April 20, 2017
The physical fulfillment of this promise was unbroken until the Babylonian overthrow of Judah in 597 BC. Yet, the spiritual fulfillment always pointed to Christ, who is the “Seed of the woman” who would crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15), the “Seed of Abraham” through whom all nations of the earth shall be blessed (Gen. 26:4), and the “Seed of David” whom God will raise up to reign forever.
As the apostle Paul wrote, “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). Jesus Christ is the promised Seed.
April 16, 2017
Personifying the divine attributes, the psalmist wrote of a day when mercy and truth would finally meet and righteousness and peace would greet one another with a holy kiss. The result of this union would cause truth to burst like a seed from the earth and righteousness to shine down from the flung open windows of heaven.
Surely this meeting is fulfilled in Christ. For God’s mercy and truth intersected in Christ on the cross. God’s truth and holiness put Him there to die in our place and God’s love and mercy were the nails that held Him fast. God’s desire for our righteousness and for peace and reconciliation between God and humanity were met in the Messiah like a kiss, as He tasted death for us. Yet, the Truth sprang from the earth on the third day. He has flung open the windows of heaven, so that righteousness shines down on those who follow Him.
All the divine attributes are met in Christ. The Son of God was crucified, buried and raised on the third day. He is risen! Let all the earth rejoice!
April 15, 2017
The Lord is like the sun enlightening our way. He is like a shield protecting us from harm. He freely gives grace, offering His favor and friendship. He will not share His own glory, yet He gives glory to those who are His, appropriate to their state, which is the honor, beauty and blessing He bestows on the righteous, both in this life and even more so in the next. God does not withhold good from us, as some would accuse, but pours out goodness like rain on those who live according to His Word. Even that which is perceived as harm He causes to work together for the good for those that love the Lord (Rom. 8:28).
The ultimate revelation of God’s grace, glory and goodness has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Those who have believed and received the Son, have received the greatest grace, glory and goodness of God. If He does not withhold Christ from us, will He withhold any good thing?
“He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?” (Rom. 8:32 AMP).
April 12, 2017
“Sing aloud.” Not humming softly. Not just tapping your foot to the sound in your head. “Sing aloud!” Sing the words of praise and worship to our God. Sing of His character. Sing of His works. Sing to Him by Name (“God of Jacob”). Sing and let His strength flow to and through you, that you might be filled afresh with spiritual power and joy for the day!
April 1, 2017
Desire and thirst both seek satisfaction. The psalmist was once envious of the boasting and prosperity of the wicked, and didn’t understand why God allowed it. Yet, he brought his concern to the Lord and received fresh understanding. In the place of his envy for what others had, the Lord gave him a new thirst, a new desire for God Himself. He lifted his eyes to heaven and saw the rich portion that was his, namely, the Lord.
All things on earth will fade. Our bodies will fail. Why thirst for things that do not satisfy? Why be envious of things that will not last? Instead, let your desire be for the Lord. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus, who said from the cross, “I thirst” (John 19:28), so that we might find our deepest desire satisfied in Him.
March 30, 2017
Do you have a retirement plan?
The psalmist asked that the Lord not forget him when he became old and weak. He knew that the Lord had cared for him since birth, but he wanted to be sure that the Lord wouldn’t forget him in his final days.
As we age, we die by degree. Our sight needs correction and our hearing fades. Our joints lose flexibility and our hair grays. Each day seems to hold a new decrease and decline. Yet, we may still increase in the Lord! The time of old age can be a time of spiritual advance. While the body fails, the spirit may soar on eagle’s wings in the strength of our God.
March 28, 2017
This psalm of David found its fulfillment in Christ’s suffering on the cross. Reading the four gospels together, it appears that Jesus was offered at least two drinks and perhaps three.
The first drink offered, according to Matthew and Mark, was wine mixed with gall or myrrh. This was offered as He arrived on Golgotha to be crucified. According to tradition, a narcotic drink was offered to those condemned to death in order to decrease their sensitivity to the excruciating pain. Jesus refused this drink, choosing to suffer with complete consciousness.
The second drink was offered by the Roman soldiers in mockery when the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah (Luke 23:36). He did not drink it.
The third drink was requested by Jesus. He said simply, “I thirst” (John 19:28). And the soldiers used a branch of hyssop to lift a sponge full of sour wine or wine vinegar to His lips.
Jesus, Son of David, Son of God, endured the thirst and drank the vinegar of which David prophesied centuries before. Then, He cried out, “It is finished,” and gave up His spirit (John 19:30).
March 20, 2017
David wrote of his strong desire to be “satisfied” and “joyful” in the Lord. He sought to bear the fruit of one who knew the “lovingkindness” (Psa. 63:3) of the Lord. The word “satisfied” speaks of contentment. David lifted his soul up to the Lord, determined to find a deep abiding contentment like one feels
March 5, 2017
Again we return to one of the favorite themes of the Psalmist, namely, the “lovingkindness” of God. This attribute in the Hebrew is called “chesed.” It describes the unconditional and covenantal love of God. The Psalmist wrote that they had “thought on” this Divine attribute in the temple. In other words, they had “meditated on” God’s lovingkindness, literally, “likening or comparing” it to what they knew, in order to understand it and appreciate it better.
Today as believers, we are God’s holy temple. When we gather as the church, we encourage one another to “think on” God’s lovingkindness just as the saints of old, yet with greater illumination and understanding. For we have God’s greatest expression of His “chesed” love, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us meditate on God’s great love today. As the apostle John wrote, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).
March 4, 2017
Singing praises to God should engage both the heart and the mind. All kinds of singing is encouraged by God’s Word. The apostle Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16). Modern praise songs, with their simple repetitive phrases, help move the heart, but soon feel shallow without the rich theology found in many older hymns. Both are needed. A survey of the 150 Psalms of the Bible, reveals a wealth of songs and hymns that engage both heart and mind. We are to sing songs that stir our emotion, with an exclamation on the end! But we are also to sing songs that deepen our “understanding,” so that the Word “dwells richly” in our minds too.