Monday, January 7, 2008
15 JANUARY 2008 PSALM 15
By David
Who May Stay With You?
No wonder God likes David. He asks a question that reflects a longing for the Person & Friendship of God, rather than the comforts that come off the Hands of God. This psalm was written after David’s 2nd attempt to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). In the 1st attempt, Uzzah was careless and he was struck dead.
Thankfully, because of the blood of Jesus over our lives, we now have free access into God’s Presence.
This psalm (Message version) lists 9 traits of those who will always be welcomed to God’s house. Such is a young man / young lady who :
1. Walks straight
2. Acts right
3. Tells the truth
4. Doesn’t hurt his /her friends
5. Doesn’t blame his / her neighbours
6. Despise the despicable
7. Keeps his / her word even if it costs
8. Makes a honest living
9. Never takes a bribe
Check our hearts today – is there anything crooked, hidden or unrighteous? Have we shared truthfully or there is something not fully revealed? Look through the list of 9 traits and allow God to take you deeper in your walk with Him.
14 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 14
By David
We Could All be Fools Too
Psalm 10, 12 & 14 presents a picture of the ungodly, their pride, words and corrupt actions, respectively. When we read such extreme descriptions, we may tend to detach and treat it as general knowledge, not applicable to us, maybe applicable only to non-believers, the really wicked kinds.
But wait, before we are too quick to dismiss this, let’s consider again the word ‘fool’. The word ‘fool’ refers to ‘a brutish person who is like a stubborn animal’ extracted from ‘Be Worshipful’ pg 58 by Warren Wiersbe
While most of us believers are wise enough not to oppose God head-on with blatant unrighteousness, we fail to check if we have allowed our hearts to become stubborn & wilful, living for ourselves rather than fully for the plans of God. Particularly, coming from a knowledge based society, it’s easy to be caught up in the ‘i know better’ and do it MY way kind of living, rather than to seek God, v2. We live out our priorities and to-do list rather than God’s to-do list for our day.
With such an independent way of life, some of us end up being insensitive - neglecting the poor & those in need, “You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.” Psalm 14:6
Is there someone that you know is in need of a blessing today? Is there a lonely classmate that needs a friend to hang out with during recess or a colleague snowed under with work? Let’s not be too busy to pause and let God show us who we can bless today.
13 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 13
By David
Pen Your Own Psalm
From the point where David was anointed as king till the day he finally took the reigned as king, it was a good fifteen years! The large part of the wait was spent running away from the then king, king Saul who was after David’s life.
No wonder there were days that David sounded depressed & asked how long more was the whole ordeal going to last, v1-2 and how long more was God going to remain silent, and allow evil to win, v3-4. He was down and feelings need to be aired. He found a Friend in God to hear his woes.
For some of us, we have our usual buddies that we would hang out together to talk. Sometimes we would walk away feeling better, other moments, we find that we haven’t quite found our peace even through the sharing. Some of us may even have even less healthy ways of coping: play computer games, partying, drinking, self-mutilation, and so on.
Instead of all that, try penning your own psalm today. Start off by writing, “Dear Jesus” and address the letter to Him. You will be amazed that the same dynamics that you observe here, seeing how David started off with a lot of negative talk (v 1) and ending off sounding positive and hopeful (v 6), apply to your letter as well!
Somehow, when we enter His Presence, His Hands have a way to sooth & comfort every hurt, anxiety or frustration & bring new perspective and strength for our day.
12 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 12
By David
Cleanse My Lips
David was exasperated as he found it difficult to trust the people around him. Whether he was king-designate, or already king or king-on-the-run, his status attracted a lot of treacherous talk.
Yet, because of his constant conversations with God, inquiring of Him, his relational senses were sharpened so much so that he could detect a fake hanging around him. Such relationships were altogether unsatisfying and if left unchecked, a whole generation would be in trouble for a lack of integrity. This prompted the prayer by David, “Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.” Psalm 12:1-2
Let’s check our hearts today. Am i guilty of lies and flattery (or as the teens would say, ‘sucking up’)? Repent today if you have unclean lips, see Isaiah 6:5-7. You can’t go very far in building trust if your words are insincere & full of lies.
Let’s learn from the LORD today, “The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in furnace on the earth, refined seven times.” Psalm 12:6 (NASB) Let the words that come forth from our lips go through the scrutiny of the LORD, before you speak it, pause and check your heart. And as you check (pause) your spirit, you allow the Holy Spirit’s purifying fire to remove every insincerity and deception. What comes forth will then build lives & relationships.
11 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 11
By David
The Harder Choice
Danger looms ahead. Should David abandon his post or stay put and trust in God’s protection? There were several periods that David’s life was in danger, be it while he was serving in Saul’s court, during the times where nations attacked Israel or during his son, Absalom’s uprising. In this instance, he was advised to flee but his convictions told him, ‘Stay’.
David’s decision to hang on in there, not only led him to experience God’s protection, v 4 – 6, this step also drew him closer to God, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:7 (NASB)
Most of us like to take the easier road when faced with a choice. David was courageous enough to hear God and obey Him to take the harder path. Not only was he blessed with the Lord’s protection, He grew to know God more.
Whatever may be ahead of you today, let God have the freedom to even ask you to do a harder task rather than to take the easy way out. The greatest blessing of beholding His face awaits those who obey & pay the price of walking the narrow way.
10 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 10
By David
When God seemed Silent...
Evil seemed to have a field day.
This psalm wrestles with the all time favourite question, “Why does God allow the wicked to prosper?” It seemed like God has hidden Himself and all the bullies are succeeding in their horrid plots. “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises... He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.’ ” Psalm 10:1-2,11
Wrong. David asserts, “But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Psalm 10:14
A key prayer in this psalm is Psalm 10:12 “Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.”
One plausible explanation for the apparent ‘unseeing’ ways of God is that He wants us to rouse Him to action on behalf of the poor & needy. He already knows what were the wrongs and could have acted on His own. But He wanted His children to share the same, strong concern He has for those who are suffering.
Is there someone you know of, going through a rough patch? Pray Psalm 10:12 and rouse the LORD to action on his / her behalf.
9 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 9
By David
The Victory of The LORD
We usually have the tendency to use our own strength rather than rely on God. In this psalm, David saw God’s miraculous victories at 2 levels:
- National level: Victory over enemy nations, v3-6, 15-17, 19-20
- Personal level: Victory over struggles (afflictions), v9-14, 18
David knew his limitations in those areas and apart from the intervention of God, he would not have been victorious. Hence, David offered praise to God with ALL his heart (v1). Sincere praise could never be offered in a half-hearted fashion. What’s half-hearted, isn’t praise.
“Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
Is there a minor personal matter or a more major concern that you need the Lord to step in and rescue you? Pray Psalm 9:10
When God has come through for you, do remember that when you praise Him, let it be from all of your heart!
8 JANUARY 2008
PSALM 8
By David
Someone’s Thinking of You!
Do you know how special you are? There are many wonderful works of God’s Hands in Creation – the heavens, the moon and the stars. Yet, mankind ie you and me are the nearest and dearest to Him.
We get special treatment:
- He thinks about you, v4a
- He cares for you, v4b
- He made you in His image, a little lower than Himself, v5a
- He crowns you with glory & majesty, v5b
- He made you to rule over all other Creation (land animals, fishes, birds)
God thinks of you. How often do you think about how He is feeling?
If God is truly special to you, worship Him by doing something sweet for Him today. It could be a simple breakaway from your usual routine to spend more time reading the Word or just being still before Him, or you could choose to fast lunch and turn the hour over to take a walk down the streets, or take a pause at the start of every hour to say a prayer of appreciation of His Presence? Happy thinking more of the Lord today!