David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 6) June 19, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: hallelujah, Praise, Psalm, Psalm 63, Redeemer, satisfaction, satisfied
add a comment
“As with fat and the choicest cuts of meat, my soul will be satisfied.
My lips will exult; my mouth will exclaim hallelujah!”
(Psalm 63:6 {Psalm 63:5 in English versions})
Now, in a culture that is as health conscious as ours is, we somewhat lose the impact of the initial metaphor. We usually think of fatty food as something bad and to be avoided because it is just simply not good for you (or at least, in a society that is as sedentary as ours is, it is not good for you). Yet, one thing that must never be forgotten is that typically, when you are dealing with meats, the fattiest cuts are also the tastiest cuts. As a child, before I became aware of this and that health concern and when I was active enough that I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain a pound, one my favorite things about when Dad made steaks on the grill, was eating the fat on the outside of the cut. And that is exactly what David is communicating. Take all of your health issues and set them to the side and think simply of the wonderful taste that comes with fat, and recognize that David is saying that his soul enjoys his God in the same way as his taste buds enjoys the fatty cuts of meat.
We, as humans, respond to food. This is not a cultural thing, but it is tied to our very being—we like to eat and we like to eat well. We have made an art out of fine cooking, and almost everything we do on a social level is done around food. Different cultures may have different styles of food that is popular with their palates, but there is food, none-the-less. And what David is seeking to communicate to us through the ages is that as satisfying as the best meal may be—and when we have an exceptional meal prepared for us, it is not uncommon for us to think of that meal for days if not weeks—and crave it again—so too, David says, his soul enjoys God. The question that needs to be asked, then, is does your soul crave God in the same way your mouth craves a favorite food. Do you look forward all day to your morning or evening prayer time in the same way that you look forward all day to a special meal that is being prepared? Do you savor your time in prayer as you do a good meal or do you see it as just one more thing to do?
Beloved, I think that we are all guilty of falling short of the mark that David sets for us, but he continues his metaphor in the second line of the psalm. Just as your lips and mouth do not remain silent, but instead rejoice, in a good meal, so too, his lips and mouth cannot remain silent at the presence of God in his life. And, indeed, David’s mouth did not remain silent, but from his mouth came the many sweet psalms of the first part of the book of Psalms. Loved ones, does your heart sing, do your lips exult, does your voice refuse to remain silent at the wonders of God? If so, then praise God, but if not, I pray that these words of David will spur you on and help nurture within you a heart of praise.
I will sing of my Redeemer, and his wondrous love to me:
On the cruel cross he suffered, from the curse to set me free.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer! With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon, paid the debit and made me free.
-Philip Bliss
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 12) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: Christ, God, Jesus, Psalm 63, Redeemer, rejoice
add a comment
“The King will rejoice in God;
and boast, will all who swear by him;
for the mouth will be shut of all who speak a lie.”
(Psalm 63:12 {Psalm 63:11 in English Bibles})
And David, who is the rightful king of Israel, will rejoice in God (even in the midst of having to flee for his life) because God will shut the mouths of the liars—God will vindicate David’s name and bring to shame those who would seek to speak ill of him. What an amazing statement! David is saying that because God is who he is, that he has no fear. Even in the situation he is in, where people are seeking his life and his kingdom, that David is entirely confident that God will bring truth to the surface and will bring an end to the lies that are being spoken about him.
Beloved, were it that we could only have such faith! That we could walk with such confidence as to know that God will stop the mouths of those who lie about us. Yet, friends, we can because God will! How often do we respond to lies about us by angrily confronting the liars? How often do we drop everything that we are doing just to focus our energies on “restoring our good name?” Loved ones, do not misunderstand me, a good name is an important part of your Christian witness, but do you not think that God will restore your good name for you? Do you not think that God is able to put an end to false talk about you? If you believe that God will do this and that he is able to do so, why do you fret and panic about the lies of the enemy so?
Loved ones, you are held in the hand of the one who is the very definition of truth and righteousness—pursue His truth and righteousness and the lies of the enemy will be shown for what they are. As our Lord, himself said:
“Blessed are you when they reproach you, persecute you, and say evil and lies of you because of me. Rejoice and Exalt! For your reward is great in heaven. For thus they persecuted the prophets who came before you.”
(Matthew 5:11-12)
Beloved, let our lives sing and boast of the one we serve, for what other god is like our God? None! No not one!
I will sing of my Redeemer, and his wondrous love to me:
On the cruel cross he suffered, from the curse to set me free.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood, he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debit and made me free.
-Philip Bliss
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 11) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: God, God's defense, Justice, Justice of God, Psalm 63
add a comment
“They will be thrown down on the sword;
they will be a portion for foxes.”
(Psalm 63:11 {Psalm 63:10 in English Bibles})
Not only is David confident in the death of those who seek his life, but he is confident in the ignoble way in which they will die and be left for the scavengers of the field. The language of being “thrown down” on the sword paints the picture for us of the execution of defeated enemies, forced to their deaths. And of course, the language of their bodies being a portion for the foxes finishes the picture of dead bodies strewn across the battlefield and left to rot and be eaten by scavenging animals—alone and without the dignity of a proper burial.
Oh, the indignity of the final end of those who persecute God’s own. Not only is it ruin in this life, but it is ruin in the next. Beloved, how many people do you know and love that are destined to be a portion for the foxes? How many people do you regularly interact with who are on the wide path that leads to damnation? And have you been faithful in showing them that there is another way? Have you worked, even at cost, to remind them that Christ is the answer to their problems? Have you warned them that unless they flee to Christ, condemnation is what they will face? Oh, loved ones, how often we sit idly by while those we care about head for the sword of final judgment. Friends, take a serious look around you at those whose lives do not reflect a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Will you share the good news with them? They may reject you, forsake you, change the subject, or walk the other way, but if they don’t, and they listen, oh the joy that you will share in seeing one who was destined for destruction experience life!
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 10) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: Christ, God's anointed, peace, preservation, protection, Psalm 63
add a comment
“And those men of ruin, who require my life,
they will go to the lowest parts of the earth.”
(Psalm 63:10 {Psalm 63:9 in English Bibles})
Thus, not only does David have the assurance that he may hide behind the strong hand of God for protection, like a small child with his or her parent, but that God will act against those that seek his harm. He says of those who seek his life, that God will send them to the lowest parts of the earth—the grave—Sheol—as a sign of his judgment against them. Even in referring to these men, he calls them “men of ruin”—not so much because they are seeking David’s ruin (which they are), but because by seeking the death of God’s anointed king, they are condemning themselves to judgment. Woe to those who oppose the chosen of God—woe to those who would seek to destroy God’s anointed children!
There is some discussion about the translation of the first clause of this verse. Many will translate it as “those who seek to ruin my life,” connecting the “ruin” with the work of these men and not the lives of these men. Yet, the Hebrew system of accent marks (a system designed to bind words together or to separate them) binds these first two words together into one unit—hence, “men of ruin.”
The principle, beloved, is clear. God will protect and preserve his own. Oh, how we so often fail to trust in that promise. Oh, how often we doubt God’s provision for us! And, loved ones, how often we neglect to remember that promise when we have a dispute with another believer. Oh, dear friends, let us never forget that the promises that God extends to us are the same promises that He extends to other born-again believers; there is no room for bickering and in-fighting in the house of God. Beloved, let there be peace.
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 9) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: God holding hands, God's hand, protection, Psalm 63
add a comment
“My soul cleaves behind you;
your right hand takes hold of me.”
(Psalm 63:9 {Psalm 63:8})
As David is reflecting on his dependence on God’s strong hand of defense, he switches to a different, but related metaphor. In the previous verse, he employs the imagery of being a chick under a mother eagle’s wings; here, the imagery is that of a timid child, clinging for protection to his father’s leg. He begins this verse with the language of his soul or his spirit clinging or cleaving to God, yet doing so from behind. Many of our English translations do not do a good job of bringing this out, but the Hebrew clearly suggests that the clinging is done as if he is coming up on God from the rear—just as a child hides behind their parent’s leg for protection when they perceive danger.
The next verse reflects the response of God to his action—God’s right hand takes hold of him. The Hebrew word that is used here is the term $m;t’ (tamak), which reflects the idea of grabbing hold of something firmly and not letting go. In addition, it is important to be reminded that the language of the right hand reflected the idea of strength and might—in other words, with God’s hand of power, he grabs hold of David to provide that protection. In addition, we need to understand that the idea of “soul” for the Hebrew reflected the idea of his whole life and the entirety of his being. Sometimes vp,n< (nephesh) is translated as “life” (Genesis 9:5) or even the idea of “personality” (Leviticus 26:30). In other words, David is not speaking only of spiritual matters in the context of this verse and the metaphor he is employing, but that of the entirety of his life.
Beloved, so often we like to imagine ourselves as being the strong hero pressing against the storms—you know the picture, the man in the cowboy had and duster bent down as he fights his way forward against the wind and driving rain. Yet, loved ones, this is not the Biblical model. There are no lone cowboys in the body of Christ and none of us can stand alone against the storms—if we try we will fail. The Biblical picture is that which David is painting for us here—we are children clinging for safety to our Father’s leg, and with his strong hand he leads us. Oh, what a contrast there is between the way we like to perceive ourselves and the way God perceives us. Oh, how much foolishness we engage in when we get that perception wrong. Beloved, cling to the leg of your heavenly Father—his strong hand will hold you during times of trouble.
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 8) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: exaltation, exult, help, Praise, Psalm 63, shadow of your wings
add a comment
“For you are my help
and in the shadow of your wings I will exult!”
(Psalm 63:8 {Psalm 63:7 in English Bibles})
The language of God being as a mother eagle to his people, Israel, is a common Old Testament image (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11; Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8; etc…). And oh, what a wonderful image it is—that of God providing his strong protection over his people, sheltering them from the storms by his great and mighty wings. And it is from under the protection of God’s wings that we may not only rest in confident assurance of that protection, but we may sing to God undistracted by the cares of this world. What assurance there is when you know that you are safe and protected! What peace comes to a child’s heart when, after they have been threatened, they rest once again, safely in their parent’s arms!
Sadly, we live in a culture where many do not understand this concept. Many children grow up in families where both spouses work and are out of the homes and have to learn to protect themselves from life’s difficulties. Many children grow up without their fathers and don’t know the peace that comes from the assurance of the safety of being in their father’s arms. Many adults put their own interests and goals ahead of the good of their families, again creating an environment where children are forced to find protection elsewhere. Abuse, too, runs rampant in our culture, making the home anything but a safe place to be. As a result, these young men and women have grown up relying on themselves, not trusting too many people, and not knowing the assurance of resting in the arms of one who loves them and is able to keep them safe from the cares of the world.
Oh, the damage we have done to our families by pursuing our own agendas instead of the agenda of God—instead of pursuing his glory and righteousness. Oh, beloved, what a message of hope we have to offer, though, in the Gospel! In Christ, there is hope and peace and rest for the weary soul. In Christ there is safety; under God’s strong wings we may find rest and help. And under God’s strong wings we may finally sing for joy—exult—in the glory of Him who is greater than all the threats of this world put together. In Christ and in Him alone we may find our help.
Our God, Our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come.
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
-Isaac Watts
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 7) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: God's character, God's perfections, Jesus Christ, meditation, redemption, redemptive plan, remembrance
add a comment
“When I remember you on my couch,
in the night watches, I mediate upon you.”
(Psalm 63:7 {Psalm 63:6 in English Bibles})
David begins this passage with a conditional clause. In the Hebrew, this particular conditional clause (with the conjunction ~ai (im)), reflects the idea of a realizable condition. In other words, this is not a vague or “pie in the sky” hope, but this is something that is a concrete event in his life. On those dark and lonely nights as he lay awake sleepless, it was God that will fill the mind of David—even in the midst of his great troubles and times of flight for his life. How often we lay awake at night because of the burdens of life (bills to pay, things left undone, etc…); David sets before us another example—meditate upon the person of Christ and his beauty and the depth and wonder of our God. No, it won’t make your obligations or bills go away, but it will put them in their proper perspective.
How rarely we meditate on the person of Christ! How rarely do we sit and reflect on the perfections of God! Oh, beloved, we often think of all the things that God has done for us, and that is good and right to do, but do you think on the beauty of the one who has done these things for you? Do you spend time reflecting on his person and his character? A marriage relationship with stagnate if the couple is only in love with each other based on what they do together or what the one has done for the other. Though the actions and deeds are still very important, relationships find their depth in falling in love with the person and character of the spouse. So too with God. If your love for God is only based on what he is done for you, you will find yourself in crisis every time you go through a dark trial and cannot see his hand at work. You must fall in love with God for who he is for your relationship to grow deep.
Oh, beloved, what is on your mind during those dark hours that you cannot find sleep? Is it God? Is it God’s perfections and character? Is it the beauty of Jesus Christ? Is it all that God has done in the world—and for you as well? Do you lay awake marveling at God’s redemptive plan? Do the concerns of this world overwhelm your mind when all the lights have gone out? Loved ones, God has promised that if you seek him, he will take care of the stresses of the day—spend your waking hours during the days and nights seeking after him and his righteousness and all these other things he will add unto you.
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 6) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: hallelujah, Praise, Psalm, Redeemer, satisfaction
add a comment
“As with fat and the choicest cuts of meat, my soul will be satisfied.
My lips will exult; my mouth will exclaim hallelujah!”
(Psalm 63:6 {Psalm 63:5 in English versions})
Now, in a culture that is as health conscious as ours is, we somewhat lose the impact of the initial metaphor. We usually think of fatty food as something bad and to be avoided because it is just simply not good for you (or at least, in a society that is as sedentary as ours is, it is not good for you). Yet, one thing that must never be forgotten is that typically, when you are dealing with meats, the fattiest cuts are also the tastiest cuts. As a child, before I became aware of this and that health concern and when I was active enough that I could eat whatever I wanted and never gain a pound, one my favorite things about when Dad made steaks on the grill, was eating the fat on the outside of the cut. And that is exactly what David is communicating. Take all of your health issues and set them to the side and think simply of the wonderful taste that comes with fat, and recognize that David is saying that his soul enjoys his God in the same way as his taste buds enjoys the fatty cuts of meat.
We, as humans, respond to food. This is not a cultural thing, but it is tied to our very being—we like to eat and we like to eat well. We have made an art out of fine cooking, and almost everything we do on a social level is done around food. Different cultures may have different styles of food that is popular with their palates, but there is food, none-the-less. And what David is seeking to communicate to us through the ages is that as satisfying as the best meal may be—and when we have an exceptional meal prepared for us, it is not uncommon for us to think of that meal for days if not weeks—and crave it again—so too, David says, his soul enjoys God. The question that needs to be asked, then, is does your soul crave God in the same way your mouth craves a favorite food. Do you look forward all day to your morning or evening prayer time in the same way that you look forward all day to a special meal that is being prepared? Do you savor your time in prayer as you do a good meal or do you see it as just one more thing to do?
Beloved, I think that we are all guilty of falling short of the mark that David sets for us, but he continues his metaphor in the second line of the psalm. Just as your lips and mouth do not remain silent, but instead rejoice, in a good meal, so too, his lips and mouth cannot remain silent at the presence of God in his life. And, indeed, David’s mouth did not remain silent, but from his mouth came the many sweet psalms of the first part of the book of Psalms. Loved ones, does your heart sing, do your lips exult, does your voice refuse to remain silent at the wonders of God? If so, then praise God, but if not, I pray that these words of David will spur you on and help nurture within you a heart of praise.
I will sing of my Redeemer, and his wondrous love to me:
On the cruel cross he suffered, from the curse to set me free.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer! With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon, paid the debit and made me free.
-Philip Bliss
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 5) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: Bless God's name, Blessing God, Praise, Psalm 63
add a comment
“Thus, I will bless you with my life;
in your name I will lift my hands.”
(Psalm 63:5 {Psalm 63:4 in English Bibles})
Not only will David lift his voice in praise, but he will lift his hands as well—fully praising his God and redeemer. What a simple, but wonderful thought to keep before us! Not only should our lips be lifted up in praise to our God, but so too should all of our body—everything that we do in life should be done for the praise and honor of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And, indeed, this is exactly what David is getting at when he says that he will bless God with his life. Life is about worship and nothing less. Life is not about accomplishing goals, learning facts, making money, or building families—it is about worship and everything else that we do (accomplishing goals, learning facts, making money, and building families included) is to be done to that end.
Loved ones, set this before you as you go through your day. Is what you are doing—whatever it may be—done in a way that is worshipful toward God? Do you do what you do out of a heart that is motivated by personal desires, or a desire to worship? Beloved, there is nothing more satisfying than the worship of God. A tool is most useful when it is used for the task for which it was created. When used for other things, its usefulness is reduced and it will likely become damaged and less effective a the task for which it was created. Beloved, you were created to worship God; you will never find satisfaction in anything else and in seeking those other things, you will likely damage yourself. Yet worship is a perfect and right fit and when you do all that you do (work, recreation, chores, etc…) out of a heart of worship toward God, you will find these things to be satisfying as well.
And let us not stop there, for it is not just the believer that has an obligation to worship, but all people—again, that is what we were created to do. And our being created in that way implies an obligation on us to do that which we were created to do. Not only must we be worshiping God for all that he has done—especially in our redemption—but we must worship God for who he is, and even those who have not experienced redemption owe this to God. God is infinitely wise, wonderful, beautiful, glorious, lovely, and powerful, and to neglect to praise one who is so much greater than you or I in every way is downright rude and arrogant—downright sinful.
Oh, loved ones, how easy it is to become burdened and distracted by all of the cares of the world and all of our daily and weekly obligations. Yet, beloved, how this causes us to lose focus of what we are to be about in this world. We are to worship and we are to be about worship in all that we do. If we lose sight of this, we will not only be less effective at all we do, but we will find that we are wounding and damaging ourselves, just as a flathead screwdriver is damaged when one takes to use it as a chisel. Commit yourself to worship, friends, and all the other things will fall into their proper places.
O bless the Lord, my soul;
Let all within me join,
And aid my tongue to bless his name,
Whose favors are divine.
-Isaac Watts
David in the Wilderness: Psalm 63 (part 4) June 16, 2008
Posted by preacherwin in Devotions, Devotions on Psalm 63.Tags: Chesed, covenant faithfulness, praises, Psalm, Psalm 63
add a comment
“For your covenant faithfulness is better than life;
my lips will sing praises to you.”
(Psalm 63:4 {Psalm 63:3 in English Bibles})
Those of you who know me well know that I sound a bit like a broken record when I get to verses like this, but I would hold that these things are essential for the Christian to understand. The Hebrew word that is found in the first part of this verse is the word ds,x, (chesed). This word is translated in a number of ways in our English Bibles, sometimes we see it as “mercy” or “loving-kindness” and sometimes we see it as “grace” or “faithfulness.” It is a word that carries with it many ideas, but essentially reflects God’s covenant faithfulness in the midst of his people’s covenant unfaithfulness. And, oh, through history, how God demonstrates his ds,x, (chesed) to his people.
And indeed, David speaks some very important words here—he says that the ds,x, (chesed) of God is better than life. Were it not for God’s covenant faithfulness, life would not be worth living, David communicates. Were it not for the covenant faithfulness of God this world would have been swept away in his wrath over sin. Were it not for the covenant faithfulness of God, you and I would be condemned to the darkness of eternal judgment. Were it not for God’s covenant faithfulness, he would have never sent his Son to redeem a people for himself—to redeem you and me. Friends, do you see just how important this word is to us—this characteristic of God? Do you see how we could not live without it? Oh, how often we take God’s covenant faithfulness for granted; let us be reminded by these words of David that it is better than life itself—it is what makes life worth living!
And as a result of God’s covenant faithfulness in your life and in the lives of believers everywhere, it ought to cause your voice to sing praises to God! The verb that David uses in the second clause is the word xb;v’ (shavach), which means to sing loud praises—to laud another. Beloved, when you look back at your own life and you see the hand of God at work, does it not make you want to sing! When you look back through history and you see God’s hand at work in the lives of his people, does it not make you want to praise! Oh, how often we take the work of God for granted in our lives—oh how often we take the covenant faithfulness of God for granted—as if it were something that was our due pay for services rendered! Beloved, our infinite praise is God’s due pay for his covenant faithfulness! So, let us get to work—it is a precious labor to praise our God. No, we will never repay what we owe, but though we cannot repay, shall we not try? Shall we not praise him for who he is and for what he has done? It is a pleasant duty and a delightful task that has been set before us, indeed.
All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring!
Thou art the King of Israel, thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest, the King and blessed One!
-Theodulph of Orleans
