Today's Reading: Psalm 106 & 133

Good and Pleasant Unity

The “Songs of Ascent” are a special group of Psalms comprised of Psalms 120—134. Also known as “Pilgrim Songs,” these songs were sung by the Jews while on their way to the great Jewish feasts in Jerusalem.  They are called songs of “ascent” because Jerusalem is situated on a mountain and to get there, you had to climb one of the uphill roads which led to the city. The pilgrims that flowed from the towns and villages of Judea and Samaria would sing these songs together on the roads, the hills echoing with their songs. According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of these Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.

It must have been an incredible experience to walk together with crowds of other worshippers up the hills to the city while singing these songs together. Each of the Pilgrim Songs offered encouragement and joy for those seeking to worship God. The lyrics of this song collection cover a broad range of the peoples’ relationship with God such as: God’s presence during distress; joyful praise; God’s mercy; the joy of the Lord; repentance; and a cry for help to the Lord. In Psalm 133, king David focuses on the blessing of unity and harmony amongst the people of God.

As David looked down from his palace, seeing the thousands upon thousands of faithful worshippers working their way up the hill, he was struck by the profound blessing of unity. He noticed everyone singing in “unison” and it impressed on his heart the beauty of oneness and harmony amongst God’s people. It’s an amazing thing how music binds people together. Especially music sung in worship of God.

As David views this spectacle of the pilgrims ascending the mountain, he proclaims “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” David here draws our attention to something good and pleasant – unity among the people of God. It is good because it reflects God’s heart and purpose of oneness among His people. It is pleasant because it makes life together as God’s people so much more enjoyable than seasons when constant bickering and conflict dominate.

In His final hours upon Earth, Jesus prayed for this type of pleasant unity and harmony amongst His followers. In John 17:20-23, He asked, “that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one.”

Knowing that unity is God’s will for His people, every believer should pray for oneness as Jesus did, and should work to have good and peaceable relationships with all others (Romans 12:18).

 

Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 12

 

Discerning and Decisive

Isn’t it a wonderful thing when you know – really know – what you should do? Often we struggle with indecision because we aren’t sure what course to take. Indecision exists across the entire human experience. Sometimes, indecision is personal… Should I go to school? Or take that job? Should I move to a new city? Or stay where I am? Sometimes, indecision is among a community or church body… Which pastor should we hire? Should we spend more money on outreach? Sometimes, indecision occurs withing the highest levels of government… Should we require people to wear masks? Or get vaccinated? Should we go to war with another nation? Should we spend taxpayer’s money on certain government programs? Indecision has been known to paralyze people, communities, churches, and entire nations.

David recognized the vital importance of being discerning and decisive, so he gathered people around him to aid in directing the affairs of the nation. Uniquely chosen amongst David’s appointments of leaders were the men from the tribe of Issachar, who were chosen to serve as intelligence gatherers and strategists. Verse 32 says these men “had understanding of the times” and knew “what Israel ought to do.” David wisely placed these men within his new government because he knew the importance of being discerning and decisive as the king.

It has been said that “knowledge” is understanding information, while “wisdom” is knowing what to do with that information. These men from Issachar were uniquely gifted with both knowledge and wisdom. They had the ability to discern the times, knowing how to direct the king and the nation. Discernment is NOT the ability to know right from wrong, it is the ability to know right from “almost right.” What a joy it is when we are so tuned in to our Heavenly Father in such a way that we comprehend the situation and see which path is the right path. These men of Issachar were perceptive about what was going on in the world around them and, as a result, they were uniquely gifted to guide the king and the country.

In our day, it is critical that every follower of Christ be discerning. We must understand the times in which we live so we can be equipped to know what we ought to do. The gift of discerning of spirits is one of the most needed gifts in the Body of Christ today. ”The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) Jesus's mandate that we become "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) implies that we must develop supernatural discernment, the ability to detect subtle spiritual irregularities and act accordingly.

Your Heavenly Father loves you intensely and completely. From that love comes His desire that you be discerning and decisive as you follow His will. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 11

 

David's Mighty Men

First Chronicles 11 lists a group of people known as the “mighty men” of David. They are also referred to as the “thirty chiefs” or simply “the Thirty.” These mighty men of David were a group of David’s toughest military warriors who were credited with heroic feats. Some of these mighty men of David had considerable military skill. David’s mighty men served an important role in protecting the king and fighting for the freedom of their nation, the land of Israel.

This is a story about some ordinary guys whose reputations grow because of the way they live their lives. They are not just men. They are men’s men. Heroes, forever honored in the "hall of faith" of the Bible because of how they handled their lives and their service to God and the king.

In verse 10, we are told that these men gave David “strong support in his kingdom.”  It is so critical for any leader called by God to have a strong support network undergirding his/her ministry. Whenever God raises up a person to do a work, He will raise up “Mighty Men and Women” to help do that work. David's mighty men were mighty in valor, mighty in faith, and anointed with the power of God, and totally supported him and his kingdom. They were not afraid to risk and to sacrifice. They offered their lives on the altar of the king. Why? Because they loved the Lord and believed in the king and his calling to ministry.

Oh, how we all need people like this in our lives! People who love the Lord, who believe in us, and believe in the ministry God has called us to. Our strength in ministry comes from the Holy Spirit, but oh what a blessing it is when you can rely on your support network to stand with you every step of the way.  These are the type of people who will pray for you, pray with you, take risk and sacrifice for you, and do their best to make sure you succeed in that thing to which God has called you.

Is God calling you to be a mighty man or woman? Could you be a person like this in someone’s life? Perhaps the Lord is calling you to be a blessing to someone else in ministry – to pray for them, to support them, the help them succeed. Does your pastor need a support team? 72% of pastors report working up to 55 to 75 hours per week. Up to one third of pastors struggle with anxiety and depression – sometimes because they feel “all alone” in ministry. Every pastor needs some mighty men and women to stand with them in their ministry, as does every missionary, every youth minister, every Christian author, everyone who serves Christ in any manner.

Look around. Who do you see who could use your strong support in ministry? Prayerfully ask God to make you into their “mighty man” or “mighty woman.” Take the risk and be a hero to someone today.

Today's Reading: Psalm 104

God's Manifold Works

Today, we pause for a moment to consider what a wildly wonderful and extravagant world God has made! The earth overflows with His genius creative works.

The theme of today’s psalm of praise is the wisdom and power of God as seen in nature. The song begins by considering the splendor of the heavens. The light of the sun, the expanse of sky reaching down to meet the earth on the horizon, the movement of clouds blown by the wind, the flashes of lightning - all these things speak of the magnificence of our awe-inspiring God who dwells in, and rules over, the universe.

Land and sea also display the greatness of God. He determined where they should be and how far they should extend. Mountains and rivers show God’s complete control over the powers of nature, so that the land is well watered and able to support life. Because of God’s control, the earth supplies people and animals with food, and with all the other materials necessary for them to live in safety and security. He arranges seasons and weather, night and day, so that the natural world can meet the needs of the various forms of life. The vast seas speak further of God’s greatness. They are full of the most wonderful and strange creatures of every size, shape, and design. Ships sail on the seas for distances farther than the eye can see or the mind imagine.

The word “manifold” in verse 24 means many and various. The Hebrew root word means to increase, be many, be more, multiply. The Psalmist here proclaims, “how many and various are your works!” The uncounted millions of species in the animate creation include not merely the larger units of the creation, but innumerable beings that are almost infinitely small, not merely insects, and the tiniest creatures of the sea and the sub-microscopic beings. All of this great host of creatures both great and small that God made are fitted into an ecological system so great and so complicated that no man has ever, nor ever could understand all of it.

The earth is not suited up merely for one class of inhabitants, but for an almost endless variety; and the wisdom of God is manifested alike in the number and in the variety. No one can estimate the “number” of beings God has made on the earth; no one can comprehend the richness of the variety. No one can comprehend the limitless brilliance of our Creator who masterminded the whole thing.

Take some time today to consider God’s amazing world and His creative acts. Step back from your routines and focus on the amazing capacity of your Heavenly Father as demonstrated by his wildly wonderful world. As you do. like the Psalmist you will be moved to declare “O my soul, bless God!” (Psalm 104:1)

Today's Reading: Psalm 102

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

In Psalm 102, David is writing as one afflicted and cast down. Life, once again, has become tough – perhaps even unbearable. He calls his trial a “day of distress” and describes his heart as being “struck down like grass.” He is lonely. His enemies taunt him. He is groaning loudly at life’s difficulties. He has his eyes on himself and his troubles and it has brought him sadness.

Halfway through this Psalm, David turns his eyes off of himself and looks upward toward God and His throne in Heaven. At this point, his whole demeanor changes from one who is cast down to one who is in awe at the greatness and majesty of his God. He begins to remember that God is on His throne and He will act when the time is right. He reminds himself that God has a plan and a purpose for this world and one day He will “build up Zion and appear in His glory.” As his eyes turn upward, David’s heart is filled with thoughts of our eternal and unchangeable God. What a difference our perspective makes! If you are in distress today, stop looking at your trial and look up instead. Like David, when you look upward, your heart will turn from sadness to awe.

David goes on to reflect on the fact that God created the heavens and the earth – and He did it without any difficulty. With the mighty power of His word, our physical universe came into existence. “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of Your hands.” In verse 26, David compares the difficulty factor of God creating the universe to changing a robe. How difficult is it for you to change robes? It is one of the simplest and unchallenging tasks we can thing of. Well, that’s how difficult it was for God to bring our physical universe into existence! And one day, He will “change robes” and bring a whole new world into existence. Our universe is not eternal, but our Lord is! The world will pass away like a robe being changed, but “You are the same and Your years have no end.”

Our God is eternal and unchangeable. He is unlike anything or anyone we could ever know or imagine. He is one of a kind, unique and without comparison. Even describing Him with mere words truly falls short of capturing who He is – our words simply cannot do justice to describe an indescribable Being.

Our Lord is self-existing, without origin, and eternal. He has always been and will always be. And God does not change. In fact, He is not capable of change. Who He is - never changes. His attributes are the same from before the beginning of time into eternity. His character never changes – He never gets “better” or “worse.” His plans do not change. His promises do not change.

So, dear follower of Christ, “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.” Do you see Him? Keep looking upward until you, like David, see the greatness and majesty of God.

 

Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 10 & Psalm 103

 

Bless The Lord, Oh My Soul!

What a joyous Psalm! Psalm 103 is simply titled “A Psalm of David.” We don’t know the circumstances in which it was written, but since David was a man who knew the grace and forgiveness of God many times, it could have been written at many different times of his life. Most likely it was written in his later years, when he had a keener sense of the care and mercy of God. It is one of the most perfect songs of pure praise found anywhere in the Bible. In this Psalm, David blesses the LORD for all of his many blessings and benefits.

In the opening stanza, David blesses the Lord from the depths of his heart and soul. He uses the word “bless” in the sense that it blesses and honors God when His creatures praise Him and thank Him for who He is and what He has done. In the middle section, David lists many of the unbelievable benefits he has derived from his relationship with the Lord. He describes God as the One who: forgives your sins, heals your diseases, redeems your life, crowns you with lovingkindness, satisfies your deepest needs, and carries out righteousness and justice. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. What a list! God’s kind and loving acts toward His people are incomprehensible and undeserved. Yet He acts anyway! So, what else is there to do but bless Him and praise Him?

As he nears the conclusion of this joyous Psalm, David compares our Heavenly Father to a loving earthly parent. The way that a good father cares for and even “pities” his children in their frailty and weakness, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. The word translated “compassion” or “pities” in this verse comes from a Hebrew root word which means, “to love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.” A good father does not demand more of his children than they can perform, but with care takes into account their weaknesses. He comforts them and measures his expectations according to his wisdom and compassion. In the same way, our Heavenly Father recognizes our human frailty and has compassion on our childish ignorance, weakness, foolishness, and naughtiness. He pities us when we stumble and fall and when we feel pain or fear.

The Lord “knows our frame.” He knows the substance and structure of our humanness. After all, He created us from the dust of the earth. The pity and compassion of God toward those who fear Him are rooted in this knowledge and understanding of our human makeup. Your Heavenly Father knows you better than you know yourself. You may be intolerant of, or disappointed in, your own mistakes and failures, but He is not! He is not an intolerant and demanding Person. He is compassionate and kind. The moral of the story is: don’t be so hard on yourself!  Recognize, as the Lord does, that your human nature is flawed and imperfect. When mistakes or failures happen (and they will), turn to your Father in Heaven and receive His compassionate and kind forgiveness. For as far as the east is from the west, so far will He remove your transgressions from you.

David ended the psalm as he began it, with a call to his own soul to bless God, giving Him the honor and praise due to Him.   Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Today's Reading: Psalm 88

Crying Out to the Lord

Psalm 88 was written by “Heman the Ezrahite.” Heman was a musician. He was a Levite chosen by King David to be a minister of music. He served as both a singer and instrument player, known as a trumpeter and cymbal player. Heman served in Israel’s temple worship. He was one of those who were chosen and expressly named to give thanks to the Lord, whose steadfast love endures forever. His main ministry consisted of crying out to God in prayer.

Psalm 88 is part of a family of Psalms known as the “Laments.” In a Lament, the Psalmist brings his complaints and problems to God. The Laments include Psalms 3, 22, 42, 43, 44, 69, 80, 109, and here with Psalm 88.

The key to understanding these types of Psalms is to recognize that God allows us to express our emotions – even when those emotions question His faithfulness. He longs for us to cry out to Him when our hearts are hurting or when our minds are questioning life and its complications.  Psalms of Lament remind us that God is big enough to deal with our complaints and questions.

As Christians, we can experience problems, complaints and hurting hearts. We can even feel that God has let us down. Or maybe we’re worried about the future. We can feel lonely and afraid. It is these moments of life that we must do as Heman did – cry out to the Lord and let our prayer come before Him. And we must do so with all honesty and vulnerability. If our hearts are hurting, we should tell Him so. We mustn’t do the “Christian” thing and simply say, “We praise You God for being so wonderful. You have provided all our needs. I am so thankful that You are in control” when that’s not what we are really feeling.

It is okay to say to the Lord, “You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.” It is okay to question what is going on, “Why, O Lord, does it seem like You reject me and hide Your face from me?” God is not afraid of your honest questions. He will not shut you out if you come to Him and honestly cry out to Him in life’s moments you can’t understand. He would much rather hear your honest and sincere cries than your fabricated praises.

So, like Heman, you must express your lament by crying out to the Lord. Take time right now to make sure your prayer comes before Him – even if it is a problem or complaint. Pray in the morning. Pray in the daytime. Pray in the nighttime. But, whatever you do, be sure take your case before your Heavenly Father. Lay your burden on Him. He can carry it! His word to you is "bring it on!"