Psalm 5 - 7.17.24
Scripture - Psalms 5
Listen to my words, Lord,
consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
Observation
God does not expect you to put on a brave face or pretend to be happy in times of trial. Over and over in the Psalms, David sets the example for us, going to God and pouring out his sorrow, anger and pain. He is real and raw. Complaining and crying out, he lays his needs at God's feet. He sits before God and lets God work on his heart. By the end of every Psalm, not every situation is changed, but David is changed through his time spent with God.
Application
I like to say, "You need to feel your feelings - for a while." David is a great example of that! But we can't stay there. We need to learn to lay our troubles at the feet of God and trust Him. We need to learn to trust Him even when we don't see anything happening. We need to trust that He works in ways we can't see or understand. Learning to trust is a spiritual discipline.
In the morning - David starts his days meeting with God
My King and my God - he acknowledges God's sovereignty, his supreme authority and power
Wait expectantly - spend time, learn to trust
By the end of the Psalm, you see that David's heart has changed.
"David began his devotions seeking help for himself but ended by seeking blessing for all the people, including his enemies. That’s the way our devotional times ought to end." Warren Wiersbe Bible Study
Prayer
Thank you God for this reminder today. I don't need to carry my burdens alone. You love me and You want me to come to You with everything. You want to listen, comfort me, change my heart, and teach me to trust in You.
- Debbie Dunn
Numbers 6 - 7.16.24
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 6:22 – 27
22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
OBSERVATION
Verses 22 – 27 is called a Priestly Blessing. The blessing comes after a lengthy outline in verses 1 – 21 on how a Nazirite is to live their life. I wasn’t aware of a Nazirite but found it’s a Jewish man or woman who takes a vow to consecrate their life to the Lord for a period of time. There were several people in the Bible who were considered to possibly be a Nazirite based on the vow or dedication they showed in their life:
Sampson, Samuel, Paul and John the Baptist
Although 21 verses are devoted to the Nazirite’s vow and what that entails, the Lord ends up blessing all Israelites and not just the Nazirites. He’s a gracious and loving God who wants to bless all who follow Him.
God’s blessing goes deeper to also “keep us.” This is a way of protection and watching over us in our life. His eyes are upon us to keep us from harm. I feel special knowing His love and care goes so deep.
The blessing goes further into showing how God is pleased with those who follow Him by shining his face towards us. My heart is so full knowing He looks upon me with a shining face and is gracious. How special we are to Him!
By turning His face towards us, this is an act of acceptance, love and pleasure with us. He then also extends peace. I’m so thankful He doesn’t turn His head away but towards me and the blessing of peace is given.
Another take away is this Scripture uses the word “you” six times. God is in the details of us personally. In Psalm 139 (which is my favorite life scripture) God says He’s intimately acquainted with each of us, knew us before we were born, knows when we sit down, lay down, and even what we will speak before anything is said. You are important to God and His blessings flow in abundance. God’s perfect peace flows when reading this Blessing.
APPLICATION
I need to remember this Scripture and commit it to memory for those times I’m feeling low or discouraged. The reminder of how God wants to bless us, love us, is gracious, shines his face of acceptance and light upon us, is gracious, and extends peace ultimate causes me to feel so special and at peace within Him. God is so good and worthy of all praise!
Hearing the worship song set to this Scripture is the icing on the cake. Receive the blessing God wants to give you and His peace in this worship song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4
PRAYER
Lord, I am so thankful for your blessings. You love us so much! You have always loved your chosen people – the Nation of Israel - and I also care about Israel. I pray and lift them up now and always. I also pray this blessing to the United States that this nation turns back to you. Help us to consecrate each day to you and receive the blessings you freely and graciously give to those who follow you. In Jesus name… amen!
- Mary Oberg
Psalm 3 - 7.15.24
Scripture
Psalm 3:3-6
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
Observation
This Psalm was written by David and apparently, he wrote it when he was fleeing from his own son, Absalom.
“King David's son, Absalom, had killed his brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar. Then he led a rebellion against the king and drove him out of Jerusalem.” (John Piper on desiringgod.org)
“David complains to God of his enemies, and confides in God. (1-3) He triumphs over his fears, and gives God the glory, and takes to himself the comfort. (4-8)…David's faith became triumphant. He began the psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies; but concludes with rejoicing in the power and grace of his God, and now sees more with him than against him.” (Matthew Henry commentary on Christianity.com)
King David recognizes that God is his shield, the lifter of His head and his sustainer. As a result, he does not fear his enemies, which in this Psalm, was his own son.
Application
Use our trials to draw us closer to the Lord, not further away.
I’m reading this book called, “The Gospel for Disordered lives” and loved this quote in it:
“Quite often Western Christians believe that God is good because their circumstances are good. Their experiences become their authority over the Word of God. This wrong thinking may not even be recognizable until negative experiences arise to test them.” (pg. 313)
Maybe you’re not going through enemies pursuing you, just like King David was, but rather trials of a health issue with yourself or a loved one; marriage trials; a loved one passing; financial/work trials; family or other relationship issues, etc. Whatever it may be for each of us, continue to draw close to the Lord.
Right now, we are in the 5th day of our Rooted prayer and fasting challenge. If you haven’t joined us yet, it is not too late! Continue to press into the Lord, especially when going through trials! He is the lifter of our head and sustains us with His strength. When we call out to Him, He will answer us through prayer and His Word. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” -Matthew 5:6
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being my sustainer and the lifter of my head. Thank You that no matter what circumstance is going on, You remain good and the same. I pray that I would continue to press into You through this time of prayer and fasting and that You would reveal Yourself to me. May my focus shift from my problems and circumstances to You alone. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
This is my favorite worship song to listen to to shift my focus away from myself to Him: “High Above” by Parachute Band.
https://youtu.be/ploAkX4pzGA?si=QwUnq5EMFCuF_bZW