Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength,—Psalm 8:2a
There is not much weaker or more helpless than a newborn baby, but the same God that can ordain strength out of the mouths of a nursing infant can be my strength and my support in my own weakness. He can use ME, weak as I am, to display His glory!
Lord...Thank you for my weakness because it reminds me of who I am and who You are. It keeps me from living MY life in MY strength. It helps me REMEMBER to look up to where my true help comes and live the life You have graciously and mercifully laid out for me. Because Your grace is sufficient, the backdrop of my life will display Your strength and silence my (Your) enemies. Thank you for the heavens because they remind me that I am small and You are infinite. I say with the Psalmist
“What is man that You are mindful of him? And the son of man that You visit him?”
YOU! visit me! You dwell in me! I can revel in my smallness, my brokenness, my dependence and my weakness because in and through it all You ordain strength. Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. How wonderful to know that I don’t have to be strong. You didn’t make me to be strong...You made me to depend on You...to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, Your Son. I am a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for my Master, prepared for every good work. I can rest knowing that Your grace is sufficient. I will, therefore, most gladly BOAST in my infirmities, that Your power may rest upon me. I will take PLEASURE in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong! Undertake for me, Father!
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."— 1 Cor 1:27-31
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Tuesday, July 9, 2019
My Shield is With God - Psalm 7
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. (Psalms 7:10, ESV)
If you have ever been wrongly accused or spoken of evilly, then you understand a little of what David might be feeling here. He wants vindication from God against the accusations and allegations of his enemies. What encourages me most about this psalm is that underlying it all...the very backbone of this Psalm...is David’s confidence in His God. Oh, how I want to be like David here! My back at the moment is in a painful spasm. It has succumbed to the burdens that I carry that were too heavy for my heart. Rolling each one right now into His care and trusting His comfort to be the delight of my soul. He will make perfect that which concerns me. Such privileges we have as God’s children!
If you have ever been wrongly accused or spoken of evilly, then you understand a little of what David might be feeling here. He wants vindication from God against the accusations and allegations of his enemies. What encourages me most about this psalm is that underlying it all...the very backbone of this Psalm...is David’s confidence in His God. Oh, how I want to be like David here! My back at the moment is in a painful spasm. It has succumbed to the burdens that I carry that were too heavy for my heart. Rolling each one right now into His care and trusting His comfort to be the delight of my soul. He will make perfect that which concerns me. Such privileges we have as God’s children!
Psalm 7:10 tells us that David’s shield (NKJV says defense) is of God. This brought the comfort of 1 Peter 2:23 to mind because like Christ David maintains His trust in His God.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:23, ESV)
Praying each of us can continue entrusting ourselves into the care of our God moment by moment....composed and praising God as David did (vs 17) as He waits for God to answer.
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. (Psalms 7:17, ESV)
Monday, July 8, 2019
Psalm 6
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
—Psalm 6:2a
I couldn’t have asked for a better Psalm to wake up to this morning...nor for more gracious and tender-hearted words than these. How I love that I can cry out to the Lord in my WEAKNESS and plead for mercy. What a constant joy it is to my heart that I don’t have to plead my goodness or my greatness to obtain mercy because I have NONE...I deserve death for my sin. How AWESOME to know that His name IS mercy. He is my God of steadfast love and His love toward me is unchanging, eternal, and always for my good. He relieves me in my distress and hears my prayer. My God lifts up the light of His countenance and puts gladness in my heart. He blesses me with His favor and surrounds me as a shield...
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy....
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,—Psalm 103:8;10-17
—Psalm 6:2a
I couldn’t have asked for a better Psalm to wake up to this morning...nor for more gracious and tender-hearted words than these. How I love that I can cry out to the Lord in my WEAKNESS and plead for mercy. What a constant joy it is to my heart that I don’t have to plead my goodness or my greatness to obtain mercy because I have NONE...I deserve death for my sin. How AWESOME to know that His name IS mercy. He is my God of steadfast love and His love toward me is unchanging, eternal, and always for my good. He relieves me in my distress and hears my prayer. My God lifts up the light of His countenance and puts gladness in my heart. He blesses me with His favor and surrounds me as a shield...
The LORD is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy....
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,—Psalm 103:8;10-17
Psalm 5
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. (Psalms 5:3, ESV)
I have portions of this Psalm memorized so this morning when I read it in the ESV the difference in the wording really jarred me. Here is verse 3 in the NKJV...
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
I have always been blessed when reading this Psalm that in the morning the Psalmist looked to His God...he directed his voice to His God...I always assumed the words and “I will look up” meant when He prayed he looked “up” or heavenward to where his God was. It was a good reminder to me to focus on things above and not on my circumstances. The ESV says, “I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”
I looked up the word watch and now I love both versions because both the NKJV and the ESV remind me to direct my voice heavenward in the morning but the ESV tells me to watch and wait for God to answer! Such a good reminder to me...God answers prayers...He does hear my cry. My faith is encouraged as I watch and “see” him answer.
But to You I have cried out, O LORD,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.—Ps 88:13
I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.—Psalm 119:147
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.—Habakkuk 2:1
My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning--
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.—Ps 130:6
I have portions of this Psalm memorized so this morning when I read it in the ESV the difference in the wording really jarred me. Here is verse 3 in the NKJV...
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.
I have always been blessed when reading this Psalm that in the morning the Psalmist looked to His God...he directed his voice to His God...I always assumed the words and “I will look up” meant when He prayed he looked “up” or heavenward to where his God was. It was a good reminder to me to focus on things above and not on my circumstances. The ESV says, “I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.”
I looked up the word watch and now I love both versions because both the NKJV and the ESV remind me to direct my voice heavenward in the morning but the ESV tells me to watch and wait for God to answer! Such a good reminder to me...God answers prayers...He does hear my cry. My faith is encouraged as I watch and “see” him answer.
But to You I have cried out, O LORD,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.—Ps 88:13
I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word.—Psalm 119:147
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.—Habakkuk 2:1
My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning--
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.—Ps 130:6
Psalm 3
The most helpful thing for me to do when trying to understand a psalm is to break it up into parts. Breaking it up, ironically, brings unity. It also gives my heart a template to follow in my own devotional time as well as serving to remind me that I am not alone in my suffering and sorrow. A great cloud of witnesses has gone before me.
Psalm 3 really lends itself to this. We know already from the 1st verse when it was written (when David fled from his son Absalom). Verses 1 and 2 outline David’s complaint...to David’s credit, he is pretty succinct. My complaints tend to go longer. :)
Verses 3 and 4 exalt God as David’s help and His Deliver. These verses show us that David confidence is in His God. The next two verses (5 & 6) speak to God’s support and preservation even as David sleeps. David can rest without fear. In the last two verses we find David strengthening himself in God for what is coming knowing that the battle is not his. God will fight for him.
Unity...complaint...declaration of dependence on and confidence in God....freedom from fear because God is His support...and the sure and certain knowledge that God will fight His battles...Salvation is of the Lord.
Laying out my complaint...declaring my confidence...sleeping anxiety free and acknowledging that God’s help and blessing are mine. Thank you, Father, for Your word.
Psalm 3 really lends itself to this. We know already from the 1st verse when it was written (when David fled from his son Absalom). Verses 1 and 2 outline David’s complaint...to David’s credit, he is pretty succinct. My complaints tend to go longer. :)
Verses 3 and 4 exalt God as David’s help and His Deliver. These verses show us that David confidence is in His God. The next two verses (5 & 6) speak to God’s support and preservation even as David sleeps. David can rest without fear. In the last two verses we find David strengthening himself in God for what is coming knowing that the battle is not his. God will fight for him.
Unity...complaint...declaration of dependence on and confidence in God....freedom from fear because God is His support...and the sure and certain knowledge that God will fight His battles...Salvation is of the Lord.
Laying out my complaint...declaring my confidence...sleeping anxiety free and acknowledging that God’s help and blessing are mine. Thank you, Father, for Your word.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Tim 3:16-17
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.—Hebrews 4:12
Wednesday, July 3, 2019
Samson...Out of Weakness, He Was Made Strong
Samson was a man to whom God had given super human strength. He was also a man who was prideful, arrogant and lacked self-control. A pretty volatile combination of qualities. The Bible says whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. When Samson was in his flesh, he had no rule over his spirit. God used this weakness in his character to bring him to a place of humiliation and helplessness, and it was in this place of weakness that God’s strength was made perfect in the life of Samson.
Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"Judges 16:28
Beyond his desire for retaliation, (not good) Samson also expresses a willingness to die to protect his people from their enemy. The Lord heard his cry.
Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.—Judges 16:30
In the suffering and brokenness of his last days, Samson had come to the place of truly trusting His God. As it says in vs 34 of Hebrews 11, out of weakness, he was made strong. Samson died serving God and protecting His people. Samson’s name is recorded as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11.
Father, In my flesh NOTHING good dwells. In You and by Your Spirit I am made strong...a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"Judges 16:28
Beyond his desire for retaliation, (not good) Samson also expresses a willingness to die to protect his people from their enemy. The Lord heard his cry.
Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.—Judges 16:30
In the suffering and brokenness of his last days, Samson had come to the place of truly trusting His God. As it says in vs 34 of Hebrews 11, out of weakness, he was made strong. Samson died serving God and protecting His people. Samson’s name is recorded as a hero of faith in Hebrews 11.
Father, In my flesh NOTHING good dwells. In You and by Your Spirit I am made strong...a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10
King Josiah...
Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.—2 Kings 22:11
"because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD.
"Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place." ' " So they brought back word to the king.—2 Kings 22:19-20
I love Josiah! He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. He had a humble, contrite heart and a tender conscience. When Josiah heard the words of the book of the law, his heart was grieved and he tore his clothes. Josiah reacts rightly to the Spirit’s conviction by seeking the Lord, confronting Judah’s sin and leading the nation back to God.
Josiah received God’s word with meekness...without argument. He surrendered to the conviction the Spirit of God brought to his heart and in doing so he brought revival to the nation. As a bonus, God showed Josiah mercy and held off judgment until after his death.
I want a heart like Josiah’s! His heart was humble. Humility protects and preserves. Lowliness of mind keeps us from our own wrong desires and settles our mind on what He desires. When I am humble, I am not self seeking...I am looking to live for Him and His glory. His perfect will then covers me. I am under his umbrella of protection so to speak. If I have done what my Lord has called me to do and fulfilled all His desires, than despite how things might look from an earthly perspective, I have led a successful life. Josiah’s meekness and willingness to yield to the Spirit of God brought him the favor of both God and man.
In Chapter 23 we see Josiah reading the book of the law in the presence of the Elders of Judah and all the people great and small.❤️ His heart desired that all, upon hearing the word of God, would turn and repent. Verse 3 says this:
“Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.”
“And all the people took a stand.”
Josiah was a leader. Josiah took a stand for what was right and good and the people followed him. Never underestimate what effect your life will have on your family and those around you when you unashamedly take a stand for Your God. What a testimony Josiah had! (Has!). Stand therefore!
Our OYB Psalm for today perfectly speaks to this section of 2 Kings...
1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 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.
4 The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
My Strong Tower...
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.—Proverbs 18:10
Last night I was looking at Isaiah 43 where God says:
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
God owns me twice...He owns me because He created me and He owns me a second time because He redeemed my life from destruction. I belong to Him. He knows my name. He knows everything about me. This morning when I read the OYB Proverb my mind went back to what I had been contemplating last night but with a different twist. He not only calls me by my name but He also calls me by His name because I am His. I have taken His Name into my heart.
The promise of safe harbor in His Presence found in this proverb is MINE. I am one of His righteous ones because He is my righteousness...my YHVH Tzidkaynu - The LORD Our (MY) Righteousness.
I can cry out to Him and He will hear...I can run to Him and not faint...I can go boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need...
Father...Your name represents all that You are. You are my unchanging God...I can trust You in all things. I am safe in Your walls. The past year has brought with it so many changes and with those changes new concerns, new cares and new ways of doing things. I confess, Father, that I am growing wearing keeping up with all of it and feeling like I am not sufficient for any of it. I am thankful that You are my strong tower...my refuge from a world that moves to fast. Today I will run to You, my merciful God, and be safe. I will run by faith to my refuge of faith. You set me “aloft” from it all...high in Your strong tower. I am sheltered in You — I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, hidden in Your pavilion...safe in Your everlasting arms.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
The righteous run to it and are safe.—Proverbs 18:10
Last night I was looking at Isaiah 43 where God says:
But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
God owns me twice...He owns me because He created me and He owns me a second time because He redeemed my life from destruction. I belong to Him. He knows my name. He knows everything about me. This morning when I read the OYB Proverb my mind went back to what I had been contemplating last night but with a different twist. He not only calls me by my name but He also calls me by His name because I am His. I have taken His Name into my heart.
The promise of safe harbor in His Presence found in this proverb is MINE. I am one of His righteous ones because He is my righteousness...my YHVH Tzidkaynu - The LORD Our (MY) Righteousness.
I can cry out to Him and He will hear...I can run to Him and not faint...I can go boldly to His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need...
Father...Your name represents all that You are. You are my unchanging God...I can trust You in all things. I am safe in Your walls. The past year has brought with it so many changes and with those changes new concerns, new cares and new ways of doing things. I confess, Father, that I am growing wearing keeping up with all of it and feeling like I am not sufficient for any of it. I am thankful that You are my strong tower...my refuge from a world that moves to fast. Today I will run to You, my merciful God, and be safe. I will run by faith to my refuge of faith. You set me “aloft” from it all...high in Your strong tower. I am sheltered in You — I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, hidden in Your pavilion...safe in Your everlasting arms.
What A Friend We Have In Jesus"
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Monday, July 1, 2019
Spiritual Beauty...Psalm 149:4
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.—Psalm 149:4
As I read Psalm 149:4 this morning I thought how much more excellent and worthy and profitable it is to think on spiritual beauty rather than the worldly, quickly fading kind. To place my focus on Him rather than on my many flaws...imagined or otherwise in the unkind mirror of my fleshly mind. Today I will think on spiritual beauty...Christlikeness. I have been raised with Christ, I will set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. When the Lord makes me beautiful, I will be beautiful indeed...I will be beautiful FOREVER.
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.—1 Peter 3:4
Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you," says the Lord GOD.—Ezekiel 16:4
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.—Ephes 5:27
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.—1 Cor 15:49
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Cor 3:18
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.—1 John 3:2
to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3, ESV)
He will beautify the humble with salvation.—Psalm 149:4
As I read Psalm 149:4 this morning I thought how much more excellent and worthy and profitable it is to think on spiritual beauty rather than the worldly, quickly fading kind. To place my focus on Him rather than on my many flaws...imagined or otherwise in the unkind mirror of my fleshly mind. Today I will think on spiritual beauty...Christlikeness. I have been raised with Christ, I will set my mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. When the Lord makes me beautiful, I will be beautiful indeed...I will be beautiful FOREVER.
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.—1 Peter 3:4
Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you," says the Lord GOD.—Ezekiel 16:4
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.—Ephes 5:27
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.—1 Cor 15:49
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Cor 3:18
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.—1 John 3:2
to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3, ESV)
Thinking on His Word....
I really love the Proverbs, but I often have difficulty discerning their meaning. Part of the problem is that I am impatient. I WANT to understand it immediately. When I don’t, I usually move on or look up what Matthew Henry or Charles Spurgeon had to say about it. When I do this, I miss an opportunity to meditate on the Scriptures and allow the Spirit of God to teach me and speak to my heart about its meaning. Perhaps the Lord has a purpose for my denseness. Maybe He wants me to spend the day chewing on His Word. Maybe He is using my lack of understanding to teach me to make a practice of thinking on His word during the day. Praying that I will do this...praying that by His grace I will make a practice of meditating on His word during the day and in so doing allow the word of Christ dwell in me richly in all wisdom. There are many verses in Scripture that speak to this...
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 63:6 (NKJV)
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the [night] watches.
Psalm 77:12 (NKJV)
I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.
Psalm 119:27 (NKJV)
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Malachi 3:16 (NKJV)
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard [them;] So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
And here IS what the commentators had to say...
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.—Proverbs 18:4
From Matthew Henry...
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed.
1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry.
2. The words of such a man's mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds.
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 63:6 (NKJV)
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the [night] watches.
Psalm 77:12 (NKJV)
I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.
Psalm 119:27 (NKJV)
Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Malachi 3:16 (NKJV)
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard [them;] So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
And here IS what the commentators had to say...
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.—Proverbs 18:4
From Matthew Henry...
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed.
1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry.
2. The words of such a man's mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds.
Friday, June 28, 2019
Praise the Lord, O My Soul...
Ps 146 begins and ends in the same way...Praise the LORD! We start out in verse 1-2 with a commitment to praise. What stopped me here...as silly as it might sound...were the words, “O my soul”. You hear that a lot in the Psalms. Sometimes I can read a phrase again and again and really not think about its meaning. This was NOT one of those times. The Psalmist is exhorting himself to practice what he preached! Sometimes that is soooo hard. My soul this morning was not in a place that lends itself easily to praise...a place of sorrow and grief.
Truth be told there IS much ongoing heartache and sorrow in my life that I am powerless to remedy. The underlying song and background melody of my heart is joyful gratitude for all my God has done, but often my immediate presenting emotion is grief. In the past I have fought hard against this grief allowing myself to be deceived into thinking it wasn’t a big deal...that my grief wasn’t really that hard or even that sad...that I was just being a baby. Condemnation is from the enemy. Life IS hard and very often filled with sorrow. There are and will be seasons where“Sorrow and Suffering” will be constant companions. We ALL will face sorrows here on this earth...the difference is whether we face them with Him or without Him. I am so grateful that by His grace, I face my sorrows with Him! AND THAT is where I began praising my God this morning.
I am grateful, Father, that You are always with me...that You are my ever present hope and my never failing help. I am grateful that whatever I go through in this life, I go through with You, my God, who works all of it together for my good and Your glory.
Truth be told there IS much ongoing heartache and sorrow in my life that I am powerless to remedy. The underlying song and background melody of my heart is joyful gratitude for all my God has done, but often my immediate presenting emotion is grief. In the past I have fought hard against this grief allowing myself to be deceived into thinking it wasn’t a big deal...that my grief wasn’t really that hard or even that sad...that I was just being a baby. Condemnation is from the enemy. Life IS hard and very often filled with sorrow. There are and will be seasons where“Sorrow and Suffering” will be constant companions. We ALL will face sorrows here on this earth...the difference is whether we face them with Him or without Him. I am so grateful that by His grace, I face my sorrows with Him! AND THAT is where I began praising my God this morning.
I am grateful, Father, that You are always with me...that You are my ever present hope and my never failing help. I am grateful that whatever I go through in this life, I go through with You, my God, who works all of it together for my good and Your glory.
I am grateful that You don’t change...You are the same yesterday, today and forever. I am grateful for Your word to me....it is my never failing comfort. I am grateful that You are my God who “keeps faith forever”. (Ps 146:6) None of Your promises fail...They are eternal in the heavens. Truly, Father, Your steadfast love to me never ends. I am grateful that my trials will make me more like You. I am grateful that I can look to your example of other-centered, selfless love in my grief. You were despised and rejected...and yet You were not overwhelmed in Your sorrow. In Your greatest sorrow You poured Yourself out in the most magnificent display of love mankind has ever seen! You suffered for us (me) and died so that we (I) could have the opportunity to live with You forever!
In Your sorrow Jesus, Your concern was for others. On the cross burdened with the sin and grief of all the world, Your focus was for the thief beside You, for Your mom's well being, and for forgiving those who were crucifying You. Seeing Your example and KNOWING Your love for me how can I wallow in my own sorrow...how can I not praise You!!? I will do as Your word tells me and cast my burdens on You because You care for me...I will bear another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. As I praise You this morning, my sorrow is lightened and my heart encouraged. I will press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call. What is the goal? Christlikeness in the here and now...What is the prize? Christlikeness in Heaven.
Finally, I am thankful that it is You my God who works in me both to will and to do for Your good pleasure. I am grateful that You will complete the good work You began in me.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” --Matthew 11:28-30
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.--2nd Corinthians 3:18
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Sosthenes’ Conversion - Acts 18
12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,
13 saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews,
15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."
16 And he drove them from the tribunal.
17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. (Acts 18:12-17, ESV)
I found it interesting to note that evidently Sosthenes later converted to Christianity because we find him joining with Paul in addressing the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:1.
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (1 Corinthians 1:1, ESV)
Did the Christians minister to his wounds after the beating?? If so, was that the cause of his conversion? It is interesting to speculate...It certainly would have provided them with a perfect opportunity and a captive audience to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him and at the same time live out the words of Romans 12 before Sosthenes.
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I also found it interesting to note that had Gallio ruled in the Jews’ favor, Christianity could have been banned throughout the Roman Empire.
13 saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews,
15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."
16 And he drove them from the tribunal.
17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. (Acts 18:12-17, ESV)
I found it interesting to note that evidently Sosthenes later converted to Christianity because we find him joining with Paul in addressing the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1:1.
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, (1 Corinthians 1:1, ESV)
Did the Christians minister to his wounds after the beating?? If so, was that the cause of his conversion? It is interesting to speculate...It certainly would have provided them with a perfect opportunity and a captive audience to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him and at the same time live out the words of Romans 12 before Sosthenes.
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I also found it interesting to note that had Gallio ruled in the Jews’ favor, Christianity could have been banned throughout the Roman Empire.
Psalm 145 - David’s Psalm of Praise...
Outline Ps 145
First is the commitment to Praise...the most important one for me today...
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. (Psalms 145:1, ESV)
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable....They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
He moves on to God’s great grace in verses 8-13.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love...Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
My favorite is next....In verses 14-16 David speaks of God’s unfailing faithfulness.
The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Verses 17-20 look at His perfect righteousness...
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works....The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
David ends the Psalm similar to how he began with an exhortation to praise. (Vs 21)
My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Praise is comely and the one who offers it, glorifies You. Sing joyfully to the Lord, o you righteous...sing to Him a new song...for His word is right and by it the heavens were made. The earth is full of His goodness. His counsel stands forever, the plans of His heart of love toward us to all generations. He has chosen us as His own and fashioned our hearts individually. Hallelujah!!
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Acts 17:22-34
I love this entire passage. Every time I read it and go through some of the cross-reference verses my respect and admiration for Paul grows. Truly, he was a master evangelizer who loved and desired very much to reach the people he ministered to with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My favorite verse is verse 28 where Paul quotes two Greek poets.
“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'”
David Guzik says that “Paul did not quote these men because they were prophets or because all their teaching was of God. He quoted them because these specific words reflected a Biblical truth, and by using them he could build a bridge to his pagan audience.”
I am so glad he did...this verse from the time I first read it 25 years ago until now has ministered to me almost daily. Such a precious truth. I am in Christ. It is in Him that I live and move and have my being. I am a His offspring. I am safe...my refuge is in Him who Paul said made the world and everything in it. He is my dwelling place. I can only fall as far as His everlasting arms.
Blessed be the LORD my Rock,
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!—Psalm 144:1;2;15
“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'”
David Guzik says that “Paul did not quote these men because they were prophets or because all their teaching was of God. He quoted them because these specific words reflected a Biblical truth, and by using them he could build a bridge to his pagan audience.”
I am so glad he did...this verse from the time I first read it 25 years ago until now has ministered to me almost daily. Such a precious truth. I am in Christ. It is in Him that I live and move and have my being. I am a His offspring. I am safe...my refuge is in Him who Paul said made the world and everything in it. He is my dwelling place. I can only fall as far as His everlasting arms.
Blessed be the LORD my Rock,
My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My high tower and my deliverer,
My shield and the One in whom I take refuge,
Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!—Psalm 144:1;2;15
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Mark 2:17
Mk 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
The “righteous” Pharisees accused Jesus of not keeping himself separate from sinners. Jesus’ crime then was that He was a friend of sinners. This morning I am seeing the irony in the meaning of the word “Pharisee”. It means separated one”. The Pharisees separated themselves from what THEY considered to be unholy. Tragically, this included Jesus, the beloved Son of God. They were separated from the love of God by their own self-declared righteousness.
Malachi 3:7 - Yet from the days of your fathers. You have gone away from My ordinances. And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
“But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’(of what shall we repent?)
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. —Prov 26:12
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
10 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me,
And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen;
They have been cast down and are not able to rise.—Ps 36:7-12
The “righteous” Pharisees accused Jesus of not keeping himself separate from sinners. Jesus’ crime then was that He was a friend of sinners. This morning I am seeing the irony in the meaning of the word “Pharisee”. It means separated one”. The Pharisees separated themselves from what THEY considered to be unholy. Tragically, this included Jesus, the beloved Son of God. They were separated from the love of God by their own self-declared righteousness.
Malachi 3:7 - Yet from the days of your fathers. You have gone away from My ordinances. And have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
“But you said,
‘In what way shall we return?’(of what shall we repent?)
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him. —Prov 26:12
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
10 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me,
And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen;
They have been cast down and are not able to rise.—Ps 36:7-12
Sweet Lullaby....
I always think of Ps 37 as a sweet lullaby filled with truth, guidance, wisdom and comfort whispered to me by my God to quiet my fears and allay my concerns. His promises are true, His love is immeasurable and His heart is for me. Don’t fret my love...delight yourself in me and rest. ❤️
2 Kings 8
And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the Lord has shown me that he will really die.” Then he set his countenance in a stare until he was ashamed; and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel:—2 Kings 8:10-12a
There are times when I wish I could know what is to come or see how things in the future might turn out. The older I get, however, the less this is the case. I am more and more content to rest in the day...to enjoy the moment so to speak. Truly, it is a gift from God that we are not in control....that we can’t see into another’s heart, or see into the future. But, oh, how difficult it must have been for Elisha to see the evil that Hazael would do...his murder of Ben-hadad...the atrocities he would commit when he became king in his stead and be powerless to stop it.
Hazael speaking in response to Elisha’s revelation.
But what is your servant; a dog, that should do this gross thing?—2 Kings 8:13
I am of the opinion that Hazael had already planned this assassination and was feigning humility here, but perhaps he hadn’t planned it and was unaware of the evil that dwelt in his own heart. The application for me is the same for both scenarios. Don’t take offense. When God speaks, receive His word as it says in James with meekness which means without argument. Hazael should have humbly taken this as a warning to either examine his heart and take heed to do right lest he fall or to turn and repent of his evil plan.
Father...Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
There are times when I wish I could know what is to come or see how things in the future might turn out. The older I get, however, the less this is the case. I am more and more content to rest in the day...to enjoy the moment so to speak. Truly, it is a gift from God that we are not in control....that we can’t see into another’s heart, or see into the future. But, oh, how difficult it must have been for Elisha to see the evil that Hazael would do...his murder of Ben-hadad...the atrocities he would commit when he became king in his stead and be powerless to stop it.
Hazael speaking in response to Elisha’s revelation.
But what is your servant; a dog, that should do this gross thing?—2 Kings 8:13
I am of the opinion that Hazael had already planned this assassination and was feigning humility here, but perhaps he hadn’t planned it and was unaware of the evil that dwelt in his own heart. The application for me is the same for both scenarios. Don’t take offense. When God speaks, receive His word as it says in James with meekness which means without argument. Hazael should have humbly taken this as a warning to either examine his heart and take heed to do right lest he fall or to turn and repent of his evil plan.
Father...Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Monday, June 24, 2019
Psalm 142...
I cry out to the LORD with my voice;
With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
Lord, I cry out to You with my voice. It is a relief to hear my voice crying out to You, my God. I know now that I have come to the right place. I know now, as I hear my own voice crying out to You that you will hear me and deliver me. I am not going anywhere else with my problem...I am going straight to You. You are my Father and I am bringing my heart full of care and troubles and turning it upside down before You. I am holding nothing back.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
Lord, I feel covered in clouds and fog and can't see my way past them. I can't think! I feel pulled in every direction. Father, I have no peace! I cannot even see my own feet no less the path I should take.
Here is what I know, Father. Despite my confusion, despite my anxiety, despite my crushed spirit...I can take comfort and solace in the fact that You know it all. Lord, I know when I feel as if I am drowning in trouble and anxiety and have lost my ability to reason...You NEVER do. When things are too much for me and I am overwhelmed then You carry me...you know the way I need to take. You will not fail to help one who is trusting in You. What a relief to know that I can just take your hand and let you lead.
With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
Lord, I cry out to You with my voice. It is a relief to hear my voice crying out to You, my God. I know now that I have come to the right place. I know now, as I hear my own voice crying out to You that you will hear me and deliver me. I am not going anywhere else with my problem...I am going straight to You. You are my Father and I am bringing my heart full of care and troubles and turning it upside down before You. I am holding nothing back.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
Lord, I feel covered in clouds and fog and can't see my way past them. I can't think! I feel pulled in every direction. Father, I have no peace! I cannot even see my own feet no less the path I should take.
Here is what I know, Father. Despite my confusion, despite my anxiety, despite my crushed spirit...I can take comfort and solace in the fact that You know it all. Lord, I know when I feel as if I am drowning in trouble and anxiety and have lost my ability to reason...You NEVER do. When things are too much for me and I am overwhelmed then You carry me...you know the way I need to take. You will not fail to help one who is trusting in You. What a relief to know that I can just take your hand and let you lead.
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Naaman the Leper...
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ “Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.—2 Kings 5:10-12
I am always amazed at the strength of the human will and the depth of pride and depravity in the human heart. Truly our hearts are as Jeremiah said, “desperately wicked”...who could know them?
Naaman came all the way from Syria on the word of a captive Israeli servant girl to find healing for his leprosy, and when given instruction on how to find that healing, he refused to submit because it did not appeal to his pride. Truly, salvation is and must be from beginning to end, the power of God. Naaman’s biggest obstacle to healing was his own prideful, wicked heart. My biggest obstacle in following and submitting to my God is the same...me, myself and I. I am so thankful for the wise and godly people my God has surrounded me with as I am sure Naaman was for his wise servants and the good advice he received from them. Crying out with Paul here..O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.—Psalm 19:8
I am always amazed at the strength of the human will and the depth of pride and depravity in the human heart. Truly our hearts are as Jeremiah said, “desperately wicked”...who could know them?
Naaman came all the way from Syria on the word of a captive Israeli servant girl to find healing for his leprosy, and when given instruction on how to find that healing, he refused to submit because it did not appeal to his pride. Truly, salvation is and must be from beginning to end, the power of God. Naaman’s biggest obstacle to healing was his own prideful, wicked heart. My biggest obstacle in following and submitting to my God is the same...me, myself and I. I am so thankful for the wise and godly people my God has surrounded me with as I am sure Naaman was for his wise servants and the good advice he received from them. Crying out with Paul here..O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.—Psalm 19:8
Saturday, June 22, 2019
My Defender....
I know that the LORD will maintain
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence.—Ps 140:12-13
My God who cares for the poor and the afflicted is my Defender! The judge of all the earth pleads for me...I shall not be moved or put to shame. He makes His goodness follow me and covers my missteps with His mercy. The LORD hears the desires of the humble...My God will not despise my prayer...My God will maintain my cause.
I will look to You, my Father in heaven, and will be radiant. I will be glad in You, mySavior, and my mouth will be filled with Your praises. It will be well with me, but the ones who afflict me will eat the fruit of their doings. You will guide me with Your counsel and show me the path of life. In Your Presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand pleasures for evermore...
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence.—Ps 140:12-13
My God who cares for the poor and the afflicted is my Defender! The judge of all the earth pleads for me...I shall not be moved or put to shame. He makes His goodness follow me and covers my missteps with His mercy. The LORD hears the desires of the humble...My God will not despise my prayer...My God will maintain my cause.
I will look to You, my Father in heaven, and will be radiant. I will be glad in You, mySavior, and my mouth will be filled with Your praises. It will be well with me, but the ones who afflict me will eat the fruit of their doings. You will guide me with Your counsel and show me the path of life. In Your Presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand pleasures for evermore...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)