New King – Same Old Story

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, 16 and the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king.” Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire and died, 19 because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.

25 Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins that he made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28 And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place. – 1 Kings 16:15-28 ESV

Zimri’s time in the spotlight was short-lived. This former chariot commander in Israel’s army had murdered King Elah and declared himself the new sovereign over the ten tribes of the northern kingdom. But his reign would last only seven days. Word of his seemingly successful coup attempt reached his fellow soldiers, who were encamped against the Philistines at a place called Gibbethon. Upon hearing of King Elah’s death, the troops threw their support behind Omri, who was the commander of the armies of Israel. They rejected Zimri’s claim to be king and, instead, nominated his superior officer as the obvious choice to replace Elah. Zimri may have caused the vacancy on the throne, but Omri would be the one to fill it.

Within days of seizing the throne from Elah and having secured his victory by liquidating every member of the king’s household, Zimri was safely ensconced in Tirzah, the former king’s capital. But one day he woke up to find that the city was being besieged, not by Philistines or some other foreign power, but by Omri and the rest of the Israelite army. Just seven days into his reign, Zimri had managed to instigate a civil war for which he was both outmanned and unprepared. Stealing the throne had been easy, but retaining it was going to be far more complicated than he could have imagined.

Recognizing the futility of the situation, Zimri chose to take his own life rather than surrender. He knew that Omri would order his execution for the murder of Elah, and he likely knew Omri had his own kingly aspirations. So, Zimri locked himself in the citadel of the king’s palace and burned the entire structure to the ground. In doing so, he controlled his own fate and managed to rob Omri of a palace from which to rule. If he couldn’t sit on the throne in Tirzah, neither would Omri.

But the author makes it clear that while Zimri had taken his own life, it had still been a case of divine judgment for his sins against God.

…he, too, had done what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. – 1 Kings 16:19 NLT

When Zimri had entered Tirzah just days earlier, any thought of suicide would have been the last thing to enter his mind. He was focused on the future and dreaming of his newfound power and prestige. After all, he was the self-made king, the supreme ruler over all of Israel. As he sat on his throne in Tirzah, his mind would have been filled with thoughts of success and not suicide. But had he read the proverbs collected by Israel’s former king, Solomon, he would have understood that his plans were irrelevant if they stood in opposition to the will of God.

You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. – Proverbs 19:21 NLT

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:9 NLT

Zimri had plans for greatness, but he died in the smoldering rubble of the palace he had stolen through deceit and treachery. God had used this ambitious and self-consumed man to punish Elah for his wickedness, but He would not allow Zimri to benefit from his actions. His reign lasted exactly one week, then ended as quickly as it had begun.

But the sad state of affairs in Israel was far from over. While Omri had managed to seize the capital and secure the crown for himself, the nation was about to enter a time of division and disunity. Just as God had split Solomon’s kingdom in half, Omri would find himself ruling over a divided nation.

But now the people of Israel were split into two factions. Half the people tried to make Tibni son of Ginath their king, while the other half supported Omri. – 1 Kings 16:21 NLT

When Omri received the news that Zimri had killed King Elah, he had been leading his troops against the Philistines, the dreaded enemies of Israel. But now, as the king of Israel, he found himself going to war against his own people. A civil war had broken out, and Omni was forced to lead his troops in battle against the supporters of his rival, Tibni. The nation was divided, and rather than throwing their collective allegiance behind God Almighty, they chose sides and put their hopes in two extremely flawed and fallible men.

Omri eventually defeated Tibni and his forces, securing his place as the king of Israel. Half of the dozen years he ruled over Israel were spent in Tirzah, the former capital of King Elah. But Omri dreamed of establishing his own royal city from which to rule over the ten tribes of Israel. So, he found a favorable spot just west of Tirzah and purchased the land from a man named Shemer. In time, he built a fortified palace on the elevated portion of the land and named his new capital Samaria.

While the author doesn’t seem to treat this change in the location of the capital city with much importance, his mention of it is meant to foreshadow things to come. Omri would end up establishing a dynasty that would rule over Israel for an extended period of time. His newly established capital would become the focal point for Israel’s continuing spiritual decline and the epicenter of the nation’s eventual destruction.

The author chooses to summarize Omri’s 12-year reign in less-than-flattering terms.

Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him. – 1 Kings 16:25 ESV

Israel had a new king and a brand new capital, but they continued to suffer from the same old problem. Omri, like Jeroboam and Nadab before him, failed to use his divinely ordained power as king to lead the people back to God. Instead, he fostered the spirit of spiritual adultery and apostasy. Under his leadership, “the people provoked the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols” (1 Kings 16:21 NLT). 

On paper, Omri proved to be a highly accomplished and effective king. His 12 years on the throne of Israel were marked by military victories and peace negotiations with the enemies of Israel. He defeated the Moabites and brokered a treaty with Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon, and this last act would prove to have long-lasting implications. As part of the treaty negotiations, Omri approved a marriage alliance between his son, Ahab, and Ethbaal’s daughter, Jezebel, and those two names will come up again.

While Omri appeared to be having success, he was actually operating outside the revealed will of God. His decisions were made without divine input and in direct violation of God’s commands. Hundreds of years earlier, Moses had warned the people of Israel about their interactions with the nations living in the land of Canaan.

When the LORD your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you. – Deuteronomy 7:2-4 NLT

Like his predecessors, Omri was doing things according to his own plan. But as the proverbs warn, “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21 NLT). Omri’s ambitions to expand his kingdom at any cost would actually lead to the eventual fall of the nation. In his hopes of building Israel into a formidable force in the region, he was actually contributing to its downfall. His refusal to shepherd the people of God back to the fold of God would eventually result in their destruction at the hands of God.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Sovereignty and Responsibility

1 And the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, 2 “Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, 3 behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 4 Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

5 Now the rest of the acts of Baasha and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 6 And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place. 7 Moreover, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it. – 1 Kings 16:1-7 ESV

The back-and-forth nature of the author’s writing style can make it challenging to keep up with all that is going on. One minute, he’s writing about the king of Judah, then he quickly shifts the narrative to focus on the king of Israel. But his side-by-side comparison of the two kingdoms allows him to track the spiritual trajectory of the two nations simultaneously, providing a comparative analysis of their faithfulness and ultimate fate. Though the nations are divided, they tend to follow eerily similar paths.

With the opening of Chapter 16, the narrative shifts back to the northern kingdom of Israel, where Baasha reigned as king. It’s important to note that this man was not of the royal lineage of Jeroboam. He was a usurper to the throne who had conspired to assassinate Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, who had become the king after his father’s death. Nadab’s reign had only lasted two years, but he managed to establish a reputation for wickedness that rivaled that of his father.

He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. – 1 Kings 15:26 ESV

But his death at the hands of Baasha was not a result of his own sin, but because of the actions taken by his father, Jeroboam. When God divided the kingdom of Solomon, He awarded the ten tribes in the north to Jeroboam, making him king over what would become known as the nation of Israel. But in response to this undeserved promotion, Jeroboam made the unwise decision to solidify his kingship by creating his own religion, complete with his own false gods and pseudo-priesthood. This resulted in the people of Israel turning their backs on God, and Jeroboam’s foolish decision brought down the wrath of God, who delivered a prophetic message of judgment upon his entire household.

“…you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone.” – 1 Kings 14:9-10 ESV

Upon Jeroboam’s death, his son Nadab ascended to the throne. But, as stated earlier, his reign was short-lived. Two years into his reign, God raised up Baasha, “the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar” (1 Kings 15:27 ESV). Seemingly out of nowhere, this man appeared on the scene and led a successful coup that resulted in the death of Jeroboam’s heir and son, Nadab. But Baasha, in an attempt to secure his newfound reign, ordered the annihilation of Jeroboam’s entire family.

…as soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. It was for the sins of Jeroboam that he sinned and that he made Israel to sin, and because of the anger to which he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel. – 1 Kings 15:29-30 ESV

Everything that Baasha did was in fulfillment of the word of God spoken through Ahijah the prophet. He was used by God to deliver divine judgment on Jeroboam and his entire household. He was an instrument in the hands of a holy and righteous God, meting out divine justice upon the guilty and purging Israel of its wickedness. But Baasha seems to have been oblivious to God’s role in his meteoric rags-to-riches ascent to the throne of Israel. He saw himself as a self-made man who had asserted his own will and paved the way to his own success.

It’s not difficult to recognize the pattern of autonomy and self-assured independence that shows up in all these stories. The kings of Israel and Judah all seemed to have shared the same inflated sense of self-worth and overconfidence. As soon as they ascended to the throne, it was as if all the newfound power and prestige went to their heads. They got cocky, became self-reliant, and left God out of the picture.

Baasha was no different. This obscure individual from the small tribe of Issachar had, overnight, become the most powerful man in all of Israel. But rather than recognize his rapid ascent to the throne as the handiwork of God, he pridefully assumed it had all been his doing. In the book of 1 Chronicles, there is an interesting statement regarding the tribe of Issachar. It says that it was made up of “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32 ESV). This could indicate that they shared a unique capacity for discernment that allowed them to take advantage of any opportunity to further the well-being of their tribe. Baasha seems to fit this description. He was a pragmatist who had seen an opportunity to improve his lot in life and seized it. But he made the grave mistake of failing to honor God, and he would pay dearly for it.

God sent yet another prophet with a message of judgment to the overly self-confident Baasha, warning him that, because he had followed the example of Jeroboam, he would suffer the same fate as Jeroboam.

“Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins, behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.” – 1 Kings 16:2-3 ESV

Baasha had been used by God to wipe out the wicked dynasty of Jeroboam, but rather than call the nation of Israel back to God, he led them into further idolatry and unfaithfulness. Both Jeroboam and Baasha had been given God-ordained opportunities to do the right thing. Jeroboam had been gifted with the responsibility of ruling over the ten northern tribes. His moment in the sun had been the direct result of Solomon’s unfaithfulness to God. But rather than learn from Solomon’s mistakes, Jeroboam unwisely repeated them.

The same was true of Baasha. God used him to enact His judgment upon Jeroboam and his equally wicked son. But rather than recognizing the hand of God and worshiping Him accordingly, Baasha took credit for his success. He refused to acknowledge God and, instead, chose to continue the wicked practices of the very man God had sent him to replace. So, he would face a similar fate. But, according to Chapter 15, Baasha would remain on the throne for 24 years. From a human perspective, it would appear as if his decisions produced more-than-favorable results. But Chapter 15 also indicates that “He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 15:34 ESV). Those 24 years were filled with further acts of wickedness and rebellion against God. So, while the ten tribes of Israel had a new king, they were stuck in the same old rut, continuing to live their lives in open rebellion against God.

But the story of Baasha ends on a sad note. He was given a chance to redeem and restore the nation of Israel, but refused to do so. As a result, he too suffered the judgment of God. The author makes it clear that Baasha’s punishment at the hands of God was due to two factors. One reason is that he “had done what was evil in the LORD’s sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done)” and “also because Baasha had destroyed the family of Jeroboam” (1 Kings 16:7 NLT). Not only would Baasha have to atone for his sin of leading the people into further idolatry and apostasy, but he would be held accountable for his role in Nadab’s death and the destruction of the house of Jeroboam.

From a human point of view, this last point may appear unjust and unfair. After all, God had chosen to use Baasha as His instrument of judgment upon Jeroboam. So, why would he be held responsible for what was clearly a God-ordained and divinely sanctioned action? But the Scriptures are full of other incidents when God chose to use an individual or a nation to enact His judgment, but then held them culpable for their actions.

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet records the words of God spoken against the nation of Babylon. They would be responsible for the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. But the prophet clearly states, “Babylon has been a gold cup in the LORD’s hands, a cup that made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank Babylon’s wine, and it drove them all mad” (Jeremiah 51:7 NLT). In other words, they were being used by God to accomplish His divine will. But, at the same time, God would hold them accountable for their role.

“Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves!
    Don’t get trapped in her punishment!
It is the LORD’s time for vengeance;
    he will repay her in full.” – Jeremiah 51:6 NLT

The Babylonians did what they did willingly and eagerly. They were used by God to accomplish His will, but everything they did was according to their own wishes. That is why God warns of coming judgment against them because their actions were still considered a sin against Him.

“Yes, prepare to attack Babylon,
    all you surrounding nations.
Let your archers shoot at her; spare no arrows.
    For she has sinned against the LORD.” – Jeremiah 50:14 NLT

While God’s sovereignty and man’s free will are difficult to reconcile, in the end, we must rest in the knowledge that God is not only in control of all things, but he is righteous and just in all that He does. Baasha had been used by God to bring judgment upon the house of Jeroboam, but Baasha would be held accountable by God for his actions. Why? Because Baasha did what he did of his own free will. He had not been an unwilling or helpless actor in the divine drama. And while his actions accomplished the divinely sanctioned will of God, he would not get a free pass from suffering the consequences.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Sad, But Sovereign State of Affairs

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.

21 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and went home again, according to the word of the LORD. – 1 Kings 12:16-24 ESV

Reigning over the 12 tribes of Israel had never been an easy task. Even the great King David found it difficult to win over the allegiance of all the tribes when he first ascended to the throne. After the death of King Saul, David’s own tribe of Judah immediately crowned him as their king, but the rest of the tribes anointed Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth, as their king. This included Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel (2 Samuel 2:9). For seven and a half years, David reigned over the tribe of Judah, while the rest of the tribes gave their allegiance to Ish-bosheth. However, eventually, these two factions ended up fighting against one another.

There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. – 2 Samuel 3:1 ESV

After a long and protracted struggle, Ish-bosheth was assassinated by two of his own soldiers, leaving the 11 tribes of Israel in a state of disarray. Eventually, they settled their dispute with Judah and agreed to accept David as their king.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. – 2 Samuel 5:3-5 ESV

Each of these tribes was characterized by a strong, independent streak and a natural desire for autonomy. While they had all demanded that Samuel the prophet appoint a king over them, they would have each preferred that he choose a man from their own particular tribe. This strong tribal allegiance made it difficult for any of Israel’s kings to rule without experiencing some form of unrest or dissatisfaction from the various clans. Ruling over this confederation of 12 tribes required diplomacy and humility. No king could expect to manage this diverse conglomeration of autonomous people groups through intimidation or brute force.

Yet, here was Rehoboam, the new king of Israel, attempting to do just that. Having heard the request of his people that he rescind some of his father’s more abusive policies, Rehoboam ignored their plea and threatened them with even worse conditions.

“My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!” – 1 Kings 12:14 NLT

Emboldened by the foolish counsel of his inexperienced peers, Rehoboam had decided that intimidation was better than negotiation. He stubbornly refused to make any concessions and, in doing so, he ended up alienating ten of the 12 tribes of Israel. In just a matter of minutes, Rehoboam managed to destroy the kingdom his father and grandfather had spent 80 years building.

When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,

“Down with the dynasty of David!
    We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
Back to your homes, O Israel!
    Look out for your own house, O David!”

So the people of Israel returned home. – 1 Kings 12:16 NLT

Centuries later, Jesus would make a statement that powerfully illustrates the folly of Rehoboam’s decision: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25 ESV). In a single act, fueled by youthful pride and arrogance, Rehoboam managed to destroy one of the greatest nations on the face of the earth.

The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy. Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon’s subjects throughout his lifetime. – 1 Kings 4:20-21 NLT

Rehoboam had inherited his father’s wealth, crown, and vast domain, but it seems that his father’s wisdom had been non-transferable. He was operating in ignorance and determined to do things his own way, and he would learn the painful lesson from one of the many proverbs his father had collected.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. – Proverbs 14:12 ESV

This stubborn young man refused to believe that his kingdom was lost. In a futile effort to quell what he saw as an insurrection, “Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death” (1 Kings 12:18 NLT). Rehoboam quickly discovered that he was a king with a much-diminished kingdom. He had lost control over the entire northern region of the nation and was left with nothing but the land belonging to the tribe of Judah as his domain. The author of 1 Kings ensures that his audience understands the gravity of the situation.

And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David. – 1 Kings 12:19 NLT

This was not a temporary setback, but a permanent realignment of the nation of Israel's political, civil, and religious fortunes. What happened that day would have long-term implications for all 12 tribes. And, as the author points out, this entire scenario played out according to the sovereign will of God; it had all been His doing. Yes, Rehoboam had played his part, alienating his fellow Israelites by refusing to listen to their calls for justice. But God had already warned that this was going to happen. It was His judgment against Solomon for his sin and rebellion.

The LORD was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the LORD’s command. So now the LORD said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.” – 1 Kings 11:9-11 NLT

This had all been God’s will. Yet, Rehoboam continued to stubbornly refuse to accept his fate. In a last-ditch effort to restore his kingdom, he assembled an army of 180,000 men from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin with the intent to fight a civil war against his own people. But God graciously intervened.

“Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, ‘Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’” – 1 Kings 12:23-24 NLT

Rehoboam would not be able to thwart God's will. The die had been cast, and the outcome was set in stone. The nation was divided, and no one could restore it to its former glory. The rest of the book of 1 Kings chronicles the somewhat sordid history of the divided nation of Israel. Virtually overnight, what had once been a rich and powerful kingdom was reduced to a shadow of its former glory. The ten tribes in the north became the nation of Israel, while Judah eventually joined forces with the tribe of Benjamin to form the nation of Judah.

These two nations would not only find themselves constantly at odds with one another, but also with God. The unfaithfulness displayed by Solomon would continue on both sides of the border that separated these two nations. For generations to come, the people whom God had chosen would choose to disobey and dishonor Him. Yet, throughout it all, He would continue to display His love and grace, sending His prophets to call His people to repent and return. Despite their unfaithfulness, He would remain faithful.

To his credit, Rehoboam listened to the words of Shemaiah, the man of God. This prophet delivered a message from Yahweh forbidding Rehoboam from using his 180,000 chosen warriors to attack the newly formed house of Israel. This prideful young king had demonstrated a propensity for acting impulsively and unwisely, but, in this case, he heeded the prophet’s warning and obeyed the command of Yahweh. Peace reigned because God intervened. But, as the text reveals, “to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David” (1 Kings 12:19 NLT). 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Passing the Buck

1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.” – 1 Kings 2:1-9 ESV

The text provides no indication as to how long David lived after Solomon was crowned king. But the book of 1st Chronicles seems to indicate that as long as David remained alive, the two of them served as co-regents.

And again they crowned David’s son Solomon as their new king. They anointed him before the Lord as their leader, and they anointed Zadok as priest. So Solomon took the throne of the Lord in place of his father, David, and he succeeded in everything, and all Israel obeyed him. All the officials, the warriors, and the sons of King David pledged their loyalty to King Solomon. And the Lord exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and he gave Solomon greater royal splendor than any king in Israel before him.

So David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. He reigned over Israel for forty years, seven of them in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died at a ripe old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. Then his son Solomon ruled in his place. – 1 Chronicles 29:22-28 NLT

As long as David lived, Solomon acted in more of a ceremonial capacity, sitting on the throne and serving as the titular head of state. Officially, his father remained the true king of Israel, providing Solomon with counsel and maintaining a final say in the kingdom's affairs.

“The exact relationship between David and Solomon during the period of coregency is not made clear. Normally in such coregencies, the father remained in supreme command as long as he lived, with the son more or less carrying out his directives. This probably was true with David and Solomon also, though the fact that David was bedridden during this time suggests such an arrangement may have been more theoretical than actual.” – Leon J. Wood, Israel’s United Monarchy

With David's eventual death, Solomon would assume all the power and authority associated with his title as king. So, when David recognized that his death was near, he called for his son so that he might give him some final words of instructions. This would be his last chance to advise Solomon and to pass on a few last-minute requests regarding some unfinished business within the kingdom.

First, David encouraged his son to “keep the charge of the LORD your God” (1 Kings 2:3 ESV). He wanted Solomon to remember that his role as the king had been assigned to him by God. It was a divine appointment and was to be treated with the requisite awe, reverence, and obedience that such a responsibility deserved. Solomon was not to take his new power and authority lightly or use it in a self-serving manner. The key to his success would be his faithful adherence to the law of Moses. So, David challenged his young son to “Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go” (1 Kings 2:3 NLT).

From his own experience, David knew that faithful adherence to God’s law was a non-negotiable requirement for the man who would rule over God’s people. Solomon would need to be a man who knew and obeyed the laws of Yahweh, setting an example for all those under his care. As the king went, so would the people go. He would need to provide a powerful example of moral, ethical, and spiritual integrity, operating according to all of God’s statutes, commandments, rules, and testimonies.

David knew that Solomon had the hand of God on his life because he had been given an assurance from God that his son would have a long and prosperous reign.

“Furthermore, the LORD declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:11-16 NLT

But David was also intimately familiar with all the temptations that came with the throne's power and prestige. Solomon was just a young man, and, if he was not careful, he could find himself intoxicated by all the fame, notoriety, wealth, and power that came with the crown. Kings were worshiped and revered. Kings were feared and fawned over. But David wanted his son to understand that he ruled at the behest of God Almighty. His reign had been made possible by the sovereign God of the universe.

And like any good father, David longed for his son to experience the blessings of God on his life. So, he shared with Solomon a promise that God had given him.

“If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.” – 1 Kings 2:4 NLT

At this point, David’s death-bed discussion with Solomon takes a slightly abrupt and unexpected turn. He suddenly transitions from talking about faithful adherence to God’s law and begins giving Solomon a strange “to-do list” containing a few unfinished items of official business. In a sense, David passed the buck and assigned to his son some rather distasteful duties he had chosen to shirk during his own reign.

First, he ordered Solomon to punish Joab for two murders he had committed. Joab had a track record of disobedience. On two separate occasions, while serving as the military commander over David’s forces, he had acted independently from David’s orders, putting two men to death without the king's orders. The first was Abner (2 Samuel 3), and the second was Amasa (2 Samuel 20). In both instances, Joab deserved to die for his actions. But David had chosen to do nothing. Now, after years had passed and David was preparing to die, he passed off this distasteful responsibility to his son.

And David was not done. He also assigned Solomon the task of paying back a man named Shimei. His story is recorded in 2 Samuel 16. This man made the mistake of cursing David as he fled from Jerusalem after Absalom had taken over his throne.

As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. “Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. “The LORD is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” – 2 Samuel 16:5-8 NLT

When David had been restored to his throne, he chose to do nothing to repay Shimei for his actions. Now, he was expecting Solomon to clean up the mess and mete out justice on his behalf.

But David had different instructions concerning Barzillai, an individual who had chosen to show David mercy by providing him and his companions with food as they fled the city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17:27-29).

“Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead. Make them permanent guests at your table, for they took care of me when I fled from your brother Absalom.” – 1 Kings 2:7 NLT

David was expecting his son to take care of his unfinished business. For whatever reason, he had chosen to allow two of these men to go unpunished for their actions. But, seemingly motivated by revenge, David gave his son strict instructions to pay them back for their crimes. It seems that David wanted to die in peace, knowing that his enemies would be dealt with properly, but he wanted no blood on his hands. He would leave the unpleasant task of executing the guilty to his young son, Solomon. David, the great king of Israel, had shirked his responsibilities and was now expecting someone else to clean up the mess he was leaving behind. He probably knew these men could pose a threat to his son’s kingdom, so he recommended their elimination. But had he done his job, none of these would have been necessary.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Beyond Compare

Of David.

1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
    who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples under me.

3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
    or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath;
    his days are like a passing shadow.

5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down!
    Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
    send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high;
    rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
    from the hand of foreigners,
8 whose mouths speak lies
    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God;
    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10 who gives victory to kings,
    who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me
    from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
    and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 May our sons in their youth
    be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
    cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
    providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
    and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
    suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
    Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD! – Psalm 144:1-15 ESV

Perspective can be an elusive thing. It is easy to have a one-dimensional view of life and its surrounding circumstances. We can end up seeing things from our point of view and lose sight of reality, easily viewing ourselves as somehow special, our talents as genuinely unique, and our inherent value as greater than it really is.

For David, God provided a different and more accurate perspective on life. He found Yahweh to be the central focus of all life and meaning. He was the creator and sustainer of life. The world exists for Him and not the other way around. He was the one who conceived the idea of humanity and then brought it to life. David was blown away that this all-powerful God would even bother to waste a single second dealing with the likes of men. The Message paraphrases verse three quite clearly and frankly: “I wonder why you care, GOD – why do you bother with us at all?”

This psalm is an amalgam of thoughts borrowed from other psalms written by David, including Psalm 18. He begins with a series of one-word descriptions that reflect his experience with Yahweh. He refers to Yahweh as his rock, ally, fortress, tower, rescuer, shield, and refuge. Each of these terms carries a military connotation, revealing David’s background as a warrior and king. In his experience, he has found Yahweh to be a powerful ally and reliable source of safety, security, and strength. 

As David surveyed his life, he could recount the many ways Yahweh had not only prepared him for the conflicts of life, but had also protected and preserved him in the midst of them. Yahweh served as David's instructor, training him for battle and equipping him with the skills he would need to gain the upper hand over his enemies. However, when things didn't go quite the way David expected, he found Yahweh to be a source of comfort and refuge —a place to regroup and recover for the fight ahead. Yahweh was like a strong tower or fortress that David could return to when the battle took a turn for the worse. 

David found the thought of Yahweh's intimate interactions with him to be unfathomable. He was grateful but legitimately perplexed that the God of the universe would waste any time thinking about him. 

Man is like a breath;
    his days are like a passing shadow. – Psalm 144:4 ESV 

“O LORD, make me know my end
    and what is the measure of my days;
    let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
    and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! – Psalm 39:4-5 ESV

As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more. – Psalm 103:15-16 ESV

David had a healthy perspective of life because he had an accurate view of God. He understood the greatness of God and the pitifully powerless condition of man. This king, who ruled over a rapidly expanding nation, did not allow his victories and vast empire to go to his head. When compared with Yahweh, he was nothing, and his kingdom was impotent and unimpressive when likened to the heavenly domain of the Almighty. David could muster human forces to fight his battles, but Yahweh was equipped with supernatural resources that no physical army could stand against.

Open the heavens, Lord, and come down.
    Touch the mountains so they billow smoke.
Hurl your lightning bolts and scatter your enemies!
    Shoot your arrows and confuse them!
Reach down from heaven and rescue me… – Psalm 144:5-7 NLT

David could look back over his life and see the evidence of Yahweh's handiwork. There were so many instances David could recall where Yahweh had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Losing battles had been transformed into triumphant celebrations because Yahweh had shown up at just the right time and done what only He could do. These unexpected outcomes led David to praise Yahweh.

I will sing a new song to you, O God!
    I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp.
For you grant victory to kings!
    You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword. – Psalm 144:9-10 NLT

And these past victories led David to pray for more of the same in the future.  

Save me!
    Rescue me from the power of my enemies. – Psalm 144:11 NLT

David lived dependent on God — gladly and willingly. He viewed God as his rock, his source of stability and strength. He saw God as his personal trainer and reliable ally. When David ran into trouble, Yahweh was who David ran to for help, hope, and healing. He didn’t become too full of himself or let his position, possessions, or power distort his perspective on life. He knew he needed Yahweh at all times and in every way. His strength came from Yahweh. His victories were due to Yahweh. His rescue from trouble was totally up to Yahweh. His success or failure was in Yahweh’s hands. His present prosperity and future posterity were up to Yahweh. Which is why he could say, “Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:15 NLT).

Living with a clear perspective of life and Yahweh's role in it is essential to experiencing joy. When we understand who God is, we will gladly place our hope on Him, and refuse to see ourselves as more than what we are — mere mortals. A God-focused perspective can bring peace even amid difficulty, hope in the face of heartache, and confidence even when surrounded by confusion and chaos. A healthy perspective of God gives us a healthy view of life.

David closed his psalm with a hopeful and heartfelt prayer that reflects his understanding of Yahweh's supremacy and man’s dependency. David understood that life on this planet was a gracious gift from God and that any hope of future blessings, fruitfulness, victory, or peace came from Him alone. 

May our sons flourish in their youth
    like well-nurtured plants.
May our daughters be like graceful pillars,
    carved to beautify a palace.
May our barns be filled
    with crops of every kind.
May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands,
    even tens of thousands,
    and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.
May there be no enemy breaking through our walls,
    no going into captivity,
    no cries of alarm in our town squares. – Psalm 144:12-14 NLT

Father, it is amazing that You, the God of the universe, would take time to even think about me, a mere man. But You do. You created me, care for me, sent Your Son to die for me, and You have a plan that includes me. You are great, powerful, holy, sinless, righteous, and yet You choose to care for me. Thank You! Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Longing For God's Presence, Not Just Deliverance

A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O LORD!
    My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
    I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant. – Psalm 143:1-12 ESV

In this penitential psalm, David juxtaposes Yahweh’s righteousness with his own, and concludes there is no comparison. He states, “No one living is righteous before you” (Psalm 142:1 ESV), a conclusion he reached in a previous psalm.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,
    who seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
    there is none who does good,
    not even one. – Psalm 14:2-3 ESV

This sentiment regarding man's unrighteous status before God was picked up by David's son, Solomon, who included it in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. – Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV

The prophets would also echo this theme, doing so with the full authority and backing of Yahweh. 

We are all infected and impure with sin.
    When we display our righteous deeds,
    they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
    and our sins sweep us away like the wind. – Issaiah 64:6 NLT

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?” – Jeremiah 17:9 NLT

This rather bleak assessment of humanity’s moral state did not depress David; it provided him with a much-needed reminder of his inadequacy and insufficiency in comparison to Yahweh's spiritual superiority and sovereignty. David needed Yahweh, not the other way around. He knew he brought nothing of value to the relationship, but was utterly dependent upon Yahweh's mercy, grace, and favor. 

It is unclear when this psalm was written, but it contains not-so-subtle hints. David's reference to being chased and forced “to live in darkness like those in the grave” (Psalm 143:3 NLT) points to the years he spent running from Saul and hiding in caves in the Judean wilderness. In those moments of distress, as he lay in the darkened recesses of his remote hideaway, David reflected on the stories of Yahweh's deliverance of His covenant people. 

I remember the days of old.
    I ponder all your great works
    and think about what you have done. – Psalm 143:5 NLT

His recounting of those stories from Israel's past reminded him that Yahweh was faithful and righteous. Despite Israel’s disobedience and unfaithfulness, Yahweh remained committed to His covenant promises. He would not abandon or give up on them, a point that David took to heart and used to motivate his prayer life.

I lift my hands to you in prayer.
    I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.  – Psalm 143:6 NLT

David goes on to express his belief that Yahweh will not only hear his prayer but respond.

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust. – Psalm 143:8 ESV

Years later, the prophet Jeremiah, while suffering his own crisis of faith, would remind himself of Yahweh's faithful, never-failing love.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.” – Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV

David and Jeremiah both put their trust in Yahweh. They believed He would come through in the end, and while they prayed for deliverance from their difficulties, they recognized that their suffering was a means of getting to know Yahweh better. David put it this way:

Rescue me from my enemies, LORD;
    I run to you to hide me.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God. – Psalm 143:9-10 NLT 

Jeremiah shared David's belief that suffering was a tool Yahweh used to teach His people to trust Him. 

For no one is abandoned
    by the LORD forever.
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
    because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
For he does not enjoy hurting people
    or causing them sorrow. – Lamentations 3:31-33 NLT

As the Proverb states, “The LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:12 NLT). Yahweh's greatest desire for His children is their holiness, which may require that they forego happiness for a while so they may find their help and hope in Him. The apostle Paul also shared David's outlook on trusting God even amid the trials and tribulations of life.

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

David didn’t shy away from asking for deliverance from his difficulties, but he knew that there were lessons to be learned in the midst of them. 

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
    on a firm footing.
For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life.
    Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. – Psalm 143:10-11 NLT

David wasn't necessarily asking for a trouble-free life; he was asking for proof of Yahweh's faithfulness. He knew trials were a part of living in a fallen world, but as a child of God, he fully expected His Father to rescue and preserve his life. Whether his suffering was a result of his own sin or that of another, David believed it would be for his good and Yahweh's glory. 

This psalm raises an interesting aspect about prayer. When we pray, we often express to God what we want done. We share what we believe to be the solutions to our problems and demand that He oblige our request. In many cases, we treat God as a kind of cosmic Genie in the sky, except this Genie doesn’t limit our wishes to just three. We can go to Him constantly with requests of all kinds, or so it would seem. But the reality is that prayer requires an understanding of who God is and what His character is like. To ask God to do something that is not in His nature or that goes against His will would be absurd, but we do it all the same. God wants us to express our needs to Him, but it seems unlikely that he requires our help when it comes to a solution.

Our prayers should be an expression of our trust and dependence on God. We go to Him because we know that He is the only one who can help. And He will help, but on His own terms and according to His perfect timing.

In this psalm, David prays openly and honestly to God. He shares that he is surrounded by enemies. He tells God about his struggle with depression and being paralyzed by fear, and asks God to rescue him. He wants Yahweh to preserve his life and deliver him from his distress. He even urges Yahweh to silence his enemies and destroy all his foes. But David seems to keep His requests consistent with his understanding of Yahweh's character. He appealed to Yahweh’s mercy, and pleads for Him to answer because he knows Yahweh to be faithful and righteous. David understood that nothing he asked of God was too great for Him, because he had heard about all the great things God had done in the past. He knew Yahweh was loving and would listen to him when he called to Him.

David asks Yahweh, “Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting in you” (Psalm 143:8 NLT). What an interesting choice of words. He seems to be asking God to preserve him through the night and cause him to wake up to a renewed recognition of God’s unfailing love and mercy. He will “hear” of God’s love each morning. This seems to indicate that David believed Yahweh's deliverance would be the talk of the town. Others would be talking about it because Yahweh’s intervention in David’s life would be visible for all to see. Their conclusion would be that David's miraculous deliverance was a “God-thing.”

David doesn't just ask Yahweh for deliverance; he asks for directions.

Show me where to walk,
    for I give myself to you. – Psalm 143:8 NLT

He isn’t asking for travel directions; he is requesting insight into how to live his life in a way that will be pleasing to Yahweh. He wants to know how to be a good king, a righteous father, and a godly husband. He goes on to ask God, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing” (Psalm 143:10 NLT). He wants Yahweh to train him to obey. David wasn’t just asking God to deliver him from difficulty; he was expressing his desire to live a life that was pleasing to God. He wanted to live in obedience to and dependence on God.

Is that our desire? Is that what we pray and long for? David wanted rescue so that he could serve God. He sought relief from trials and troubles, so he could spend more time worshiping and less time worrying. But he also knew that Yahweh would use those very same trials and hardships to reveal Himself as He displayed His power, presence, love, mercy, and faithfulness. David trusted God. Do we?

Father, it is so easy for me to just come to You with my requests, but fail to want to get to know You. I want to hear of your unfailing love every morning. I want to wake up to a renewed realization of Your mercy and grace each day. I want You to teach me to do Your will, not mine. I want You to show me how to live my life in increasing obedience and dependence on You. You could give me all I ask for, but if I miss out on knowing You, I lose. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

To Be Known By God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! – Psalm 139:1-24 ESV

In this well-known psalm, David shares his amazement at Yahweh's attributes of omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience. But this is not an academic paper dealing with deep doctrinal issues regarding God's nature; it is a song that praises Yahweh's all-pervasive presence in his life.

David is blown away by the knowledge that the all-powerful God of the universe has not only chosen to have a relationship with him, but knows everything about him. Yahweh is infinite, yet intimate. The God who is powerful enough to have spoken the universe into existence uses His unparalleled strength to intercede on David's behalf. And the God whose knowledge is limitless knows David better than he knows himself. 

David was genuinely awe-struck by God, yet strangely drawn to Him. This psalm reflects his well-balanced outlook on Yahweh's sheer immensity and surprising familiarity. David knew God, and more importantly, he knew he was known by God. That was enough to prompt David to compose this song of praise. 

He begins with a simple prayer of admission, stating his understanding that Yahweh was aware of everything about him. 

O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.– Psalm 139:1-3 NLT 

There were no secrets with God. David's life was an open book to the Almighty, with no areas off-limits or hidden from His all-seeing eyes. David understood how futile it was to try to keep God in the dark. He knew from past experience that a life of hiddenness was hopeless before the all-seeing eyes of Yahweh. When he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed so he could marry her, the prophet Nathan let David know that God had seen it all.

“The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.” – 2 Samuel 12:7-10 NLT 

David thought he had successfully covered his tracks, but while he may have fooled others, he had failed to hide his sin from the one who mattered most. However, this psalm suggests that David viewed this as a positive rather than a negative experience. His attempt to conceal his sin resulted in guilt and condemnation. He could try to ignore it, but Yahweh could not and would not. David's sin had to be exposed so his relationship with Yahweh could be restored. 

When David states, “You know everything I do” (Psalm 139:3 NLT), he isn't complaining or accusing Yahweh of being a busybody and know-it-all; he is expressing amazement at Yahweh's omniscience. What he says next can come across as comforting or concerning, depending on how you take it.

You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.– Psalm 139:4 NLT

God is not relegated to the role of an external observer with limited capacity to discern what is happening. He knows the heart, mind, and soul of a man. It’s as if He has X-ray vision and can peer inside the darkest recesses of the human psyche, ascertaining the hidden motives, thoughts, and intentions. Yahweh knew David so well that He could predict David's words before David had even formed them. This thought may disturb or frighten us because it sounds invasive and intrusive, but David found it comforting. 

Even if he wanted to hide something from God, he couldn't; it was impossible. Yahweh could see into his heart and mind. His thoughts and actions were completely exposed to God, and David believed that Yahweh was with him, even when life's circumstances took a turn for the worse.

Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.– Psalm 23:4 NLT

David knew that God was all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present. He knew that God was always there, and that God knew every single detail of his life, including what he was thinking and what he was going to say, even before the words came out of his mouth. David also understood that God had a plan for his life and that God was working that plan each and every day, regardless of what David's circumstances might have looked like. This prompted David to write, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (Psalm 139:6 NLT

Yet, we can find this news about God both encouraging and scary. The fact that God knows everything about us can be either intimidating or comforting. David was prone to the latter. He understood that, along with God's divine attributes of omniscience (He knows everything), omnipotence (He is all-powerful), and omnipresence (He is everywhere at once), God was also all-loving, always faithful, and a God who keeps all His promises all the time. The fact that God knew all of David's thoughts didn't scare him; it provided him with peace.

David might not have fully comprehended the reality of God's all-knowing, all-powerful presence in his life, but he DID appreciate it. David knew that God had created him; he was a byproduct of God's imagination and creative capabilities.

You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. – Psalm 139:16 NLT

David’s life was not an accident or a matter of chance. This understanding of God's intimate relationship with him caused David to invite God to do something that appears risky. It sounds like an invitation that could yield some less-than-satisfactory results. However, keep in mind that David knew God loved him and had a plan for his life. He trusted God. There was nothing God did not know about David. So he asked God to do an extensive and all-inclusive examination of his life, starting on the inside.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life. – Psalm 1139:23-24 NLT

David was asking God to expose the secrets of his life. The patient was requesting the doctor to determine the actual state of his health. David knew how easy it was to assume that all was well. He could take a cursory look at his life and conclude from the evidence that he was in great shape. But he knew better.

He asked God to reveal to him things about his life that he was incapable of seeing or even knowing. As men, we often struggle to understand our own hearts, and we can't fully understand our motives. We are blinded by pride and self-righteousness, and we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are better than we are. So David goes to the one source that can see past the facade and look into the inner recesses of his heart. He asks Yahweh, the all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-loving God, to do an MRI of his life and reveal the results. David knew that God loved him and had a plan for his life, but he also recognized that he was a man prone to sin. His heart was not to be trusted. So he asked God to examine, test, and prove him. He wanted Yahweh to point out anything and everything that was an offense to Him.

Scary? Yes. Risky? Not really. David was simply learning what God already knew. David was tapping into God's limitless understanding and relying on God's unfailing love. He wanted to know what God knew because he wanted his life to please God. David's own heart was a mystery to him, so he asked the LORD to expose what he could not see. He wanted to know because he understood the danger of hidden sin.  

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.” – Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT

No one likes to go to the doctor because there is always the chance that they might receive bad news. But when it comes to physical health, ignorance is not bliss. The same principle applies to our spiritual well-being. David wasn’t content to assume that his relationship with Yahweh was healthy and whole, so he asked to be examined. It was Jesus who said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do” (Matthew 9:12 NLT). David knew he was sick because he recognized his own sinfulness. It wasn't a question of whether he had a spiritual illness in need of exposure; it was a matter of allowing the Great Physician to do what only He can do: Make the correct prognosis and prescribe the proper remedy.  

Yahweh told the Israelites, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26 NLT), and David had found that promise to be true.

He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases. – Psalm 103:3 NLT

He heals the brokenhearted
    and bandages their wounds. – Psalm 147:3 NLT

David was counting on the fact that his all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God was also all-loving and ready to restore him to spiritual health. All he needed to do is ask. 

Father, You love me. And what's amazing is that You love me even though You know everything there is to know about me. There is nothing I can hide from You. I can't fool you with my pious activities or acts of religious pretense. I can't fake faith in front of You. You know me just as I am and yet You love me anyway. Give me the heart of David, that I might ask You to search me, know my heart, test me, know the cause of all my anxious thoughts, and point out everything in my life that offends You. The sooner I see the truth about myself, the sooner I can confess my sins and get back on Your path for my life. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Like-Minded Love for God's Law

Zayin

49 Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
    that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
    I take comfort, O LORD.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O LORD,
    and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
    that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

57 The LORD is my portion;
    I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
    I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
    I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
    because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your statutes!

Teth

65 You have dealt well with your servant,
    O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
    teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
    but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
    that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces. – Psalm 119:49-72 ESV

Life for the psalmist was full of ups and downs and twists and turns. He knew what it was like to experience Yahweh's blessings and the difficulties that come with living in a fallen world. He had his share of setbacks and sorrows, but remained faithful to Yahweh and committed to keeping His law. 

The “words” of Yawheh gave him hope (vs 49) and provided comfort in the face of affliction (vs 50). As the psalmist considered the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures, he found them to be filled with messages of Yahweh's sovereignty, power, and provision for His chosen people. The stories of Israel's past confirmed Yahweh’s promise that He would dwell among His people. 

“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” – Exodus 29:45-46 ESV

“I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” – Leviticus 26:11-12 ESV

Yahweh had remained with them through thick and thin. Despite their disobedience and spiritual infidelity, He had maintained His covenant commitments. This did not mean that He overlooked their apostasy or that their sins went unpunished. Their track record of unfaithfulness cost them dearly, because Yahweh eventually followed through on His promise to punish them for their disobedience. Long before the Israelites had set foot in Canaan, Moses warned the Israelites that failure to obey Yahweh's commands would prove costly. 

“But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:

Your towns and your fields
will be cursed.
Your fruit baskets and breadboards
will be cursed.
Your children and your crops
will be cursed.
The offspring of your herds and flocks
will be cursed.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
you will be cursed.

“The LORD himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning me.” – Deuteronomy 28:15-20 NLT

Yet, the psalmist knew that Yahweh’s judgment was justified; the people of Israel had gotten what they deserved. But he also knew they had received what they didn't deserve: Yahweh's mercy and forgiveness. He had redeemed and restored them. That message of Yahweh's persistence and patience with His unworthy people resonated with the psalmist because he also needed that undeserved grace. 

The psalmist knew he was far from perfect. He struggled with sin just like everyone else, but strongly desired to live obediently. 

LORD, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.– Psalm 119:57-58 NLT

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – Psalm 119:61 NLT

He shared the experience of the Israelites, having chosen the path of disobedience until the LORD lovingly rebuked and restored him. 

I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word. – Psalm 119:67 NLT

When he writes, “You are good and do only good,” (Psalm 119:68 NLT), he echoes the words of a song written by Moses. 

I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
    how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
    Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is! – Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NLT

Though he had experienced Yahweh's judgment, he was not bitter or angry. Instead, he was grateful for having his eyes opened and his heart softened by the gracious hand of the LORD. 

My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver. – Psalm 119:71-72 NLT

This personal experience with Yahweh's loving discipline made him all the more committed to the integrity and efficacy of Yahweh's commands. He had discovered the truth behind the ancient proverbial statement:

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV 

Rather than despise the LORD's discipline, the psalmist despised those who dismissed or disobeyed God's commands. 

I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions. – Psalm 119:53 NLT

He had no patience with the godless and lawless. He refused to tolerate or associate with those who promoted profligate living. Those who had chosen to disobey God's commands were constantly tempting him to join in their camp, but he wasn't taking the bait.

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – Psalm 119:61 NLT

Yahweh's commands were his anchor in the storm. The word of God was the solid rock on which he built his life and depended upon for peace, contentment, hope, and assurance for tomorrow. This reliance upon God's truth prompted him to seek the company of like-minded individuals.

I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments. – Psalm 119:63 NLT

Surrounded by wicked and lawless people, he knew he needed the companionship of other faithful men and women who shared his love for and commitment to Yahweh's commands. Godliness is not a solo activity; it is a team sport that requires the combined efforts of all those involved. The psalmist seemed to understand the concept that Paul expressed to the church in Corinth. This was a divided congregation suffering from unhealthy competition and infighting over spiritual gifts. Rather than working together for the good of the body, they were clamoring and competing for supremacy based on their individual spiritual gift. So Paul 

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 NLT

God’s commands were given to the entire community, not just individuals. Faithfulness is a group endeavor that benefits everyone, which the psalmist and Paul both understood. A love for God's law that lacks love for others is of no value to anyone. The apostle John summed up this need for communal love and a unified commitment to God's commands.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. – 1 John 4:20-21 NLT

Father, it's so easy to turn my pursuit of Christlikeness into a solo sport that leaves everyone else out of the picture. We are prone to practice a form of Lone Ranger Christianity that misses the point of the body of Christ and our need for unity. It is amazing to consider that many of Your laws were horizontal in nature; in other words they had to do with the relationships between individuals. That is why Jesus gave a new commandment, that we love one another. Obedience to Your law without a love for Your people is useless. That is what the Pharisees practiced. Give me a love for Your Word that manifests itself in a love for others and a desire to live in unity with all those who share a common faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Praise Him for His Presence

1 Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
    praise the name of the LORD!

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD
    from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    the name of the LORD is to be praised!

4 The LORD is high above all nations,
    and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
    who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD. – Psalm 113:1-9 ESV

Five times in nine verses, the psalmist uses the Hebrew word hālal to call for the praise and adoration of Yahweh. This is a command, not a suggestion, directed at the people of God. He is ordering them to joyously celebrate the LORD for who He is and all that He has done for them. 

Praise (hālal) the LORD!

Yes, give praise (hālal), O servants of the LORD.
    Praise (hālal) the name of the LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD
    now and forever.
Everywhere—from east to west—
    praise (hālal) the name of the LORD. – Psalm 113:1-3 NLT

God’s name was associated with His character, and the name the psalmist repeatedly uses when referring to God is Yᵊhōvâ. This was the name God declared when Moses asked, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 

God had just commissioned Moses to lead His people out of captivity in Egypt, but Moses was reticent to accept this difficult assignment. Yet, God responded to Moses’ reluctance with patience, stating, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh (Yᵊhōvâ), the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:15 NLT). God was declaring He was the always-existent, ever-present One who would be a permanent fixture in the lives of His chosen people. And to drive home the permanency of His presence, God added, “This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations (Exodus 3:15 NLT).

So, when the psalmist ordered his fellow Israelites to praise the name of the LORD, he was calling them to remember that God was with them and had never forsaken them. Despite all their faults and track record of unfaithfulness, Yahweh had remained committed to the covenant promises He had made to them. He had proven His faithfulness for centuries by displaying His power, provision, and protection. From their deliverance from captivity in Egypt to their 40-year journey through the wilderness, God had been with them. When they crossed the Jordan River into Canaan, Yahweh assisted them in their conquest of the land’s inhabitants. 

Yahweh had lived up to His name as “the existing One.” He had been with them in Egypt and had led them through the wilderness to the land of promise. During the period of the judges, Yahweh had remained by their side, delivering them from their oppressors and forgiving them for their apostasy and idolatry. When they demanded to have a king like all the other nations, Yahweh obliged their request, but never relinquished His sovereignty over them.  

As with the previous two psalms, this one highlights God’s greatness by declaring His transcendence. The psalmist describes Yahweh as “high above the nations; his glory is higher than the heavens” (Psalm 113:4 NLT). This is not a reference to God's location but His sovereignty. He is LORD over all. But this all-powerful, unapproachable deity was not distant and aloof; He was personal and present.

Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
    who is enthroned on high?
He stoops to look down
    on heaven and on earth. – Psalm 113:5-6 NLT

Yahweh had proven Himself to be intimate and immersed in the affairs of His people. Though He was holy and righteous, He made Himself available to sinful men. On Mount Sinai, the Creator of the universe made Himself known to Moses, a convicted murderer who had spent 40 years as a fugitive from justice. Yahweh had chosen this flawed and fear-filled man to be the deliverer of His captive people. The transcendent, invisible God had “stooped down," seen the situation in Egypt, and chosen to intervene. 

“I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them…” – Exodus 3:7-8 NLT

Yahweh delivered His captive people, and had been doing so ever since. That is why He deserved their praise. He had proven to be faithful and trustworthy. His power was unequaled, and His constant presence was undeniable. And the examples of His handiwork were everywhere.

He lifts the poor from the dust
    and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
    even the princes of his own people!
He gives the childless woman a family,
    making her a happy mother. – Psalm 113:7-9 NLT

The stories of Moses, Joseph, and David come to mind. He took a murderer, a prisoner, and a lowly shepherd and transformed them into men of integrity and influence. Yahweh intervened in the lives of women like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah, providing these barren women with children. Rebekah gave birth to Jacob, whom Yahweh later renamed Israel. It was through this unexpected son that the nation of Israel came into being. 

Yahweh had a track record of showing up and making His presence known among His people, which is why He deserved their praise. He lived up to His name as the ever-existent, always-present One. He kept His promises, continually and faithfully delivering, protecting, guiding, disciplining, and providing for His people. And He was far from done. Which is why the psalmist ends his song with an emphatic, non-negotiable reminder to “Praise the LORD!”

Father, You have never failed to show up in my life. While there have been moments when I could not see or feel Your presence, You have always been there. What I mistook as your invisibility or unavailability was really just the result of own insensitivity to Your presence. When I look back on my life, I see the proof of Your presence. But I want to grow in my ability to sense You in the present, not just the past. I desire to grow more aware of Your involvement in the moment and not just in retrospect, because I know You never leave me or forsake me. There is never a moment when I am on my own or left to my own devices. You are always there and You always care for me. So, I praise You, O LORD for You are worthy. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

An Uncomfortable But Honest Prayer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
    but I give myself to prayer.
5 So they reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

6 Appoint a wicked man against him;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his prayer be counted as sin!
8 May his days be few;
    may another take his office!
9 May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
10 May his children wander about and beg,
    seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
    nor any to pity his fatherless children!
13 May his posterity be cut off;
    may his name be blotted out in the second generation!
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
    and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
15 Let them be before the LORD continually,
    that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16 For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued the poor and needy
    and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it soak into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,
    of those who speak evil against my life!

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!
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
    you, O LORD, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but you will bless!
    They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
    may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

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. – Psalm 109:1-31 ESV

One word comes to mind when I read a psalm like this: Uncomfortable, or maybe even shocking. I read it and am surprised that these words came from the pen of David, the man after God's own heart. But here they are for all to see and read in all their black and white glory.

May his children become fatherless,
    and his wife a widow.
May his children wander as beggars
    and be driven from their ruined homes.
May creditors seize his entire estate,
    and strangers take all he has earned.
Let no one be kind to him;
    let no one pity his fatherless children.
May all his offspring die. – Psalm 109:9-13 NLT

To say that David is feeling vindictive would be a mild understatement. He is incensed, and his words are incendiary. Remember, this is a song, and is addressed to the choirmaster. It was meant to be sung and performed as an act of worship. Yet, it is filled with shockingly blunt and surprisingly hateful petitions aimed at an unnamed enemy of David. 

Psalm 109 is what is known as an imprecatory prayer. It is a prayer for evil or misfortune to come upon someone else, usually an enemy. In the Bible, an imprecatory prayer is the prayer of a righteous man asking God to carry out justice by bringing punishment or destruction on those who have done evil and mistreated or abused him. A first read of this Psalm can be a little disconcerting.

David's requests are severe and seem motivated by extreme hatred. He is obviously upset and has been suffering greatly at the hands of this enemy. David doesn't disclose the identity of his enemy, but he wishes nothing but ill will against them. He makes it painfully clear what he wants God to do to them. He basically wants him dead, leaving his wife a widow and his children little more than beggars.

Is David wrong for praying this prayer? Is he letting his anger get the best of him? If so, why does God include this psalm in the Bible?

While David's requests may make us uncomfortable, we can probably relate at some level. We have all had similar thoughts concerning someone in our lives. Perhaps we never put those ideas into the form of a prayer, but we definitely conjured up images of those individuals getting their just desserts. We may not have been quite as harsh as David, but we likely wanted to see some kind of harm come to the one who had harmed us.

This is a purely human reaction. We want revenge and desire vengeance to be done. This is not necessarily wrong, especially if what was done to us is truly evil and sinful. But David knew something we all need to know: Vengeance is God's business, not ours. That is why David took his issue to God. 

Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me because of your unfailing love.
Let them see that this is your doing,
    that you yourself have done it, LORD. – Psalm 109:26-27 NLT

I think there is a point at which David knew that what this person had done to him was in direct opposition to the will of God. David had shown them love, and their response had been evil.

I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
    even as I am praying for them!
They repay evil for good,
    and hatred for my love. – Psalm 109:4-5 NLT

Their actions were sinful and ungodly, and David knew that God was opposed to everything they had done to him. So he took his case to the Lord, pleading for justice in the form of vengeance. He was familiar with God's declaration found in the Book of Deuteronomy.

“Is not this laid up in store with me,
    sealed up in my treasuries?
Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
    for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
    and their doom comes swiftly.” – Deuteronomy 32:34-35 ESV

This passage is part of another song, written by Moses near the end of the Israelites' 40-year journey from Egypt to the promised land. The elderly liberator and leader of God's chosen people is nearing the end of his own earthly journey and preparing the people of Israel for their conquest of Canaan. He would not be going with them, and so he pens this epic poem to remind them of their need to leave behind their apostasy and idolatry and obey God. His record of God's promise of vengeance was directed at the people of Israel, not their enemies. Moses was warning them that God would not tolerate their infidelity and unfaithfulness. Their successful conquest of the land would require obedience and obeisance, their willing submission to God's will. 

But David had a different kind of vengeance in mind that was not self-directed but other-oriented. He was asking God to vindicate him by turning the tables on his enemy and giving him a taste of his own medicine. Basically, David was asking God to let this man reap what he sowed.

It gets really uncomfortable for most of us when David starts asking for bad things to happen to the guy's wife and kids. This seems a bit extreme. But this does not mean David had unbridled hatred for the man's family. It only reveals David's understanding of how things worked in their society. These were the natural consequences of life in the culture of David's day. A man and his offspring were inseparably linked. The actions of one directly influenced the other. This man's sins and punishment would be felt by his wife, children, and ancestors. That was the way things worked in their society. So David is praying for the natural consequences of this man's deserved punishment.

David knew God hated sin and injustice, so his prayer was not inappropriate or sinful. He was simply expressing a hatred for sin that mirrored that of God. He wanted to see God's will done. Sure, he was not shy in expressing his own opinion as to what that will should be, but at the end of the day, he wanted to see God mete out justice and vengeance on someone he believed to be an enemy of God.

But what balances this psalm out is David's request that God express His love and faithfulness to him.

But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD,
    for the sake of your own reputation!
Rescue me
    because you are so faithful and good. – Psalm 109:21 NLT

David understood that God wanted to bless the righteous and punish the wicked. That is what this prayer is all about. It is a request for God to be God, and do what only God can do. Only God could rescue David and turn the evil that this person intended into a blessing. Only God could punish this individual justly and righteously, returning on him the kind of evil he had been dishing out.

Imprecations are effective only when we see sin from God's point of view and ask Him to deal with it according to His Word. David was simply praying back to God what he knew to be true about His character and His divine outlook on sin. David was praying for the kind of punishment for sin God had already expressed as proper and just.

The most crucial point is that David prayed with a pure, innocent heart. He had done nothing to deserve the treatment he had received. He was innocent, which is critical when praying an imprecatory prayer. Had David been guilty of mistreating this man, his prayers would have been improper and unheeded by God. But he stood guiltless before God and suffered unjustly, so he knew God would intervene. God protects His own. He defends His sheep.

David's prayer came from a firm understanding of who God was and what He stood for. This song is much more than an expression of hatred for his enemy. His prayer was driven by a desire to see justice done and for God to intervene.

I will give repeated thanks to the LORD,
    praising him to everyone.
For he stands beside the needy,
    ready to save them from those who condemn them. – Psalm 109:30-31 NLT

David wanted to see God's will done and His power manifested to all those around him. God's glory was David's foremost desire, and he was willing to wait on God to intercede on his behalf. He believed justice would be done, and he was ready to praise God even before the deliverance became a reality.

Father, give me a hatred for evil that is more powerful than my hatred for any particular individual and what they might do to me. May I learn to see any injustice done to me as an injustice done to You. This is more about You than me. May I learn to desire Your glory by seeing Your will be done – in my life and circumstances. Give me a greater understanding of Your hatred of evil and the manner in which You punish it, so that I might pray according to Your will and not mine. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Remember and Rejoice

1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4 Seek the LORD and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

7 He is the LORD our God;
    his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers his covenant forever,
    the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
    his sworn promise to Isaac,
10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
    to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
    as your portion for an inheritance.”

12 When they were few in number,
    of little account, and sojourners in it,
13 wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
14 he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”

16 When he summoned a famine on the land
    and broke all supply of bread,
17 he had sent a man ahead of them,
    Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters;
    his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass,
    the word of the LORD tested him.
20 The king sent and released him;
    the ruler of the peoples set him free;
21 he made him lord of his house
    and ruler of all his possessions,
22 to bind his princes at his pleasure
    and to teach his elders wisdom.

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.
28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark;
    they did not rebel against his words.
29 He turned their waters into blood
    and caused their fish to die.
30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
    even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
    and gnats throughout their country.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
    and fiery lightning bolts through their land.
33 He struck down their vines and fig trees,
    and shattered the trees of their country.
34 He spoke, and the locusts came,
    young locusts without number,
35 which devoured all the vegetation in their land
    and ate up the fruit of their ground.
36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
    the firstfruits of all their strength.

37 Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
    and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
    for dread of them had fallen upon it.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
40 They asked, and he brought quail,
    and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
    it flowed through the desert like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise,
    and Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought his people out with joy,
    his chosen ones with singing.
44 And he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,
45 that they might keep his statutes
    and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 105:1-45 ESV

According to this unnamed psalmist, Yahweh was worthy of praise because of His faithful commitment to the people of Israel. This entire psalm is a call for the Israelites to acknowledge the trustworthiness and greatness of their covenant-keeping God. In the opening lines of his song, the psalmist repeatedly charges his fellow Israelites to recall and recount God's wondrous works on their behalf. 

Let the whole world know what he has done. – Psalm 105: 1 NLT

 Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. – Psalm 105:2 NLT

Remember the wonders he has performed,
    his miracles, and the rulings he has given… – Psalm 105:5 NLT

If the Israelites needed a reason to celebrate Yahweh’s goodness and greatness, their rich and storied history was filled with examples. But for the psalmist, the most remarkable illustration of Yahweh's faithfulness was the covenant He made with Abraham, the patriarch and progenitor of the Hebrew people.  Centuries earlier, God had called this pagan idol worshiper to abandon his clan, homeland, and false gods for a new lifelong relationship with Him. 

“Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” – Genesis 12:1-3 NLT

What made this promise even more remarkable was that Abraham was already an old man, married to an equally old and barren wife. But despite the poor odds for success, Abraham obeyed and followed Yahweh to the land of Canaan. The psalmist adds a line to his song that celebrates God's faithfulness to fulfill His covenant commitment to Abraham.

He always stands by his covenant—
    the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
This is the covenant he made with Abraham
    and the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
    and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
“I will give you the land of Canaan
    as your special possession.” – Psalm 105:8-11 NLT

While no timeline is given to establish the dating of this psalm, it was obviously written long after the Israelites had entered and taken possession of the land of Canaan. Centuries had passed, and the Israelites had enjoyed a long tenure as occupants of the “land of promise.” It had taken hundreds of years for God to fulfill His covenant commitment to Abraham, but every facet of His original promise had occurred just as He said it would. With each passing generation, God reaffirmed His intention to keep His word. After the death of Abraham, God reiterated His covenant promise to Abraham's son, Isaac. 

“Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” – Genesis 26:3-5 NLT

When Isaac eventually died, God passed on His covenant promises to Isaac's son, Jacob, whom God later renamed Israel. 

“I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” – Genesis 35:11-12 NLT

But despite God's promises, Jacob's small family was anything but a great nation, and they lived as relative nomads in the land that was supposed to be their inheritance.

…they were few in number,
    a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
They wandered from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another.
Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
    He warned kings on their behalf:
“Do not touch my chosen people,
    and do not hurt my prophets.” – Psalm 105:12-15 NLT

But God was not done, and the psalmist recalls the next phase of God’s promise-keeping plan for His chosen people. Verses 16-22 recount the astonishing story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers. Jealous of Joseph’s favored-son status, his brothers plotted to get rid of him by selling him to slave traders and then telling their father that he had been killed by a wild animal. They lived with this lie for years while their brother experienced a roller-coaster existence in the land of Egypt. 

They bruised his feet with fetters
    and placed his neck in an iron collar.
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
    the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
    the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;
    he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. – Psalm 105:18-21 NLT

This was all part of God’s plan for the descendants of Abraham. He had sent Joseph ahead to prepare for the next phase of His covenant-fulfilling strategy, which was in keeping with another promise He made to Abraham. 

“You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) After four generations your descendants will return here to this land… – Genesis 15:13-16 NLT

The psalmist knew the story well and recounted how Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt to escape a famine in the land of Canaan. 

Then Israel arrived in Egypt;
    Jacob lived as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
And the LORD multiplied the people of Israel
    until they became too mighty for their enemies.
Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites,
    and they plotted against the LORD’s servants. – Psalm 105:23-25 NLT

The Book of Genesis affirms that Jacob's family was anything but a great nation when they arrived in Egypt.

…there were seventy members of Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt. – Genesis 46:27 NLT

But as the psalmist recounts, the Israelites grew in number, just as God had said they would. In fact, their numbers increased so significantly that they became a threat to the Egyptians. In four centuries, the Israelites had multiplied and prospered under God's sovereign hand, causing the Pharaoh to enact a series of edicts that enslaved and oppressed God's people. But verses 26-36 recount how Yahweh raised up a deliverer to rescue His people from slavery and lead them back to the land of Canaan. 

Through a series of devastating plagues, Yahweh punished Pharaoh and the people of Egypt for their refusal to set His people free. But eventually, God persuaded the pride-filled Pharaoh to release the Israelites and allow them to return to the land of promise. 

Moses served as their official God-appointed tour guide and leader, but it was really Yahweh who directed their path and provided for all their needs along the way. 

The LORD spread a cloud above them as a covering
    and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
They asked for meat, and he sent them quail;
    he satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven.
He split open a rock, and water gushed out
    to form a river through the dry wasteland. – Psalm 105:39-41 NLT

The psalmist leaves little doubt that Yahweh was behind every part of their ancestors’ wilderness experience. Yahweh had led them and fed them. He provided for all their needs and traveled alongside them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). Their 40-year journey from Egypt to Canaan had been filled with God's presence and marked by His power. Despite their grumbling, complaining, disobedience, and disloyalty, the Israelites learned that their God was faithful and trustworthy. He never abandoned them along the way. Instead, He showered them with mercy and grace, repeatedly rescuing and redeeming them from one self-inflicted disaster after another. 

According to the psalmist, Yahweh, “remembered his sacred promise to his servant Abraham. So he brought his people out of Egypt with joy, his chosen ones with rejoicing” (Psalm 105:42-43 NLT). But Yahweh didn't stop there; He led them to and into the land of promise, providing them with victories over their enemies and ownership of their inheritance. 

He gave his people the lands of pagan nations,
    and they harvested crops that others had planted.
All this happened so they would follow his decrees
    and obey his instructions. – Psalm 105:44-45 NLT

With all that as background, the psalmist calls on the descendants of Abraham to “Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 105:45 NLT). This was a call to celebrate God's goodness and greatness and remember His faithfulness and covenant-keeping nature. The danger each generation of believers faces is forgetting God's faithfulness. Even Moses knew that the generation that entered the land of Canaan would be tempted to forget all that Yahweh had done, so he provided them with a sobering warning.

“Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.” – Deuteronomy 8:11-18 NLT

Remember and rejoice. Praise the LORD for who He is and all that He has done. But never forget that “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT).

Father, You are a good and trustworthy God who has proven Yourself faithful and true for generations. We have no cause to doubt You, but we do. We have no reason to question Your goodness and greatness, but we do so anyway. Yet, You respond with mercy and grace. You shower us with undeserved blessings and continue to fulfill all Your covenant promises. You never go back on Your word, and never give up on Your people. We have every reason to praise You but we are quick to forget and prone to complain. Our forgetfulness leads to ungratefulness. Our dissatisfaction results in disobedience. Help us see you more clearly, remember You regularly, and praise You more frequently. For You are worthy of our praise. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The LORD Reigns

1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
    sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12     let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13     before the LORD, for he comes,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness. – Psalm 96:1-13 ESV

This psalm is prominently cited in a song ascribed to King David when he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. As the centerpiece of Israel’s worship, the Ark represented the presence of God. During their days wandering through the wilderness, the Israelites were comforted by the fact that Yahweh's Shekinah glory rested above the mercy seat, which served as the lid for the Ark. So, when David relocated the Ark into his capital city, he wrote a celebratory song that reminded the people of Israel of the goodness and greatness of their God.

In penning the words to his song, David borrowed heavily from Psalm 96, incorporating some of its most memorable lines to encourage the heartfelt worship of Yahweh among his people. God's presence among them was not to be taken lightly or for granted. As the sovereign King of the universe, Yahweh demanded honor, reverence, and unwavering allegiance from His covenant people. Their obedience to His commands was not optional, and their steadfast devotion to Him alone was not up for debate. He had clearly communicated the terms of His relationship with the people of Israel, and He expected wholehearted compliance on their part. 

“I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.” – Exodus 20:5 NLT   

If they wanted to experience Yahweh’s presence, power, and provision, they would need to be faithful. By bringing the Ark into Jerusalem, David was relocating God's presence into the heart of his capital and reminding his people of their complete reliance upon Him for all their needs. He alone could protect them from their enemies, provide for all their needs, and pour out forgiveness and redemption for their sins. Without Yahweh, they would be just another nation striving to preserve their existence in a world marked by hostility and mired in sin.

Psalm 96 opens with the words, “Sing to the Lord a new song.” This was a call for the people of Israel to praise Yahweh, not just for His past acts of deliverance but for His present activity in their lives. He was present and moving powerfully in their midst. The God who created the universe and delivered their ancestors from their captivity in Egypt was still moving mightily in their lives. That is why the psalmist states, “Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does” (Psalm 96:2-3 NLT).

As David celebrated the arrival of the Ark into Jerusalem, he used the words of Psalm 96 to encourage faithfulness among his people. He wanted them to understand their need for God and their obligation to declare His glory to the nations around them. Every time Yahweh moved among His people, they were to declare His majesty, power, and sovereignty to the surrounding nations. His glorious deeds among His people were to be a testimony to His greatness and evidence of His role as the one true God. That is why the psalmist addresses the pagan nations and calls on them to reject their false gods and worship Yahweh alone.

O nations of the world, recognize the LORD;
    recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.
Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!
    Bring your offering and come into his courts.
Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. – Psalm 96:7-9 NLT

But their acknowledgment of Yahweh depended on the Israelites’ faithfulness and willingness to declare His glory. If God's people don't see Him as active in their lives and refuse to declare His power and presence, the nations will continue to seek help and hope from false gods. God’s people were to declare, “The Lord reigns!” (Psalm 96:10 ESV). But this was to be more than lip service or pious-sounding rhetoric. It was to come from the heart and express their own personal experience. 

This psalm provides a glimpse of what it means to worship God. It is less an activity than an awareness of God's character and attributes. It is a recognition of who He is, what He has done, and what He will do because of His unchanging character. God is loving and kind. He is holy and righteous. He is powerful and completely in control. What He says, He will do. He can be trusted. He is reliable. Even when things do not appear to be going as expected, and God seems nowhere in sight, He is there.

His character is consistent with His behavior, and it is in keeping with His word. If we don’t understand who God is, we will never truly worship Him. The reality of HIS faithfulness allows us to be faithful to Him. If we view Him as untrustworthy, we will doubt and disobey Him. If we don’t believe His promises, we will never rest in them. And we will never be able to say, “The Lord reigns!” and mean it. Our testimony to God's goodness and greatness will become second-hand and lack personal evidence that He is alive and active in our lives. This lack of firsthand experience with Yahweh will weaken our testimony and fail to impress a lost and dying world that our God rules and reigns.

Our worship of God is fickle and feeble at best. It tends to be based on present circumstances. If things are going well, our God is good and worthy of praise. If things are going poorly, we begin to doubt Him and even complain about our lot in life. When we do, we portray Yahweh as a fickle, fairweather God who can’t be trusted or relied upon. 

Even when we worship Him, our efforts can portray a half-hearted commitment that paints God as an add-on to our lives rather than the sole focus of our affection. We turn worship into an activity that we only participate in on Sundays. Our devotion to Him is relegated to a worship hour and a particular music style. The entire endeavor becomes more about us than Him. We judge the effectiveness of our worship based on our personal tastes. If we enjoy our worship service of choice and like the music and the message we hear, we believe we’ve worshiped. But we can go through that process and never acknowledge God's lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness, truth, and strength. We can feel good, but leave without having grown closer to God. In essence, the worship service becomes more about us than Him.

This psalm reminds us that God is to be our focus. Not because of what He is currently doing for us, but simply because of who He is. He is God, and there is no one else like Him. He is God, and He is entirely trustworthy and true. He is God, and is all-powerful, and capable of doing whatever He chooses to do. If He is not doing what we THINK He should be doing, He has a very good reason. If He allows difficulty into our lives, He is not asleep, apathetic, or impotent; He has a plan.

Yahweh has made us, and we are His sheep. We belong to Him, and He knows what is best for us. But do we trust Him? Do we believe He is strong enough to meet any and all of our needs? Do we comprehend just how much He loves us? The psalmist reminds us that when God made a promise to David that his kingdom would endure forever, even the people's unfaithfulness and disobedience could not alter that promise's reality and reliability. God's word endures. His faithfulness is unfailing. His lovingkindness is everlasting. His truth never falters. His strength never diminishes.

Tell the nations about his splendor.
Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds.
For the LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise;
he is more awesome than all gods. – Psalms 96:3-4 NET

Father, so often I attempt to worship You in ignorance. I try to sing Your praises but I don't fully understand or appreciate who You are. I tend to sing only when I feel like it. I praise You only when You’ve done something for me. Yet You are worthy of praise all the time. You are loving, kind, righteous, holy, trustworthy, and powerful to save. Help me come to know You better so that I might better worship You rightly. Not just for what You do but just because of who You are. And may I be able to declare to the nations, “The LORD reigns!” and truly mean it because I have experienced it in my own life. Amen 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Justice and Justs Desserts

1 O LORD, God of vengeance,
    O God of vengeance, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth;
    repay to the proud what they deserve!
3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked,
    how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words;
    all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O LORD,
    and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the sojourner,
    and murder the fatherless;
7 and they say, “The LORD does not see;
    the God of Jacob does not perceive.”

8 Understand, O dullest of the people!
    Fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge—
11     the LORD—knows the thoughts of man,
    that they are but a breath.

12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD,
    and whom you teach out of your law,
13 to give him rest from days of trouble,
    until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not forsake his people;
    he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous,
    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?
    Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help,
    my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”
    your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
    your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
    those who frame injustice by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
    and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold,
    and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will bring back on them their iniquity
    and wipe them out for their wickedness;
    the LORD our God will wipe them out. – Psalm 94:1-23 ESV

Justice. We all want it, or at least we think we do. Especially when it applies to someone else. When we hear of someone doing something wrong or unfair, we demand for justice to be served. We want to see them brought to justice – whether it is a corporate executive who has swindled money from his investors or a radical terrorist who has taken innocent lives in some cowardly fashion. We long to see justice served and the guilty punished.

But what is justice? Do we understand what it means? The dictionary defines it as "the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause; the administering of deserved punishment or reward" (dictionary.com).

It is both the quality of being just or righteous—doing the right thing—and the action of upholding what is right by punishing those who have done wrong.

There are those who believe that justice does not apply to them; they are above the law. They can somehow break the rules and escape justice; sometimes our society allows them to do so. They may even believe that they can escape the justice of God. In Psalms 94, we get a glimpse of their attitude.

“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say,
    “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” – Psalm 94:7 NLT

They think that the God who created them cannot see what they are doing or hear what they are saying. He is somehow blind to their actions and attitudes, and even if He could see what they are doing, He is powerless to do anything about it. But the psalmist warned them to reconsider their faulty and deadly view of Yahweh.

Think again, you fools!
    When will you finally catch on?
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears?
    Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?
He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you?
    He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing?
The LORD knows people’s thoughts;
    he knows they are worthless! – Psalm 94:8-11 NLT

God sees all, and because He is just, He deals with all in a righteous way. He may not respond in the time frame we want, but God eventually makes everything right. He brings about justice, and no one can escape it.

You see a picture of this in 1 Kings 2 as Solomon ascends to the throne of Israel. This chapter records Solomon's rise to power, replacing his father David as king. His reign begins with him establishing justice by giving some evil men their just desserts. He quickly deals with Joab for his murders, Shimei for his unfaithfulness, Adonijah for his deceitfulness and treachery, and Abiathar for his role in Adonijah's rebellion. Each of these men had acted unfaithfully in some way. They had committed an injustice and deserved to be punished. Adonijah had attempted to take David's throne away from Solomon. Joab had disobeyed David and killed two innocent men. Abiathar had aided Adonijah in his aborted coup attempt. Shimei had turned against David and cursed him when he had been forced to flee Jerusalem when his son, Absalom, took over the city. Each of these men was guilty and deserved punishment, and some of them had seen enough time elapse that they thought they had escaped justice. They were home free. But Solomon began his reign by making sure justice was served. The wrongs were made right. The guilty were punished.

In this story, we see a glimpse of the justice of God. He will deal with the evil that exists in our land. We may feel like He is blind to what is happening around us, or perhaps incapable of doing anything about it, but God has a good memory and is patient. He will deal with the injustices of this world in His time and according to His ways. But rest assured, justice will be done. With the psalmist, we can cry out, "O LORD, the God to whom vengeance belongs, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen! Arise, O judge of the earth. Sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve." (Psalms 94:1-2 NLT).

He will do what needs to be done. He will right every wrong and punish every wrongdoer. What Solomon did in an imperfect way, God will do perfectly. We can know that justice will be served. One day, God will administer His justice wholly and righteously. So when we see evil around us, we can rest in the fact that God sees and will act. He will deal with it.

But the LORD is my fortress;
    my God is the mighty rock where I hide.
God will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
    He will destroy them for their sins.
    The LORD our God will destroy them. – Psalm 94:22-23 NLT

Father, we live in a world filled with injustice. People take advantage of others. People unfairly harm others. The innocent suffer and the wicked seem to get away with doing what is wrong. But You are not asleep. You are not powerless or disinterested. You are just and righteous. You see all that is going on and You will repay each person for the evil they have done. Thank You for that reminder. But also, thank You for the assurance that my sins are forgiven. Because of Your Son's death on the cross, I will not have to undergo punishment for the evil I have done. But never let me use that as an excuse to live the way I want to live. Help me serve You obediently and faithfully out of gratitude that I am seen as just in Your eyes. The punishment for my sins has been paid in full. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You Reign Above It All

1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;
    the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
    you are from everlasting.

3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
    the floods have lifted up their voice;
    the floods lift up their roaring.
4 Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
    mightier than the waves of the sea,
    the LORD on high is mighty!

5 Your decrees are very trustworthy;
    holiness befits your house,
    O LORD, forevermore. – Psalm 93:1-5 ESV

This psalm is short but packs a punch. In it, the psalmist declares Yahweh's sovereignty and eternality. His reign is everlasting and overwhelming in its power and influence. The God of Israel is without equal, ruling over all creation, including the waves of the sea and the kings of the earth. But unlike human rulers, King Yahweh doesn't derive His power from men or rely on regal attire to define His glory and greatness. The psalmist describes Him as “robed in majesty” with “strength as His belt.”

Yahweh needs no throne, scepter, palace, or royal raiments to set Him apart from His peers, because He has none. His unbridled power and sovereignty are evident in the natural world, and all nature declares His undiminished majesty and might. King David shared the psalmist's vision of creation displaying Yahweh's glory.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
    The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
    night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
    their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
    and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
    It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
The sun rises at one end of the heavens
    and follows its course to the other end.
    Nothing can hide from its heat. – Psalm 19:1-6 NLT

In the ancient world, the ocean was considered a place of mystery and dread. It was filled with sea monsters that threatened the lives of men, and its waves could destroy the strongest of ships. Despite their close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the Israelites were not a seagoing people. They feared its power and associated it with evil. For their ancient ancestors, the Red Sea had served as a barrier to their escape from Egypt. But Yahweh parted the sea and allowed them to walk across on dry land. 

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. – Exodus 14:21-22 ESV

When the Israelites finally arrived in the land of promise, they found it inhabited by Canaanites, who believed their god, Baal, had overcome Yamm, the god of the seas. Yet, Yahweh aided His people in conquering the land and defeating the Canaanites and their powerful god.

The psalmist describes Yahweh as “mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore—the LORD above is mightier than these” (Psalm 93:4 NLT). No power in heaven or on earth could stand before the God of Israel. 

The waters of the ocean were no match for Yahweh, and the armies of earthly kings were powerless before Israel's God. His kingdom was everlasting, and His royal decrees were binding. He could not be defeated or dethroned. And the psalmist found comfort in the truth that Yahweh's reign was “holy forever and ever” (Psalm 93:5 NLT).

The contemporary hymn, “Reign Above It All,” paints a vivid picture of God’s sovereignty and power as revealed through Jesus Christ.

The reign of darkness now has ended
In the kingdom of light
In the kingdom of light
Forever under Your dominion
You're the King of my life
You're the King of my life

You reign above it all, You reign above it all
Over the universe and over every heart
There is no higher name
Jesus, You reign above it all

On the cross, the work was finished
God, You poured out Your life
Just to give us new life
Now from the lips of the forgiven
Hear an anthem arise
'Cause Jesus You're alive, oh

You reign above it all, You reign above it all
Over the universe and over every heart
There is no higher name
Jesus, You reign above it all
Let all of Heaven and the Earth erupt in song
Sing hallelujah to the Everlasting One
There is no higher name
Jesus, You reign above it all
You reign above it all

You sent the darkness running
Out of an empty grave
Now seated alone in glory
Enthroned on the highest praise

You reign above it all, You reign above it all
Over the universe and over every heart
There is no higher name
Jesus, You reign above it all
Let all of Heaven and the Earth erupt in song
Sing hallelujah to the Everlasting One
There is no higher name
Jesus, You reign above it all

– Paul McClure, Reign Above It All lyrics © Essential Music Publishing

Father, You reign above it all. You are great and greatly to be praised. May I never forget just how powerful, majestic, and worthy of praise You are. Never let me forget that You alone are God, and that no power in heaven or earth can stand before You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

God Alone Is Just

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    they walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations! – Psalm 82:1-8 ESV

While this psalm is relatively brief, its history of interpretation has been long and controversial. The opening line is where the confusion and ultimate disagreement begin. The English Standard Version reads, “God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment” (Psalm 82:1 ESV). Yet, the New English Translation renders this same verse quite differently.

God stands in the assembly of El;
in the midst of the gods he renders judgment. – Psalm 82:1 NET

The NET Bible translators chose to use the Hebrew word 'ēl because they believed it was a reference to the Canaanite god El. In the study notes that accompany their translation, the editors wrote, “The present translation assumes this is a reference to the Canaanite high god El, who presided over the Canaanite divine assembly. (See Isa 14:13, where El’s assembly is called “the stars of El.”) In the Ugaritic myths the phrase ʿdt ʾilm refers to the “assembly of the gods,” who congregate in King Kirtu’s house, where Baal asks El to bless Kirtu’s house (see G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 91). If the Canaanite divine assembly is referred to here in Ps 82:1, then the psalm must be understood as a bold polemic against Canaanite religion. Israel’s God invades El’s assembly, denounces its gods as failing to uphold justice, and announces their coming demise” (NET Bible study notes).

The issue lies with the interpretation of the Hebrew word 'ēl. It has a range of meanings and was used to refer to everything from gods to human rulers and judges. El was the name of the Canaanite god, but it was also the title used by the Israelites when referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is commonly translated as “mighty one(s)” and is sometimes rendered as “divine council” (ESV) or “assembly (NASB). This reference to a divine council or assembly has led some interpreters to see these verses as speaking of angelic beings. Others have interpreted it as a reference to a category of lesser gods who serve as advisors to the one true God. These various interpretations are complicated by Asaph’s reference to “the gods” at the end of verse 1.

God ['ĕlōhîm] has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods ['ĕlōhîm] he holds judgment. – Psalm 82:1 ESV

Notice that Asaph uses the same Hebrew word, 'ĕlōhîm, when referring to Israel’s God and the gods over whom he holds judgment. The key to understanding the rest of the passage lies in how one interprets Asaph's use of the word 'ĕlōhîm. The Israelites viewed 'ĕlōhîm as a title more than a name. It was the word they used when referring to all gods, including their own and those of the pagan nations. The actual name they used to refer to their God was Yahweh, because that was what they had been commanded to do. Back when God commissioned Moses to deliver the people of Israel from their captivity in Egypt, He told His reluctanct servant, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations” (Exodus 3:15 NLT).

But in his psalm, Asaph uses God’s title 'ĕlōhîm and states that He rules in the midst of the 'ĕlōhîm. Once again, this Hebrew word has a variety of meanings. It is the plural form of 'ēl and can be rendered as “gods, mighty ones, judges, or rulers. In the Hebrew Bible, it is used to refer to angels, pagan gods, human judges, and even Yahweh Himself. But the question becomes, what was Asaph’s purpose in using this word in his psalm?

The context of his psalm contains the answer. He describes God as standing as judge over some assembly of influential individuals. Are they gods, angels, kings, or judges? Is this council made up of divine beings or mere men? Based on God’s line of questioning, it would appear that He is addressing human rulers whom He views as His divinely appointed representatives on earth. These men were to serve as mediators among the people of Israel, helping to apply God's laws in settling disputes and delivering justice. But God was not pleased with their performance.

“How long will you defend the unjust
    and show partiality to the wicked?
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
    uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:2-4 NLT

God was accusing these human judges of dereliction of duty. They had failed to do their jobs, and He was not pleased. King David wrote a similar stinging indictment in Psalm 59. As king, he was responsible for the oversight of all judicial matters in Israel. As his kingdom grew, he appointed judges to adjudicate all the cases among his people. But he soon discovered that the blind were leading the blind. His judges were as sinful as the people under their care, and he was merciless in his criticism of them.

Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?
    Do you judge the people fairly?
No! You plot injustice in your hearts.
    You spread violence throughout the land.
These wicked people are born sinners;
    even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.
They spit venom like deadly snakes;
    they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers,
    no matter how skillfully they play. – Psalm 58:1-5 NLT

The prophet Isaiah delivered a similar rebuke to the judges of Israel, whom God found to be negligent in their duties, guilty of gross incompetence, and worthy of His wrath.

What sorrow awaits the unjust judges
    and those who issue unfair laws.
They deprive the poor of justice
    and deny the rights of the needy among my people.
They prey on widows
    and take advantage of orphans.
What will you do when I punish you,
    when I send disaster upon you from a distant land?
To whom will you turn for help?
    Where will your treasures be safe?
You will stumble along as prisoners
    or lie among the dead.
But even then the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied.
    His fist is still poised to strike. – Isaiah 10:1-4 NLT

In verse 6 of his psalm, Asaph records God referring to these judges as “gods” ['ĕlōhîm] and “sons of the Most High,” but His compliment appears to be tongue in cheek.

“You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.” – Psalm 82:6-7 NLT

These verses reek of sarcasm as God takes these self-inflated, egotistical men to task for their overly lofty view of themselves. They have taken themselves too seriously and allowed their authority to go to their heads. Puffed up with pride, they have abused their power to take advantage of the weak and defenseless. Proverbs 24 provides insight into what these men were guilty of doing.

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment.
A judge who says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
    will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.
But it will go well for those who convict the guilty;
    rich blessings will be showered on them. – Proverbs 24:23-25 NLT

God cares deeply about truth and justice. He gave His Law as a guide to moral conduct and a means of adjudicating disputes among His people. But it must be applied fairly and equitably. The powerful were never to use their authority to take advantage of the weak or less fortunate. Judges were not to use positions to fleece the flock and pad their own pockets. Bribes were to be avoided at all costs. Cronyism was unacceptable.  Showing partiality for personal gain was off limits and worthy of harsh judgment. God would not tolerate injustice among those responsible for the care of His flock.

As a citizen of the kingdom of Israel, Asaph had been subjected to this unjust judicial system and was ready for God to step in and rectify the problem. He calls the ultimate Judge of the universe to remediate the problem and adjudicate the claims of the weak and defenseless.

Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations! – Psalm 82:8 ESV

Asaph was willing to trust God to do the right thing. He believed that Yahweh could and would right all wrongs and ensure justice was served. It was Solomon who wrote of God’s role as judge and his belief that justice will be served in the end.

I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.” – Ecclesiastes 3:14-16 NLT

Asaph and Solomon both knew that justice was up to God. Even the prophet Jeremiah understood that his desire for an equitable outcome to his grievances was up to an all-knowing, all-powerful God, whose desire for justice was matched by capacity to deliver it.

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies,
you make righteous judgments,
    and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.
Let me see your vengeance against them,
    for I have committed my cause to you. – Jeremiah 11:20 NLT

Father, You are just, righteous, and good – all the time. While we may have to suffer the abuse of ungodly men using their power in unfair and inequitable ways, we know we can count on You to make all things right. Living in this world can be difficult because fallen men in positions of authority use and abuse their power in ways that promote injustice and produce unfair outcomes. But You are always on Your throne and You never miss a single unjust judgment. You know all and see all. And one day, You will rectify all. Help me to trust You more. Give me the strength to endure injustice by focusing my hope on You. You are the ultimate Judge of the universe and Your verdict is the only one that matters. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Necessity of Neediness

To the choirmaster. Of David, for the memorial offering.

1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
    O LORD, make haste to help me!
2 Let them be put to shame and confusion
    who seek my life!
Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
    who delight in my hurt!
3 Let them turn back because of their shame
    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4 May all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
    say evermore, “God is great!”
5 But I am poor and needy;
    hasten to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
    O LORD, do not delay! – Psalm 70:1-5 ESV

Who knew David could be a man of few words, but in this psalm, we see him cut to the chase and make his point to God in record time. He doesn't beat around the bush, but instead comes out and tells God what he wants. "Please God, rescue me!" (Psalm 70:1 NLT), and he asks God to do it quickly.

Evidently, David's need was overwhelming, and he felt the need to demand immediate action by God. In a Psalm of so few words, it is interesting to note what David took the time to say. He expressed his need for God's salvation, his desire for justice for his enemies, and, most importantly, his awareness of his condition.

This was not the first time David felt compelled to call out to God in a moment of distress. In fact, this rather short psalm is almost a word-for-word copy of a section of another psalm he wrote.

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God! – Psalm 4-:13-17 ESV

Davi can’t be accused of plagiarism because he authored both works, but he does borrow heavily from his previous psalm. In both cases, he states, "I am poor and needy." This short phrase speaks volumes about David's awareness of his condition. There is no hint of pride or self-sufficiency. His self-disclosing statement exhibits no sign of arrogance or hubris. Instead, it reveals a man who is painfully aware of his status and unashamed to admit it to God. 

David is the king of Israel who commands a great army and lives in a beautiful palace surrounded by wealth and opulence. But inwardly, David knows he is needy, destitute, and unable to meet his needs. Whatever his circumstance, David knows he can’t save himself; he needs God. So, he begs God to hurry to his aid without delay.

O God, hurry to me.
You are my helper and my deliverer.
O Lord, do not delay.– Psalm 70:5 NLT

The first step in seeing God work in our lives is recognizing our need for His intervention. We must come to grips with our deficiency and His sufficiency. But that is harder than it sounds for most of us. We tend to want to solve our problems and meet our own needs. When faced with difficulties, our initial reaction is to rescue ourselves and, if successful, pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. It is hard to help someone who refuses to see their need for help. But David had reached the point where he would no longer let pride stand in his way. He knew that God was his helper and savior. He understood that there was nothing he could do to solve his problem. He needed God, so he called to Him.

David knew from experience that those who call on God are seldom, if ever, disappointed. He had learned that dependence upon God was a sign of strength, not weakness. Confession of his own insufficiency may be hard on the ego, but it is well worth any pain his pride may have to endure. Calling on God in his time of need had always proven to be the right response.

May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you.
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
“May God be praised!”– Psalm 70:4 NLT

In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul shared a personal account about his own moment of crisis and need. Paul had just disclosed that he received “visions and revelations from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 12:1 NLT). He described being “caught up to paradise” where he “heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words” (2 Corinthians 12:4 NLT). Yet, despite these potentially ego-boosting experiences, Paul states that God graciously kept his pride in check.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 NLT

Paul provides no details concerning the nature of his “thorny” problem but states that he repeatedly begged God to remove it. However, he received the same response from God all three times.

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

And Paul’s takeaway from this ongoing “need” was amazingly positive.

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT

Paul learned to see his problems as divinely ordained opportunities to witness God's power in his life. His “weaknesses” proved to be positive and not negative. His insufficiency wasn’t a detriment but a blessing in disguise. This knowledge led him to make the seemingly contradictory statement: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” 

From a human perspective, Paul’s words seem illogical and irrational. However, when viewed through Paul’s understanding of God’s power and sovereignty, they make all the sense in the world. His message of strength in weakness and joy in suffering was a regular part of his personal story and became integral to his pastoral message. He delivered a similarly nonsensical life lesson to the believers in Rome.

…we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 NLT

Paul and David shared a common dependence on God’s power and provision. Both men knew that their insufficiencies were assets and not liabilities. They viewed themselves as little more than unworthy vessels through which the power of God flowed. Paul put it this way to his audience in Corinth:

…we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. – 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 NLT

It is normal and natural to despise weakness. Nobody longs to be powerless, helpless, and hopeless. David cried out, “O God, please be willing to rescue me. O Lord, hurry and help me” (Psalm 70:1 NLT) because he wanted to be delivered from his distress. Three separate times, Paul asked God to remove his thorn in the flesh. But both men knew their weakness, while unenjoyable, was the perfect opportunity to see God work.

All those who believe in an all-powerful, loving, and compassionate God must recognize the reality of their own weakness and His strength. They must come to grips with their need for Him. There is no place for self-sufficiency in the life of the believer. Self-reliance is dangerous for a God-follower because it diminishes one’s need for His help. The confession, “I am poor and needy,” must precede the statement “You are my help and my deliverer” (Psalm 70:5 ESV). Failure to recognize and confess our own insufficiency will always diminish our dependency upon God. If we are capable, God becomes dispensable. But David and Paul would warn against such a self-reliant and self-delusional outlook. They would encourage us to sing the chorus to the old hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour.”

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev'ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

Father, it seems the longer I live the more I recognize my true neediness. I guess it is that I am slowly learning the valuable lesson that I cannot save myself. I am not smart enough or powerful enough to rescue myself from the troubles of life. I need You. Thanks for the daily reminders of my own neediness. Help me to keep turning to You for help. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

You’re In Good Hands

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;
    and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;
    as wax melts before fire,
    so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad;
    they shall exult before God;
    they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
    exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows
    is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
    he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
    but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people,
    when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
    before God, the One of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
    you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

11 The LORD gives the word;
    the women who announce the news are a great host:
12     “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!”
The women at home divide the spoil—
13     though you men lie among the sheepfolds—
the wings of a dove covered with silver,
    its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,
    let snow fall on Zalmon.

15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;
    O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,
    at the mount that God desired for his abode,
    yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
    thousands upon thousands;
    the LORD is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
    leading a host of captives in your train
    and receiving gifts among men,
even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

19 Blessed be the LORD,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation,
    and to God, the LORD, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,
    the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The LORD said,
    “I will bring them back from Bashan,
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,
    that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”

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.

28 Summon your power, O God,
    the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
    kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
    the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
    scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;
    Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
    sing praises to the LORD, Selah
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel,
    and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
    the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God! – Psalm 68:1-35 ESV

You’re in good hands with Allstate. That famous slogan has been in continuous use since the 1950s and has become one of the most easily recognized company taglines in marketing history. Yet, its confident promise of unwavering care could more readily be said of God.

In this rather lengthy psalm, David reminds us that our God is the only trustworthy source of protection and provision.  He portrays God as a shepherd carrying a sheep in his arms, protecting it, providing for it, and ensuring it gets where it needs to go.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death. – Psalm 68:9-10 NLT

Our great God carries us. It is a vivid picture of intimacy and love, and a much-needed reminder of God’s matchless power. In this psalm, David repeatedly addresses the matchless power of God that freed the Israelites from Egypt, led them to the promised land, and conquered the enemies living there.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people. – Psalm 68:9-10 NLT

This great, majestic, all-powerful God is also “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows,” who “places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoner free and gives them joy” (Psalm 68:5-6 NLT). He is not a distant deity who reigns from some unseen place and dispenses justice and judgment like some invisible judge. He is with us and for us.

From the moment He chose Abram to be the father of the Hebrew nation, God has lived in and among chosen people. Throughout the years they wandered in the wilderness, God traveled with the people of Israel, leading the way and taking the form of a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night. They always knew He was with them. When He instructed Moses to construct the tabernacle in the wilderness, He promised to dwell within the Holy of Holies, as a constant reminder of His presence and power. Later, God’s presence filled the Holy of Holies of the new Temple constructed by Solomon.

Now the Lord will live among us there. – Psalm 68:18 NLT

God chose to dwell among men. He made His presence known and displayed His power among them.

God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. – Psalm 68:35 NLT

But for David, this divine power was not some relic from Israel’s ancient past; it was an everyday reality for God’s chosen people. The LORD could be counted on to show up when needed, exhibiting His might in tangible ways and delivering His children from every conceivable difficulty. No problem was insurmountable, and no enemy was too great. God’s people could call on Him in their time of need, and He would deliver.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God. – Psalm 68:1-2 NLT

This confident assurance in God’s irrepressible power should produce a sense of peace that shows up in joyful praise.

…let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy. – Psalm 68:3 NLT

David encourages his fellow Israelites to “rejoice in his presence” (Psalm 68:4 NLT) and to “praise God our savior” (Psalm 68:19 NLT). The LORD has a long and irrefutable track record of success. His past victories over Israel’s enemies should serve as a powerful reminder that He can be trusted. He is a God who has proven His capacity to protect and provide, having repeatedly revealed Himself as “a God who saves” (Psalm 68:20 NLT). And if He did it then, He can do it now.

We are in good hands with God. He is powerful, but also gentle. He is majestic, but also intimate. He delivers judgment with a firm hand but also metes out justice with tender mercy. He has the power to destroy our enemies and the compassion to forgive us of our sins. He can rain down judgment and deliver rain to restore a dry land. Our God is great, but the more significant news is that our great God cares for us. That thought should blow us away and cause us to respond in praise, prayer, gratitude, joy, hope, and worship. 

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms.  – Psalms 68:19 NLT

Father, thank You for this much-needed reminder. I am in Your arms, therefore I am safe. You are taking me where I need to go. You are protecting me at all times. You are healing me, holding me and helping me. I have nothing to fear, but much to be grateful for. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Worthy of Our Praise

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

5 God has gone up with a shout,
    the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!

8 God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted! – Psalm 47:1-9 ESV

In this psalm, one of the sons of Korah praises the LORD, the Most High, as “a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1 ESV). This recognition of Yahweh (the LORD) as the one true sovereign is meant to single out the Israelite God from all other deities and earthly kings. Throughout his song, the psalmist primarily uses the generic title ĕlōhîm, which was used in reference to all deities. In a culture where many gods were recognized and worshiped, the psalmist wanted to set apart the Israelite ĕlōhîm as superior and unparalleled in His power, majesty, and sovereignty. He calls on the people of Israel to clap their hands in praise to the one true God, reminding them of the many benefits they have received from their gracious King.

He subdues the nations before us,
    putting our enemies beneath our feet.
He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance,
    the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves. – Psalm 47:3-4 NLT

They had been the undeserved recipients of the land of Canaan, promised to them by God as their inheritance. Under the leadership of Moses, they had been set free from slavery in Egypt and guided to the borders of their future home. After Moses’ death, Joshua served as their God-appointed leader and military commander, helping them conquer the nations that occupied Canaan. Under his leadership, they took possession of the promised land, but it had been God who had subdued the nations before them. They owed their success to the sovereign hand of Yahweh, “the great King of all the earth” (Psalm 47:3 NLT).

The psalmist pictures God as ascended on high, where He sits on His royal throne and reigns above the nations (Psalm 47:5, 8 NLT). From His lofty vantage point, Yahweh surveys His Kingdom, which consists not only of the nation of Israel but all the peoples of the world. It all belongs to Him. While other ĕlōhîm exist in the minds of men and are worshiped and revered, only Yahweh deserves praise and adoration. That is what leads the psalmist to call on God’s people to sing His praises.

Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King over all the earth.
    Praise him with a psalm. – Psalm 47:6-7 NLT

This same fervor for God’s glory is found in Psalm 113.

Praise the Lord!

Yes, give praise, O servants of the LORD.
    Praise the name of the LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD
    now and forever.
Everywhere—from east to west—
    praise the name of the LORD.
For the LORD is high above the nations;
    his glory is higher than the heavens.

Who can be compared with the LORD our God,
    who is enthroned on high? – Psalm 113:1-5 NLT

Yahweh is incomparable and without equal. He alone reigns on high and is worthy of His people’s adoration and worship. God demands the veneration of His name, Yahweh. That personal, intimate name was reserved for use by the people of Israel and was given to them long before their exodus from Egypt.

God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.” – Exodus 3:15 NLT

Yahweh was serious about His name and expected His people to honor it at all times. In the Book of Malachi, God indicts His chosen people for their defamation of His name. He describes the pagan nations as more respectful of His glory than the people who bear His name.

“But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

“But you dishonor my name with your actions. By bringing contemptible food, you are saying it’s all right to defile the LORD’s table. You say, ‘It’s too hard to serve the LORD,’ and you turn up your noses at my commands,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. – Malachi 1:11-13 NLT

God had given the people of Israel a name to use when referring to Him. It was a name intended to set Him apart from all the other ĕlōhîm. In a sense, the name Yahweh was intended to differentiate their ĕlōhîm from all other ĕlōhîm. God gave that name to Moses in preparation for his return to Egypt, where He would have to convince the people of Israel that the God of their ancestors had sent him. For 400 years, the Israelites had lived in Egypt and acclimated to their surrounding, adopting the many ĕlōhîm of the Egyptians as their own. When Moses was told by God to return to his people and announce their coming deliverance, he asked, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God [ĕlōhîm] of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13 NLT).

His question was legitimate because he knew that if he simply said ĕlōhîm had sent him, the people would want to know which ĕlōhîm. Their were hundreds of ĕlōhîm in Egypt, and the Israelites had long forgotten about the ĕlōhîm that their ancestors worshiped. So, in response to Moses’ question, God gave him the name Yahweh.

But as the Malachi passage reveals, the people of Israel eventually treated God’s name with disrespect and dishonor. They failed to show God the reverence and respect He deserved. In fact, the chosen people of God were guilty of denigrating His name to such a degree that the pagan nations displayed greater fear and reverence than they did.

“I am a great king,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and my name is feared among the nations!” – Malachi 1:14 NLT

The psalmist closes out his song with a prophetic statement regarding a future day when all the nations will give Yahweh the glory and honor He so rightly deserves.

The rulers of the world have gathered together
    with the people of the God of Abraham.
For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
    He is highly honored everywhere. – Psalm 47:9 NLT

The prophet Isaiah records the words of God predicting a future day when all nations will honor Him for who He is – the soveriegn King over all the earth.

“Let all the world look to me for salvation!
    For I am God; there is no other.
I have sworn by my own name;
    I have spoken the truth,
    and I will never go back on my word:
Every knee will bend to me,
    and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.” – Isaiah 45:22-23 NLT

This worldwide worship of Yahweh will take place because of the efforts of His Son. Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of mankind, will return to earth a second time to bring about the completion of God’s redemptive plan. In the book that bears his name, Daniel records a vision he was given of the second coming of Christ.

I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:13-14 NLT

The apostle John was also given a vision and a message, declaring the day when Christ would establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth.

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” – Revelation 11:15 BSB

Paul wrote the believers in Philippi, reminding them that Jesus died, rose again, and ascended back to His Father’s side in heaven. But he also reminded them that the day would come when Jesus would return to finish what He began, ending with the worldwide recognition of His majesty and glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:9-11 NLT

The worship and praise that the psalmist calls for will one day happen, and it will be the result of Christ’s redemptive work as He returns to set up His Kingdom and conquer Satan and all the enemies of God. Paul describes this future day when Yahweh will receive the glory and honor He so richly deserves, and it will all be the result of His Son’s completion of His assignment.

After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. – 1 Cornithans 15:24-28 NLT

Father, You deserve praise and honor right now. I don't have to wait until the end of the story to understand that You are worthy of my thanks, adoration, and worship. You have already done so much for me by sending Your Son to die on my behalf. But when I consider all that is going to happen in the future because of Your great redemptive plan, I have no reason to treat Your name with anything but the highest respect and honor. Keep me focused on Your faithfulness so that I might live more faithfully as I wait for the fulfillment of Your promises. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Look to God

A Psalm of David.

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your name's sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.
12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
13 His soul shall abide in well-being,
    and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,
    and with what violent hatred they hate me.
20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
    Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
    out of all his troubles. – Psalm 25:1-22 ESV

In this amazing Psalm, David repeatedly reminds us that there is only one place we are to look for help, hope, healing, deliverance, direction, instruction, inspiration, mercy, forgiveness, and love. Whether things are going great or life has taken a turn for the worse, David tells us that, from his experience, God is worth trusting. In fact, throughout this Psalm, David uses the Hebrew word qavah, which means “to wait for, hope for, and to look eagerly for.”

There is a sense of anticipation and expectation built into that word. This is not about hopeless resignation or a pessimistic determination that nothing else can be done. It is an eager expectation based on God’s reputation for righteousness, mercy, love, power, forgiveness, and salvation. David doesn’t just pray for God’s deliverance; he fully expects it.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced… – Psalm 25:3 NLT

…you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. – Psalm 25:5 NLT

…you are merciful, O LORD. – Psalm 25:7 NLT

The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. – Psalm 25:8 NLT

The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness… – Psalm 25:10 NLT

David had a long-term perspective. He did not let current circumstances cloud or influence his understanding of God’s faithful love and ability to deliver at just the right moment. He knew he could trust God to come through and deliver him from trouble. But he viewed God as more than just a divine deliverer. He had experienced God's direction and guidance, providing him with a clear understanding of what path to take in life. David’s God didn’t just protect his life; He pointed out how to live a full and meaningful life.

David had grown to depend on God’s guidance, which is why he says, “show me the right path” (Psalm 25:4 NLT). He isn’t just asking God to point out the path but to make it known clearly and decisively so there’s no chance of taking a wrong turn. David asks God, “Lead me by your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5 NLT). The word translated as “lead” carries the idea of God showing David where to place each footstep along the way, and David knows that God’s direction comes from God’s Word.

David asks God to teach him. The Hebrew word lamad means to strike with a rod or to chastise. It was a word used when referring to the training or discipline of cattle. David invites God to train him, even if God has to use a little physical discipline. When was the last time you asked God to teach you and not spare the pain?

David could dare to make such a request because he knew that God was holy, just, righteous, and good. “The Lord is good and does what is right” (Psalm 25:8 NLT). He “leads with unfailing love and faithfulness” (Psalm 25:10 NLT). David knew that God always had his best interest in mind. Even in his darkest moments, David knew he could turn to God, and God would understand, empathize, rescue, restore, teach, guide, discipline, and love him through it all.

This Psalm reminds us that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, faithful, righteous, merciful, personal, forgiving, and worthy of our trust. David looked to God. He kept his eyes focused on God. But we live in a world filled with distractions and doubt-producing alternatives that try to substitute themselves as replacements for God. It is easy to focus our attention elsewhere. We can quickly look to someone or something else to bring us peace, escape from pain, hope, happiness, wisdom, and protection. But none of those things will deliver. None of them can provide what we’re looking for because they offer empty promises and always leave us with unfulfilled desires. Yet, God always delivers. He always comes through. He always shows up. So, David kept looking up.

My eyes are always on the Lord,
    for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. – Psalm 25:15 NLT)

These are not the glass-half-full rants of a wide-eyed optimist. David could whine with the best of them. In fact, he declares his not-so-pleasant circumstances in no uncertain terms. 

I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. – Psalm 25:16-17 NLT

He asks God to feel his pain and see his trouble. He begs God to forgive his sins, especially those to which he may be blind. He doesn’t know why he’s suffering or what he has done to make his enemies despise him, but he knows his only hope is God.

Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
    Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. – Psalm 25:20 NLT

When all is said and done, David must trust that God sees and knows the truth behind his circumstances. His all-knowing God will avenge him because he is a man of integrity and honesty. David is not claiming to be a man of moral perfection or sinlessness. He fully knows his capacity to commit sin and his need for God’s forgiveness. But he trusts that God knows the true nature of his heart and will not only forgive but vindicate him.

When things looked down, David looked up. He put his faith in God, believing that justice would be served, protection would be forthcoming, and restoration was inevitable. Where are you looking today? Why not look up and eagerly wait for God to show up? He is “a friend to those who fear him” (Psalm 25:14 NLT).

Father, this Psalm is so rich and jam-packed with insights into Your character. Make them come alive in my life and experience. I want to look to You, rely on You, rest in You, wait on You, and eagerly hope in You. Because You are my God and my friend. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The King of Glory

A Psalm of David.

1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah – Psalm 24:1-10 ESV

Ultimately, this Psalm is about God. It speaks of His holiness, power, glory, and transcendence. God is not like us. He is transcendent and wholly righteous in all that He does. He is the creator of everything and operates outside the limits of time and space. God is eternal and omnipresent. He sees all, knows all, and is obligated by His holiness to mete out justice to all those who fail to live up to His rigorous and unbending moral standards. Sinful men can’t just come into His presence any time they want – flippantly or arrogantly. They must recognize His holiness and acknowledge their unrighteousness.

David understood and revered the otherness of God. He begins his Psalm with a declaration of God’s status as the maker of the heavens and the earth. He is the uncreated, ever-existent one who exists outside His creation and rules over it from “his holy place” (Psalm 24:3 ESV). From his limited, earth-bound perspective, David envisions God’s abode as a mountain. He is inaccessible and unapproachable. David may be referring to Mount Sinai in the wilderness, where Moses met with God and received the Ten Commandments. Moses described God’s glorious presence on Mount Sinai in startling and intimidating terms.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled. Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. – Exodus 19:16-20 NLT

Not only was this manifestation of God’s glory frightening to the people of Israel, but they had been warned about the danger of coming anywhere near His presence. In preparation for Yahweh’s appearance on the mountaintop, the people were commanded to purify themselves.

“Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’” – Exodus 19:10-13 NLT

God was holy and they were not. They could not just barge into His presence unprepared and with an attitude of entitlement. David seems to have this incident in mind when he asks, “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” (Psalm 24:3 NLT). And he answers his own questions. 

Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
    who do not worship idols
    and never tell lies. – Psalm 24:4 NLT

God’s holiness demands that His people be righteous and faithfully keep His commands. David seems to truncate God’s law into two simple imperatives. The first is God-directed, demanding that men worship Yahweh alone, which is in keeping with the first of the Ten Commandments. David’s second injunction is man-oriented, prohibiting the speaking of falsehoods. His simplification of God's moral code is in keeping with what Jesus said when He was asked what the greatest commandment was.

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40 NLT

Love God and love others. That was the core issue behind the Mosaic Law, and David seems to have understood that long before Jesus explained it to the Pharisees. Only those who love God and others well “will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior” (Psalm 24:5 NLT). According to David, only those kinds of people can seek God and worship in His presence.

This high view of God runs counter to the current trend of seeing God as our friend or the kindly old grandfather in the sky. Far too many treat God like He’s their personal valet, life coach, or personal trainer. David reminds us that God is not someone who is to be treated lightly or with disdain. Those who seek God and enjoy the benefits of a relationship with Him are those whose deeds are blameless, whose hearts are pure and innocent, and whose lives are not marked by worthless, vain conduct. They recognize that their behavior plays a big part in their ability to enjoy God’s blessings.

God is the King of Glory. He deserves our praise, adoration, worship, wonder, awe, reverence, fear, and respect. He is strong and mighty. He is holy and righteous. He is set apart. He is above all and deserving of all glory and honor. It is God’s separateness and our own sinfulness that makes the cross of Jesus Christ so amazing and life-changing. It is Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross that allows sinful men and women to have access to the very throne room of God. It is what He has done that enables us to share in His righteousness and be viewed by God as holy. We have access to His presence not because WE are blameless and pure in and of ourselves but because Jesus Christ was blameless and pure. Because He took all our sinfulness on Himself at the cross, we were imputed His righteousness. We are seen by God as blameless, innocent, clean, pure, holy, and righteous.

And as if that was not enough, God gave us His Holy Spirit to indwell us and empower us to live holy lives. We can live righteously and rightly – despite the presence of our sinful natures. We can live by the Spirit, or we can live according to the flesh (our sinful nature). We can live in obedience or disobedience. The choice is up to us. Each day we must recognize God’s holiness and our own sinfulness. We must remember what Christ has done for us on the cross. We must rest in the fact that we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead living within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. We can live holy lives. We can say no to sin and yes to God’s transformative power in our lives.

Our daily desire should be to come into God’s presence – recognizing His holiness and our responsibility to treat Him with dignity, honor, and respect. Paul put it this way,

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. – Romans 12:1 NLT

We belong to Him. He paid for us with His own Son’s life. We are to give our lives to Him and allow Him to transform us into the likeness of His Son – and in so doing, honor Him for who He is – the King of Glory.

The final three verses of this Psalm provide a prophetic vision of the second coming of Jesus Christ when He appears as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will be Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, who returns to earth to complete God’s grand plan of redemption that includes the restoration of all things. David describes the gates of Jerusalem being opened wide so that the LORD of Hosts can enter and rule in righteousness from the throne of David.

These closing verses present a stark contrast to David's opening questions: “Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” Rather than a man attempting to enter God’s presence based on his own righteousness, this closing scene pictures the King of Glory coming to dwell with men on earth. The righteous one will make His home with us. 

Father, never let me treat You with anything but respect, glory, and honor. Never let me get so casual with You that I lose sight of your holiness. Never let me take for granted that I have access into Your presence because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. You are the King of glory and You deserve my respect, honor, and awe. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.