Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 83, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, 2 Chronicles 1:1, 1 Kings 2:13-3:4, 2 Chronicles 1:2-6, 1 Kings 3:5-15, 2 Chronicles 1:7-13. The more non-flipping version is Psalm 83, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, 2 Chronicles 1:1-13, 1 Kings 2:13-3:15
This is the passage where God actually says to Solomon "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 1 King 3:5
Incredible! Can you imagine God appearing and telling you to ask for whatever you want?
So many people would ask for power or wealth, but Solomon did not.
He asked for wisdom. He asked for discernment.
And I'd say he showed that he already had a great deal of wisdom when he asked for wisdom! What a wise request he made.
And God rewarded him not only with wisdom, but also with wealth and power, so that there was never before or after another king like Solomon. Wow - that's an amazing statement!
What a great reminder that when we align our will to the will of God, when we want what He wants, when we are people after God's own heart, when we seek Him, when we study the Word to become more like Him - we will be blessed! We may not be blessed by money or power. But we will be blessed with wisdom. We will be blessed with a closer relationship with Him.
Tomorrow's passage: 1 Kings 3:16-28, 1 Kings 5:1-18, 2 Chronicles 2:1-18, 1 Kings 6:1-13, 2 Chronicles 3:1-14, 1 Kings 6:14-38. For less flipping use 1 Kings 3:16-28, 1 Kings 5:1-6:38, 2 Chronicles 2:1-3:14
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19th
Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 79-82.
John Deffinbaugh's commentary The Judgement of the "gods", is a great in-depth look at Psalm 82, and is important because Jesus quoted from this Psalm (John 10:34-36) as proof of His deity.
In Psalm 82 God is standing amongst the people of Israel, particularly the leaders who had been appointed to judge righteously in God's stead. However, instead of judging righteously, instead of defending and rescuing the weak, the poor and the oppressed, they were judging corruptly and God's patience was at its end.
v6 is particularly important as this is the verse Jesus quoted in the NT.
I said, ‘You are gods
The leaders were being reminded that they were appointed by God to lead in His place, in His name and according to His character and commands.
and all of you are sons of the Most High.
Not only were the leaders being reminded of this fact, but all the Israelites as well. The whole community was responsible to ensure that godly leaders were put in place. Further, everyone has a responsibility to be a leader when it comes to doing what's right.
Ultimately God will reign in the person of His Son, the Messiah. For now, He reigns through His “sons,” the “gods” who are appointed to reign in His stead. It must also be said, God is to reign in and through His people collectively. We who belong to Him are all His sons, destined to reign with Him in the future (cf 2 Tim 2:12, Rev 20:6),but also to actively promote righteousness now. (from above commentary)
The psalmist knows that righteous rule will only be truly possible on the earth with the coming of the Messiah and concludes the psalm by petitioning God for exactly that.
So, when Jesus quotes from Psalm 82 He identities them as the fulfillment of v1-7 and Himself as the fulfillment of v8 - the Messiah.
This passage brings up several things.
First, of course, is to decide whether or not we believe Jesus to be the Messiah and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.
Secondly, it's a reminder and warning to all leaders. Leadership is not due to our own power, but God's. Leaders represent God and they will be accountable for how they lead. Each one of us is a leader to some degree - most are parents, and if nothing else, we all are in relationships with other people and we are responsible to lead when it comes to doing what's right. We also need to remember that this power is given to serve - especially the weak, the powerless, the poor and the oppressed.
Third, it reminds us to respect those in position of authority over us, God has appointed them as leaders and we need to respect them.
Fourth, we need to choose carefully who we will follow. We are all leaders to some degree, and followers to some degree. We need to choose the right leaders to lead us. And we need to help hold them accountable.
And last, but certainly not least, we can look forward to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ when His perfect righteous rule will last forever.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 83, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, 2 Chronicles 1:1, 1 Kings 2:13-3:4, 2 Chronicles 1:2-6, 1 Kings 3:5-15, 2 Chronicles 1:7-13. The more non-flipping version is Psalm 83, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, 2 Chronicles 1:1-13, 1 Kings 2:13-3:15.
John Deffinbaugh's commentary The Judgement of the "gods", is a great in-depth look at Psalm 82, and is important because Jesus quoted from this Psalm (John 10:34-36) as proof of His deity.
In Psalm 82 God is standing amongst the people of Israel, particularly the leaders who had been appointed to judge righteously in God's stead. However, instead of judging righteously, instead of defending and rescuing the weak, the poor and the oppressed, they were judging corruptly and God's patience was at its end.
v6 is particularly important as this is the verse Jesus quoted in the NT.
I said, ‘You are gods
The leaders were being reminded that they were appointed by God to lead in His place, in His name and according to His character and commands.
and all of you are sons of the Most High.
Not only were the leaders being reminded of this fact, but all the Israelites as well. The whole community was responsible to ensure that godly leaders were put in place. Further, everyone has a responsibility to be a leader when it comes to doing what's right.
Ultimately God will reign in the person of His Son, the Messiah. For now, He reigns through His “sons,” the “gods” who are appointed to reign in His stead. It must also be said, God is to reign in and through His people collectively. We who belong to Him are all His sons, destined to reign with Him in the future (cf 2 Tim 2:12, Rev 20:6),but also to actively promote righteousness now. (from above commentary)
The psalmist knows that righteous rule will only be truly possible on the earth with the coming of the Messiah and concludes the psalm by petitioning God for exactly that.
So, when Jesus quotes from Psalm 82 He identities them as the fulfillment of v1-7 and Himself as the fulfillment of v8 - the Messiah.
This passage brings up several things.
First, of course, is to decide whether or not we believe Jesus to be the Messiah and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.
Secondly, it's a reminder and warning to all leaders. Leadership is not due to our own power, but God's. Leaders represent God and they will be accountable for how they lead. Each one of us is a leader to some degree - most are parents, and if nothing else, we all are in relationships with other people and we are responsible to lead when it comes to doing what's right. We also need to remember that this power is given to serve - especially the weak, the powerless, the poor and the oppressed.
Third, it reminds us to respect those in position of authority over us, God has appointed them as leaders and we need to respect them.
Fourth, we need to choose carefully who we will follow. We are all leaders to some degree, and followers to some degree. We need to choose the right leaders to lead us. And we need to help hold them accountable.
And last, but certainly not least, we can look forward to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ when His perfect righteous rule will last forever.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 83, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, 2 Chronicles 1:1, 1 Kings 2:13-3:4, 2 Chronicles 1:2-6, 1 Kings 3:5-15, 2 Chronicles 1:7-13. The more non-flipping version is Psalm 83, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, 2 Chronicles 1:1-13, 1 Kings 2:13-3:15.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 18 - Miriam
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 75-78.
I was particularly drawn to Psalm 77 during today's reading. There are times in our lives where things seem to be going terribly wrong. Times where we feel that God is far away from us, has forgotten us, or worse yet,
stopped loving us.
Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion? (v. 7-9)
As Christians, we know in our minds that this is not the case, but it's hard to keep from feeling that way at times. Fortunately the second half of the Psalm answers the question of how to respond when we are feeling this way.
But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you? (v. 11-13)
In times of trouble, times of despair, times where we feel that God is too busy with other "more important" things to care about "little old me", and we pray but feel that he is not listening or perhaps listening but not answering, we must try to remember the great things he has done in the past and renew our trust that he will continue to care for and provide for us, even if we can't see it right now. From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
The remembrance of the works of God, will be a powerful remedy against distrust of his promise and goodness; for he is God, and changes not. God's way is in the sanctuary. We are sure that God is holy in all his works. God's ways are like the deep waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which cannot be tracked. God brought Israel out of Egypt. This was typical of the great redemption to be wrought out in the fulness of time, both by price and power. If we have harboured doubtful thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate on that God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things.
It's not always easy to trust when we can't see the way before us, but that is when it is most important. The first verses of this psalm struck a chord with me because there have been times, usually at night, usually when I'm fretting about some problem that I can't seem to find a solution to, where it seems that God is far away and not involved in my everyday life. Of course, everything looks better in the morning (usually), but during those night times I hope from now on to remember to focus on God's faithfulness in the past and trust that he will remain faithful and that he knows what he's doing.
Tomorrow's reading is Psalm 79-82.
I was particularly drawn to Psalm 77 during today's reading. There are times in our lives where things seem to be going terribly wrong. Times where we feel that God is far away from us, has forgotten us, or worse yet,
stopped loving us.
Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion? (v. 7-9)
As Christians, we know in our minds that this is not the case, but it's hard to keep from feeling that way at times. Fortunately the second half of the Psalm answers the question of how to respond when we are feeling this way.
But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
O God, your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you? (v. 11-13)
In times of trouble, times of despair, times where we feel that God is too busy with other "more important" things to care about "little old me", and we pray but feel that he is not listening or perhaps listening but not answering, we must try to remember the great things he has done in the past and renew our trust that he will continue to care for and provide for us, even if we can't see it right now. From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
The remembrance of the works of God, will be a powerful remedy against distrust of his promise and goodness; for he is God, and changes not. God's way is in the sanctuary. We are sure that God is holy in all his works. God's ways are like the deep waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which cannot be tracked. God brought Israel out of Egypt. This was typical of the great redemption to be wrought out in the fulness of time, both by price and power. If we have harboured doubtful thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate on that God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things.
It's not always easy to trust when we can't see the way before us, but that is when it is most important. The first verses of this psalm struck a chord with me because there have been times, usually at night, usually when I'm fretting about some problem that I can't seem to find a solution to, where it seems that God is far away and not involved in my everyday life. Of course, everything looks better in the morning (usually), but during those night times I hope from now on to remember to focus on God's faithfulness in the past and trust that he will remain faithful and that he knows what he's doing.
Tomorrow's reading is Psalm 79-82.
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17th
Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 50; Psalm 73-74
Commentaries on today's passages
Psalm 50 - Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty, God Shines Forth (John Piper) and Call upon Me in the Day of Trouble and I Will Deliver You (John Piper)
Psalm 73 - Battling the Unbelief of Despondency (John Piper) and The Suffering of the Righteous and the Success of Sinners (Bob Deffinbaugh)
I wanted to write just a bit about Psalm 73 today. There are numerous lessons to be learned from this Psalm (see above commentaries), but I wanted to focus on one fairly general truth that we can take away from it.
No matter how much the wicked may flourish in this life, no matter how much it may seem like there is no benefit to righteousness - one day it will matter eternally.
The wicked may prosper in this life. Often they will not, often they will sow what they reap right here on earth. But sometimes it seems like they get away with a lot. Sometimes it seems tempting to do the same, especially when it doesn't appear that we are getting rewarded for doing the right thing.
But the wealth and prosperity of the wicked will end forever at death.
And the rewards for the righteous will also last forever.
Though time seems to stretch on interminably right now, though we long for justice to come now and not later, we can rest in the knowledge that justice will come. All wrongs will be made right. The wicked will be held accountable and the righteous will receive their reward.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 75-78
Commentaries on today's passages
Psalm 50 - Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty, God Shines Forth (John Piper) and Call upon Me in the Day of Trouble and I Will Deliver You (John Piper)
Psalm 73 - Battling the Unbelief of Despondency (John Piper) and The Suffering of the Righteous and the Success of Sinners (Bob Deffinbaugh)
I wanted to write just a bit about Psalm 73 today. There are numerous lessons to be learned from this Psalm (see above commentaries), but I wanted to focus on one fairly general truth that we can take away from it.
No matter how much the wicked may flourish in this life, no matter how much it may seem like there is no benefit to righteousness - one day it will matter eternally.
The wicked may prosper in this life. Often they will not, often they will sow what they reap right here on earth. But sometimes it seems like they get away with a lot. Sometimes it seems tempting to do the same, especially when it doesn't appear that we are getting rewarded for doing the right thing.
But the wealth and prosperity of the wicked will end forever at death.
And the rewards for the righteous will also last forever.
Though time seems to stretch on interminably right now, though we long for justice to come now and not later, we can rest in the knowledge that justice will come. All wrongs will be made right. The wicked will be held accountable and the righteous will receive their reward.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
Psalm 73:23-28
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
Psalm 73:23-28
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 75-78
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday- Guest Post By Mrs.Oz
Today's reading from One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 144-145; Psalm 88-89.
There are many great passages to remember from here. Some favorites of mine are:
"O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow. "
...because it reminds me of one of my Facebook flair buttons "God is big, I am small, that's the way I like it"
"Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;"
....because these beautiful word pictures hit on my emotional longing for my children and remind me to pray this for my daughters and my son.
"The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works."
....because it reminds me that God is indeed GOOD TO ALL, and that what I agree with Him on as to what IS good does not matter, if He says it's good, it's good!
"The LORD sustains all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down."
....because it reminds me that I will fall and my first reaction should be humility which is exercised by turning to my God which involves repentance balanced with assurance of my identity secure in the heart of my King. (i'm pretty sure there is some grammar problem in the that sentence:)
"The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth."
....because it reminds me that He is near and knows my heart longs for Him.
"You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the depths. "
....because it reminds me that still, in God's goodness (which does not stop at any point) he puts me in dark hard places that I may find Him more. So when I am there, He is the first thing I should look to and cling to and be assured of.
"I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed forever. And build up your throne to all generations."
....because it reminds me of what an amazing inheritance I'm part of because of Christ, the seed of David!
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!"
....because it shows some awesome character qualities of God and how we immediately delight at the joyful sound of those qualities because our hearts were made to find complete enjoyment in them!
Furthermore, these Psalms remind us of the emotional battle we have in response to God's doings. David is honest with God in expressing both delight and despair. He's quite the emotional man. Many of these laments would seem that he has decided there is a contradiction in the character of His God don't you think? Yet, we know God does not contradict himself. So, what more can it tell us than the truth that our emotional perspective of God will indeed be bleak at times. We won't always like what He does, we won't always feel his goodness, and we won't always think He is near. None of that changes the truth of his goodness, faithfulness and provision. Sometimes God fills us and sometimes he puts us in a place of longing.
This following quote was shared by a friend of mine on Facebook and it's regarding Psalm 42 but I think it speaks to all the Psalms so I'm ending today with sharing it. Read it a few times or do what this friend of mine was going to do and memorize it for meditation on later. It's amazing.
Sometimes God teaches us effectually to know the worth of mercies by the want of them, and whets our appetite for the means of grace by cutting us short in those means. We are apt to loathe that manna, when we have plenty of it, which will be very precious to us if ever we come to know the scarcity of it. When he (psalmist) was deprived, in a great measure, of the inward comfort he used to have in God.* He now went mourning, but he went on panting. If God, by His grace, has wrought in us sincere and earnest desires towards Him, we may take comfort from these when we want those ravishing delights we have sometimes had in God, because lamenting after God is as sure an evidence that we love him as rejoicing in God. Before the psalmist records his doubts, and fears, and griefs, which had sorely shaken him, he premises this, That he looked upon the living God as his chief good, and had set his heart upon Him accordingly, and was resolved to live and die upon Him; and, casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm."
Matthew Henry
Tomorrow's reading is Psalm 50; Psalm 73-74
There are many great passages to remember from here. Some favorites of mine are:
"O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Man is like a mere breath; His days are like a passing shadow. "
...because it reminds me of one of my Facebook flair buttons "God is big, I am small, that's the way I like it"
"Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace;"
....because these beautiful word pictures hit on my emotional longing for my children and remind me to pray this for my daughters and my son.
"The LORD is good to all, And His mercies are over all His works."
....because it reminds me that God is indeed GOOD TO ALL, and that what I agree with Him on as to what IS good does not matter, if He says it's good, it's good!
"The LORD sustains all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down."
....because it reminds me that I will fall and my first reaction should be humility which is exercised by turning to my God which involves repentance balanced with assurance of my identity secure in the heart of my King. (i'm pretty sure there is some grammar problem in the that sentence:)
"The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth."
....because it reminds me that He is near and knows my heart longs for Him.
"You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the depths. "
....because it reminds me that still, in God's goodness (which does not stop at any point) he puts me in dark hard places that I may find Him more. So when I am there, He is the first thing I should look to and cling to and be assured of.
"I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, I will establish your seed forever. And build up your throne to all generations."
....because it reminds me of what an amazing inheritance I'm part of because of Christ, the seed of David!
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!"
....because it shows some awesome character qualities of God and how we immediately delight at the joyful sound of those qualities because our hearts were made to find complete enjoyment in them!
Furthermore, these Psalms remind us of the emotional battle we have in response to God's doings. David is honest with God in expressing both delight and despair. He's quite the emotional man. Many of these laments would seem that he has decided there is a contradiction in the character of His God don't you think? Yet, we know God does not contradict himself. So, what more can it tell us than the truth that our emotional perspective of God will indeed be bleak at times. We won't always like what He does, we won't always feel his goodness, and we won't always think He is near. None of that changes the truth of his goodness, faithfulness and provision. Sometimes God fills us and sometimes he puts us in a place of longing.
This following quote was shared by a friend of mine on Facebook and it's regarding Psalm 42 but I think it speaks to all the Psalms so I'm ending today with sharing it. Read it a few times or do what this friend of mine was going to do and memorize it for meditation on later. It's amazing.
Sometimes God teaches us effectually to know the worth of mercies by the want of them, and whets our appetite for the means of grace by cutting us short in those means. We are apt to loathe that manna, when we have plenty of it, which will be very precious to us if ever we come to know the scarcity of it. When he (psalmist) was deprived, in a great measure, of the inward comfort he used to have in God.* He now went mourning, but he went on panting. If God, by His grace, has wrought in us sincere and earnest desires towards Him, we may take comfort from these when we want those ravishing delights we have sometimes had in God, because lamenting after God is as sure an evidence that we love him as rejoicing in God. Before the psalmist records his doubts, and fears, and griefs, which had sorely shaken him, he premises this, That he looked upon the living God as his chief good, and had set his heart upon Him accordingly, and was resolved to live and die upon Him; and, casting anchor thus at first, he rides out the storm."
Matthew Henry
Tomorrow's reading is Psalm 50; Psalm 73-74
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 15-guest post by Pamela
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 131, 133, 138-141, 143.
These verses hold some of my favourites:
Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
These verses hold some of my favourites:
Psalm 139
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
But the one I would like to focus on today is:
Scripture:
Psalm 139:17 &18
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Observation:
How can we feel insignificant when the creator of the Universe has us in His thoughts?
Application:
One summer I spent a week being a day camp counselor at my cousin's church. This verse was used in one of the Bible application lessons and it has always stuck with me. Each child was given a sheet of black paper, a teaspoon of sand, and a toothpick. They were asked to use the toothpick to separate the grains of sand and to try to count them. Have you ever tried this?? Try it sometime. After some painstaking attempts it was quickly discovered that it was next to impossible to count each grain. The director shared Psalm 139:17&18 with the children and told them that the exercise in counting the grains of sand was to remind them that God thought about them more than there are grains of sand on the earth. What a comforting thought. When we feel alone, discouraged, helpless, or afraid, God is there thinking about us and knowing us and our needs. I hope each of those kids took the message of this passage to heart, and still remember it as I do, even all these years later. This summer, as you spend time at the beach, pick up a handful of sand and let it run through your fingers as you look closely at each grain and remember these verses.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for being who you are. Our finite human minds cannot truly comprehend you on this side of paradise. In your infinite wisdom you have created us and know us intimately. Lord, sometimes we stumble and forget about how valuable we are to you. We can become sad and lonely and feel insignificant. Help us to remember that could not be further from the truth. Be with each of us and draw us all closer to you. Amen.
Tomorrow's Readings are Psalm 144-145; Psalm 88-89.
Friday, May 14, 2010
May 14th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 103, 108-110, 122 and 124
Commentaries on today's passage
Psalm 103 - Bless the Lord, O My Soul - John Piper
Psalm 109 - A Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked - John Deffinbaugh
Psalm 110 - David's Lord - John Deffinbaugh
I haven't read all 3 commentaries yet, but I have read John Piper's and it is awesome - I highly encourage you to read it. Here are a couple of quotes....
what it means when it says, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him,” is this: When you see a good father, you are seeing a picture of God. Or to put it another way, God designed human fatherhood to be a portrait of himself.....
God created fatherhood in his own image, and good fathering points to God.......
And the question a father should ask is: How can my children benefit forever from the love of God? How can they become the beneficiaries of God’s righteousness rather than condemned by it?....
The steadfast love of God and the righteousness of God will follow your children from generation to generation if three things happen: 1) if they fear him (v. 17); 2) if they keep his covenant (v. 18); and 3) if they do his commandments (v. 18).......
What is the one main thing that this psalm calls us to do for our children? For our wives? For our churches? For our city? For our own souls? The answer is: Bless the Lord.......
Blessing the Lord means speaking or singing about the goodness and greatness of the Lord........
O fathers, let your children hear you bless the Lord for the gospel. Let them hear your soul exult in Christ. Let them hear your humble heart leap up with gratitude. Let them hear your affections for the Savior. Let them hear your love for Christ and his great love for you. Let them hear you say, “O how I bless your name that my sins are forgiven.” Then love your wife and children the way Jesus loved you. (emphasis mine)
How simple, how effective, how challenging, how convicting!
And of course, this advice is just as true for mothers as it is for fathers.
Another passage I love in this psalm....
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12
Truly amazing. His love knows no limit, his forgiveness knows no bounds.
God is love.
God is mercy.
Bless the name of the Lord!
Tomorrow's readings: Psalm 131, 133, 138-141, 143
Commentaries on today's passage
Psalm 103 - Bless the Lord, O My Soul - John Piper
Psalm 109 - A Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked - John Deffinbaugh
Psalm 110 - David's Lord - John Deffinbaugh
I haven't read all 3 commentaries yet, but I have read John Piper's and it is awesome - I highly encourage you to read it. Here are a couple of quotes....
what it means when it says, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him,” is this: When you see a good father, you are seeing a picture of God. Or to put it another way, God designed human fatherhood to be a portrait of himself.....
God created fatherhood in his own image, and good fathering points to God.......
And the question a father should ask is: How can my children benefit forever from the love of God? How can they become the beneficiaries of God’s righteousness rather than condemned by it?....
The steadfast love of God and the righteousness of God will follow your children from generation to generation if three things happen: 1) if they fear him (v. 17); 2) if they keep his covenant (v. 18); and 3) if they do his commandments (v. 18).......
What is the one main thing that this psalm calls us to do for our children? For our wives? For our churches? For our city? For our own souls? The answer is: Bless the Lord.......
Blessing the Lord means speaking or singing about the goodness and greatness of the Lord........
O fathers, let your children hear you bless the Lord for the gospel. Let them hear your soul exult in Christ. Let them hear your humble heart leap up with gratitude. Let them hear your affections for the Savior. Let them hear your love for Christ and his great love for you. Let them hear you say, “O how I bless your name that my sins are forgiven.” Then love your wife and children the way Jesus loved you. (emphasis mine)
How simple, how effective, how challenging, how convicting!
And of course, this advice is just as true for mothers as it is for fathers.
Another passage I love in this psalm....
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12
Truly amazing. His love knows no limit, his forgiveness knows no bounds.
God is love.
God is mercy.
Bless the name of the Lord!
Tomorrow's readings: Psalm 131, 133, 138-141, 143
Thursday, May 13, 2010
May 13th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 68-70, 86 and 101
John Piper's sermons
Psalm 69 - Pour out Your Indignation Upon Them discusses whether or not David cursing his enemies is something that God approved of, and I Will Magnify God with Thanksgiving discusses how we magnify God when we give thanks to Him.
Psalm 86 - The Lord is Great and Does Wondrous Things gives testimony to the greatness of our God and lists some of the many ways we would be changed if we would keep the greatness of God in the forefront of our minds.
Scripture
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. Psalm 101:6
Observation
David decided that he would intentionally choose godly people to be his mentors and friends.
Application
One of the things we are intentional about in our parenting is teaching our children to choose friends wisely. This will become even more important when they enter the teen years and their friends opinions become so vital to them. But choosing friends wisely isn't only important for our young children or teenagers. It is vitally important for us adults too.
This does not mean that we cannot be friends with non-Christians. On the contrary, we need to befriend the lost and God has told us to love our enemies.
However, we need to make an intentional effort to have as our most trusted and most influential friends those who are godly, truthful, faithful people whose desire is to grow in their relationships with God and to challenge us to do the same.
We need to make sure that if we do have close friends who have different values from our own, that we are mindful of that fact when discussing moral or cultural issues.
An example to make my point....
If you are standing at the side of the pool and want to help a friend up out of the water, is it easier for you to pull her up, or for her to pull you down?
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for your greatness. Help us to focus on your incomparable, unparalleled, unrivaled, unequal greatness. You are greater than all angels or demons, all evil spirits, all principalities, powers and rulers of this present darkness and all spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realms. You ARE greatness. Help us to live in light of your greatness.
Lord I thank you that you have blessed us with other people for companionship, friends who can support us and encourage us. Help us to choose our friends wisely, and to draw closest to us those who are faithful to You and your Word, those who will not only encourage our walk with You, but challenge it! And I ask that You help us to be that kind of friend to those around us.
Amen!
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 103, 108-110, 122 and 124
John Piper's sermons
Psalm 69 - Pour out Your Indignation Upon Them discusses whether or not David cursing his enemies is something that God approved of, and I Will Magnify God with Thanksgiving discusses how we magnify God when we give thanks to Him.
Psalm 86 - The Lord is Great and Does Wondrous Things gives testimony to the greatness of our God and lists some of the many ways we would be changed if we would keep the greatness of God in the forefront of our minds.
Scripture
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. Psalm 101:6
Observation
David decided that he would intentionally choose godly people to be his mentors and friends.
Application
One of the things we are intentional about in our parenting is teaching our children to choose friends wisely. This will become even more important when they enter the teen years and their friends opinions become so vital to them. But choosing friends wisely isn't only important for our young children or teenagers. It is vitally important for us adults too.
This does not mean that we cannot be friends with non-Christians. On the contrary, we need to befriend the lost and God has told us to love our enemies.
However, we need to make an intentional effort to have as our most trusted and most influential friends those who are godly, truthful, faithful people whose desire is to grow in their relationships with God and to challenge us to do the same.
We need to make sure that if we do have close friends who have different values from our own, that we are mindful of that fact when discussing moral or cultural issues.
An example to make my point....
If you are standing at the side of the pool and want to help a friend up out of the water, is it easier for you to pull her up, or for her to pull you down?
Prayer
Lord, I thank you for your greatness. Help us to focus on your incomparable, unparalleled, unrivaled, unequal greatness. You are greater than all angels or demons, all evil spirits, all principalities, powers and rulers of this present darkness and all spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realms. You ARE greatness. Help us to live in light of your greatness.
Lord I thank you that you have blessed us with other people for companionship, friends who can support us and encourage us. Help us to choose our friends wisely, and to draw closest to us those who are faithful to You and your Word, those who will not only encourage our walk with You, but challenge it! And I ask that You help us to be that kind of friend to those around us.
Amen!
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 103, 108-110, 122 and 124
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
May 12th
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 61, 62 and 64-67
John Piper sermons on Psalm 67 are Let the Nations Be Glad and Let All the Peoples Praise Thee.
Scripture
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2
Observation
God is our salvation, our rock and fortress.
Application
God made our salvation possible by sending His one and only Son (John 3:16) to earth to die in our place as a perfect sacrifice, atoning for all our sins, mercifully offering reconciliation and relationship between us and our Creator. All we have to do is accept it. Salvation come through Jesus and Jesus alone. There is no other way to heaven. (John 14:6)
God is our rock. Nothing in this life is stable, nothing in this life is unchanging - except God. Our circumstances may change, our emotions may change, our relationships may change, our jobs may change - but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is all-powerful, He is sovereign, He is omniscient - He is our rock.
God is our fortress. When others hurt us, we can turn to God. When we are rocked by our circumstances, we can turn to God. When we put our trust in God and find rest in Him, He is our fortress and nothing can shake us. This does not mean nothing will ever harm us - but it does mean that He will be with us through it all, every step of the way.
Prayer
Dear God, I am so thankful for the merciful offering of your one and only Son Jesus, to die in my place so that I could have a relationship with You. I thank you that you are unchanging and that we can utterly trust you in everything. Thank you that you will never leave us or forsake us. Thank you that we can find shelter underneath your wings. Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 68-70, 86 and 101
John Piper sermons on Psalm 67 are Let the Nations Be Glad and Let All the Peoples Praise Thee.
Scripture
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2
Observation
God is our salvation, our rock and fortress.
Application
God made our salvation possible by sending His one and only Son (John 3:16) to earth to die in our place as a perfect sacrifice, atoning for all our sins, mercifully offering reconciliation and relationship between us and our Creator. All we have to do is accept it. Salvation come through Jesus and Jesus alone. There is no other way to heaven. (John 14:6)
God is our rock. Nothing in this life is stable, nothing in this life is unchanging - except God. Our circumstances may change, our emotions may change, our relationships may change, our jobs may change - but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is all-powerful, He is sovereign, He is omniscient - He is our rock.
God is our fortress. When others hurt us, we can turn to God. When we are rocked by our circumstances, we can turn to God. When we put our trust in God and find rest in Him, He is our fortress and nothing can shake us. This does not mean nothing will ever harm us - but it does mean that He will be with us through it all, every step of the way.
Prayer
Dear God, I am so thankful for the merciful offering of your one and only Son Jesus, to die in my place so that I could have a relationship with You. I thank you that you are unchanging and that we can utterly trust you in everything. Thank you that you will never leave us or forsake us. Thank you that we can find shelter underneath your wings. Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 68-70, 86 and 101
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Tuesday, May 11 - Miriam
Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Psalm 39-41, 53, 55 & 58.
I apologize for my lateness. Yesterday was a busy day around here so I decided I'd do it first thing this morning, but when I read the passages I had a hard time settling on what I wanted to post about. So here's what I've decided to comment on.
Scripture:
Psalm 40:1-5 -
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Observation:
Psalm 53 from today's reading, as well as other psalms, talk about how evil, corrupt and sinful we are as human beings. The verses above (to me) talk about what God does for us when we turn away from our sinful human nature and ask him to be Lord in our hearts and our minds.
Application:
He lifts us out of the slimy pit, sets our feet on a rock, and puts a new song in our mouths. And he is the only one who can do that. We can't get out of the pit ourselves and there is no rock but him on which our feet can stand firm. Our new song, our hymn of praise, will be seen by those around us and "many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." That is something I pray for often. Because I spent a number of years following my own path, my witness to some of the people around me has been diminished. I can't now turn around and start preaching at them. My prayer is that my words and actions in day-to-day life will show a difference and that seeds will be planted.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for saving us. We praise you as the only firm foundation on which we can stand. We pray that you would help us to understand and to seek you, learn more about you, and to follow your will all the days of our lives. Father, give us a true and honest desire for these things, and give us understanding of your Word as we study it, so that as we follow your will those around us will see someone with your love flowing from them and not someone sanctimonious or hypocritical. We thank you that you make all things perfect in your time. Give us patience to wait on you. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Tomorrow's reading is Psalm 61, 62 and 64-67.
I apologize for my lateness. Yesterday was a busy day around here so I decided I'd do it first thing this morning, but when I read the passages I had a hard time settling on what I wanted to post about. So here's what I've decided to comment on.
Scripture:
Psalm 40:1-5 -
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Observation:
Psalm 53 from today's reading, as well as other psalms, talk about how evil, corrupt and sinful we are as human beings. The verses above (to me) talk about what God does for us when we turn away from our sinful human nature and ask him to be Lord in our hearts and our minds.
Application:
He lifts us out of the slimy pit, sets our feet on a rock, and puts a new song in our mouths. And he is the only one who can do that. We can't get out of the pit ourselves and there is no rock but him on which our feet can stand firm. Our new song, our hymn of praise, will be seen by those around us and "many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." That is something I pray for often. Because I spent a number of years following my own path, my witness to some of the people around me has been diminished. I can't now turn around and start preaching at them. My prayer is that my words and actions in day-to-day life will show a difference and that seeds will be planted.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for saving us. We praise you as the only firm foundation on which we can stand. We pray that you would help us to understand and to seek you, learn more about you, and to follow your will all the days of our lives. Father, give us a true and honest desire for these things, and give us understanding of your Word as we study it, so that as we follow your will those around us will see someone with your love flowing from them and not someone sanctimonious or hypocritical. We thank you that you make all things perfect in your time. Give us patience to wait on you. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Tomorrow's reading is Psalm 61, 62 and 64-67.
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