Psalm 112

1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments.

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures forever.

4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man sheweth favor and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.

10 The wicked shall see it and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. (KJV)

When considering the phrase “blessed is the one who fears the Lord” one must reflect on the importance of Psalm one. The key in understanding this phrase is found in the word blessed. In Psalm 1, we are told, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” The fear of the Lord is an understanding of God and his way. To grasp an understanding of this verse we must understand the definition of fear. Fear can be defined as a feeling of anxiety (restlessness caused by uncertainties) that marks a state of guard apprehension and uneasiness that forces one to make decisions. This blessing comes from a trust and obeys relationship with the Lord.

Studying this Psalm, one cannot help to be drawn back to the teaching of Psalm one. God has given us the way to walk in; however, humankind seems to want more. The truth of this Psalm is we are to trust and obey the God.

The difference in the life of the man who fears the LORD and the life of the man who does not is the caretaker. As I work in my backyard or on my land, I realize how much the design reflects the desire and purpose of me the caretaker. The same is with the one that looks to the Lord as the one that directs his life. This is the type of relationship that Christ spoke of in John chapter fifteen:

¹ I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

² Every branch in me that bears not fruit, he takes it away: and every branch that bears fruit, he cleanses it, that it may bear more fruit.

³ Already ye are clean because of the word, which I have spoken unto you.

⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so, neither can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.

⁶ If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

The wicked, the one that does not have the fear of God in their life does not have the Lord as the caretaker in their life. May my life (the work of God’s hand in the life of an old saint) reflect the same joy in God that I have when I set in the designer’s chair, look out, and delight in the beauty that my secret garden gives me?

Psalm 98

1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

7 Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

9 Before the Lord; for he comes to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (KJV)

As I look at verse two the word salvation jumps out at me. What does salvation mean to you? When you look up the word in the dictionary it means “preservation or deliverance from destruction, difficulty, or evil: a source, means, or cause of such preservation or deliverance”. What does salvation mean to me? As I grow and mature in this journey, I have taken on this earth I have realized that salvation is a wonderful gift that God has given man. His salvation has given me a new purpose in my walk. I now can have daily fellowship with the Lord of the universe knowing that the guilt of my past has been covered by the blood of Christ. This newness of life that Paul outlines for us in Ephesians two and concludes by stating “so then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” is the daily walk that Christians can have with Christ.

His salvation also gives me hope for the future. Death will come to all of us unless Christ comes before that time. However, his salvation also promises us a new body as Paul outlines in I Corinthians chapter fifteen. The last enemy that Christ will abolish will be death. Paul concludes this chapter with these words “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law: but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, inasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord”. So, let us sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things and has given us a salvation which we can enjoy now as we make our journey on this earth and a salvation that will make us a son of God at the time of Christ’s return.

Psalm 71

1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

2 Deliver me in thy righteousness and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

3 Be thou my strong habitation, where unto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.

10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually and will yet praise thee more and more.

15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. (KJV)

Charles Spurgeon sums up this Psalm by calling it “THE PRAYER OF THE AGED BELIEVER”. He sums up this Psalm asbeing written by one “who, in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies, and asks further blessings for himself. Anticipating a gracious reply, he promises to magnify the Lord exceedingly.” Reading this Psalm, I picture the walk of a righteous person as he makes his journey of life on this earth. Verse one set the stage for having a righteous walk on our journey through life on this earth. We must learn that it is only in God we can find a refuge, a place to retreat in times of trouble.

Reading this Psalm, I realize that one of the main purposes of a believer is to tell of the mighty acts of God in our life and to proclaim his righteousness to others. In this Psalm the Psalmist declares to others God’s splendor all day long as he praises the Lord more and more. He proclaims God’s righteous and his salvation all day long. He daily conversation centers on God’s righteousness both in times of trouble as well as seasons of great abundant of blessings in one’s life. However, the Psalmist recognizes that there are those who want to harm him, who are characterized as wicked, evil and cruel man. In light of this Psalm believers today should put forth the same example in their lives as the Psalmist does in this Psalm. So, as you walk daily in this world walk in the same light as the Psalmist did: taking refuge in the Lord, knowing it is He who rescues you from the wicked, praising God all the daily long, knowing that he is the one that has created the splendor that we see daily and finally realizing that it is Him who teaches us to walk in the way.

I have realized that the more I study the Psalms the more my daily conversations centered on how great God’s righteous acts are toward those who pursue a life pleasing to Him. As having a blessed life of knowing Christ from an early age I reflect on my youth and recall how truly this greatness of His goodness has been in my life. As we age, we begin to realize the true pressures of this life and how we are in a battle against the spiritual wickedness that Paul writes about in Ephesians chapter six. So as we face these battles we must approach it in the same manner as Paul outlines in Philippians chapter three: “Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.” So, as I go about today’s journey may my song be reflective of that great hymn “and the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace”.

Reading and reflect upon these words of David and studying his life, I realize that the path God had for David was not always the path that David had for himself. In Revelation three verses seven and eight John writes “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opened, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opened; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”. As I look at this verse and also study the only other reference to the key of David found in Isaiah 22:22 I noticed three characteristics that the church of Philadelphia had that David also possessed: little strength, kept God’s ways and did not deny God’s name. David’s strength was in his trust of God strength and not the strength that David possessed. David knew that the events and daily happenings in his life were for God’s purpose and not the path that David had planned for that day. Did David realize this from his youth? I believe not, he grew in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord just as we all do. However, this one thing was true in David’s life as they must be in the believer’s life; he did not deny God or God’s way.

Psalm 14:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.  The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (KJV)

This is the state of man after the fall, Romans 5:12 “For in Adam sin entered into the world, and so death by sin and so death passed to all men, for all have sinned.”  And yet God in his mercy extended his grace to all through his Son (read John 3:16).  John simplifies this message in using only one syllable words in I John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”.  Paul describes the simply preaching of this grace of God to those who reject this message as foolishness. I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”.  While we by faith believe in Jesus as the gift of our salvation the wisdom of this world rejects God plan of salvation and instead creates their own plan, each according to their desire. 

As I study verse one of this psalm, I realize that the fool in all of his wisdom is not only corrupt, and rejects God, but they also deny God’s existence to all those around him, but deep down they know that God exist.  In Romans chapter one we see that because of this rejection, God has given them up to uncleanness and a reprobate mind through the lust they have within themselves.  And since the wisdom of this world rejects God plan of salvation, while deep down the wicked know the judgement of God they not only continue their sinful ways but also have pleasure in them.   Therefore, there is only one way for anyone to escape this fate and that is by excepting Jesus as your Savior.  As Paul states in Romans 8:1 “There is therefor now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but by the Spirit.”.

II Peter 3:14-16 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation: even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you.  As also in all of his epistles, speaking in them of things in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction.

I came across this reference of the above verse in the book I am now studying, Bible History Old Testament written by Alfred Edersheim.  He makes the following statement the Bible “That in a work composed of so many books, written under such very different circumstances, by penmen so different, and at periods so widely apart, there should be “some things hard to understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,” can surely not surprise us, more particularly when we remember that it was God’s purpose only to send the brighter light as men were able to bear it.”  He goes on in his introduction and states “Yet the ultimate object of our reading is not knowledge, but experience of grace… And so indeed every event points to Christ.”  That is why when studying the Bible, we need the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths that are found in the words we read.

The key to understanding scripture is Christ.  The Bible is the special revelation God has given mankind to point them to Christ.  In Christ we find the way, the truth, and the life by which we can know God.  To believe in God we must first believe in Christ.  To try to understand the Bible without using Christ as the key will only cause those that are unlearned and unstable to wrest unto their own destruction.  But for those who know Christ not only have the key to understand the scriptures, but can be find the peace that passes all understanding as they strive to live a life that is without spot, and blameless. 

Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

One of the pleasures I have in my golden years is my daily walk.  During these walks in the early spring, I witness the beauty of nature awakening from the cold darkness of the winter to the warmth and sunshine that this time of the year brings.  However, it is in the yards and gardens that the beauty of this time of the year seems to explode into color. 

These yards and gardens are like the congregation of the righteous.  God has planted them in the right location for sunlight and moisture.  They bring forth their fruit in their season and even in times of drought their leaves do not wither.  They prosper in all their endeavors.  This congregation of the righteous are those that walk daily with the Lord.  They understand the simple nature of living day by day in the light of His guiding Word.  Their daily prayer is simple, because they realize that their heavenly Father knows what things they need before they ask Him. 

Walking this journey of life is simple.  We realized that His will be done both in heaven and on earth.  We are to live daily, forgetting the things of the past and pressing forth to the high calling of Christ.  We must also look to forgive others as we also seek forgiveness from God for our daily transgressions.  We must not follow after the ways of the ungodly but stay away from anything that is ungodly.  This is the secret of the Lord’s Prayer as well as verse two of this Psalm.  Make your delight the law of the Lord.  Meditate day and night on His word and you enjoy being the tree that is planted by the river of waters that brings forth your fruit in the season that God has planned for you.

Choosing the right path

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.  (KJV) 

Genesis 4:6,7 And the Lord said unto Cain, “Why are you angry?  And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.  And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”  (NKJV)

Matthew 7:13,14   Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life and there are few who find it. (NKJV)

David gives us two different ways in this Psalm.  We can either walk in the ways of the world or we can delight in the law of the Lord.  In Genesis chapter four God gave Cain the same choose and in Matthew chapter seven Christ explains the two difference ways.  These ways are simple.  One is the way of the Godly, which is the narrow way, and the way that is acceptable to God’ s standards (his law).  The other way is the path that rejects God and his way. 

The starting point however starts with John 3:16 “For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  In Revelation chapter four we are told that Christ stands at the door and knocks and whosoever hears his voice and opens this door he will come in dine with you.  God has provided a way for man to know and learn about Him.  The door to this knowledge is his law which is his Word (the Bible), and the key is Christ.  I have been on this journey for over sixty years, and yes my life could also be read like the poem “Footprint in the Sand”; and looking back I can see God’s hand in directing my path. 

The starting point is knowing Jesus as your Savior.  However, it is still a narrow path.  It is not an easy path.  For the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life are always in our ways.  Satan as well as his wicked followers gives us half-truths that sound to good to pass up which can lead us off this narrow path.  However, the Bible has given us many examples (Luke 15:11-31 The parable of the Lost son) to show us the way back to God.  So, as you start your journey in life remember there are only really one of two paths to choose: the Godly or the Ungodly.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

How must I live?  Paul gives us the secret of living life as we go about our journey on this earth.  For me to live is Christ.  Just imagine how rich life would be by having Christ walking beside you every day.   In time of uncertainties, you could just look over to Christ for the answers.  David gives this type of walk in Psalms one hundred and nineteen.  Each of these one hundred and seventy-six verses gives the believer the secrets of walking with the Lord and having Him create in us a clean heart.  As Paul states in Philippians the purpose for the believer is to live a life that magnifies Christ in our life.

The second part of Philippians 1:21 “and to die is gain” gives the believer the joy of knowing that life after death is greater that the life we have on earth.  This is the fulfillment of I Corinthians 13:12,13 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:  now I know in part:  but then shall I know even as also I am known.  And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  For in death faith will become sight when we shall see our Savior face to face, and hope is fulfilled when we are in heaven and this corruptible will put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality.  But our love will only grow as we praise our Lord for the victory he has given us over death to live eternality with Him in heaven.

Therefore, the goal of every believer should follow Paul’s advice found in Philippians “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 

Galatians 1:16-18 To reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the heathen: immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me: but I went into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and abode with him fifteen days.

Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread

During my daily walks I will sometime use these moments as a time to let the Lord speak to me.   To start this conversation, I will usually focus on a verse or a song to mediate on during his time. It is during these walks I would usually focus on the psalm I was studying for the next day devotional.  However, during the last few weeks I was looking at Paul’s life as a new focus for my studies.  It was during this time I came across Galatians 1:16-18.  In these verses I realized that God did not reveal Jesus to him during this time, but God reveal Jesus in him.  The importance of this truth revealed to me that it is not just knowing about Jesus, but it is letting Jesus into our life to become a part of us. 

It was during these three years that Paul learned from the scriptures, the Old Testament, that it was Jesus who was the promised seed of the Eve, the seed of David, the promised Messiah.  It was his day-by-day mediation on God’s word that reveal this truth to him.  So now as I study daily the scriptures may my new goal be for God to reveal his son in me so that my daily life will reflect Christ in me.

Psalm 9:1,2

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

Praising the Lord should be a daily activity for all believers.  The closer our daily walk is with Jesus the greater we will see how the Lord works in our life.  One of the characteristics of the Lord that was given to the angel of the church of Philadelphia in Revelations chapter three was that the Lord held the key of David.  With this key whatever door, the Lord open no man could shut, and whatever door the Lord closed not man could open.  To this church the Lord opened a door that no man could shut, because of its goods works, the keeping of his word, and not denying his name.  This church represents a church or individual that truly praises the Lord with their whole heart.

If praising the Lord is just a place that you go to on Sunday it becomes just an empty weekly ritual. Like the other church pictured in Revelation, the church of Laodicea is this type of worshiper which is characterize as neither hot nor cold.  Because of this lukewarmness God toss them away.  This was the church were Christ is picture as standing outside and knocking at the door of an individual’s heart waiting to be invited in.  This church was pictured as a church that did not have works pleasing God, but a church that was more incline to please the world around it.  This church was characterized as a church that was wretched, miserable, poor, naked, and blind.  It was a church where those that God loved he rebuke and chasten. It was a church that was in need of repentance. 

So, as we walk with the Lord on a daily basis do we see the Lord opening or closing the doors of opportunity before us.  In his book Amazing Grace by Kenneth W. Osbeck the author writes the following about the song Trust and Obey “Trust and Obey presents a balanced view of a believer’s trust in Chris’s redemptive work, and it speaks of the resulting desire to obey Him and to do His will in our daily life.  Then, and only then do we experience real peace and joy.”. So, are you praising the Lord daily or just during the Sunday morning worship service?  Are you living a life that experiences the open doors of opportunities like the church of Philadelphia or is the Lord knocking your heart’s door like the church of Laodicea waiting for you to open?