by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 29-32
This can be an up-and – down life we lead, can’t it? Do you ever feel that way? David obviously does. One moment he is praising God, full of joy and enthusiasm, and the next moment he is bemoaning the fact that evil men are out to get him.
David has an attribute, however, which we need to notice. In fact, we need to cultivate it in our own lives. That attribute is the ability to stir ourselves up, or “talk to ourselves.” After David would pour out his heart to God, he would start reminding himself of God’s faithfulness.
Almost always does David end his psalm on a high note. “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.”(31:24)
This should be an example for all of us. There are times when we seem overwhelmed with obstacles all around us. We cry out to God. We moan about all of the hard times at hand. But at the end of it all, if we will let our hearts be reminded of our God and His faithfulness, our faith in Him will actually rise. We will end up on a higher plane.
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones. And shout for joy all you who are upright in heart.”(32:11) This is where we wind up as we live our lives with the Lord. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves like David does, but our lives will be full of joy as we live for Him.
Acts 23
Paul is really in hot water now. The Roman commander has to forcibly take Paul and hide him in the barracks, as the Jews are so hostile. But 40 of the most zealous Jews make a vow that they will band together, ambush Paul, and kill him. The plot, however, is revealed to the commander and he gathers 200 Roman troops, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen to take Paul safely to felix the governor.
Interestingly, once again the devil plays into God’s hands. He is stirring up the Jews so vehemently that Paul has to appeal to Rome. This is the means God uses to take Paul to Rome to preach the gospel. “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”(V. 11)
So the evil plot is foiled by God’s hand, and Paul is delivered to the hands of the governor. The devil has a plan, but so does God. And God’s plan always prevails.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalms 26-28
One of David’s attributes which made him so precious to God was his humble, contrite spirit. “Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and heart.”(26:2). He truly wants his God to take a good look at him and his dedication. Only a pure heart would invite such scrutiny.
As the psalmist goes on to discuss his own faithfulness, he turns once again to the extraordinary faithfulness of God.” The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?” (27:1) Jehovah God is David’s rock, his strength, and his refuge.
As we scan these verses, it’s important to take a moment and ponder just what is being said. At times in our own lives, there may be disappointing issues which arise. When they do, we always have our God to turn to.
There have been times when I have been counseling someone and I would remind them of some of these verses. Even when their mother and father have forsaken them, “The Lord will take them up.”(27:10)
Or what about this? “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”(27:13)
Or “wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage.”(27:14)
Do you feel strengthened just reading these verses again? I do. Our God is faithful, and we are to look to Him for our answers. For our strength. For our protection.
As we meditate on the verses we need for the moment and we speak them into the atmosphere, our hearts are empowered to accomplish His will for us. These are strong, powerful words.
Acts 22
After Paul’s arrest, the commander of the Roman Cohort allows him to speak publicly to the Jews. This Roman doesn’t know what the commotion is all about. Why are these Jews so angry at this man?
Standing on the stairs, above the crowd, Paul shares his testimony in the Hebrew dialect. He is appealing to his Jewish brothers to understand his call. As he gives detail upon detail, Paul explains how he had been called into the ministry, and how the Lord had led him from that time.
When Paul gets to the part about taking the message of salvation to the Gentiles, the Jews go into a rage. They begin “crying out, throwing off their robes, and tossing dust into the air.”(V. 23) These men are ready to stone Paul. They think that he is trying to overthrow the Jewish heritage.
As always, however, Paul has the right answer. The Romans are caught up in the scene and are about to flog him when Paul invokes his right as a Roman citizen. (During those times, Roman citizens had special rights. Certainly they were not to be flogged before a formal accusation had been made).
The Holy Spirit brings to Paul’s mind the idea to claim his citizenship. When we need to have wisdom from God, we can have it. In Luke 12:12, Jesus says, “When you are brought before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, , do not become anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense, or what you should say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
That’s what we see happening with Paul. He suddenly remembers to claim his Roman citizenship, a fact which brings great respect from the authorities.
We can count on the Holy Spirit’s leading also. When we are in tough situations, we need to calm down and listen to Him. He will guide us also, as we listen and obey what He is telling us to do.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 23-25
Today we come to the most famous Psalm of all times – and for good reason. It’s a beautiful illustration of God’s love, mercy, and grace toward us.
So what does our God do for those who love Him? He brings a peace which cannot be explained. When we rely on Him to be our shepherd, he cares for us as a merciful shepherd cares for his sheep.
He provides all of our needs. He causes us to lie down in pastures of green grass, and beside still waters. Protected and well-cared for.
He leads us in the right paths, always providing direction and guidance.
Even when we go through hard times – the valley of the shadow of death – we don’t fear, because we know that His guidance and provision are still there. When we are in the presence of enemies, He prepares a table for us.
He anoints our head with oil, to heal any hurt, and to pour His grace upon our heads. Our cups overflow with our Father’s mercy and grace.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
If there is ever a time when you feel downcast and afraid, I suggest you go to this psalm and meditate. This is the truth – God’s plan and purpose. It doesn’t say that evil times will never come, but it says that God will take care of us through those times.
Just as our Father provided for David throughout the years of being hunted by Saul and persecuted by Absalom, He will treat us the same way. Our job is to believe Him and follow Him no matter what, always trusting in His mercy.
Acts 21:17-40
Paul will later say in one of his letters, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”(I Cor. 9:22). We see this in today’s reading.
The Jews are in consternation because they think Paul is forsaking their heritage. These Jews, who have spent their whole lives protecting the law, can’t understand what God is doing in this day. They are ready to stone Paul.
So Paul and his companions shave their heads and go through the Jewish process of purification – just to prove that they are not subversives.
However, that is not enough for some of the Jews. Some of the Asian Jews accuse Paul of allowing Gentiles into the temple, and they want to kill him. So they start beating him until they are stopped by the Roman commander.
In many parts of the world today, Christians are being persecuted by other religions. The devil hates God’s Son and His Word. He wants none to be saved by the blood of Jesus, so he tries to stop the gospel any way he can.
In the western world, Christians are not persecuted in the same way. However, many times Christians are mocked and misunderstood. Sometimes good and evil are confused so that Christians are accused of evil for believing what God has said.
Are we willing to be like Paul? Are we willing to be persecuted for the sake of the Word? Are we willing not to back down just because others misunderstand? The devil is trying to shut us all up. Will we let him?
The very ones who misunderstand are the ones who need to hear God’s Word. Not in a mean and abusive way, but with God’s love. They need to know of the One who died for them also.
Let’s take them that liberating Word. They will be forever grateful.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalm 21-22
Psalm 22 was quoted by Jesus on the cross. “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”(22:1) Many of those standing around thought He was feeling deserted by God, but I don’t think that was true. When Jesus spoke those words on the cross, He spoke Hebrew, and the translation stays in Hebrew. (The rest of the chapter is written in Greek). To the Jews, He was telling them that this Psalm was being fulfilled in their time.
“I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by men.”(22:6) When you see what was happening to Jesus on the cross, you see that this was happening. He was not only crucified, but He was mocked and jeered by those around Him.
“Dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evildoers has encompassed Me. They pierce My hands and My feet.”(22:16)
“They divide their garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”(22:18)
You can easily see these verses being fulfilled during the crucifixion.
At the end of the Psalm, however, we get to the good part. “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before the Lord.”(V.27).
“Posterity will serve Him; it will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that he has performed it.”(V.30-31)
This Psalm is clearly prophesying of a day when God’s covenant will be available to all. During the time of David, the Jewish mindset was on their own nation. They weren’t concerned with the “ends of the earth.” In fact, they were to stay away from those other nations.
Yet right in the middle of God’s first covenant, He was looking forward to the day when His people would come from nations all over the world. The New Covenant, to be cut through His Son Jesus, would make salvation available to all mankind.
So God would give a glimpse of the future to his prophets. (David operated in this gift from time to time). I wonder what he thought when some of these words would come forth. I’m sure that he would ponder them. He was speaking of a future time which no one from his era could totally understand.
God was just giving hints and clues so that we could recognize the day. There are lots more hints and clues concerning our time and God’s final wrap up of our era. For those who want to hear from Him, He gives understanding about things to come.
Acts 21: 1-26
We have watched Paul as he has encountered evil men, fleeing so that he would not be put in jail. Now, all of a sudden, he has a change of attitude. Many have warned Paul that he will be bound by the Jewish leaders when he gets to Jerusalem, but he’s determined to go. Even saying that he “is willing to die for the Name of the Lord.”(V.13)
Why this change? I think I know. Do you remember when Paul first had his encounter with Jesus and was blinded for three days? The Lord told Ananias to go to him and lay his hands upon him for his regaining of sight. The Lord said, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”(Acts 9:16).
I think that Paul had seen himself bound in Jerusalem and sent to Rome. The goal was to have the gospel preached even to the citizens of Rome, and the Lord was going to use this method to get him there.
So even though Paul had avoided being jailed in the other cities, he knew that this was to be God’s will for him. So he goes gladly, telling his friends to stop crying. He is ready for this newest aspect of his mission.
Paul has a purpose and he will fulfill it at any cost.
Are we willing to fulfill our purposes at any cost? I hope so.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Psalms 19-20
“Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the Name of our God.” (20:7) This verse could be used to summarize some of the problems with our modern church.
We are a rich generation. And when I say rich, I don’t mean just in financial entities, though those are certainly there. We are also rich in experiences and in knowledge. Medicine is more sophisticated than ever. Our understanding of the mind and how it works can help bring healing to the most desperate individuals. Technology has made it so that we can acquire knowledge on any possible subject. We are rich in many ways.
Yet the bottom side of this privilege is that we become self-reliant. We begin to think that we know it all and can do it all – without any help from our God. It is our God who has generated all of the inventions we enjoy. It is our God who has given men the intelligence to accomplish the many discoveries of our day.
So for us to “trust in chariots and horses,” instead of our God is really missing the mark.
We have come a long way, but there is always more. Our Father still knows more than we do and has more ability than we can imagine.
More importantly, only our God can change a heart or truly heal wounds of the past. Only our God can heal a broken marriage so that it is better than before. Only our God can deliver from drugs and alcohol completely and totally.
Only our God can fill the “God-shaped hole” on the inside of every man. Only God.
Acts 20:17-38
As Paul gets ready to leave Ephesus, he pours out his heart. The last time he was there, Paul had stayed with these people for three years – much longer than most places he went. They had become friends in the deepest way, and leaving them was very hard.
First of all, Paul has had prophecy which has forewarned that chains await him in Jerusalem, so he knows that he is about to encounter difficulties. He also knows that, just as in every place he has gone, “savage wolves” will come into the church, trying to lead the people astray from the gospel. Even men from within the flock will arise trying to pervert the gospel. Paul charges the overseers to be faithful in taking care of their own people.
As Paul laments all of these things, he gives the shepherds a charge to be faithful and departs – among many tears.
We have to remember that the church of Jesus Christ was new and extremely vulnerable in Paul’s day. Every where he went, there would be those who wanted to stomp out the gospel. They would be those sent by the devil to stop God’s move. With the fall of Adam, the devil had had great influence in the world. Through the blood of Jesus, men were rising up who could take authority over him and bind up his works.
The devil was not going down without a fight, so he continually tried to divide and conquer the small groups of believers left by Paul. He would bring false doctrine or strife into every place he could.
Sometimes the false doctrine would be attempts to bring the Greek mindset, with its many gods, into the picture. In other cases, the devil would stir up the Jews to fight against God’s redemptive plan. In a nutshell, the devil would stir it up any way that he could. His mission: in any way possible, stop God’s plan to disciple Christians in all of the world.
The devil knew that Christians, who had been empowered with God’s Holy Spirit, would be able to destroy his works in the earth. He had to stop them! So he tried everything he could.
But our God would not and will not be stopped. The love of Jesus Christ was being sent into all the world…and it still is.
