My Eyes Are Fixed on You, Sovereign LORD

Reading: Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek,
who drove him away, and he left.
(Verses 1-7)
I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them (NIV).

Canadian Red Cross Calendar Photo

Reflection
David was a man of many talents. He was a gifted musician and a poet—the author of many of the psalms. He was a battle-hardened warrior and a leader of men. After many years of struggle he became the king of all Israel, and in that role he governed an unruly people with wisdom, justice and demonstrable success. David was also a prophet. Many of his psalms are infused with prophetic significance as they point to the coming Messiah—Jesus Christ.

In addition to this long list of David’s skills and accomplishments, we should also add actor. In an early episode in David’s flight from King Saul, he escaped to the Philistine city of Gath. But he was recognized by some of the people who said, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” (1 Samuel 21:11).

To escape certain death, David pretended to be stark raving mad. He must have been a convincing actor because the king of Gath released him saying, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?” (1 Samuel 21:14-15).

In response to his release from King Achish, David composed Psalm 34—one of the most joyous of all the psalms. Nothing inspires praise like answered prayer when your life is on the line. David did not take the credit for his skill as an actor. Neither did he take credit for conceiving the idea for this clever deception. He gave all the glory to God and he invites us to join in his celebration of praise. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Along with David we have good reason to rejoice; we have a God who saves us. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

Response: Those who look to him are radiant. LORD, we look to you. Today let me shine for you. Amen.

Your Turn: What talents can you thank God for? How has he answered your prayers?

You Know Me

19 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 139, Psalms

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Tags

David, knowing God, knowledge, praise

I will praise Him!

Red Deer River Valley — photo by David Kitz

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

You have searched me, LORD,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

(Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

It is Fitting for the Upright to Praise Him.

15 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Devotionals, Psalm 33, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

joy, joyful, Paul, praise, praise the LORD

Reading: Psalm 33
(Verses 1-5)
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love (NIV).

All His works will sing His praise, Bohemian waxwing — photo courtesy of Sally Meadows

Reflection
It’s a good to wake up with a song of praise to the LORD on your lips. How do I know that’s true? I listen to birds. Their joyous songs are new every morning. If they have cause to sing praise to the LORD, surely I do as well.

Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29:31).

If a sparrow has grounds for praising the LORD each and every day, surely we have more. His constant care sustains us moment by moment. If the Father keeps count of my hair, He must be concerned about even the tiny details of my life. His loving mercy is new every morning; therefore, it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Here in Psalm 33 we are instructed to: Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

Forgive me, LORD. I’m an instrumental disaster. Playing skillfully is nigh unto impossible. But with my voice I will praise you. I can’t compete with robins and cardinals, but I will sing my praise. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

The steadfast love of the LORD is unchanging. My praise for Him should be just as steadfast—unaffected by my current circumstances. I have heard the birds break into song at sunrise even on a gray rainy morning. At the very least my praise for God should be as constant. Paul and Silas sang praises to God after being severely flogged and imprisoned in Philippi. See Acts chapter 16. Their worship was unaffected by their circumstances. They were obedient to the LORD’s command: Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Response: Thank you, LORD God, for each day you set before me. Give me a heart of praise for you. You sustain me. Today give me a new song to praise you, O LORD. It’s always good, right and fitting to sing my praise to you. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you love to praise God? Does it lift your spirit when you do? Are there times when the Lord given you a new song to sing?

Do Not Abandon the Works of Your Hands

13 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by davidkitz in Bible, Psalm 138, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

glory, love of God, praise, trouble, vindication

I will praise Him!

Big sky country in the Red Deer River Valley, Alberta — photo by David Kitz

May all the kings of the earth praise you, LORD,
when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.

Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
The LORD will vindicate me;
    your love, LORD, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.

I will praise Him!

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

(Psalm 141:5-10, NIV)

I will praise Him!

A psalm of David.

I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deedsalong with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

(Psalm 141:1-4, NIV)

I will praise Him!

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.

(Psalm 140:12-13, NIV)

I will praise Him!

Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet.The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”

Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy.Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD; do not let their plans succeed.

(Psalm 140:4-8, NIV)

I will praise Him!

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

(Psalm 139:23-24, NIV)

I will praise Him!

(Psalm 139:13-18, NIV)

I will praise Him!

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

(Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

I will praise Him!

May all the kings of the earth praise you, LORD, when they hear what you have decreed.May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

(Psalm 138:4-8, NIV)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.
My head will not refuse it,
for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,
and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth,
so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers,
from the snares they have laid for me.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by in safety.

I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me;
hear me when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
and upholds the cause of the needy.
Surely the righteous will praise your name,
and the upright will live in your presence.

Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path.
I say to the LORD, “You are my God.”

Hear, LORD, my cry for mercy.
Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desires, LORD;
do not let their plans succeed.

Search me, God,
and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

May all the kings of the earth praise you, LORD,
when they hear what you have decreed.
May they sing of the ways of the LORD,
for the glory of the LORD is great.