Psalm 73

1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Key Verse:
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Key Observation:
Consider the end of the wicked.

Memory Verse:
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Devotion:
Sometimes even in relatively rich US I see the prosperity of the wicked. I am not sure that we escape the judgment of God here and the Scripture does remind us, “When the Son of man returns, will he find faith on the earth?”. Look at our people in the US; are they not busy chasing their possessions, and living “the dream”? I admit to feeling a bit guilty because I, in my older age, am being richly provided for. I pray that God will open my eyes to those in need about me that I may prove faithful to His blessings.

Back when I was going to college—cramming my four years into eight—it was a very different story. I kind of categorized students into three spheres. The first sphere was those who had no financial worries; their parents were well off enough to provide for their school needs. I was jealous of those thus provided for, for though my parents did help where they could (and it is deeply appreciated even today), college was left to my responsibility.

The second sphere was what I called the middle class. They had to work somewhat, but were also helped by parents so that the financial burdens were not too great. They knew both prosperity and need, and, from my observations, most students probably fit into this category. The third sphere was for a special few—it is those few who had little means of support, but who very much depended on God for His provision, and their testimony of His provision was often beautiful to my ears.

Where was I in these spheres? Oh, I forgot to mention, there seemed to be a very small portion of students who were really blessed—they depended on God for day to day sustenance, and had no idea where the next meal was coming from, let alone next year’s tuition. The fourth sphere was privileged to go through “God’s School of Hard Knocks” in addition to going to college. It was by far the hardest sphere to be in; it was also the most privileged, for it was the one that God seemed to reserve special blessing for.

It was there that I received much of my faith building that now endures forty years later. I do not have the space to write of the times when we, my wife and I, saw God’s hand of provision in dramatic and often miraculous ways. In my older life, blessed of God, I am able to look back at those years and to understand what God was doing in my life by putting me through testings. Now I know those testings built my faith—but then I did not know that.

This is a personal favorite psalm of mine. I came to know it when I was going through those times. I watched people around me, some of whom were utterly depraved and wicked, prosper in their way. I had the God of the universe at my back, in my heart, and dwelling in me richly, but still when it came to dinner time, I can remember bowing my head and thanking God when our cupboards were bare. I remember thinking about why I had it so hard, and others who did not even acknowledge their God had it so easy. It was in such a time that I discovered the psalm of Asaph, Psalm 73.

Back in those days I was discovering my Bible, finding revelation after revelation, and growing rapidly into the Christian life. In the seventies, the church leaders were constantly exhorting us to be like the New Testament Christians, something I very much desired. But after coming to an understanding of the Scriptures, I found out that many of the Christians of NT times were just as messed up as the Christians of our time. All were susceptible to errors of false doctrines, and that now works to my credit, for the church leaders found that they had to address the genuine gospel again and again to straighten the believers out. Now I can read those letters and strive to avoid the heresies which plagued their lives.

Think about it for a moment. Do you want to be like the Corinthians? Some of them were leading very sinful lives and Paul had to rebuke them himself. Do you want to live like the Galatians who tried to mix law and grace? Or the Thessalonians? They were teaching that Christ was already come, and that they entered the millennium already. Our church today still suffers some from this heresy. All of these were early Christians and yet suffered from not living lives that they ought to have. Hey, in that sense, they are just like me, struggling against sin to live by faith and walk in the Spirit of righteousness.

Do not say the former times are better than this says the Scripture. I am not sure at all that we can say the NT time was better, except that the Spirit Himself moved in a mighty fashion to proclaim the Lord. I am reading Reclaiming Christianity, by A. W. Tozer, a man I highly esteem, and I find myself in agreement with him here:

“We are on our haunches now, fighting a rearguard action before the Neo-Orthodoxy and Liberals and the World Council of Churches and the new idea of a monolithic church with Poppa at the top. . . The great God Almighty has spoken, and when He has spoken, let the world be silent and listen, for God has said it and God will fulfill all His warnings and of His invitations.”

Look at all the Christians involved in heresy in that statement! We have a great problem, exactly because we are no better than the NT Christians. We need revival, a thirst among men for digging in the Word for the truths of God. Just like the NT Christians we need continually to go back to the Bible.

There is a movement among the youth today to herald the Reformation as The Golden Age of Christianity, but any serious student of history is forced to the conclusion that divisions were sharp in that era, the divisions were as many as in our own era, and the Reformations answers to division, burning one at the stake, did nothing to stop the ideas. No, the great measure of the Reformation was in handing believers back their own Bibles, written in their own tongues. Men and women who gave or risked their lives for us to have the written word of God are saints indeed! All I am saying is that wickedness has prospered in every age, from the time of Christ until today, and it will prosper, says the Scripture, until Christ comes to reign on earth. That is our blessed hope!

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes, that's the book for me
I stand alone on the Word of God
The B-I-B-L-E

Psalm 72

1 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4 He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Key Verse:
5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.

Key Observation:
This psalm concludes the Exodus section of psalms.

Memory Verse:
19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Devotion:
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

What a blessing in these three verses! The day is coming when the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Christians should not live in the past or present; they ought to live as if they are already citizens of the new kingdom. I am certain that if I did that, I would have more of an impact on those around me. Are you living for Jesus?

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

1. Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee;
For Thou, in Thy atonement,
Didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.

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, whereunto 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 honour all the day.
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
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 dishonour 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 greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one 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.

Key Verse:
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Key Observation:
This psalm is particularly written for the aged and may be authored by David in his old age.

Memory Verse:
18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Devotion:
Once I was young; now I am old. I have seen many things change in my life, but the love of the Lord for his saints is not one of them. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” says the scripture, and in this psalm we have a remarkable attestation of the Lord’s understanding of aging and our strength faltering. From our birth to our last breath the Lord knows our ways, understands our hearts, and has provided for us. I look not forward to death, that last enemy, but I know He who is above death, and will one day make death to begin working backwards.

For forty years I have looked to the Lord to supply my needs, to direct my steps. Now that I am getting ready to enter retirement, is He any less my Lord? I do remember John Piper’s excellent book, Rethinking Retirement: Finishing Life for the Glory of Christ. I believe his thesis is obvious: that we should be busy as elders working unto the end. I confess I have not finished the book, having forgotten I bought it until writing this. I shall remedy that beginning today.

Know that the Lord is good. He will order my steps unto the end—either the blessed coming of His Son, or my death, but either way His word will surely come to pass. May I be able to show that to the next generation (v.18).

This ole house once knew his children
This ole house once knew his wife
This ole house was home and comfort
As they fought the storms of life
This old house once rang with laughter
This old house heard many shouts
Now he trembles in the darkness
When the lightnin' walks about

CHORUS:
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend the windowpane
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
He's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints

This ole house is a-gettin' shaky
This ole house is a-gettin' old
This ole house lets in the rain
This ole house lets in the cold
On his knees I'm gettin' chilly
But he feel no fear nor pain
'Cause he see an angel peekin'
Through a broken windowpane
CHORUS

This ole house is afraid of thunder
This ole house is afraid of storms
This ole house just groans and trembles
When the night wind flings its arms
This ole house is gettin' feeble
This old house is needin' paint
Just like him it's tuckered out
But he's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
CHORUS

This ole house dog lies a-sleepin'
He don't know I'm gonna leave
Else he'd wake up by the fireplace
And he'd sit there and howl and grieve
But my huntin' days are over
Ain't gonna hunt the coon no more
Gabriel done brought in my chariot
When the wind blew down the door
CHORUS

Psalm 70

1 MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD.
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Key Verse:
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Key Observation:
A psalm of vindication by the Lord.

Memory Verse:
1 MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD.

Devotion:
This psalm is a repeat of the end of Psalm 40. Perhaps it is repeated because believers should be reminded that it is God who vindicates us. Sometime ago I had the misfortune to have a boss who was very difficult to work with. Eventually the situation became so unpleasant for me that I was forced to put my boss in the hands of the Lord. Let me tell you that putting someone in the hands of the Lord is a very serious thing; it meant essentially that I gave the situation to the Lord and asked him to resolve it. It was not very long after that that my boss resolved the dispute and even tried to bless me with everything I needed or wanted. I learned much from the situation about how easily the Lord is able to turn the hearts of men whither He will. Give it to God and ask Him for resolution—I figure we may as well get used to asking now, for will we not have all eternity to see Him working things out for us? Take my life and make it Thine.

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
*Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee

Psalm 69

1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

Key Verse:
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Key Observation:
The memory verse is chosen for me to remember the Lord knows me. This is a very important messianic psalm.

Memory Verse:
5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

Devotion:
McGee says that this psalm is the second most often quoted psalm in the New Testament, after Psalm 22. Not only does this psalm refer to our Messiah on the cross, it also tells us of the “hidden years” of Jesus. The hidden years are those years between the age of 12 and the start of his ministry. In this psalm some of the anguish of those years is hinted at in this psalm.

This is a psalm of David, and while its primary interpretation is of David’s life, yet God is able to take the King’s words and speak prophetically of his own beloved son. Perhaps most well-known is this verse: “ They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” In the New Testament we read its fulfillment while Christ was on the cross.

“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head.” This might sound like something that would happen to David, and it probably did, but it is quoted in John 15:25, “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” So we know that this verse is speaking prophetically of Christ.

Perhaps one of the new most hurtful things about the life of Christ in this psalm I learned in verse eight: “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.” Notice that it says “mother’s” children, and not father’s. Here is a prophecy letting us know that while Jesus had a divine birth, yet in the common thinking of even his family, he was considered naught but a bastard son. Oh, how I ache to think of that! That Jesus bore reproach from even his family, but certainly from his village. There is evidence in John, a verse that causes me pain each time I consider it, that his parentage was routinely disparaged by others.

In John 8, the whole chapter is largely an terrible argument that Jesus is having with religious leaders concerning legitimacy. The Jews claimed Abraham for their father, someone they were legitimately descended from. Jesus pointed out that the physical descent only mattered if there was a spiritual descent, and since there was not, these Jews, said Jesus, were from their father the Devil. Their defense was in verse 41: “Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.” The implication is very clear; they were saying Jesus did not know who his father was. Later in the chapter, verse 48, they say: “Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?” In the eyes of Jews, life could not be made much worse than being accused of having a Samaritan for a parent.

Again in Chapter 9, the Jewish leaders proclaim in verse 29: “as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.” The Jewish leaders were so close! They were looking for their Messiah for they knew from their study of Scriptures that He was due in the world. Yet here He was, standing before him and they could not accept Him. They knew that the Messiah was to arise out of Bethlehem, yet Jesus was supposedly from Nazareth. They did not research their subject right, and when they should have listened, they found themselves opposing the very Son of God. Yet the Scripture says, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39,40) How it must have pained our Lord to tell of His Father, and be spurned by those who should love Him!

Consider this verse and then I will stop the direction of this meditation: (Matt. 12:47) “Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.” Jesus replies signaling the disciples, here are my brothers and my mother. Many commentators, including me, feel that the mother and brothers were not there to just greet their brother. Instead they were trying to clean things up, to get their “crazed bastard” brother home and lock him up somewhere until he “got better.” If this is the case, the verse in Psalm 69, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children,” must be even more powerfully true. How my Lord must have felt, seeing his own family convinced of his insanity!

Perhaps that explains what I call the Messianic curse. McGee calls it, more properly,
the “imprecatory” prayer. Imprecatory means curse. In Psalms 69: 22-28 we have an absolute horrid curse put to those who oppose Christ. The Son of God here is praying for God to bring justice, terribly and awfully, in these verses. Read them again:

22Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
27Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

McGee points out that there is only one kind of man and that is a sinner. You may be redeemed or unredeemed, but all of us are sinners. Which are you today? No penalty is given to man if he will be believe God and start to correct his way. This morning my wife and I had breakfast at the local cafe, and a man whom I am friendly with read the inscription on my shirt: “Saved by Grace through Faith”. I love wearing shirts like that for it gives me occasion to start many conversations. He referred to space pictures he had seen, and exclaimed, “There is no sign of God out there.” I replied to him, “Would you expect to find the Creator in his creation, or apart from his creation?” Do not misread the signs of our times, for the evidence of a Creator and Loving God are everywhere about you, just as they were in the time of Christ. If you will but see. Pray that God will open your eyes before it becomes too late.

1. Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.
o Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
2. Christ, the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life;
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven.
3. Sweetly echo the Gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify us forever.

Psalm 68

1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

Key Verse:
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

Key Observation:
God promises to rule over Israel; how can He do that except that the Jews be brought back to their land? The memory verse is chosen because it simply tells the results of those who believe God versus those who do not.

Memory Verse:
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Devotion:
This, a psalm of David celebrates the refrain of Moses in Numbers 10:35. “Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.” McGee notes that it is almost repeated in verse 1. He also notes that the “hairy scalp” of verse 21 is the Antichrist.

I have a close friend who knows Christ well, but who also is in the midst of a health crisis—one which he does not really expect to survive. Being nearly 60 years of age, I have lost many Christian friends and family to the old enemy: death. Christ has given us victory over death, and I think this psalm, a psalm of singing, tells us of a God whose promises may linger in their fulfillment, but shall prove true. I do not understand how many can believe in “spiritualizing” so much of the Bible, and avoid the simple truth: God said—I need to believe it. The promises of our God to one day count every one of the Israelites as people He will rule over is precious to me, not because I think the church has spiritually or magically become the inheritors of God’s promises, but rather because I see the God who made those promises saying He intends to keep them. If He is true to his promises to Israel, will He not be true to his promises to us? Truly “His Excellency is over Israel.” How Great is our God!

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty,
Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.
He wraps Himself in light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice, trembles at His voice.

How great is our God, sing with me,
How great is our God, all will see
How great, how great is our God.

Psalm 67

1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Key Verse:
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

Key Observation:
This psalm is prophetic and full of God’s love for the people on the earth.

Memory Verse:
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Devotion:
Matthew Henry makes an unreasonable comment: “He begins with a prayer for the welfare and prosperity of the church then in being, in the happiness of which he should share, and think himself happy, Ps. 67:1.” While the church might be mentioned symbolically (McGee thinks it is symbolic in Psalm 45) it is not proper interpretation to allude to it at all in this verse. God is talking to Israel by way of interpretation, and there may be proper applications to the church or to saints today, but application is an important distinction from interpretation. This is a psalm about Israel, and prophetically the application is in the millennial kingdom.

Sometimes Bible commentators take too much freedom from primary interpretation; Israel is the nation being referred to here, with prophetic hints at the millennium. “Thy way may be known upon the earth, thy saving health among all nations. For many years Bible scholars have emphasized the symbolic replacement of the church with Israel, something not taught at all from a careful study of scriptures. The first rule of good hermeneutics is “When the simple sense makes the best sense seek no other sense.” The church is not mentioned here; I wish Bible scholars would stop reading things into the text when they simply are not there. For many years through spiritualizing many passages to be talking about the church, when really they were talking about Israel, many in our church believed that God would come after heaven on earth was set up. Some are so fanatical, even after the horrific murders of millions in the 20th Century, that they still believe that mankind is capable of setting up heaven on earth. Not so! My Bible talks of the fallen nature of mankind, and when I look at even the best forms of government, I see them irretrievably fallen. McGee refers to the promise of Isaiah 49:13,

Sing O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

God says it plainly. Could it be any plainer? He did not say Israel, I am replacing you and giving your promises to the church. No, He plainly says “I will not forget thee.” Now you may choose not to believe God, but there should be no argument about what he plainly says. As for me and my house, we will believe the record that God has left to us.

This psalm does speak of a Father’s love for his children. When we have the proper ultimate outlook of God in view, “God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.” There is coming a day when our Father God will send his Son to rule the earth, beginning in Jerusalem, and going to the uttermost parts of the earth. What Love! How I should be motivated to think and dwell upon the things of God, for that which is to come is the only reality. Are you ready if His coming were today?


From George Strait, “A Father’s Love”

I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye
Fighting was against the rules and it didnt matter why
When Dad got home I told that story just like Id rehearsed
Then stood there on those trembling knees and waited for the worst

And he said, Let me tell you a secret, about a fathers love
A secret that my daddy said was just between us
He said daddies dont just love their children every now and then
It's a love without end, amen, its a love without end, amen

Psalm 66

1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
3 Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.
16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

Key Verse:
4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.

Key Observation:
The millennial flavor to this psalm is evident in the key verse.

Memory Verse:
16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Devotion:
“Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.” Israel will soon be saying this; the last psalm and through Psalm 75 are known as millennial psalms. We are soon coming to the time when all shall know God, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is God, to the glory of God the Father. Psalm 65:2 says O thou who hear prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Paul teaches us that even creation itself is groaning for the Savior, that the curse of sin may be mitigated, and that creation itself might experience healing. The era of the “age of grace” is even now drawing to a close. Called sometimes “the time of the Gentiles” we have been invited to take a place in the family of God as Christ has been preached in every nation. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, but work all the more as we see this age come to its conclusion with the glorious appearing of our Lord.


I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

Psalm 65

1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.
11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.
13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Key Verse:
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

Key Observation:
This the first of eleven millennial psalms, speaks of God’s care of the earth; more specifically it speaks of how nature itself will respond to His care with rejoicing and singing.

Memory Verse:
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Devotion:
“On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter.” (Zech. 14:8) I would imagine these living waters to be one of the wonders of the world. Many shall come just to see and marvel. Is this not a psalm which talks about how the earth itself will rejoice under the care of the Creator?

I do remember one day when as a young man, I was working in the peach orchard. I was putting in some pretty long hours, which I am sure some would say caused my fancifulness, but I was rejoicing in the God who was within me. I was filled with such a peace and a wonder that it seemed to me as if the very branches of the peach trees were dancing to the Lord, rejoicing in his majesty. To this day I am convinced that I was somehow enabled to see the very presence of God in nature. One day, when Jesus himself is here, the whole earth will rejoice at the touch of the master’s hand.

It was battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

Psalm 64

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Key Verse:
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

Key Observation:
Prophetic: 4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. End Result: 7But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.


Memory Verse:
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

Devotion:
McGee: “Someone might say, “My, there certainly are a lot of psalms for the Day of Jacob’s Trouble.” Yes, there are, and the people are going to need every one of them.” This is yet another prophetic psalm. I just finished an article on the trouble brewing between Israel and Egypt. Egypt is unable (terrorists) to provide gas lines uninterrupted to Israel, and Israel is getting more than 50% of it’s gas and oil from Egypt. I think we are seeing the ending of the long standing peace between the two countries. Look for radicalism to take over and begin pressing Israel from the south.

I am wondering about this verse: “4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.” Is this being fulfilled as I read my headlines? We have had years of “secret shooting” at Israel from her enemies. Are the times getting ready to change where the attacks are going to come out in the open?
I need to remember that I am made righteous, not by my deeds (that is an ugly thought- for I am not very good) but by my faith in Jesus. Faith, or trust, is the only acceptable thing we can do to please God. Look at David, willing to trust God, even when he sees evil winning. Now that is the kind of faith I want.

The Trinity in Prayer-

Part Three- God the Spirit in our prayer life
Part One- God the Father in our prayer life
Part Two—Jesus the Son in our prayer life

The forgotten member of the trinity is the Holy Spirit. Why that is has a lot to do with prior church history, where sometimes church leaders, particularly evangelistic leaders, were accused of emphasizing the Holy Spirit or emotion too strongly. But He is a legitimate member of the Triune God, and the part he plays in the prayer of the saint is an important one. Let’s look at it.

I suppose there is no more well known verse than this:Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Ro. 8:26) In a short verse here Paul reminds us that we have the help of God the Spirit Himself in our prayers. Have you ever gone to God without words? I have been. Sometimes I am so swamped by the enormity of the prayer that I know not where to begin. Sometimes the Spirit Himself seems to be giving me the articulation to pray as I know not and I find myself saying something I would never have thought of on my own. Sometimes the prayer is so deep, that I find myself still, letting the Spirit of God intercede and explain to the Father of my deepest need. What a joy!

Why is the Holy Spirit so underemphasized today? It is He that so enriches and makes our walk before God to be possible. Otherwise I could not manage to walk with God at all. Let’s take a look at some of the basic things the Spirit does for us. First of all, I want to look at where Jesus first reveals the gift of the Holy Spirit. It occurs in John 14:16—“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” That is a long time and a bit longer too, if you take my meaning. Forever. God so loves us that not only did He send his Son to die for us, but also He took of his own nature and imparted it into us forever. After the rapture will we still have the Spirit? Is that part of forever? The gift of God is not something he takes back; it is ours forever.

What does the Spirit do?
1. John 14:26 He teaches us all things.
2. John 15:26 He testifies about Jesus.
3. John 16:8 He convicts the world of guilt expressly in three ways:

a. in sin because people do not believe in Jesus
b. in righteousness because of the resurrection
c. in judgment because Satan is now condemned

4. John 16:12 He guides us into all truth.
5. John 16:14 He brings glory to Jesus by taking what belongs to Him and making it known to us.
6. Acts 2:2 He indwells us forever (John 14:6).
7. Acts 2:4 He gives us gifts

a. Acts 2:4 Speaking in Tongues
b. Acts 2:17 Prophesy
c. Acts 2:17 Visions and Dreams
d. Acts 3:6 Miracles
e. I Cor. 12:8 Message of wisdom
f. I Cor. 12:8 Message of knowledge
g. I Cor. 12:10 Interpretation of tongues

8. Galatians 5:22 He produces fruits in us

a. love
b. joy
c. peace
d. patience
e. kindness
f. goodness
g. faithfulness
h. gentleness
i. self-control

I have not the space here to put all the things that the Spirit does for us. But this is the basic list taken from Scripture and should be a good reminder of what the Holy Spirit does for us. Let me close with a short story from my vivid mental wanderings. I do wonder what heaven will be like in spite of the Bible telling us that eye hath not seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for us. I got to trying to figure out one day, in round numbers, guessing how many saints are going up in the rapture. I cannot tell you a firm number, but I expect millions of us will be going up, and perhaps many more. In all that crowd I found myself wondering about whether I might be as lost as I am sometimes in crowds down here. I thought, well, I have eternity, and sooner or later, I might have a real encounter with Jesus himself. Probably much later. But I wondered then, with my one opportunity, what would I do? Would I fall at his feet? Would he hug me and love me? What would happen with “my one time” with the Lord. With such musings I was content, knowing that God would somehow work it out. Work it out he did, for I was reading Tozer (God’s Pursuit of Man) one day and found an answer:

. . . and for all who share the common salvation. . . and the poorest and weakest of us may without offense claim for ourselves all the riches of the Godhead in mercy given. I have every right to claim all for myself, knowing that an infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.(italics mine)

God foresaw that problem I spent time musing over, and had it worked out from eternity past. He has given us Himself, that we might be filled to overflowing!

If that is our gift forever, if we have the Spirit of God inside us, how should we then pray? Our prayers, helped by the Spirit go straight to God. Remember that the next time you pray and are waiting for an answer. Have Great Expectations because you have the very Spirit of God living within you.

Psalm 63

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Key Verse:
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Key Observation:
David hungers for the presence of God and His blessing in his life.

Memory Verse:
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Devotion:
I wonder just how many places in Scripture there are where man reflects his hunger, his desire for God to hear him. I can think of several right away:

1. I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.
Habakkuk 2:1
2. How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
But you do not listen?
Habakkuk 1:2
3. Daniel in his need to understand fasted and prayed long:
He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider
carefully the words I am about to speak to you. . . But the prince
of the Persian kingdom resisted my twenty-one days.
Daniel 10
4. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2 Cor. 12:8
5. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
1 Samuel 28:6

There are many more I am sure—places where man is hungry for the presence and blessing of God. Number five, Saul’s request, is one of the very few examples of unanswered prayer in the total of scripture, which is why I included it. Why was Saul not answered? He was living nonrepentantly in sin.

If you are skeptical about unanswered prayer in the Bible, check the record for yourself. Out of the many verses dealing with prayer, in all the Bible, there are only a few where prayer is unanswered. It will make for a remarkable study—one where the record is replete with God’s eagerness to hear our prayers.

That said, there comes a time in our lives where we might feel like Job, stripped of everything and scrapping our boils with potsherds. I have been there, feeling like I am remote from God. I wonder at such times if God even hears my prayer. Job found out that God heard every one of his complaints and what does he say to God? “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer—twice, but I will say no more.”

When I pray I need to remember the record of promises that God has given me. I need to remember answers can be held up, as with Daniel, for spiritual warfare reasons which I will not understand. I need to come to him cleanly, acknowledging my sin, for with confession I am forgiven. In that way I can avoid unanswered prayer, as happened with Saul. But other than that I will keep great expectations before me. God will hear me, and He does love me. An answer will come!

Did David receive an answer?

“Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.”

Being a farm boy, I used to watch chicks hide under the protection of mother hen’s wings whenever danger approached. Is that not a delightful metaphor? The Lord himself offers to shelter us in the shadow of his wings.

Under the shadow of your wings
Here in the secret place of your holiness
I will wait on you, oh Lord, my God and King
Here in the Holiest of All
You draw me near with love to abandon all
For the sake of knowing you, my God and King

Hide me in the shelter of your love
Deep in the center of your heart, my Lord
How I want to know you more
And keep me in the shadow of your wings
Safe in the secret place of holiness
How I need you more and more
(And more and more)

Hide me, and keep me, oh Lord
Safe in the secret place, safe in the secret place

Psalm 62

1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Key Verse:
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

Key Observation:
David writes this in memory of the times when he depended on God only.

Memory Verse:
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Devotion:
Notice the word only in the psalm. You may look and ask which only are you talking about? Precisely. This psalm has been nicknamed the only psalm. But I notice one more characteristic about this psalm. Look at the list below:
my soul
my salvation
my rock
my defense
my strength
my refuge
I think the psalm might be appropriately named “the my only” psalm. David is looking very personally to his God here. He knows the love of his God; he knows it personally—he is able to pray with confidence knowing his God hears prayer. It sort of continues the theme I talked about in the last psalm: praying to God with Great Expectations.

David is a wonder to me; he had no knowledge of any of the New Testament promises, yet he is able to personally know and count on his God in times of trial. McGee thinks this psalm is written in memory of David’s fleeing Jerusalem from his son Absalom. Truly this is a time of trials for David, yet he fiercely is able to connect to his God by faith and trust Him for deliverance. McGee says: “And as we read this psalm which comes from his heart in this hour of darkness, this time of testing, this hour of defeat, we are amazed to find not one note of discouragement, nor suggestion of fear, nor word of distress.” Truly the faith of David is a wonder!

Maybe it is only when I personalize God—my God, my rock, my salvation—that I can see him as I ought. A God who cares for me beyond my knowledge of caring. In the Bible the picture of the good father is used as a metaphor for knowing God the Father. But doesn’t his love exceed the love of the earthly father, even if you have a good earthly model for a father? Doesn’t his love exceed anything I am capable of putting to a definition—for a definition has of necessity limits, yet God’s love, being infinite, has no limits. How shall I count so great a love?

I learn from this psalm that in my times of trial, I can come to God with complete confidence, resting securely upon Him for His deliverance. High expectations? Yes, but we have “high promises” given to us that David did not. I think God rather expects us to have Great Expectations; do not disappoint your Father. Read those promises again, and start believing. It might Rock your prayer life!

Rock of Ages
Rock of ages cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee;
let the water and the blood
from Thy wounded side which flowed.
Let the water and the blood
from Thy wounded side which flowed.

Chorus
Rock of ages let me hide myself
in Thee, in Thee,
in Thee, in Thee.

Rock of Ages


Rock of Ages
(arranged by Tim Harris)
(recorded by T.M. Mass Youth Choir)


Verse
Rock of ages cleft for me,
let me hide myself in Thee;
let the water and the blood
from Thy wounded side which flowed.
Let the water and the blood
from Thy wounded side which flowed.

Chorus
Rock of ages let me hide myself
in Thee, in Thee,
in Thee, in Thee.

Vamp 1

Sopranos
The Lord God is my rock,
He is the hope of my salvation.

Altos
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

Tenors
On Christ the solid rock, I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

Vamp 2
The Lord God is my rock,
He is the hope of my salvation.
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
On Christ the solid rock, I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

Vamp 3
Rock of ages

Chorus

Christian Music Lyrics by: Gospel Music

Psalm 61

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Key Verse:
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Key Observation:
When we come to God in prayer, we need to come with fear and reverence. We are speaking to the Creator of the universe who indeed loves us.

Memory Verse:
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Devotion:
J. Vernon McGee laments in his commentary on this psalm about modern prayer life:

“All many of us do is turn in to the Lord a grocery list of the things we want. We ask Him to take them down off the shelf and give them to us so we won’t have to go through the checkout stand and pay for them. I think that attitude has killed prayer today. I believe in the organization, the mechanics, and the arrangement of prayer, but I also believe prayer should come from the heart. You seldom hear that deep heart cry in prayer any more, but you will find it in David’s prayer.”

I think I agree with McGee. When I pray to God, I must know who I am speaking to. I must speak clearly and with great expectation of an answer. My heart should be leading me to pray, but my heart should also be looking to God for the answer. I am not speaking here of faith for something specific. Sometimes God gives me a special faith for something or someone I am praying for. But that is not what I am talking about. Hebrews tells me that when I come to God I must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I purpose to be that one—the one who diligently seeks Him.

Though that can (and has) come with repetition, ordinarily it comes with expectation. We may repeat prayers to show God how important we think they are, but we should never repeat a prayer because we think that God did not hear the first time. I expect God to hear my prayer; he has promised by his own name that he will hear my prayers. I expect an answer. I know that I am speaking to a wonderfully generous and gracious God. Now I need to be clear here. I do not expect to get everything that I pray for—that would be too much like the grocery list above. What I do expect is an answer from God.

He has given me the most wonderful promises in prayer. Ask and you will receive. Ask that your joy may be full. Whatsoever you ask in my name I will do. And more than these promises of delight, Jesus tells us we are his friends if we do what he commands. What does he command? John 15:17—This is my command that ye love one another.

When I speak to God, I covet those promises—I cherish each of them. I believe them. I believe I am talking to God, that He is listening, and that He will consider my prayers and give me answers. That is what I mean by great expectations. Is that the way you are coming to God in prayer? I promise you—nay, He promises you that it does make a difference.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith on heaven's table land;
no higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith on heaven's table land;
no higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Verse
I'm pressing on the upward way,
new heights I'm gaining everyday.
Still praying as I onward bound,

Lord, plant my feet on
higher ground.

I'm Pressing On

Intro
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith on heaven's table land;
no higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith on heaven's table land;
no higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Verse
I'm pressing on the upward way,
new heights I'm gaining everyday.
Still praying as I onward bound,

Tenors Lord, plant my feet on
All higher ground.

Chorus 1
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith on heaven's

Tenors faith on heaven's table land;

no higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground,
on higher ground, on higher ground, on higher ground.

Vamp 1
On higher ground,
on higher ground.

Chorus 2
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith on heaven's

Tenors faith on heaven's table land;

no higher plane than I have found...

Vamp 2
Lord, plant my feet.

Vamp 3
Sopranos On higher ground,
Altos on higher ground,
Tenors on higher ground,

Sopranos on higher ground,
Altos on higher ground,
Tenors on higher ground.

Vamp 4
On higher ground, ound, ound,
on higher ground.

Christian Music Lyrics by: Gospel Music

Psalm 60
1 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
2 Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.
3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
5 That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.
6 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
8 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.
9 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
10 Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?
11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

Key Verse:
12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

Key Observation:
A continuation, but sharpening of Psalm 59.

Memory Verse:
11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Devotion:
His banner over me is love. Solomon pens these words in Song of Solomon. I wonder if Solomon was reflecting on his father’s psalm here: “4Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.” This psalm was written after David’s victory over the Edomites (2 Sam 8).

Verse 11 is of course, prophetic. In the time of tribulation Israel will be frustrated from getting mankind to help solve their problems; instead the man of sin will betray them, and it will appear as if the whole earth is against Israel. Nations will arise on every side against them, and then the Lord shall come. With a sword symbolically in his mouth, representing the power of his spoken word, he will with one word madden his enemies, and in their madness, they will slay one another. In the sure light of things to come, am I acting properly as his ambassador? May I be found ready and working on that day!

The Lord is mine and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
The Lord is mine and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
The Lord is mine and I am His,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

He brought me to His banqueting table,
His banner over me is love.
He brought me to His banqueting table,
His banner over me is love.
He brought me to His banqueting table,
His banner over me is love.
His banner over me is love!

Psalm 59

1 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.
5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
11 Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
14 And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

Key Verse:
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

Key Observation:
Wicked men plot to prevail, but their plots will come to exactly nothing.

Memory Verse:
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

Devotion:
Verse nine is a direct reference to Saul; David was being hunted by Saul, who was far too strong for David to defeat. But this verse is also prophetic of the tribulation period, when Israel will find her enemy too strong. In that day and at that time Israel will look on him whom they have pierced and they will mourn for him and they will grieve for him; they will everyone realize their awful dead in crucifying their own Lord. Repentance will mark the nation of Israel, even as the Lord works his deliverance for them. “On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 12:9)

In the light of His sure coming, how are you living your life? If He came today, would He find you busy for Jesus, with works that will endure? I pray that when He does come, both you and I will be found busy, proclaiming Jesus to the lost.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know that it was set by God
Oh Jesus, Jesus
How I trust You
How I prove You more and more
Jesus, Jesus
My precious Jesus
I thank You for the grace
To trust You more

Tis So Sweet




Tis So Sweet
As performed by Shea Norman
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know that it was set by God
Oh Jesus, Jesus
How I trust You
How I prove You more and more
Jesus, Jesus
My precious Jesus
I thank You for the grace
To trust You more
'Tis so sweet to trust in Daddy
Just to take Hi at His word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know that it was set by God
So Daddy, Daddy
How I trust You
How I prove You more and more
Daddy, Daddy, oh Daddy
My precious Daddy
I thank You for the grace
To trust You more
I thank You for the grace
To trust You more

Christian Music Lyrics by: Gospel Music

Psalm 58

1 Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Key Verse:
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Key Observation:
The wicked shall not endure.

Memory Verse:
11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Or NIV:
Then men will say, Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.

Devotion:
In the Old Testament way of thinking, God rewarded righteous men and vengeance was sought from the Lord concerning unrighteous or wicked people. The amazing thing to me is how often David recognized that his righteousness is not enough, that somehow he had to trust God to overlook his transgressions. Thus David’s faith was what pleased God, though he did not always see it that way. David looked by faith to his descendant and to his eternal God, Jesus Christ.

I sometimes feel a bit torn between trying to be two people here. As a Christian I am supposed to be awaiting the appearing of my Lord Jesus Christ. Yet as a Christian, the Bible also teaches me that Christ has not come, partly because He continues to extend mercy to the wicked, in hopes that some yet will turn from their wicked way. I want that too! So what do I want, for the Lord to come or to stay? Sigh. I resolve the dilemma by saying the Lord’s will be done, and by praying and looking for opportunities to declare my Savior before men.

David is looking forward by faith here again to the time of trouble upon his people. The Lord will come and there will be judgment for every deed, whether done in public or private. I can appreciate that viewpoint as I, too, am anxious for the Lord to come, and know that He will judge wickedness at that time. Part of my problem, I suspect, is that I have it too easy. I live in a rich country, and have worked a lifetime accruing wealth. All around me I tend to see people who do the same, many of whom I judge as “not so bad”. I do not see wickedness and rebellion and sin as my God sees them. At my best times I know that the carnalness of my awful estate would be in total shambles apart from the grace of God, but I seldom see others as wicked. I think when I am changed, and when I know the Lord even as also I am known, that then I will see the righteous judgment of God for what it is. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

We've got to mind the way we walk,
we've got to mind the way we talk,
we've got to mind the way we give,
we've got to mind the way we live.
We've got to be an example of Christ in every way;
we've got to get right church and let's go home.

Chorus 2
(Get right church and let's go home),
oh, get right church and let's go home.
Get right church, get right church,
we've got to get right church and let's go home.

Get Right Church

Chorus
We've got to mind the way we walk,
we've got to mind the way we talk,
we've got to mind the way we give,
we've got to mind the way we live.
We've got to be an example of Christ in every way;
we've got to get right church and let's go home.

Chorus 2
(Get right church and let's go home),
oh, get right church and let's go home.
Get right church, get right church,
we've got to get right church and let's go home.

Chorus 1

Vamp 1
Get right,
get right children.

Vamp 2

Sopranos Get right
Altos Get right
Tenors Get right.

Vamp 3

Sopranos Get right
Altos Get right
Tenors Get right.
Altos Get right

Vamp 1

Ending
We've got to get right church and let's go home.

Christian Music Lyrics by: Gospel Music

Psalm 57

1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Key Verse:
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Key Observation:
David prays for deliverance from his persecutors.

Memory Verse:
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Devotion:
I am so weak; He is so strong. I ask not ever for justice, because I know justice would leave me condemned. But why is it that I am so outraged when others are not just to me? Like David I bring it to God, my all in all.

Oh that I might be the shepherd of mercy that God has called me to be! Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Create in me a hungry heart, that I may realize my starvation. Take a hold of my life and make me afresh a new creature in Christ; this old man of mine constantly resurfaces and would lead me where I would not go.

This psalm is again of the tribulation period. “4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire.” “They have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.” This is a picture of Israel being among the lions, but the lions themselves will be trapped, and the Lord shall laugh at their devices. (Psalm 2)

I hear the Savior say,
Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say,
Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary's Lamb

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

Christian Music Lyrics by: Gospel Music

Psalm 56

1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Key Verse:
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Key Observation:
Fear can deepen or deaden one’s faith; it is a choice.

Memory Verse:
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

Devotion:
Many times God commands his servants to “be not afraid”. But this is a time when David confesses his very real fears, and then places his trust in God. When we countenance the mountains that we are to remove by faith, at times their towering and menacing presence can make us awestruck and afraid, until we put our trust in Him. I am reminded of Elisha’s prayer for his servant: “Open his eyes that he may see.” The servant’s eyes were opened and he saw the great multitude of the Lord’s forces, and he was not afraid. When I elect to trust God in the presence of my mountain, that is when God will teach me not to be afraid, for my confidence will no longer be limited by my feebleness. Instead I will be enabled by my knowledge of how much bigger my God is than that mountain. Oh God, open my eyes that I may see!

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy