2/30/08 Devotional – Psalm 5 “David Wants Some More Flute”

 

Psa 5:1-12

(1)  To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.

(2)  Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.

(3)  O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

(4)  For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.

(5)  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

(6)  You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

(7)  But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

(8)  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

(9)  For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

(10)  Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.

(11)  But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

(12)  For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Wow, David likes flutes too!!!

Apparently David is a groaner and crier as well because He is coming to God with deepness in his heart and a an outcry for God’s attention. I wonder if David felt like God was distant. Do you ever feel that way? There have been times when I think God is not hearing me and eventually I cry out to Him, begging His attention. It’s okay to cry out to God.

Notice how David says that God does indeed hear his voice in the morning when he offers worship. This is a good model for us to follow…praising God first thing in the morning. We should wake up saying “Good Morning” to the Lord and asking Him to bless our day and keep our feet from stumbling.

David talks about evil people and how God feels about them. They will be destroyed. He says “evil may not dwell with you”. David is able to approach God, though, not because he is pure, but because God has showed him abundant steadfast love. The fact is that we are all evil and we all have sin that would keep us from God’s presence. He has decided to show us grace and remove our sins so that we can approach Him. Thank Jesus for removing the stain of your sin.

David closes this psalm with a prayer that all who take “refuge” in God would rejoice and ever sing for joy, protected by God. This protection is given only to those who love God’s “name”. Jesus is the name above all names. God has made himself known with many different titles, which all teach us something magnificently different about Him. He is our protector, our provider, our healer, our righteousness, and More. For those who turn to God in love, He will show us favor like that of a shield that covers us. We all need the favor of God. The good news is that you don’t need to impress God with your good deeds to earn his favor, but simply receive the grace that He offers to all who would turn to Him with their hearts. Turn to Him today!!!

2/29/08 Devotional – Psalm 4 “David rocks out with Praise”

 

Psa 4:1-8  To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!  (2)  O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah  (3)  But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.  (4)  Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah  (5)  Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.  (6)  There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”  (7)  You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.  (8)  In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

David likes music no doubt and wrote this to be played with stringed instruments. I can’t help but think that David would love to hear his music played with some of the more modern instruments, such as the electric guitar. Anyhow, on to some more important truths in this Psalm.

Have you ever made an important phone call where each ring seemed like an eternity as you waited for someone to answer? I have many times. There have been times when I desperately wanted to go somewhere with my friends and I would call my dad for permission, hoping he would answer because I couldn’t go otherwise. There are many other examples that I’m sure you have. When David prays, he asks God to answer him. He asks God to be gracious in hearing his prayer.

When we pray, we must also come humbly before God. Imagine if called the president of the United States or your favorite movie star or music artist, do you honestly think they will answer the phone even once? And if they answered even once, do you think that they would answer every time you called? Probably not. They are important to us, but we are not important to them. God, however, is always available to hear from us.  At the same time, we must always remember that praying is not a right, but an incredible privilege that only comes to us because Jesus purchased access for us to come to the Father.

When I was away in college, it was expensive to call back home. My phone bill would be ridiculously high. Calling home was a privilege and didn’t come cheap. Making a phone call to another country on the other side of the globe would even be more expensive. Even more costly is a phone call to heaven. We have an unlimited minute plan because Jesus paid for it. When David appealed to God’s mercy, he knew very well that we are not entitled to God’s attention but that He has graciously taken notice of us because we have been saved by Jesus.

David says, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound”.

Can you say the same thing? Many of us are allured into thinking that sinners are having one big party in life and we Christians are sitting on the bench trying not to be envious. I admit that I have felt that way before. What I failed to realize is that Jesus is a source of joy that is far greater than anything this world has to offer. I used to focus on the things that I wasn’t supposed to do, while failing to see that for everything God tells us not to do, he offers us something much more satisfying.

May you pray, always humble of what it cost for your phone call to God’s throne…Jesus’ blood. May you also be full of the joy that is only found in the source of life, God Himself.

2/28/08 Devotional – Psalm 3

 

 Psa 3:1-8

(1)  A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;

(2)  many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

(3)  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

(4)  I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

(5)  I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

(6)  I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

(7)  Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.

(8)  Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Have you ever been betrayed before? The pain can be so strong that you find it hard to sleep. Well, King David was overthrown and ran out of Jerusalem by his own son Absalom. In my mind I am picturing a tired man who is sleepless and paranoid. Instead, David turned to God in prayer and he was heard.

David then talks about how he was able to sleep because God was helping him. He even says that he won’t be afraid of “many thousands of people”. Where did David get such fearlessness?

The answer is in verse 3 where David calls the Lord a “shield about me”, “my glory”, and “the lifter of my head”.

If you have been betrayed or are feeling like the whole world is against you, I pray that you have the confidence that comes from turning to the Lord so that you won’t fear even many thousands. Perhaps you are filled with anxiety, give your concerns to the Lord in prayer and lay your head down for peaceful rest. Perhaps your head is down, depressed or saddened by something…the Lord will lift your head up. The Lord is placing His hand under some of your chins even right now as you read this and pulling you out of your misery. Keep you head up, and set your eyes on the Lord who gives you strength!!!

2/27/08 Devotional – Psalm 2

Psa 2:1-12

(1)  Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

(2)  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

(3)  “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

(4)  He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

(5)  Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

(6)  “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

(7)  I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

(8)  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

(9)  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

(10)  Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

(11)  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

(12)  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This psalm talks about people who essentially hate God and think that they can defeat Him. Perhaps you know people like this, who hate God so much that they deny His existence or outright are filled with hatred towards Christ and Christians. The Bible tells us that one day all of the nations will be united in their hatred of God and attempt to destroy Him.

God laughs at such arrogance and stupidity. It would be like a fish in a bowl challenging a roaming cat to a battle, or an ant trying to kill a human. There is only one true king and his name is Jesus. He has come once and will return again. The nations and all people belong to Him. Jesus will destroy the works of the evil rulers and their people. This is good news. There will be no Hitler in God’s perfect kingdom, or rapists, or any other evildoer who has rejected God.

In vs. 12 we are encouraged to “Kiss the Son” or else be destroyed. Bowing before a king and kissing his feet is a pledge of our allegiance and devotion to our ruler. Jesus is our refuge and safety; we need to turn to Him. Kiss Jesus today and promise to Him that even if all the nations should turn their backs on Him, you will be faithful to Him. He is our refuge!!!

Circle C Snow Camp Relay Race!!!

Daily Devotional for Feb. 26, 2008 : Psalm 1

 

Psalm 1:1-6 (English Standard Version)

(1)  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

(2)  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

(3)  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

(4)  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

(5)  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

(6)  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

What a great way to start the book of Psalms. This is called a beatitude, which is a statement about life. It is not a prayer or a psalm, but a word of wisdom.

You will find two types of people in this Psalm and you belong to one of these two groups. You either walk in the path of the righteousness or the wicked. Notice the comfort level of walking the wicked path: walking, standing, and then sitting. The more you hang with the wicked, the more at home you will feel and eventually just camp out and sit down.

If you are reading this right now, then I commend you because the righteous meditate day and night on God’s word. There is a promise for the person who soaks in the water of God’s word –you will become a strong tree, bearing fruit. The wicked are called dry chaff, which will be blown away. Jesus told a parable about building our house on the rock and not the sand. It is important what our life is built upon. We need nutrients and strength, which can only come from the author of life, God Himself.

We are told that the wicked will not be able to stand in the day of judgment. They will be blown away. Will you be blown away or do you have strong roots?

The last verse says that the Lord “knows” the righteous, but that the wicked will perish. What is so special about this “knowing”? After all, doesn’t the Lord also “know” about the wicked? Another version (NLT) says that the Lord “watches over” the righteous. I think this version get closer to the real meaning, but still falls a little short. Sometimes when you read through older English, you will notice that sexual relations are mentioned as a “knowing” act. For example, one may read that Adam “knew” Eve. This doesn’t mean that Adam was mindful of who Eve was, but rather that he loved her intimately.

The last verse in this psalm is basically telling us that the Lord “knows=loves intimately” the righteous. The wicked aren’t loved and will perish, or be destroyed. Take a moment to thank God for His love towards us.

1Jn 4:9-10

(9)  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

(10)  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God loves you through Jesus so that you might live through Him!!!

Papa Chief Bob Estochen Knowcks Out His Rival in a Duel

Circle C Staffer Singing a Chicken Related Hick Song

What a lovely group!!!

We Now Eat at 5:15 P.M. and Begin Refuge Worship at 5:45 P.M.