The Blessings of Goodness…

 

Spurgeon says the following about Psalm 21:

The title gives us but little information; it is simply, To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David. Probably written by David, sung by David, relating to David, and intended by David to refer in its fullest reach of meaning to David's Lord. It is evidently the fit companion of Psalm Twenty, and is in its proper position next to it. Psalm Twenty anticipates what this regards as realized. If we pray to-day for a benefit and receive it, we must, ere the sun goes down, praise God for that mercy, or we deserve to be denied the next time. It has been called David's triumphant song, and we may remember it as The Royal Triumphal Ode. "The king" is most prominent throughout, and we shall read it to true profit if our meditation of him shall be sweet while perusing it. We must crown him with the glory of our salvation; singing of his love, and praising his power, The next psalm will take us to the foot of the cross, this introduces us to the steps of the throne.

Spurgeon divides it this way:

Verses 1-6:  a thanksgiving for victory

Verses 7-13:  confidence of further success

For this devotional my focus will be on the first portion of verse 3.

For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; 

Or in the King James

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness…

The word prevent in verse 3 means “to see to it beforehand.”  It could also be read this way…For thou preventest—or precedest—him with the blessing of goodness.” King David celebrates the fact that God had gone before them in battle with the blessings of goodness. I love that we serve a God who is not only always with us but goes before us.  He doesn’t allow us to walk alone and He never lags behind.  He goes before us. His blessings of goodness are waiting for us as we make His footsteps our pathway.  Such a beautiful encouraging picture of God’s unfailing love to us who believe as we walk through this dark world. 

For this is God,

Our God forever and ever;

He will be our guide

Even to death—Psalm 48:14

You led Your people like a flock

By the hand of Moses and Aaron.—Psalm 77:20

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.—John 10:4

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.—Deuteronomy 8:2

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Yet, for all that, you did not believe the LORD your God, who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day.—Deuteronomy 1:29-33

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.—Deuteronomy 31:7, 8

Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.—Isaiah 45:1–3

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.—Matthew 26:32

Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!

You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence

From the plots of man;

You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion

From the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the LORD,

For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!

For I said in my haste,

"I am cut off from before Your eyes";

Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications

When I cried out to You.

Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!

For the LORD preserves the faithful,

And fully repays the proud person.

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart,

All you who hope in the LORD. —Psalm 31:19-24

Teacher, Do You Not Care That We Are Perishing?

 

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"—Mark 4:35-41

I really felt for the disciples here. I don’t know about you, but I need lots of practice in the faith over fear area.  Seems like the disciples did too because 

—even though Jesus was in the boat with them 

—even though they had witnessed Him performing miracles that only God could do

—even though He Had just finished teaching them 

—even though He had promised to get them to the other side

They still doubted and reacted in fear not faith.  

Now, to be fair, the disciples did go to Him in their fear (clearly, they knew where to turn for help), but it seems that in their heart of hearts they doubted Jesus’ ability to help. Worse, than that, they doubted that He even cared enough about them to save them.  Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Yikes!  

Sigh…I hate unbelief. I hate the fear it causes in my heart. I hate the chaos and wrong thinking it brings. I hate how it takes my eyes off of who my God truly is. I forget that He is my peace in the storms of this life. I forget how strong He is.  I forget that His love toward me is unfailing, steadfast and sure. I forget that He has promised never to leave me or forsake me. I forget that He has promised to  bring me to the “other side” safely.  So often I need to hear Him say  "Peace, be still!" to my own fear-ridden and careworn heart lest I drown in the sea of “what if’s”.  

Jesus, You are my Master and the  Master over each and every situation that I face. Faith dispels fear!  Increase my faith!  I believe…help my unbelief. Help me to trust You with all my anxious thoughts. Thank you that even in my failings You are patient and kind.  A bruised reed You will not break and smoking flax You will not quench.  Help me to rest in Your love. The end of my story is good. You have dealt bountifully with me. 

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;—Philippians 1:6

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.—Romans 8:28

I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. —Psalm 4:8

And the Meditation of My Heart Shall Give Understanding…

 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.—Psalm 19:14

And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.—Ps 49:3b

My heart is overflowing with a good theme;

I recite my composition concerning the King;

My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.—Psalm 45:1

I want very much to be a “meditator on the word of God”...to be the one whose heart is so overflowing with Jesus that my words are filled with His grace.  What a joy it is to seriously consider what God has placed in my mind.  The full assurance and understanding that comes to a heart that has “fully digested” His word, so to speak, is priceless and I do want more of it. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.—Psalm 1:2-3

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;—1 Peter 3:15

If meditating on those things that are above then is so wonderful, why don’t I do more of it?  I get distracted...or rather, I allow myself to get distracted.   My thoughts get away from me and my day continues with my mind focused on the earthly rather than the heavenly.  Praying I can, as it says in 1 Peter, “gird up the loins of my mind” or pull in the loose ends of my thinking and allow my mind and my heart to find its peace and rest in my God and His word during the course of my day. 

Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge, To let you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?—Proverbs 22:20-21 AMP

“it seemed fitting for me as well, [and so I have decided] after having carefully searched out and investigated all the events accurately, from the very beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus; [Acts 1: 1] so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught [that is, the history and doctrine of the faith].—Luke 1:3-4 AMP

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 forever;

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.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors?

Cleanse me from secret faults.

13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.—Psalm 19:7-14

My Soul Clings to the Dust…

 

DALETH

My soul clings to the dust;

Revive me according to Your word.—Psalm 119:25

Father...thank you that when my heart sees no way out and no where to turn...You are there...Your word is my comfort in my affliction. Your word causes me to hope.  Your word has given me life. By Your Spirit help me to dwell on those things that are eternal.  Turn away my eyes from looking at useless things and revive me in Your way of life and peace. You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall quicken me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth.  You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. 

Your statutes have been my songs

In the house of my pilgrimage.—Psalm 119:54

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.—Psalm 139:5

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”

Even the night shall be light about me;—Psalm 139:7-11

5 O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;

My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

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 rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope.

10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

11 You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—Psalm 18:5-11

Who is My Mother and My Brothers?

 

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."

But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?" And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."—Mark 3:31-35

I truly love this. Jesus does not disparage blood relations here, but He does say that our relationships with those who are born into the family of God are superior because they are eternal. The only way to enter God’s family is by a new spiritual birth from above.

When a sinner (all of us) trusts Jesus as His Savior and Lord, he experiences this new birth and joins the family of God. He now shares God’s nature and can call God His Father.  This rebirth is of God and is accomplished by His beautiful work of grace in our heart. 

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.—John 1:11-13

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.—Ephesians 2:8-9

Our job is to trust Him and obey Him. 

For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

********

Supporting verses…

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."—John 3:1-7

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because

"All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

But the word of the LORD endures forever."

Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.—1 Peter 1:22-25

as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.—2 Peter 1:3-4

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,—Romans 8:15-16

Whoever Offers Praise Glorifies Me…

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.—1 Peter 2:9-10

Borrowed from Exodus 19:6, Peter reminds the church that like Israel we are to point others to God.  What we say and what we do should reveal His goodness, power and grace to the people around us.   We are, like Israel, His own special people…a people set apart unto Him. A people who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.—Isaiah 9:2

We are to proclaim His praises. Our lives, are to be songs of thanksgiving and sacrifices of praise that honor the One that delivered us from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of His love.  

Now, I have no problem proclaiming His praises on a sunny day, but do I sing songs in the night when my circumstances are dark?  God’s word commands us to praise.  Our whole purpose here on this earth is to glorify our God.  Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. 

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."—Psalm 50:23

Beloved…Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.  Declare Jesus to the world around you.  Make the footsteps of Jesus your pathway as you walk through this world being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.—John 1:17-18

Reveal the Father to those whom God has placed in your path. 

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."—John 14:7

Father…Your holiness and Your great mercy surrounds me. May Your Spirit make my life a beautiful song of praise to You. You are good and do good. You command Your lovingkindness in the morning and at night Your song is with me. Give me a thankful heart. I don’t want to walk and speak according to the state of my emotions. I want to walk in full surrender to Your Spirit in accordance with the commands and promises in Your word. You who did not spare Your own precious Son deserve my heart, my soul, my life and my all.

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the LORD will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.—Psalm 60:1-2

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!

Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the LORD, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.—Psalm 100

21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,

And declare His works with rejoicing.—Psalm 107:21-22

With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You;

I will give thanks and praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.—Psalm 54:6

I will praise the name of God with song

And magnify Him with thanksgiving.—Psalm 69:30

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.—Ephesians 5:20

Stretch Out Your Hand…

 

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.—Mark 3:1-6 (emphasis mine)

As I read this last night my heart was encouraged. There are so many things in this world that grieve my heart. It always helps to know that Christ felt similarly as He walked this earth. It is also hard for me to know exactly how to handle my feelings in this regard because unlike Christ, my own sin is always before me. 

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.—Psalm 38:4

Matthew Henry’s commentary on these verses…particularly the one highlighted above spoke wonderfully to my heart. 

Note, The sin of sinners is very displeasing to Jesus Christ; and the way to be angry, and not to sin, is it be angry, as Christ was, at nothing but sin. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will look round upon them shortly, when the great day of his wrath comes. [2.] How he pitied the sinners; he was grieved for the hardness of their hearts; as God was grieved forty years for the hardness of the hearts of their fathers in the wilderness. 

Note, It is a great grief to our Lord Jesus, to see sinners bent upon their own ruin, and obstinately set against the methods of their conviction and recovery, for he would not that any should perish. This is a good reason why the hardness of our own hearts and of the hearts of others, should be a grief to us.—Matthew Henry

What did Christ do in the face of those who were disapproving and looking to ensnare and entrap Him?  He dealt kindly with the man with the withered hand and went on to resolutely do the right thing…the will of His Father in heaven…despite the offense that would be taken by the hostile onlookers. He denied Himself and did good despite the evil that would be planned against Him for that good. 

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.—Matthew 5:43-48

Beloved…Pray for your enemies and those who rebel against the light. Lament their stubbornness…lament your own stubbornness and rebellion and be grieved for the hardness of heart that at times makes each of us insensible to the evidence of His love all around us.  Make it a cause for prayer. 

Stretch out your own withered hand to Him. Even as believers all of us are weakened by sin and are very often in desperate need the healing power of Christ.  Allow Him to effect the cure as you gaze deeply into His word and depend on His grace to see you through. And always…all glory and honor to our God as He works His beautiful work of grace in each of us.