Psalm 4

A psalm of David.
¹ Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
² How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah
³ Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
⁴ In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
⁵ Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
⁶ Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
⁷ You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
⁸ I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

The purpose of starting my study in the psalms for the last several years was to help improve my prayer life. This started the process of reading five psalms a day and letting them speak to me as I poured my heart out to God, just as David does in a lot of his psalms. This psalm is an example of a simple pray. This prayer starts out with the request for God to answer his prayers. Here David is requesting relief from his distress. As you read verse one and look at David’s requests, “answer me when I call to you, give me relief from my distress, be merciful to me and hear my prayer” reveals that this was a prayer that came from a hurting man. Verse two reveals that the distress David is referring to in verse one is from men that are trying to destroy David’s character. When you study David’s life it is not a study of how God rewards the godly as they live a righteous life on this earth, but it is a reflection on the struggle between the two walks (way of the righteous and the way of the wicked) on this earth. This struggle is also the struggle we face as we are sojourners on this earth. When David was running from Saul, he was force to give up relationships with those who were close to him such as his wife (Saul even gave Micah to another man), his family, and his closest friend (Jonathan). As these events of rejection happened in David life they also happen in the life of Christ as well as in your life today. However, verses three, four, and five gives us an insight to handle ourselves when we are experiencing these events in our life. First know that God has set the godly apart for himself. This means that in times of trouble we do not seek to right the wrong, but instead focus on becoming godly. This is only done by becoming more Christ-like in our walk on this earth. Second, we need to know that God will take care of us just as he did Joseph. Joseph’s life serves as a great example of how even when we are wronged by others God is still in control. And last of all we must be continually in a state of self-examination. As David states here search your heart and be silent. God will speak to you in these dark times things that you will not be able to share even those who are very close to you. By following these principals, we like David will have great joy in our hearts and will be able to lie down and sleep in peace.

As I study David’s life, I realize how much of his life was guided by one principal and that was by staying in God’s Word. As one studies the Bible in a spirit of self- examination the Holy Spirit will reveal more and more of God’s ways to us. By reading these psalms daily and seeking to walk in his ways we will experience joys that this world can’t give.

Psalm 3

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

¹ O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!

² Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah
³ But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
⁴ To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
⁵ I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
⁶ I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.
⁷ Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
⁸ From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah

As I read this psalm, I recall the verses that recount the story of David and Absalom. I am not one that fills in the blanks so I will not try to determine the relationship that David had with his son Absalom. Absalom was David’s third son (2 Samuel 3:3) and the half-brother to Ammon who was David’s oldest son but whom also had raped Tamar Absalom’s sister. Read the story in 2 Samuel 13:1 – 19:43 to get a full account of the story that leads to this psalm. However, until you have one of your own children rebel against you to the point of wanting to destroy you and go against the truth; you can never fully understand how David felt here. David waited on the Lord. This is different from the approach that many take today. The belief that God takes care of those who take care of themselves is a belief that carries over to almost every aspect of our life. We are living in an age where we must make it happen, and when it does it must be God’s will; yet I believe we have really forgotten the art of waiting on the Lord. As you read these verses look at David’s response to the trial he is going through. He is trusting in God as his shield and the one that gives glory. He will rest and lie down because the Lord sustains him. He will not fear because he knows that his deliverance comes from the Lord. David knew how to trust God. Do we know how to wait and trust in the Lord in the fleeing moments before the battles we face in our life. May your blessing be on your people reminds us to walk in the way of the Lord. Remember there is only one way and he is the way, the truth, and the life, so walk in this way and be bless.

Here we see David the father of Absalom running from his son. When studying David’s life, the main theme I have realized is his personal relationship with the Lord and how this relationship changed David. In I Kings 15:3-5 David’s character is described as having a heart that was wholly devoted to his God. The only blemish on David’s life was the case of Uriah the Hittite. David’s examples of how he lived his life reflects a man who was truly a man after God’s own heart. He was not a man who was searching for God, but a man who walked in the way of God who waited on God’s transforming power to make his heart like God’s heart. This is reflected in the way he handled himself at the death of his son Absalom. He wept. Joab and Israel could not understand this weeping, just as the world today cannot understand the love and patience of God as Peter writes about in II Peter 3:9. Just as the thought that David had in his heart as he walked in his chamber “O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Would I have died instead of you.” is the same love God has for us his children. In fact, that is why Christ died on the cross for us. With his death and resurrection, he made a way to restore the broken relationship between God and man. So, when you study the psalms as well as all scripture wait on God to open up his Word to you. Then you will start to see God’s transforming work in your heart as he makes you into a child of God. Stop searching for God in your our way and start walking and growing in his way by studying his Word and letting it speak to you. Let your walk be characterized as a man or women who is walking with the Lord and enjoying sweet communion with Him. Let your communion with Him be a candle that sheds light to those who are searching for God.

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
³ “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”
⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
⁸ Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This psalm is about the Lord. As I study this psalm I highlight a lot of verses with purple that represents the Lord and a lot of green which represents those against the Lord. However, the only verses I highlight in red which represents the saints is found only in the last sentence. Saints are blessed (reread psalm one) our refuge is in him. It is not by our acts but by his grace that we are blessed. Therefore, heed verse twelve kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you be destroyed in your way. Notice that way is singular. In Psalm 1:6 David writes but the way of the wicked will perishes, this is the way that the son destroys in verse twelve of this psalm. Kiss the son is an act of reverence. Your way then is simply put to this one question “what do you think of Christ?” Is Christ the way, the truth and the light in your life?

As I read Psalm two, I wonder what the Lord told the two disciples going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32) about this portion of the scriptures. In Luke 24:32 “And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?” was a trip that one of my favorite Bible teachers stated as his dream trip. That short journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus was the best discourse on Old Testament theology that was ever delivered. Christ himself gives us the keys to understanding the scriptures in Luke 24:46,47 “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Simply put it is the gospel.

As I watch the news and listen to everyday discussions about the affairs of men, I see little refer being made to the King of Kings in either case. As I study the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters five through seven, I see the King of Kings presenting his kingdom and his principles to mankind. The theme of this psalm can be found in the first three verses. The people of this earth take their stand against God. Their goal is to break the chains that they state that God has placed upon them. These chains that the kings and the rulers want to break are simply the desire to set themselves up as gods so that men would worship them instead of God. As I study Isaiah fourteen verse twelve through seventeen, I realize that this was the same chains that Satan wanted to break. In Isaiah 14:12-17:

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

Just as Satan, these kings and rulers of the earth paid no heed to God’s law and disregard the honor due Him. However, God has set Christ up as King. As I study the gospels I need to take a close look at the parables that Christ gave after his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The parables of the two sons, the tenants, the wedding banquet, the ten virgins, and the talents all point to a returning Lord. As we approach each day are our eyes focused on the clouds and looking for the coming King or are we so focused on the daily activities around us and being part of this world that we have taken our eyes away from looking for the return of the coming King.

I was asked the other day if God ever laughs. Here in verse four of this Psalm, as well as Psalm 37:13 and Psalm 59:8 I have found the answer. God laughs at the wicked. In these three Psalms the issue that God laughs at is the stand the wicked have taken against God and his anointed One. He laughs that they believe that they can rebel against God and free themselves from his ways. God looks down from heaven and views this as foolishness. His advice is simply “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling”. So be warned “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you will be destroyed in your way”.

The original purpose of this website was to record my daily devotional time as I try to read five chapters out of the book of Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs daily.  At the time of the first writings I was going through a very difficult time in my life. Psalm one at that time sat the stage for my daily study which was to meditate day and night on His Word.  In the last fifteen years I have gain a great insight on the patience of God in a believer’s life. As the opening psalm gave me an insight on the book of Psalms so does my daily walk with the Lord gives me insight on how I should look for at the way God could produced fruit in my life, if I just let Him work through me as I followed Him.  I guess in the last few years learning how to wait on the Lord has given me a peace that passes all understanding in my life.

As I studied the two ways in Psalm one (the way of the sinner and the way of the righteous) and one law (the Law of the Lord), I saw how important a daily walk on mediating on the Word of God was key to a Christian’s growth.  The way or walk of life I chose is determined by one characteristic in my life and that characteristic is my love for the law of the Lord.  The more I read God’s Word the more I realized it is not an instruction book on how to live your life, instead it is the moving work of the Holy Spirit through the use of God’s Word that helps direct my life.  Psalm one characterize the man or woman who has taken the Bible and has written these words on his or hers heart and they are reflected in their daily life. They then become a witness to the world of God’s wonderful love and grace to anyone who follows God. As John wrote in John 21:24 “This is the disciple who bears witness of these things, and wrote these thing; and we know his witness is true.” we also can bear witness to the Lord’s work in our life to the people around us.

As I study the Psalms, as well as the entire Bible, I need to be careful of the world’s view moving into my view of God’s way. The world view loves to glorify man, humanizes God and denies God’s revelation (the Bible). As I study the Bible in the coming year I must let the Holy Spirit guide me in the way I walk. I must realize that when the world question differences in the way of the ungodly and God’s way they are repeating Satan’s words from Genesis 3:1 “Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” As I study Genesis three I realized that the world loves to follow Satan’s view of God’s way. The world first question if God really said or means what He said. After that the world like Satan then changes the word of God completely as he told Eve “You will not surely die”. My prayer is that God will open my heart to let the Holy Spirit opens my heart and I have the ability to be Christ like and say “Away from me Satan! For it is written Worship the Lord your God and serve him only” . (Matt. 4:10)

Search me, O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. (NASV)

John 3:5-8 Jesus answered “Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said unto you ‘You must be born again’. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (NASV)

As I studied these verse the last few days I realized that God’s spirit is like the wind. In our day in and day out activities we see God sending messages of His love and hope to all of us. How we receive and process these messages depends on our desire to leave the darkness and come to the light. The longer someone put off this journey the darker the darkness becomes in our life. The reason to stay in the darkness to hide the wicked deeds that are there. The Spirit is like the wind. We do not know where it is coming from or in which direction it is going, but we know it is there.

It is the leading of the Spirit that will take us into the kingdom of God. As David wrote in these verses ” Search me and know my heart” is an invitation for the Spirit to enter our live. As the wind is always moving around us, so is the Spirit of God moving all around each and every one of us. The nature of the first birth leaves us already judged for the sinful nature that exist in everyone, and that judgement is death and being outside the kingdom of God. It is only believing in the gift of God’s only begotten Son that the forgiveness of this sinful nature takes place in a person’s life. Once the heart is opened and the Spirit of God enters, real transformation of a life will takes place. Just as a child born of the flesh grows physically, so must the child born of the Spirit grow into a spiritual witness for Christ.

“Even before there is a word on my tonque, behold O Lord Thou dost know it all.”

As I study and meditate on God’s Word the more I see the true nature of God. As I studied John chapter three this week I saw the true meaning of Psalm 139:4. These verses gives us the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus one night. In this story Nicodemus addresses Jesus in this manner “Rabbi we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.” As I look at just the first part of this sentence I see so much information packed in it. He addressed Jesus as a teacher who not only knew the scripture but was also sent from God. But Nicodemus also used the word “we” which meant not only did Nicodemus believed this of Jesus at this time, but also several other Pharisees. also believed. The second part of the address revealed the reason for believing that Jesus was send from God. That reason was the signs that were performed by Him.

When Jesus answers Nicodemus, I believe that Nicodemus realized that he revealed Psalm 139:4 to him. Jesus knew what was on Nicodemus’s mind before he even asked the question to Jesus. This is an example of the sign that Nicodemus was probably referring to as he address Jesus. Jesus went straight to the answer before the question was even asked. The question was “How can one see the kingdom of God.” The answer to the question was one must be born again. This opened up the discussion he then had with Nicodemus about salvation. When Nicodemus ask Jesus “How can these things be?”, Jesus replied “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?”. Nicodemus as a teacher and ruler of the nation of Israel he should have knowledge of these answers.

Then Jesus, as the Son of Man, explains the serpent of Moses in the wilderness to him. He stated “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believes may in Him have eternal life.” Nicodemus knew this story well. However, Jesus took this story and applied it to being born again. This story of the serpent found in Numbers 21:4-9 reveals how anyone who was bitten by the serpent would live by just looking at the serpent. This serpent was an example of how man who was under the curse of sin brought about by Satan the serpent could free himself from this curse by looking to the Son of Man on the cross.

So here early in the ministry of Jesus be reveals himself as the Christ who will become the Son of Man to take the place of the serpent on the cross for the sins of mankind. The Jews at this time were looking for the kingdom of God coming to them in their own fallen condition, not realizing that to enter the kingdom of God one must first be made clean and free from sin. He adds to his discourse with these words which we should all know “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Just as Nicodemus unspoken question to Jesus was answered before it was asked, so to can your unspoken question that lies buried deep inside your mind be answered by these same words, “You must be born again”. This salvation is available by looking on the Savior and believing.

As I was growing up as a young boy my grandmother had this picture in the front room of her house. As I look back to those days I remember two things about this room. First there was this picture and then there was the heater and all the jackets that were piled upon the chairs and the sofa. However, it was this picture and the meaning behind it that guided my belief that I had a guardian angel watching over me.

However, one day the truth was made known to me and that truth was my guardian angel was not watching over me. My faith in the power of the Lord grew greatly that day. I was made of the truth of Matthew 18:10. Christ was answering the disciples’ question on “who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”. Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.” So my angel is watching the Father and not me? Yes God is watching over me. And when I need help he sends in my angel. God was so great that He watches over His entire creation.

So during this Thanksgiving take a few moments to thank and praise the Lord who watches over you. Yes we have angels taking care of us, but it is God who directs them in our lives. And as he ends this lesson to his disciples on who is the greatest in heaven he reminds them that where two are three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst. So as you enjoy this time of Thanksgiving do it in His name and enjoy His presence this holiday.

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.

This morning I waited and watched as the sun started to break the horizon and entered another day that the Lord has given me to enjoy. I can state these words with truth since I know the Lord and have seen and witness many of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord in my lifetime. This is one task that I will gladly take. As I look back on the history of this country and even the events of the last sixty plus years I have witness some many of the praiseworthy events of the Lord. However, the greatest of these are not the events, but the daily deeds in my life.

Does the next generation see the Lord in my life. Do I give the Lord the credit for the daily praiseworthy deeds in my life. I am afraid we sometimes fall in the same trap that Eve fell in when she was confronted by Satan. Instead of proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord she trying to defend her views over Satan’s false statements about the Lord commandment. We face this same event in your lives in today’s world. Instead of telling the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord the world wants to know why we will worship a God that does not even exist to them. Our faith in God to the world is so outdated to their scientific reasoning and their latest studies.

So as I watched the sun come up this morning I realize that I have the peace of God in my heart knowing that He is watching over me. And if I look closely at the events that happens daily in my life, I will see the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. So my prayer today is for the next generation to see the Lord in my life. I do not have to defend the Lord to those that question Him, but just let them know of His wonderful gift of grace that He has given us through Jesus. He that has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (John 5:12)

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.   And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.   And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.   And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (KJV)

In the past sixty plus years I have seen many news headlines.  I can remember the big new stories of the past and the stories that were in the news after those events had taken placed.  My first presidential election that I remembered was the Kennedy and Nixon election.  As I young boy I never realized how close it was and how much news was made about it at that time.  I just remembered my favorite activities at that time centered on playing outdoors with the kids in my neighborhood.  Since then there has been many more elections in our nation and as I have age I have realized much the results can be the leading stories of the day. 

However, soon after these November elections we start the process of entering the holiday season.  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even College football bowl games.  For most people this time of the year is for stopping and reflecting on how wonderful the gift of family means to us.  I believe it time to turn off the news of this world and listen to the angels’ message to the shepherds who were out in the field working and doing their job of watching over their sheep,  This message of Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to man is the message we need today.

These words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow were written at the time of the Civil War which was probably a lot more troubling then the time in which we are living in today.  This song was written at a time of great when we had a truly divided nation, and yet the more you research this song and the reason it was written the greater these words will become to your daily life.

I heard the bells on Christmas day
their old familiar carols play
and mild and sweet their songs repeat
of peace on earth good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
there is no peace on earth I said
for hate is strong and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep
the wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men