Loyalty will sprout from the ground — photo by David Kitz
Poetic Romance in the Psalms
30 Saturday Jul 2016
Tag Archives: love
Yet He Was Merciful
01 Friday Jul 2016
Reading: Psalm 78
Verses 32-39
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning;
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
So he ended their days in futility
and their years in terror.
Whenever God slew them, they would seek him;
they eagerly turned to him again.
They remembered that God was their Rock,
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
they were not faithful to his covenant.
Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return (NIV).
Reflection
Psalm 78 is a lengthy indictment against the people of Israel for their unfaithfulness to the LORD. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that these were the people of God—His chosen people—yet they responded with lies, unbelief and disloyalty. If this is how the people of God conduct themselves, what are we to expect from those who do not know the LORD?
Autumn in Central Park, New York, NY — photo by David Kitz
Unfortunately, the people of God today are not so different from the people of Israel 3,000 years ago. When we look about the church world, we see a plenty of division, backbiting and sin. All too often hate rules instead of love. We cover ourselves with a fig leaf of self-righteousness and then proceed to attack those who fail to meet our standard. We do all this while we are trapped in our own secret web of sin. We are determined to clean up the world while ignoring our personal pile of filth.
The words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Mount still ring true today, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:4-5).
But given this deplorable state of affairs, what does the LORD do? The psalmist states, “Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.” Like the people of ancient Israel, we are saved not because of our righteousness, but solely because of God’s mercy and grace.
Response: LORD God, I cannot boast because of my righteousness. You know all my shortcomings. I have an impressive pile of personal sin. Forgive me through the mercy of your son, Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you been guilty of pointing out the faults of others while ignoring your own?
His Love Never Fails
05 Sunday Jun 2016
A Crown on our Heads
04 Saturday Jun 2016
Posted in Psalms
Tags
Spring Meadow, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz
The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick,
and protects us from death.
His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.
(Psalm 103:3-4, CEV)
You Love Me!
18 Wednesday May 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
Tags
I will sing your praises! You are my mighty fortress, and you love me (Psalm 59:7, CEV).
The delicate dance of grass at sunset — photo courtesy of Donald Adam
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is the word fortress.
The most reassuring aspect of knowing that the LORD is our fortress is living in the knowledge that we are loved by God. The LORD is our fortress because He loves us. We can run to Him because He wants the best for us.
Today’s verse from the Psalms says just that:
I will sing your praises! You are my mighty fortress, and you love me (Psalm 59:7, CEV).
Rather than running from God, our heavenly Father calls us to run to Him and find our shelter and a place of rest in Him. David, the warrior king and author of many of the psalms, discovered that the LORD was his fortress. The fortress that David retreated to was built on the bedrock of God’s love for him.
The LORD who loves you, even as He loved David, welcomes you into His Fortress built on love.
Response: LORD God, I can’t thank you enough for loving me. You demonstrated that love by sending Jesus to die on a cross in my place. You are my fortress in the storms of life. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you sometimes doubt God’s love for you? How are you reassured of God’s continual love even when times are difficult?
Loving and Faithful
01 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
Tags
It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are (Psalm 92:2, CEV).
Your Love in the Morning – photo by Donald Adam
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is proclamation.
If the heavens declare the glory of God, then we should join with all creation in doing the same. If the sky has a story to tell about God’s love, then so do I. The psalmist expresses this thought with these words:
It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are (Psalm 92:2, CEV).
As the day draws to a close can you testify to the faithfulness of God? I certainly can. Each day has its set of problems and difficulties, but as the sun sets I can say the Lord has seen me through. I am sure you can say the same.
Take some time to give God the thanks and praise He deserves
Response: LORD God, thank you for being my companion through the day. Your love and faithfulness sustain me. I want to proclaim your goodness. Amen.
Your Turn: Has the Lord been loving and faithful to you?
Nothing I Desire Besides You
30 Wednesday Mar 2016
Reading: Psalm 73
Verses 21-28
When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds (NIV).
Reflection
I love the brutal honesty of the psalmist. I always like to think I am the smartest one in the room, but the truth is I am very capable of wrong-headed thinking. Wrong thinking often leads to hurtful words or unwise actions. Take a moment to consider the psalmist’s confession: When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Kanazawa, Japan – photo by David Kitz
That’s brutal honesty. Are we that honest with God when our reasoning goes off the straight and narrow rails? Or do we justify our thoughts and blame God or others when we are ticked off?
We need to come into God’s sanctuary to have our hearts and minds tuned into the LORD’s thinking. The LORD reminds us that He knows the big picture. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).
When we are in God’s presence, we can have our affections adjusted. All too often I have my priorities all messed up. What about you? The amazing truth about God is that He loves us despite our mess ups. The psalmist knows the power of that love. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
What a patient, loving God we serve! This should become our humble confession: Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Response: LORD God, I want to have your perspective. I want to see as you see. Remind me to take time to be with you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. Amen.
Your Turn: How do you get your affections in tune with God?
The Fruit of Forgiveness
18 Friday Mar 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).
Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.
Worship is the fruit of forgiveness. Those who have been forgiven by God worship God. Jesus said this of a sinful woman, “So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love” (Luke 7:47, CEV).
Jesus forgave this woman’s sins and so she poured out her love to him by kissing his feet and washing them with her tears.
Our heartfelt worship is our expression of love for God. Today’s verse from the Psalms captures this thought succinctly.
But you forgive us, and so we will worship you (Psalm 130:4, CEV).
Forgiveness is like a heaven-sent love potion. It restores our relationship with God and draws us into His arms of love.
Response: LORD God, a thousand words of thanks are not enough. Your forgiveness draws me to worship you with a grateful heart. I praise you, LORD of heaven and earth. Amen.
Your Turn: Does God’s forgiveness move you to worship?
Willing Forgiveness
16 Wednesday Mar 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
You willingly forgive, and your love is always there for those who pray to you (Psalm 86:5, CEV).
Plum Blossoms, Nagoya, Japan — Photo courtesy of Matthew Taylor
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is forgiveness.
We are all familiar with the phrase: Well, I guess if I have to. It’s usually signals a lot of reluctance on the part of the speaker.
When we think about God, we may feel that since He is perfect and holy, He may be reluctant to forgive our many sins. Just the opposite is true and today’s verse from the Psalms makes this crystal clear.
You willingly forgive, and your love is always there for those who pray to you (Psalm 86:5, CEV).
Jesus beautifully portrayed the love of our heavenly Father when he told the story of the prodigal son.
The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him (Luke 15: 20, CEV).
Our heavenly Father shows no reluctance to forgive.
Response: Father God, I come to you. Thanks for running to me when I repent and ask for forgiveness. I do not deserve such a loving response. It is beyond wonderful. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you seen God as reluctant to forgive?
Always, always, ALWAYS!
19 Friday Feb 2016
Posted in Friday's Focus, Psalms
Tags
You are merciful, LORD! You are kind and patient and always loving (Psalm 145:8, CEV).
God’s Paintbrush – photo courtesy of Donald Adam
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is patience.
Sometimes I don’t see something because it’s too obvious. I stare into the fridge looking for that jar of fruit, but can I see it? Of course not! My wife has to come over and point it out.
I think the same is true when it comes to seeing God. He is always there – at work right in front of us, but like that jar of fruit, it seems we can’t see Him.
The sunset photo above is a beautiful example of God at work painting the sky. What a work of art! What an artist! God paints a gorgeous sky-scape twice a day, but do we even notice? Sometimes I need someone to point out to me that God is always loving, kind and patient.
Response: LORD God, open my eyes to your patience and love. I know it’s always there, but I want to see it daily with the eyes of my heart. Help me to see you today in the world around me. Amen.
Your Turn: Do you have trouble seeing God?
I love the Psalms 