February 26 – March 4 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
February 26
Psalms 17:1-5
1.
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer,
that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things
that are equal.
3.
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou
hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not
transgress.
4.
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from
the paths of the destroyer.
5.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
David’s prayer is righteous, because he
prayed in the will of God. Having nowhere else to go but to God, David cried, “Hear… attend…give ear.” He speaks from
his heart and is honest with God.
He is open to receive whatever sentence
the Lord will decree. His spirit is blameless and unafraid. “He that doeth truth cometh to the light
that his deeds might be manifest that they are wrought in God.” God has
visited him in the night with trials, which uncovered David’s heart. He is
confident in the work that God has done and that it has removed the dross. Down
deep things are right, but the more superficial things are prone to be
influenced by the environment. Therefore, he purposes to keep his mouth from
evil and is determined to bring it into subjection.
He speaks first of his heart,
then of his mouth, and finally of his feet. Coming from the spiritual realm, he
now deals with men. The Word of God always runs crosscurrent to the ways or
works of men. Through the attention and obedience given to God’s word, he has
been kept from the destructive paths of men. Obedience to divine order,
requires divine assistance. He cannot make it alone. The way of God is a
precarious path, unless He upholds us. “Save
me, Lord, or I perish”, cried Peter and the Lord rescued him.
February 27
Psalms 17:6-14
6.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear
unto me, and hear my speech.
7.
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand
them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me
about.
10.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11.
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing
down to the earth;
12.
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion
lurking in secret places.
13.
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the
wicked, which is thy sword:
14.
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have
their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:
they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their
babes.
David is not beating the air. He prays
because God silences heaven that He might hear prayer. He is a ‘truster’ and trust or faith works by
love. He has a revelation of the “marvelous
lovingkindness” of God and knows the
power of His right hand. On God’s part, there is a will and a way and this is
the basis of David’s faith. Now he cries for a demonstration.
Enemies drive us to God. The
King James translators see the wicked as His sword and His hand (verses 13-14).
The more modern mind may have difficulty with such thoughts, but it is not
strange to the over-all revelation of scripture. God uses the wicked to bring
and keep God’s people on their knees. Time after time through the Psalms, David
cries for deliverance from his enemies.
The oppression of enemies draws out the
tender mercies of God. God will protect his own, as men would keep the pupil of
the eye, that very tender and important part of the body. He will hide them by
the covering of His wings. It is a hiding place that a persecutor will never
discover, regardless of his proximity.
The Psalmist depicts the state of the
righteous in this world as one of leanness, necessity, and as sheep among
carnivorous beasts; that of the wicked, as one of fatness, pride and
self-confidence. The enemies are deadly and strong and keep us dependent upon
our God.
February 28
Psalms 17:10-15
10.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11.
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing
down to the earth;
12.
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion
lurking in secret places.
13.
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the
wicked, which is thy sword:
14.
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have
their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:
they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their
babes.
15.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be
satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
Let all God’s people see the characteristics
of the people of the world and the sharp contrast between godliness and
worldliness. The worldly have their portion in this life. They want it now and
God gives it to them. They live for themselves and their families. Rather than
pouring out their children as an offering to God, they keep them for selfish
purposes. The emphasis on the family today is not improving it. Shift the
emphasis back to God and seek first His kingdom. The worldly man sees to it
that he gets his portion in life, and then leaves his inheritance to his
children. The preacher in Ecclesiastes says, this is also vanity. It is
selfishness and worldly. As for me, says the Psalmist, “I am looking for God
and His righteousness.” What about you? Are you looking to be the reflection of
His image for His glory? We are to fit our children into that purpose and
submit them to His eternal will. The rebellious, blasphemous child in the Old Testament
was stoned and the parents would cast the first stones. In the New, Jesus said
that he, who loves son or daughter more than Him, was not worthy of Him.
David’s heart was right, because it was totally removed from the temporal and
placed in the heavenlies. His only satisfaction was in God.
February 29
Psalms 18
1.
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
2.
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my
strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and
my high tower.
3.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be
saved from mine enemies.
4.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me
afraid.
5.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented
me.
6.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my
voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
7.
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills
moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
8.
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth
devoured: coals were kindled by it.
9.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his
feet.
10.
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings
of the wind.
11.
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were
dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
12.
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail
stones and coals of fire.
13.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice;
hail stones and coals of fire.
14.
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out
lightnings, and discomfited them.
15.
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world
were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy
nostrils.
This is a song of praise, which slips from
second to third person and back again. It begins with a declaration of love and
is a song of trust in the strength of the Lord. He is proclaimed as a defense
against all enemies, strategies, and attacks. It is by calling on Him that
salvation and deliverance come.
“Many
are the afflictions of the righteous.” He may be afraid, in sorrow,
overwhelmed, or in distress, but it only drives him to seek God. In Revelation,
the prayers of saints quieted heaven and from that prayer, the Lord rained
judgment upon the earth. Likewise in this Psalm, desperate prayer brings Him to
the defense of His people.
God shakes the earth in anger. There is
smoke and fire, as the heavens lower and darkness prevails. He is the God of
darkness as well as light for He created day and night. God hides, while thick
clouds, dark waters, hail stones, coals of fire, thunder and lightning perform
His work. He is behind it all, coming in close for a sweeping attack on His
enemies. The earth is discovered and her secret places are laid bare. Security
and defense is swept away and those who trust in her are dismayed because of
her vulnerability.
March 1
Psalms 18:16-41
16.
He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
17.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for
they were too strong for me.
18.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19.
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he
delighted in me.
20.
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the
cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
21.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed
from my God.
22.
For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his
statutes from me.
23.
I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
24.
Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man
thou wilt shew thyself upright;
26.
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou
wilt shew thyself froward.
27.
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
28.
For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my
darkness.
29.
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over
a wall.
30.
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a
buckler to all those that trust in him.
31.
For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
32.
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
33.
He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
34.
He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine
arms.
35.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand
hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
36.
Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
37.
I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn
again till they were consumed.
38.
I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen
under my feet.
39.
For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued
under me those that rose up against me.
40.
Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy
them that hate me.
41.
They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he
answered them not.
God comes out of hiding to reach out to
his trusting ones, who are caught in the fury of the storm. Their enemies are
too strong and they cannot prevail against them. They give themselves to prayer and the
fearful storm becomes their deliverance. Remember, it was when He hid His face
that He was working towards that end.
The Psalmist speaks of a ‘large place’.
The enemy is always trying to entrap them in a corner or down a narrow
corridor, where they are extremely vulnerable. The Lord brings them out into a
broad plain, where sniping is impossible. This is the place of clear revelation
and discernment.
The Lord’s delight in righteousness and
clean hands prompts Him to work deliverance. In union with God and walking in
obedience to His ways, there is a denial of self. It is a trade of what is ours
for what is His. We can then expect Him to act on our behalf and we will reap
what we sow.
He supplies strength to walk in His way.
He takes us supernaturally through the amassed forces of the enemy and over the
high obstacles, which would fence us in, if we walked as mere men. He cannot
fail and, as it was for David, so is the promise to all that trust in Him. When
His ways become our ways, then our ways are perfect. Who else can provide
perfect assurance, protection and deliverance? He gives supernatural agility to
climb above the reach of our enemies and supernatural strength to break the
strongest weapons. He provides gentle teaching to His trusting ones, but fierce
destruction to our enemies. He leads our feet on firm ground, as the enemies
slip and slide. Their pretended religion was powerless to save them.
March 2
Psalms 18:42-50
42.
Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them
out as the dirt in the streets.
43.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast
made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44.
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall
submit themselves unto me.
45.
The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.
46.
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation
be exalted.
47.
It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.
48.
He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those
that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
49.
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and
sing praises unto thy name.
50.
Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his
anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.
It is clear that this Psalm
is Messianic. It is the Son of Man
who has overcome perfectly. To Him is given the inheritance of the heathen. His
kingdom stretches to the far corners of the globe, to the godless and
unevangelized. From those citadels of heathen darkness will come forth a
people, which, as soon as they hear, will obey and submit to holy service. The
fear of the Lord will reign.
The Lord lives, let Him be blessed and
exalted! The glory and victory belong to Him, because He intervenes before an
enemy, who is too strong for us. Let Him wear the laurel wreath, let us exalt
His name among the heathen and sing praises to Him. His deliverance belonged to
David, whose root and seed was Christ. It belongs eternally to Christ Himself
and it belongs to all, who have been grafted in, so as to be partakers of the
everlasting inheritance. “I and the
children God has given me.” (Hebrews 2:13)
March 3
Psalms 19:1-6
1.
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork.
2.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end
of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5.
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a
strong man to run a race.
6.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the
ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
Creation speaks! There is enough evidence
in nature to cure the soul of the unnatural disease of atheism. Only God can
make a tree and put life within it, so that it grows of itself and reproduces.
As someone has said, there is a forest in the tiny acorn.
The heavens speak to us! Its scorching
sun, silvery moon, distant stars, billowy clouds, mid-day blue sky,
multi-colored rainbows, and soft, rosy sunsets, all say, “We are the product of
the mind and whims of a glorious Creator, whose inner beauty and wisdom we
manifest.”
Nature speaks everyone’s language. Babel
and its confusion of tongues have not affected her. It easily reaches the most
savage headhunter and the most remote tribe. It addresses all, if they will
listen. They are without excuse.
The champion of heaven’s spokesmen is the
sun. His testimony is worldwide and his effects touch every individual. All can
look to the same sun. The Mexicans called it “the poor man’s blanket.” The sun
is no respecter of persons. Its rays warm rich and poor alike. Everyone
rejoices as it peaks through the clouds after days of gloomy weather. Its light
brings hope and joy. Its rays dispel the night, dry the rain, and melt the
snow. It is a gift to mankind from his beneficent Creator. It tells of His
glory, faithfulness, wisdom and goodness.
March 4
Psalms 19:7-10
7. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the
soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment
of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the
LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter
also than honey and the honeycomb.
The law of the Lord is perfect, whether
written on tables of stone, in a book, or on fleshly tables of the heart. It
does more to revive the soul than nature can do. Its rays penetrate to the
inner man and warms the cold heart. It
reveals the nature of God to man. The testimonies are sure witnesses of God’s
wisdom. Let the unlearned and ignorant look into them and he becomes wiser than
his contemporaries. The poor heard Jesus gladly and could see the rightness of
His teaching. The right statutes of the Lord strike a cord within the human
heart and His commandments bring light to the spiritual eye. They uncover error
and show the wayward soul his mistake, so he might recover. The fear of the
Lord, because of its cleanness, condemns the filthy soul. It drives him to his
knees for mercy, forgiveness and cleansing. The judgments of the Lord contain
no guile or falsehood. They free the soul from the deceiving grip of hypocrisy.
They deal absolute rectitude in every case; therefore David invited them into his
life. They could only do him good.
Often, man avoids the strict dealings of
God, but we are to desire them. They do more for the life than silver or gold,
“yea, than much fine gold”, and are
sweeter than the honeycomb. What man finds in the Lord will convert, enlighten,
make wise, rejoice the heart, endure forever, and bring truth and
righteousness. Tell me where man can work eight hours a day to obtain virtues
such as these.
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