Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings. Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works.  Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.  Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore.  Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth, O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.  He is Jehovah our God: His judgments are in all the earth.  He hath remembered his covenant forever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac, and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance; when they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.   And they went about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people.  He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, saying, Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.  And he called for a famine upon the land; He brake the whole staff of bread.  He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant:  His feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in chains of iron, until the time that his word came to pass, the word of Jehovah tried him.  The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.  He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his substance; to bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.  Israel also came into Egypt; And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.  And he increased his people greatly, and made them stronger than their adversaries.  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtly with his servants.  He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.  They set among them his signs, and wonders in the land of Ham.  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his words.  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.  Their land swarmed with frogs in the chambers of their kings.  He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and lice in all their borders.  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.  He smote their vines also and their fig-trees, and brake the trees of their borders.  He spoke, and the locust came, and the grasshopper, and that without number, and did eat up every herb in their land, And did eat up the fruit of their ground.  He smote also all the first-born in their land, the chief of all their strength.  And he brought them forth with silver and gold; and there was not one feeble person among his tribes.  Egypt was glad when they departed; for the fear of them had fallen upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night. They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.  He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.  For he remembered his holy word, And Abraham his servant.  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with singing.  And he gave them the lands of the nations; and they took the labor of the peoples in possession:  that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise ye Jehovah.  (ASV)

This is an historical psalm that was written by David for the purpose of bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem from the House of Obededom. To get a full understanding of this psalm read I Chronicles 16.  Reading this Psalm should reminds us of the importance of knowing the scriptures and the history of the Lord’s dealings with mankind.  Israel at this time was a nation that realize that their very existence was a providence make possible by God. We too should look at your life in such a matter.  In John 3:16, 17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.”  We see that the true purpose for the first coming of Christ was not to judge us but to provide salvation to us.  As I look back in my life I can truly see that I have a history of God making things happen in my life.  As I compare my life to David’s life I can now truly state as David did in Psalm 37: 23-25 “A man’s goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighted in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholds him with his hand.  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (ASV)

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.  (KJV)

This is one of the first psalms (along with psalm 23) that we teach our children. Yes, it was from the King James Version that most of us remember. As we read the truths found in this psalm we must also ask how much we apply these truths to our daily routine. Do we truly worship the Lord with gladness, or do we question His actions or lack of actions in the affairs of man? Do we come before him with joyful songs or does our praise seem to focus on the deeds of fallen man whom we have elevated above the common man? Do we look to him as creator when we look at the world around us, or do we try to explain the existence of this universe to other forces? When we said the phrase “we are his people and the sheep of his pasture” does our daily activity reflect his righteousness and truth in every aspect of our labor? The phrase “the sheep of his pasture” should reflect a total guidance of our daily activities being led by him. Do you really even in the darkest of times know that the Lord is good and his love endures forever? When we consider the phase “and his truth endured to all generations” do we stop and reflect upon this truth? In John 14:6 Christ states that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to God, but through Him.  Are we truly walking with Him hour by hour, or just making Him Lord for a few hour a week while we are in the company of fellow believers?

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. ¹⁰ For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways.”  So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.” (NIV)

Today as I was reading Oswald Chambers’ devotional for October nineteen I could not help but see how true his observations of the Christians of his day are also true in the society in which we live in today.

“The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.”

As I read this Psalm I picture the churches of my youth, churches that came together for a worship service. As I reflected on these services they were services that meet the need of a young growing Christian who loved the Word of God. As a young Christian I was interested in reading and studying God’s Word and learning more about Jesus and his message. Today however, the message is having a Purpose in life, a system for living a productive life, looking for the right cause to take a stand, and a multiple other programs to improve either the individual’s life or the world around us. This is the great enemy that I believe that Oswald Chambers is writing about in his devotion.  We seem to forget the true purpose of worship.

Instead of using God’s Word to defend the activities of the church and make God’s Word fit into the mold the church needs; we should let the Bible speak to us on an individual bases. Today it seems that the light in the song “This Little Light of Mine” focus more on the activities that leads on how to live a purpose driven life instead of being the light of Christ that abides in me.

As I read this Psalm I realized how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. In verse eleven the Psalmist writes “So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest” as a warning to us if we reject ways. This Psalm is tied to the very first three commandments “Thy should not have any God before me. Thou shall not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shall not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing loving-kindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” This same fear is what the author of Hebrews wrote about in Hebrews chapter four. With salvation comes a change. We turn from the lord of this world to the Lord of Creation. Therefore keep your focus on Him.

“.

Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.  May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.  May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame.  But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “Let God be exalted!”  Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay. (NIV)

As I read this psalm I can picture Christ praying this during his earthly ministry. The message of God’s love and the way of his righteousness was not only rejected, but was opposed by the very ones he was sent to share the good news of God’s salvation. As you read this psalm ask yourself this simple question “which group would I be in: those who desire Christ’s ruin, or those who love your salvation?” Those who seek his ruin will be turned back in disgrace, those who love his salvation will praise the Lord.

In Revelation 3:7 the Lord is pictured as the one who holds the key of David.  “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opens and none shall shut, and that shuts and none opens.” As we live our life here on earth we face multiple decisions each day. From the time we get up in the morning to the time we retire in the evening. However, as a believer in Christ one decision we must daily strive to make is how I will plan to walk daily with Christ. Am I willing to walk through the doors of opportunity that the Lord has open for me and at the same time willing to leave the doors closed that he has closed for me? Or is it all about me and I am the one who opens and closes my own doors?  In this Psalm David calls on the Lord’s help to save him, to help him, to defend him, and to deliver him. This type of walk will lead to a life that rejoices in the Lord and be glad in the choices we have made in him.

Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.  O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come.  When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.  Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple. You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.  Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops. You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.  The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.  The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.  (NIV)

In my daily studies I try to start the day out by reading five psalms a day and one chapter of Proverbs. The psalms helps me grow in my understanding of the greatness of God and helps develops a closer relationship with Him. The Book of Proverbs helps me understand God’s way in dealing with the issues of life that involves my relationship with those around me. During the rest of the day I try to meditate of God’s word. This involves studying some of the great works of other authors. One such author is Oswald Chambers. His insight into God’s Word reveals a great desire to become more Christ-like in all aspects of live. An example of this can be found in today’s reading from My Utmost to His Highest May 13 “I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Chambers’ devotional is great book that can give great insight on how to develop a daily walk with Christ. However, as I read this psalm I am reminded of God’s courts, his house and his holy temple and those he has chosen to bring near to live there. This makes me think of the church and the role it plays in today’s society.

This week I started reading Charles Colson’s and Harold Fickett’s book The Faith. The subtitle of this book What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters is a message that should challenge the church today. In the introduction he brings to light how most (yes most not just some) believers really do not have a grasp of the great doctrines of the Christian faith. One of the questions he would ask was plainly “What is Christianity anyway?” One of the trends that I have seem myself within the church over the last fifty years has been a move from it desire to preach the gospel to a lost and dying world, to a defender of Christian values and the family unit. In this process the Bible has taken a back seat to all the self-help, how to have purpose in life, and guides to family living books. This is supported by the statement in the book’s Introduction “Of the twelve critical doctrines that I have identified in this book, most of my friends, admittedly unprepared, could only name four, at the best five”.

As I reflected on this last statement I ask myself if I could identified twelve critical doctrines if I was asked this this question. This is why the psalms are so important to me. I can find and grow in my understanding of the great doctrines of the faith on a daily bases. In this psalm I realize that the most important doctrine to your faith is answer “Who is God”. Here is some of the facts we can gleam from this psalm about who God is:

He is worthy of praise.

He hears our prayers.

All men will come to you.

God forgive sins.

God choose the ones who live in your court.

God are a righteous judge.

God created the world.

God cares for the world.

These are simple yet profound truths about God that we can grasp just by daily studying God’s Word. Another of the critical doctrines is answer in this psalm “Who is man”. He is overwhelmed by sins, yet our sins can be forgiven. It is God who chooses to bring us into his courts.

A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.  May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.  For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.  I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.  I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.  You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.  Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah  You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.  Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah  Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?  Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?  But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.  Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?  From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.  Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.  All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.  You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.  (NIV)

This is probably one of the hardest psalms to understand. Marshall H. Lewis wrote about this psalm “Psalm 88 is like no other psalm. There is nothing like it in the Psalter, nothing like it in the rest of the Bible, nothing like it among Israelite and Judean noncanonical psalms, nothing like it among Babylonian and Egyptian psalms. It is unique in its utter hopelessness, its complete lack of praise, its unmitigated blame of God. Brueggemann goes so far as to call it “an embarrassment to conventional faith.” Not even the Book of Job is as dark. At least God responds to Job; here, the cry of the psalmist disappears into the void. God is invoked, but remains absent. This is the challenge in interpreting Psalm 88.” I believe that this psalm can be understood best as a psalm for those that rejects God’s provisional way of salvation. Read this psalm after you have read Luke 16:19-27. Put the rich man of Luke 16 in the subject role of this psalm. Notice that this psalm does not mention anything about repentance. Now read Romans chapter one, then reread Luke 16:19-27 and then reread this psalm. Unless you seek God and the righteousness found in the work of His son this will become your psalm after your death.

As I was reading this psalm I realized how much this gift of salvation really means to me. Now for the hard question, does my life reflect how important it is in my life to share God’s Word and his message of salvation from the pit, the grave, the place of darkness, the land of oblivion with others? In Luke 16:26 where Abraham tells the rich man that there is a great gulf fixed between us and that none can pass either way makes me realize how important God’s Word is in this world. When the rich man ask Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers Abraham stated “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rise from the dead”. It is not my lifestyle that leads other to Christ, but my lifestyle that can lead them to the source of my salvation which is Christ. Christ became the living Word. The song Let the Lower Lights Be Burning by Philip P Bless was written to encourage believers of their responsibilities to be the light on this earth to point others to the greater light so that they to might make it safely into the harbor.

1. Brightly beams our Father’s mercy, From His lighthouse evermore, But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore.
   • Refrain: Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting, struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save.
2. Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud the angry billows roar; Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the lights along the shore.
3. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed, Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.

As you read verse eighteen “You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend” remember David’s words from Psalm 51:10-13:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

Remember it is your relationship with God that makes you shine, not the relationship you have with others. Strive to renew your relationship with God and he will make your light shine and hopefully your light will point them to the greater light.

What is the relationship I have with God?

My relationship with God is reflected by my delight in the law of God. If I enjoy and delight in his law then God watches over my paths, if not then I will perish. It is interesting as you read the psalms the importance that is placed on the written word that God has given us as being key to our relationship with God. Does my daily walk reflect my daily meditations on his law both day and night?

What is the relationship between others and me as I continue on my journey through life here on earth?

My relationship with man is determined by my walk, my stand, and my sitting. Do I walk with the wicked, stand with the sinners, and sit with the mockers or do I walk, stand, and sit with the righteous?

As you read, the psalms focus on these four areas and you will see the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:16-25 become the fruit that is yield in your life

.As I was reading II Timothy yesterday I reflected again how this psalm must be placed in the heart and mind of all believers. The truth of the power of the law of the Lord in the life of a believer is truth that believer must grasp to live a victorious life on this earth. The key is found in verse two, delighting in God’s law and meditating on it both day and night. In II Timothy Paul charges Timothy to: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Paul also encourages Timothy to “continue in what he had learned and having become convinced of, because he knew those from whom he had learned it. Remember how from your infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” Finally, in this letter to Timothy Paul makes this request to him, “when you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments”. The parchments are the last thing that Paul request for Timothy to bring. At the end of his life, Paul’s love for studying God’s Law was strong. I have also seen this desire to read God’s Word as we mature in my life as well as in the life of others believers. The true measure of one’s relationship with God is their love for God’s Word. Paul warns us in II Timothy just as David does in this Psalm that when we stray from God’s truth our ways will perish, “their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth”. So meditate on His Word day and night and let the decisions you make daily be based upon these meditations.

Consider verse two “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” from David’s prospective. The law of the Lord at the time that David penned this verse was probably the words that were passed on to him by his parents and grandparents. The only books that were written at that time were the Pentateuch and maybe Joshua, Judges and Job. Considered the Law as well as the history that is found in found in the Pentateuch. Also the examples of the lives of Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, Moses and Aaron, Joshua, as well as all the judges. Consider how David probably knew and hid the Ten Commandments in his heart. These were the laws he mediated on. The stories of the great heroes of faith found in the Pentateuch were the stories he probably heard as a child and was the topic of the evening campfire or evening meals.

How often do we mediate on his Word? Have we hidden God’s Law and His Word in our heart so that we can mediate on them? Do we have great hymns of the faith, or songs of praise hidden in our heart that we sing daily? Does the topic of the greatness of the Lord and his presence in your life come up as part of your daily conversation with others?

As I was studying the New Testament this week I realized that the Lord message to the multitudes starting in Matthew chapter five and going through chapter seven started out like Psalm 1:1.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they

shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say

all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

The blessings of God come when we walk in his way. It is not a way of do things so that God will reward you, but it a walk we take because of our love for the Lord. It is a walk before God, not man. So as the Sermon on the Mount starts out in Matthew chapter five like Psalm 1:1 and Matthew chapter seven ends like verse six of this psalm.

Every one therefore that hears these word of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:

and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.

And every one that hears these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:

and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.

So read the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters five through seven and apply these words in a way that your house will not fall, but stand.

As I was studying Matthew 19 today verses seven and eight seem to tie in with Psalm one.

They say unto him, why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put her away? He said unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.

The beauty of God’s law is that it is simple. It is the sinfulness of man that makes God’s law difficult to follow. Because of the hardness of men’s heart we have to make exceptions to God’s law so that we can seek after the desires of our heart. However, what happens when men totally disregard God’s law and make their a law of their own? This is the way of the wicked. So now I see two sets of law by which we must live. As I see the ever-increasing number of laws that society has passed to improve the evil nature of man; I see this law itself becoming more and more corrupt (reflecting the corrupt nature of man) and grow farther from the law of God. The conclusion of this thought is that the law is a reflection of the one whom originates it. God’s law reflects His nature and his attributes; whereas, the laws created by men reflect the nature of a corrupt and fallen creature.

As I start another month of reading the Psalms I cannot help but reflect on how the wicked cannot understand the importance that the simple true found in these verses can change their life. This simple truth of how a person’s meditating on God’s Word daily can bring blessings and joy to one’s life. And yet Christ in Matthew 13:19-23 give the answer why this simple truth is not follow:

When any one hearth the word of the kingdom, and understand it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatches away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.

And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that hears the word, and straightway with joy received it; yet hath he not root in himself, but endured for a while; and when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, straightway he stumbled. And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that hears the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that hears the word, and understand it; who verily bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

o you I call, O LORD my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.  Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place.  Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts. Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve. Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done, he will tear them down and never build them up again.  Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.  Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever. NIV

As I read this verse today in relationship to Oswald Chamber’s devotion from August fourth I noticed that the Psalmist does not claim to have done anything great in these verses.  This point was also made in Oswald Chamber’s devotion from August 4th in that it is out of our poverty that God uses us for His purpose. As I read this devotion I thought back to II Timothy 2:20-22 “Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work. After righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart”.  So as a believer we must present ourselves as a clean vessel for the master’s use.  Remember a vessel is empty, it is God that fills and uses the vessel.  All we must provide for God to use us for his purpose is a vessel of honor.  People who know not God who plot evil in their heart and show no regard for the things of God might not see the true believer as a vessel of God, but God does.  My prayer is for anyone that reads Psalms twenty-eight to see that the way of the wicked (see Psalms one) is the wrong path to travel.  The right path is for those who call on God out of a pure heart.

As I study this psalm today the phase found in verse one “For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit” revealed how strong my relationship with God must be.  I searched and realized this is the first psalm that uses the word pit to refer to the grave.  Without God in our life we are dead.  If you jump over to Psalm 88 you will read a psalm that is probably one of the hardest psalms to understand.  The reason is that we look for hope when we read the Psalms.  There is no hope in Psalm 88.  This psalm ends with the verse “you have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.  This I believe was the psalmist greatest fear in his life, a life without God.  Yet how many people do we meet daily who are living in the pit and living the life-style of the wicked.  Verses three and five sums up the characteristic of the wicked “those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts, they show no regard for the works of the Lord”, Study the makeup of the pit as the Lord gives it in Luke 16:19-27 and as I believe Psalms 88 portrays it.  Yes there is a hell (the pit where God’s presence cannot be found) as well as a heaven (where the dwelling of God is with men).  The choose of your final resting place depends your answer to one question.  What will you think of Christ?

As I study this psalm I noticed that verse three starts out with the phase “Do not drag me away with the wicked with those who do evil” and verse seven ends with the phrase “he has heard my cry for mercy”.  This is the message of the gospel.  We are all guilty before God, but he does extends to us mercy.   As I read Oswald Chambers devotional for November 5 he brings out the role of Jesus in our life.  He illustrated how Mary believed that Jesus had a special intimacy with God, and that whatever He asked of God, God would do. However, he brought out the point that Mary realized that she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus.  In verse two we see that this is also what David wanted.  His desire was to have a closer personal intimacy to God.  This Psalm contains the gospel message of God.  We are all guilty before God, however God does extends his mercy to us.  Once this happens we are changed and see the old wicked way in which we walked for what it was and turn from that way.  We then find our strength in the Lord and our desire than focus on become more like God.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  NIV

This is one of the first psalms that many young people memorizes and place in their heart.  It is a simple psalm yet rich in meaning.  The relationships are simple.  The Lord is the shepherd, and we are his sheep.  He leads and we follow.  He takes care of us and we enjoy the life he gives us.  Our companions are goodness and love and they will be with us along the entire journey.  Our dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.

I could go deeper with this psalm as many other writers have in the past.  However, this is a personal psalm, a psalm of a personal relationship between the Lord (shepherd) and the believer (sheep).  Once you know the Lord and walk with Him then these words will have a special meaning to you.  You will recall times in your past walks that he gave you rest, times in the past that he had to restore you, times in the past when everything seem too far gone to be save and yet he rescued you, times that he blessed you as your enemies were watching and observing how great God rewarded you, times when the peace of God that passes all understanding came over you and finally you truly realized that this world is not your home but heaven is and you enjoy your life on this as a journey with friends and family.  If you don’t know the Lord and you are going about this journey on earth alone, then you are missing the most precious relationship that you could have on this earth.