WISDOM IN THE SQUARE

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 1

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

An Egyptian obelisk from ancient Heliopolis, Egypt, stands in the centre of the Piazza in Rome. Three sides of the obelisk were carved during the reign of Sety I and the fourth side under Rameses II. The obelisk, known as the Obelisk Flaminio, or the Popolo Obelisk, is the second oldest and one of the tallest obelisks in Rome (some 24 metres high, or 36 metres including its base platform). The obelisk was brought to Rome in 10 BC by order of Caesar Augustus. The book of Proverbs predates the erection of this obelisk by 1,000 years.

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

Key Verses: Proverbs 1:10, 33

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent…But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.

PROVERBS — A guide book for Living! A proverb is a short sentence that conveys a moral truth. The motto and theme of this book is “THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM!” Historical records credit King Solomon with composing 3,000 proverbs. Here in the Book of Proverbs we have about 800 of them.

The fool does not fear God and disobeys Him! The wise person has the greatest respect for God and obeys Him! The fool will listen to sinners! The wise person will listen to God! In our daily blogs we are paying close attention to what God is saying to us through His Word! In today’s reading Wisdom is portrayed as a person who appears as a woman. Wisdom calls out to three types of people: (1) The naive who can easily be swayed to sin, (2) The scorners who mock the righteous, and (3) Fools who hate the truth and anything that has to do with God. These people can be saved from destruction by turning to God. However, there is a point which one can pass where there is no more “fear of the Lord” or reverence of God, and thus there is no hope of a turnaround!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I ask for wisdom to be constantly with me and in me. Through the man known as the brother of our Lord, James, I am assured that if I ask for wisdom, You will give it liberally and without reproach (James 1:5-7). I’m praying for this gift in the Name of the One “Who became for us Wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Norma-Jean and I did not know each other until she was 18 and I was 21, and we were raised in different Christian denominations, 300 miles apart. Nevertheless, we found that we had many things in common. We played tag, softball, attended a one-room public school, etc. We also had mothers who reminded us over and over of the serious negative consequences of being enticed by sinners to do the wrong thing. Both of our mothers died before we met. Mine of cancer when I was 12, and hers at the hand of a drunk driver when she was 17. We have vivid memories of our mothers quoting our key verse from the old King James version, “If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

The wisdom of Proverbs was the DNA of our culture a lifetime ago. Timothy Eaton, founder of the Canadian Eaton’s stores, would give a copy of the Book of Proverbs to each and every employee. Eaton would say, “This is our employee’s handbook. We live by these words.” No wonder one of the great Toronto Churches is called Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. The congregation always maintains a Bible-believing evangelical Pastor in the pulpit (click here for information on this great church).

Yours for WISDOM!!!

David

P.S. Here are some of our friends standing on Mt. Carmel, Israel. A sculptor has depicted the Prophet Elijah who confronted false prophets here.

BROTHER SLAVE!

Today’s Reading: Philemon

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

Items displayed in an Israeli museum from the Roman occupation time period. Some of these items may have been used by a slave in serving his master. Slavery was a common social practice in the time of today’s reading.

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

Key Verses: Philemon 15-16

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave — a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

This was written as a personal letter in Paul’s own handwriting, a one-to-one letter to his friend Philemon whom he led to Christ several years before (19b). The letter had to do with a runaway slave named Onesimus, who had belonged to Philemon, perhaps before Philemon had become a believer in Jesus Christ. Now, Paul has found Onesimus in Rome and led him to receive Jesus as his Saviour and Lord.

The content of this short letter reveals that Paul had a great love for each of these men, master and slave. He knows that the love of Jesus, which changes everything, will alter their relationship forever. They are now linked in the Holy Spirit as true brothers! We learn from this letter that God’s love in Christ is the only means whereby we find true freedom, ultimate respect for each other, and genuine love! In another letter, not to an individual but to us all, Paul writes, “In lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3b). This is truly revolutionary!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father God, I thank You for Jesus, Your Son and my Saviour and Lord! He, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, is continuing the revolution in my life. I pray for grace to love others as Paul loved Philemon and Onesimus. I know that this is only possible by Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Fill me again, Holy Spirit, with the love of God, I pray fervently in the Name of the Person who loved all of us with a perfect love, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Paul’s personal letter to Philemon has inspired me throughout 53+ years of television ministry. The highest number of personal letters I wrote in any one day was 50. Most days I would average 10 letters. I would record them on what was called a dictaphone, and my secretary, Valerie James Battaglia (now these indispensable people are called assistants), would transcribe them; I would sign them, and then they would be mailed. For some of my letters she would take shorthand and then type them. Ron just calculated for me what may be true, that I’ve written over 100,000 personal letters through the years. Just to think of this makes me feel very much fulfilled. One personal letter, the memory of which I cherish, was in answer to a 14-year-old boy named David Boyd from St. Catherines, Ontario. David wrote to me in the late sixties asking for our Crossroads Bible Correspondence Course, which we used to offer to new believers. I remember marking his examination paper and giving him 100%. Later, after years of study and ordination as a minister, he became Dean of Men at the Bible College from which I had graduated years before. He helped found a Bible College in Israel, and much more!

Yours for the joy of personal letters, phone calls, e-mails, texts, etc.,

David

P.S. Here is the world’s oldest city gate through which one can still walk. It’s in the wall of a 4,000-year-old Canaanite city, Ashkelon. It dates to the time of Abraham. Pictured in front of the gate are some of my friends from a past tour to Israel.

CHARACTER IN ACTION

Today’s Reading: TITUS 1-3

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

The Corinth Canal passageway was finally cut through the mainland in 1893 after several attempts dating back 2700 years ago. This canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The canal is 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) in length and only 21.4 metres (70 ft) wide at its base. Although the canal saves the 700-kilometre (430 mi) journey around the Peloponnese, it is too narrow for modern ocean freighters, as it can only accommodate ships of a width of up to 16.5 metres (54 ft) and a depth (bottom of ship) of 7.3 metres (24 ft).

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

Key Verses: Titus 3:1-2, 14

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men…And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful!

Titus is being instructed by Paul as he was establishing the church on the island of Crete.

Titus 1 – True Christianity was spreading throughout the land, but so was false teaching concerning the faith. Like weeds that encroach upon a newly seeded garden, so heresy was spreading. Therefore, Titus was to carefully screen and appoint well-qualified leaders. He was to rebuke sharply any who might use their position for “dishonest gain,” and those who “profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.”

Titus 2 – We are taught to say “NO” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Titus 3 – There is one word in Titus 3:14 that stands out as the key to living a life pleasing to God! It’s the word, “LEARN!” I’ve just checked the Oxford dictionary and it says that “LEARN” means to acquire knowledge and skill, to become competent, to grasp, to master, to absorb, to assimilate, to digest, to study, to read up on, to be taught, etc. Let’s all commit to be life-long learners…especially regarding the Word of God!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray that I will confess You before others, not only in my words, but in my every action. Teach me to say “NO” to all ungodliness, and may I LEARN to live an upright and godly life. Help me Lord, from minute to minute, to be consistent in the practical doing of Your Word, loving not only in word but in deed. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Our son Ron and daughter-in-“love” Ann post and check over my blog each day. Thanks so very much loved ones. Their daughter Andrea and their son-in-law Rev. Jason Patterson moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where God called them to plant a church. Titus was called of God to do the same thing in Crete. Paul’s advice for Crete will work in any place at any time. I ask my blog buddies to pray for Jason, Andrea, their daughter Jadice and son Declan (photo below), as they grow their newly-planted church. Their church website is HERE, and you can watch Jason’s sermons HERE. Thanks so very very much for your prayers for them!!!

Yours for being all God wants us to be and for doing all He wants us to do,

David

PRAISE THE LORD!

Today’s Reading: Psalms 148-150

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

Joppa is a major port on the west coast of Israel, as it was during Biblical times. It was here that the Apostle Peter fell into a trance and saw a sheet being lowered down from Heaven. On the sheet were all kinds of creatures (Acts 10:12). According to today’s reading, all creatures great and small are to “Praise the Lord!” We non-Jews got in on the blessings of Abraham and Jesus as a result of what happened to Peter. Jonah departed from this port on a whale of a trip! (Jonah 1:3).

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

Key Verses: Psalm 150:6

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

In Psalm 148, the crown of God’s creation — men and women — are mentioned last for emphasis! Regardless of status, age or sex, everyone is urged to “Praise the Lord!” We, who are believers in Jesus, may want to consider a New Testament reading which expands our reason to “Praise the Lord!” (Philippians 2:8-11).

Psalm 149 moves us into another dimension of praise. We are to praise Him for Who He is! For the ancient Israelite, the celebration of praise was often accompanied by singing, playing musical instruments and dancing!!!

Just in case we failed to get King David’s message, he writes here, in the final hymn in this, the temple hymnbook from which Jesus would have sung, the word “Praise” 13 times in six short verses!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

I praise You, O God! I lift up Your name to honour and glorify You! You alone are worthy! I magnify You with the words of my mouth and with my body language also! Glory! Glory! Glory! You are great and greatly to be praised! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

After reading today’s Psalms, I’ve decided to join Norma-Jean, just the two of us for now, in singing the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

[Note: The following was written November 13, 2015]… I have much to praise God for.  Some readers may be aware that I was given an “expiry date” of March 2014. MDS acute leukaemia was to take my life in 2 years after diagnosis (March 2012). Yesterday I had a check up and the specialist said that I’m doing better than expected. It will be two years ago this January that he said of my health, “Jaw dropping remarkable.” He gave me permission to quote him. I love having more time with my 11 great-grandchildren, Norma-Jean and the entire family, friends and people down here on earth. Thanks for all who remember me in their prayers!!! I must confess, however, that I was disappointed  for a while that I didn’t get to see Jesus when I had expected to. God’s timing will always be just right!

Yours to encourage us all to “PRAISE THE LORD!”

David

P.S. Here is a beautiful rendition of “The Doxology” I found on Youtube, sung during a wedding ceremony (click HERE). Why not take a moment to praise God and sing along with these young men?

PRAISE IS BEAUTIFUL!

Today’s Reading: Psalms 147

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

The sun burst over the unique sandstone topography in Timna Park in the Jordan Valley in Isreal. Such a scene should cause us to think of our Mighty Creator! It is most appropriate that the first and last words of today’s reading would be, “PRAISE THE LORD!”

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

Key Verses: Psalm 147:3-5

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite!

Our Creator not only created the stars, but He has a name for each one. Even with all our modern technology, astronomers have never been able to see all the stars and number them. Only our infinite God understands the vastness of the universe. Even though He is great in power, He is even greater in His care for His creation and, in particular, for us! He comes to us and heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds! We must remember that this Great Lord made us in His image, and therefore, He will not interfere unless invited to do so by those He put in charge of this world. That’s us! God chose the ancient Israelites to receive His Word for the entire human family, and through them we have been given the Word of God which we read every day. With this privilege comes an awesome responsibility… to do everything in our power to make sure the whole world would hear of the mercies and judgments of our holy and loving God.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

I am reminded, O God, in each Psalm I read that You are great! I marvel that You, the Creator of the universe, are so concerned about me as an individual. I pray for Your Spirit to so fill me that I will be able to effectively communicate Who You are to others. There is one person to whom I should speak today, and when the opportunity presents itself, may I be faithful and effective in sharing Your Word to that one, and others, by my words, my actions, and my giving. In the name of the One who did this 100% of the time, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have the honour of being called “Founder” by the men and women of God who currently lead Crossroads. Our website 100huntley.com carries the daily 100 Huntley Street television show. I call this a “show” because we want to “show” the great God of the universe, Who “heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” We, as a human family, must understand that the majority of the inhabitants of earth have made it clear that they don’t want God involved in their lives. God is not a dictator. He is a Lover! His great heart is broken! We’ve rejected His love. We’ve taken prayer and the Bible out of our public schools and much of the public square. Ever since our first human parents, we’ve separated ourselves from God and from His maintenance of creation over which He gave us dominion. Thus nature is left on its own, and the result is disaster after disaster. It’s our fault, not God’s. Yet we can respond with God’s love after such disasters and help to “bind up their wounds.” Crossroads provides ways to help (click here).

Yours for reaching out to others with God’s unending love,

David

REMEMBER

Today’s Reading: Psalms 145-146

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 Jordan Valley, King Herod built one of his palaces on the top of a mountain known as Masada, as it was the most defensible location in his domain. Herod was the most insecure of kings. He built several such fortress palaces. The Kingdom of the King of Kings is everlasting and His dominion endures throughout all generations and forever!

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

Key Verses: Psalms 145:3,13

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!…Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Psalm 145 is another acrostic poem in the Hebrew language. It serves as an introduction to the final five hymns of praise and worship! The theme is in verse five. David extols, blesses, meditates, declares, speaks, and tells us all that every day he will make known with his mouth the praises of the Lord! Praising God not only involves private and public worship but let us never forget that it means telling others in the world around us, particularly teaching the next generation all about God and His mighty deeds!

In Psalm 146 the great king, David, makes a declaration. We are to praise the greatest King, the One Who is King of kings! David states that as long as he lives he will practice what he preaches to us. He ends the Psalm with another, “PRAISE THE LORD!!!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I know that You alone are the One in whom I can put total, ultimate trust. Therefore, I trust the One Who did as Psalm 146 says, “Opens the eyes of the blind,” “Raises those who are bowed down and loves the righteous” (remember He gives us His righteousness by faith), “Watches over the strangers,” “Relieves the fatherless and widow,” and “Turns upside down” (the wicked). In the Name of this One, the One Whose Name is Jesus, I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

This day here in Canada is called “Remembrance Day.” We remember those who gave their lives to secure our peace and freedoms in this land. I think that I can best honour these who fell in battle by focusing on the death of the Lord Jesus Christ in the greatest war of all…the war against sin, death itself, the devil and his forces of evil. In 2013 I attended a Remembrance function on the eleventh of November. I sat at a table with a mother and father who had lost a son in the Afganistan war. Their son had a premonition of his death and made a videotape for his parents. I’ve just read again Psalm 146:5a, where there’s another use of the word, “Happy.” In yesterday’s reading there were two uses of “Happy.” I am a happy person! Praise the Lord!!!

Yours for remembering to remember, not just once a year but daily!

David

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY

Today’s Reading: Psalms 143-144

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

Here is the ancient marketplace of Ephesus. These pillars once stood proudly as a testimony to the success of the commercial centre of the city. Man’s accomplishments eventually crumble into ruin, but God’s great building, His living stones, His people, are built to last forever and ever.

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

Key Verses: Psalm 144:15

Happy are the people who are in such a state;

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!

Psalm 143 is the kind of prayer we all need to pray when we are in distress. David prays, “Hear my prayer, O Lord!” “Answer me speedily!” “Do not hide Your face from me!” “Cause me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning!” (could this blog be an answer to that prayer?) “Cause me to know the way in which I should walk!” “Deliver me, O Lord!” “Revive me, O Lord!”

Psalm 144 is delightful! King David asks the question, “What is man?” David’s answer is “a breath,” and “a shadow,” but man also has the potential to be “Happy” during our brief time here on earth. This question, “What is man?” is quoted in Hebrews chapter 2 in the New Testament. We may want to take time to meditate on these words given by the writer to the Hebrew people. We’ll find that Jesus is the greatest joy of all!!! (click here). David prayed, “Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down!” (144:2a). God did come down! We can sing with great happiness, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, there is a one-word prayer I pray daily, “HELP!” I am confident You heard my prayer in advance of my time on earth, and You have come down to me in the Person of Jesus Christ, in whose Name I pray. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My daughter, Elaine Stacey, gave me a gift of a book called, “Happy, Happy, Happy.” It’s the story of the Robertson family. Perhaps you’ve seen the reality TV series, Duck Dynasty. Phil Robertson at one time was an alcoholic who met Jesus, and Jesus made him a new man. In Phil’s book I read the facts, whereas in the TV show the producers water down the testimony of Jesus that this family want to share with the whole world. The producers even put in “bleeps” to make it appear that they were swearing. The Robertsons were quite upset at this and made it clear that they don’t swear! Phil has lived to see his children blessed as David prayed, “Sons as plants, and daughters as pillars!” (Psalm 144:12).

Yours for being able to say with Phil, “Happy, Happy, Happy!”

David

P.S. Norma-Jean bought me the shirt I’m wearing in the picture below, and my grandson, Nathaniel Shaheen, put on a beard for the photo! My hat is a gift from Chief Sunrise, a great First Nations leader from the Northwest Territories. The Chief, with the name, “Sunrise,” shows the “Reality” of Psalm 143:8, God’s “Loving kindness in the morning.”

THE SNARE/TRAP

Today’s Reading: Psalms 140-142

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

This is the Parliament House in Athens, Greece. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at the bottom of a high wall surrounding the Parliament Building. On this wall is a relief that depicts a fallen soldier which is surrounded by quotations from Pericles’ funeral oration. Two sentry boxes on either side of the tomb have small canopies to protect the guards against the sun. Psalm 141:3 is a prayer for God to “Set a guard over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.” This prayer should be prayed by all politicians and in our case at Crossroads, all who seek to communicate God’s thoughts expressed in His Word by the use of all forms of media.

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

Key Verses: Psalm 141:3, 9

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

Keep watch over the door of my lips.

…Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,

And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.

Common to all three Psalms in today’s reading is David’s recognition that snares have been laid to trap him with wickedness, iniquity, and isolation. In each of his compositions we learn that David turned to God for protection and deliverance! When we pray and ask God for His intervention in our lives, God says, “Yes!” A New Testament reading which confirms God’s answer to the prayers of our key verses is 1 Corinthians 10:11-13. God promised us a way of escape from every trap or snare that has the potential to destroy us (and He cannot lie). God, Paul declares, will “MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE!” God has shown us the escape plan, but it’s up to us to run for it! Our escape from the snares of the world, the flesh, and the devil is the CROSS OF CHRIST! For believers in Jesus, His Name stands for all He is and does. Proverbs 18:10 says, “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.” Amen!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I pray the words of the key verses: “Set a guard…over my mouth;… over the door of my lips…keep me from the snares…and from the traps.” As Psalm 142:5 says, “I cried out to you, O Lord…” I do that now! I confess, “You are my Refuge!” I pray this in the Name of my Strong Tower, the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

On November 11th in Canada, we’re remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom. Because of this freedom, Brit Hume, a former White House correspondent for ABC News, on live worldwide TV, looked into the camera and spoke directly to golfer Tiger Woods, who had messed up his life badly, and said, approximately, “Tiger, you need Jesus!” God surely caused Brit to speak boldly and wisely. For decades on the 100 Huntley Street daily telecast, I never went on air without praying, “God, please put a watch (or guard) over my mouth!”

Yours to be on guard, protecting each of us from all the snares and traps that sin, self, the devil, and other people may set for us!!!

David

P.S. Here is an interview with Brit Hume from the Christianity Today magazine.

SEARCH ME

Today’s Reading: Psalms 137-139

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

A beautiful view of the Old City of Jerusalem at night. It was here in Jerusalem that David prayed with great fervency the prayer suggested for today!

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

Key Verses: Psalm 138:2b, 139:23-24

For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.

…Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 137 is the lament of some of the Jerusalem Temple musicians who were taken as slaves to Babylon. These words are very sad at the beginning, but suddenly their tone changes to anger and thoughts of future revenge. They did not have God’s love and forgiveness in their hearts.

Psalm 138 is David’s composition. Our first key verse teaches us that God’s Word is of highest value! This should be motivation enough to be consistent in our daily readings!

Psalm 139 is a profound theological statement. God is OMNISCIENT! (all knowing). God gave new and revolutionary understanding to David, his generation, and all future generations! God is OMNIPRESENT! (present everywhere). He is here so that we can, if we are willing, experience His presence 24/7!!!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, the man after Your own heart, David, wrote a prayer which I intend to pray now and often: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” I pray this in the Name of the One in Whom there is no wicked way, and Who, through my faith in Him, leads me in the way of everlasting life! That’s Jesus only! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

While I don’t know the tune to which David’s chief musician sung the words of Psalm 139, I do know by heart a magnificent modern hymn which I’m going to look for on Google right now….I’ve just been worshipping God with “Carmen,” one of my favourite singers. Not only does he sing the prayer from Psalm 139, but his medley includes the hymn “I Surrender All,” and he has led me into a new commitment to God for this new day (click here for Carmen). I encourage taking time now to pray and worship!

Yours for God’s work in our lives and for our worship of God!!!

David

MERCY FOREVER

Today’s Reading: Psalms 135-136

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

The Parthenon is a temple on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron deity. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. Unique to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and King David was that, unlike pagan gods. It could not be said of them that their “Mercy endures forever.”

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

Key Verses: Psalms 135:13, 136:4

Your name, O Lord, endures forever,

Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.

…To Him who alone does great wonders,

For His mercy endures forever!

Both Psalms in today’s reading refer to the final and decisive plague on the Egyptians which resulted in freedom for their slaves, the Israelite people (Exodus 12:29-36). This is a high price to pay for the freedom of the slaves in Egypt, but I’ve just finished reading a book on the American Civil War, fought for the cause of freeing the slaves. The Americans paid a much higher price in the death of their sons for a similar cause.

(1) We learn here that God’s gifts and miracles arise from His love!

(2) God protects and cares for His loved ones!

(3) We eat and drink today because God loves us!

It’s no wonder that the psalmist repeats 26 times, “His mercy endures forever!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’ve just read many reasons as to why I should be thankful! Your Word tells me that Your “Goodness leads …. to repentance!” I pray that this will always be so in my life! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Over the years I’ve often said that the most repeated verse in the Bible is, “His mercy endures forever.” Another very important verse from God’s Word is, “Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved!” (Romans 10:13). We should never forget 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I have found that many more people struggle with having assurance of salvation than there are those who take God at His Word and rest in the assurance of “His mercy.” This is the result of a lack of emphasis on God’s grace and His unconditional love! I’ve just read Psalm 136 out loud. I dare anyone to join me in this exercise and still doubt God’s mercy and forgiveness!

Yours for the full assurance of the Presence in our lives of our Saviour and Lord!

David