| Passage: Psalms 17-20 On Monday, June 25, 2018 (Last Updated on 6/24/2020), Yujin wrote,
David prays that God would confront his enemies, the "men of the world, whose portion is in this life." These enemies only have hope in this life. They are only filled with the treasure God provides for this life. Their satisfaction is with their children and leaving an inheritance for their children. It is that last portion that gives me pause. The godless find great satisfaction in their children and in leaving a large inheritance to them. Isn't this what we say of the godly as well? Yet here, David is using this as a contrast to his great desire, which is for his own righteousness and for his own eyes to see God after he dies. Friends, it is right for us to love our kids and do our best to nurture and care for them; however, it is not our chief aim. Our greatest desire must be for ourselves to stand righteous before God. And we will discover that in so doing, our children benefit as well. Some parents think that while they themselves have no time for a Quiet Time with God, they are doing well by insisting their children spend daily time with God. They might not make it to church because they are busy with work, but they will make sure their kids get there. They think that by so doing they will gain God's favor through their children. It is not so! Each of us must make it our personal priority to spend time with God whether our children follow our instruction and example to do so or not. We often criticize the prophet Samuel and King David because their children did not follow in their fathers' footsteps. We say they must have been negligent fathers. Would you then say this of God? Consider how far astray His children have gone from His instructions and example. Yet, God is holy, perfect and good, while His children are sinful, disobedient and rebellious. Our faithfulness to instruct and guide our children is no guarantee that our children will follow suit in the end; however, we must be faithful and responsible for ourselves. Instructing our children in the way of the Lord is one of many commands to us from God. But it is just one. Let us keep perspective. |
| Passage: Psalms 17-20 On Tuesday, June 25, 2013, Yujin wrote, Some boast in chariots and some in horses, This declaration of confidence in God alone stands in the midst of this psalm of benediction. The reason David can pronounce such blessings upon the people in verses 1-5 is because he knows that those who hope in the LORD will not be disappointed. In the New Testament we find this declaration of confidence in the Lord from Paul: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). What is the basis of such confidence? Paul tells us, I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12). Friends, what is the ground of our confidence? Is it not in the finished work of Christ on the cross? Is not our boast in the promises of God in Christ? Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:33). For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). Friends, if the Lord is our confidence, then let us live in such a way that He is most glorified in our lives? Let us be immersed in His Word. Let us be willing to live against the grain of social, cultural, political and even religious pressure that stifles our obedience to the good leadership of the Holy Spirit within us to work out God's will in our lives. |
| Passage: Psalms 17-20 On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, Fernando wrote, Psalms 17:13-14�Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. I was in a discussion recently with a man who has been a beleiver longer than myself. He was trying to tell me of the doom of certain company since they do not tithe and are unbelievers. I am in close proximity to the company and explained I was not fearful as if surrounded by doom but rather as if I were with God and lead by God. Even if everything did collapse around me I would not expect to be at a loss; even if I were at a loss I don't think I would feel empty; even if I did feel empty I would not be without hope; I have faith in the lord and the future he has prepared for me. But one point I tried to make to him was they were not doomed. Jesus remarks that it rains on the just an unjust (cf Matthew 5:44-46). We see God gives even though it is not received, and continues giving. furthermore we are called to give even if it not deserved, indicative of his nature. These verses in particular I think would have been a simple example. Because I am a child of God Does Not Mean I can claim earthly riches! In fact we have it written here they get riches, they get children, they get to offer an inheritance... They get health, they get pleasures... They get rain... ...But I get something eternal and imperishable; I get God. |
| Passage: Psalms 17-20 On Monday, June 25, 2012, Yujin wrote, I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God (Psalm 17:6). David say that he prays to God because he knows that God will answer him. David knows this because God has initiated a relationship with Him, even giving His Spirit to be with him and with his sons after him. The Spirit was taken from King Saul, so that when Saul tried to consult God, God did not answer him. As children of God we have been given the Spirit of God, and by that very Spirit we can approach God in prayer. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father" (Romans 8":14-15). The Spirit helps us to pray, so that our very prayers come to God in a way that is in keeping with His will: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). For our part, it is important that when we pray, we must pray in faith: “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:22-24). What is this faith? It is faith in the power of God. It is NOT faith in your power to get what you want. It is faith that He is able and NOT that you are worthy. That is why James writes, When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures (James 4:3). If your request is not in line with God's will, you will not receive what you ask for. It doesn't matter how confident you are that you will receive your request, it will not be granted apart from God's will. Your confidence is not in the request but in God, who grants the request. In the same say, when David writes, "I know that you will answer," he is NOT expressing confidence in his request so much as his faith in God. James talks about this kind of faith also: But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-7). What James means here is not "name it and claim it" but "believe that God is able." Otherwise, why would James urge believers in the context to rejoice in their trials. Who would seek trials? And who wouldn't ask to be rid of them? But he instructs believers to pray for wisdom in the midst of trials, so that the trials will have their intended effect, namely, building character and spiritual maturity. This is God's will for every believer. And as the believer seeks this from God, he must trust that God is able to bring this about in his life. But if he cannot trust in the power of God to accomplish this, he shouldn't expect anything else from God. Consider our Lord Jesus Christ. God answered all of His prayers, for He prayed with unwavering faith and always in perfect alignment with God's will. He also laid down the foundation for this kind of prayer when He taught the disciples to pray in this way: "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..." He profoundly demonstrated this kind of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed before His crucifixion, "Not my will but Yours be done." And He also taught, If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you" (John 15:7). I believe this promise is as true for us today as it was for the disciples to whom Jesus spoke. Therefore, if we trust in the power of God and we are living according to God's will, God will grant us whatever we ask. It is as the Psalmist also writes, Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). There is a direct link between delighting in God and being granted our hearts desire. If we desire what pleases God, God will grant what we desire. Friends, prayer is not so much for God as it is for us. Prayer does not inform God of what He does not know, for the Scriptures clearly teach that God knows everything before we ask Him. A thoughtful consideration of prayer throughout the Scriptures, and particularly in the New Testament, will reveal that prayer is not so much for getting things from God. Just considering the prayers of the Lord Jesus Christ will reveal that His prayers were not so much to get things for Himself, or even for things to work out well for others, but rather for God's will to be done and God's Name to be exalted. This is also the fundamental character of all of Paul's prayers. And the one that was somewhat selfish, his request for a thorn to be removed, was not granted by God. But God's "No" became a lesson for Paul, namely, that God's grace is perfected in his weakness. Therefore, let us understand that we pray in order that we might better align our wills with God's will. When we are more mature in our thinking about God's will, then our prayers will also reflect this, and we can have greater confidence that our requests will be granted. But even if God answers "No," this too is a lesson for us, even to understand what is not in keeping with His will. So then, as I have encouraged everyone to read and meditate daily on God's Word, I also encourage everyone to pray diligently. Prayer is like a self-test of your understanding of God's Word. Convert your Bible reading into specific prayer requests for yourselves and others. As God answers, you can better discern whether you have correctly understood and applied a biblical truth in life. As an example, consider what the disciples did in the early days of the church: On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: The disciples read Psalm 2, a Messianic psalm, and correctly applied it to Jesus, the Messiah, and the persecution that the civil and religious powers brought to bear upon Him. They also rightly acknowledged that this was all according to God's will and plan. Thus, they prayed in keeping with God's purposes in Christ that He might give them boldness to fulfill their part in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. And God granted them what they asked for, and by this they understood that what they sought through their prayers was in keeping with God's will. This is how we should read God's Word and pray and so fulfill God's purposes in our lives. |
| Passage: Psalms 17-20 On Sunday, June 26, 2011, Fernando wrote, Psalms 19 7-11 The law of the LORD is: perfect, reviving the soul; sure, making wise of the simple; right, pure, clean, true, desirable, and protective, bringing joy, purity, righteousness, and satiation. The law of God is these things. Who does not want to have these? Even though I am ignorant of SO MUCH I can be sustained and put on top; even though I am evil I can be forgiven and treated like a saint even a child of the Father Almighty! This could be read and said "Great, I believe there is one true God! (James 2) bring forth the blessings!" While our salvation is a deed done by grace, a gift by a sovereign and truly free will action of God, we are admonished in Philipians 2:12-13 to work out our salvation. We must obey the laws of Christ, abide in his commands (John 3:36). While we are given the choice to act for God, we are also given the desire and power to do them. The close of Philipians 2:12 adds we must do this with fear and trembling - this is less an action but an attitude of gratitude; something genuine from the heart. To affect the heart you have to drown it, baptize it if you will, in the way it should go. We can not buy God's love and favor by doing well for even Phil 2:13 completes the idea that it is all his works and will. You don't need to consider 'how to buy God' he has already been bought for you through the cross (rather you were bought). At all times in every instance the opportunity to grow and receive the blessing of psalm 19 are at your finger tips; be blessed, pure, and protected during your trials and pains and losses, by abiding in Him who is Life! |
| Passage: Psalms 17-20 On Saturday, June 25, 2011, Misty wrote, Psalms 17:4-5 really really stood out to me. Torrents, cords, coiled snares, floods, all speak of things that trap us and hold us tight. In other words, sin. We are literally unable to get out on our own. We claim we can, and sometimes we wade part of the way out of the mud, but only God can pluck us out and free us. Only by calling to him can we be truly freed. The Lord deals with people according to their righteousness in Christ, and the characteristics of the people they are, according to 18:25-27. To the faithful, God is faithful. To the blameless, He is blameless. To the Pure, He is Pure. To the devious, He is shrewd (because God is not devious, nor decieved.) God saves the humble but lowers haughty eyes. So the question is: who am I? And what is God to me? God has laws, statutes, precepts, commands, fears and decrees. Each is important. By each we are refreshed, given wisdom, given joy, given light to our eyes, given enduring purity, and righteousness. He has given victory to those he has chosen. He answers us. Some trust in the things of this Earth, but we trust in God. Those that trust in these Earthly things WILL be brought to their kness and fall, but we will rise up and stand firm. |