Tag: bible

Beware Of Empty Treasures (Psalm 49)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 49

1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together. 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart [shall give] understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. 5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, [When] the iniquity at my heels surrounds me? 6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, 7 None [of them] can by any means redeem [his] brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him– 8 For the redemption of their souls [is] costly, And it shall cease forever– 9 That he should continue to live eternally, [And] not see the Pit. 10 For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inner thought [is that] their houses [will last] forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call [their] lands after their own names. 12 Nevertheless man, [though] in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts [that] perish. 13 This is the way of those who [are] foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah 16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; 17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. 18 Though while he lives he blesses himself (For [men] will praise you when you do well for yourself), 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. 20 A man [who is] in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts [that] perish.

PSALM 49:1-20

BEWARE OF EMPTY TREASURES

I love going to the beach. We usually see a lot of wonderful marine life where we are. We see everything from hermit crabs, sand dollars, starfish and sea cucumbers, to sting rays, sharks, and dolphins. We also enjoy the sugar like white sands of the gulf coast. Often I see kids at the beach flying kites and building sandcastles. Sandcastles are the one thing I never really understood about beach life. You could build one today, but you know it would be gone in just a few hours when the tide comes in. It won’t matter how much work you put in, how many decorative shells you’ve placed on it, or how elaborate it all is, it will wash away in the tide.

There are a lot of our lives that are like that as well. There are things we can place our time and effort into that in the great grand scheme of things don’t really matter. When the great tide of death comes (and it comes for us all) it will wash away all that we have built with our hands. The Psalmist reminds us that to have a vast estate, a great amount of wealth, wisdom, or posterity in the end won’t really mean a whole lot when death comes for us. We won’t be able to think our way out of death. We won’t be able to buy our way out of death. We won’t be able to work our way out of death. We won’t have any influence or control over death. And when it comes it will render all of those things useless.

BUT GOD (see verse 15)…. The only one who can redeem us from death is God. So while this world pursues many worthless things, we are reminded to pursue God. He is the only treasure worth seeking after. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 6:33:“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

PRAYER

Father, keep me from pursuing worthless treasure. This world values so many things that in the end will not profit me anything. Teach me to be diligent with all that you have entrusted to me. I don’t want to waste my life or my time on things that don’t even matter. I am grateful for your salvation. Let me seek my peace, my hope, my souls redemption in you today! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

The City Of God (Psalm 48)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 48

1 A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, [In] His holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation, The joy of the whole earth, [Is] Mount Zion [on] the sides of the north, The city of the great King. 3 God [is] in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. 4 For behold, the kings assembled, They passed by together. 5 They saw [it, and] so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away. 6 Fear took hold of them there, [And] pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, 7 [As when] You break the ships of Tarshish With an east wind. 8 As we have heard, So we have seen In the city of the LORD of hosts, In the city of our God: God will establish it forever. Selah 9 We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, In the midst of Your temple. 10 According to Your name, O God, So [is] Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. 11 Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, And go all around her. Count her towers; 13 Mark well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces; That you may tell [it] to the generation following. 14 For this [is] God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide [Even] to death.

PSALM 48:1-14

THE CITY OF GOD

I love going to a wedding or graduation party where someone in the family has put together a slide show of an individual growing up through the years. You get to see someone as a smiling infant, a toddler taking first steps, a child playing sports, family moments, etc. And then you glance at them live and in person reaching a fulfillment of all of those pictures. There they are and they have graduated or they are married and the inference of the slide show is clear. Those moments recalled to our minds and imaginations were the steps leading them to where they are today! It’s a glorious celebration of the creativity and sovereignty of God!

I get that picture when looking at this Psalm. Not of an individual, but of a city. We are looking at Jerusalem, the city of God. A place where God has chosen to put his foot stool. He has chosen to put his manifest presence among man. It began with a tabernacle on the hill, it moved to a temple that was destroyed and rebuilt, it was fulfilled in Jesus who walked and talked among mankind, it was where the Holy Spirit was first received on the day of Pentecost and it will be a place where God again dwells with man in the New Jerusalem…. It is God’s Holy city all grown up. Every step, no matter how small. leading to see the fullest expression of God again with his people, no separation, no sin.

At this point I am reminded of a song that I sang in church as a child, “He’s still working on me.” As I see this Psalm rejoicing in the growth and maturity of the city of God, I cannot help but see God’s work in my own life. He has been faithful to save me, call me, set me apart for his kingdom and his glory. I may get frustrated sometimes, I may want to quit or give in to temptation, but I am reminded today that these battles in my own life are but birth pangs leading to something greater.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your incredible patience. I am grateful for this Psalm and all it teaches us about the city of God. I am grateful that you are sovereign and see the end from the beginning. I am grateful that you haven’t given up on me and that by your grace one day I might look back and see how far you have caried me along. I want to grow in you and mature in you today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Sing Praises With Understanding (Psalm 47)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Psalm 47

1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 2 For the LORD Most High [is] awesome; [He is] a great King over all the earth. 3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. 4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah 5 God has gone up with a shout, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God [is] the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth [belong] to God; He is greatly exalted.

PSALM 47:1-9

SING PRAISES WITH UNDERSTANDING

I told my son the other day that I was proud of him. He wanted to know, “for what?” He has people in his life that tell him things like that all the time. They just mean to generally encourage him, but he comes from a generation who doesn’t take much at face value. The words aren’t enough for him, he always wants to know the meaning behind it. It isn’t enough to know that I am proud of him, he wants to know why I’m proud of him. I generally always note why I’m proud of him, even if I remind him that I’m proud of him in a unique way because he is my son.

Sometimes when it comes to singing praise to God, we can be guilty of just saying the words. Truth be told there is a lot of hype getting mislabeled as praise these days. Real praise is offered in response to who God is and what he has done. Praise is a TESTIMONY not just a warm fuzzy. It’s rooted in the multifaceted fact that God is worthy of our worship; it’s not a manipulation of feelings. It’s power is found not in the chords that are played, but the truth that is displayed about who God is. Our praise should be mindful meditation on God’s word/ character, not mindless chanting of words over and over again. In short, real praise requires contemplation.

The LORD is Awesome in the fullest understanding and expression of the word! He is worthy of all the instruments we could bring to play in concert with one another. He is worthy of our concentration. He is worthy of our real and righteous emotions that flow out of a heart filled with gratitude guided by grace. Our hearts must meditate and reflect so that we offer more than crumbs of our attention, but we must give him praise out of our concentration.

PRAYER

Father, You are worthy of all our praise and adoration. I am grateful for your kindness to me. You are sovereign Lord of all creation! You will come and set all things right. I pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done. I pray for you to be glorified in my heart and life. I ask Lord that you would help me to come to you in humble contemplation of your greatness. You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

We Will Not Fear (Psalm 46)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 46

1 To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 [Though] its waters roar [and] be troubled, [Though] the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 [There is] a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy [place] of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God [is] in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; The God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I [am] God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; The God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah

PSALM 46:1-11

WE WILL NOT FEAR

A bee stung my grandfather and then landed on me. I was afraid and I jumped back. My grandpa simply brushed it off of me and said, “look, no stinger!” He had taken the sting and so the bee had no stinger left, it was dead or dying and so I didn’t have to be afraid anymore.

I saw a woman playing with a skunk once. I thought it was so odd. I asked why he never sprayed her or why she didn’t stink and she said that, “This skunks glands had been removed.” He didn’t have the capacity to cause harm or a stench anymore and so anyone could pet him.

What are you afraid of? What is the worse case scenario? What is the most terrible thing that could ever happen?… God is bigger! He is greater! Nothing can still His mighty hand! He has removed the stinger and the stench of those things that cause us fear… especially death.

The psalmist reminds us about how great it is to take refuge in the Lord. We can face our fears when we know that God is greater than anything that would come against us. We can stand up when we know our greatest enemy is destined to fall. It doesn’t mean that we won’t face some scarry scenarios in our lives. Indeed the bible is filled with those who faced persecution, famine, war, flood, and more. But what it does mean is that especially during those times that God is our refuge, our shield, our protector. We can face the enemy, even death, knowing that he had taken the sting out of it.

PRAYER

Father, I confess that there are many things in this life that cause my knees to go weak. There are fears I have of things that are both real and imagined. I am grateful that when I trust in you as my rock and my refuge that I don’t have to be afraid. I am grateful that you watch over me. You provide for me. You protect me. You keep me from harm. you have conquered the greatest enemy I have known, sin and death, and have placed me securely in your right hand. I trust in you. Like David facing Goliath. I will not be afraid. Death has been defeated. I hope in you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

A Royal Wedding (Psalm 45)

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PSALM 45

10 Listen, O daughter, Consider and incline your ear; Forget your own people also, and your father’s house; 11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He [is] your Lord, worship Him. … 16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth. 17 I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations; Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

PSALM 45:10-11, 16-17

A ROYAL WEDDING

When I do pre-marriage counseling one of the key sessions we discuss is the matter of “leaving and cleaving” (Genesis 2:24). Or another way to put is is we speak to the matter of in-laws. When the father walks the bride down the isle and puts her hand in her very-soon-to-be husband’s hand it is no small gesture. In a very real sense, the bride and groom are leaving their families and beginning one of her own together. Family loyalties change on that day. Husband is to prefer his wife over his family and the wife is to prefer her husband over her family. That is how it is supposed to work. Too many relationships fall apart because of a failure of one party or both to “leave and cleave” (Genesis 2:24).

Here we see a royal wedding Psalm. This speaks of more than just an earthly king and queen getting married. (Especially since verse 6 calls the king, God). This represents the Lord and His Bride, the church (see Ephesians 5 and the end of the book of Revelation).

In a very real sense when we commit to Christ we become His and He becomes ours. We have a promise that we will leave and go with him to a place that he has prepared for us (See John 14). We will dwell with him there forever! What a joyous and exciting celebration that will be!

The note of application that stuck for me today comes in the form of a question. Am I leaving and cleaving to Christ or do I allow old world allegiances too much agency in my life?

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your amazing love! I am grateful for your amazing covenantal love. Thank you for the pictures and metaphors all through out your word that point to how you care for us as a shepherd cares for sheep, as a good groom cares for his bride. Thank you that you never quit on us that you never give us. Thankyou for your kindness and gentleness. We love you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Redeem Us For Your Mercies’ Sake (Psalm 44)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 44

1 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. 3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. 4 You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. … 8 In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah 9 But You have cast [us] off and put us to shame, And You do not go out with our armies. … 22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast [us] off forever. 24 Why do You hide Your face, [And] forget our affliction and our oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground. 26 Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.

PSALM 44:1-4, 8-9, 22-26

REDEEM US FOR YOUR MERCIES’ SAKE

Have you ever been unfriended on Facebook or unfollowed on another social media platform? Someone you thought was a friend sends a quiet but unmistakable signal that they’d rather not hear from you. The first thing you do is try and figure out how you have offended them? What did I do? What did I say? Is it me? 

The Psalmist in this Psalm laments that it feels like God isn’t present anymore. They’ve lost a battle. God should have gone out with them. He didn’t. They search for sin. Why aren’t we friends anymore? They feel like they’re an animal that has been taken out to where the jackals and other scavengers are and the leg is broken… It’s not a good situation to be in.

For me, the interesting part is verse 22. “For YOUR Sake.” Does this mean that there is purpose in the suffering that these people are facing? Purpose Like Job?… Like Joseph?… Like Jesus? This passage probably sounds familiar because I quoted from Romans 8 yesterday on the blog post, but here it is again. Paul writes from his situation in Romans 8:36-39: As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Then see how it ends, “And redeem us for your mercies’ sake.”

  • And He would Redeem them (And Us)
    • It was for their sake that:
      • God the father would Step back from his Son (Matthew 27:46)
      • He would be Sacked and even his clothes would be gambled for by enemy soldiers (Luke 23:34)
      • He was led like a lamb to the Slaughter (Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32). 
      • His disciples were Scattered (Matthew 26:31)
      • He was Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16)
      • He was Scorned by Soldiers (Luke 23:35-39)
      • He was Shamed when he who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. (This last bit comes from a message that was I heard and took notes for, I did not write the name of the pastor and so am not able to give full credit to the author, only to confess it is not original with me).

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your incredible mercy and grace! Thank you that you love us in spite of ourselves. Your grace and mercy know no bounds. We are grateful for your kindness to us that even in our suffering there is purpose. We rejoice in you today. Help us to trust you in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

We Don’t Fight For Victory, We Fight From Victory (Psalm 43)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 43

1 Vindicate me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! 2 For You [are] the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

PSALM 43:1-5

WE DON’T FIGHT FOR VICTORY, WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY

Every day there is a spiritual battle going on around us. It will continue to happen until the Lord returns in all of his glory. So how do you enter into that battle each day? What mindset do you have? I heard an interview with Robert T. Kiyosaki on a podcast (The Way I Heard it With Mike Rowe, Episode 254), the other day and someone mentioned the Samurai mindset. The Samurai enters battle with a mindset that he has already died and so he can fight as if he has nothing to lose.

In this Psalm we see a different battle mindset, this is the mindset that the battle really belongs to the Lord. Why would I get afraid if I know who has already won the battle? Why would I get anxious about what will happen next, if I know what ultimately happens? For those who trust the Lord there is great hope and deliverance!

As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-39 NKJV, “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? [It is] God who justifies. 34 Who [is] he who condemns? [It is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [Shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When the Christian enters the battle, “they don’t fight for victory, they fight from victory.” I heard someone share that phrase that I used as a title this past week at children’s camp. As soon as I heard it, I understood it and I was encouraged. I hope you are encouraged today as well.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you that you have already won the victory! Thank you that when it comes to sin and temptation in my life I can look to you who have defeated the enemy. I can trust in your grace and I can fight from the attitude of victory. I pray that my strength and confidence hold fast in you. You are our victory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Betrayed By A Friend But Blessed By The Lord (Psalm 41)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 41

[Psa 41:4-10 NKJV] 4 I said, “LORD, be merciful to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.” 5 My enemies speak evil of me: “When will he die, and his name perish?” 6 And if he comes to see [me], he speaks lies; His heart gathers iniquity to itself; [When] he goes out, he tells [it]. 7 All who hate me whisper together against me; Against me they devise my hurt. 8 “An evil disease,” [they say], “clings to him. And [now] that he lies down, he will rise up no more.” 9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up [his] heel against me. 10 But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up, That I may repay them.

PSALM 41:4-10

BETRAYED BY A FRIEND BUT BLESSED BY THE LORD

I chose to meditate on the middle of this Psalm this morning. I emboldened a few words to help us notice that this section of the Psalm begins and ends with a plea to the LORD for mercy. David knows that God’s mercy would heal his affliction because David’s SIN is the CAUSE of the affliction. His soul is sick for what He has done.

We note in verses five through eight that David apparently has developed some frenemies. Being in a position of power there are some who perhaps see this sickness as his demise and they are plotting how to used if for their political gain. They have labeled this sickness a “wicked” disease. They are the kind of folks who love misery. They visit David only when something bad happens. David is wise enough to know that their visit isn’t about their interest in his well being, but they are plotting his downfall. They are really just seeking to ruin his reputation.

In verse nine, David notes the betrayal of a friend. Someone he thought was a close ally has turned against him and talked behind his back. Too often in Christian circles there are those who seem to be more like Judas than Jesus. They sense a weakness or sin in someone and rather than caring for that individuals restoration they harm them with malicious gossip. We shouldn’t shoot our own wounded like that. We’re not sinning less than the ones we are condemning.

As a king, David was in a unique position to execute vengeance. His vengeance wouldn’t be personal, but corporate. He was in the position of being king and the sins of his frenemies were tantamount to treason. For the sake of the nation, he would have to address their grievous behavior. There are times where individuals need to face Justice. 

We should note one thing for sure. Our words matter. We are accountable for the words we speak. In the case of David’s frenemies, their words were treason as they attempted to undermine the throne. Too many times those who bare the name of Christ have let bitter hearts speak ugly words. We should note that we will give an account to the Lord for the things we have done and said.

PRAYER

Father, We all stand today in need of your mercy. We are all sinners. We are grateful that you meet us in our affliction. We are grateful that you see fit to meet us in our neediest moments. We pray that you would guard our hearts from bitterness. Keep our lips from uttering lies or falsehoods. Let us not delight in the downfall of others. Keep us from that sort of pride. We seek for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

From The Pit And Mire To The Pulpit And Choir (Psalm 40)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 40

1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, [And] established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth–Praise to our God; Many will see [it] and fear, And will trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed [is] that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, [are] Your wonderful works [Which] You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; [If] I would declare and speak [of them], They are more than can be numbered.

PSALM 40:1-5

FROM THE PIT AND MIRE TO THE PULPIT AND CHIOR

Have you ever had a dirty rotten, no good day? Ever feel like you have fallen in a hole and left for dead? Every feel like you are covered in the grossness of slime? David did… Apparently even God’s chosen kings may face slimy pitts. 

David wrote a song about it… well not really that, but how the LORD picks his servants up from stuff like that. How God’s done it before and how He will most certainly do it again! 

David teaches us how to have joy in the midst of sorrow. 

Verse one is kind of scary to me. I’ve never waited patiently for the Lord until I had to. I’ve always tried to figure out how to get out of a fix and then when I’m exhausted I end up giving it all back to God. 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation, where you knew that if God didn’t do something, that nothing would happen? You are at the end of your rope. There is nothing else for you to do but call to God and wait. 

In verse two we really aren’t told much about David’s situation. It could have been literal. Later the prophet Jeremiah would be thrown into the bottom of a well and literally have to wait for help from others. It might just be a metaphor though for another time that David found himself in a jam. 

It might have been family difficulty. David had plenty of serious issues with his wives, adultery, misbehaving children, grown kids who caused a civil war, etc.

It might have been his personal sin that led him there. Like when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, killed Uriah or like when he was proud of himself and declared a census.

It might have been adversity like when he was on the run from king Saul.

It might have been emotional distress like when he was caught in Goliath’s hometown with Goliath’s sword and he pretended to be insane and act the fool, drooling down his beard. 

We don’t know what the pit was, so that gives us a little freedom as we read, to read our story into it as well. I asked the question on FB, “what are some of your favorite hymns or praise songs and why.”  One of my former student pastors shared a hymn that his grandfather used to sing, but that he also pictured himself in the hymn…. It had a double meaning. It meant something to his grandfather and it meant something to him. They could both sing it and offer praise to God.

We can join David here in this Psalm because if you are a believer the LORD has delivered you out of a slimy pit. 

This provoked a NEW SONG for David. The old songs wouldn’t do. God had delivered him again, he needed to sing a new song for this moment of deliverance. So he wrote one! 

Praise God for new songs! New Songs mean that there are new generations and new circumstances of deliverance! God is still on the move! Movements that gave us most of our hymnals are contemporary when you consider that Christianity has been around for more than 2000 years!

David professes a blessing on those who put their trust in the LORD. Indeed He is the only one who can deliver us from the mire of sin and shame. He is the only one that can lift us out of our circumstances. He is the one to whom we lift our heads.

At any moment the Lord is doing a billion acts on our behalf of which we are completely unaware…. Doesn’t that get you excited?! The Lord is worthy of all Praise, honor and glory!

PRAYER

Father, Thank you that you are the kind of God who delivers his people from miry clay and sets our feet on solid ground. I can’t help but see you again as a Good Shepherd who delivers His sheep no matter how lost they get and how tangled or muddy they become. Your love and grace are greater than I can imagine. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.

Taking My Grief To The Lord (Psalm 39)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 39

1 To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.” 2 I was mute with silence, I held my peace [even] from good; And my sorrow was stirred up. 3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. [Then] I spoke with my tongue: 4 “LORD, make me to know my end, And what [is] the measure of my days, [That] I may know how frail I [am]. 5 Indeed, You have made my days [as] handbreadths, And my age [is] as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state [is] but vapor. Selah 6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up [riches], And does not know who will gather them. 7 “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope [is] in You. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions; Do not make me the reproach of the foolish. 9 I was mute, I did not open my mouth, Because it was You who did [it]. 10 Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. 11 When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man [is] vapor. Selah 12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I [am] a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers [were]. 13 Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, Before I go away and am no more.”

PSALM 39:1-13

TAKING MY GRIEF TO THE LORD

Grief is a difficult thing. Some days it makes us sad, some days we are bitter, or angry, sometimes it comes out as a depression, sometimes we eat to stuff it down inside. Sometimes we fast because even food has lost it’s luster. When we are grieving someone we love we might be tempted to lash out at those who didn’t love them like we think they should have. We might be tempted to say things in our grief that wouldn’t be right, good, or wholesome and can take a tragedy and make it even worse.

It seems like David is in the midst of grief as he prays to the lord to number his days. He sees life as a vapor. And like most of us, he is tempted to let loose his tongue and tell us what he really thinks. But he knows that’s not a good idea. For the sake of honoring God and worshipping the LORD, he needs to be quiet. What he wants to say is probably the truth, but he’d be sinning in saying it or at least saying it in the way that he wants to say it.

He is in the presence of wicked folks and either they will misunderstand it or in getting it out, me might not be able to control the venom that comes with it and he knows that God doesn’t need him to add his two cents. 

There are moments in my life, like David, where I need to show restraint. It is foolish to vent every word that pops into our heads, even if those words are exactly true, but not put forth in a manner that is pleasing to God.  There is wisdom in determining the right time to speak.

You would think that with all of this build up, David would blow up, but rather than blowing up at someone he takes his prayer to the Lord. He requests that God would help him know how short life is. Sometimes we can be tempted to believe that this life is everything and so we might waste our time, energy, and money on short sighted pursuits. 

So David prays “Lord help me to see from your perspective. Help me to see what I don’t see.” David doesn’t have the whole picture. A healthy dose of humility is healthy here. There are moments where we should not speak, but rather take everything to God in prayer. There are sorrows and insights that should only be shared with the LORD.

PRAYER

Father, Help me to see things from your perspective. Help me to see the things I don’t see. Show me how to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. Show me when to keep silent. Hear me when I express my groanings about everything that is going on in the world. In my grief, give me grace that I might demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.