From: August 16, 2024
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psalms 34:19-20 ESV).
David wrote this psalm during a low period in his life. Running from King Saul who sought to kill him, he tried hiding among the Philistines. Yet when they brought him before their king Abimelech, he became fearful and played the fool in order to escape. David could find no place to safely lay his head.
In spite of all of his afflictions, David gave praise to the Lord for delivering him. He was hurting, but “no bones were broken.” David must have borrowed this turn of phrase from the instructions given in the law concerning the Passover lamb, which was to be sacrificed without breaking any bones.
Both the Passover lamb and David are Christological types, preparing us for the Righteous One, who was afflicted and sacrificed for our sins, yet not one of His bones were broken. The Romans broke the legs of the thieves hanging on the crosses on either side of Jesus, but not one of His bones were broken. This was one of many signs given to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lamb of God.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for the Lamb of God that was slain for our sins, yet not one bone was broken in fulfillment of Your Word. We cannot comprehend such amazing love. Empower us this day with the resurrection life of Jesus abiding in us by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 16, 2023
“When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17 NLT).
The apostle Paul instructed the Corinthians concerning the significance of sharing the Lord’s Supper together. He told them that those who remember the sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper are also giving recognition to their oneness as members of Christ’s body. Just as we eat from one loaf and drink from one cup, so we are one body, which is the body of Christ and He is the Head.
One of the four devotions of the early church was “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42). This was just as spiritually essential as the other three devotions of the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship and prayer. For in eating the Lord’s Supper together we not only remember and proclaim Christ’s sacrifice, we also deepen our awareness of our unity in Christ’s body and our membership in God’s family.
PRAYER: Dear Father, You have made us for fellowship with You and with one another. Thank You for the giving of Your Son, who made this fellowship possible. Forgive us when we take this for granted. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to live fully for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 16, 2022
WHEN OTHERS RAN OUT THEY RAN IN
After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, people were needed to repopulate the city, which had been destroyed some 70+ years earlier. It was a run-down and dangerous place where few wanted to live. So when certain men willingly volunteered to live in the city, the people blessed them for their self-sacrifice and courage. Little by little, the city grew prosperous and safe again.
After the incident in New York City on September 11, 2001, it was reported that someone had written this saying in the dusty window of a building near the twin towers: “When others ran out, we ran in.” This described the heroic efforts of New York’s first-responders who ran in to rescue people, while others ran away.
It is tempting to turn a blind eye to the trouble of our cities and nation. To just let people perish without hope because it means getting out of our comfort zone and risking ourselves to help them. Yet, the Lord still calls believers who will “willingly offer themselves” to dwell in such places and reach out to the people living there. He still blesses those who will be a blessing to others in the city.
As the prophet Jeremiah told the Jewish exiles in Babylon, “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jer. 29:7).
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to be a blessing to the city to which You have called us. We pray for our city and its leaders, its pastors, its first responders, and all its inhabitants. Bring the peace of the gospel to our city and nation, we pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 16, 2016
The Holy Spirit inspired David to write before the cross what He inspired Paul to write after it– namely, that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom.8:1). Christ is our refuge.
From: August 16, 2015
David wrote this psalm during a low period in his life. While hiding from King Saul who sought to kill him, he stooped to playing the madman to escape the Philistine king, Abimelech. Yet, in spite of all of his afflictions, no bones were broken. Clearly, David must have borrowed this turn of phrase from the instructions given in the law concerning the Passover lamb, which was to be sacrificed without breaking any bones. Both the Passover lamb and David are Christological types, preparing us for the Righteous One, who was sacrificed for our sins, yet not one of His bones was broken.