Devotional Thoughts

Psalm 135:6     "Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places." It would be easy for me to jump ahead to the verses that follow this one, but my mind keeps coming back to the first words: (paraphrase) 'The LORD does whatever He wants to do'. We are guilty of saying, or at the least thinking, that we can do what we want. I remember times in my life when I felt I had reached the age where I could do whatever I wanted to do. When I reached the age of being a teenager, I felt I could do anything I wanted to do. When I reached the age of sixteen and had my drivers' license, I felt I could do anything I wanted to do. There was one problem with that: I had to ask daddy if I could use the car. It was his car and he had the keys. When I turned 21, I just knew I would "be a man" and do whatever I wanted to do. Well, that didn't work so well either. I had expenses and had to work to get the paychec...

Psalm 135:3    "Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant." The LORD is good. What can I say to add to that? Nothing. That statement stands completely on its own merit. He is good, and everything He does is good. Even though I do not understand all His workings, God is good. The fact is, I do not have to understand all His workings because He is good. I can simply place my trust in Him and the fact that "all thing work together for good for those who love the Lord, for those who are the called according to His purpose." That being established, now we come to my part and your part. Praise the LORD. That's our responsibility. In all things, praise the Lord. In all we say, praise the Lord. In all we do, praise the Lord. In our attitudes, praise the Lord. In our outlook, praise the Lord. Praise is not only the sound that comes out of our mouths. Praise is the way we approach life and others. Praise ye the Lord. ...

Psalm 134:2-3    "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. (3)  The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion." Picture an infant learning to walk. It's steps are short, uneasy, and not knowing if the next moment will find a foot planted on the floor or the entire body laying because of a missed step. He doesn't realize it, but his mother is within arm's length of him. She seems a thousand miles away.  She is close enough to catch him, but he doesn't realize that. With each step, he lifts his hands and arms toward his mother. He is pleading, "Please help me. Don't let me fall." By lifting his hands, he is expressing confidence and trust in the ability of his mother to help him. In other times, he sees his mother or father across the room. He has conquered the walking thing, but out of joy, he runs across the room with his arms outstretched and hands lifted just to be close to his parents and held in their ar...

Psalm 134:1    "Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD." Why is it so important to have a daily approach to God? Why is worship such an integral part of living? Why do I have to go to church? Can I not handle things on my own and in my own way? It seems there could easily be an attitude develop that would lend toward self-sufficiency. In this type attitude, God becomes a figurehead that is nice to read about and hear about. There tends to be more of a mental approach rather than a heart felt approach unto Him. The Word of God is more of a good moral lesson rather than the absolute heart of God speaking to my heart. The problem with this type thinking is that somewhere along the way, we hit a brick wall and cannot handle nor deal with the situation. What do we do then? We have programmed ourselves to be able to handle anything and everything that life throws our way. We go into a tailspin that is not a go...

Psalm 133:1-3   "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (2)  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (3)  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." This is still a song of degree, or a traveling Psalm, that was sung as the people approached Jerusalem to worship. They are almost there at this point. Their hearts and minds are focused upon the Lord and only on Him. They are worshiping long before they arrive. I can picture them coming from all directions and converging at a place where they are now making the turn to go into the city. Their voices are now combining and the joyful noise can be heard throughout the hills round about the city. They are at one as they approach the House of God. What a beautiful thou...

Psalm 132:4-5    "I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, (5)  Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." This Psalm speaks of a desire to worship. The verses previous to these two speak of David's afflictions and of places where worship has occurred. The temple had not been built at that time, but the desire to have a proper place of worship burned deep in their hearts. Not only do these verses speak of that deep desire, they also speak of commitment. Is it just me, or does there seem to be a lack of commitment in our society today? We live in a "throw away" world. Most things we buy are in disposable packages. Many things are made for a certain number of uses and then to be disposed and new ones to be purchased. Quite honestly, that lack of commitment seems to carry over into the arena of worship. There seems to be a lack of commitment when it comes to being in God's House on the...

Psalm 131:1-3     "LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. (2)  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. (3)  Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever." These three verses comprise the entire 131st Psalm. It is ascribed as being another traveling song. This was another that would be sung on the way to the temple to worship the Lord. This particular Psalm was a song of degrees of David. I read these verses and think, "Should there be more to it?" What was David thinking when he wrote this particular song? It is short. It apparently had a very personal meaning for David. Should it have a meaning for me? It is apparent that this song was one to promote humility upon entering the house of the Lord. As I think back on David's life and his accomplishments, I realize that the peop...