Date: Thursday,
June 11, 2015
Chapters: Psalms
29-23
Message Title: Following The Word Of God

Hello
My Friend,

The Bible was given to us by God to show us
how we can have a relationship with Him. While He could have chosen
any nation to represent Him, He chose Israel first. They were like
you and I, all sinners saved by grace, they all had times of
discouragement, distress, and sorrow. Some of them were even
murderers, adulterers, and idol worshipers before and after they
accepted the Lord. Yes, they too had to accept the Lord, who they
know as the Messiah. God did not chose perfection, He choose those
who were imperfect to represent Him. Why? To show all, Jew and
Gentile, that God is merciful and full of grace toward even the worst
offender. “Tribulation and anguish, upon
every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the
Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh
good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no
respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law
shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law
shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9-12.

The
very first commands God gave were written with His own finger on two
stone tablets, many more were penned by Moses, which is known as the
Law of Moses. Many Jews today, still follow this law, the law was
given in order for God's people to have some moral structure in their
lives that actually showed the rest of the world that when you obey
God, He blesses abundantly. David reflects on the law, pointing out
that it is more valuable than gold. “The law
of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are
right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for
ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,
my strength, and my redeemer.” - Psalms 19:7-10,14.

When
we allow the Holy Spirit in us to reveal His Word to us, something
amazing happens, we develop a relationship with God, one that not
only wants to know His Word, but live it as well. We become a
testimony, a walking, talking, billboard proving that God made us who
we are. “I thank my God always on your
behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That
in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all
knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So
that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be
blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1
Corinthians 1:4-8.

This prayer for David is entitled a
psalm of David, the king was preparing to go out to battle. Before
starting he offers solemn sacrifices, and commits his cause to God,
the sole Giver of their victory, reminding himself that even if he
died, he would still be safe under the wings of God. “We
will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set
up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD
saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the
saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the
LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and
stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.”
- Psalms 20:5-9.

Salvation does not exempt us from facing
battles, and while God prepares His anointed for every battle, even
if they die they are not defeated because they will be saved. Those
who are trusting in their own strength or the strength of others to
help them through their battles will fall, but those who trust in the
Lord, will, in fact, stand up. “For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any
man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - 1
Corinthians 3:11-15.

Even during Old Testament times they
had to put their lives in the hands of Christ, they knew He existed,
but just like we cannot see Him today, they could not see back them.
They too had to trust God's promise and have faith that the Messiah
would come. To prove that the Word of God is inspired by the Holy
Spirit directing them in the writing, we get a glimpse of Jesus
Himself speaking through David concerning His crucifixion. “My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from
helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the
daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not
silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of
Israel. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have
inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my
bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them,
and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O
my strength, haste thee to help me. A seed shall serve him; it shall
be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall
declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he
hath done this.” - Psalms 22:1-3,16-19,30,31.

Still
today, most Jews reject Christ as the Messiah, but David, a mere
shepherd boy in the beginning of his life, considered himself a lost
sheep who needed a shepherd, even as king. While he did complain a
lot through his distress, he knew that Jesus was with Him and that is
exactly what Psalm 23 reminds us of. “The
LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth
my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I
will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” - Psalm 23.
Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
God, As much as I understand that Your timing is everything and as
long as I wait patiently You will give me what I need, it's not
always easy to live by Your commands. I do thank You for bringing me
this far, to imagine what mess I would be in if You weren't in my
life would be frightening. I know You have more waiting for me as I
patiently allow You to prepare me, strengthen me, and keep me
depending on You. I ask You to give me Your power to wait on You, to
not become discouraged, and to be strong even though there seems to
be no end to my struggling. I trust that You will bring me to
victory, my Lord, my strength. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God
Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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