Stay on the Straight Path

 

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.

A recurring theme in Proverbs is looking at life as a path to walk.  It's not that the pathway is always easy or straight like a freeway, but that it is the safe place to stay.  It avoids things to trip over, fall into, and to which we can become prey.  Wisdom calls like a father to the son: "Keep your heart on the right path: following Christ, focused on obedience, living for good."

The Security of Wisdom

 

Proverbs 3:21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
    or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will keep your foot from being caught.

Like with the Psalms, we often like to pick and choose verses from Proverbs without reading the whole chapter or context. We love verses 5 and 6 of this chapter but fail to go any further. This whole chapter is full of wisdom, which gives much more than direction. It will give us security - the kind of security which will allow us to rest easy, even in the stormiest of nights.

Rebuked by Wisdom

 

Proverbs 1:

24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,

    have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.

The book of Proverbs masterfully personifies Wisdom as a counselor who beckons us to listen, learn, and respond to her counsel.  The problem is: we are often too stubborn to head her voice. Wisdom can rightly respond: "I told you so."  In this except Wisdom sounds almost mean, until we look at the context. Wisdom has been crying out, begging us to listen.  Since we will not, she knows that the only way we will learn is to reap a harvest of hurt and learn the hard way.  She rebukes out of truth and love.  Will we heed her voice as she calls to us today?

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever!

 

Psalm 136:
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

The psalmist begins and ends with this call to give thanks to God for His steadfast love. He goes through a brief history of God's provision and deliverance to prove that not only is God the only One Who can do these things, but that He is the only One who consistently does them. He is the One and Only, the great Lover of His people, who sticks it out, even when we are often so stubborn.  May we give thanks to Him today at home and with His people. 

What to Cling to...

 

Psalm 119:25 My soul clings to the dust;
    give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
    teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart!

David was clinging to the earth, the things of this world and the sorrows it brings. He was run down into the ground.  He needed to let go of all that is false, all that robs of true life, and cling instead to the truth of God's Word. Things having changed a bit. What are you clinging to?

A Psalm of Songs

 Psalm 118:22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O Lord!
    O Lord, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
    We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Some of the Psalms are full of songs.  People have plucked them out of context for just those phrases that stick out. This psalm is a wonderful read for a few reasons. It was sung as people went to worship, making it a song for meditation when we do so. Secondly, as we read we find a number of those well-known verses that have become songs in themselves. Thirdly, of course, this is a psalm with Messianic tones. Take time to read through the whole psalm, both seeing songs you recognize, and maybe finding some new verses to start your day.

What to Do with Wagging Heads...

 Psalm 109:21 But you, O God my Lord,
    deal on my behalf for your name's sake;
    because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
22 For I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is stricken within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
    I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
    my body has become gaunt, with no fat.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they wag their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me according to your steadfast love!

In many of David's psalms like this one, we find he is facing opposition.  He is weary of the way he has been treated by others. He is worn out and down. He can hear the murmurs and see the shaking heads. What do you do with that? Call out to God for help - based not on how good you are, but how faithful and loving God is. By the end of your prayer, you'll be saying with David: 

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;

    I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,

    to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

Give Thanks and Praise the Lord 3: The Storm Stiller

 Psalm 107:23 Some went down to the sea in ships,

    doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
    his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
    which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
    their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
    and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.

This third consecutive psalm again begins with "Give Thanks to the Lord", and near the end wraps up: "let them praise Him in the presence of the elders." The psalmist again speaks of those who have rebelled against God, only to call out to Him and have Him hear. He truly is the Storm Stiller of our souls. 

Give Thanks and Praise the Lord 2

 Psalm 106:24 Then they despised the pleasant land,
    having no faith in his promise.
25 They murmured in their tents,
    and did not obey the voice of the Lord.
26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
    that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
    scattering them among the lands.

Like Psalm 105, this next psalm begins and ends with "Give Thanks" and "Praise the Lord," respectively.  But what we find in between is much different.  Instead of focusing in on how good and faithful God is, we find a lot of how complaining and unfaithful His people can be. The complain about where He takes them, what He feeds them, the water He gives them, and quickly and easily turn to idols, complaining, criticizing, and always wanting more and more. We are called upon to not fall back into those same old spiritual ruts, returning to our old ways and trying to break loose from the hand that gently guides and provides.  What will today be? May it not just begin and end with thanksgiving and praise, but be filled with it in between. 

Give Thanks and Praise the Lord

 

Psalm 105:23 Then Israel came to Egypt;
    Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful
    and made them stronger than their foes.
25 He turned their hearts to hate his people,
    to deal craftily with his servants.
26 He sent Moses, his servant,
    and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
27 They performed his signs among them
    and miracles in the land of Ham.

This psalm is another of the longer psalms which retells the history of Israel.  The focus is on God bringing a small people from humble beginnings to become a great people delivered from the hands of Egypt and brought into the promised land.  Notice that all along God was at work, though the people could not always see it. They needed to be reminded to look back to see where they had come from and that God was watching over them all the time. The bookends of the psalm are "Give Thanks" and "Praise the Lord!" May that be true of our day, beginning by giving thanks as we look back, and ending our day praising Him.

He Takes Care of Them All: Big and Small

 

Psalm 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
    In wisdom have you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, great and wide,
    which teems with creatures innumerable,
    living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships,
    and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.
27 These all look to you,
    to give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
    when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

This psalm rejoices in both the greatness and goodness of God. The psalmist marvels at how God takes care of His creation, from the greatness of the universe to the smallest details of earth, from the smallest to the creatures man fears most, even the creatures in the sea we cannot see. God is there for them all, including you and me.  How great is our God!

Our Eternal Security

 

Psalm 102
25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you will remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
27     but you are the same, and your years have no end.
28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
    their offspring shall be established before you.

This is the concluding paragraph of a "psalm of complaint." The psalmist is faint, totally worn out by life. He has come to the end of himself? How can he go on? Only by the strength of the Eternal One.  Everyone and everything else wears out.  He goes on and on and on with full strength and power.  When you can't take any more, turn to Him.  He is our eternal security.

The Solid Rock of Love

 

Psalm 89
24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
    and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
    and my covenant will stand firm for him.

We notice in this psalm both a reference to God's faithfulness to His covenant with David and an allusion to His promise to see His Messiah through.  The psalmist alternates speaking from the perspective of God, like here, and from the pleas of the people of Israel. Included in the promise of God's love is the promise of His chastisement when they go astray.  When that happened (and still does) God's people cry out to Him and He faithfully hears and hears them. He is the Solid Rock Who is always there, faithful to respond with what we really need.

Tell the Coming Generation

 Psalm 78:25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;
    he sent them food in abundance.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
    and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained meat on them like dust,
    winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
    all around their dwellings.
29 And they ate and were well filled,
    for he gave them what they craved.

There are a number of psalms that retell the history of Israel - especially the Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings, in detail.  This particular lengthy psalm tells us why: "Tell the coming generation." There is always need to "pass the promise" and "warn of the consequences" experienced by God's people in the past, as His covenant and His principles remain in force.  At the time of the writing of the Psalm, the kingdom of David was still intact, but we are always just one generation away from turning away again.

Close to God

 

Psalm 73:23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

In this psalm, Asaph wrestles on behalf of his people with the question: "Why do the wicked prosper?" As he does so, he walks in the temple and considers his relationship with God. He realizes afresh that in his relationship with God, and for all of God's people, there is a closeness that the unbeliever can never fathom.  One in relationship with God has the guidance, comfort, strength, and contentment that the outsider misses out on - not only in this life, but forever.  May God guard our hearts and minds whenever we begin to think that the wicked have it so good.  They have no idea what they are missing out on.We need to tell them.

Letting God Take Care of It... and You

Psalm 69:24 Pour out your indignation upon them,
    and let your burning anger overtake them.
25 May their camp be a desolation;
    let no one dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
    and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27 Add to them punishment upon punishment;
    may they have no acquittal from you.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
    let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
29 But I am afflicted and in pain;
    let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

Like in many of his psalms, David was feeling the intense pressure of his enemies. They were out to get him and destroy him. The desire for revenge was strong, but he kept calling out to God and trusting Him to bring justice. Also of note in this psalm is that David called out to God not so much for his own relief, but that others who feared God who were watching would not get discouraged by his example, but even more fully trust in Him.

Let's Have a Parade!

 

Psalm 68
24 Your procession is seen, O God,
    the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,
    between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
    the princes of Judah in their throng,
    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

In this psalm of David, he pictures the procession of God and His people into the Sanctuary in Jerusalem, but also His proceeding His people wherever they go throughout the world. The emphasis is on the power of God.  God always leads the way. His people are alive and thriving, young and active.  This processional is not just for Israel, but for all the peoples of the world to see the power of God, to come to Him, and to worship Him.  Do we see things the same way David does? That our God is most valuable and powerful, and that we should be excited to worship Him, serve Him, and draw others to Him?

Calling Out as a Congregation

 

Psalm 44
23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?
    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!
24 Why do you hide your face?
    Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust;
    our belly clings to the ground.
26 Rise up; come to our help!
    Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

This psalm is a congregational call with a solo.  (See verses 4-8) The people have heard of the "good old days" when God delivered His people, gave them victory, and blessed their land.  But now things are not looking so good. They are losing battles, business is bad, and people are discouraged. So, what do they do? They call out to God together: "We need You." They call out to Him to help, not based on how wonderful they are, but upon His steadfast love. He is the faithful God Who keeps His promises and helps the helpless who come with humility. May we be among those today who call out to Him together for His help, mercy, and grace.

Delight in HIS Way

Psalm 37
 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
24 though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

As David looks back on his life and at the lives around him, he comes to the basic observation that God is good and faithful to His people.  He could tell how close someone was to God by seeing the character of God duplicated in their actions.  They are generous as God is generous. Their children rise up to replicate the same lifestyle.  It all begins when one determines in his heart and mind that he is going to delight, pursue, be fulfilled by doing what pleases God. Then everything falls into place, as God is faithful to us and we in turn are faithful to Him.

Let Them Say: "Great is the Lord!"

 

Psalm 35:

26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
    who magnify themselves against me!
27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad and say evermore,
“Great is the Lord,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness

    and of your praise all the day long.

As hard as it was for David to be on the run, having both Saul and the Philistines out to get him, one of David's greatest struggles was those who spoke out against him - both to his face and behind his back.  Like Job, they rejoiced when he failed and talked as if he deserved it. What really kept David going was the righteousness of God, a righteousness of which he was able to partake. He wanted people to see that and in turn rejoice over it, joining with him in proclaiming how great God is. Is that how we want people to see us?

Knowing Who Really Rules

 Psalm 22:

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord!
    May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before you.
28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.

This psalm begins with those classic words: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? But quickly David comes to his senses and remembers to whom and about he is speaking: The Lord Most High.  This causes him to overflow with the praise due to Him.  David remembers he is not the King.  May we remember that quickly this morning and each and every day we rise.

The Lord: Our Rock of Refuge

 Psalm 18:25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
    with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
    and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
    but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
    the Lord my God lightens my darkness.
29 For by you I can run against a troop,
    and by my God I can leap over a wall.
30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Some of the Psalms are notable, if for no other reason than their length. We usually like the short psalms - a quick read for comfort or encouragement, but longer ones like this really point out the character of God. In this one, David reflects on years of God's faithfulness to him when he had been on the run, chased by Saul and Philistines alike. God had always been his refuge, watching over him and taking care of him in the darkest of days. (Read it all.)

What Is Your Leviathan?

 Job 41:25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid;
    at the crashing they are beside themselves.
26 Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
    nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27 He counts iron as straw,
    and bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
    for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.
29 Clubs are counted as stubble;
    he laughs at the rattle of javelins.

As God is talking to Job, he winds things up with one last challenge: "Consider what men find most fearsome." In the case of his day, it was the monster Leviathan. God proceeds with a chapter-long description of the invincibility of this enemy. No one can defeat him - except God. Leviathan is still under His rule. What is interesting is that the next chapter is the final one in the book of Job, when he repents and is restored. This final illustration from God is the one that turns the tide and resolves the conflict.  God alone can handle our greatest enemies.

God's Discovery Channel

 

Job 39:

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars
    and spreads his wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
    and makes his nest on high?
28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home,
    on the rocky crag and stronghold.
29 From there he spies out the prey;
    his eyes behold it from far away.
30 His young ones suck up blood,
    and where the slain are, there is he.”

As God is responding to Job to demonstrate how wise He is, in this chapter he describes many of the fascinating creatures He has made and special characteristics for which they are known. In each case he points out that there are so many things they are capable of that make us wonder. They are not because of anything man has taught them to do, but because He is the God of wonders.  The goal is not for us to be in awe of the creature, but of the Creator.  They do these things because He has designed them so. Like Job, we can miss so much of the wonder when we get caught up in ourselves. Stand back and watch the show.

Storehouses of the Snow

 

Job 38:22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
    or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
    for the day of battle and war?
24 What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,
    or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25 “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain
    and a way for the thunderbolt,
26 to bring rain on a land where no man is,
    on the desert in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land,
    and to make the ground sprout with grass?

It's around the time of year when meteorologists begin to predict how much snow a part of the country or world will receive this coming winter. As we know, it's not an exact science. There is only One Who truly knows. He is actually the once speaking in this passage, addressing Job and his friends. Just as his system of sending rains is amazing (as we saw yesterday), so is the way he stores up and sends His treasures in troubled times.

Look Up and Feel the Rain...

 Job 36:24 “Remember to extol his work,
    of which men have sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
    man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
    the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
    they distill his mist in rain,
28 which the skies pour down
    and drop on mankind abundantly.

As we look at the book of Job as a whole, despite all the negativity in communication between Job and his friends, we find a lot of good truth about God: Who He is, what He is like, and all He has done.  After Elihu gives one last bashing on Job, he turns to God and His greatness. We often appreciate the beauty of His creation but forget His refreshing rain.  Depending on your location, you might today say: "Enough already! We're tired of the rain and flooding!" Or you might say: "What rain? We need more!" But let us all step back and see the system God has created to replenish the earth and marvel at what He has done.

By Them... I Mean You...

 

Job 34:23 For God has no need to consider a man further,
    that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation
    and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
    he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
    in a place for all to see,
27 because they turned aside from following him
    and had no regard for any of his ways,

We find here part of the response of Elihu to the conversation that had been taking place - in particular to Job's self-defense (and self-examination). He accuses Job of self-righteousness in a most piercing way - in the third person.  He talks about the wicked - "they" - as a way of insinuating that Job was wicked. In his mind, and words, Job had lost everything because he had turned away from God.  How often do we do this to people? Talk in generalities when we are trying to point the finger and keep ourselves from looking mean? This itself is very mean.

The Mediator

 Job 33:23 If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand,
    to declare to man what is right for him,
24 and he is merciful to him, and says,
    ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; I have found a ransom;
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26 then man prays to God, and he accepts him;
    he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
27     He sings before men and says:
‘I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
    and my life shall look upon the light.’

In these chapters of Job, Elihu steps in to address Job and his three friends.  He rebukes the friends for their gruff way of "helping" Job, and He challenges Job as well. What is needed is a mediator - not only between Job and his friends, but Job and God. This mediator brings reconciliation and redemption. We all need this mediator. His name is Christ Jesus.

Thorough Self-Examination

 

Job 31:24 “If I have made gold my trust
    or called fine gold my confidence,
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant
    or because my hand had found much,
26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone,
    or the moon moving in splendor,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed,
    and my mouth has kissed my hand,
28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
    for I would have been false to God above.

As Job finished his response to his friends' critical examination, he goes through a long list of questions he had asked of himself, to see why all of his suffering had come upon him. He had left no leaf unturned. He considered how he had treated God, neighbors, business associates, the poor - even animals and the land. He still came up empty-handed, with nothing on his list to answer "why?" We should never depend fully on our own self-examination, but as Paul reminds the Corinthians: "Let every man examine himself." If we leave that out, we truly have become self-righteous.

Can We Hear Them Hurting?

 

Job 30:

25 Did not I weep for him whose day was hard?
    Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 But when I hoped for good, evil came,
    and when I waited for light, darkness came.
27 My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;
    days of affliction come to meet me.
28 I go about darkened, but not by the sun;
    I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals
    and a companion of ostriches.

As Job is giving his final statement to his friends, he tries to explain what is going on inside his heart and head.  He felt abandoned by those who should have been there for them.  So many people - within the Body of Christ - feel that way. They ask like the song: "Does anybody hear me?"  They get it that God's ways are not our ways; His time is not like ours; He can see the full picture.  But we cannot. Those around us, however, are in the same boat we are. They should understand, care, and continue to listen and comfort.