“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; to give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.” Proverbs 1:1-4 (KJB)
David
Consider the Poor
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and Thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, ‘LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee.’” Psalm 41:1-4 (KJV)
In the United States of America we are richly blessed. We are blessed with the grace of God. We are blessed with riches. Yet in the midst of the blessing of riches we are cursed with some levels of poverty; and some of which cannot be avoided. People often find themselves without an income, due to loss of jobs; or sickness, and/or disease; which has robbed them of the strength to make a living. These are the poor that the Christian must not neglect.
It is the light of Christ Jesus that shines in our hearts that causes us to see others as being better than ourselves; and that includes the poor. Paul the apostle writing to the people of Philippi…
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3 (KJV)
As Christians the love of Christ will reign supremely in our hearts; and others will be blessed by our lives and our conduct: even though they may not always realize it. John the apostle wrote the following…
“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John 3:17 (KJV)
Be a blessing today.
This post is one written in July of 2013.
The Man That Makes the LORD His Trust
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, praise unto our God: many shall see and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” Psalm 40:1-4 (KJB)
The LORD does indeed lift us, picks us up, out of the miry clay, the pit of sin, and sets our feet upon a rock; the Rock is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4).
The way of sin is darkness, and cold. O, it may seem like the way to go at the time; it may seem like it is the comfortable thing; it may seem to be pleasurable, but it leads to shame, pain, misery, and death. Be an instrument of praise to the LORD God. Call on the name of the Lord and be delivered from that pit to which you are imprisoned.
Let me share with you the thoughts of Charles Spurgeon from the Treasury of David on verse four…
“Blessed.” This is an exclamation similar to that of thePsa_1:1-6, “Oh, the happiness of the man.” God’s blessings are emphatic, “I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed,” indeed and in very truth. “Is that man that maketh the Lord his trust.” Faith obtaineth promises. A simple, single-eyed confidence in God is the sure mark of blessedness. A man may be as poor as Lazarus, as hated as Mordecai, as sick as Hezekiah, as lonely as Elijah, but while his hand of faith can keep its hold on God, none of his outward afflictions can prevent his being numbered among the blessed but the wealthiest and most prosperous man who has no faith is accursed, be he who he may. “And respecteth not the proud.” The proud expect all men to bow down and do them reverence, as if the worship of the golden calves were again set up in Israel; but believing mean are too noble to honour mere money-bags, or cringe before bombastic dignity. The righteous pay their respect to humble goodness, rather than to inflated self-consequence. Our Lord Jesus was in this our bright example. No flattery of kings and great ones ever fell from his lips; he gave no honour to dishonourable men. The haughty were never his favourites. “Nor such as turn aside to lies.” Heresies and idolatries are lies, and so are avarice, worldliness, and pleasure-seeking. Woe to those who follow such deceptions. Our Lord was ever both the truth and the lover of truth, and the father of lies had no part in him. We must never pay deference to apostates, time-servers, and false teachers; they are an ill leaven, and the more we purge ourselves of them the better; they are blessed whom God preserves from all error in creed and practice. Judged by this verse, many apparently happy persons must be the reverse of blessed, for anything in the shape of a purse, a fine equipage, or a wealthy establishment, commands their reverence, whether the owner be a rake or a saint, an idiot or a philosopher. Verily, were the arch-fiend of hell to start a carriage and pair, and live like a lord, he would have thousands who would court his acquaintance. TREASURY OF DAVID, by Charles Spurgeon verse 4
While in Thought the Fire Burned
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, ‘LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.’ Selah.” Psalm 39:1-5 (KJB)
The Psalmist, the singer, was refusing to speak and be silent. While he is being silent his thoughts rage, the fire burns as he continues to add fuel to that fire.
I have been there. I am fairly certain that all who are reading this has been in that place where you bridle your tongue, and wisely so, but the anger, the hurt continues to rage in your thoughts. What do we do with that?
David realized he had a problem. He took it to the LORD. So must we take it to Him.
Going to God in prayer is the best place to vent, to complain about that man or woman or situation that has caused our thoughts to roar at us; rousing anger, rage, and maybe even bits of hatred.
I was asked not too long ago, ‘Don’t you ever get angry?’ My answer to that was, “Yes!” If it is not seen by others there must be something going on. One of at least two things: 1. I am just covering it and building a fire in me making me even angrier; or 2. I have taken the rage, anger, and hatred to the throne of God.
The first can be dangerous. The second is the way of the faithful Christian. When we take our complaints to the Lord, then we will have less of a problem getting along with others.
Jesus Christ died on the cross to deliver us from our sins. He was buried to carry away our sins and shame. He arose from the grave the victor over sin, death, and hell. He is coming again. Do you know Him?
Description of the Wicked
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. Psalm 36:1-4 (KJB)
The Thirty six Psalm is titled as “Psalm of David servant of the LORD”. You may, if you desire, follow the link above for a further study of verse one.
The description of the wicked is this; keep in mind this is not my description, it is of no human origin. Though David did pen it down it is divinely inspired; That description of the wicked…
- …The wicked are flattered by themselves, and many times found by others to be hateful.
- …The wicked has a mouth with words of iniquity and deceit; their words are often vile, malicious, full of gossip, and lying.
- …The wicked has forsaken all wisdom, maybe even some common sense, and forsakes doing good.
- …The wicked plans, schemes, and devises wicked mischief while they lay in bed; “How can I better myself against those who appear to be better than me.”
- …The wicked set themselves on the opposite side of good; calling what is good “Evil”; and calling what is evil “Good”.
- …The wicked cares not for what is good, and does not hate what is evil, but lives in it themselves.
As a Christian I am to “Abhor evil” (Romans 12:9), and “to cleave to that which is good”. That begins by trusting in the finished word of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, His burial, and bodily resurrection. GOD hated evil so much that He put His own Son to death on that cross to redeem evil, wicked mankind unto Himself.
Take Hold; Draw Out
Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Psalm 35:1-3 (KJB)
The thought that David is giving (concerning the “shield and buckler” v. 2) is that the LORD is his protection and strength against all his enemies; his accusers. The LORD is our protection against the onslaught of the enemy, and our accusers.
There is none who can accuse quite as strongly, maybe even honestly as the devil, that old serpent, Satan himself. John the revelator calls him the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). So when you are attacked, accused, ridiculed, or viciously beaten and bruised; yet, still living; God is your strength and your shield.
Let me make something plain from our text. God, the LORD has no need of physical weapons such as a sword, a shield, or a buckler. They are, however, great examples of God’s means for our protection and safe keeping.
When Stephen was stoned to death in the book of Acts chapter 7 verses 54 through 60 we find Jesus standing to welcome him to his new home with Him. The Lord stands with us in our time of suffering and pain. He is with you today.
If you have not trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior do that today. He is your help, your shield, your strength. He is all those and more for all who trust in Him.
Boasting in the LORD
“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3 (KJB)
There is a whole lot of boasting going on. I boast of one thing, and then another. So do you. I know of no one who has not made a boast of one thing or another. Let me post a question; Do you ever boast in the LORD? Do you boast of His greatness, His power and authority? Do you boast of His so great salvation? Whoops! That was three questions.
God is great to boast in. Boast of a work He has accomplished in your life; and be sure to credit Him, not yourself. When we boast in the LORD we take credit from our own achievements and give them to the One to whom they belong. That is where humility really begins.
The humble will always glorify the LORD with words and with a life that shows forth the power and glory of Jesus.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Amen
It all begins in recognizing Jesus as your Lord and Savior; the Son of God and God the Son.
God, King,and Country
“And Uriah said unto David, ‘The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.” 2 Samuel 11:11 (KJB)
Uriah was a Hittite (verse 3) who had become a faithful and loyal follower of Jehovah. You will notice the very first thing he mentions to the King is “The ark…” You will note also his heart for the people, the men on the battle field sleeping in tents.
He has been called by the King to aid in covering the king’s sin with his wife Bathsheba. I am just going to point out the heart and mind of Uriah the Hittite.
Uriah is an often overlooked character in the story of King David. He had evidently chosen to follow Jehovah or YaHWeH. He is also named as one of the king’s top men in 2 Samuel 23:29. He was a soldier of the Lord and of the King. He was faithful to God, King and country.
Uriah’s king failed him; but his God did not. God never fails, and he honors those who stand with Him. David had the man murdered in an elaborate scheme to cover his own sin.
We as Christians can always stand with God and what is right according to His word and His law. We can remain loyal to our nations leaders when they follow the law of our nation, and live by them. We can be loyal to our nation as it follows the way and will of God. Our first citizenship is in heaven (Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 3:20).
Let us be faithful and true to God and country, and thus to our leaders as they follow the Lord and are faithful to Him and to the law. The King of all kings is Jesus Christ. Let us remember the words of Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as rivers of water: He turneth whithersoever He will.”
Sleeping
Please read 1 Samuel 26 – 28…
“So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.” 1 Samuel 26:12 (KJB)
“For they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.” 26:12b (NKJB)
As you can see King Saul was caught in one of those vulnerable situations we mentioned yesterday. It does not seem that there is any more vulnerable time than when we are sleeping. We need sleep for our bodies to recuperate, and renew for a new day.
The account of these words are such that we can learn about the sleep that occurs here.
David and Abishai – brother of Joab – were in Saul’s camp while…
View original post 292 more words
Vulnerable Situations
Reading 1 Samuel 23 – 25 for today…
“And he said unto his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 24:6 (KJB)
King Saul was out to kill David. He saw David as a threat to his being king, and especially to his kingdom, what was going to end. However, God had already made the decree (1 Samuel 13:13-14), and given the kingdom to another.
In the background of the story we find the King relieving himself in a cave. David and his men are hiding in the cave and David’s men encourage him to take Saul’s life; but he will not strike the LORD’S anointed.
David is the other whom God has chosen to have the ongoing, even eternal kingdom, and he has…
View original post 175 more words
Stay With Me
Today’s reading is from 1 Samuel 20 – 22…
“Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.” 1 Samuel 22:23 (KJB)
This utter hatred for David in King Saul began due to Saul’s rebellious heart (1 Samuel 15:10-23). Because of that rebellion God gives the kingdom to another, who is David. Rebellion against God. Jealousy against the “Better man”. Let us learn.
Saul has cowered in fear because of a giant, and turns with rage against one of his own who has done nothing more than be his faithful servant.
In the first two verse of chapter 22 we read of the type of men who served with David and followed him – people in distress, people in debt and could not pay, and the discontented. They were not the rich and famous of the…
View original post 171 more words
That all the Earth May Know
Reading for this Resurrection Sunday is 1 Samuel 17 – 19…
“…That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:46 (KJB)
This is the story of David and his defeat of the Philistine giant Goliath who was defying the army of God – Israel – thus defying God Himself. David loved God. God especially loved David.
David was determined that Goliath was as good as dead, with no head. He was especially determined that “All the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” David’s faith is inspiring, and gives us courage to face whatever lies ahead. Unlike King Saul who sat in his tent shaking in his sandals.
Something everyone needs to understand about faith is is that faith is not believing something so strongly that we make it so; it is believing that what God says and directs us…
View original post 163 more words
You, O LORD, Are My Rock and My Fortress
“In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in Thy righteousness. Bow down Thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be Thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalm 31:1-3 (KJB)
Are you feeling down, dirty, discouraged, and in despair today? There is One in whom you can place your trust. David found that trust in the LORD our God.
The Psalmist calls on the LORD to listen to him. He request that the LORD be “My strong rock, for a house of defence…” I am pretty certain that David faced those times like we have too. Lonely, afraid, desperate, and in despair; and in those times he cried out to God; and God hear him and answered his prayer.
Though David was looking for a hasty reprieve from his dilemma, he quickly realized that the LORD was his Rock and his fortress, and simply requested that God would lead and guide him.
In the not too distant past our Vice President was mocked and criticized by a lessor known individual who called him a mental case because he claims that Jesus speaks with him. I was thrilled to hear our VP say that. David spoke with our Lord, and the Lord spoke back, and because of this we have the Psalms which we can read and through them the Lord speaks with us too. That is if we have a heart for Him.
He hears the cries of His people. The question really is today; Do His people hear Him?
Hear the Lord GOD today through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus God Son, the God Man, in whom you can give your life – heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Raised Up
“I will extol You, O LORD; for You have lifted me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me. O LORD, You have brought up my soul from the grave: You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit” Psalm 30:1-3 (KJB)
David was a man; a King who knew where to go when he was troubled, oppressed, and in dire straights. He went to God, the LORD of hosts. He feels in this Psalm like he has been dead, or nearly so. His life has been threatened in the past, and he is giving the LORD the praise and worship He deserves for delivering David.
In dedicating our homes, our families to the LORD we need to recognize from whence the LORD has brought us, and David did. He was a shepherd boy who had faced a lion and a bear. He was still that shepherd boy when he face Goliath the giant of the Philistines, and slew him with a stone and a sling. David said that it was the LORD who delivered Him.
If we are faithful to the LORD we cannot hold our lives to be more dear to us than the LORD is. Life is good, but it is not cheap. We must not fear anything but the LORD our God, and do so through the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ God’s holy Son.
The Lord Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and raised again can raise you up from whatever dilemma you face; and through your life to the end of your life give you eternal peace.
This song came to my mind as I was writing… MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lam of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!
and the final verse of the song…
When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o’er me roll,
Blest Savior, then, in love Fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!
May our hearts and lives be always remembering the grace, love, mercy, and will of God each day we live. Give your life to Jesus Christ and truly live.
Beauty and Holiness
“Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:1-2 (KJB)
For some folks they have a problem reconciling beauty and holiness. We probably have the idea of “Beauty” mostly wrong. Most of us marvel at the beauty of creation, all that God has made in the outdoors. I fear that some see more beauty in the things which Adamkind (mankind) has made. Some see beauty in city lights, and horizons of cities lit up in the night sky.
I see much more of beauty as I look at the stars above at night. The lights of cities I see as “Light pollution”, polluting the sky with man made conveniences. Now, please do not get me wrong; I do appreciate those conveniences just as much as others do.
What is beauty? There is an old saying which state, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”. That is probably true with some things, but not God things. If God states that something is beautiful, then we need to see it as beautiful as well. The heart right with God will see holiness as something of great beauty.
It anything is holy to the LORD, then, it is beautiful as well.
With God human life is holy. The blood that flows through our veins and most living creatures, is sacred and holy to the LORD. The LORD has stated in the book of Leviticus 17:11…
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
For one individual to haphazardly take the life of another individual that is that beauty, neither is it glory to the LORD. It grieves His heart. That is why He authorized human government the right of corporal punishment, or the death penalty. My life is no more important that another life. To intentionally kill for one’s own personal gain, or pleasure is plainly murder, and deserves to die equally.
God created Adamkind in His likeness and after His image. That has been tainted, and ruined by our sin. It is restored through the redemptive work of Jesus God’s Son by His death on the cross. That is holiness in its beauty. The Holy dying for the unholy, that we might be made the righteousness of God through Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Beauty and Holiness in Christ Jesus.
When GOD Seems to be Silent
“Unto You will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if You be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy oracle.” Psalm 28:1-2 (KJB)
This Psalm of David is the prayer of a man who is crying out to God; maybe even yelling out, shouting out to God for a hearing of his requests, or “supplications”, as he states it, which is his earnest prayer. An individual who has a real need which they see, feel, or fear; one who knows the Almighty will go to Him with that need just as David, and plead, yearn, beg for an answer to their prayer.
In the New Testament we are told…
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16
Now, let us get something straight. We do have someone to pray to. It is not prayer that is the power. It is the One who gives the power to whom we direct our prayers. If our hearts are not of Him, His word, His way, His will, His heart and mind, then, we will not get an answer.
I have made a commitment to the Lord which may seem empty to some, maybe brave and bold and dangerous to others. A few years ago I was praying, and said to Him, “If you never again answer a prayer of mine, I will still trust in You.” I can still say that. I know that He never fails to accomplish, to finish His word. He does what He says He will do.
What do you do when God is silent? Keep on praying and keep on trusting in Him.
The Power of GOD Over the Enemy
“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? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” Psalm 27:1-2 (KJB)
The commentary today is from Charles H. Spurgeon’s Treasury of David on Psalm 27:2…
This verse records a past deliverance, and is an instance of the way in which experience should be employed to reassure our faith in times of trial. Each word is instructive. “When the wicked.” It is a hopeful sign for us when the wicked hate us; if our foes were godly men it would be a sore sorrow, but as for the wicked their hatred is better than their love. “Even mine enemies and my foes.” There were many of them, they were of different sorts, but they were unanimous in mischief and hearty in hatred. “Came upon me” – advanced to the attack, leaping upon the victim like a lion upon its prey. “To eat up my flesh,” like cannibals they would make a full end of the man, tear him limb from limb, and make a feast for their malice. The enemies of our souls are not deficient in ferocity, they yield no quarter, and ought to have none in return. See in what danger David was; in the grip and grasp of numerous, powerful, and cruel enemies, and yet observe his perfect safety and their utter discomfiture! “They stumbled and fell.” God’s breath blew them off their legs. There were stones in the way which they never reckoned upon, and over these they made an ignominious tumble. This was literally true in the case of our Lord in Gethsemane, when those who came to take him went backward and fell to the ground; and herein he was a prophetic representative of all wrestling believers who, rising from their knees shall, by the power of faith, throw their foes upon their faces.
Whenever we are in the throes of the wicked, the enemy of God and all that is righteous and holy we can trust in the LORD to see us through. God will not allow the wicked to triumph ultimately.
A Bold Request
“Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in my integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Psalm 26:1-2 (KJB)
It is a bold request indeed to ask God first “Judge me”, then to request, “Examine me…” It is a needed thing to do that. Do I do that? I have. Even to pray, “Lord, whatever it takes to make me like Jesus; do it.” That is a bold request which will definitely put you to a test.
It is GOD who knows us best, yet He loves us most, and desires to work in our lives to accomplish His will and purposes to bring us to Himself, and His glory. He also will use us to bring others to Himself, and do the same in them.
The apostle Paul has written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit…
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
The LORD will do in our lives whatever it takes to get us where He wants us to be. Be prepared. Draw near to God.
I Trust in You LORD
“Unto Thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You: let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me.” Psalm 25:1-2 (KJB)
This is the 25th day of writing through the Psalms again. I know that I missed yesterday, yet this is still the 25th day of Psalms. I appreciate all who take your valuable time to come here to read these studies, and I do pray that when you do God blesses you abundantly with His Spirit to enlighten your understanding of God, His Word, and His Spirit; and His work in you.
The Psalmist (David) is declaring the LORD as his God. He also declares, “I trust in You.” That ought always to be the heart of the believer who has given heart, soul, body, and mind to Him.
When we give our life to God through His Son Jesus Christ there is no room for shame, but praise, love, joy, peace, and a life filled with the love of God in us for others, and mostly for Him who loved us that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for our sins.
Do we have enemies? Most definitely. Those who hate God, and work against His word, His will, and His way are His enemies; they are my enemies and if you love God; they are your enemies as well. We have a promise from God that has been given to all God’s people down through the ages…
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19
The Earth: Why it is the LORD’S
“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Psalm 24:1-2 (KJV)
Adamkind, and that is all of us of the human race, have since sin came into the world became really tight fisted. We want what we want, and we want it now, and we want it forever. We grow into the mentality that this world and everything in it is ours. The Bible has good news for us… It belongs to our Creator; the Creator of all that is… all that exists in this universe.
Let me share with you what the Treasury of David, written by C. H. Spurgeon says of verse two…
In the second verse we have the reason why the world belongs to God: namely, because he has created it, which is a title beyond all dispute. “For he hath founded it upon the seas.” It is God who lifts up the earth from out of the sea, so that the dry land, which otherwise might in a moment be submerged, as in the days of Noah, is kept from the floods. The hungry jaws of ocean would devour the dry land if a constant fiat of Omnipotence did not protect it. “He hath established it upon the floods.” The world is Jehovah’s, because from generation to generation he preserves and upholds it, having settled its foundations. Providence and Creation are the two legal seals upon the title-deeds of the great Owner of all things. He who built the house and bears up its foundation has surely a first claim upon it. Let it be noted, however, upon what insecure foundations all terrestrial things are founded. Founded on the seas! Established on the floods! Blessed be God the Christian has another world to look forward to, and rests his hopes upon a more stable foundation than this poor world affords. They who trust in worldly things build upon the sea; but we have laid our hopes, by God’s grace, upon the Rock of Ages; we are resting upon the promise of an immutable God, we are depending upon the constancy of a faithful Redeemer. Oh! ye worldlings, who have built your castles of confidence, your palaces of wealth, and your bowers of pleasure upon the seas, and established them upon the floods; how soon will your baseless fabrics melt, like foam upon the waters! Sand is treacherous enough, but what shall be said of the yet more unstable seas?
That same Creator has given life, gives life, and will continue to give life to all who live on earth. He will give eternal life to all who will believe Him and receive Him through Jesus Christ His Son and His death, burial, and bodily resurrection. It is all His.
The Shepherd, His Sheep, and His Leadership
“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:1-2 (KJV)
I have never had any thing to do with sheep. I am so ignorant of sheep, that I must rely upon what I have read by written by others and what I can see in fields that I pass occasionally. Sheep need a shepherd to care for them. People are likened to sheep in Scripture at times. In this first verse of the best known Psalm David says, “The LORD is my shepherd…” so he is likening himself to a sheep.
By the second verse we can see two different things. They need a shepherd to lead them to pasture to eat. It has been said that sheep will eat grass down to the dirt, and practically kill it off, if they are not moved to green pasture. If you will read the gospel account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men, not counting women and children (Matthew 14:15-21) you will read in verse 19 that the narrative reads, “And He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass…”; the gospel of Mark even says “upon the green grass” (Mark 6:39) and John simply says, “Now there was much grass in the place” (John 6:10). You talk of a shepherd leading the sheep to green pastures; Jesus is the Shepherd. He gives His sheep plenty to eat, and then He gives us plenty of good clean water to drink.
The sustenance of the Lord is bountiful. It is said that sheep are afraid of moving water, so the shepherd leads them to smooth, still water; not stagnant, that would make them sick, but still, smooth, fresh, and clean water. For refreshment, and the nourishment their bodies need. If a sheep needs to cross the water the shepherd will lead them to still water for crossing as well, where it is shallow enough as to not soak up in their fleece as to load them down and drown them.
The LORD is the Lamb of God laid down His life for me. He is my Shepherd too; who leads me to green pastures and I can lie down in them comfortably, and have food for the day; then, He leads me to the right place for a refreshing drink and for the purpose of life.
The Shepherd is the Lamb. He is the Bread of Life. He is the Light of the world. Jesus Christ is the Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. He gave His life for His sheep on the cross, was buried, and He rose again. You can trust the Shepherd to provide what you need.
The ONE Who Inhabits Praises
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My roaring? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, O You that inhabits the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:1-3 (KJV)
This is named as another Psalm of David. Now, whatever David was experiencing I do not think he realized this was going to be a song the Messiah would sing; but it was, and it is His Song. You can see the words of this first verse as Jesus was coming out of the darkness of the crucifixion, and they are words even David could not express except the LORD had given them. Yet, how could David know the intensity, the suffering, the agony both on the cross and in the garden of Gethsemane?
Both David and the Messiah understood the fact that praises only belong to the One who inhabits those praises. That is God.
Jesus as He willingly laid down His life on the cross knew the agony, the pain, and the suffering that was coming, yet He laid it down. The pain worse than death by the tormenting beatings, the nails in His hands and feet, and even the spear in His side was the pain He felt when in that darkness He experienced what life and death was like without God, His Father.
For the very first time in His life Jesus experienced being apart from His Father and this is the first prayer He prays where He refers to His Father as “My God, My God…”. Even in the prayer He still hangs on to the truth of resurrection, faith in the One who will raise Him is faith in the the One who inhabits the praises of Israel; the praises of His people.
No matter what you are going through today you can believe, and know that the One who knows you loves you best, and He has already suffered in what you are suffering. He knows your pain. He knows your sin and has paid the price to redeem you from all your sin.
Ask Life, and GOD Gives It
“The king shall joy in Your strength, O LORD; and in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. For You meet him with the blessings of goodness: You set a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of You, and You gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in Your salvation: honor and majesty have You laid upon him. For You have made him most blessed for ever: You have made him exceeding glad with Your countenance.” Psalm 21:1-6 (KJV)
King David was speaking of much more than what he had requested. He was speaking of the future King of Israel, King of the world who would receive all that He requested because He had died to redeem His bride unto Himself.
On that word “Selah” I want you to remember that I look at that word and pause, think about what was just read, what it says, and reflect on it. Now thinking on that second verse for a bit: did David get all those things? Did he get all that his heart desired? I really do doubt it. He was joyous in knowing the LORD and resting in Him. It would seem to me that it is directly related to the coming King, the Messiah of Israel, and Savior of the world.
He asked life and was raised from the dead. He asked for long life, and will live eternally, even for ever and ever. He is glorified in the salvation GOD has provided through His death, burial, and resurrection.
This Psalm is a song of David thanking and praising the LORD for His answer to his prayers; that they are exceedingly abundant over what he could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
Ask Life, and GOD Gives It. He gives life through faith in His Son Jesus. Will you ask?
He Will Help, Strengthen, and Remember You
“The LORD hear you in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend you; send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant you according to your own heart, and fulfil all your counsel.” Psalm 20:1-4 (KJV)
In this Psalm of David he writes that the LORD will hear you, defend you, send you help from the sanctuary, strengthen you, remember your offerings, and accept your costly sacrifices.
Let us as Christians today come with the expectant heart of David, and God will be rich in blessing toward us as well.
Looking at verses 2 – 4 of the text above; it is GOD who sends help from our time of worship. You see wherever we are in the worship of the Most High, holy, and Almighty God that is the sanctuary; the one who worships Him though throughout the week – Monday – Saturday – will not forsake the gathering with other believers on the first day of the week as the early church did. He is our help.
Looking at the “strength out of Zion” we can see Zion is Jerusalem the City of David. It is the city on a hill. A city of strength. You can notice from Scripture that when every one left Jerusalem they were always going down to Jericho, or down to Bethel, and down to Capernaum, etc.. A picture of strength, and a reminder to the Hebrew people where their strength came from.
The “offerings… and burnt sacrifice” are those things which David would have offered to the LORD. In these verses he is offering praise, and worship. The burnt sacrifice would have been the sacrifice of a bull, lamb, ram, goat, dove etc. We do not sacrifice animals today. We do not need to; neither are we commanded to. So what is the offerings and sacrifices we give? Ourselves; our surrender to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ God’s Son, God the Son.
When we give our all to Him He gives us a desire to live for Him. A desire to love like He does, to love what He loves; and to hate the things He hates. He will fulfill the desires of the heart that is given to Him (Psalm 37:4); in life, liberty, and love.
The Shout of Creation
“Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has He set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.” Psalm 19:2-6 (KJV)
The declaration of creation is that God is. There are those who look at the order of this ordered creation and somehow, though very illogically, proclaim that “It just happened”. Really?
Would you say that your new car was formed when a tornado tragically went through a salvage yard, or even a steel mill, and suddenly that car landed there fully formed. Now, that is just plain illogical; if not just plumb dumb.
Creation shouts of the glory of God. The size of the universe is beyond my comprehension. Yet we have scientists who are trying to figure out just how large it is. All they have is a wild guess. No matter how big the universe; God is bigger. He created it. He spoke the world, and the stars, the planets, and any other solar system which exist, into existence (Psalm 33:6).
The apostle Paul clearly proclaims…
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:20
“They that are without excuse” are those who cannot hear the shout of creation telling loudly and clearly that God is. The creation is even groaning waiting for the deliverance from corruption (Romans 8:21-22). Do you not hear the groaning in the fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the evil of Adamkind in the world.
When you have one of our own political parties that are more concerned will illegal aliens in our nation, and definitely not concerned about the legal murder of 63,000,000 unborn babies; there is something desperately wrong, and evil in the minds and hearts of this world, and this country.
Can you hear the shout of creation? Can you hear the shout of the gospel of Jesus Christ that a good, righteous, holy, just, and innocent gave His life for the evil, unrighteous, unholy, unjust, and guilty race of Adamkind? He died, was buried, and He rose again. He is returning again to receive His own unto Himself. O, will you hear Him?
