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In the shadow of God All-Powerful, Petrie Islan, Ottawa. ON — photo by David Kitz
In the Shadow
13 Saturday Aug 2016
Posted in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm
Tag Archives: the LORD
Honey from the Rock
12 Friday Aug 2016
Reading: Psalm 81
Verses 10-16
I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
“But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
“If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (NIV).
Reflection
In this concluding portion of Psalm 81, the LORD sets out two possible courses of action for the people of Israel. They can refuse to listen to God, persist in their stubborn ways and reap the devastating consequences, or they can submit to the LORD and be rewarded for their obedience.
Who are you following? — photo courtesy of Donald Adam
God is for us; He is on our side. But we must decide to be on His side. He will fight for us—on our behalf—if we make the right decision. Take a look at this promise. “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!”
But the LORD doesn’t just promise victory over our foes. He promises to richly provide for us and bless us. “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
The benefits of following the LORD are clearly stated and obvious. They are obvious when we examine the word of God, but they are obvious as well from human experience. I know many individuals who have resisted the will of God for their lives and their way has been marked by hardship and tragedy—much of it by their own choice. The rebellious soul chooses to walk a rocky road. God sets the lonely in families; he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land (Psalm 68:6).
What choices are you making? Are you choosing God’s ways? Are you listening to Him? We can choose a rocky road in a sun scorched land or we can choose to be fed with honey from the rock. There are rich rewards when we make the right choice.
Response: LORD God, today I choose to follow you. I want to be on your side, rooting for the right team. I trust the promises in your word. You bring me victory, provision and joy. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you struggled in obeying God? How do you turn rebellion into submission to God’s will?
The Son of Man at Your Right Hand
10 Wednesday Aug 2016
Tags
Reading: Psalm 80
Verses 8-19
You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.
Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
Boars from the forest ravage it,
and insects from the fields feed on it.
Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.
Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine on us, that we may be saved (NIV).
Reflection
Who can turn around this situation? Who can bring this nation back to God? Essentially that was the question of the psalmist, Asaph, here in Psalm 80. Israel had been ravaged by foreign invaders. The beautiful land had been laid desolate, so Asaph pleads with the LORD. Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish. But one hope remains. Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself. Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.
Old hand pump near MacNutt, SK — photo by Donald Adam
Who is this son of man—this great hope of the people of God? Clearly a man—a champion like David is needed. David defeated Israel’s enemies on all sides. He turned the nation into a great military and economic power. He laid the foundation for the prosperity that followed under the wise rule of Solomon his son. Asaph is writing several generations later when all that wealth has been squandered and there is a dearth of godly leadership.
Who can save us now? The answer lies in the son of man. Jesus continually referred to himself as the Son of Man. He used that phrase thirty times in the Gospel of Matthew. All too often we are busy looking for a political savior. But what we need more than anything is the one and only true Savior. His name is Jesus Christ. He saves us body, soul and spirit from the corruption that is in the world.
Response: LORD God, on so many levels our nation is in a mess. We need a Savior to emerge. Jesus, you are the great Son of Man. I turn my heart to you. Govern my thoughts and my actions every day. Amen.
Your Turn: Who is governing you—governing your heart and mind?
Sing a New Song
07 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
How long, LORD?
05 Friday Aug 2016
Tags
Cape Breton, conflict zones, Iraq, Jesus, jihadists, News Reports, Psalms, Syria, the LORD, violence
Reading: Psalm 79
A maskil of Asaph.
Verses 1-7
O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
They have left the dead bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.
We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.
How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;
for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland (NIV).
Reflection
Have you caught a glimpse of the devastation? It seems that the psalmist, Asaph, had a good look at it. Now take a good look at his words. They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild. They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
Lighthouse, Cape Breton, NS — photo by Karen Kitz
This description reads like a segment of the evening newscast. Of course the newscast has plenty of disturbing visuals to go with it. When we look at conflict zones like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, we realize that bloodshed and violence are all too common in our world. Jihadi violence has spread to European cities too. But we don’t have to go overseas to find images of death and destruction. Just last week in my city an unarmed black man was beaten to death by two police officers. As is so often the case, the images were caught on camera. Violence and bloodshed are present in our cities too.
Has the world gone mad? Are we sinking deeper and deeper into depravity? Have our minds become numb to the carnage? Or are we joining with the psalmist in crying out, “How long, LORD?” How long will you let this insanity continue? LORD, won’t you come and fix this broken messed up world?
Our hearts cry out for justice, mercy and peace—justice for those who have been wronged, mercy for those who have been wounded and broken, and peace for all who are troubled in soul and spirit. He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelations 22:20).
Response: LORD God, please have mercy on the people of this world. We need you here—right here with us in this broken world. Come and fix it. Come and fix us, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Your Turn: Are you concerned about the state of your city, your country and the world?
Discouraged?
03 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
Tags
The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope (Psalm 34:18, CEV).
Petrie Island, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rescuing.
Here is a personal confession, or maybe it’s just a pet peeve. I get annoyed with people who casually say, “If you need help, I’m there for you.” But when your hour of need arrives these same people are busy or unavailable.
The phrase, “I’m there for you,” makes me nervous. I won’t say it to others because I can’t predict my situation or response when the call for help comes. I may offer help, but I hate to promise something and then renege because I can’t deliver at that time or in the desired way.
Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that there is someone we can always count on in trying times:
The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope (Psalm 34:18, CEV).
Unlike human help that is fickle or unpredictable, we can count on the LORD. He is always there. Always. He is always there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope. If you are in that situation today, call out to Him. He is there for you!
Response: LORD God, you have helped me in the past during times of frustration and discouragement. You rescued me from drowning in my sorrows. I trust you now. Amen.
Your Turn: Has God “been there for you?” How has He helped you?
Trapped?
02 Tuesday Aug 2016
Posted in Psalms, Tuesday's Truth
I always look to you, because you rescue me from every trap (Psalm 25:15, CEV).
Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC — photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is rescuing.
I got some disappointing news this week. A Christian brother that I meet with regularly confessed to being involved in an adulterous relationship. Actually, that’s the good news. Confession brings sin into the light where it can be dealt with appropriately. Now comes the heavy lifting—seeking forgiveness from his wife and restoration in his marriage. Sin always has unwanted, hurtful consequences.
Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that God is there to rescue us from the traps we walk into with our eyes wide open:
I always look to you, because you rescue me from every trap (Psalm 25:15, CEV).
But I have to wonder, why are so many Christian brothers trapped in ongoing adulterous relationships? Why are so many outwardly godly men addicted to pornography? Yes, there are traps all around us, but why are some individuals able to avoid the traps while others routinely blunder into them?
Maybe the greatest rescue the Lord initiates is the preventive rescue. He rescues a man or woman from ever engaging in an affair. He rescues us from giving in to the lure of pornography. He keeps us faithful to our marriage vows. Now that’s the best rescue of all!
Maybe it all depends on where we are looking. Are we looking to the Lord or looking at the lures?
Response: LORD God, I want to fix my eyes and my heart on you. Help me to stay faithful to my marriage vows. Guide me around the traps in my path. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you fixed your eyes and heart on the Lord? Is a course correction needed?
Come to Worship
31 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted in Psalms, Sunday's Psalm
He Chose David
29 Friday Jul 2016
Tags
David, David's heart, God, God's choice, Heart, integrity, Psalm, the LORD
Reading: Psalm 78
Verses 65-72
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.
He beat back his enemies;
he put them to everlasting shame.
Then he rejected the tents of Joseph,
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.
He built his sanctuary like the heights,
like the earth that he established forever.
He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;
from tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them (NIV).
Reflection
Up to this point Psalm 78 has catalogued a long list of Israel’s transgressions. They have been a stubborn and rebellious people who have been unfaithful to the LORD. They have been unfaithful despite His mercy and the miracles He has performed on their behalf. Now this final portion of the psalm represents a turning point in the history of the nation.
Lanark Highlands, ON — photo courtesy of Lyle Johnson
Once again, the LORD intervened in the affairs of Israel. He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
God chose a man; He chose a leader. Often the LORD chooses the most unlikely candidates for leadership. He did not go to the palace; He went to the sheep pen. He overlooked Jonathan, the courageous royal son of Saul, and instead He called out David, the youngest son of Jesse—a man after God’s own heart.
What does God consider when He looks for a leader? When selecting the next king, the prophet Samuel was told, “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). The LORD is not looking for physical strength or a handsome face, but he is looking for integrity of heart.
That should give hope to every one of us. I cannot change my stature or significantly alter my appearance, but through repentance and faith I can change the condition of my heart.
Response: LORD God, I want a heart of integrity—a heart that is pleasing to you. Help me to become an instrument that you will use for your good purpose in this strife-torn world. Amen.
Your Turn: Can we change our hearts or is that God’s job? What role do we play?
Wonder Worker
27 Wednesday Jul 2016
Posted in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked (Psalm 9:1, CEV).
Moonlight on Lake Ontario — photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is wonders.
Has God worked wonders in your life? God certainly has worked wonders when we consider the glories of creation. But has God worked wonders for you personally. Has He answered your prayers in marvelous or miraculous ways?
David, who wrote this psalm, certainly had many good reasons to praise the LORD. Notice his exuberant call to worship:
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked (Psalm 9:1, CEV).
God was with the shepherd boy David as he slew a lion and a bear. Later God was with him as he took down the fearsome giant Goliath. Then David went on to win battle after battle against the Philistines. As David stepped forward in faith, the LORD was working wonders on his behalf.
On a personal level we can’t fully know the wonders of God until we take steps of faith—risky steps of faith. Jesus invited Peter to step out of a boat and onto the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee. Peter experienced the wonders of God as he took those few hesitant steps. Will we dare to do the same if Jesus calls us?
Response: LORD God, give me faith to see you as you are—a wonder worker. You have done and continue to great and marvelous things. Help me to hear your voice and follow you. Amen.
Your Turn: Has the Lord worked a wonder in your life?
I love the Psalms 