Today's Reading: Psalm 105

 

Beat a Path to the Lord

The word “seek” means to pursue; search for; try to find. The Hebrew root word means “to beat a path to; to tread or trample with the feet.” The idea here is to make a path by walking over the ground many, many times. Here, the Psalmist urges us to beat a path to the LORD and His presence.

We are exhorted repeatedly in the Bible to SEEK (beat a path to) the Lord...

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

“The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land.” (Zephanaiah 2:3)

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

“Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)

“Seek, and you will find.” (Matthew 7:7)

“Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Seeking the Lord is not easy and is not something that happens by itself. We must make a focused and determined effort if we are going to enter His holy presence. We must diligently beat a path to His door. In fact, the Bible tells us, referring to unregenerate man, that there is “no one who seeks after God” (Romans 3:11). The unsaved person doesn’t genuinely seek after God, nor do they have the power to do so. But for the follower of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the strength and ability to continually pursue the presence of God.

Does your path to the Lord and His presence look like a beaten path that has been trampled down by repeated visits? Or, are there weeds, and bushes, and thorns growing up because the path doesn’t get used very often? Take a moment right now to “beat a path to the Lord and His strength” then make it your daily pursuit to “beat a path to His presence continually” by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Today's Reading: Psalms 96, 100, & 101

 Praise From All The Earth

The key idea in Psalm 100 is that praising the Lord does not pertain to one nation only, that it should not be confined to only the Hebrew people, but that there are proper grounds of praise for “all the earth.” David exhorts everyone, everywhere, in all lands, in all nations, of all languages and ethnicities to unite together in making a joyful noise unto the Lord. The basis of this unified praise is that all of humanity has one Creator – He is God and it is He who made us all. Because there is one God and Father of all, the human race can unite as one great family on earth and make a joyful noise together.

Know that the LORD is God. The word “know” in this verse comes from a Hebrew root word which means, “to ascertain; establish; acknowledge.” It is vital that our hearts are firmly established in the truth that Yahweh is the Creator. There is no other god. There is no other creator. There is no other means by which our world came into existence than by the creative work of God. "The earth is the Lord's, the fullness thereof; and all they that dwell therein" (Psalms 24:1).  It is He who made us, therefore we must look to Him as the Benefactor and Giver of all life. Make a joyful noise to Him!

We are His. Oh, what joy it brings to know that our Maker claims us as His own. In spite of humanity’s rebellion against Him and our persistent denial of His laws and His ways, He has never – and will never – deny us. We belong to Him. He made us and gave us a fabulous living environment because He loves us. Then, because He loved us so much, He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for us and redeem us from the hands of Satan who tried to take us out of His hands. But we are Yahweh’s people. He made us, He bought us, He held on to us, we are His. Make a joyful noise to Him!

We are the sheep of His pasture. We have been blessed to be under the care of the Good Shepherd. As His sheep, we’re breathing God's air. We’re drinking God's water. We’re eating God's food. We’re burning God's oil. We’re heating our homes with God's gas. We’re eating God's cattle, God's fish, God’s grain and God’s produce. "The earth is the Lord's." We are actually just grazing in His field. Everything that we have, everything that we see, everything that we're surrounded with belongs to our good God. As His sheep, our lives have purpose, provision, protection, and direction. Make a joyful noise to Him!

The only reasonable conclusions we can draw from God’s amazing Lordship over our world and over our lives is that all the people of the earth should: “Serve Him with gladness” (V2); “Come into His presence with singing!” (V2); “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (V4); “Give thanks to Him” (V4); and “Bless His name!” (V4).

Today's Reading: Psalm 23 & 24

Yahweh My Shepherd

For thousands of years, authors have tried to outdo one another in describing the popularity, beauty, and delight of this little Psalm. It is described as perhaps the most popular chapter of all the Psalms. There is little I can do to add to their eloquent words in describing the depth of the riches of this Psalm.

Psalm 23 describes our relationship with God from a sheep’s point of view. David, of course had grown up as a shepherd on the hills of Bethlehem. He knew what it meant to be a shepherd. And as he has grown into a deeper and deeper relationship with Yahweh, he has also come to know what it means to be a sheep in God’s flock. David declares here with great confidence that, since the Lord is his Shepherd, his life has purpose, provision, protection, and direction.

Since the LORD is my Shepherd, my life has purpose. Human beings are not just the products of “the fortunate occurrence of accidental circumstances” with no purpose or meaning to our existence. Our lives have the deep and meaningful purpose found in our relationship with our Creator – the Good Shepherd. We were created to find our purpose in Christ, and by following Him, our deep craving for meaning is satisfied.  No matter what you do in life, what career you pursue, or what you are working towards, your purpose is to grow and mature in Him.

Since the LORD is my Shepherd, my life has provision. He promises that we will “not want.” The word “want” means to lack or have scarcity. The priority of any true shepherd is to make sure that the flock is well fed and watered. Our Shepherd assures us that “those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” in this world (Psalm 34:10). This doesn’t mean that our every want and desire will be satisfied, but that God knows our needs and promises that He shall “supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Since the LORD is my Shepherd, my life has protection. Sheep under the care of a good shepherd have no fear of predators. They can “lie down in green pastures” and drink from the “still waters” because they have come to know that their shepherd is watching over them.  Sheep without a shepherd have no defense against predators. Their only hope of survival is to huddle with other sheep and hope for the best. Not so those with a shepherd. He diligently watches over them and wards off enemies with his rod and staff.

Since the LORD is my Shepherd, my life has direction. We are moving through this world with a “destination” in mind.  Our Good Shepherd leads us beside the still waters – where we can drink the refreshment of the Holy Spirit. He also leads us in paths of righteousness so our lives are pleasing to Him. And ultimately, He will lead us to the “marriage supper of the Lamb” where He has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies.

Every heart craves security and purpose, protection and direction, and these desires are fulfilled for those who can truthfully say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
 

Today's Reading: Psalm 22

 

Excruciating Suffering

Psalm 22 is one of the "Messianic Psalms," called such because they speak directly about the future of the coming Messiah (Christ).

The Messianic Psalms include Psalms 2, 22, 69, 72, 100, and 110. There is a sense in which all Psalms are Messianic as they were all inspired by the Holy Spirit and tell of God’s glory and kingdom. Psalm 22 is the most graphic of the Messianic Psalms, describing the future crucifixion of the coming Savior.

It is important to note that Psalm 22 was written nearly a thousand years before crucifixion was devised as a means of capital punishment by the Phoenicians and later adopted by the Romans. Yet it inexplicably gives an accurate account of the brutality of someone being crucified, describing such things as every joint in the body being pulled apart, severe dehydration like dry bones, and the tongue turning black and swollen.

Crucifixion is considered one of the cruelest and most painful means of capital punishment ever devised. As Jesus hung on the cross for the sins of humanity, His words and thoughts are depicted here in great detail. Under great affliction and distress, Jesus cried out “My God, why have you forsaken Me?” This tells us that in the moment of His great sacrifice, even His Father turned away from Him. Although He is suffering immensely and is puzzled that God seems to be absent, He continues to trust in God

The Savior’s physical sufferings are beyond description. His enemies seem to Him like wild animals that have surrounded their helpless victim. They are like a pack of vicious dogs that stare and gloat over Him with a fierceness that tells him they are getting ready for the kill. Already they are biting at His hands and feet and tearing His clothes from him. In desperation he cries to God, for only God can save him now, “But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!” (V19)

The horrifying scene depicted in Psalm 22 describes the darkest moment in the history of the world. It shows us the culmination of human sin and depravity as they crucify (as a criminal) the only Person who ever lived without sin and who committed no crime.

Although this is the darkest moment in human history, it turns out to be the brightest moment for humanity. Because in this moment, the Savior willing sacrificed Himself and went through this excruciating pain because of His love for us! His death on the cross secured salvation for mankind and made it possible for all of us to have our sins pardoned. Because of this moment in time, you and I can be declared righteous in God’s sight and ne given the gift of eternal life. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus! What a Savior!

Today's Reading: Psalm 1, 2, & 15

 

Delighting in the Law of the Lord

What sorts of things bring you DELIGHT? For some, they are delighted when they get to spend quality time with a crush or a mate. For others, it is a delicious meal at their favorite restaurant. Still others find delight in the victory of their favorite sports team or their candidate for political office. Some find delight in personal achievements such as graduations, weight loss, or a promotion at work. Sadly, many find their pleasure in the ways of sin, following the ways of the world and the counsel of the wicked.

David declares here that he finds his greatest enjoyment, pleasure, and gladness in the law of the Lord. He was a man who loved God’s word and delighted whenever he could simply enjoy basking in the truth of the Holy Scriptures. In Psalm 1, he draws a contrast between the person who finds his or her counsel in God’s word and finds great joy therein versus the person who walks in the counsel of the ungodly, stands with sinners, and sits with scoffers. And what a contrast it is!

For those who forego the pleasures of God’s truth and choose instead to find their gratification in worldly pursuits, the future is bleak.  They are like “the chaff which the wind drives away.” This analogy of the wheat chaff carries the idea of being here-today-and-gone-tomorrow. They have no staying power and will one day be blown away by the judgment of God. Those who choose sin over holiness and self-gratification over Divine blessing will not stand on the day of judgment.

BUT! Those of us who find delight and pleasure and enjoyment in the word of the Lord are destined for an eternity of blessing. Unlike the chaff which is blown away, the delighters in God’s truth are strong and fruitful. They are like trees planted by the rivers of water bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. Choosing to follow Jesus and to be doers of His word is by far the greatest choice any person can make.

Do the Scriptures delight you? Do you find your greatest enjoyment, pleasure, and gladness in those moments spent with God in His word? If so, your life will be strong and fruitful for His eternal kingdom. “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

If not, it isn’t too late to turn away from your worldliness and turn back to the fresh water of His word in your soul. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 16

Ascribe Glory to the Lord

First Chronicles, Chapter 16, describes for us the awesome worship celebration which broke out after the Ark of the Covenant was finally returned to Israel and placed in Jerusalem. The Levites brought the Ark and then they thanked, praised, and made offerings to the Lord for His wonderful works. David even prepared a feast for the nation and “distributed to all Israel, both men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins." What an amazing and awesome day. It was a time for rejoicing in the goodness of God and declaring His glory.

In verse 29, as part of David’s song of thanks, he says “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.” The word “ascribe” means “to give credit to; to attribute to; to assign.” Here, David is calling upon the people of Israel to give due credit to the Lord for His glory and wonderful works. He calls them to shout words of highest praise because the Lord is worthy. In awe of the glory and strength of the Lord, sing praise and shout “hooray” to Him. In view of all he had done for them, God’s people were urged to praise Him and to proclaim His mighty acts aloud to others.

David was deeply concerned about the passionate worship of Yahweh. He strongly believed that worship should not simply be a “casual sing-a-long” that we half-heartedly indulge in once a week, but it should and MUST be a time of complete abandonment of ourselves to declare the glory of the Lord. Our worship should be an expression of our deep, heartfelt love for our Creator. David played. David sang. David danced. All of his being was immersed in the worship of His Awesome Creator!

It is so easy to be distracted during times of worship and praise. Our minds begin to wander. Our thoughts turn to the activities going on in our home, our work, our hobbies, our life. When that happens, our lips may still move, but our heart is not engaged. This is when we should “check ourselves” and turn our attention fully back to the God who created us, who loves us, and who has brought us His awesome redemption through the blood of His Son. “Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:3)

Take a moment NOW and ascribe (give credit to) the Lord the glory due His name. Come before Him and worship Him in the splendor of holiness, “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” (V25). Do it with abandonment. Immerse yourself in worship.

 

Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 15

 

Following God's Word Precisely

It’s a big day in Israel! It is finally time to bring the Ark of the Covenant to its new home. David had prepared a special place for the Ark in the city and pitched a tent there to cover it. The darkness and defeat which had marked the final days of king Saul’s reign were finally giving way to God’s light and new hope for the nation. Holy worship was returning to Israel. It is a happy day. It is a day for rejoicing!

You’ll remember that back in 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13, David and the Israelites had failed on their first attempt to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. As the ark was being transported, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and a man named Uzzah took hold of the ark. God’s anger burned against Uzzah and He struck him down and he died. There are some reasons why God took such severe action.

God is a God of precision. And He expects us to follow His word precisely. God had given Moses very specific instructions for carrying the Ark and the rest of the holy things from the Tabernacle. The Lord had specified that when the Ark was ready to move, the Levites were to come to do the carrying. It was not to be placed on a cart and pulled by oxen. The Levites were to insert carrying poles into the rings on the Ark and carry it on their shoulders. God was very specific about this. No matter how innocently it was done, touching the ark was in direct violation of God’s law and did not honor His holiness.  

When God gives precise instructions, we must follow His words precisely.  When God told Noah to build the Ark, He gave Him precise instructions – the materials to use, the dimensions, the number of animals, etc. And Noah followed God’s instructions precisely. In the time of Moses, the people knew the awesomeness of God’s absolute holiness. They had witnessed great miracles when the ark was with them. They respected that God’s ways and thoughts were much higher than theirs. But David and his men did not have the same respect for God’s ways. 

Tragically today, many people within the Church have lost that sense of God’s holiness and following His word with precision. They try to ignore His commands to pray continually, study His word, fellowship with others, worship Him, and share His good news. They live worldly lives close to sin and indulge in acts God doesn’t approve of because they don’t have a healthy respect for His holiness and a passion to follow His words precisely. They claim the name of Christ, but they are not doers of His word.

Fortunately for David, they acknowledged the error of their ways. They repented of their lackadaisical approach to carrying the Ark and so today is a happy day in Israel. The Ark finally arrives at its new home.  Notice verse 14 & 15: “So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel.  And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.” They returned to following His word precisely and God honored them for it.  In the same way, He will honor you for following His word with preciseness.