himself to the person who
gives Him his rightful place over his whole being. He becomes the soul’s
stability, the gladness of the heart and the hope of the body.
Paul and Peter recognized
that this Psalm came to a fulfillment, which was far beyond David. From the
fruit of his loins came the Son of
Man, whose soul triumphed over hell and whose body triumphed over the grave.
This Man turned the tide of human destiny, robbing hell of its inhabitants and
will again restore in resurrection power that which earthly soil has claimed. “Up from the grave He arose.” It was
impossible that the grave should retain Him, in the first place, because of His
divine nature. He is life personified. Secondly He arose, because He trusted in
the Father. Thirdly He arose, because the scriptures so state. The Word of God
is surer than death. The scriptures tell us, “Because He lives, we shall live also.”
Is it grievous to make Him Lord? God is
not the God of somber grayness. He strips us of the temporal, only to clothe us
with the eternal. He is the path of life, in His presence is fullness of joy
and at His right hand are eternal pleasures.
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