Posts with the tag “psalm”

Daily Devotional from Psalm 76–Verse 4“Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.” (KJV)World powers or strongholds could be examples of mountains of prey. God is much greater and more powerful than anything that threatens us. Even the biggest problems in life look small and weak when compared to God's glory and ultimate power.By shifting our focus to God’s supreme authority ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 75–Verses 6-7“For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.” I am so glad that judgment is God’s job. It makes loving people so much easier. And it allows us to move into prayer for others instead of dwelling on what we think they deserve. As Christians, ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 74—Verse 2 “Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!”There are quite a few instances of people in the Bible calling out to God to ‘remember us!’ which is another way of saying ‘don’t forget about us!’ I have a friend who tells a story about the time when he accidentally forgot he had his 4-yea...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 73—Verse 17“…until I went into the sanctuary of God…”I love this line. It’s the turning point of the entire Psalm.The psalmist spends the first half of this Psalm in consternation because people in the world seem to just get off scot-free. There appear to be no repercussions for living an ungodly life. Meanwhile, those trying to live for the Lord can’t seem to catch a b...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 72–Verse 18 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.”In Psalm 72, David prays for Solomon. In his prayer, we also see King Jesus. How marvelous it is to belong to the Lord! As children adopted into his kingdom, we have seen the “wondrous things” he does. May we live in thankfulness for all he has done for us. May we receive with gladness ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 71– Verse 9 “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.” King David had experienced family betrayal, betrayal of friends, destruction from enemies, condemnation, criticism, death of those he loved, destruction, and finally betrayal of his own body. And yet he turns to God. Don’t cast me off. Don’t forsake me. And God never aband...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 70— Verse 4“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!””Once again, David is calling out to God for assistance. He’s done all he can do in beseeching the Lord to deliver him from his enemies, without delay. And yet, in the midst of all his despair, he takes time to encourage others to magnify theGod of...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 69– Verse 6“Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.” When I read this psalm, I cannot help but think of Christ. Christ is the ultimate intercessor, the one before the throne of God, our mediator. Scripture tells us that He prays for us (John 17:9, Romans 8:...  Read More

October 2Daily Devotional from Psalm 68— Verse 5“A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.” How beautiful that the One who spoke creation into existence would choose to personally step in as a Father to those who don’t have one. This shows us just a glimpse of God’s character. He is very present in the places where others are absent. He is strong in the place...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 67—Verse 5“Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!”  This entire Psalm is a call to worship for all the nations of the world. Can you imagine it? Every nation, language, and culture gathered before the Lord on Mount Zion. We open each Sunday at Legacy Church with a Call to Worship. Someone stands before us and does their best to rouse our hear...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 66–Verses 1,13, & 16“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! I will come to your temple with burnt offerings. Come and hear all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”God is HUGE! He made it all; the earth, the sky, the land, the sea – great things and tiny things - wonderful things and frightening things. The psalm starts there and provides a universal...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 64–Verse 1a & 10“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint…. Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!”Sometimes we just need to express all of our frustrations and complaints to God. We need to get out everything we are thinking and feeling. This is one of the ways we take refuge in the LORD. He is our safe place,...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 63–Verse 1“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”This is a beautiful thought, isn’t it? Imagine David in his royal robes, sitting by a refreshing fountain nibbling on a platter of delectables, composing these songs for the Lord.No.King David wrote this one, schol...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 62–Verse 10“If riches increase, set not your heart on them.”If you had a broken chair, you should probably try to fix it or just get rid of it. It’s not worth having at the family table. Somebody is going to get hurt. And it’s not going to be pretty. Riches are a lot like a broken chair. They might support you, but don’t be surprised if the whole thing collapses. Anythi...  Read More

September 24Daily Devotional from Psalm 61–Verses 2-3 “…from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.”When we become faint of heart and overwhelmed, we can cry out to God. He will lift us above the waves of problems threatening to drown us. Our past experience of God’s faithf...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 65–Verse 13“The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.”All the earth declares the glory of God! The Bible tells us He is the Creator of all things and a perfect provider in every way. His love and kindness are revealed in His beautiful creation. How awesome that the mountains and the hills sing ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 60–Verse 12“With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”Valiantly means to do something bravely, courageously, and determinedly. With God as our source, those words define exactly how we walk as servants of the most High God. Walking as a servant of God means we never have to be concerned about enemies, or foes, or even people who are unkind t...  Read More

September 22Daily Devotional from Psalm 59–Verse 16“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”This is a prayer/song for deliverance from and judgment on David’s enemies, who seem not to fear the consequences of their evil ways. But David leaves his security in God’s hands and...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 58–Verse 4-5“Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be.”Wicked people are compared to snakes by the psalmist. A classic example of portraying the rebellious and unrighteous as those from the serpent's lineage (Genesis 3.15). As the Psalmist s...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 57–Verse 7“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.”David wrote this psalm from a place of real danger as he was fleeing from King Saul. In the midst of his fear, he declares, “My heart is steadfast.” He gives us a great example of what it looks like to bring our heart posture back to steadfastness. It’s so easy for our minds and...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 56–Verses 12b-13“I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”There are so many verses I could have highlighted in this chapter! But I find 12 and 13 to be the most profound in light of David’s situation. He writes this song about trusting God after he was sei...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 55–Verses 5-6“Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”King David said this during a time of extreme sadness and fear. At such times, escape is a natural first reaction. Wanting to run away is a universal human impulse. But it’s not the answer. In Psalm 55, after giving voice to thi...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 54–Verse 6“I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good” (KJV).Loving and serving God is our natural response to the wonderful gift He has given to us. His sacrifice set us free and reconciled us back into a loving relationship with God. He brings us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We can offer praise through prayer, servic...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 53– Verse 3 “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”  Every single one of us has been corrupted by sin. It functions like a genetic disease that spreads from person to person. No amount of “good” we do can cure us of it. Paul refers to this verse in Romans 3:10. He then says in verses 23-24, “for all have...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 52–Verse 9“I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”David wrote this after his hiding place was betrayed to Saul, who was trying to kill him. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been in quite that bad of a spot! But check out the language David uses here: ‘I will thank you BECAUSE YOU...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 51–Verse 6“You delight in truth in the inward being.”This verse has always stuck out to me like a sore thumb. It bothers me. It screams for attention. It’s easy to commit to truth on the outside. People are watching, after all; so give them what they want to see. Give them what makes you look good. But cover up the things that make you look bad! Don’t let anybody see it...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 50– Verses 14-15“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I shall deliver you and you shall glorify me.”We are called to come to God with thankful hearts, do what we promised him, and call on him when we are in trouble. It means looking for all we have to be thankful for, even in dire circu...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 49– Verse 16-17“Be not afraid when [an ungodly] one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased; For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.”There are four kinds of riches:Riches in what you have (material wealth).Riches in what you do (service for Jesus)Riches in what you know (wisdom from God)Riches in what...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 48–Verses 12-14“Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our Godforever and ever. He will guide us forever.”Mt. Zion is an incredibly special place — a high hill within Jerusalem, a place where King David brought the ark, and Solomon built the temple, t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 47–Verse 5“God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.” The Psalmist makes a clear point throughout the psalm: God is the king over all nations. Yet He is not some far-off, distant, or fantastical ruler. Instead, He is deeply personal, relating to his subjects, and this is a cause for joy. For God to ascend, He must have descended. The p...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 46–Verse 10“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”Sometimes being still can sound counterintuitive in a culture where striving is normal. It’s necessary that we let God be God over our lives and not try to muscle our way into that position. One of the greatest things we can rest in is knowing that God is g...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 45–Verse 1“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.”Something about verse one of this chapter just makes me want to sing! Maybe it’s because Psalm 45 is a wedding song, addressed to a mighty king and his bride; a beautiful princess. The song describes the king’s might and power, and the uprig...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 44–Verse 23“Awake Lord! Why do you sleep?”Psalm 44 is a lament. It’s a song born out of crises. At one point during the psalm, the writer asserts that they had not forgotten God or broken his covenant, and he wants to know why God would allow the current calamities. He wonders, “Why now, when we are at our greatest need, is he quiet? Haven’t we been good?” even going so...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 43– Verse 3“O send out thy light and thy truth: Let them lead me; Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles” (KJV). How blessed we are to have the living word of God, which brings us light and truth. While waiting for God’s justice and deliverance, we can remain confident that God will guide us. Like King David, we can look back to our Savior who will...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 42–Verse 8a“The LORD will send his faithful love day by day; his song will be with me in the night—”Sometimes it is so good to remind ourselves that the LORD’s love is FAITHFUL. The writer of the Psalm is going through something heavy. They feel dejected, sad, and forgotten by the LORD. Yet, they hold on to the hope of God’s faithful love. Are you in a place where you f...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 41–Verse 1“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him…”Throughout God’s word, we see a very strong focus on caring for the poor and needy. We are told to give generously, defend the vulnerable, and view kindness to the needy as a direct act of honor toward God. In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches that when people care for the hungry,...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 40–Verse 8“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”There's nothing worse than begrudging obedience – for both the obedient and the obeyed. What kind of relationship is that? A loveless one indeed.But to do another's will from a place of delight? Now that's beautiful. That's the kind of heart our Father desires, and the kind of heart the Spirit ...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 39–Verse 7b “ …My hope is in You.” David tried to be silent in his trials, which made things worse. His discomfort only built up inside, unvented and without relief from God or man. Silence also became a lack of speaking of the goodness of God that no circumstance could disprove.  When we find ourselves in difficulties, whether of our own making (sinfulness) or due to t...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 38–Verse 15“But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”In times of discipline, as in this chapter, and in times of sorrow, sickness, pain, suffering, frustration, or lack of understanding, we have only one option available: wait for the Lord. When it comes to waiting on the Lord, is it fun? Not really. Is it easy? No. Is it necessary? Abs...  Read More

Daily Devotional from Psalm 37–Verses 23-24“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when hedelights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be castheadlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”How many times can you fall and still be forgiven? Jesusanswers this question with 70×7 — in other words, too many to count. OUR JOB is to keep trying (He provides resources to help) and never give up wh...  Read More