• Home
  • About
  • DavidKitz.ca
  • Youtube Videos
  • Books by David
  • Books on Amazon.com

I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

I love the Psalms

Daily Archives: February 3, 2020

A Book Study that Walks You to the Cross and the Empty Tomb

03 Monday Feb 2020

Posted by davidkitz in book review, Books by David Kitz

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

centurion, David Kitz, Passion Week, study guide

A seven-week book study is now available for the Passion of Christ novel The Soldier Who Killed a King. The book and the group discussion guide are great resources to prepare your heart for Easter and the message of the cross.

The discussion guide includes a complete list of more than 120 Bible quotations that areSoldier book sprinkled throughout the text of this Bible-based novel.

In an Amazon book review, an adult Sunday School leader had this to say about the book and the study guide:

David Kitz’s “The Soldier Who Killed A King” is a book that transports you to the passion week of Jesus with his triumphal arrival into Jerusalem, his trial and his crucifixion. In a real and tangible way this book made me believe I was there witnessing it all through the eyes of the centurion in charge of Jesus death on the cross.

While the book is historical fiction, it is loaded with biblical references that link the story directly to the Biblical account. You can review each reference in the index if you are interested in over a hundred connections that Kitz has woven into his story.

I used this book in an adult Sunday School class prior to last Easter and it was well-received with many comments about the realism of the time period as described by Kitz. I think “The Soldier Who Killed A King” is one of the best Easter novels I have ever read. I give it 5 stars!

To examine the free discussion guide click here.

For book purchases in the United States click here.

For book purchases in the Canada click here.

 

Prisons Come in many Forms.

03 Monday Feb 2020

Posted by davidkitz in Devotionals, Psalm 142, Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

habits, liberty, prison, prisoners, rescue

Reading: Psalm 142
(Verses 5-7)
I cry to you, LORD;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need;
rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me (NIV).

illustration of gray wire

Photo by izhar khan on Pexels.com

Reflection
Though I have visited prisoners, I have never been imprisoned, at least not in the classic sense of imprisonment. But in the broader meaning of the word, we all have been confined to prisons—prisons of the mind. Some of us are prisoners of counterproductive habits, or prisoners within crippling relationships that hinder personal growth and fulfillment. Prisons come in many forms. Some of them are disguised as places of personal liberty, but all too often the thing we freely choose can become a cruel slave master.

When David prayed the words of this psalm, he was not in a prison. He was confined to a cave or the immediate region around a cave, because he was a fugitive from King Saul who was trying to kill him. He voices this prayer: Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name.

Are you in a prison? Is fear of discovery locking you up? Are you trapped in habits, addictions or thought patterns that are too strong for you?

David was in a weak and vulnerable position. Saul, his personal enemy had an entire army on his side. For the second time in his life, David was in what we call the classic David and Goliath situation. He was outnumbered and in every way the advantage belonged to his opponent.

In such adverse circumstances we need God on our side. We need the resources of heaven to tip the scale in our favor. That is precisely what happened in David’s case. The LORD arranged situations that gave all the advantage to David. David ended up sparing Saul’s life on two occasions. For a full account read 1 Samuel 24 & 26.

David ends this psalm with an affirmation of his faith in God. Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me. That is exactly what happened. When the LORD set David free from his prison, righteous men took note, and they rallied around David as their leader because they saw that the LORD was with him.

Response: LORD God, set me free from the negative habits and thought patterns that imprison me. Help me identify them one by one, and then help me gain the victory over them in the power of Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Can you identify habits or thought patterns that harm your relationships with others?

Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer

Psalms 365

"Psalms 365" is designed to help you develop a life of worship and prayer like the biblical David. Each daily reading provides insight and inspiration for practical Christian living, allowing the Good shepherd to guide you to the center of his will.

Psalms

Recent posts

  • His Love Endures Forever April 11, 2021
  • Psalm 117 April 10, 2021
  • Hidden in My Heart April 9, 2021
  • The Path of Purity April 9, 2021
  • A Steel-Tipped Bullet to the Heart April 8, 2021
  • The Longest Psalm April 8, 2021
  • His Light Shines on Us April 7, 2021

Calendar

February 2020
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829  
« Jan   Mar »

Blog Posts

Blogroll

  • David Kitz Website
  • Discuss
  • Get Inspired
  • Get Polling
  • Get Support
  • Learn WordPress.com
  • Theme Showcase
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Comments

  • Vincent S Artale Jr on His Love Endures Forever
  • wally12662013 on His Love Endures Forever
  • davidkitz on Psalm 117

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×