Like Morning Dew

04 Saturday Oct 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 110

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battle, Bible, enemies, holy, kings, Melchizedek, priest, Psalms, the LORD, troops, Zion

I will praise the LORD!

Psalm 110

Of David. A psalm.

The LORD says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
    “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
Your troops will be willing
    on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
    your young men will come to you
    like dew from the morning’s womb.

The LORD has sworn
    and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

    The Lord is at your right hand;
    he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
    and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
He will drink from a brook along the way,
    and so he will lift his head high. *

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

Coming soon…

A Lament for Jerusalem

26 Tuesday Aug 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 137

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Babylon, Babylonian exile, Bible, destruction of Jerusalem, devotion, God, idolatry, Jerusalem, judgment, mercy of God, Psalms, repentance, Ten Commandments, Zion

Reading: Psalm 137:1-6

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
There on the poplars we hung our harps,
for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How can we sing the songs of the LORD
while in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill.
May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy (NIV) *

Reflection
It’s difficult to pinpoint the time in history when many of the Psalms were written. Many scholars believe that the Old Testament was compiled over a period of about 900 to 1,000 years. As for the Book of Psalms, there is considerable evidence to suggest that psalms were collected from three distinct periods: the reign of King David (1 Chronicles 23:5), the rule of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:30), and during the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:24).[1]

Psalm 137 is distinct, because we can tell from its content that this psalm was written early during the period of the Babylonian exile. Memories of Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC were still fresh—etched with bitterness and pain in the mind of the author.

There are two great pivot points in the history of Old Testament Israel. The first is the liberation of Israel from Egypt and the subsequent conquest of the holy land. The second is the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, which was followed by the seventy-year exile in Babylon. The mercy and power of God brought about the first pivotal event. The disobedience and idolatry of man set in motion the catastrophe of the second event.

From its inception the Jewish nation flirted with idolatry. While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments, the people were reveling before a golden calf. King Solomon set up idols in Jerusalem so his foreign wives could worship their gods. See 1 Kings 11:1-8. This duplicity continued generation after generation until the Babylonians swept in and destroyed Jerusalem. Harsh judgment brought change. Will harsh judgment bring change in us, or will the mercy of God bring us to repentance?

Response: Father God, I don’t want to learn things the hard way. I want to be quick to obey you. Help me to learn from the lessons of history. You are the one, true God. I worship you. Amen.

Your Turn: How faithful are you to the LORD? Do other interests draw you away?

[1] K.R. “Dick” Iverson, Spirit Filled Life Bible, New King James Version, Jack W. Hayford, General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1991, p. 750.

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

Filled with Laughter

24 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 126, Psalms

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churches, faith, fortunes, harvest, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus People, joy, lost generation, Prayer, Psalms, restoration, revival, the LORD, word of God, Zion

Psalm 126

A Song of Ascents

When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

I cannot read this psalm—Psalm 126—without immediately identifying with it. I have lived this psalm; I have experienced the reality of it.

Now that’s a rather bold statement; some might call it an ignorant or arrogant statement. The historical context of this psalm is readily identifiable. The psalmist is commenting on the joyous return of the exiles following the seventy-year Babylonian captivity—an event that occurred in the sixth century before the birth of Christ. How could anyone alive today claim that they have lived or experienced this particular Psalm? None of us were present during these dramatic events in Jewish history.

But again, I repeat: I have lived this psalm; I have experienced the reality of it.

The whole premise of this book is built on the notion that the psalms can come alive within us. The writer of the Book of Hebrews reminds us that “the word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

Photo by L. Kranz

What is there then, to prevent this living word from coming alive within us? Why can we not experience this active word of God transforming and transporting us to the throne of grace? Only two things hinder us from living in the power and wonder of the word of God, and they are sin and unbelief. And sin and unbelief are only too eager to form within us, a constricting bond that smothers the Spirit empowered Word.

But when the power of sin is broken, and unbelief is purged from the doubting soul—oh what liberty awaits! The word of God comes alive within us. The LORD is then free to do great and glorious things in us, and through us.

That was my experience as a young man in the early 1970’s. The LORD was bringing back the captives to Zion, “and we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.”

I was caught up in the vortex of the Jesus People movement of that time, and amazing things were happening. Young men and women were coming to faith in Christ at a phenomenal rate. At every church meeting newcomers were finding the forgiveness they needed. The prodigals were coming home in droves. Every gathering closed with a baptismal service as new believers affirmed their faith in the crucified and risen Christ. There was a heady infectious joy in the church that could not be contained.

At that time, “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.”

The spontaneity of the worship experience during those days was truly astonishing. New songs were born—born by the Spirit—right within the corporate worship time. Many of them came directly from the scriptures. The psalms became the source book for our worship. The captives—captives of sin and Satan—had been set free, and now there was a new song in our hearts, and on our lips—a song of praise to our God. We could not keep this to ourselves. Who could possibly contain the overflowing goodness and mercy of God?

This ingathering of souls was God’s doing. A lost generation was arrested by the Almighty. He was turning us around, and we were discovering Jesus. And this move of the Holy Spirit did not begin in the church. No, it began in the flop houses and hippy communes. It started on the street—in the world—the sin-saturated world. It did not start with saintly scholars and philosophers, but rather with the young and restless, the hitchhikers and misfits. God was calling them to Himself, and He was miraculously transforming lives as only can God do.

Because this new thing that God was doing started in the world, many Christians were suspicious of it. Could this really be God? Many churches stood aloof. But those who welcomed these misfits found themselves overwhelmed and transformed by what God was doing. He had initiated this, and He stood at the center of it.

Soon the Jesus’ movement was affecting the entire youth culture. Amazing Grace became the number one hit on top forty radio. A half dozen hit songs spoke of the man from Galilee. Time magazine ran a cover story on how the youth across the continent were discovering Jesus. Suddenly, it was cool to love Jesus and to follow him.

And I was a frontline witness to all this. I was seeing lives changed all around me. Close friends, who were far from God, suddenly were having life altering encounters with Jesus. We were like men who dreamed. And in that dream Jesus had come to live among us. His long flowing hair had become our own. He was with us again, just like he was with that band of fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, and the nets were full of fish—boat swamping full of fish.

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.'”

The world knows when God is doing something remarkable, and the psalmist records the ancient world heard that the captive Jewish nation had been released. The exiles were free to return to their homeland, and return they did. In the early 1970’s the modern world heard that Jesus was bringing young people to himself. They too were free—set free from a load of guilt and sin, set free from addictions and hang ups—free to love and serve God with hearts washed pure by the blood of the Lamb.

“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!”

That was my experience—an experience that was shared by thousands of others across this continent during this remarkable time. It was the LORD’s doing. He did great things for us—things I will never forget.

But …

But there is a pause in this psalm. This is a psalm written in two distinct sections, or stanzas. In most translations, this break between stanzas is indicated by a blank line. The psalmist abruptly transitions from joyous triumph to sober petition, from exuberance to sobbing desperation. We are left wondering what happened in between. What happened in that blank line? Why this sharp transition? In bleak desolation the psalmist pleads, “Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.”

Atacama Desert, Chile — Photo credit http://www.explora.com

Streams in the Negev are intermittent. A raging torrent one day becomes a mere trickle on the next day, and then nothing on the third day. The boisterous river of joy turns into a blank line on the desert floor. Nothing—just nothing.

The Negev is the parched desert region to the south of the land of Judah. Cloud bursts there can produce these streams in the barren desert, and with the sudden arrival of this moisture, long dormant seeds spring to life. Suddenly new life abounds. But without further moisture, the scorching sun takes its toll. The harsh environment reasserts its dominance. Land that was briefly lush and verdant reverts to desert dust.

Is it any wonder then that the psalmist cries out, “Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.” The psalmist longs for the flow of new life to continue.

And right along with the psalmist I cry, “Send your river flowing through here once again. Send a cloud burst of your mercy down on this nation again. Invade this culture again. Turn our young people to Jesus, yet again. Touch this new generation. Let them find themselves walking with you, the living Christ. You did it once, Lord, and I saw it. I experienced it. Now do it again! Do it again, not for me, but for those who don’t know you. Do great things for them. Set them free from the sin and the lies that ensnare them. Touch all of us, once again!”

“Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.”

In those days, at the height of what God was doing, I saw a dozen young men line up in the freezing cold. They arrived early. They were waiting for the pastor to arrive on a Saturday night to unlock the church so they could come in and give their hearts to Jesus. I saw hundreds of young people being baptized at that same church—more than three hundred in a year—one for every day of the year. The God of the harvest was adding to the church “daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

This was not about the Holy Spirit tickling the churches’ funny bone. It was about sinners finding God. Time after time I saw the lost crowding the altar at the close of the service. They wanted Jesus, nothing more, nothing less, just Jesus.

Now, only the faithful come to the altar, if anyone comes at all.

“Restore our fortunes, O LORD.”

I echo the psalmist’s prayer, “Restore our fortunes, O LORD.”

Fortunately, we are provided with the promise of God’s word in tandem with the psalmist’s petition, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”

A field of harvest ready oats near MacNutt, SK — photo by David Kitz

If you live in a dry land, water it with your tears. If the wind of God’s Spirit is a distant memory, remember seasons change. The seed of God’s word is still viable. It is always power packed and ready to spring to life. Just add water.

“He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

God’s promise stands sure and certain, but for us, two questions remain. Are you going out weeping? And are you carrying seed to sow?

Perhaps the church in Canada has never experienced a harsher spiritual climate than that which exists today. We live in a society that by and large has turned its back on God. The gospel message is often treated with contempt or outright ridicule. The church exists in a spiritual desert. Figuratively, Canada is the Negev. Conditions in in the United States are only marginally better.

In such a harsh climate the natural inclination is to cocoon ourselves away. The world out there is inhospitable. It’s best to stay inside, to huddle amongst ourselves. Isn’t it better to cloister ourselves away, than to expose ourselves to the harsh elements and the criticism of others? Let’s circle the wagons and entertain ourselves. This has become the unspoken modus operandi for many churches.

Into our cloistered existence the psalmist speaks. He instructs us to step out of our sheltered place. He tells us to go out weeping. What a bizarre command! Weeping is for private places. Why would we want to go out into the world weeping? Yet, this is what we are encouraged to do. Could it be that we are to get out of our churches and cry? Cry over what?

How about crying over a lost generation? How about crying over the homeless, the addicted and the needy? How about crying over the devastating effects of sin, and the degradation of our youth?

One day in the late 1950’s, David Wilkerson opened a copy of Life magazine where he saw photos of young gang members in New York City. Looking into their eyes, he broke down and wept. This young pastor left the shelter of his country church to bring the gospel to the toughest gangs in New York City. He went “out weeping, carrying seed to sow” and yes, David Wilkerson returned “with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” He proved that the message of the cross is more powerful than the switchblade.

God has given us His seed—the word of God—for a reason. We are to scatter it out in the world. There can be no harvest unless someone goes out and plants the seed.

Are you carrying seed to sow? Don’t just carry it into the world. Scatter it. There is no joy quite like the harvester’s joy. The harvester has worked with God, and the LORD’s joy becomes his own.

“He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

Bringing Life to the Psalms

Have you experienced the joy of harvest, where new souls have been added to the Kingdom of God? What was that experience like? What role did you play? Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 for Paul’s perspective on planting and harvesting.
What is the difference between ingathering and revival? There appears to be a place for both in the economy of God’s Kingdom. Take note of the revival that took place under the leadership of Josiah, King of Judah, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 34-35. The discovery of the Book of the Law of the LORD was a key element in this revival. In a similar way, I would contend that the release of the Good News, New Testament by the Bible Society contributed significantly to the Jesus People movement of the early 1970’s. How important is it for you to have an understandable translation of the scriptures?
Are we living in a harsh spiritual climate? Is the gospel message impacting the culture in which we live, or is the culture of the world impacting the church?
What are you personally doing to sow the seed of God’s word? What are some innovative ways to get the seed out into the field? What can churches do to facilitate going out with the seed of God’s word? Have you circled the wagons? Are you merely entertaining yourselves? What is the role of tears in the harvest that God wills to bring on the earth?
Reread Psalm 126. What is God saying to you by His Spirit?

Today’s post is Chapter 25 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

Bringing God Home

12 Tuesday Aug 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 132

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child of God, Christ, city of David, clothed in righteousness, David, Prayer, priests, Psalms, Psalms of Ascent, redeemed, the LORD, Zion

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 132:6-10
We heard it in Ephrathah,
we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:
“Let us go to his dwelling place,
let us worship at his footstool, saying,
‘Arise, LORD, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;
may your faithful people sing for joy.’”
For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one (NIV). *

Reflection
David’s commitment and zeal for the presence of the LORD drew others to worship God. That’s what the opening lines of today’s reading are saying: We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar: “Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool…” (v. 6-7).

We should never underestimate the power of our personal witness for Christ. Our zeal for God and love for His house can act as a magnet to draw others to worship Him. David’s self-denial in pursuit of God resulted in others discovering the power and grace of the LORD. By bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Zion, the City of David, David was declaring he wanted the LORD in his home. He wanted Him close at hand—at the center of the government he was establishing over the land. See 2 Samuel 6.

Do we want God in our home? Is the LORD at the command center of your life and your daily affairs? Genuine worship brings God to the center. It removes the distance between us and God. The Psalms of Ascent are all about removing the distance between us and our Creator. They’re about drawing near.

The psalmist goes on to offer this prayer. “‘May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful people sing for joy’” (v. 9).

How are you dressed as you approach God? Apparently, clothing matters. It matters because as a redeemed child of God you are serving as a priest of the Most High. Peter reminds us of our corporate calling and responsibility. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).

So then as priests offering sacrifices of praise, we have an opportunity to approach God. But how should we be clothed, you ask? St. Paul provides the answer: So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). As a blood-bought believer you are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. That’s a garment that never grows old or wears out.

Response: Father God, I thank you for covering me with a garment of righteousness. It’s the supreme righteousness of Jesus. Help me to serve and worship you daily with a grateful heart. Amen.

Your Turn: Are you drawing near to God? Do you see yourself as part of a royal priesthood?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

The Path of Self-Denial

11 Monday Aug 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 132

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Bible, David, devotion, discipline, fasting, Jesus, Prayer, Psalms, self-denial, the LORD, Zion

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 132:1-5

A song of ascents.

LORD, remember David
and all his self-denial.
He swore an oath to the LORD,
he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
“I will not enter my house or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob” (NIV). *

Carcasonne, France, photo by David Kitz

Reflection
This is the thirteenth psalm in the Songs of Ascent series. With this psalm, the author returns to a familiar theme—the glory of God’s presence in Zion. It is what has drawn the pilgrims to this holy place. They have come to worship and meet with God.

But this psalm has a different approach. It recounts the history of Zion and how this particular place was chosen as the site for Israel to worship God. It all began with David. At the prompting of the LORD, David chose Mount Zion to set up the Tabernacle of the LORD. But before Mount Zion could become a place of worship the stronghold of Zion had to be conquered. It was in enemy hands. Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David (2 Samuel 5:7).

In this psalm we hear of David’s vow. “I will not enter my house or go to my bed, I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob”

In David’s case, finding a place for the LORD required self-denial. It involved a physical battle. There is a spiritual battle that we too need to fight so the LORD can occupy His rightful place in our lives. The enemy does not leave the strongholds in our mind without a fight. We must take action to evict him.

We live in a world where self-denial is rare and often frowned upon. Our society pushes the easy life—the comfortable life—the path of least resistance. Self-denial in pursuit of a relationship with God is a foreign concept. In many churches fasting and prayer is a lost discipline.

Jesus encountered the same problem with his own disciples. While he was praying fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane, his disciples were fast asleep. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour?” See Mark 14:32-42.

This inability to pray for an hour is an indicator that at our core we have not surrendered fully to God. Other things are more important. There is no self-denial. That TV show is more important. The game is more important. Perhaps our Zion is still occupied by the enemy, and the LORD is not enthroned there.

Response: LORD God, help me to change. I want to put you first in my life. Come and occupy the throne of my life. I want my thoughts, words and actions to be governed by you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you find self-denial difficult? Do you practice a variety of spiritual disciplines? What steps toward a lifestyle change can you implement today?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Please pray for peace to return to Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine!

A gripping read from David Kitz.
Is a return-to-Jesus revival possible in our time?
This book points the way forward.
For details click here.

I Lift Up My Eyes

10 Sunday Aug 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 121, Psalms

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armor of God, Christ, Jerusalem, Jesus, lighthouse, Mount Calvary, pilgrimage, Prayer, Psalm 121, Psalms, the cross, the LORD, Zion

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—
He will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forever more.

Psalm 121 is a Song of Ascents, and as such it was a psalm, which was intended for use by pilgrims as they journeyed to Jerusalem. This particular psalm was most often sung or chanted as the pilgrims set out from Jericho. As they lifted up their eyes, the sharply rising hill country of Judah stretched off into the distance. Hill after hill rose up before them.

This final portion of the pilgrimage was truly an ascent. From the Dead Sea plain the road to Jerusalem climbs nearly five thousand feet. This is truly an ascent—an ascent from the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth’s surface, to the heights of Mount Zion.

For the bone-weary pilgrims, who had already walked more than one hundred kilometres (60 miles) from Galilee, the sight of those distant hills must have brought a measure of aching discouragement. Here was a looming challenge. Could they make this final ascent? The opening question of this psalm was not a matter of poetic whimsy. It was spoken in earnest.

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Pexels.com

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?”

The weary pilgrim may well be asking, “Having come this far, can I complete this journey? Do I have enough energy—enough stamina to climb those hills? Will I be able to reach Zion? I am exhausted now—before I even start the ascent. I can’t do this on my own.”

“Where does my help come from?”

The psalmist’s answer resounds off those ancient hills. Even today, it echoes down through the ages and reverberates through the chambers of the heart.

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

I cannot make it on my own. Realistically, I am incapable of this final climb. Zion is unreachable in my own strength. But all things are possible with God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth. Surely the Maker of the earth can help me move across this tiny portion of the planet that He has formed. He is my help. My help comes from the LORD!

This bold profession from the psalmist reflects reality for all who have answered our Saviour’s call to walk in faith. We start from the lowest point. Jesus does not call us from the heights. He calls us from the Dead Sea—a place of both physical and spiritual death. Paul, the apostle, makes this perfectly clear.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit that is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts (Ephesians 2:1-2).

It is from this low point that we lift up our eyes. If we look at ourselves—at our sin steeped past—there is no hope. It is just as St. Paul says, we are dead in our transgressions and sins. If we lift up our eyes to the road ahead—to the upward-sloping road of righteousness—we will become discouraged. All we see are hills—obstacles as far as the eye can see. Holiness is not an innate human response. The way is hard; the climb is steep, even impossible. There is no hope there. No, we must lift our eyes higher yet. We must look past the hills, and to the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

How high are you lifting your eyes? If we look to the LORD, there is hope. Through Him, the way becomes possible. In Him there is grace for the journey. Through his love and mercy, we are no longer spiritually dead. We have a new life—a new life in Christ. The road ahead has in fact been prepared for us. It is as Paul asserts, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Having been born again through faith, it is Christ who now walks with us on this earthly pilgrimage. We can leave behind the Dead Sea region with all its life draining futility. We can leave behind the fetid sea of sin. But we are not travelling alone now. Our forerunner, our brother, the King, is walking with us.

He is walking beside me. When I lift up my eyes, He comes into view.

As I walk on, His words are my constant comfort and encouragement. Jesus speaks to the pilgrim, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Here in this psalm, we have our LORD’s sure promise.

“He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

For the weary Jewish pilgrim, a foot slip was no small mishap. If a foot slipped and an ankle twisted, the journey was over. There was no point in proceeding. Why add more agonizing miles to the journey? Why inconvenience others with your injury? The pilgrim would find a safe place to rest and recover, perhaps at an inn, while the others in his party would proceed to Zion.

A pilgrimage to the house of God — MacNutt, Saskatchewan — photo by David Kitz

The Christian pilgrim’s constant prayer should be, “Do not let my foot slip. Let my step be firm; let my path be straight.”

This is why our Lord taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

The LORD is always alert to that prayer. It’s His prayer and it’s His desire to answer it. We can rest assured that He will watch over us. We can rest—yes—truly rest. We can put our minds at ease, because He will not. He will not rest. He will not slumber or sleep. Like a mother keeps vigil over a desperately sick child, so the LORD will watch over every move we make—every time we stir—so constant is His care.

Those, who are saved by grace, can find rest in His grace. He will not let your foot slip. His goal is your goal. He longs to welcome you to Zion, to the House of God, to your eternal home.

So it then follows that “the LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Interestingly, Jesus told one of his best-known parables about this particular journey—the journey from Jerusalem down to Jericho. In truth, it’s the pilgrim’s journey of Psalm 121 done in reverse. We know it as the parable of the Good Samaritan. From this parable we discover that the descent from Jerusalem to Jericho was not only steep and treacherous. It was also fraught with danger. The steep hills, rills and canyons were ideal hideouts for highway robbers. They could pounce on the unsuspecting traveller from behind any one of ten thousand rocks. One never knew what danger might lurk around the next sharp curve in the road. Ambushes on this route were common. It was wise to travel in a group. The lone traveller was an easy target for marauding thieves.

When we decide to follow Christ, we instantly become a target for Satan’s attack. He and his demonic minions lie in wait for the unsuspecting faith pilgrim. The lone-believer can quickly become the wounded-and-dying-believer. The struggling-believer may soon become the fallen-believer—fallen and half dead.

We are our brother’s keeper. There is safety in numbers. We are to journey together. So with this in mind,

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

In addition, we need the LORD’s protective shield round about us. We need His promise. “The LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Roman armor — photo by David Kitz

Pray for the LORD’s round the clock protection. Put on the full armor of God. The LORD’s pilgrim is also the LORD’s warrior against spiritual forces of darkness. The apostle Paul reminds us,

Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With all this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:16-18).

As you do all these things on your upward journey “the LORD will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.”

It’s amazing how much distance you can cover on foot, when your pace is steady, and when you make a straight path, or a direct line to your objective. I was reminded of this truth just this afternoon. Once again, I am back in Chicago for some drama events. Once again, I went for a walk along scenic Lincoln Park on the shore of Lake Michigan. But unlike my leisurely stroll of last summer, today from the outset, I set a pace—a brisk pace—and I had an objective in mind.

My objective was a lighthouse at the end of a concrete peer that juts out into the aquamarine waters of the lake. Having set my sights on this lighthouse, I made a beeline for it. For me, taking the most direct route, sometimes meant stepping off the well-worn path and heading off across country.

Following Christ is like that. If we have him in our sights, the well-worn path that others follow may not be for us. Those other paths bring us to other destinations. They may even bring us close to the Lighthouse, but not to the Lighthouse.

When you lift up your eyes, lift them to the one you are following. Lift them to Jesus. Then let your feet follow the most direct path to him, regardless of how others are walking. If your pace is steady and unwavering, and if your course is straight, the miles will fly by.

Cape Breton, N.S. lighthouse — Photo by David Kitz

The distance flew by for me. I reached my objective, the lighthouse, so quickly that I set another objective. This was another lighthouse still farther up the shore. I maintained my pace and again I took the most direct route. Again, I was surprised by the speed at which I covered the distance. When I reached this second objective, a whole new vista opened up. New opportunities presented themselves.

If you fix your eyes on Christ, he will bring you to the summit of the next hill. A new adventure—a new vista awaits.

When I look back over the years of my faith pilgrimage, I can see that my progress has not always been steady or direct. There have been distractions. My pace has been erratic. Other paths—well-worn paths—have intersected with the direct path to Christ. At times I have drifted down those intersecting paths.

But then, I lift up my eyes. I lift my eyes to the hill—the hill of my salvation. There is a cross on that hill. Though Jesus’ hands are pinned, he beckons me closer. I fix my eyes on him. He draws me up—up the round stone hill of Calvary.

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

“Jesus, draw me to the summit. I fix my eyes on you.”

A new vista awaits.

Bringing Life to the Psalms

In our urban environment, we live in an artificial world—a world planned for the automobile. It seems many of us have forgotten why the LORD gave us legs, yet we talk about our walk of faith. This week plan a walk. Be sure to take Jesus with you. Ask him to speak to you on the way. Remember the resurrected Christ joined his disciples as they walked to Emmaus.
Have you ever been distracted from the path? Was it immediately obvious that you had left the path God had called you to walk? What brought you back? Did a particular event trigger your return?
In a world of flashing distractions, how do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus? In your walk of faith, when your pace is steady and progress is readily apparent, what sort of things are you doing?
Are you your brother’s or sister’s keeper? Have you helped someone recently in their faith walk? Have you needed help? Open, honest communication is essential. Satan attacks and silences believers, but our Father invites us to speak to Him and to each other.
Reread Psalm 121. What is God saying to you by His Spirit?

Today’s post is Chapter 24 from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.

Being God’s Chosen May Come at a Price

05 Tuesday Aug 2025

Posted by davidkitz in Psalm 129

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Bible, blessing, Christians, devotion, God's chosen, imprisonment, Israel, martyrdom, mission, oppressed, persecution, Psalms, Suffering, the LORD, Zion

Today’s Devotion from Psalms 365 by David Kitz

Reading: Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
let Israel say;
“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
but they have not gained the victory over me.
Plowmen have plowed my back
and made their furrows long.
But the LORD is righteous;
he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
May all who hate Zion
be turned back in shame.
May they be like grass on the roof,
which withers before it can grow
a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,
nor one who gathers fill his arms.
May those who pass by not say to them,
“The blessing of the LORD be on you;
we bless you in the name of the LORD” (NIV). *

Reflection
A few years back I had a conversation with a Jewish friend about what it means to be numbered among God’s chosen people. I found his response quite surprising.

“Most people see being God’s chosen as a great honor or a blessing. The reality is quite different. The reality is persecution. The reality is envy and hatred by your neighbors. The reality is six million dead in the Holocaust. We are God’s chosen people. Is that a blessing? Sometimes it feels like a curse.”

Psalm 129 reflects the truth of my friend’s words: “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.”

Often, we assume that being chosen by God will bring great blessing. But being called and chosen does not mean trouble free. The apostle Paul was God’s called and chosen messenger to the Gentiles, but fulfilling his mission involved tremendous suffering, beatings, imprisonment and ultimately martyrdom. See 2 Corinthians 11:22-33. Paul makes this observation about his calling: For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings (1 Corinthians 4:9).

Genuinely following Jesus in the world today can lead directly to persecution. Amnesty International reports that 80% of the systemic persecution in the world today is targeted at Christians. There is often a price to pay for being God’s chosen.

Response: Father God, I pray for those who are facing severe persecution, whatever their faith may be. But I pray especially for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Have mercy on them for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you see yourself as chosen by God? How do stories of suffering and persecution affect you? Is there something you can do to help those in need?

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.