Psalm 35

1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?

11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the subjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destruction, my darling from the lions.

18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22 This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.

27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. (KJV)

The more I read the psalms the more I see Jesus. As I am studying the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry on this earth (starting in Jericho and making the fourteen-mile trip to Jerusalem) I can see Jesus praying to God this psalm. Knowing that this trip would end in his death Jesus still made the journey. To set the stage for this journey we see Christ in Matthew chapter nineteen giving us the true meaning of a relationship with God which is different than being religious. The first was in reply to the Pharisees question “is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”. Marriage is the foundation of the most basic building block of our society (the family). Therefore, I believe the question they ask challenged Jesus to give a black or white answer on this issue. Christ answer was simple. He answered them by using Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24 and stating have not you read “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”. He finished his answer with this phase ” Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”.
But this answer did not address the issue that the Pharisee’s wanted answered. Their next question to him was really a challenge to God on why God’s purpose was changed. This is seen in their reply to his answer. “Why then, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” In other words, Moses had to make provisions so that if a marriage did not work out the relationship could be ended. Man had to intervene, because God’s way did not always work. However, Jesus replied the problem was not God, but man. He stated, “Moses permitted divorce because your heart was hard, but that was not the way from the beginning.” which not only revealed issues about divorce, but all areas of living in society. The way of the Pharisee’s differed from the way of the Lord as pictured in Psalms 1 because of their harden hearts. We need to be careful therefore when asking the “Why then” questions concerning the basic truth’s found in God’s Word. As we study and look deeper into the issues of all the questions, we have we will usually find the answer to be in our own hardness of our hearts.

The second example that was given to us in Matthew chapter nineteen that help picture the true meaning of a relationship with God was that of a little child. Children trust their parents and depend upon them completely. This stands in contrast to the old saying “God takes care of those who take care of themselves”. It seems today that a lot of believers have traded their trust and dependence on God in for the trust and dependence on their own abilities. When reading a Psalm like this I realize that to be Christ-like is to surrender all your burdens and worries to Him. Like a child looks to their parents to take care of everything so must we look to God to take care of all our issues.

The third example that was given to us in Matthew chapter nineteen that help picture the true meaning of a relationship with God was that of the rich young man. The question was simple “Teacher what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”. The rich man was living a good life, but still felt he was missing or lacking something. That something was following God. Sometimes it hard to give up everything to follow God. It is only after you lose what you considered the most precious thing to you that you learn that the most precious thing to you is your relationship to God. Once you realize this then the words of the song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus “and things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace” will start to take place in your life. You will then become one of those who in verse twenty-seven of this psalm will delight in God’s vindication and shout for joy and gladness; we will always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.

Psalm 34

Of David.

When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.

9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

20 He keeps all his bones: not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22 The Lord redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (KJV)

It is amazing how as we grow older in this life of ours, we try to find purpose. One of the goals we strive for is a life that seems to have everything in place with no problems surrounding us and everyone seems to get along together in a peaceful manner. However, as David states in verse 19 a righteous man may have many troubles and they seem to come when we seem to have everything going in the right direction. Yet we are promised that God will deliver us from them all. I love verse 22 which states no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him. On that great day in Heaven when I stand before the throne of God my song will be Jesus paid it all.

One of the themes that I see happening in the Christian circles today and one that I write about in my daily devotionals is living a purpose driven life. As I daily read and study the Psalms and the book of Proverbs, I have realized that the purpose driven life is simply a matter of trust and obey. I trust in the Lord and obey his teachings to me. As David writes in verse eleven, “Come my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Therefore, my simple purpose for living is to live a blameless life before men and trust in the Lord to meet ALL my daily needs.

It been a few years since I wrote the words above, but as I go back and reflect on the Psalms again and how they played an important role in helping me find my simple purpose of living I cannot help to think about others who were on this same path and left it for another path. My love for good devotionals books takes me to several thrift stores in hope of finding a good bargain. One of the books I that I see so many copies of at these stores is “The Purpose Driven Life”. Gods way is narrow, but it is rewarding. The peace that God gives to those that follow him is amazing. So, seek Him with your whole heart and do not abandoned this path for the ways of the world.

The words of verse seven “The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him and delivers them.” reminds me of the picture of an angel watching over a young girl and boy as they are walking across a bridge. My grandparents had this picture in the small front room of their house as I was growing up. As I look back on the influences that my grandparents had on me, I realize it was their faith and their way of life that influenced me and help direct me in the path I now travel. The picture hanging in the heater room as we called it, since it was the room that had the coal burning heater that heated the whole house reflected their belief in God’s protecting his children. As I study David’s life I can only image how great of an influence of his great grandmother Ruth had in his life.

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

2 Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.

4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

5 He loves righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as an heap: he lays up the depth in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the heathen to nought: he makes the devices of the people of none effect.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The Lord looks from heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashions their hearts alike; he considers all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. (KJV)

Question: What does a man who fears God do when the nation he loves and is proud to be called am American turns away from God? In verse eight it states, “let all the earth fear God, let all the people of the world revere him”. As we look at the world today, we see a world that can be compared to Sodom and Gomorrah. Are we like Lot and look at this world as our home or are we like Abraham and look for a new heaven and a new earth? What does a man who fears God do? He waits in hope for the Lord.

I was blessed by having great Bible teachers early in my life. One of these teachers taught me the important lesson of understanding the importance of carefully studying lessons on living given to us in the scriptures. One of these lessons is found in Genesis chapter thirteen. Both Abram and Lot were blessed greatly by the Lord which caused issues over who was going to use the best grazing land. To address this issue Abram gave Lot the chose of moving left (south) or right (north) and then he would move to the other direction. However, Lot looked to the east toward the plains of the Jordan, where he pitched his tent toward Sodom.

In Genesis 13:13 we read “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly” which was probably the reason why Abram did not offer this chose to Lot. It was not long later we see that Lot moved not only toward Sodom, but dwell there. II Peter 2:7,8 reads “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.” This is why John writes in I John 2:15,16 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

As I study verse fifteen “he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do”, I have a better understanding of the relationship that man has with God. God, who forms the hearts of all, the God who is the creator of all the universe has created in us a heart that can make choices. Man does have a free will to choose the way in which he walks on this earth. Why we were created with a free will to choose I cannot answer; however, I know we have the ability to decide the way in which we walk. Do we walk toward Sodom (the way of the world) or dwell in the plains that the Lord has set before us?

The phase “The people who he has Chosen for his own inheritance” makes the term “Free Will” a difficult to understand when studying the Ephesians 1:4,5 How can we have free will if “He has already chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” The answer is found in verse 13 of this chapter “In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise.” (KJV) The gospel of our salvation in Christ was knew even before the creation of Adam. The key is the phase whosoever believes on Him. As I John 5:12 states “He that has the Son hath life and he that had not the Son of God hath not life” To have the Son or not to have the Son is how simple this “Free Will” decision we must make.

Psalm 32

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (KJV)

After you read this psalm go to psalm 51. These psalms were written after David’s great sin. These psalms show us the way we are to handle sin in your life. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. However, if I continue to hide my sin then: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Blessed is the theme of this psalm. The word is only used twice in this psalm; however it describes the right relationship we must have with the Lord. Look at the four conditions to be blessed of the Lord:

He whose transgressions are forgiven.

He whose sins are covered.

He who sin the Lord does not count against him.

He in whose spirit is no deceit.

As you read this psalm realize how easy it is to be in a right relationship with God.

God does pursue us when we go astray.

When we go astray the peace of God leaves us.

When we acknowledge our sin, God forgives us, and we are at peace with God once more.

We make God our hiding place our refuge.

We let God teach us in the way, protect us, counsel us, and watch over us.

Then the Lord’s unfailing love will surround us, and we will be blessed.

This psalm points us back to the beginning of this book Psalm Chapter One.

As I was listening to my tapes on the New Testament, I realized that Paul also explained these verses in Romans chapter four. Paul describes the blessings of this psalm as a blessing that comes from faith not by works or the keeping of the law. He also writes in Romans chapter four that this blessing of forgiven was not just to Abraham, but to all who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. However, like this psalm which describes the entire relationship that David could enjoyed with God, Paul goes on in Romans chapter five to explain the relationship that we could also enjoy with God. Paul states in verses one and two that we have peace with God as well as access to God unto life eternal.

However, we do not have to wait for death to enjoy an intimate relationship with Christ. In John 14:9 Christ ask Philip this question “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me?”. As I read this verse, I am reminded of my journey on developing an intimate relationship with Christ. When I first believe in the work that Christ did on the cross to secure my salvation for me, I called him Lord. He was this all powerful being who was far away in heaven. He was the Savior for mankind, a great figure to me just like the President of the USA is to an American. But, now after walking with him for over sixty plus years he is my friend, someone I know. As Christ told his disciples in John 15:14 “You are my friends, if you do the things which I command you” is the same relationship we can have with Christ.

Oswald Chambers describes this type of an intimate relationship in his devotional for January 7th:

The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

As we grow in the Lord, we realize that he will never leave us or desert us. The more you walk with Christ the more you realized that people and friends will disappoint you. Sometimes even your closest friends including your family or spouse will turn and become your enemies, but not Christ. It was only after the person closest to me turned against me that I was about to have this calm and balance life that is in Christ. However, this calm and balance life that is in Christ only came after a lot of heartache and a turning everything over to God to handle.

Psalm 31

1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.

7 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8 And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

9 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.

12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

14 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.

17 Let me not be ashamed, O Lord; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. (KJV)

As I read this psalm, I can see this as a psalm that the Lord would prayer, since it reflects his life on this earth. I King 1:29 is David’s testimony to this “And the king swore, and said, as Jehovah lives, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, verily as I swore unto thee by Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; verily so will I do this day. David knew that his seed would reign after him as promised by God; however, his son Absalom try to take the kingdom from him by the use of force. Adonijah try to take the kingdom when David was well stricken in years by using politics to arrange a collation that would make him king. It is interesting that David did not interfere with Adonijah setting himself up as King. I Kings 1:6 “His father (David) had never interfered with him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom”. However, when informed of what was happening, he charged Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada to set up Solomon as king. As I study David’s life, I see a pattern of how David waited on the Lord to make major decisions. His indecision is sometimes viewed as not taking a stand, however the more I study David’s life I can see how this was his waiting on God to intervene.

As I try to apply this principle of waiting in my own life over the past several years, I realized how strong my personal belief must be in God’s ability to take care of everything in our life. What then is the role I take in making those major decisions in my life?

Keys from this chapter:

• I have taken refuge in the Lord
• I let God lead and guide me
• Into God’s hands I commit my spirit
• I hate those who cling to worthless idols
• I trust in the LORD
• I will be glad and rejoice in your love
• I trust in the Lord
• I have cried out to the Lord
• I called to the Lord for help
• I will be strong and take heart
• I hope in the LORD
• And most important, I will leave the judgment of the wicked, proud and those who cling to worthless idols to the Lord.

So sometimes my waiting on the Lord may be viewed by others as indecisiveness, a weakness or not taking a stand on an issue, but like David I have learned to wait upon the Lord.

As I study this psalm, I look to it as a prayer that Christ would prayer during his ministry here on earth. Verse eight “You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place” reminds me of the one enemy that all mankind faces and that is death. As I studied this psalm this morning, I realized that Christ has conquered death. In I Corinthians 15 Paul discuss the resurrection and how this is the heart of the gospel. Without the resurrection there is not gospel. As believers we must realize that the battles we face and the enemies we face are dominions, authorities, and powers in the heavenly realm. The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. So, as we face the issues in life itself remember that the real battles are spiritual and not of things on this earth. Do not let the events of today and our daily concerns over what we should eat wear or what activities we should do guide your conversion. Turn your eyes to Christ who set the example for all believers by depending on the Father to meet all his needs. Study the gospels and learn of him, and your walk on this earth will be different.

Psalm 30

1 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever. (KJV)

This psalm of dedication for the Temple came from David’s experiences of daily walking with God. Paul like David also had many incidents in his daily walk with Christ. Oswald Chamber’s devotional for February 6 centered on II Timothy 4:6 where Paul stated, “I am already poured out as a drink offering…”. Paul knew that his time on earth was near, and that his work for Christ was almost finished. In this devotional Oswald Chambers reveals three characteristics that will come from our experience of being broken bread and poured out wine. First God will send you through an unexplainable crisis in private, one where no other person (even those close to you) can help you. I believe God has given us the book of Job to help us through these times. For then we go through a time of crisis it is usually like Job’s crisis where no one including Job himself could explain why it was happening. The second characteristic of this crisis that we must understand is the way we must deal with the crisis. Sympathy will be showered on us by others when we try to handle the crisis in our own strength. However, the true work of the crisis does not come until we deal this the crisis with God and God alone. This process is just like offering a sacrifice, it must go through the fire, be purified and set apart for God’s use. The third and last characteristic that happens in your life is when another crisis arises, you now realize that God is always presence, even though you might not be able to see him. Any crisis that is faced after going through this process will no longer touch us like they did in the past. People will see the change in you but cannot usually explain it unless they have been through this process too.

As I read verse one the words “for you lifted me out of the depths” seem to describe those to whom the Lord uses for his special purposes on this earth. It is the process of regeneration, of Christ living in us, that transforms us into an instrument that God can use for his ministry. As you read this Psalm notice how it is God that makes things happen. He is the one that lifts me up, heals me, brings me up from the grave, spares me from the pit, who favors me, makes me stand, who turns my wailing into dancing, and removes my sorrow and clothes me with joy.

Psalm 29

Of David

1 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thunders: the Lord is upon many waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yea, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.

8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to calve, and discovers the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

10 The Lord sits upon the flood; yea, the Lord sits King for ever.

11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. (KJV)

As I read this psalm, I guess my life is not really “All about me”. In reality it is really all about my relationship to God and others. This relationship could be understood and illustrated by studying the relationship the Sun has with the Moon, and the Earth. Of these three the sun is the only source of power; the moon and the earth only receive their energy from the Sun. Our relationship with God can be seen as the same relationship that the Moon and the Earth has with the Sun. My relationship to the people around me should be like the relationship that the moon has to the earth. The light of the moon is nonexistence. It has no light of its own. It only reflects the light of the Sun. Its presence can sometimes be seeming dimly in the daytime when its darkness is revealed in the light of the day. But the glory of the moon is really revealing at night when it is reflecting the light of the Sun in the darkness that surrounds the Earth at that time. It is the position of the Moon in its relationship to the Earth and the Sun that determines the brightness of the moon.

This is also true of the believer. It is our relationship with God and the world that determines how bright our light shines for Him. A Christian’s walk that is worldly can be compared to the moon when it is barely visible during the day and its present is usually not noticed at all. However, it is in the darkness that sin brings into this world that God uses those who are in the right relationship with Him to reflect his glory and give light to a dark world. As Christ reminded us of in Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shine unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”. Yes, my life is really “All about Him” and He should receive all the glory. So, the question I must ask myself daily is “Do I really live my life so that others see God working in my life, or do I try to take this glory and heap it on myself?”.

Psalm 28

Of David

1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. (KJV)

As I read this verse today in relationship to Oswald Chamber’s devotionfrom 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 lifestyle 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 on 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 extend 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 extend 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.

Psalm 27

Of David

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

As I read verse four I am drawn to John 14: 2-3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” American society is overexposed to the daily outlet of media broadcasting that has had a great impact unto our lifestyle. This media overexposure impacts many believers with a great desire to live for today and building a brighter future for living their life on this earth than seeking heavenly treasure. However, the true believer’s focus should also be looking for the Lord’s coming and the arrival of the New Jerusalem and the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Key points from this chapter:

Can you state the same truths in your life with the (I) statements as David did in this psalm?

• whom shall, I fear?
• whom shall I be afraid?
• I ask of the LORD that I may dwell in his house
• I seek that I may gaze upon his beauty
• I seek him in his temple
• I sacrifice with shouts of joy
• I will sing and make music
• I call on the Lord
• I will seek his face
• I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living

Can you state the same truths in your life with the (me) statements as David did in this psalm?

• LORD is my light
• LORD my salvation
• LORD is the stronghold of my life
• He will keep me safe in his dwelling
• He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
• He set me high upon a rock
• my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me
• Hear my voice when I call
• LORD; be merciful to me
• Lord answer me
• Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me
• Teach me your way
• lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors
• Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes
• false witnesses rise up against me

Can you wait for the LORD and can you be strong and take heart?

A text sent to me:

Sincerely the Fallen

At what point in our life do we reach the crossroads?

How do we determine which path to follow?

Do we follow our heart or our ambitions?

Why is there enough religion to insight war, but not enough to find peace?

When is it time to give up on the world and seek a better place?

Only the truth will set you free.

Where do you find it in a world of lies?

God have pity on the fallen.

May you find peace in this life for it has failed me.

Sincerely the Fallen

My reply:

At what point in our life do we reach the crossroads?

This crossroad is reached when you must decide which path you desire to follow, the way of the wicked or the way of God.

How do we determine which path to follow?

You make this choice. Do I travel and walk with the wicked, stand with the sinners, and sit with the mockers or do I travel and walk, stand, and sit with the righteous? The choice is yours.

Do we follow our heart or our ambitions?

Neither, we follow Christ.

Paul states that we should have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had in our relationship to others. Christ was Lord, yet he humbles himself and died as a criminal on the cross. The human nature struggle with the issues of pride and humility daily. To aid us in this struggle Paul gives us this advice: don’t be selfish, do not try to impress others, think others as better than yourself, do not look to your own interest but take an interest in others.

Why is there enough religion to insight war, but not enough to find peace?

You must realize that religion is man-made and attempts to find peace. Real peace only comes when we have a true relationship with God.

When is it time to give up on the world and seek a better place?

Christ stated it as simply “Come unto me all who are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

Only the truth will set you free.

Ask must add to this statement “free from what?”. As I look at John chapter 18 in the discourse between Pilate and Christ:

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then. Jesus answered; thou say that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hearth my voice. Pilate said unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and said unto them, I find no crime in him. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the Passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

I once heard of a man that that went searching for Truth, met Truth and turned and walked away. This is what Pilate did. Yes, Truth can set you free, but only if you face it.

Where do you find it in a world of lies?

In Christ who is the truth, the life, and the way and the only way to the Father.

God have pity on the fallen.

He has for we are all fallen creatures. However, God so loved us that he sent his only son into this world to die on the cross to pay for my sins. In his love he pitied us, but also made a way out in Christ.

May you find peace in this life for it has failed me.

Read Psalm 88.

Psalm 26

Of David

1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

6 I will wash mine hands in innocent: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:

7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwell.

9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord. (KJV)

As I look at this Psalm written by David, I see a Psalm of prayer. The word I is used in this Psalm ten times and the word me or my is used twelve times. Usually when we focus on how many times a person uses the word I in their conversation it portrays a sense of self-confidence in their abilities which leads to pride and the desire to live a life without God. But here in this Psalm David’s I’s focus on his walk with God and his desire separation from the way of the wicked, by looking at the words I and me we can get an idea of how David leads a blameless life. He starts out with the request to the Lord of vindicate me. He is asking the Lord to clear him of either some accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting arguments stating he has led a blameless life. He is asking the Lord to defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of his blameless life because he trusts in the Lord without wavering. In other words, his faith did not move unsteadily back and forth his faith remains unchanging. Unchanging faith in the Lord is a characteristic that David learned at an early age in his life. It was this faith in the Lord that kept him going when he was running from Saul. David’s faith knew who God was, knew the nature of God, knew the nature of man, and knew how-to walk-in truth. This walk of truth that David had is the same walk that we need to follow in our walk on this earth.

Paul gives us the fruits that are a characteristic of this walk in Galatians 5:

• love
• joy
• peace
• long suffering
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness,
• meekness
• self-control;

He goes on in this chapter to state that the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

David asks the Lord to test him, try, him, and examine his heart and his mind. When you ask for a procedure that includes a critical evaluation and a means of determining the presence, quality, or truth about your statement I led a blameless life; then I hope you are ready for the real test. This will put you in the same league as Job, Joseph, and David himself. However, David was sure of two facts: that God’s love is forever, and David’s walk was a regular daily walk which was not interrupted and was steady according to God’s truth.

Verses four and five reminds me of Psalm one. David refused to sit with deceitful (deliberately misleading) men, nor to keep company or be in accord or agreement with those that pretend to practice the beliefs, feelings, and virtues of godliness but whom do not hold or possess these qualities. He also hated the assembly of those that performs evil acts and refused to be in the company of those who were evil by nature and who had destructive, troublesome and corrupt practices.

Verses six and seven gives us a key to David’s blameless walk. He includes in these verses the act of washing his hands in innocence as he states in Psalm 51 “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” which refers to his knowing he is not perfect. This is the beauty of God’s Word for it is like a mirror which when we look into it, we get a sense of Christ’s nature and this similarity in appearance and character will become more of our nature the more we stay in His Word. This was fact number two; fact number one is David’s proclaiming aloud the praises of God and the telling of His wonderful deeds. Question, do you let others know how great God is to you? David did.

As I look at verse four “I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites” I must stop and think about what groups would other people around me associate me with? As we investigate God’s Word (the true mirror to our inward self) it should reveal to us our true intent of our hearts. However, how do I appear to others? Can they see the true intents of my heart? It depends upon what their true intents are. Remember, a person’s view of God does not reveal to them what God is but what that person wants to believe about God. This is the same view they have about me and anyone else they are around. Just as people can reject or accept God’s true nature so they can reject or accept our true nature. Look at verse four in this light then and ask yourself which group you associate yourself with, deceitful men or men of true.

In I Samuel 12:20-25 Samuel gives the children of Israel the desire of their heart, a king. They recognized this as an act of adding to their sins but ask Samuel to pray for them so that they might not die. Samuel’s answer was “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.” David was not even born when Samuel gave this warning to the children of Israel and when he stepped aside and let them, have Saul as their king. After Saul’s failure to follow the Lord and his ways, the Lord rejected him. I Samuel 15:30 “Then he said “I have sinned, but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel and go back with me, that I may worship the Lord your God” illustrates the true abandonment of Saul’s association with God and God’s association with Saul. David did not want this abandonment. To David the words of Samuel from the past “Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider what great things He has done for you”, became the guiding light to the blameless walk that David led.