Tag: Jonathan Hill

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.

Praying and Praising God For Healing (Psalm 30)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 30

(1) A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me. (2) O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me. (3) O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. (4) Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. (5) For His anger [is but for] a moment, His favor [is for] life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy [comes] in the morning. (6) Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” (7) LORD, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, [and] I was troubled. (8) I cried out to You, O LORD; And to the LORD I made supplication: (9) “What profit [is there] in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? (10) Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!” (11) You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, (12) To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

PSALM 30:1-12, NKJV

PRAYING AND PRAISING GOD FOR HEALING

God is a God who heals! We should rejoice in that fact. We should also note that it is not always his will to bring healing to a person in a given situation this side of heaven. God used the Apostle Paul to heal many people and in one instance there were so many healings happening that they could just take a handkerchief that Paul had touched and it would bring healing to a person (see Acts 19:11-12). Yet we also need to note that Paul himself suffered from illnesses (See Galatians 4:13-15, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10) and there were close ministry partners who suffered from illness ( See Philippians 2:25-30, I Timothy 5:23, 2 Timothy 4:20) where a handkerchief for healing wouldn’t do.

David had prayed for healing and he was healed and so he rejoiced. There was an instance in my life where I was sick, prayed for healing, and I was healed and I delight in rejoicing in God’s goodness. I think healing in these circumstances should point us toward Heaven where there won’t be any more death or pain (See Revelation 21:4). We should rejoice and be eager for that day all the more when we see miraculous healings take place in our midst.

We must also realize that sometimes God choses not to heal in the way that we might expect or want. Sometimes He allows us to go through suffering ( See Philippians 1). In those instances we must trust in God’s plan and provision for us.

Of course we know that Jesus Himself was no stranger to suffering. He asked God to let the cup of His wrath pass from Him, but that if there were no other way, He would drink it. He just wanted the Father’s will to be done (see Matthew 26:39). I think this instructs us on how to pray when we are praying for ourselves and others who are sick/suffering. We can pray with what we think or hope God might do (healing?) and be ready to accept that God might move in a different direction.

That brings us back to this Psalm. David had prayed for healing and he was healed! Part of his rational in prayer was that He couldn’t praise God for healing if he wasn’t healed. He knew God was able. He knew God was worthy. So he prayed with boldness for healing and he was healed.

PRAYER

Father, Thank you that you are a God who is able to do the most incredible of things. Thank you that you are are God of healing. Thank you for the healing that has taken place in my own life! I am grateful for the ways you demonstrate you’re amazing love and grace for us. I pray for those I know who need healing today. I ask for you to do what only you can do in their situation. I rejoice at every glimpse of heaven we see in your healing hand. I also confess my trust and dependence upon you to do your will. We trust you to guide us through suffering and death (Psalm 23) as much as we do in healing and life! 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 Song For The Storm (Psalm 29)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 29

A Psalm of David.

Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.

Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The LORD is over many waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful;
The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars,
Yes, the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.

The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the LORD sits as King forever.

The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.

A SONG FOR THE STORM

In this passage we see David look out at a storm cloud on the horizon. He then uses the storm to show us the voice of the LORD speaking to his people. Some Psalms are best read at sunrise or sunset or even in the midst of the night. This Psalm is best read in the midst of a storm. It is said that in the early churches as they gathered on stormy days that they would read Psalm 29. With that in mind we will open up and begin to look at this psalm, a song for the storm. 

This song reminds us that God is sovereign over heavenly beings. Angels are commanded to offer Him worship because He is worthy of worship. Imagine that, we are telling angels to sing and offer praise to God. (We do this with some of our hymns too, like the Doxology, “Praise Him above ye heavenly Host“). Angels are eager to worship God. It is good and it is right that He is to be given praise!

The “voice of the Lord” peals like thunder through this Psalm seven times! It is interesting that the gospel writer John records this incident in his gospel.  [John 12:27-32 NKJV] (27) “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. (28) “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, [saying], “I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again.” (29) Therefore the people who stood by and heard [it] said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” (30) Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. (31) “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (32) “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all [peoples] to Myself.”

The storm moves across the Israelite landscape mocking of BAAL the storm God of the Phoenicians. The real God of all creation is at ease in the midst of the storm. He sits, ruling over all.

Storms are powerful and wonderful. They can stormy weather can be terrifying and miserable. God used a storm to bring the great reformer Martin Luther to where he began to seek after the Lord. In a similar way, He used a storm and the calm response of Moravian passengers on a ship, to being John Wesley to saving faith as well. God speaks in the midst of the storms.

Next time bad weather is rolling through, I”ll be pulling out my bible and reading Psalm 29.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for this incredible passage that helps us use the weather to recognize your glory, your holiness, your greatness, and to come to a place where we are in respectful fear and honor of You. We confess that you are worthy of all praise! Thank you for weather that commands our attention, changes our plans, and provokes us to praise the God of the storm. 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.

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.

Meditation Of Christ While He Was On The Cross (Psalm 22)

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PSALM 22

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? [Why are You so] far from helping Me, [And from] the words of My groaning? … 27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.

PSALM 22:1,27 NKJV

THE MEDITATION OF CHRIST WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS

This is what is often referred to as a Messianic Psalm. It’s a Psalm that may have it’s roots in the time/ circumstance that it was written, but the poetry becomes prophetic in that the details of Jesus life, ministry, death are shared in peculiar detail. David never suffered a crucifixion or ever saw one, but he describes in glaring detail the events of Jesus’ crucifixion (See especially verses 14-18)! Even down to the very facts that his bones were not broken and that they gambled for his clothes.

Jesus also referred to this Psalm when he was hanging on the cross. Check out Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus was quoting this Psalm when He said those words! This Psalm or song of David has become his meditation while he is on the Cross. He is abandoned. He is alone and His heart goes to this passage of scripture.

The Psalm in it’s structure flows likes a series of waves that express what it is to be forsaken, but then finds faith in the work of God. Finally it concludes with the big truth that all the ends of the earth will come and worship the Lord. This is indeed what the crucifixion and resurrection would ultimately accomplish. The salvation of people from all over the world!

I think we can draw a few things from this Psalm and it’s context/history. One thing I think we can note is that God is sovereign and He can speak through a shepherd king specific details of events that won’t happen for centuries. I think it’s important to notice that while we will not die for the sins of mankind, and so we will never be like Jesus in that regard, we can be like him in that we choose to meditate on God’s word, not just when it is convenient, but when it is most needed. I think we can also choose to be grateful for this passage and others like it that give us great faith in the word of God to know that the details of the crucifixion were known to the mind of God even in the Old Testament and he choose to reveal those details to his saints.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for this incredible passage that reveals to us that you know the end from the beginning. Thank you for your plan of salvation. Thank you for the details recorded in your Word. Thank you for the encouragement that there is purpose even in suffering. Thank you for the day when Christ will return and receive the nations to himself. 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.

Cleanse Me From My Secret Sins (Psalm 19)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 19

9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired [are they] than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, [And] in keeping them [there is] great reward. 12 Who can understand [his] errors? Cleanse me from secret [faults]. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous [sins]; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

PSALM 19:9-14

CLEANSE ME FROM MY SECRET SINS

There is a lot to this Psalm. It charts the revelation of God from “General Revelation” of God in creation, to the “Special Revelation” of God through His word/ law, to the “Personal Revelation” of God as David applies what he knows of God to his own heart. That last part is where I spent the most time meditating today.

Our understanding of God’s character through our understanding of an ordered world and the scripture should lead us to a desire to know God personally. We should recognize the greatness and grandeur of God in creation. We should also note that our sins keeps us from knowing God fully. We are fallen creatures.

It is out of this applied word that David cries out for God to examine the sin in his life. He wants deliverance from secret sins. Often the closer to God we are, the more we recognize sin in our lives. Sometimes sins are secret because we haven’t examined parts of our lives or held them up to the standard of God’s Word. David doesn’t want sin to rule over him anymore.

He calls out for deliverance from arrogant/willful sins. Sometimes we are prone to sins such as unjust expressions of anger. David doesn’t want to be held in “Sins dread sway.” Sometimes these types of sins cling to us, they hold on to us and are hard to release because once we have let go of them we find them attached to us in a different area. He discusses the enslaving nature of such sins.

It’s the little things that lead us into bigger things. A little disobedience leads us into a greater disobedience. When we are unfaithful with small things, we will be unfaithful with larger things. When we are faithful with the small things, we can be trusted with bigger things.

David wants God to search his heart and cleanse him from his iniquity. He doesn’t want to leave any part of his life dirty, he wants the full cleansing power of God’s word to wash over him and make him new. Shouldn’t we all want the same thing. God knows our hearts.

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. I want to walk blameless in your sight. May the meditations of my heart 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.

Remembered Praise (Psalm 18)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 18

1 To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said: I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

PSALM 18:1-3, NKJV

REMEMBERED PRAISE

Many of the Psalms were written by David over key moments in his life. We get a glimpse into his heart as he sings and prays while on the run from his enemies. We get a picture of how he prays about those who slander him and those who persecute him. We get a sense of his trust in the Lord even above the kind counsel of friends who want “the best” for him but just can’t seem to see what that is. We even read along with David’s cry for deliverance from his enemies.

We go through all those ups and downs of life too. What do we do though when we see the Lord deliver us from our desperate situations? What happens when that day of deliverance comes? Do we simply let out a few small words of thanks? Do we just give credit to the Lord in our acceptance speech at an award ceremony? Such responses just don’t seem fitting for how the Lord has delivered us!

When deliverance comes in David’s life, he pens a 50 verse Psalm. This Psalm is overflowing with praise, and a recounting God’s goodness. God is worthy of praise. He is worthy of our praise, especially when we see His word fulfilled with our own eyes! David could not be silent, he had to praise the Lord.

As I often remind my children, who make weird noises at inopportune times, there is a time and a place for everything. I long for the day when our prayer meetings are filled with more praise than problems as we recount the goodness to the Lord in answered prayers. It would be silly to think that every prayer meeting should be filled with this type of praise all the time. For most of David’s life, it hadn’t happened yet; he was still in trouble. When he finally saw his deliverance though, he didn’t hold back.

PRAYER

Father, You are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise! I confess that many times I come to you carrying heavy burdens of intercession, doubt, and perhaps guilt. I come needing rescue and confessing my dependence on you. I am grateful that you hear my prayers. I am grateful that through my life I have seen many answered prayers. You know my personality, too often I am just waiting for the other shoe to drop. That shouldn’t hold back my praise! That shouldn’t keep me from celebrating your goodness. Thank you Lord for all of your blessings! Help me to be ever mindful of our goodness and deliverance and never slack in my praise, for you are worthy! 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 Logic of Prayer (Psalm 17)

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

PSALM 17

1 A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer [which is] not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. 3 You have tested my heart; You have visited [me] in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, [That] my footsteps may not slip. 6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, [and] hear my speech. 7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust [in You] From those who rise up [against them]. 8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, 9 From the wicked who oppress me, [From] my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They have closed up their fat [hearts]; With their mouths they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, 12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, 14 With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world [who have] their portion in [this] life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their [possession] for their babes. 15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

PSALM 17:1-15, NKJV

THE LOGIC OF PRAYER

I have a teenager who has learned to argue. I liked it a lot better when she would ask for something and if we ever said, “no,” All we needed to do was say no, and it was enough. Those days are gone. She now needs us to give her a compelling reason as to why we said, “no.” Once she hears our reason, she will attempt to help us see things her way. She has learned to argue. The rational part of her brain is growing. She has suddenly become very intellectually interesting and smart. Her appeals for things have become better as well. Instead of just asking to go hang out with her friends, she has learned to suggest where she will be, what times, who she will be with, who else will be aware, and most importantly, how this plan of hers would benefit me as her dad. She knows what I will ask and has already worked her logic on my possible objections to make her petitions more appealing.

Often when we pray, we offer God just a bunch of random concerns. There certainly isn’t anything wrong with that, for we are told to, “cast all our cares on Him, for he cares for us.” (1 Peter 5:7). But I think we can pray better by applying a little of God’s Word and logic to our prayers. (Not better in the sense that we will get an answer we want, but better in the sense praying with confidence that what we are asking for is more in line with God’s will than a random petition.)

My daughter learned to amend her own would be petitions because as she brought previous petitions, she heard the answers and the objections. In short, she listened to my concerns. In the same way the more we read God’s word, the more we will know God and the more we will know about God. This will help us weed through the rambling and get to the heart of the issue, “What is God’s will in this matter?” By reading the scripture we are informed in our praying. We can ask God confidently for him to forgive our sin, we can pray behind the Psalms and ask him like a shepherd to lead us, feed us, and bring us home safely. In praying for children we can remind ourselves that he cares for little ones. In praying for the sick we can be reminded that he is a God who heals. In praying for the grieving, we can be reminded that Jesus knows what death is like and has promised to bring us to the other side.

What we see David doing here isn’t just praying random thoughts, but he is applying logic to his petitions. God delights in truthful lips and so David confesses his honesty. He knows that God defends the righteous and so he pleads for the Lord to do just that. David’s petitions for God to hear his prayer have come with a little work on his part to offer prayers that He knows align with God’s character.

PRAYER

Father, thankyou that you hear our prayers. Thank you that you have given us free access to call out to you in prayer. I am grateful that you have told us to boldly approach your throne of grace. I am grateful that you have promised to never leave or forsake us and that you provide for the needs of those who belong to you. Today I ask you to provide for me all that I need in Jesus Christ. As I meditate on your word help me to examine my own life. Let me be a man of honesty and integrity in a way that pleases you. Give me contentment in your provision to let you deal with those who unjustly accuse me. Let me stand before you as my judge and let my ears listen to what you would say. Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me under the shadow of your wing. 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.