Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 46:4-7    "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  (5)  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.  (6)  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.  (7)  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." It seems this particular Psalm consists of David going deep into his heart and mind concerning his life, the power of God, and the relationship between His life and the Lord. There are three divisions in this Psalm which end with the word, "Selah".  Yesterday, we saw the fact that God is, indeed, a very present help in times of trouble.  Today, in these four verses, David speaks of that help moving from the presence of the Lord into our lives. "There is a river."  People have various places where they receive the renewing of heart and mind. Many people enj

Psalm 46:1-3    "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  (2)  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  (3)  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah." There are many things that can happen which turn our lives upside down.  When you think back on the life of David, there are many things that could have caused him heartache and even cost his life.  David was overlooked when Samuel went to David's father to anoint one of his sons as the next king. When David went to the battlefield to check on his brothers, they thought him to be seeking self-glory when he said he would go fight the giant. His own son turned against him. There was trouble within his family for all his life.  There were things that upset him, things that, no doubt, brought much danger to him. I wonder what was going through his mind as he

Psalm 45:6    "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre." It is most important to take notice of the tense of verbs in anything we read, but especially when reading God's Word.  There are those who are waiting for Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom. There are those who wait for Him to sit upon an earthly throne. That teaching speaks of a future tense in which it could be done at a future time. Here is the importance of verb tenses. Let us read this verse, paying attention to the tense of the verbs. "Thy throne... IS for ever." Was the Lord sitting upon His throne at the time David wrote this Psalm?  It sure seems that way if you pay attention to the tense of the verb.  Then we read, "... the sceptre of thy kingdom IS a right sceptre."  I acknowledge the stressing of the verb, "is" is my addition to the copy of the verse.  I do not profess to be an English grammar teacher, but if I remember the les

Psalm 45:1-4    "My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.  (2)  Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.  (3)  Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.  (4)  And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." "My heart is inditing a good matter."  Have you ever felt the love of Christ to be so strong inside you that it seemed to just be bubbling up like a spring of water? In these four verses, David gushes forth the entire Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, though David prophesied concerning the Lord Jesus, I'm not sure that He understood the fulness of what he was writing. The Holy Spirit within him was bringing to the surface these sweet truths and David was "g

Psalm 44:4-8    "Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.  (5)  Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.  (6)  For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.  (7)  But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.  (8)  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah." David concludes these thoughts with the word, "Selah". Think about what was just said. When he placed that word, I'm not sure if he was telling us to think about these things or if he was reminding himself to consider what he had just said.  In either case, it behoves us to stop and think about this subject of victorious living. "Thou art my King, O God." David made this statement and openly declared his allegiance to the Lord God Almighty. You are my King, O God. Can you and I make that statement this morning and truly mean it?

Psalm 44:1-3    "We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.  (2)  How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.  (3)  For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them." "We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us..."  Many of you that are my age can identify with the account of our parents walking barefoot to school. Many of us have told it as though it was a joke, but the older I get the more I understand what they were saying.  I regret that I do not now have the opportunity to tell our father how grateful I am that he did that.  They grew up in the times of depression. Daddy always said they were poor, but didn't know it because everyon

Psalm 43:3-4    "O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.  (4)  Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God." David continues his thoughts of unrest in Psalm 43 the same as he was lamenting in Psalm 42. He still has unrest in his mind as he writes this Psalm. There are those who unrighteously are opposing him and causing strife in the land. Is he still talking about King Saul? I'm not sure, but whoever was the subject of these Psalms, was causing unrest and upheaval in the land. David's concern for the people of God was so deep that he took any untruth that was said to be a personal attack upon himself. We know his stand concerning Saul. He had several opportunities to take revenge on the king, but he refused to lift his hand against the Lord's anointed. The Word of God teaches us that "... the powers that be are

Psalm 42:6-8    "O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.  (7)  Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.  (8)  Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." It seems that confusion, discouragement, sadness, and so many other negative thoughts can come crashing into our minds at a moment's notice. David was at that place in life. For whatever reason, he was deeply concerned with his state of mind. He felt God had forsaken him and he was left to himself to cope. I pray you have never experienced that. But if you have, David has given us a key to unlock our minds from the negative and place them on the positive. The first key is to confess our state of mind to the Lord. You might say, "He already knows how I

Psalm 42:4-5    "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. (5) Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." "I pour out my soul in me."  Do you ever talk to yourself?  I find myself trying to remind myself what I'm supposed to be doing, where I'm supposed to do it, and when I am supposed to do it. That is not what is under consideration in this verse. David is talking to himself about how he feels and trying to figure out why he feels that way.  "I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise."  "I kept the holyday." The holydays were the times when they went to Jerusalem to observe the feasts which had been ordained by God.  David is saying he has done all

Psalm 42:1-3    "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  (2)  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?  (3)  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?" I love the Psalms for many reasons. First, I love them because they are a part of the inspired Word of God. They are words which God literally breathed into the hearts and minds of the writers. Second, I love the Psalms because they address situations and circumstances of life. I can identify with them as I read them. I feel them to be speaking directly to me in the things which I am experiencing.  The previous Psalm ended with these words, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen." (Psalm 41:13)  From the exaltation of the Lord, we find David speaking of a time when he seemingly could not find the Lord. Have you ever been so

Psalm 41:13    "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen." It is said this verse concludes the first division of the Psalms. Notice how it concludes: "Amen, and Amen."  According to the concordance, the word, "amen" means "faithfulness, truly, so be it, truth."   I remember Elder Charlie McClendon, when he was blessed by a message, would boldly proclaim, "Amen, and I do mean Amen!" To what was the Psalmist declaring, "Amen, and Amen"?  What was/is "faithfulness, truly, so be it, truth"? "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel."  How highly do we esteem the Lord? I find myself thinking about this more and more. Why do I esteem Him?  Maybe I'm the only one who feels the need to re-evaluate my thoughts concerning my Lord.  It seems I feel the need more and more just to think upon the Lord and to ask Him to bless me with His presence.  Do you ever feel alone? Even

Psalm 41:9-11    "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.  (10)  But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.  (11)  By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me." It is understood that verse 9 is a prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Before we get to that part, I feel David was also expressing his thoughts concerning a situation in his own life. David considered King Saul to be a friend to him and expressed himself to be friendly towards the king. Yet, the king lifted himself against David. Saul was determined to kill David though he had partook of David's talent. When Saul felt out of sorts, he would call David to come play the harp. The sound of the music would calm Saul. That is until jealousy overtook Saul's ability to use logic in his decision making.  I can only imagine how David felt betrayed by Saul, but Go

Psalm 40:16    "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified." In looking back, what would you think would be the most often thing for which you sought the Lord? I confess most of the time, I am asking for something. I have a need or I have a desire for which I seek the Lord's help.  As I read this verse of Scripture this morning, I admit I have a feeling of guilt in my heart and mind. You see, I am guilty of seeking "things".  The Psalmist David was not necessarily thinking about things; rather, he was thinking of seeking the Lord. This morning, my thoughts are on the Lord, Himself.  "Let all those that seek THEE ....."  This morning, I am trying to look beyond the blessing (of which I am super abundantly blessed). But today, I am looking beyond the blessing to seek fellowship with my Lord Jesus Christ. I love His salvation which has freed me from the bondage of sin

Psalm 40:6-8    "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.  (7)  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,  (8)  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened."  As I read this portion of today's lesson, I better understand why the Lord said that David was a man after His own heart.  David listened to the Lord concerning His designed relationship with His people.  David understood the Lord was not after the sacrifices and offerings of the law; rather the Lord was concerned with the hearts of His people.  Why then was the law given to the Lord's people?  Paul also understood the concept of reasoning.  Why was the law given?  "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians

Psalm 40:4-5    "Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.  (5)  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Are you a blessed person? As I ask myself this question, I have to stop and reprimand myself for not spending enough time thinking about my blessings.  God is so good. We sing a song, "Each step I take my Saviour goes before me, And with His loving hand He leads the way." What a blessing it is to stop and think about the divine and personal interaction which you and I are blessed by the very Creator and Sustainer of this vast universe. I realize that I am not even a drop in the bucket when I consider all the planets, stars, atmosphere, and every other element. The Psalmist wrote concerning this thought back

Psalm 40:1-3    "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  (2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  (3)  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit."  This first paragraph will deal with the first pit that the Lord God Almighty brought us out of.  We were dead in trespasses and sins. There was no life nor thoughts toward God because we were spiritually dead. Let me remind us of Paul's description of the state in which we were physically alive, but had no spiritual life.  "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)  Not only did we have no desire toward God, w

Psalm 39:4-7     "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.  (5)  Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.  (6)  Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.  (7)  And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee." Sometimes we live as though our life on earth will never end.  We make decisions and plans as though we will never leave this earth.  It is necessary to lay up in store for things such as retirement or in case of a major illness, but these plans should always include this thought: "If the Lord wills." James stated it in this manner:  "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Psalm 38:5-6    "My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.  (6)  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long." Psalm 38:21-22    "Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.  (22)  Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation." Have you ever had a heavy heart? We sing that beautiful old hymn, "Are you weary? Are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus!" There are many things in life that can cause us to have heavy hearts. Maybe we felt led to do something and failed to follow through.  Maybe we feel like someone has wronged us. Maybe we lashed out at someone for no reason. Or maybe we have transgressed against the Lord and are seeking forgiveness. In reading this entire 38th Psalm, it seems David may have been bothered by all of the above. As a result, his sin was as a wound that was corrupt in his skin.  He was looking back at one or more instances where he did something that he knew was wrong. He spoke of

Psalm 37:35-37    "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  (36)  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.  (37)  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." Magicians make a good living by using sleight of hand and deceiving the eye.  I start with that sentence because sometimes we rely upon our eyes to be our guide through the things of life. We see things and then make judgment by what we see and hear.  I, for one, know that I cannot trust my eyesight nor my hearing. (Yes, I actually said that.)  David said, "I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself...."  You and I see things, sometimes real, sometimes imagined, that cause us to catch our breath and wonder, "How far will it spread?"   God tells us those things will pass. Sometimes those things are brought onto us for judgement that will press us closer to God.

Psalm 37:7-9    "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  (8)  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  (9)  For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth." The Psalmist instructs us to "rest, or find comfort, in the LORD."  Have you ever heard a baby crying until his mother picks him up and holds him close to her?  There is often an instant quieting of that baby because he recognizes and has complete trust in the love of his mother. We read the words of the Lord in Isaiah 66:13  "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you..."   How can we come to that place of resting in the Lord's grace?  It might possibly consist of enduring a time of realizing our total inability to provide for ourselves. As long as we think we have control, w