Ready to be Tested?

24 Monday Jul 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 26, Psalms

Tags

confidence in God, David, faithfulness, Goliath, King Saul, mercy, Petrie Island, self-examination, test, tested, tested by God, testing, the LORD, trust, trust in God, unfailing love

Reading: Psalm 26

Of David.

(Verses 1-7)

Vindicate me, LORD,
for I have led a blameless life;
I have trusted in the LORD
and have not faltered.
Test me, LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.
I do not sit with the deceitful,
nor do I associate with hypocrites.
I abhor the assembly of evildoers
and refuse to sit with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence,
and go about your altar, LORD,
proclaiming aloud your praise
and telling of all your wonderful deeds (NIV).

Reflection
The opening lines of Psalm 26 certainly catch my attention. David claims to have led a blameless life—a rather audacious statement in my opinion. But he doesn’t stop there. He goes on to invite God to test him. David pleads, “Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.”

Petrie Island, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Now that takes some nerve. Do I really want the LORD to examine my heart and my mind? If I underwent a heart and mind exam, what would my test scores be? Most of us would shy away from being tested by God, but David’s response is completely different. He is clearly saying, “Bring it on!”

How could David be so self-assured—so confident—to the point of sounding arrogant? Actually, David’s confidence was not so much in his own performance, but rather his confidence was in God. He states that he is mindful of the LORD’s unfailing love. He is relying on the LORD’s faithfulness. David knew the unfailing love and faithfulness of God, and this wasn’t merely head knowledge—a bit of mental information. No. David knew God experientially. He experienced the LORD’s unfailing love. He experienced the faithfulness of God over and over in his life. As a youth he slew a marauding lion and a bear. He brought down the mighty Goliath. He fled for his life, but ultimately triumphed over the madness of King Saul. David knew his God experientially in the grit of battle and the daily humdrum.

What about you? Do you have a memory bank full of great experiences with God? If the answer is no, why not ask God for a deposit today? If you put your faith in Him, He will not let you down.

Response: LORD, examine my heart and my mind. I want to grow in my knowledge of you and my confidence in you. Help me to have a pure heart and mind before you. I want to experience your presence in my life. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you experienced God’s love and faithfulness recently? Do you let Him examine you?

Celebrating the Love of the LORD

22 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 89, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

celebrate, faithfulness, God's presence, justice, love, praise, rejoice, Righteousness, rose blossoms, the LORD

I will praise Him!

Rose blossoms celebrating the goodness of the Lord — photo by David Kitz

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
    who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.
They rejoice in your name all day long;
    they celebrate your righteousness.

(Psalm 89:14-16, NIV)

Who is like you, LORD?

15 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 89, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Almighty, assembly, awesome, faithfulness, God, praise, skies, sky, the LORD, wonders

I will praise Him!

Who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? — photo by David Kitz

The heavens praise your wonders, LORD,
    your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?
    Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?
In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
    he is more awesome than all who surround him.
Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?
    You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

(Psalm 89:5-8, NIV)

Your Love Stands Firm

09 Sunday Jul 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 89, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Butchart Gardens, faithfulness, forever, generations, heaven, love, praise, the LORD, Victoria

I will praise Him!

Azaleas in bloom, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz

I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
    through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

(Psalm 89:1-2, NIV)

The Kiss of Peace

25 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 85, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

faithfulness, harvest, heaven, love, peace, Righteousness, the LORD

I will praise Him!

Monarch Butterfly — David Kitz

Love and faithfulness meet together;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
    and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The LORD will indeed give what is good,
    and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
    and prepares the way for his steps.

(Psalm 85:10-13, NIV)

I Will Awaken the Dawn

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

awaken, dawn, faithfulness, Lord, love, praise, sing

I will praise Him!

: Awakening the Dawn — photo courtesy of Eric Wright

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

(Psalm 57:7-11, NIV)

I will bow down

26 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

faithfulness, gods, love, praise, sing, temple, worship

I will praise Him!

: Prairie sunset near MacNutt, Saskatchewan — photo by David Kitz

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
    before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.
When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.

(Psalm 138:1-3, NIV)

All Nations

15 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 117, Psalms

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Bible, faithfulness, fire, Jewish faith, Lamb of God, love, Old Testament, racism, shortest Psalm, tabasco sauce, the LORD

Reading: Psalm 117

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD (NIV).

Reflection

Psalm 17 is the shortest of all the psalms. It reminds me of tabasco sauce. It’s concentrated; you don’t need much to set your mouth on fire.

Seasons change but God’s faithfulness endures forever — photo by David Kitz

What’s so great—so powerful—about Psalm 117 you ask? Well in 29 short words, it sums up the call and global appeal of the entire Bible.

Let’s consider this opening sentence: Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. This call to worship is for all people; it’s universal. The message of the Bible is for all people. It’s not limited to a single nation, race or people group.

This call for universal praise is unusual because it draws all humanity into a common faith in the LORD. The Jewish faith was and is a very exclusive religion. This is the faith of the chosen people—God’s chosen people. They did not choose Him, but rather they were uniquely selected by God to bear His name before the nations of the world. Throughout the Old Testament we have a clear sense that God was dealing with his own special people, and they were to walk separate from the nations. They received God’s laws and were the guardians of His word. They were instructed not to intermarry with other nations, nor be polluted by them and their idol worship. The worshippers of Yahweh were an exclusive group, a unique people, but they were not evangelistic. They kept the message to themselves.

But here in Psalm 117 the constricted, exclusive God of the Old Testament appears to break out of His narrow nationalist cocoon. We see that He is in reality a God for all nations, not just for the descendants of Abraham. Here we catch a glimpse of the big picture—the global perspective. All the nations of the earth are to praise Him. The longstanding intent of the God Israel is that every people group should know his ways and experience His salvation.

But why should all nations praise the LORD? The second verse of this miniature psalm provides the answer. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Where did the LORD demonstrate His great love for us? We see God’s love most vividly on the cross. There the Son of God poured out His blood to redeem men and women, boys and girls, from every nation under heaven. There love flowed down in a crimson stream. There God fulfilled His Abrahamic promise. “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8). There the prophecy of John the Baptist was achieved. “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Concentrated within the shortest Psalm is enough truth to set the world on fire.

Response: Father God, I just want to praise you. Thank you for your great love and faithfulness as revealed by Jesus on the cross. I love you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Why is racism run contrary to anyone who claims to love God?

The Fountain of Life

11 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

abundance, faithfulness, fountain, fountain of life, justice, Orleans, Petrie Island Park, river of delights

I will praise Him!

Marsh flowers, Petrie Island Park, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

(Psalm 35:5-9 NIV)

Reaching to the Heavens

29 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by davidkitz in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

faithfulness, heavens, love, mountains, Righteousness, skies, the LORD

I will praise Him!

On the shore of the Ottawa River — photo by David Kitz

Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

I love the Psalms

~ Connecting daily with God through the Psalms

Tag Archives: faithfulness

Ready to be Tested?

Celebrating the Love of the LORD

I will praise Him!