March 27, 2016
David wrote this psalm, but it finds its true fulfillment in Christ. The disciples of Jesus recalled the first part of this psalm when he zealously cleared the temple of the moneychangers on the Monday of Passion Week (John 2:17). Yet on Good Friday, he fulfilled the latter part of the verse as all the world’s “reproach” fell on him. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice for our sin, and not only that, but on the first day of the following week, he arose, overcoming sin, death and the grave. He has therefore become not only our perfect sin sacrifice, but also our Great High Priest, “able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). He is risen!
March 19, 2016
David knew how to get alone with God and find hope and encouragement from Him. He was careful to silence his own self-talk and listen for the voice of the Lord. When we allow the voice of worry (anxious self-talk) to fill our heads, discouragement abounds. At times like this we can say to ourselves, “Be quiet soul, wait and listen for God to speak.” For our hope is anchored not in our own ability, but in God’s power.
March 16, 2016
Singing praises to God puts our hearts and heads in alignment with His. When we are weak, recognizing God as our strength and fortress in song, strengthens us to face whatever the day holds. Singing praises to God, we are elevated to His perspective and enabled to face the day encouraged and empowered.
March 13, 2016
When men and circumstances were all against him, David wrote this psalm. He had been anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the king of Israel, yet he still hid from King Saul’s attempts to kill him. And now, at the writing of this psalm, he had been seized by the Philistines. It certainly didn’t appear that “God was for” David. Yet, David still trusted God and His Word. God’s anointing and promise ultimately were fulfilled in David, and he became Israel’s greatest king. Do you ever question whether God is for you? Do not be dismayed. Learn from David who trusted God in spite of circumstances. Put your trust in Jesus, Son of David and Son of God. He is for you.
March 10, 2016
The atheist usually lays claim to an intellectual position to defend their unbelief. However, the Bible says that their true problem is not reason, but a lack of righteousness. It isn’t the atheist’s mind that rejects God, but his heart. And having refused God entrance, he can find no better candidate for divinity than himself. So, atheism is really humanism at heart. Yet God “looks down” to see who will seek His face. Who will open both their hearts and minds to Him? Those that truly seek God will find Him. This is wisdom.
March 3, 2016
Three divine attributes that we experience when we go to God in times of trouble: “Refuge”, “strength,” and “very present help.” God is our “refuge,” our shelter, shielding us from the storms of life when we trust his protection. God is our “strength,” both materially and physically, supplying and empowering us to survive during troubling times. And He is easily found when we call upon Him because He is a “very present help.” He is always only a prayer away. Of course, we know that God is always present with us, yet during times of trouble His presence seems intensified (or at least our awareness of God is intensified). Have you experienced these attributes of our God during times of trouble?
February 26, 2016
David described the longing of his soul for God. The brilliant French physicist and philosopher, Pascal, proposed that such a longing was present in every human heart, saying, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus” (Blaise Pascal, Pensees). People try to fill this longing with other things, which explains the misery of many. But the human soul can only find its fullest satisfaction in Christ.
February 19, 2016
Righteous hearts have generous hands. How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The righteous not only repay their debts, but give generously to those in need. The wicked avoid even repaying what is owed, much less giving to others. You have received Christ’s generous gift of salvation in your hearts, but has it affected the generosity of your hands?
January 29, 2016
This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff. One of the great sins of American Christianity is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.
January 28, 2016
From David’s famous shepherd psalm. Those that follow the Lord are led on right paths by Him. God does this for the sake of His own Name. God’s purpose is to make us righteous like His Son, who declared “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). In this leading, God cares more for our character than our comfort. He is not working in us for our pleasure, for our name, but for His Name. Therefore, we do not fear when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, because the Good Shepherd is with us, and His purpose is sure. God is making us like His Son (1 John 3:2).