Category Archives: Psalms

The Bread of Angels

24 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 78

Verses 23-31

Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens;
he rained down manna for the people to eat,
he gave them the grain of heaven.
Human beings ate the bread of angels;
he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let loose the east wind from the heavens
and by his power made the south wind blow.
He rained meat down on them like dust,
birds like sand on the seashore.
He made them come down inside their camp,
all around their tents.
They ate till they were gorged—
he had given them what they craved.
But before they turned from what they craved,
even while the food was still in their mouths,
God’s anger rose against them;
he put to death the sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel (NIV).

Reflection

Several years ago I received some wise counsel from a pastor. He said, “Be careful what you pray for. You may get what you want. And that’s not always a good thing.”

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Mackenzie King Estate, Gatineau Park, QC – photo by David Kitz

What happens when we get exactly what we want? For the answer to that question we should consult with million-dollar lottery winners. Obviously, they got what they wanted when they bought their lottery ticket. Sociologists who do long-term studies on lottery winners will tell you that in some cases winning the “big one” ends in disaster. Some people have managed to fritter away millions in a perpetual party lifestyle that leaves them physically broken and bankrupt in less than five years. Others have maintained their wealth and their health, but they have become socially isolated with family relationships in ruins. Getting what we want doesn’t and more than we need doesn’t always end well.

In today’s reading from Psalm 78, we learn that despite Israel’s rebellious ways, God gave the people exactly what they wanted and more than they needed. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.

The greatest temptation we face may not be denying God in the face of poverty, but rather neglecting Him in the midst of wealth. When God gives us the wealth we want, the end result may be the impoverishment of our spirits. Be careful what you pray.

Response: LORD God, help me to find my contentment in you and not in the abundance of my possessions. If your blessings come, help me to be a wise and generous manager that seeks first the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Your Turn: Have your answered prayers led to regrets later on?

Creating Purity

23 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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Create pure thoughts in me
    and make me faithful again.
Don’t chase me away from you
    or take your Holy Spirit
    away from me 

(Psalm 51:10-11, CEV).

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Tulip beds, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creating.

King David, the author of many of the Psalms, fell deep into sin. Adultery and murder are about as deep as anyone can sink and David sank that low. But when Nathan, the prophet, confronted King David, he repented and prayed these words:

Create pure thoughts in me and make me faithful again. Don’t chase me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me (Psalm 51:10-11, CEV).

The New International Version reads, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Beauty and truth are found in both translations cited here. But what is most striking is David’s admission that it’s not within his power to create a pure heart or pure thoughts. The purity David needed is not found in himself. Purity comes from God and from Him alone.

In a world of violence and quick-access pornography, we desperately need purity—God created purity that comes from His throne room.

Response: LORD God, create pure thoughts in me. Create in me a pure heart. Holiness comes from you and without holiness we cannot see you, LORD. Speak your creative word into the dark places of my life.

Your Turn: Are you in the grip of pornography? Do you believe God can free you?

Ownership

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).

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The Ottawa River Valley as seen from the Gatineau Park Escarpment — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.

So many of the divisive issues that convulse our society have a deeper root. Whether it is issues around gender and sexuality, or race and ethnicity, scratch below the surface and you soon discover the foundational issue. The foundational issue is do you believe in God. More specifically, do you believe God created you? Do you believe He has an ownership claim on your life?

The psalmist states this root issue quite succinctly:

You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture (Psalm 100:3, CEV).

If you accept the premise that God created humanity and therefore has ownership of our lives and “Creator’s rights,” then we know our bodies belong to Him. We are ultimately accountable to Him for how we use the gift of our sexuality. We are his people, the sheep in his pasture. 

Furthermore, there are no racially superior people. The LORD God made them all and offered up His Son to redeem them all.

The root issue is ownership. Do you belong to God or are you god?

Response: LORD God, I acknowledge that you created me. I belong to you. I was bought by the precious blood of Jesus. Help me to daily reflect the great love you have for me. Amen.

Your Turn: Whom do you belong to? Do you believe in Creator’s rights?

Creator of Nations

21 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth

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You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).

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Shinkansen (Bullet Train), Nagoya, Japan — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.

There’s an old saying that I heard as a child. It goes like this, “God created the world, but the Dutch created Holland.”

There is an element of human pride in that statement, but there’s also a measure of truth in those words. A good deal of the Netherlands is below sea level, but by building huge dikes and drainage systems the Dutch have been able to claim the land they live on from the sea.

Today’s reading from the Psalms states that God is the creator of every nation. Nations are God’s idea. He establishes them.

You created each nation, and they will all bow down to worship and honor you (Psalm 86:9, CEV).

Every nation takes pride in its accomplishments—the Dutch in their land reclamation, the Japanese in their ultra fast rail system, America in its military prowess. But there is a time coming when they will all bow down to worship and honor the LORD. That is a day we should all be looking forward to with expectant joy. What a privilege we have to worship Him now in advance of that great day!

Response: LORD God, my first allegiance is not to my country. My first allegiance is to you, my Creator—the Creator of nations. I want to worship and honor you today. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you proud of your country? Does that pride come ahead of your allegiance to the Lord?

Creative Words

20 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed (Psalm 33:9, CEV).

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Early Morning Sunrise, Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is creation.

The beauty of the natural world is astounding. The morning sunrise is an example of that beauty. Even more astonishing is the thought that the world—this grand creation—came into existence through the power of spoken words.

Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us of that truth.

As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed (Psalm 33:9, CEV).

If God’s words have such incredible power, what about our words? Do they have power too? Absolutely. We are created in the image of God and the words we speak can create a world of good or stir up the dark forces of hell. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

Consider this. Today you have an opportunity to create a better world by the amazing power of your words.

Response: LORD God, today I want to use my tongue for good rather than lashing out in angry hurtful ways. Help me bring encouragement and positive change where needed. Amen.

Your Turn: Have your words hurt or helped someone lately?

They did not believe in God

17 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

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Reading:                                            Psalm 78

Verses 17-22

But they continued to sin against him,
rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
They willfully put God to the test
by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God;
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,
streams flowed abundantly,
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?”

 When the Lord heard them, he was furious;
his fire broke out against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
for they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance (NIV).

Reflection

Psalm 78 is largely an indictment against the people of Israel for their lack of faith and their rebellious ways. As the psalmist says, “They willfully put God to the test.” 

As a child I recall reading the entire book of Exodus and thinking to myself, “Wow, these people sure are dumb. How could they see God’s amazing miracles and then a few days later grumble, complain and doubt that the LORD would help them? These people are real losers!”

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The Lake, Central Park, New York, NY — photo by David Kitz

Then I grew up and had a family of my own. At times I saw amazing miracles and God’s supernatural provision. But guess what? When the next big difficulty arose, I found myself doubting that God would come through. I complained about the difficulty I was in and acted just like the people of Israel in the wilderness.

Oops! I thought I was different. I thought I was smarter than those spiritual dullards in the Old Testament. In reality my grownup faith was much weaker than my childhood faith. When real testing and temptation came, I was and still am, as susceptible to unbelief as any of the wandering Israelites in the wilderness. Faith is a gift from God—a wonder-filled gift that carries us through the hard times.

The indictment against Israel is that they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. Do I truly believe in God and trust in his deliverance? Is my faith more than a creedal statement? Does it have legs and wings to carry me through the toughest situation? Often I am more like the rebellious children of Israel than I would like to admit. How about you? 

Response: LORD God, I humbly ask you for the gift of faith—faith to sustain me through the tough times ahead. You are my help, my salvation and my deliverer. I praise you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have grownup faith or childlike faith? Which is better?

Perfect!

16 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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The Law of the LORD is perfect; it gives us new life. His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people (Psalm 19:7, CEV).

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The Word of God — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is wisdom.

I have trouble with the word perfect. Is it possible to achieve perfection on this side of heaven?

During my days as a teacher, I could give a student 100% on a math test where right or wrong answers are not open to interpretation, but on creative writing assignments or essays I simply refused to give a student 100% even if their writing was well thought out and error free. Error free does not mean perfect. Do anyone’s thoughts on a topic encompass all wisdom and knowledge? Of course not. There is always more to learn or understand.

But…but David declared that the Law of the LORD is perfect.

The Law of the LORD is perfect; it gives us new life. His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people (Psalm 19:7, CEV).

The expression the Law of the LORD refers to the written Word of God. God’s written Word is perfect because it does not originate with man. Its source is in God. It comes from heaven even as Jesus came from heaven and is the perfect embodiment of the Word. See John 1:1-5. Jesus came to bring us new life and perfect wisdom.

Response: LORD God, give me a love for your written Word because in it I find wisdom from the living, eternal Word. Lord Jesus, you are the perfection that I need! Amen.

Your Turn: Are you a perfectionist? Are you good enough or do you need the perfection of Jesus?

David

15 Wednesday Jun 2016

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David treated the people fairly
    and guided them with wisdom (Psalm 78:72, CEV).

Tomb of David Entrance - Lois Morrow

At the entrance to the Museum of the Tomb of David — photo courtesy of Lois Morrow.

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is wisdom.

Today’s verse from the Psalms tells us that David exemplified wisdom.

David treated the people fairly and guided them with wisdom (Psalm 78:72, CEV).

In yesterday’s post we learned that respect and obedience to the LORD is the first step to wisdom and good sense (Psalm 111:10). Obviously to receive such a commendation, David must have lived his life in a healthy fear and respect for the LORD. On more than one occasion David fell into sin, but when he messed up, he repented. He humbled himself and turned back to God. 

David earned this commendation because of how he treated others; he treated people fairly. David showed mercy because he had received mercy. Do we do the same?

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  Just like David we act wisely, when we do what we pray, when we show mercy because we have received mercy.

Response: LORD God, I want to act wisely in my interactions with others. Help me to treat people fairly, even as I would want to be treated. Jesus, show me your way. Amen.

Your Turn: What does fair treatment mean for you? Does it mean getting even?