3/8/08 Devotional – Psalm 12 “God is Coming”

  Psa 12:1-8(1)  To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.(2)  Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.(3)  May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,(4)  those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”(5)  “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”(6)  The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.(7)  You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.(8)  On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

There is a tradition that this Psalm speaks on the last day when God shall come and avenge all wickedness. Notice v. 5, where God says, “I will now arise”. V. 7 is a declaration that the Lord will protect His own from the wicked generation “forever”. David knew that God was going to do something. Even though it felt as if God was distant at times, or uncaring, David here takes comfort in knowing that all unjustness and wickedness will be avenged.

The apostle Paul reminds us of the following:

Rom 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

3/7/08 Devotional – Psalm 11 “Should we Curse or Bless our Enemies?”

 

Psa 11:1-7

(1)  To the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain,(2)  for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;(3)  if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”(4)  The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.(5)  The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.(6)  Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.(7)  For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

David is told to go hide in the caves like a little bird seeking shelter, Many think that David write this about his time while hiding from those seeking to capture him. Anyhow, David is getting sick and tired of wicked people shooting arrows at him so he declares that God hates the wicked and will rain down coals, fire, and sulfur on the wicked.

Is it okay to desire the punishment of the wicked? Well, in a way, YES, and in a way, NO. The fact is that God will avenge all wickedness. It is part of God’s restoration of all things and God doesn’t want people raping and murdering in His coming eternal city. In this sense, I am grateful that God will remove the wicked from His children.

However, even Jesus, while on the cross, didn’t curse his tormentors. Jesus actually prayed for their forgiveness. This is the same model that Jesus taught us as well. We are told to love our enemies, to pray for them. In the Old Testament, God worked through a particular nation, Israel, and warfare was a demonstration of God’s commitment to His peculiar people. It was right to desire and expect the destruction of the enemy. At the same time, God did desire to use Israel to be a light and blessing for all other nations. Israel failed in this task. I can think of Jonah and how reluctant he was to go to Nineveh. He didn’t want God to show mercy to anyone else, so it took a whale to get Jonah to Nineveh.

In this New Covenant, God no longer favors a particular nation or ethnic group of people. We are not to extend God’s kingdom through the sword of metal, but rather through the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Our warfare is against demons and evil spirits that seek to wreak havoc. God’s kingdom is advanced through winning souls, not by killing souls. There does remain a final judgment, but we are told that God is postponing His judgment because He is not willing that any perish. He is giving people time. We should treat our enemies with love and pray for their souls. If even we are tortured for our faith and sent to a painful death, the last words from our mouths should be, “Father, forgive them”.

Havelock is coming to Refuge on May. 6th!!!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=9103303

More details are forthcoming, but mark this night off, Refuge will be rocking!!!

3/6/08 Devotional – Psalm 10 “Will God do Anything to Stop the Wicked?”

 

Psa 10:1-18

(1)  Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?(2)  In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.(3)  For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.(4)  In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”(5)  His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them.(6)  He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”(7)  His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.(8)  He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;(9)  he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.(10)  The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.(11)  He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”(12)  Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.(13)  Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?(14)  But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.(15)  Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.(16)  The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.(17)  O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear(18)  to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Have you ever gotten angry at the evil in this world? I do almost every single day. You just turn on the news for 10 minutes and there will be a report on something horrible. Just this week, a mom drowned 3 of her kids in the bathtub. I couldn’t help but visualize her holding her children down as they struggled for breath…and not to do just once, but again and again. I’m enraged.

Like this Psalm, I cry out for God to come and make everything right in this world. Evildoers think that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t have the power to punish because they get away with so much. While evil may exist in this lifetime, God is going to come and “break the arm” of the wicked so that they might not drown babies anymore, so that they might not steal anymore, so that they might not rape anymore…their evil will be brought to a complete end. The Lord will establish His perfect eternal kingdom and all wickedness will be destroyed. I can’t wait till that day. There won’t be any tears anymore, no war anymore, no death and sickness anymore.

While I am certain of what God will do when Jesus returns to earth, it doesn’t mean I just sick back and accept wickedness. Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. We are to care for orphans and the oppressed. The fact is that slavery still exists today and even little girls are forced to have sex with older men. There is incredible injustice today. Abortion is yet another injustice. If you are a Christian, then you need to hear the words from the book of James in the New Testament:

Jas 1:27

(27)  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Our faith needs to be filled with compassion for the oppressed and poor. At the same time, we are told to remain unstained from the world. The fact is that this world system is encouraging you to get powerful and rich at all costs, even if it means taking advantage of others. To remain pure and unstained from that mindset, we need to be actively seeking ways to show compassion.

We are told not to overcome evil with evil, but to overcome evil with good. We need to demonstrate love in such a compassionate and sacrificial manner that the world may look at it and be attracted to it. We need to love and pray for our enemies. Some of you feel out of place in this world…which is normal for the Christian because we are heavenly citizens. You might want to call fire down on the wicked and annoying people in your life. Instead, Jesus wants you to combat evil with love. May your love bring people to the amazing infinite love that is found only in Jesus Christ, who is eager and willing to forgive all sinners who turn to Him in faith.

3/5/08 Devotional – Psalm 9 “Do you give God your all?”

 

Psa 9:1-20

(1)  To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. (2)  I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.(3)  When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence.(4)  For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.(5)  You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.(6)  The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.(7)  But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice,(8)  and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.(9)  The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.(10)  And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.(11)  Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!(12)  For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.(13)  Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death,(14)  that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.(15)  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.(16)  The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah(17)  The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.(18)  For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.(19)  Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!(20)  Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah.

This psalm highlights the importance of singing, giving thanks, and praising God. Notice how David starts by saying that he will give thanks with his WHOLE HEART. This is not a new idea. God had told His people that they were to do the following:

Deu 6:5

(5)  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Jesus was also asked what the most important commandment was and notice how he responded:

Mar 12:28-30

(28)  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

(29)  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

(30)  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Loving God with all that we are is no easy thing at times. David loves to sing praises to God and recall of how awesome and good God is. This is one way that we can love God with all that we are.

David was so serious about worshipping God that he once stripped down and danced wildly in the open. I am a big sports fan and I can get pretty serious when watching a big game. It’s crazy how possessed someone can get. I won’t answer the phone, tell people to be quiet when something big is about to happen, jump up and down and go crazy when something good happens for my team. I will shout and yell at the TV as if it will make a difference. I will be happy and celebrate when my team wins and be sad and angry if they lose. Now, I have mellowed out some over the years and realized that I can’t be consumed by things like sports, but I remember well what kind of “fan”atic I once was.

We are told to sing praises and make God’s mighty deeds known to those around us. I used to let everyone know what team I liked by wearing hats, jerseys, and jackets. My office even has pictures of my favorite players and some other collectibles. If you stepped into my office, you will have no doubt that I am a Los Angeles Angels baseball fan. I have to ask myself the question, “Can people look at my life and know that I am a fan of God, that I love Jesus?” If not, then I must not be loving Him the way I ought.

I challenge you to love God with all your strength and be a “fan”. Let the whole world know who you cheer for, who you love, what you most care about in life.

3/4/08 Devotional – Psalm 8 “Have you Bowed Yet?”

Psa 8:1-9

(1)  To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

(2)  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

(3)  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

(4)  what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

(5)  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

(6)  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

(7)  all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

(8)  the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

(9)  O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

This psalm is quoted in the New Testament, referring to Jesus. It starts with praise and ends with praise, declaring “How majestic is your name in all the earth”. The Hebrew word translated as “majestic” means “large, wide, or powerful”. God’s name is large, wide, and powerful. God is so big and powerful that He can’t be contained. Throughout the Bible, God makes Himself known through different names, which all point to different characteristics about Himself. It seems like it is never-ending how big and awesome God is.

Notice God’s strategy to defeat the enemy and avenger. He uses the mouth of babies. There is some debate whether this is to be understood as literal (for real) or figurative (metaphor). I think it is both. God uses the simple things of this world to surprise and shock the powerful and wise. God likes it this way to sort of rub it in the face of His enemies. God’s name will be glorified and God will use a stuttering coward like Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt. God uses a little shepherd boy David to kill Goliath. God doesn’t want anyone thinking that it was strength and power that gets the victory so he uses “babies”.

David then goes on to discuss the “son of man”, whom the New Testament views as being Jesus. He has been sent as one a little lower than angelic beings in that Jesus took on the limitations of humanity. He is powerful nonetheless. Jesus has been given rule over all creation. All things have been placed under His feet. We now live in a time where Jesus sits on the throne and is at work bringing all things under His authority.  One day, ALL people will bow before Him, confessing His lordship.

Have you bowed before Jesus and acknowledged His rule and reign in your own life? Do so now. You might feel weak and insignificant like a little baby, but God will accept yoru praise and use it in a powerful way for His glory.

3/3/08 Devotional – Psalm 7 “God is Ready to Fire at Wickedness”

 

Psa 7:1-17

(1)  A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

(2)  lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

(3)  O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,

(4)  if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause,

(5)  let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

(6)  Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

(7)  Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high.

(8)  The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

(9)  Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous– you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!

(10)  My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

(11)  God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

(12)  If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

(13)  he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

(14)  Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.

(15)  He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

(16)  His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

(17)  I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

This psalm paints a picture of God that many are not aware of. In verse 12, it says that God is preparing His sword and pulling back on the arrow, ready to destroy the person who fails to repent of their sin. Verse 13 goes on to say that God is preparing his deadly weapons and will unleash fiery arrows on the wicked. God is love, but He is also full of anger towards the wicked. We must never forget what God thinks of our sins. When God forgives those who do repent, it’s not like God is saying, “We’ll just let this one pass”. All of our forgiven sin endured God’s wrath on the cross when Jesus suffered the punishment for us. It was necessary that Jesus suffer because it was the only way God could unleash his wrath upon our sin for our forgiveness.

What do wicked people look like? Notice that verse 14 says that the wicked person conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief, giving birth to lies. The idea of conceiving something is much like conceiving a child. The child grows bigger and bigger within you. Sin is much the same way. May people think that playing with sin is no big deal, “A little sin will not hurt. After all, it will be just this once and I won’t do it again.” The problem is that when you allow sin to come inside of you, it will grow bigger and faster than you can imagine. Before you know it, you will be pregnant and giving birth to more wickedness. You need to get rid of our sin and keep it out. Jesus will help you.

1Co 10:13

(13)  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Fight he good fight today!!! Remember also how much you have been forgiven!!! Lastly, weep and mourn for what will happen to unrepentant sinners. I’m sure you have some family and friends that reject God. Share the bad news of God’s anger and wrath against their sin…THEN share the good news that be turning from our sin and turning to Jesus, God will place the wrath of our sin upon him so that we don’t have to bear it.

3/2/08 Devotional – Psalm 6 “David Weeps a Pool of Tears in His Bed”

 

Psa 6:1-10

(1)  To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.

(2)  Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

(3)  My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD–how long?

(4)  Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

(5)  For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

(6)  I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.

(7)  My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

(8)  Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

(9)  The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer.

(10)  All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

David is going through a painful season. He says that he is languishing with painful bones and a greatly troubled soul. He is even tired of his moaning and tears as he is crying a pool of tears in his bed all night long. David’s enemies seem to be having their way with him and he can’t take it any more. He even asks, “How long?”

He goes one to ask God to save Him, then later confidently declares that the Lord did indeed hear him and accepted his prayer. With this confidence, David tells his enemies to step back.

Whenever you are having a horrible day, or week, or month, or even longer…you need to cry out to God and be full of the confidence that He hears you and is working on your behalf. It may take many tears, but don’t stop turning to God and you will be rewarded because He simply loves you too much to ignore you.