February 27, 2015
David learned to address his own soul in his prayers to God. Knowing that he was feeling “cast down” and “disquieted,” he encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6), urging his soul to “hope in God.” We can learn from David’s prayer life. Sometimes we don’t even know why we feel discouraged, but we can direct our souls to God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Putting our hope in Him and lifting up prayers of praise, not only brightens our faces (“countenance”), but it refreshes our souls. Do you feel sad or discouraged today? Direct your soul to hope in God. For he cares for you.
February 19, 2015
How we handle money and possessions reveals much about our hearts. The righteous not only repay their debts, but give generously to those in need. The wicked avoid even repaying what is owed, much less being a giver to others. Has believing in Christ affected how you handle money?
February 11, 2015
I love the old hymns. Hymns like “Amazing Grace,” written in 1779 by John Newton and later joined with the tune “New Britain” in a hymnbook published in 1847. Yet, I also love to sing a new song written by a new generation of believers. As a generation gets older it is easy to reject anything new. We cling to that which moved us when we were young. But I especially love when modern artists combine the old and new, like Chris Tomlin’s version of “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” Tomlin “skillfully” brought the old song into the present giving it new life. We have to be careful not to worship the old songs, rather than the Lord of which they were written to praise. Our goal should be to “sing to Him” and to “play skillfully” to Him. Every culture and generation should yearn to sing new songs and to play them with excellence because our Lord is the One who inspires our worship.
February 8, 2015
A psalm of David, asking God for salvation based on God’s character of mercy rather than any sense of his own deserving it. It is a bold request, asking for God’s face to “shine upon” him, knowing that the Lord could rightfully look at his sinful life with a face darkened by wrath and displeasure. Yet, like a son seeking his father’s attention, David cried out, “Lord, look at me and let your face show your divine mercy and radiant joy towards me!” God answered David’s prayer, but at great cost. For in turning His face towards David in mercy, He later turned His face away from the Christ, the Son of David, while He died upon the cross for our sins.
February 2, 2015
Those who would learn to pray will find help in the psalms. In this Davidic psalm we learn to focus our prayers on knowing God and enjoying His presence, rather than just bringing Him our laundry list of wants. Those who learn to pray, seeking God’s face, will find that their requests are already satisfied in Him. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
January 29, 2015
This Davidic psalm begins with an announcement of God’s ownership of everything and everyone. Believing that God is owner and that we are stewards, servants of God caring for His creation, is a life-changing principle. Many Christians claim to believe this, yet they behave as if their stuff is really “their” stuff. One of the great sins of American Christianity is the idolatry of materialism. Our happiness is attached to our possessions. This is the sin of greed. What is the antidote? Giving. Live a life of the open hand, tithing from your first fruits and giving sacrificially to any need that the Spirit shows you. In this way, you acknowledge God’s ownership and your stewardship.
January 23, 2015
David’s 19th psalm is a theological and poetic masterpiece! He begins with the doctrine of general revelation, that the “heavens declare the glory of God,” proclaiming Him as Creator of all. Next, he describes the doctrine of specific revelation, that God has spoken and given us His law and “testimony,” so that we may know His will. Finally, he closes the psalm with the doctrine of redemption, that God is the only One who can help us with our sin problem. We have a “sure testimony” from our God. He has declared His glories from the heavens and revealed His salvation through His written Word and finally, through His Son, the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus.
January 18, 2015
Both the apostles Peter and Paul quoted this Psalm to make a case for Christ’s resurrection. Peter quoted this verse from King David in his sermon on the day of Pentecost describing him as a prophet who foresaw the resurrection of the Christ. Peter told the great crowd of Jews gathered in Jerusalem that they knew that David was dead and buried, so this verse must be predicting the Messiah’s death and resurrection. When he finished preaching, the people believed and three thousand were saved that day (Acts 2:14-41). Paul preached the gospel at Antioch using this same Psalm to support that the Bible had predicted the resurrection of the Messiah (Acts 13:16-41). This verse is an example of the three-stage fulfillment of prophecy: immediate, ongoing, and ultimate; and also its “both/and” nature. The truth is that God has not left David’s soul in Sheol and ultimately, God will raise his body from the grave. It predicts both David’s resurrection and God’s “Holy One” too. Christ, the Son of David, has already been raised. And someday soon, David will be raised along with all of the rest of God’s saints.
December 26, 2014
Christianity is always only one generation away from extinction. God does not have grandchildren. The faith must be passed on like a baton in a relay race. The Israelites who took possession of the Promised Land were faithful, but they forgot the command to pass their faith on to their children. So, the author of the book of Judges observed: “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). Every good parent wants their children to be well educated. But every godly parent knows that the most important task is to teach their children of God’s “mighty acts.”
December 25, 2014
Everyone has a god, someone/something they idolize and worship. The atheist worships reason, the hedonist bows to pleasure, and the pantheist prays to nature. Yet, all are humanists at heart and have chosen themselves as god and gone their own way. Some will find fleeting moments of happiness and distraction. But only those who have recognized the LORD as God will know true JOY!