Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Wednesday, August 12th: Psalms 84-86, 1 Peter 2 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Psalms 84-86; 1 Peter 2

I love Psalm 84.  It expresses so beautiful our longing for heaven and the presence of God.

I love how John Schultz put it....
It is love that makes a place lovely. It is the presence of God, which gives loveliness to a place.

He also points out that the term used here is for the Lord of hosts, an army.

God is the supreme commander of the greatest army in heaven and earth...To call upon God as our supreme commander also implies that we are part of His army, that we are on His side, and that we owe Him absolute obedience. We know that cause for which we stand. The man who sees himself in this position is blessed. The word “blessed” is also used three times in this Psalm. 

ß Blessed are those who dwell in your house. 
ß Blessed are those whose strength is in you. 
ß LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. 

If we see these three sentences in connection with God’s army, we may say that, dwelling in God’s house is tantamount to belonging to His battalion; having our strength in Him is equivalent to wearing His uniform, and trusting in Him means that we count, not because of what we are in ourselves, but because of our relationship with God’s army. In New Testament terms this means that we have taken up our position in Jesus Christ. 


1 Peter 2 covers so much, but this verse stood out to me...
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
We are new creatures, we were bought with a price, we are not our own - and we should be very different from those around us.  Are we?


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage:  Psalms 87-88; 1 Peter 3

3 comments:

Nathan said...

Two verses stood out to me, both in 1 Peter:

17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

The last part of this verse reminded me that with the election soon coming, our government will often let us down, we still need to show respect for our elected officials and pray for them.

23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

When I feel slighted or mistreated by someone, I can't be looking for revenge. I need to leave the judging to God.

Conrad said...

A familiar verse stood out for me in Psalm 84:10. "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."

We have been on holidays and visited a beach in Florida where the sand is white and the water blue, just like the brochures would show. We have been back to the same beach and I can't wait for our next visit there.

This verse reminded me that our eternity home will be even better than this!

Pamela said...

The same verse stood out for me, Conrad:

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

But I also liked the following verse too...it reminded me of my disdain for camping. Why would I choose to live in the uncomfortableness of a tent when I can live in the house of my God.

This verse also stood out as we begin a new school year:

Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.

When we know better, we can be better.

and as Nathan said. May we remember to respect our government officials and pray for them and as the election approaches may we pray for wisdom to elect the person who will be in power.