June 1—Psalm 37-40

‘The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way; when he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand”(37:23-24).

As believers, we are “interns of the invisible”. Disciples. Learners. Material people, being trained to walk in the Spirit.

Sometimes, in our training, we make mistakes. Sadly, old habits of thought and deed reassert themselves. The world and the flesh and the devil are constantly near. When we listen to the false counsel of these enemies, we stumble.

Trial and error is part of the Christ-curriculum. God could change it, but He doesn’t. He allows carefully monitored temptations to come. When we trip and fall, He is near to teach us. Even in our stumbling, grace is sufficient. Failure is not God’s plan. Growth is.

In Luke 22, Jesus says the same to Peter. “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat (a mysteriously Job-like prediction), but I have prayed for you (the Lord’s stays near us in our immaturity, interceding for us) that your faith fail not (the key factor in failure-recovery is faith. Our task, even in failure, is to look to God for the forgiveness and grace to begin again) and when you are turned again, strengthen your brothers”(31-32). Please note, it is through this trial that Jesus intends to change Peter. He does not prevent the difficulty. Christ uses it to teach him.

David knew the same spiritual truth. The stubborn love of God does not let go. Even when we trip, He holds our hand to prevent full disaster, then pulls us back up onto the road for the journey to continue.

Friend, do you love this great and loyal Teacher? Are you grateful for His tender mercies toward you? Will you rejoice today in His faithfulness that far exceeds any human love? Will you take His kindness deep into your heart? Will you repent and continue to grow in Christ-likeness?

“In school, you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you are given a test and it teaches you a lesson” (Tom Bodett).

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”(Romans 2:4).

June 1—Psalm 37-40

‘The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way; when he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand”(37:23-24).

As believers, we are “interns of the invisible”. Disciples. Learners. Material people, being trained to walk in the Spirit.

Sometimes, in our training, we make mistakes. Sadly, old habits of thought and deed reassert themselves. The world and the flesh and the devil are constantly near. When we listen to the false counsel of these enemies, we stumble.

Trial and error is part of the Christ-curriculum. God could change it, but He doesn’t. He allows carefully monitored temptations to come. When we trip and fall, He is near to teach us. Even in our stumbling, grace is sufficient. Failure is not God’s plan. Growth is.

In Luke 22, Jesus says the same to Peter. “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat (a mysteriously Job-like prediction), but I have prayed for you (the Lord’s stays near us in our immaturity, interceding for us) that your faith fail not (the key factor in failure-recovery is faith. Our task, even in failure, is to look to God for the forgiveness and grace to begin again) and when you are turned again, strengthen your brothers”(31-32). Please note, it is through this trial that Jesus intends to change Peter. He does not prevent the difficulty. Christ uses it to teach him.

David knew the same spiritual truth. The stubborn love of God does not let go, even we trip. He holds our hand to prevent full disaster, then pulls us back up onto the road for the journey to continue.

Friend, do you love this great and loyal Teacher? Are you grateful for His tender mercies toward you? Will you rejoice today in His faithfulness that far exceeds any human love? Will you take His kindness deep into your heart? Will you repent and continue to grow in Christ-likeness?

“In school, you are taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you are given a test and it teaches you a lesson” (Tom Bodett).

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”(Romans 2:4).

May 31–Psalm 32-36

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. . .the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together”(34:1-3).

Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” His prayer began with praise. The eyes of Christ were lifted up! The person who knows God will SEE His greatness and SPEAK it.

Witness is related to praise. Those who praise God (vertical communication) learn easily to tell others (horizontal communication) of God. Witness is simply our invitation for others to come and JOIN us in praise to God. Integrity here! Unless we praise, why should anyone listen to our testimony?

Psalm 34 was written after the events of 1 Samuel 21. David was in a dark place. Discouraged. Weary. Making poor decisions. In this time of great distress, David recovered enough to, “seek the Lord.” Doing so, he found guidance and deliverance.

Profoundly moved by God’s faithfulness to an undeserving son, He tells the story in a song and invites others who are “humble” (broken, defeated, needing God’s help) to hear and join the song.

Dear reader, are you discovering the power of praise? Do you know the inner renewal that comes from lifting your eyes to God’s greatness? Are you finding boldness to invite others to come and join the song? When my eyes are on me, my lips are silent. When my eyes are on God, praise rises from deep within.

“O Lord my God, when I, in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed; Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art! How great Thou art!” (Carl Boberg).

“The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God which made David dance” (C. S. Lewis).

May 30–Psalm 26-31

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. . .do not turn your face from me. Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord”(27:7,9,14).

There are two moods in Psalm 27. Likely, you have known both of them in your own life.

In v 1-6, David is confident and joyful. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” he sings in v. 1. He feels secure in Christ and grateful for the privilege to “behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple”(27:4).

In v 7, the mood shifts. Dramatically. Without warning, David is caught (again) in a moment of struggle and fear. “Hear me!” he cries to the Lord. “Don’t hide your face from me.” What was easy and comfortable yesterday, is now a discouraging struggle. Been there?

I’m grateful for David’s honest report (in a single psalm we see how quickly these moods cycle, even for him). I am encouraged by his prayer in v. 11. Use my struggles, Lord! Teach me about you! Do not deliver me to my enemies, and don’t let me miss the lessons contained in my difficulties!

In Hebrews 11:5, the bible warns us against “fainting” under the Lord’s discipline. It translates a word that means, “to let go, to grow weary, to give up”. In some ways quitting is the greatest danger of all. If I retreat when things are hard, if I allow my fickle heart to long for Egypt, I will never fully understand God’s love. Endurance is required.

In v. 14, David gives himself (and us) some powerful advice. WAIT for the Lord! Don’t panic! Wait! Be strong! Don’t complain or whine! Learn the skills of perseverance! Let your heart take courage! You don’t have to create the courage, just take what is available from the Spirit when it comes. “Those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength.”

“Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true. Keep me true, Lord Jesus, keep me true. There’s a race that must be run, there’s a victory to be won. Every hour, by Thy power, keep me true”(Gospel song, anonymous).

May 29–Psalm 20-25

“Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men encircle me; they have pierced my hands and my feet. . .They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing” (22:16,18).

Our Lord quoted this psalm on the cross. “My, God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (v. 1). Doing so, He claimed it as His own. Declared the words of David to be a prophesy of the cross.

Prophecy is a miracle. There is no natural, scientific explanation. Written 1000 years before the actual event, these words describe the events of Golgotha with soul-stilling precision. The piercing of his hands and feet. The indescribable thirst. Soldiers dividing garments, casting lots for clothing. Sarcastic enemies gathered around in ridicule. It is a supernaturally exact description of a future moment!

Was David aware, as he wrote these words, that he was seeing the future death of the Messiah? No one knows. Scholars debate, “prophetic consciousness.”

What is not debated is the historical reality of the cross, the foreknowledge of the Father, nor the courage of Christ as He faced His Father’s will. With great courage, in great pain, our Savior declared God’s holiness (v 3). “The obedient Son knows too well His Father’s goodness to let outward circumstances libel His character. There is no unrighteousness with God”(C. S. Spurgeon).

Friend, do you believe in prophesy? As you read this psalm today, will you open your heart to the strength and hope of it? The future is KNOWN to God. “He knows the way that I will take” (Job 23:10). Our infinitely wise God is aware of every challenge we ever face, prepared to guide us through it.

“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Holy Spirit within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow”(1 Peter 1:11).

May 28–Psalm 16-19

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy” (16:11).

It is a wonderful life! Borrowing the theme (if not the title) of the 1946 classic Christmas movie, David makes a public and passionate declaration. The joy and fulfillment people hunger for is available in God. There is a “path of life” and God offers it to all.

It is a life of surrender and community. A person comes to Christ in surrender and faith (16:1). He/she calls Jesus, “Lord” (16:2). Jesus is the decision maker, the direction-setter. Following Jesus, the believer also discovers dear friendships with others who know this same truth (16:3). In Him, we find a band of brothers. We belong to Him. We belong to each other.

It is a life of communication and counsel. David reports times (many) when he has gone to sleep with a problem on his mind and waked with clear direction. A dream? A certainty that came sub-consciously in the night? See v. 7. I have written sermons this way. Solved problems. God is at work even when we are asleep! He is competent in both the conscious and sub-conscious parts of my mind.

It is a life of spiritual priority and protection. “I have set the Lord continually before me,” reports David in 16:8. God is THE goal and ambition. He is our only passion. Even when conflicts and troubles come, we experience a rooted, stable strength. “The Lord is my rock,” says David in honest testimony. See 18:1.

It is a life of hope. David expresses trust for the events after death. Over the years of his life, David has known God’s guidance and help. He is confident that death will not, cannot, change his place in the heart of God. See v. 10.

Friend, do you hear the honest testimony of this godly man? Do you realize that everything he is describing is intended for everyone who comes to Christ in faith? This wonderful life is intended for you! For me!

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin).

“I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly”(John 10:10).

May 27–Psalm 9-15

“But the Lord abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, and He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.” (9:7-8).

It is proposal of truth. A truth claim. A statement of faith. David believes it. Proclaims it. God is a righteous judge. Life isn’t fair, but God is and, thus, life eventually will be.

Psalm 9 has an interesting sub-title. Muth-labben means “the death of a son”. The Chaldean translation of this text adds these words. “Concerning the death of the champion who went out between the camps.” If so, David wrote this psalm after the death of Goliath. McGee believes that the psalm is more likely a reference to the death of the first-born in Egypt in Exodus. Either way, David believes that God judges those who oppose Him. Renders a verdict against evil. Rewards righteousness.

It would be good for us to regain this confidence. In an “age of tolerance” the lines between good and evil are so blurred that we often can’t see. But, God can! The One who separated light from darkness (didn’t allow them to be mixed or confused as the same) does the same with the children of men. We can trust Him to do so. This confidence brings courage and hope.

When Paul preached to the Roman Governor, Felix, he displayed the same faith. His choice of subject was “righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come.” (Acts 24:25). It made Felix afraid, a reasonable response to this truth. Like David, Paul knew and preached that God is the One before whom all men will finally stand. David’s emphasis was on the judgment we see operating in time. Paul’s emphasis was on the judgment in the future. Either way, the faith statement is the same and the fact that “progressive believers” omit this part of the story doesn’t change it.

Friend, are you confident that the Lord will make things perfectly fair? Is He, by His very nature, a righteous judge?

“Wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”–1 Corinthians 4:5

May 26–Psalm 1-8

“How blessed is the man. . .(who) delights in the law of the Lord. . .The wicked are not so. . .(they) will not stand in the judgement. . .the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:1-2, 4-6).

It is not a popular idea. Not even very familiar, these days. God has enemies. Humans who reject Him, who ignore His authority. People toward whom He expresses wrath/righteous anger.

Good news! God also has friends. The true God is very partisan. Intensely loyal to His children.

We encounter this idea often in the Psalms. Psalm 1 speaks of God’s blessing on the man who delights in His word, who rejects the world’s counsel in favor of God’s truth. As an act of faith and faithfulness, this man meditates on God’s law, day and night. And, God blesses him! Makes him fruitful. Gives him endurance and strength. “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him,” says Hebrews 11.

Psalm 1 is equally honest in its description of the “wicked”. See also Psalm 2 for a portrayal of these men in their rejection of Christ’s authority. Note the Father’s calm, fair anger at such rebellious people! They will be blown away in the coming judgement.

Two kinds of people walk side by side in this world. Different attitudes toward God. Different relationships with God. Different outcomes from God.

“PEOPLE are basically good,” says the near universal narrative of this age. The scripture denies it, and never more clearly than in the Psalms. Only GOD is good. People are good only in a derivative sense, as we share His goodness by right relationship to Him.

“That I may gain Christ , and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which comes through faith in Christ”(Philippians 3:8-9).

Friend, do the Psalms encourage you? God has called us, a small and mighty army, out of the world into His friendship, out of judgement into blessing. May the Lord use these sweet, strong songs to restore our hearts to the privileges and duties of this path.

May 25–Job 38-42

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes”(42:5-6).

It did not go as Job expected. Never does. For 39 chapters Job demanded a meeting with God. When his request was granted, the conversation turned in a surprising direction.

Speaking from a whirlwind (tornado?), God answered questions from Job with questions for Job. Each one was a reminder of God’s greatness/Job’s relative insignificance. Each was an unnuanced challenge to Job’s presumption and lack of trust.

“Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place?”(38:12)

“Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?” (39:1)

To understand life one must finally see a GREAT and GOOD GOD who stands at the center of an intricate and beautiful universe. The size and scope of the cosmos testifies that none of us understand all things, and never will. The questions of God humbled Job, convicted him of arrogance, called him to trust.

Strange. God answered none of Job’s questions. Not directly. Didn’t even address them. Instead, He answered Job by giving him the deeper question that should have been the focus all along.

Someday, it will be so for all of us. We shall see Him and, in the light of His glory, we will see ourselves. When that day comes, our questions will be answered, too.

“When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came to the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end (God’s answer). . .Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”(Psalm 73:16-17,25-26).

” ‘Enough,’ said the judge. There was utter silence all round me. And now for the first time I knew what I had been doing. . . I had been reading it over and over. . .quick as I could, starting the first word again almost before the last was out of my mouth. And the voice I read it in was strange to my ears. There was given to me a certainty that this, at last, was my real voice. . . At last the judge spoke. ‘Are you answered?’ he said. ‘Yes,’ said I”( C. S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces).

May 24–Job 35-37

“Can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, the thundering of His pavilion? Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him. . .and commands it to strike the mark”(35:29-30,32).

As Elihu speaks, a storm gathers. You can sense it in his words, can almost hear it in the background. Take a moment and scan chapters 35-37. Circle every time cloud or rain or thunder or lightning is mentioned. Notice how these words increase in frequency as the skies darken and the wind begins to indicate a coming storm. In a very dramatic scene, Elihu’s words fade in significance as a larger voice begins to speak.

David is another man who heard God’s voice in a storm. “The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders!” he says in Psalm 29:3. “The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice”(Psalm 18:13).

What does a storm SAY? When the furious display of God’s power comes, what message is communicated?

A storm speaks of God’s power. If a storm is strong, the God who creates/controls it is even stronger.

A storm speaks of His anger. Not everything in a storm is benevolent. Our God is as fearful as He is good.

It speaks of our smallness. To stand in an open field in a storm is to feel vulnerable. Holly and I recently traveled west. The Grand Canyon, the Rockies, the vast stretches of Wyoming, all of it reminded me. I am very small compared to the vast power that created this magnificent world!

A storm also speaks of God’s provision. If a storm is dangerous, it is also necessary for life. We need rain. A gift from God.

Friend, when a storm comes do you hear God? Sense Him? Intuitively understand what He is saying?

For 37 chapters, Job has been calling for a meeting with God. Now, his request is granted. Riding on a storm, the Great God comes to have a conversation with his suffering friend. It will be a very humbling experience for Job.

A similar conversation is coming for each of us. “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ”(2 Corinthians 5:10). Someday, we will stand face to face with the Mighty God and have a conversation like the one described in Job.

God give us the wisdom to prepare! Every storm, every Scripture is the voice of God. He desires to be known and deserves our trust!