Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for July 13

“The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless” (Psalms 10:14b NKJV).

From: July 13, 2020

THE FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS

The psalmist began by questioning where God is when the wicked persecute the poor. For the wicked appear to prosper and take advantage of the poor. Like a lion they attack the helpless who have no apparent protection.

But God does observe their trouble and grief. The helpless are not as helpless as they seem. For when they commit themselves to God, He is their Helper. And when the fatherless cry out to Him, He answers, adopting them as His own children.

I was once a fatherless child. For my father died when I was eight years old. My dear mother raised four children alone, yet not alone. For God was our Helper. When I cried out to Him, committing myself to Him, He answered. He became my Father, so that I was fatherless no more.

PRAYER: Dear Father, I will never forget how helpless we felt when our father died. Yet, I will also never forget how real You became to us in every moment. For You became our Helper and the Head of our house. You became our Father in the real sense. Strengthen us to tell others who are feeling helpless and fatherless about Your great love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24 NLT).

From: July 13, 2019

PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS EVERY DAY TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE.

David gave this song of thanksgiving to the Levites to sing on the day they brought the Ark into Jerusalem. In these two verses, he commanded his people to proclaim the good news that God saves to the nations. Notice some of the details of his instruction:

1) Proclaim the good news every day

2) The good news is that God saves

3) Publish (using all available media) God’s good deeds among the nations

4) Tell everyone about what God has done

We have been given this same command by the Son of David, Jesus Christ. For He has said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).

PRAYER: Lord, fill us and empower us with Your Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News that Jesus saves every day, to everyone, in every way, to every nation, everywhere. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Romans 1:20 NLT).

From: July 13, 2018

CREATION REVEALS THE CREATOR

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he taught that all humanity was under God’s wrath because they had rejected even the most basic revelation He had given them, namely, creation itself. This is what theologians call General Revelation or Natural Revelation, which is the knowledge of God available to all through the observation of His creation. In other words, many of God’s attributes may be readily ascertained by the observation and study of God’s works in creation. As a result, all humanity is without excuse for they have always had access to knowledge of Him.

Paul laid this foundational truth early in the book of Romans to prepare for his proclamation of God’s intervention through Special Revelation, that is, the word of the prophets, the Scriptures, and the supreme revelation of God through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Everyone has already received God’s general revelation, yet Christ has commissioned us to share God’s special revelation, which is most fully expressed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is so that the people of God might be ransomed by the blood of Jesus from every tribe and language and people and nation (See Rev. 5:9).

Before God inspired the writing of Genesis and all the Scriptures, He wrote large on the parchment of the earth and painted bright on the canvas of the heavens, so that every creature might know their Creator.

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24 NKJV).

From: July 13, 2017

These two verses come from the psalm of thanksgiving that David instructed Asaph and the Levite singers to sing during the procession of the Ark to its new home in Jerusalem. David was not only a good king, he was a good worship service planner.

The first stanza invites all the earth to sing to the Lord. The next instructs his saints to proclaim the gospel (“good news”) every day. The third and fourth stanzas instruct the saints to declare God’s “glory” and “wonders” among every nation and people. Reading this, one can see the continuity of David’s song and Christ’s Great Commission, namely, to “go and make disciples of all nations.”

What a wonderful worship service David planned for the Ark’s arrival in its new home! And what a worship service the Lord plans for us when we arrive home with Him!

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21 ESV)

From: July 13, 2016

The beauty and order of creation points to the unseen Creator, yet sin has lowered humanity’s vision to the visible creature. With an innate need to worship, they praise nature instead of nature’s God. This fallen focus puts a lie at the center of their thinking, so that their thinking devolves into foolishness and futility. This falsehood cannot be exposed without spiritual power. Mere words and human persuasion will not suffice. Sin has blinded their eyes and their minds are darkened. Only the power of God and the preaching of the gospel can shine the light of truth and reveal their need to repent and be saved.

“the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord” (1 Chronicles 15:15 NKJV)

From: July 13, 2015

David’s first attempt at transporting the ark to Jerusalem failed when Uzzah was struck dead by God while reaching out to steady the ark when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled. David became so afraid of God that they left the ark there. But after a season, David researched this with the Levites and discovered that he had not followed God’s instructions for carrying the ark. It was not to be carried by oxen and cart. It was to be carried by men, specifically, set-apart men from the priestly house of Levi. And they were to carry it in a very specified way- “with the poles on their shoulders.” They were to carry it with their faces towards the ark and the backs towards the world, being careful not to touch it, but to honor it and not let it fall.
David learned to follow God’s Word in how he worshiped. How we worship matters to God.

“They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen” (Romans 1:25 NLT)

From: July 13, 2014

The beauty and order of creation points to the unseen Creator, yet sin has lowered humanity’s vision to the visible creature. With an innate need to worship, they praise nature instead of nature’s God. This fallen focus puts a lie at the center of their thinking, so that their thinking devolves into foolishness and futility. This falsehood cannot be exposed without spiritual power. Mere words and human persuasion will not suffice. Sin has blinded their eyes and their minds are darkened. Only the power of God and the preaching of the gospel can shine the light of truth and reveal their need to repent and be saved.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done” (1 Chronicles 16:8)

From: July 13, 2012

David wrote this song of thanksgiving for the Levites to sing on the day they carried the Ark into Jerusalem. Today, the very Presence of God abides in us through Christ. We are His tabernacle. If David had cause to celebrate, we have more. So, let us give thanks and proclaim God’s greatness to the whole world!

“Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

From: July 13, 2011

The Psalms express every emotion of the human heart. This one questions where God is when trouble comes. The writer begins feeling distant from God, but as he pours out his heart, he is encouraged again. God is not afraid of your questions. Cry out to Him and be refreshed.

“And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 15:15)

From: July 13, 2010

David’s first attempt at transporting the ark to Jerusalem failed when Uzzah was struck dead by God while reaching out to steady the ark when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled. David became so afraid of God that they left the ark there.
After a season, David researched this with the Levites and discovered that he had not followed God’s instructions for carrying the ark. It was not to be carried by oxen and cart. It was to be carried by men, specifically, set-apart men from the priestly house of Levi. And they were to carry it in a very specified way- “with the poles on their shoulders.” They were to carry it with their faces towards the ark and the backs towards the world, being careful not to touch it, but to honor it and not let it fall.
God still ordains that set-apart people carry His Word.