Key Verses: Psalm 138:2b, 139:23-24
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.
…Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 137 is the lament of some of the Jerusalem Temple musicians who were taken as slaves to Babylon. These words are very sad at the beginning, but suddenly their tone changes to anger and thoughts of future revenge. They did not have God’s love and forgiveness in their hearts.
Psalm 138 is David’s composition. Our first key verse teaches us that God’s Word is of highest value! This should be motivation enough to be consistent in our daily readings!
Psalm 139 is a profound theological statement. God is OMNISCIENT! (all knowing). God gave new and revolutionary understanding to David, his generation, and all future generations! God is OMNIPRESENT! (present everywhere). He is here so that we can, if we are willing, experience His presence 24/7!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, the man after Your own heart, David, wrote a prayer which I intend to pray now and often: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” I pray this in the Name of the One in Whom there is no wicked way, and Who, through my faith in Him, leads me in the way of everlasting life! That’s Jesus only! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
While I don’t know the tune to which David’s chief musician sung the words of Psalm 139, I do know by heart a magnificent modern hymn which I’m going to look for on Google right now….I’ve just been worshipping God with “Carmen,” one of my favourite singers. Not only does he sing the prayer from Psalm 139, but his medley includes the hymn “I Surrender All,” and he has led me into a new commitment to God for this new day (click here for Carmen). I encourage taking time now to pray and worship!
Yours for God’s work in our lives and for our worship of God!!!
David
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Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Posted on November 7, 2017
Comments14
MERCY FOREVER
Today’s Reading: Psalms 135-136
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Parthenon is a temple on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron deity. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. Unique to the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and King David was that, unlike pagan gods. It could not be said of them that their “Mercy endures forever.”
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalms 135:13, 136:4
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.
…To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever!
Both Psalms in today’s reading refer to the final and decisive plague on the Egyptians which resulted in freedom for their slaves, the Israelite people (Exodus 12:29-36). This is a high price to pay for the freedom of the slaves in Egypt, but I’ve just finished reading a book on the American Civil War, fought for the cause of freeing the slaves. The Americans paid a much higher price in the death of their sons for a similar cause.
(1) We learn here that God’s gifts and miracles arise from His love!
(2) God protects and cares for His loved ones!
(3) We eat and drink today because God loves us!
It’s no wonder that the psalmist repeats 26 times, “His mercy endures forever!”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I’ve just read many reasons as to why I should be thankful! Your Word tells me that Your “Goodness leads …. to repentance!” I pray that this will always be so in my life! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Over the years I’ve often said that the most repeated verse in the Bible is, “His mercy endures forever.” Another very important verse from God’s Word is, “Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved!” (Romans 10:13). We should never forget 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I have found that many more people struggle with having assurance of salvation than there are those who take God at His Word and rest in the assurance of “His mercy.” This is the result of a lack of emphasis on God’s grace and His unconditional love! I’ve just read Psalm 136 out loud. I dare anyone to join me in this exercise and still doubt God’s mercy and forgiveness!
Yours for the full assurance of the Presence in our lives of our Saviour and Lord!
David
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