December 2 -- "Yahweh My Shepherd"

 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.”

December 1 -- "Excruciating Suffering"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 22

"Excruciating Suffering"

Psalm 22 is one of the Messianic Psalms, so called because they speak of the coming Messiah. 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 His Father 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!

November 30 -- "Finding Delight in God's Counsel"

 Today’s Reading: Psalm 1, 2, & 15

"Finding Delight in God's Counsel"

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 finding counsel 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)

November 29 -- "Ascribe Glory to the Lord"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 16

"Ascribe Glory to the Lord"

1 Chronicles 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.

November 28 -- "Unwavering Commitment to God's Word"

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 15 

"Unwavering Commitment to God's Word"

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. 

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. They have lost (or never had) and unwavering commitment to God's 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, just as He will honor you for your unwavering commitment to His Word.

November 27 -- "Peace Through Strength"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 13 & 14

"Peace Through Strength"

God blessed David and his kingdom because David honored God.  As a result of David’s victories against other nations (especially the dreaded Phillistines), the neighboring peoples began to fear him. Verse 17 tells us that “the Lord brought the fear of [David] upon all nations.” As the neighboring nations observed the strength of Israel, God put a fear into their hearts and minds. The result was that Israel’s enemies were afraid to go up against them for fear of devastating losses.

We see this as the Lord placing a “hedge of protection” around David and Israel. The term “hedge of protection” comes from the book of Job. It is taken from Satan’s comments about the fact that he was unable to do any harm to Job because God had “put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has.” (Job 1:9-10)  In ancient times, people would often place a hedge of thorn bushes surrounding their homes to keep wolves, bears, leopards, and hyenas away. The Bible uses this practice to describe God’s protection around Job and his household.

In the same way, God placed a hedge of protection around David and his kingdom. He didn’t do this with physical thorn bushes, but with a spiritual move upon the hearts and minds of people. He placed a fear of David upon the nations.

A thorn hedge is an appropriate metaphor for the protection God gives His followers. As believers, we should ask for the Lord to put a hedge of protection around our lives, our families, our marriages, our communities, our churches, and our nation. With His protection, our enemies cannot prosper against us. As Isaiah said, “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confuse every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17)

God will bless those who honor Him. As we trust in Him, our enemies (the world, the flesh, the devil) will fall back in fear and we, like David, can experience “peace through strength.” He will gladly place His protection around our lives. “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

November 26 -- "Can You Feel The Music?"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 6

"Can You Feel The Music?"

Listen! Can you hear the music? David and all the house of Israel are rejoicing with songs of celebration. The musical instruments are playing, the choir is leading and the people are ringing out with songs of celebration before the Lord. It is a happy and melodic moment.

They have a lot to celebrate. David has just been inaugurated as Israel’s new king and the Ark of the Covenant has just been re-captured from the Phillistines. The crowds are returning to Jerusalem with great excitement and joy.

The distinctly Hebrew music can be heard for miles. Singing, dancing, and praising the Lord. Some of the instruments being played are mentioned in verse 5: the lyre (a stringed instrument like a small U-shaped harp with strings fixed to a crossbar); the harp (most likely a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held between the teeth and struck with a finger); the tambourines (also called “timbrel” – a percussion instrument resembling a shallow drum with small metal disks in slots around the edge), castanets (a long handled instrument with metal rings at the end); and cymbals (two metal plates attached to each hand of and struck together to produce a great noise). Can you hear it? Can you feel it? Oh, what joy!

If we were able to step into the Old Testament period, we would find a culture filled with music, where people used music in their daily lives. Both the Old and New Testaments address music and strongly support its use in worship. The extensive collection of actual songs found in the Old Testament indicates the importance and value God places on creative musical expression. Music’s use in worship in the church today is valuable and can honor God in a special way.

God's people have always used music to express their innermost feelings of praise for our God and Father. In Ephesians 5:18-19, we are encouraged to incorporate music into our relationship with God, “Be filled with the Spirit. Sing the words and tunes of the psalms and hymns when you are together, and go on singing and chanting to the Lord in your hearts.”  The Bible never says, let those who have beautiful voices sing, as if natural talent were required to praise God. The Bible just says “Sing!” Over and over, dozens of times, we are commanded to sing: sing to the Lord, sing praises, sing joyfully, sing a new song. Come into God’s presence with singing. Do it now.