LET GOD ARISE! (Psalm 68:1a)

Today’s Reading: Psalms 67-68

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Mount Hermon in Northern Israel is snow capped year-round. In today’s reading King David’s poetry mentions snow and the mountain peaks (Psalm 68:14-16).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Psalm 68:3-4, 11

But let the righteous be glad;

Let them rejoice before God;

Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name;

Extol Him who rides on the clouds,

By His name YAH,

And rejoice before Him.

The Lord gave the word;

Great was the company of those who proclaimed it.

God’s Name, “YAH” (Hebrew) is “JEHOVAH” in our language. There is one true Creator God! Our God is “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We may want to read from our translation from the Greek language the words of Paul in Ephesians 1:3-6. The “awesome” (to borrow from yesterday’s reading) plan of God for the salvation of the whole world is ours to communicate to every man, woman, and child.

In Psalm 67, the word “NATIONS” is repeated three times. God’s face is shining upon us so that God’s “way may be known on earth,” and so that there will be “salvation among all nations!” “ALL NATIONS!” Can we, the readers of this blog, possibly be a vital part of that great “company of those who proclaimed it?” How each of us answer this question will make a huge difference in accomplishing this task or, on the other hand, failing to do our part. Which will it be?

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, here I am waiting before You. I pray for grace to be a part of that great company whose job it is to proclaim Your Word to all the “NATIONS ON EARTH!” I pray for unbending determination to never, never, never give up on the accomplishment of this mandate to which You, “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” have called me. I ask for a great company to join together with You to get the job done. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I thank God for the ministry of Crossroads Christian Communications and how He will lead us forward to the glorious goal that, through all kinds of mass media communications, Psalm 67:2 will be accomplished…”THAT YOUR WAY MAY BE KNOWN ON EARTH, YOUR SALVATION AMONG ALL NATIONS!!!”

Yours for the “company of those who proclaimed it,” (the Word) because “the Lord gave the Word!”

David

AWESOME

Today’s Reading: Psalms 64-66

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

The Mediterranean Sea beach and distant ruins of Caesarea Maritima.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Psalm 65:5, 66:1-3

By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,

O God of our salvation,

You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,

And of the far-off seas;

…Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

Sing out the honor of His name;

Make His praise glorious.

Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!

Through the greatness of Your power

Your enemies shall submit themselves to You…

Teens went through a phase a while back when it seemed that everything was “awesome!” In today’s reading the word “awesome” is appropriate. It’s used three times!!! Is it any wonder that we are encouraged to “Make a joyful shout to God!”

Meditate and wisely consider Psalm 64:1 & 64:9b. These are daily instructions for us all. God’s deeds are surely worthy of the utmost AWE!!! Consider the following facts – (1) Victory over enemies (66:3) – our enemies are not nations around us, but self and sin within us. Jesus is our AWESOME Deliverer! (2) The Lord rules, therefore, we can trust Him always (66:7) – verse 66:5 assures us that “He is AWESOME in His doing toward the sons of men!” (3) In an AWESOME way God has brought us out to rich fulfillment! (66:12b) – God is AWESOME in His answers to prayer! (66:19).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Thank You, Lord God, that You have “not turned away my prayer,” and You have not turned away Your “mercy from me!” (66:20). I know that the reason I can come before You in prayer and know that You hear me is not because of any righteousness in me, but only because of Your Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ. I confess my sin before You! I have Your assurance that You have heard my confession and that I’m forgiven. I believe You when You spoke these words about Yourself through Your Apostle John, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Amen! Amen! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Again first thing this morning I confessed my confidence in the Lord Jesus by quoting Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The gift of faith from God that allows me to truly believe this statement also allows the truth of this statement to be lived out throughout the next 24 hours.

Yesterday I decided to check for mistakes in my recent book, This Far By Faith. I found several misprints, etc. Because of a deadline the book was rushed into print before I had a chance to critically read with care what I had typed into my laptop computer. For example I read that I had given my life to Christ in December of ’52, been filled with the Holy Spirit in June of ’53, and called into the Christian ministry in August of ’53. But there was a wrong date in print. I had mistakenly typed that I had lost my temper in the Fall of ’53 and punched out a football player on the opposing team. Doesn’t sound like a teenager who had already been saved, filled with God’s Spirit and called to be a minister, does it? The fact is that I was kicked out of the game for unnecessary roughness (fighting) in the Fall of ’52. This was one of the reasons I knew I needed God in my life, and why I was desperate for God’s help. In the fall of ’53, the next time I met that player on the field, I asked for and received his forgiveness.

Yours for honesty and getting my words typed here in my blog correctly,

David

GOD ALONE!

Today’s Reading: Psalms 60-63

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Al Khazneh (“The Treasury”) is one of the most elaborate temples in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra. Like most of the other buildings there, this structure was carved out of the rock face. It has classical Greek-influenced architecture, and it is Jordan’s most popular tourist attraction. Psalm 60:9 asks the question, “Who will bring me into the strong city? Who will lead me to Edom?” This is Edom’s strong city, Petra (the rock).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Psalm 63:1-4

O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You;

My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus I will bless You while I live…

There are four Psalms in today’s reading. They describe four ways to pray. (1) “RESTORE us again!” (60:1b). — (2) “Hear my CRY, O God” (61:1a). — (3) “Truly my soul SILENTLY waits for God” (62:1a). — (4) “O God, You are my God; EARLY will I seek You” (63:1a). We are encouraged to pray prayers with meaningful content; to pray with fervency; to wait patiently on God; and to seek God first thing upon rising in the morning! Is that good counsel? Amen!!!

The words, “Wait silently for GOD ALONE!” (62:5a) focuses our attention on “GOD ALONE!” The only ultimate answer to life’s questions is in God. Our only refuge, security and peace are found in Him ALONE! The sooner we realize this truth, the sooner we will find real personal peace and security.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

First of all, Lord God, I bring You praise and worship! —— I’m presenting my petitions to You with fervency and urgency in my cry to You! —— I’m waiting silently in Your presence —— I’m doing this first thing this morning! You, O Lord, are my #1 priority. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I feel like singing! Why not join me? God will hear us all from all over the world and He will put our joyful noise together in the courts of Heaven as beautiful harmony (click here for a song by a precious little boy with the words from our key verse).

Yours for “God ALONE!”

David

WORSHIPPING OR GROWLING!

Today’s Reading: Psalms 57-59

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

In the Nazareth Village synagogue, an actor plays the part of a first-century rabbi reading from a Scripture scroll and leading in the worship of the only true God, the God of King David.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verses: Psalm 57:7-11

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and give praise! Awake, my glory! Awake lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn! I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations for Your mercy reaches into the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth!

King David was definitely not shy in giving voice to his worship of God, not only among his own people but “among the nations!” His court would have received many ambassadors from other countries who would witness his worship of the One and only true God. Perhaps they took David’s songs back home with them.

Twice David declares, “My heart is steadfast!” (Psalm 57:7). This kind of confidence in God is never ashamed to worship Him in public. Twice David writes of some people who “growl like a dog!” (59:6,14). No wonder people in rebellion against God growled when they heard David worship so enthusiastically. Even David’s Queen, Saul’s daughter, despised her husband because of his dancing before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:16).

May we who claim to love and serve God never be shy in proclaiming His “GLORY”!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, my prayer is about You! May You “BE EXALTED, ABOVE THE HEAVENS; LET YOUR GLORY BE ABOVE ALL THE EARTH!” Amen!!! And may I do my best to make sure this is happening 24/7. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I remember well returning from Calcutta in the early 1970’s, determined to raise child support for 1,000 needy children. I purchased four hours of TV time on the Kingston, Ontario, CKWS TV station, on a Saturday afternoon for this purpose (Toronto was too expensive). For the first half hour the phones in the studios weren’t very active with sponsorship calls. Then, with great concern, I prayed for guidance. I believed I heard that still small inner Voice of God say, “David just begin to worship and praise Me right here on live television.” So I stopped asking the viewers for their calls and closed my eyes, lifted my hands, and began to say, “Hallelujah! Praise You, Lord God! I worship You! Blessed be Your Name! You, O God, care more then we ever could about these precious children in Calcutta!” I continued this praise and prayer for several minutes. As I did, I heard the telephones beginning to ring. They never stopped ringing for the duration of our live telecast. The goal was met! I turned the names of those who called over to Rev. Bill Newell, Canadian Director of World Vision. This started World Vision using TV to raise sponsors. I’ve never been shy to praise and worship God on television since that time. Please join King David as we together say privately and publicly, “Praise You, O Lord, among the peoples!” (Psalm 57:9a).

Yours for a steadfast heart when in the presence of growling dogs!

David

P.S. I must take a few more words to point out the contrast between some of David’s words and those of his great-great-(etc.) Grandson, Jesus, who was born in David’s city, Bethlehem. David had some light on the truth of God’s love and mercy. Jesus taught, “Love your enemies.” Please join me in reading Matthew 5:43-48. David did not have the great privilege, as we have, of reading the longest recorded message of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount.

At our prayer lines in the “100 Huntley Street” studio, downtown Toronto in the mid-eighties on live television! Many people were led to Jesus over those phones! Like King David, we praised and worshipped God boldly and openly. This continues daily. Over 10,000 telecasts later, God continuous to be exalted in this witness of God’s GLORY! “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth!” (John 1:14b).

TEARS IN GOD’S BOTTLE

Today’s Reading: Psalms 54-56

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Above is a British military building abandoned in 1948 when the British left the area. Palestine was a part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire which was dismantled following the First World War (1914 – 18). Britain was given the mandate to rule much of the Middle East by the Treaty of Versaille and did so for 30 years. The Israelis have since used it for military practice, as you can see by the shelling. If you click on the Google Map link below, you will notice that this building is on the Israeli-Jordanian border. The Scriptures tell us that “wars and rumours of war” will be a constant in the area until Messiah comes!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Psalm 56:8b

“Put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?”

All three Psalms in today’s reading begin with prayer, fervent prayer! God hears even an unspoken prayer, one which is a thought, but it is important to speak out loud when possible. God will respond to the fervency level of our prayers. Fervency puts exclamation points behind our words!!! Imagine the scene when David moans “noisily” (Psalm 55:2), or David is crying aloud “evening, morning, and at noon” (55:17). Then you are urged to “cast your burden on the Lord” (55:22a). Our key verse tells us that David’s tears were part of his heartfelt prayers. These Psalms also draw the conclusions that “He has delivered me out of all trouble,” “I will trust in You,” and “You have delivered my soul from death!” Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

“Hear my prayer, O God!” I cry out to You for mercy, grace, and Your intervention in my life and in the lives of all those whose names I speak before You (Here I name every name that comes to my mind and speak those areas of need in each life of which I am aware). Most of all, I cry out to You, Lord God, for the salvation of precious souls who need Jesus as Saviour and Lord. I pray in the Name of the One Who wept over the needs of people, Jesus Christ! Amen!!! (John 11:31-36).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I identify with David’s prayers and also with the actions that followed his prayers. David wrote in Psalm 54:6, “I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.” I ask myself, “What am I sacrificing to the Lord?” Someone has said, “There is no sacrifice in the light of Calvary.” In other words, the greatest sacrifice I can make of time, energy, money, and other resources, are all as nothing when compared to what Jesus gave in the ultimate sacrifice of Himself on the Cross! Yet I must not minimize my responsibility to give my very best to God.

I’ve been thinking often lately about my giving to God. I do this by supporting with time and money the works of the Lord as they are being done in ministering to others around the world. For example, Crossroads has a world-wide mandate from God to use television to respond to the urgent plights of those in need (click here for information). Also, Crossroads continues to have that call of eternal importance…winning men, women, boys and girls to Jesus.

Yours for the most valuable cause in the universe,

David