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The LORD Won’t Let Them Bully Me Anymore (Psalm 35)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 35

1 [A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help. 3 Also draw out the spear, And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I [am] your salvation.” 4 Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt. 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase [them]. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them. 7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me [in] a pit, [Which] they have dug without cause for my life. 8 Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, “LORD, who [is] like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

PSALM 35:1-10

THE LORD WON’T LET THEM BULLY ME ANYMORE

There was this kid who was getting bullied by an older kid at school. The bully would just pester this guy; hurling insults, making him eat dirt, and sometimes even wedgies. The kid had tried everything, nothing seemed to work until one day the kid was on his way home from school, but bully caught up to him, and then out from the bushes stepped the kid’s dad. All the sudden the bully had to run away, but when he got home he was in trouble. He had to meet with the principle and then the counselor.

Sometimes you have to just look at what you are facing and admit that the situation is beyond your control and you don’t have the ability to handle it. King David is a pretty incredible advocate for those who have been taken advantage of and he is an incredible warrior, but today we see in Psalm 35 that he calls out for the Lord to come and plead his case and fight his battles.

David knows that he is outmatched by those who hate him, but rather than throw in the towel, he calls on the Lord to bring charges and battle against his enemies. 

Psalm 35 is what is known as an imprecatory Psalm. It is a psalm where David prays for the destruction of his enemies. We might pause at that and think for a moment that this sounds out of line, but as we look further into this psalm I think we will find that David was right and ok to pray this way. 

It is important to know that David was not known for being a vengeful man. He had many occasions to take vengeance on his enemies such as Saul, Nabal, Absolom, and Shimei, but he shows patience rather than vengeance.  

These Psalms are prayers for God to do what He has ultimately promised to do. 
Have you ever noticed that when we pray for “His kingdom to come,” that includes praying for the Lord to vanquish all his enemies and those who stand in defiance to Him? If we read the end of the book, we know that praying this way is praying for God to come in and bring to heal those who have rebelled against him.

PRAYER

Father, We confess that we live in a fallen world. Everything is not as it should be. There are moments that people make themselves out to be our enemies and bullies. The power balance is in their favor and we have little ability to act on our own behalf to defend ourselves. In many of these instances your people have suffered great harm and loss. It hurts. It really hurts when that happens. Yet, LORD, we trust in you for justice. We trust that one day your kingdom will come. We trust that one day you will set all the wrongs right. So we call out for your justice. Give our enemies what they deserve. And if in your good pleasure you should turn our enemies into our brothers and sisters, we are blessed to know that they have come through the same mercy and grace that we have come through to get to 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.

I Will Bless The LORD At All Times (Psalm 34)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 34

1 [A Psalm] of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear [of it] and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

PSALM 34:1-4

I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES

 We are told that David wrote this Psalm reflecting on some of the lowest days of his life. You can read the details in 1 Samuel 21. David is on the run from Saul. He stops by a place of worship. Grabs some food and is looking for a weapon. The only weapon they have on hand is Goliath’s sword. So they give that to David. One of Saul’s spies is there and he heads out to tell Saul so David is on the run again. 

He ends up in the City of Gath… For those of you who don’t know. This is the city Goliath was from and he is carrying Goliath’s sword! Everyone knows that it is David who killed their beloved Goliath. Goliath’s momma lives there, his cousins, etc…. This seems like it is the exact wrong place to be. David might be at an all time lowest situation of his life where he has to feign madness in order to escape with his life.

David says that he will bless the LORD at all Times. This is the highs and the lows. I love this psalm because it acknowledges the lows. 

Even in his low, David finds joy in the LORD. He invites us into his joy. Have you ever experienced something and had to get someone else involved? Unexpected joy is that way!

Have you ever  been so blessed in Jesus that you have to share the blessing? When it comes to gardening, some of our church folks are really good and they remember us when the harvest comes in! They get a bunch of squash, tomatoes, peppers, or whatever and they call us up and say, “would you like some squash?” They give it to us to enjoy too, because they’ve got too much! When they share, it not only feeds them, but nourishes us as well.  

David is saying, “I’ve got so much of the LORD’s goodness, I need to share it with you.” And His sharing blesses not only him, but us as well. 

This is what I love about corporate singing. We get together and we all come from different backgrounds. God has taken us on different journeys, but he is the same faithful God. 

  • Some come from addiction and he has helped you
  • Some come from pride and he has humbled you
  • Some come from tremendous hurt and you see his healing

It’s not just a combination of different voices, but of different testimonies and different stories of God working so that when we sing great is thy faithfulness it’s not just words, it’s lives. It’s the prodigal son come home, it’s the salvation of a lost sinner, it’s the comfort over the loss of a loved one.  Somehow when we gather together and we share in our joy with one another this mingles into praise. I love it when God’s church gathers together to magnify the LORD together and sing his praise! Even when I’m in a low, I am still encouraged and find comfort and joy.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for the incredible joy that you have blessed me with in ways big and small. Thank you for your kindness to me and uniting me with a people so loving and gracious. Thank you that there are days that I have more joy than I know what to do with and it just spills over into others lives. Thank you that others have let their joy spill into mine. You know me and you know what I need. 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.

Worthy Of All Our Worship (Psalm 33)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 33

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! [For] praise from the upright is beautiful. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. 4 For the word of the LORD [is] right, And all His work [is done] in truth.

PSALM 33:1-4

WORTHY OF ALL OUR WORSHIP

New Song! We are growing in our relationship to the Lord and so a new song is fitting! It doesn’t need to be too old and too familiar. We need to be stretched in singing so we think what we are singing about.   A New Song is a song of something new and fresh that God has done. Same God, new sin forgiven, new rescue. It’s the same old Truth with a new fervor of fresh experience. It’s new words that highlight the paise worthy character of never changing God.

We are to offer God our skill. Not just our “good enough,” but our best! We spend time developing skills to use for the sake of praise. Both a Harp and a lyre are stringed instruments that had 10 strings. We are to work together to bring the Lord paise like an orchestra or symphony works together to share great works of music. Each one in synch, in beat, on time with the other. Here it says to praise the Lord with 10 strings! All 10 strings we are to be singing his praise! The whole instrument is to be used in singing God’s praise, the whole realm of melody, not one note left missing. Not one string standing still, All plucked, strummed, stirred by the worthiness of our Lord. Some of us in our praise for God is a 2 or 3 string day. We need to praise God with all 10 strings! It is both instrumental and vocal! He is worthy of all of our praise. 

 You don’t praise God for what you feel, you praise God for who He is. You enter with gratitude for all the gifts of Grace He has given you. Often we don’t offer God all of our praise, because we covet and so we are not content. We forget our blessings and cry for more gifts, while ignoring the giver.  We don’t stop and thank him for the blessings we have. We have become entitled. We think we need material stuff, because we think the more we consume, the more we will be happy…. but the truth is the more we recognize God’s goodness in our lives, the more we return praise, the more we find ourselves not only contented, but elated in worshipping Him alone. He is worthy of all of our praise.

PRAYER

Father, You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Before I lived a single day, you knew them all. You know not only my thoughts, my desires, my actions, but even the things hidden from me in my very own body. You know my pulse, breath, my life. I ask that today that I would worship you fully with all that you have given me. Let my breath utter out your praise. Let my eyes delight in the marvel of your creation, let my hears inform my heart of the goodness and pleasantness of a melody. Let all of me be offered in praise for you are worthy of it all. 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.

Sin is Serious (Psalm 32)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 32

A Maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
(Psalm 32:1-11)

SIN IS SERIOUS

Let’s examine some of the words used here at the beginning of the Psalm today. Transgression is to trespass. It is a willful volition and stepping over a line into another territory. The largeness of the trespass is depends on who’s territory you have stepped into. If I cross my neighbors boundary, it isn’t as big of a deal as it is to unlawfully cross into a Military base boundary! Our problem is that we often think of sin as small… when in fact it is big, because of who we have trespassed. This is why David could say it was against the Lord that He sinned. He sinned and hurt Uriah and Bathsheba, but his real trespass was against the LORD.

FORGIVEN means to carry away. This is the same word that is used for a scapegoat. The scapegoat is one of two kid goats. As a pair, one goat was sacrificed (not a scapegoat) and the living “scapegoat” was released into the wilderness never to be seen again, taking with it all sins and impurities. This is what it means to be forgiven. A substitute has paid for your sins and carried them off.  

SIN means to “Miss the Mark.” Imagine you are playing basketball. It’s a big game. You dribble the ball down the court, you are wide open for a three pointer so you pull up and take a shot. The ball arks high into the air but completely misses the goal, the rim, the backboard, everything… the next thing you know you hear the crowd taunting you, “Air ball! Air ball! Air ball.” Now imagine that every trip down the court, every moment of your offense, you take your stance, take aim, and fail with every attempt to make a shot… not only do you not score any points, but your stats are zero across the board.

COVERED means to conceal. This is taken from the Day Of Atonement. Once a year the high priest would take the blood of a sacrifice into the Most Holy Place and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. The Mercy Seat was the lid covering the Ark and the blood was sprinkled there because it came between the presence of God (symbolized as dwelling the the space between  the wings of the cherubim above the ark) and the broken law of God that was in the ark itself. 

Iniquity means that you are warped. It is to take something good and to twist it. It is to pervert something. I was replacing the ball joints on my old Explorer a few years ago. When I was taking the bottom joint out I decided to replace the whole A arm assembly. I undid the bolts but the arm didn’t want to fall out. So I beat the old A-arm out with a hammer… I didn’t think about how I would put the new A-arm back in. When it came time, sure enough it didn’t fit because the frame was bent. Sometime in the history of this vehicle the owner had wrecked the car so bad that it bent this part of the frame… I finally fit the new arm in, but it wouldn’t matter, the frame was warped… the car would almost always be out of alignment.

DOES NOT IMPUTE means that the Lord does not take into account. I used to like watching the old westerns. Sometimes you would see someone come into a shop and buy something but instead of paying they would say… “put it on my tab” and the shop owner would write down how much they owed on that ledger. He would impute it to their account. Imagine that the shop keeper chooses not to impute it to their account, they wouldn’t have to pay. The items would be free to them, but would still cost the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper would pay for the items in both loss of original cost and loss of revenue. By choosing not to impute our sins, Jesus chose to pay for our sins!

Deceit is the final word for sin here. This is where sin does it’s most awful damage. The biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves. We often deceive ourselves and say that our sin isn’t as bad as it really is. Before you can find forgiveness, you have to come clean. There was a time when David did lie to himself, where he did try to hide or cover over his sin on his own. He thought he could go on like nothing ever happened, but that wasn’t the case. 

PRAYER

Father, Thank you that you are a forgiving God who has mercy on repentant sinners. I thank you for the work of Jesus Christ on the cross who died for my sins and rose again that I might have repentance and receive new life in you. Thank you that even when I didn’t know the full depth of my sin and depravity that you loved me and that Jesus died for me. Thank you seems like too small a word for all you have done in my life regarding sin. I am so grateful for your salvation. Please watch over me and keep me from falling into temptation. I love you LORD. 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 Problems To Praise (Psalm 31)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 31

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
(Psalm 31:3-5)

FROM PROBLEMS TO PRAISE

We find pieces of this Psalm in the mouths of other bible characters as they go through suffering. Jonah quotes from from it, Jeremiah, another Psalmist in Psalm 73, and of course Jesus utters, “Into your hand I commit my spirit.” This Psalm has well worn traction for those who are facing affliction. It’s a place to go to in the time of need. It carries a beautiful balance of honest reflections on the problems of life and our peculiar circumstances, a reminder of God’s incredible character, and response of trust in the LORD.

I conducted a funeral for a friend a few weeks ago who reminded me of this psalm. She would call me up and everything would seem like an emergency. She had a small flair for the dramatic. But indeed the issues were real and so we would discuss the challenges she was facing. Somewhere in the midst of our conversation she would remember how God had provided for her in the past. The conversation would flow into a time of testimony. Finally she would land on the fact that we all knew from the beginning, God was in control and she trusted him.

It’s good to bring our problems to God! Where else can we take them? In the midst of our problems though, we should remember the character of God. Sometimes we are tempted to look at God’s character through out circumstance. We think, “Oh, He doesn’t love me? Why did he let this happen? How will I ever get through this?” When we should be looking at our circumstances through God’s character, “I don’t know why this happened, but I know that the Lord has never let me down before. I may not see it, but he has a plan. I certainly don’t understand what is going on, but the Lord does.”

David begins with his problems, takes them to the Lord and ends the Psalm with praise of who God is. In doing so, he demonstrates how we might pray and praise the Lord in the midst of our own afflictions.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your grace and everything that is new in my life each morning. Thank you for your amazing faithfulness. Thank you that you delight to hear the prayers of your servants. Thank you that we can call on you in our distress. Thank you that you hear us. As we pray though our difficulties I ask that we would be reminded of your goodness and character. I ask that as we lift our burdens to you we would trust you. Thank you for this tried and true psalm that helps us pray in our afflictions. 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 LORD Is My Light (Psalm 27)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 27

[Psa 27:1-14 NKJV] 1 [A Psalm] of David. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD [is] the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I [will be] confident. 4 One [thing] I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 [When You said], “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 [I would have lost heart], unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

PSALM 27:1-13, NKJV

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT

David knew God personally! He knew God by name! Everywhere you see capital L-O-R-D the divine name of God appears in scripture. David said that the LORD is “My” light and ‘My” salvation. And strength of “my” life! He wasn’t some foreign entity, He was close, He was personal, He was familiar. David had been on many adventures with the LORD before. 

My son used to be scared of the dark. It wasn’t really the dark that scared him, but it was the unknown. It was the mystery of what might be out there. His mind filled the darkness with monsters. So we gave him a light… and do you know what? Those monsters became shirts hanging in the closet, a ball cap on his shelf, a stack of books on his night stand. The light revealed the way things really were. 

When David says, “The LORD is my light.” He is saying, God is the one who makes sense of the word. 

The famous author, C.S. Lewis, once said, “I believe in Christ as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” 

The Lord himself is my LIGHT! This is not that God provides the light, but that God is the light. It is interesting to note that when you read about the days of creation that on the first day God made light, but He didn’t make the sun until the fourth day. Some theologians say then that God Himself was the light of the first three days. We are also told in Revelation that the sun and moon will be no more! Where then will we get our light.. God Himself is the light in heaven. 

[Rev 21:23 KJV] 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

[Rev 22:3-5 KJV] 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

In fact that is part of what makes heaven heaven. There is no darkness. Nothing is hidden. Everything is revealed. It is filled with grace upon grace. Goodness upon goodness! 

We didn’t get very far in meditation on this Psalm today, but there is lots to it. How about you? What jumped out to you today in your reading of God’s word?

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for being the Light of The World! I am grateful that through you and by you we see the world as it is. Thank you for your grace for the things we do understand. We pray for grace and patience for the things that we struggle to see. We are grateful for your kindness to us and we look forward for the day when our faith will be by sight. 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 Life Of Integrity (Psalm 26)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 26

[Psa 26:1-12 NKJV] 1 [A Psalm] of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. 3 For Your lovingkindness [is] before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. 4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites. 5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, 7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells. 9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 In whose hands [is] a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me. 12 My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the LORD.

PSALM 26:1-11, NKJV

A LIFE OF INTEGRITY

When I was in college, there was a soda machine that had a broken part. If you put your money in and put your hand in to hold open a flap, you could get two soda’s for the price of one. I don’t know who first discovered the secret to the soda machine but it presented an ethical dilemma for all of us religion students down the hill. Do you take the extra soda as a blessing from God? Do you give it to someone else? Do you leave it for the vendor? Do you call a number on the machine and let someone know and risk upsetting your neighbors who were enjoying the deal? As we were debating the issue, one of the guys spoke up and said, “I’ll never sell my integrity for 50 cents” (the going rate for a can of soda back then!). That stuck with me.

I’m sure that there are lots of folks who were stealing 50 cent drinks that if they were given an opportunity to steal $50,000 would turn it down. But then again the person who steals $50,000 probably didn’t start out at $50,000. This is where integrity matters most, the small stuff. You can’t be a person of integrity in the big things only.

At this point in his life, David confesses his integrity. He leans on God and counts the blessings that integrity has brought to his life. He is careful with his friendships and those who influence him.

Of course we know the rest of the story. David takes a 50 cent peak at Bathsheba from his rooftop that leads him to bigger compromises and almost costs him his entire kingship before it’s all over! Integrity is one of those things that can be ruined in an instant and over an inconsequential matter.

PRAYER

Father, I so desperately want and need to be a man of integrity. For the sake of my family I need to walk in holiness. Examine my life for compromises. Establish holy friendships. Keep me from the desire to please others to the point that it would compromise my integrity. Let me speak the truth with love to those you have called me to serve. Let me not hold it back, but lovingly and persuasively share your grace. I want to walk with complete integrity before you. I pray that you keep me from temptation. 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 Plea For Deliverance and Forgiveness (Psalm 25)

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional, UncategorizedLeave a comment

PSALM 25

1 [A Psalm] of David. To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. … 6 Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they [are] from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright [is] the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it [is] great. … 18 Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins.

PSALM 25:1-2, 6-11, 18

A PLEA FOR DELIVERANCE AND FORGIVENESS

Psalm 25 is written as an acrostic through the Hebrew Alphabet. It give it poetical flair as well as more opportunity to be memorized, you would know if you forgot a verse. 

It was meant to be used by individuals. Pay attention to all of the personal pronouns, I, Me, and My occur 33 times throughout the Psalm. When we battle different song styles, one of the key criticisms of modern worship lyrics is the “me” centeredness of it all. While we should be careful to not make a song about “Me.” Songs do come from a very personal place. There is both an individual and corporate component to this psalm.

This morning as I read I couldn’t help but think of the mercy and grace of God. It’s good to ponder that He “teaches sinners in the way,” and, “the humble he guides in justice.” How incredible is the LORD that He allows us to call out to Him as individuals. How great it is that when we humble ourselves, He hears our prayers. How marvelous that even more than hearing our cries for forgiveness He leads us in His way!

I was provoked to examen my life again for area’s of sin. To see if there where places in my life where I may have grown callous. I was provoked to pick up an attitude of gentle submission to the Lord to ask him for direct my steps. I confessed my sins.

PRAYER

Father, search my heart. Examine my life. Look into my inner thoughts. Whatever isn’t of you; Whatever hinders me from understanding and receiving your grace; I pray that you remove it. I don’t want to have anything between you and me. Teach me to walk in your way. Forgive me of my sins. Prove me holy by the blood of Christ (not my own merit, for I have not merited anything). Let me walk in humility and righteousness. May my life be pleasing to 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.

The King Is Coming (Psalm 24)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 24

1 A Psalm of David. The earth [is] the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This [is] Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He [is] the King of glory. Selah

Psalm 24:1-10, NKJV

THE KING IS COMING

Jesus is coming! Are you ready? He will be here any moment now! Are you preparing the way? Let’s fill in the pot holes! Let’s knock down the mounds, let’s level the ground! Are we ready? Is my life like it should be? 

This is a Psalm that was probably written as part of a ceremony of bringing in the Ark of the Covenant to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem during David’s reign. It celebrates that the Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth has chosen to dwell among His people! It was probably sung by priests in the temple around the time of Passover; perhaps even while Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday nearly 2000 years ago. Jesus will come again, and so I ask, “Are we ready?”

This Psalm ponders the greatness of God. It shakes us out of a slumbering mindset that imagines God more like us and less like He really is. It corrects our blurred vision. The world does not belong to you, it belongs to the LORD! We are His creation; we belong to Him!

Who could go to see such a God? Who could welcome Him back to His creation? Who could even dare to stand in His presence? Only those who are set apart, who are pure, who are Holy. It’s a this moment that we are grateful for the work of Christ on the cross to obtain the forgiveness of sin and impute righteousness to us. We are told in Hebrews that we can, “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

There is one who is worthy, who has made a way for us all, His name is JESUS! He is the only one found worthy to open the scroll and bring all of history to it’s conclusion in Revelation chapter 5. He is the one who offers to bring us along for the ride. He extends forgiveness of sins and eternal life! He is worthy! He is Worthy! He is Worthy!

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your incredible mercy and grace! Thank you that Jesus is worthy! We look forward to the day when you return to dwell with your people. We long for the moment when you usher in the New Heaven and the New Earth! We look forward with anticipation of your grace, greatness, and glory. Even now come quickly! 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.

Like A Shepherd Lead Us (Psalm 23)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 23

A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

PSALM 23:1-6, NKJV

LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US

My family and I have a trail that we like to go hike from time to time. It’s a familiar trail to us now and we’ve named some of the landmarks along the way. There is the mosquito forest, hidden ox bow lake, the hunter’s glen, and “poo-poo beach” (which got it’s name when my then 4 year old son really had to use the restroom and did only to discover that there was a port-a-potty 50 yards through the woods). These familiar landmarks make the hike memorable. Each land mark, like “poo-poo beach” has a meaningful memory tied to it.

Psalm 23 is very familiar to me. It’s probably the most familiar Psalm I know. My youngest child and I quote it to each other almost every night. Because this Psalm is a well worn path in my reading/ reciting it has several key features that jump out to me as I meditate on it today. There are several places in this passage that I have grown intimately familiar with due to life circumstances. As we follow the shepherd through the eyes of a sheep going through familiar territory, I can’t help but see how the Lord has been there for me in the landmarks of my life as well.

The Lord has lead me through green pastures. He has lead me to quiet waters of refreshment. He has been there for me in the valley of the shadow of death, both as I mourned others and faced my own mortality with threatening health issues. I’ve sensed his goodness and mercy running after me.

My favorite part of this Psalm these days is where he prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. I am comforted knowing that the enemies that scare me, don’t scare God. He has given me peace in what would otherwise be volatile situations. I am grateful for reading and meditating on this Psalm today.

PRAYER

Father, Like a Shepherd lead us. You know our needs, wants, and desires. You know what is good for us. You know what situations we are in. You know the path we should go. You are gentle in the way you lead, you protect and comfort us. You bless us even in adversity. You chase us down with blessing. You give us more than we could ever want or need. You are good to us. Like a Shepherd lead us. Let us like sheep follow you. Let me trust you in the good times and in the scary. Let me look to you to provide what I need, to know what I need, to protect me when I am in danger, to comfort me when I am scared and to lead me in the way everlasting. 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.