Psalm 70-71 God's Help Now, In The Past, And In The Future

My commentary suggests that the writer of Psalm 71 “was probably past middle age and was greatly concerned about the burden of old age.  He wanted to end well.”  It pointed out “four affirmations about the Lord and the help He gives to those who call on Him and trust Him:”

First, the Lord helps me NOW.  He pleads with God, “God come quickly and save me.  Lord, hurry to help me… God, hurry to me.  You help me and save me.  Lord, do not wait … save and rescue me; listen to me and save me.”

Second, the Lord helped me in the PAST.  When we’re feeling low, it’s always wise to go back and review how God has already been at work in our lives, reminding ourselves of what He has already done.

Third, the Lord will help me in the FUTURE. “The psalmist looked to the future and moved from ‘You are my hope’ to ‘I will hope continually”… The word translated hope in verse 14 means a long and patient waiting in spite of delays and disappointments.  If we trust God, then the trials of life will work for us and not against us and will lead to glory … No matter what his enemies said about him, the day would come when God would honor him and reward him.”

Finally, he knew it was important that the Lord be praised for His help.  “He had looked back at a life of trials and blessings from the Lord; he had looked around at his enemies; he had looked ahead at old age and its problems; and he had even looked down [at the grave].  But it was when he looked up and realized that God’s righteousness reaches to the heavens that he grew in confidence and left his worries with the Lord.”

Father, I’ve done a lot of looking back and around and ahead the last few days.  Thanks for reminding me instead to look up.  I trust You, and my hope is in You.  Thank You for reminding me that no matter what my enemies say about me, the day will come when You will honor and reward me if I remain faithful to You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 69 -- Wow, What A Prayer!

“He had prayed to the Lord, but the Lord had not yet answered, and he wanted an answer now!  Though he was not sinless, he was innocent of the charges his enemies were making, and yet he was being treated as though he were guilty.”

“His second reason for praying for deliverance was for the Lord’s sake, because those who lied about David were blaspheming the name of the Lord … He was scorned because he stood up for the Lord and because he was zealous for God’s house … their attacks against David were attacks against God.”

As I read through this psalm, several verses really stood out this morning:

“My strong love for Your Temple completely controls me.”  I remembered that the Temple wasn’t built until after David’s time, when Solomon built it.  David’s love was for something God was planning.  It could be God’s heavenly Temple, or from the New Testament, our bodies as temples for God as well.  For me, the operative word was “completely” in that sentence.  Can I say that my love for God completely controls me?  Not very often.  Like everyone, I am often controlled by personal concerns.

The next sentence said, “When people insult You, it hurts me.”  I’m so glad that You’ve brought me to a point in my life where that is true, Father.

I loved verses 13-20.  They are worthy stopping now and looking up – David’s prayer for God to save him.  Verse 20 was particularly touching for me right now:  “Insults have broken my heart and left me weak.  I looked for sympathy, but there was none.”

Something worth noting is verse 26, where David is talking about his enemies:  “They chase after those YOU have hurt, and they talk about the pain of those YOU have wounded.”  David sees his pain as coming from God through his enemies’ actions, it sounds like.

I would find it almost impossible, though, to pray his prayer in verse 28:  “Wipe their names from the book of life and do not list them with those who do what is right.”  Their names had to be in the book of life to be wiped from it.  My commentary mentioned what Jesus said in Matthew 23 about the Pharisees.

There was encouragement for us near the end:  “Be encouraged, you who worship God.  The Lord listens to those in need and does not look down on captives [of sin, perhaps?].”

Father, You know how all of this applies in my life.  Please restore what others have taken from me over the last several years by their incorrect assignment of motives they thought I had.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 67-68 Refreshment From God

Although I’ve spent time in God’s Word studying S.S. lessons, it’s been 10 days since I’ve had a quiet time, mainly due to travel and holidays.  How refreshing to hear God speak to me personally from His Word again!

My commentary said that the short Psalm 67 describes the stages in the sequence of God’s blessing:  First, Israel blesses the nations, then the nations praise the Lord, and then the Lord sends the harvest.  This covered both physical and spiritual blessings, it said.  With the droughts that have plagued us, I took special note of these verses in both psalms:

“Those who turn against God will live in a dry land … God, You sent much rain; You refreshed Your tired land.”  Perhaps the direction our country has been heading (away from God) may be the cause of droughts instead of global warming.  And who knows how tired our land becomes due to the sins of the people?

Psalm 68 also contained much praise for God:

“Sing to God; sing praises to His name.  Prepare the way for Him … Rejoice before Him … He is a father to orphans (Josh and Joseph!) and He defends the widows.  God gives the lonely a home.  He leads prisoners out with joy … God, You led your people out … God comes with millions of chariots (as the Lord of Hosts) … Praise the Lord, God our Savior, who helps us every day.  Our God is a God who saves us; the Lord God saves us from death … Punish the leaders of nations … Defeated, they will bring You their silver.  Scatter those nations that love war.”

What we deem impossible today is simple for God to do, and He will do it in His timing.

Thank You, Father, for being God Almighty.  Bless us and bless the nations through us.  Cause all world leaders to bow to Your Sovereignty!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 65-66 Praise To God For His Love And Care

My commentary said these two psalms plus the next two focus on praising God for His blessings and His gracious dealings with us, despite ourselves.  I thought that especially as I read verses 1-3:  “God, You will be praised … We will keep our promises to You (Yeah, right…)  You hear our prayers.  All people will come to You (eventually, to bow down, whether they want to or not).”

Then the real truth hits:  “Our guilt overwhelms us, but You forgive our sins.”   And the result of that forgiveness follows:  “Happy are the people You choose and invite to stay in Your court.  We are filled with good things in Your house ...  You answer us in amazing ways, God our Savior.”

God is then praised for the way He shepherds even nature to take care of us, and then Psalm 66 begins with, “Everything on earth, shout with joy to God!  Sing about His glory!  Make His praise glorious!”  I firmly believe that after Creation, everything on earth was able to do that – the very rocks would cry out in praise to God.  The mountains danced.  But man’s sin stifled all that, forcing nature to be silenced.  How glorious it will be to one day witness that praise again!

God is even praised for our hard times:  “He protects our lives and does not let us be defeated.  God, You have tested us; You have purified us like silver.  You let us be trapped and put a heavy load on us.  You let our enemies walk on our heads.  We went through fire and flood, but You brought us to a place of good things.”

So what are we therefore expected to do as a result?  Praise Him!

“Come and listen, and I will tell you about what He has done for me.  I cried out to Him with my mouth and praised Him with my tongue.  If I had known of any sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me (shows the great importance of confession of sins).  But God HAS listened;  He has heard my prayer.  Praise God who did not ignore my prayer or hold back His love for me.”

God, thank You for loving and caring for me and for my sons despite our rebellion.  Forgive us when we fail You, and draw us back to You in love.  Watch over us and bless us, even in spite of ourselves, because You are a good God who loves His children.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 64 -- A Prayer To Fortify My Heart

I think we’re often taught not to pray against our enemies but for them – that God will show them His light and they will come to know Him.  In this chapter, the enemies were those opposed to David, God’s anointed King, and therefore they were also opposed to God’s plan to bring the Savior through David’s family. 

When David started out saying, “God, listen to my complaint,” my first thought was wondering if God gets tired of all of my complaints, like a person would who works in the complaints and returns department of a large store.  But then I remembered God loves us and wants to help us.  Our complaints are likely very trivial based on His sovereignty!

“David didn’t ask God to change the circumstances but to fortify his own heart and deliver him from fear.  The fear of the Lord mobilizes us, but the fear of man paralyzes us,” my commentary said.

Verses 3-6 call on us to ask for the Lord’s wisdom.  “We need to know the strategy of Satan when he attacks,” my commentary added.  “David knew that the human heart is deep and cunning, and that there are always new dangers to avoid, so he constantly sought the Lord’s wisdom as he made decisions.  By depending on the Lord and obeying His directions, David was confident that God would defeat His enemies.  The very weapon that the enemy uses against us, the Lord uses to defeat them.”

David gave glory to the Lord when his enemies were defeated.  “Some people stood and shook their heads in disbelief.  ‘If you can explain what’s going on, the Lord didn’t do it,’ someone once said.  Faith expects to see God to the impossible!  … It isn’t enough to know the works of the Lord; we must also seek to understand His way and learn how to please Him.  David’s great concern was that the Lord be glorified, and that was why God blessed Him.”

Father, help me to better understand how the enemy works against me.  Help me also to pray less for You to change the circumstances, for You produced them for a reason in my life; but instead help me to pray for You to fortify my heart and deliver me from fear, as You did David.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 63 -- Desiring God

David is supposedly writing this from the desert of Judah, likely while he was running from Absalom’s rebellion.  Yet in the middle of his distress, we don’t see worry and grief at all:

“God, You are my God.  I search for You.  I thirst for You … I have seen You … and have seen Your strength and glory.  Because Your love is better than life, I will praise You.  I will praise You as long as I live.  I will lift up my hands in prayer to Your name.  I will be content as if I had eaten the best foods.  My lips will sing, and my mouth will praise You.”

That certainly doesn’t sound like someone who is running for his life!  That sounds like a worshiper!

My commentary added:  “He didn’t look back in regret at the mistakes he’d made as a father, nor did he look around in fear or complaint at the discomforts and dangers of the wilderness.  Instead, he looked up to the Lord and reaffirmed his faith and love … he was excited about God … his deepest desires were spiritual, not physical.  With his whole being, body and soul, he yearned for God’s satisfying presence.  Just as we have physical senses that are satisfied by God’s creation, so we have spiritual senses that can be satisfied only by Christ … David had in him a deep love for the Lord and a desire to please Him … Instead of complaining, as we are prone to do when things go wrong, David sang praises to the Lord.”

Father, I found that same kind of love for You and for how You watch over every aspect of my life years ago while reading Experiencing God.  I spiritually crave Your presence just as my body craves food.  I want the closeness I feel when I commune with You to be a part of my life every day.  Stay close to me, Father.  Continue to help me to desire You more.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 61-62 Calm Reassurance From The Lord

I’m so glad that I’m able to call out to God as David did here:

“God, hear my cry; listen to my prayer. 

I call to You … when I am afraid. 

Lead me to a Rock that is higher than I …

Let me live in Your Holy Tent forever.

Let me find safety in the shelter of Your wings …

You have given me what belongs to those who fear You [eternal life]…

I find rest in God;

Only He can save me.  He is my Rock and my Salvation.  He is my Defender.

I will not be defeated…

Only He gives me hope…

My honor and my salvation come from God.

He is my mighty Rock and my Protection …

Trust God all the time.  Tell Him all your problems, because God is our protection …

Do not trust in force…

God is strong.  The Lord is loving.”

My commentary spoke about what David said in Psalm 62:

“The enemy could threaten him, lie about him, and even assault him, and he would not lose the peace God put in his heart.  To wait in silence before the Lord is not idleness or inactivity.  It is calm worship and faith, resting in His greatness and submitted to His will.  It is preparation for the time when God gives the orders to act… Times of waiting can be difficult if we don’t depend wholly on the Lord.  God’s delays are not God’s denials, but our impatience can be used by the devil to lead us in dangerous and destructive detours.”

Father, thank You for Your calm reassurance that You provide me.  Help me to wait on You and abide in You.  Allow me to worship You fully as I wait for Your plans to unfold.  Watch over me and my family.  Keep us safe from the evil one.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 59-60 God Doing Battle For Us

There’s a lot of talk of battle here, and I know many of us would not pray for the death of our enemies, but for Christ to soften their hearts to know Him.  My commentary helped me to understand what was happening in the background.

Verse 1-9 of Psalm 59 speak of God the Deliverer.  “God’s people can always turn to the Lord in times of danger and testing because He hears our prayers … The Lord knows our hearts … and recognizes when we are innocent and being attacked.  The Lord sees and hears our enemies and knows what they are saying and doing … The Lord defends our cause …”

Verses 10-17 speak of God the Judge:  “God would not only take care of David, but He would also confront David’s enemies and deal with them … When it comes to facing and fighting the enemy, the Lord goes before us.  The mercy (lovingkindness) of the Lord would go before David and prepare the way for victory … The Lord also fights for us by scattering the enemy, causing them to wander, and bringing their attack to a halt …The Lord gives us a song and even before the victory, we praise Him for who He is and what He does!”

Psalm 60 deals with a setback caused by an attack by another nation.  “It could be seen as a sign that God had rejected His people.  However, being a man of faith, David didn’t give up but rallied the people … God had covenanted to give them success against their enemies.  In David’s heart, faith was conquering fear … The Lord didn’t give the land to His people so they might lose it to their enemies … David claimed these promises by faith … and God gave the victory…  David earnestly prayed that the Lord would honor His Word and give His beloved people victory over their enemies, and the Lord answered… David didn’t interpret one setback as a sign of total defeat … perhaps he needed this one defeat to humble him and drive him closer to the Lord … The enemy would be completely defeated and Israel would triumph.”

Perhaps we’re being told to be politically correct too often and we are failing to remember that this is a spiritual battle.  God knows the future and He wins.  Yes, we have real enemies, and we can pray that God deals with them in His sovereignty however He sees fit.  His judgments are true.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 57-58 More Great Worship!

“Be merciful to me, God; be merciful to me because I come to You for protection.  Let me hide under the shadow of Your wings until the trouble has passed.  I cry out to God Most High, to the God who does everything for me.  He sends help from heaven and saves me.  He punishes those who chase me.  God sends me His love and truth … My heart is steady, God; my heart is steady.  I will sing and praise You.”

Psalm 57 is another one I really love.  Israel’s God-anointed king had hidden from Saul in a cave while Saul was chasing him.  And even though David knew that he was the anointed king, he thought less of himself to the extent that he asked God to be merciful to him – to not give him what he deserved for his sinfulness.  He asked God for protection because he knew that God would answer his prayers.  Imagine the security and safety of hiding behind God!

David acknowledged that God did everything for him, including sending help from heaven, along with love and truth and punishing those who chased David.

Because of his firm belief in God, David’s heart didn’t beat wildly in worry.  It was steadfast – a word that my commentary said is used in the Bible to describe the constancy of the heavenly bodies.  It was “fixed on the Lord’s promises and not wavering between doubt and faith.”

I also read, “If we are praying, trusting, and praising the Lord, we should have no problem exalting His name in all that we say, do, and suffer.  We’re commanded to do everything for the glory of God, and if everything includes hiding in caves, then may the Lord be magnified!  The elements of praying, praise, and a desire for God to be magnified will transform any cave into a Holy of Holies to the glory of God.”

Father, yesterday You incredibly blessed me with answers to several prayers, and I felt overwhelmed by Your mercy and grace in supplying me with miracles!  Thank You for Your faithfulness!  Remind me of it often so that I will continue to praise You no matter my circumstances.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 56 -- I LOVE This Psalm!

“God, be merciful to me …”  (Please don’t give me what I deserve)

“There are proud people fighting me…”  (They are not righteous ones.  The sin of pride afflicts them)

“When I am afraid, I will trust You.”  (Fear tends to make us unsure of things.  That’s the very time I need to trust God regardless)

“They twist my words; all their evil plans are against me.”  (Saul and his servants were after David.  And while David was hiding in Gath, those people were after him as well.  Yet David was God’s anointed king.  That means their actions were evil.  They could not be justified before God.  David’s words were innocent, yet in their efforts to find fault with him, they twisted the real meaning of what he said, being untruthful and therefore sinning themselves)

“They wait.  They hide.  They watch my steps …”  (They could be doing productive and holy ministry.  Instead, they spend their time hoping to build a case against David even though he was a godly man)

“You have recorded my troubles.  You have kept a list of my tears.”  (God in His perfect knowledge knows every hurt David has felt.  Nothing has escaped His attention.  God understands perfectly how David feels)

“On the day I call for help, my enemies will be defeated.”  (Prayer is so powerful, and God is so omnipotent, that the moment we pray to Him in His will, He alters the course of the future for us.  Because He is outside of time itself, His answer to that prayer instantly assures the defeat of those attacking His chosen one.  It’s as if they have already met their end)

“I trust in God.  I will not be afraid.  What can people do to me?  (God has proven His trustworthiness in my life so that now I know that He loves me and His best planned for me.  Nothing that any human plans can overcome that.  Therefore I have no reason to fear people.  They cannot undo the plans of Yahweh, the covenant God)

“You have kept me from being defeated.  So I will walk with God in light among the living.”  (God’s past faithfulness has assured him of His future faithfulness.  Therefore, he chooses to continue to remain with God, knowing that God will continue to guide his path, even though others around him may be oblivious to His very presence)

Father, thank You for this spiritual booster shot today.  It’s so awesome to read Your Word and then feel You directing me in my understanding of it.  And when the events of my life so closely parallel what I’m reading, I am reassured that Your timing is always perfect.  You give me exactly what I need for each new day.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 55 -- The Right Way To Look At Our Problems

David had to deal with the treachery of a false friend – someone he’d gone to church with many times to worship the Lord together.  But now this friend was helping to destroy David’s life.  My commentary said this psalm reveals four possible approaches to handling the painful problems and battles of life:

First, we can look within at our feelings:  He feared God was ignoring his prayer.  “It’s natural to look at our feelings and express our fears, but that isn’t the way to solve the problems.

Second, we can look beyond for a safe refuge:  “When we find ourselves in the midst of trouble, our first thought is: ‘How can I get out of this?’ But the dedicated believer needs to ask, ‘What can I get out of this?’ … The human heart longs for a safe and peaceful refuge from the problems and burdens of life … We don’t need … to fly away from the storm.  We need … to fly above the storm.”

Thirdly, we can look around at our circumstances:  David saw that his good friend he’d worshiped with was now counseling his son to rebel against his own father.  That broke David’s heart.  David prayed that God would bring confusion to his son’s ranks, and God answered by using Hushai to overrule Ahithophel’s plans.

Lastly, we can look up to God and trust Him:  “While it’s normal for us to hope for a quick way of escape, and important for us to understand our feelings and circumstances, it’s far more important to look up to God and ask for His help … David was still able to pray … and God answered … David was certain that the Lord would hear him and rescue him because He was enthroned in heaven and in complete control … he’d learned during the changing times in his life to trust the God who never changes… what life does to us depends on what life finds in us,” my commentary said.

“In verse 22, the word translated burden means that which he has given you, reminding us that even the burdens of life come from the loving heart and hand of God.”

Father, right now You know I need Your wisdom and guidance.  I’ve looked within at my own feelings.  I’ve looked beyond, hoping for a safe refuge.  I’ve looked around at my circumstances.  But despite it all, help me to keep my eyes on You and trust You.  You are in complete control, meaning that nothing in this life is beyond Your control.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 52-54 Publicly Praising God For Private Victories

David was rightfully angry in Psalm 52.  He’d been running from Saul and Doeg had told Saul where David was hiding.  “Doeg and Saul were mighty in their own eyes, but insignificant in God’s eyes.  David was insignificant in their eyes, but important to God,” my commentary said.  David knew he’d been anointed as God’s chosen king, so he also knew that God would deal with Saul and Doeg.  He used powerful verbs to describe what God would do to them:  “…break you down … snatch you up … tear your away … uproot you…” and the saints would be laughing when it happened, my commentary added.

Meanwhile David would serve faithfully.  “The private victories God gives us should be announced publicly for the encouragement of God’s people.  Though evil may seem to triumph, we must continue to obey and serve the Lord and not get discouraged.  The last laugh belongs to the Lord’s people.”

Father, I thank You for helping me when I most need it.  I will praise You for every help You give me.  Let others not see it as bragging.  Let them understand that I am praising You to encourage others to know that You are active in all of our lives and that You love and care for us greatly.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 51 -- Our Heart's Cry

“Wipe out all my wrongs.  Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again!”

David’s heart was crying out to God’s heart.  God’s laws had been violated.  David knew he’d done it intentionally, and “no atonement was provided in the law for such deliberate sins (Lev 20:10; Num. 35:31-32).  David could appeal only to God’s mercy, grace, and love,” my commentary said.

“He had deliberately lied to himself (‘I can get away with this’) and to the people, and he tried to lie to God.  For nearly a year he attempted to cover up his sins, but God does not allow His children to sin successfully.  Now he asked God for truth and wisdom in his innermost being.”

David wanted to be restored to God.  In verse 10, David prays, “Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again.  Do not send me away from You or take Your Holy Spirit away from me.  Give me back the joy of Your salvation.  Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit.”  “He wants desperately to be clean again in God’s eyes, yet he was incapable of changing his own heart.  Only God could work the miracle,” my commentary said.

“It isn’t enough simply to confess sin and experience God’s cleansing; we must also let Him renew us within so that we will conquer sin and not succumb to temptation.  The Lord did forgive David but permitted him to suffer the tragic consequences of his sins,” my commentary added.

David wanted to be used by God again.  He prayed, “Lord, let me speak so I may praise You.”  He knew God wanted him to have a repentant heart and a spirit yielded to Him.  “God could not receive broken animals as sacrifices (Mal. 1:6-8), but He would receive a broken heart.”  That’s where David was and that’s how God accepts us today, right where we are, not where He wants us to be.

Father, I’m thankful that Your Holy Spirit dwells within me and grieves my own spirit when I have sinned.  I’m thankful that my heart hurts when I’ve sinned, instead of allowing me to enjoy it.  That’s how I know I am Your child.  Thank You for Your grace and love and forgiveness.  Create in me a pure heart, God.  Make my Spirit right again when I’ve sinned.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 50 -- What A True Worshipper Looks Like

This psalm really calls us out if our daily living and our worship aren’t God-centered and heart-felt.  Here, God as judge “confronts two offenders:  the formalist, to whom worship is a ritual to follow, and the hypocrite, to whom worship is a disguise to cover sin … The purpose of this trial was not to judge and condemn the sinners but to expose their sins and give them opportunity to repent and return to the Lord,” my commentary said.  “The Lord speaks first to those who are indeed His people, but their hearts are not in their worship.  Their devotion is faithful but only routine … They had left their first love and were worshipping the Lord out of habit and not from the heart.  Outwardly, they were doing what the Lord commanded and honoring the daily sacrifices, but inwardly they lacked love and fellowship with God.  They forgot that God wanted their hearts before He wanted their sacrifices … What the Lord wanted from His people was thanksgiving from their hearts, obedience to His Word, prayer, and a desire to honor Him in everything.  But the Lord doesn’t want ritualism or formalism.  He wants our worship to come from the heart.”

God as Judge is so different from earthly judges because He knows all about us – every thought, every motivation, every action.  “When we forget the transcendence of God, we find it easier to sin,” my commentary added. 

The second group of people on trial were “the Israelites in the covenant community who were reciting the creed with their lips but deliberately disobeying God’s law … After breaking God’s law, they would go to the sanctuary and act very religious so they could cover up their sins … They had no respect for God’s Word and not only consented to the sins of others but participated in them and enjoyed doing so … Their thinking was so confused that they ended up creating a god in their own image … They had forgotten God and didn’t want Him to interfere with their lifestyle.  They had a false confidence that they could sin and get away with it.”

“The true worshipper has a proper fear of the Lord and seeks only to honor Him in his worship.  He obeys God’s will and is able to experience the salvation of the Lord.  Combined with gratitude to God, obedience, prayer, and a desire to glorify God, you have a description of worshippers who bring joy to the heart of God.”

Father, I can see a little of myself in each of these descriptions, and I shouldn’t be able to do that.  Forgive me and help me to experience worship as You intended here, seeking only to honor You as I worship.  Help me to be a worshipper who brings joy to Your heart.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 49 -- The Subject Of Riches

“Trusting Money Is Foolish” is how this chapter is titled in my Bible, and the sons of Korah were attacking the age-old Jewish belief that wealth was a mark of God’s blessing.  They knew that we can’t take it with us:  “No one can pay God for his own life, because the price of a life is high.  No payment is ever enough.”

My commentary said, “Wealth cannot prevent death, wealth will not determine your destiny, and wealth must not increase your desires.”  Yet with all the negative talk about wealth, it also said, “It isn’t a sin to be wealthy if we acknowledge God as the Giver and use what He gives to help others and glorify His name…. If we have been faithful stewards of what God has given us, we possess eternal riches that will never fade.  We can’t take wealth with us, but we can send it ahead… It isn’t a sin to have wealth, provided we earned it honestly, spend it wisely, and invest it faithfully in that which pleases the Lord.”

One thing I like about this chapter:  Although in verse 11 it says, “Their graves will always be their homes.  They will live there from now on,” in verse 15 we read, “But God will save my life and will take me from the grave.”  This is one of the few hints at resurrection in the Old Testament.

Father, I thank You for blessing me enough to allow me to bless others.  Please give me wisdom in how I steward what You provide and help me to always give You the glory for providing it.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 47-48 Our Responsibilities To Praise God For Who He Is And What He Has Done

Many Bible scholars believe these two psalms were written to celebrate the defeat of Sennacherib when God sent His angel to slay 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.  In Psalm 47, they affirm God as an awesome King, a triumphant King, and the King of Kings.  In the last verse of this chapter, we read, “the leaders of the earth belong to God.  He is supreme.”  That’s the wonderful thing about God – whether they know it or not, God controls the kings of the earth!

David had taken Jerusalem from the Jebusites, and when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to the city, it became the City of God.  Tourists now go there to see history, but in this chapter, pilgrims appear to have travelled to Jerusalem and to have seen with their own eyes the great things God had done for His people.  Their reaction was not to take photos or buy souvenirs, but to immediately go “to the Temple to worship the Lord, to meditate on His faithfulness, and to joyfully praise Him.  Worship is the proper human response to divine mercies.”  How many times have we reacted that way toward God?  “The greatest danger a nation faces is not the invading enemy on the outside but the eroding enemy on the inside – a people gradually turning away from the faith of their fathers.  Each generation must pass along to the next generation who the Lord is, what He has done, and what they must do in response to His goodness and faithfulness,” my commentary said.  How well are we doing that?  It’s not just about what He did in the Bible, but what He is actively doing today and throughout history.

Father, stoke my passion to tell the youth of this generation about what You’ve done.  Never let me cease to praise You for who You are.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 46 -- Taking Our Hands Off The Wheel

“God is our protection and our strength.  He always helps in times of trouble.  So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes or the mountains fall into the sea…”

God caused these words to remain in the Bible.  They aren’t just some person’s hopeful thinking turned into a song – they are God’s assured actions.  Were it not the truth, God would not have allowed them to be included in His Word all these centuries.  Yet how many of us will not be afraid when the earth shakes or the mountains fall into the sea?

My commentary had much to add:

“The emphasis in this psalm is on the presence of the Lord with His people and the difference it makes when we trust Him in the changes and difficulties of life.  The psalm focuses on the Lord and what He is to His trusting people” – our tower of strength, our river of joy, and our God.

“God is a dependable refuge for His people when everything around them seems to be falling apart.  But He doesn’t protect us in order to PAMPER us.  He shelters us so He can strengthen us to go BACK TO LIFE WITH ITS DUTIES AND DANGERS… He is an ever-present help, but He cannot work for us unless we trust Him.”

“The earth may change, the mountains may be hurled violently into the sea, there may come earthquakes and tidal waves, but all things are in the control of our sovereign Lord.”

“’Be still’ literally means, ‘Take your hands off!  Relax!’  We like to be hands-on people and manage our own lives, but God is God, and we are but His servants … often Jacob got into trouble because he got his hands on circumstances and tried to play God.  There is a time to obey God and act, but until then, we had better take our hands off and allow Him to work in His own time and in His own way.”

Father, You’ve been teaching me this and I’ve been listening and learning.  I’m trying to keep my hands off and let You work.  I understand why You don’t protect us in order to pamper us, because I too need the strength to go back to life with its duties and dangers.  Thank You for building my faith and trust in You and for helping me to take my hands off the wheel to let You steer.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 45 -- Not Just A Secular Love Song

I agreed with my commentary – wondering why a secular love song would be used in the worship of the Lord at His Sanctuary?  And I could see that these weren’t merely words to David or Solomon but to Jesus Christ.

My commentary saw four pictures of Him in this chapter:  The Gracious Son of Man, The Victorious Warrior, The Righteous King, and The Glorious Bridegroom, and they all fit our risen Lord.

Some truths I particularly liked:

“As the gracious Son of Man, Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him, which was the joy of presenting His bride to the Father in glory.”

Regarding the victorious warrior, my commentary said, “We live in a day when the militant side of the Christian faith is criticized and even eliminated, an attitude that is both unbiblical and dangerous … Jesus suffered and died on the cross, not only to save sinners but also to defeat Satan, and one day He will return as a warrior and defeat His enemies and establish His righteous kingdom.”

“In ancient times, a Jewish bridegroom went to the bride’s house to claim her and then took her to his own home, and Jesus will do that when He returns to claim His church … As the queen waits … she must forget the past, submit to her Husband the King, and seek only to please Him.  What a word for the church today!”

Father, I thank You for all You’ve done for me all these years, and particularly this past week.  I’ve witnessed Jesus in these roles, and I’m glad to take this fresh look.  What perfect advice for my sons and me right now – to forget the past, submit to Christ, and seek only to please Him!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 44 -- Any Way To Talk To God?

The sons of Korah wrote this psalm when they couldn't understand why Israel had lost a war.  I understand their questions, but I almost cringed at how they asked God questions.

They first acknowledged that God alone was the source of their strength, that He had acted on Israel's behalf in the past, and that they trusted Him to do so again.  "You were with [our ancestors] because You loved them."

They praised God even when they were defeated, saying, "We will praise God every day; we will praise Your name forever."

And after the praise comes the questions....

"But You have rejected us and shamed us ... You made us a joke to our neighbors ... But You crushed us ... and You covered us with deep darkness."

They don't attribute their defeat to any possibility of unpreparedness for battle or wrong strategies.  In fact, they had examined their lives and found no conscious sin that would have caused defeat:  "All these things have happened to us, but we have not forgotten You or failed to keep our agreement with You.  Our hearts haven't turned away from You, and we haven't stopped following You ... If we had forgotten our God or lifted our hands in prayer to foreign gods, God would have known, because He knows what is in our hearts..."

This gives them the boldness to ask, I guess:  "Wake up, Lord!  Why are You sleeping?  Get up!  Don't reject us forever.  Why do You hide from us? .... Get up and help us.  Because of Your love, save us."

And because of His love, He did answer that last plea, and sent His Son.

Father, I know You don't abandon me.  You do take me through trials to build my faith, but You don't give me more than You have grown me to handle.  Keep watching closely, Father. 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 42-43 Longing For, Remembering, and Trusting God

It’s important to remember that these two psalms, which many believe were once combined, became an expression of worship, though they represent a time of depression and inability to worship.  There is desperation of a soul who can’t get to worship, remembering the times when he could.

In a prior quiet time, I’d read and noted in my Bible, “God wants to bring us back to the place of worshipping Him far more than we want to get there.  He’s pulling on this thing from the other end!  God will put a smile on your face again, whether in this life or the next.”

The commentary I’m now using saw the writer passing through three stages before he comes to victory and peace:

First, longing for God.

Second, remembering God.

Third, trusting God.

I loved these truths from my commentary:

“The living God was the God of his life, and he could not live without Him … without worship, life to him was meaningless … Memory can be either a blessed medicine for the troubled heart, or it can open new wounds and keep the pain fresh… He confronted himself and admonished himself not to be downcast but to hope in the Lord and wait on Him … God was still on the throne.  God’s presence was with him, and he would yet have the joy of worshipping God … He made a wise decision when he decided to remember God and not the good old days … God was in command, a new day would dawn, and the situation would look different … In verse 8, he used Jehovah instead of Elohim, and this was the turning point in his difficult experience.  Jehovah is the God of the covenant, the faithful God who cares for His people.  He is the God who showers His people with lovingkindness, gives them promises they can claim when they pray, and hears them when they praise and worship.  Everything might be changing, but the Lord was still his Rock – stable, strong, and unchanging … By the end of Chapter 43, his focus is no longer on himself, his disappointments, or his circumstances, but on the Lord his God, and that makes all the difference.”

Father, for almost two years now, my focus too has been on myself, my disappointments, and my circumstances, yet I still trusted You and I know You are in control.  You have been active and are changing circumstances even this week.  Please help me to praise and worship You no matter what, even in bitter pain, for You are the God of my life and God my exceeding joy, and God, my God!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 41 -- Taking A Spiritual Inventory During Difficulty

My commentary says, “When we find ourselves in difficulty, we may use this psalm to take an inventory of our spiritual condition by asking and answering four questions:

First, Integrity:  How do we treat others?  Before we can claim God’s promises, we must examine our own hearts to see if we have sincerely met the conditions the Lord has laid down.

Second, Treachery:  How do others treat us?  It wasn’t enough that David was sick in bed, but he also had to deal with treachery among his own family and friends … but David was gifted at reading people and knew the truth.

Third, Mercy:  How does God treat us?  God in His mercy doesn’t give us what we do deserve, and God in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve, and He does this because of Jesus Christ His Son who died for us on the cross … More than anything else, David wanted to please God.

Fourth, Glory:  How do we treat God?  The main thing in our lives must be the eternal praise and glory of the Lord.  ‘Hallowed be Thy name’ is the first request in the Disciple’s Prayer, and it governs all the other requests.’”

David prayed for mercy and healing and admitted that he had sinned against God.  Because of his repentance, he could say, as we can, “I know that You are pleased with me.  Because I am innocent [his sins had been forgiven], You support me and will let me be with You forever.”

That’s what I want, Father.  Help me to have integrity in the way I treat others.  Protect me from the treachery of others, and if they do not see me as You see me, change their views of me.  Thank You also for Your continuing mercy given freely to me, as undeserving of it as I am.  And help me to give You all glory for what You are doing in the lives of my sons and me.  I love You, Father!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 40 -- For My Son

David readily acknowledged all that God had been actively doing in his life:

                He turned to him.

                He heard his cry.

                He lifted him out of the pit.

                He stood him on a rock.

                He made his feet steady.

                He gave him a new song.

                He glorified HIMSELF by doing all of this.

David realized that true happiness in life comes from trusting God with our lives.  “The honor of proud men is not important.  The false gods of materialism, pleasure, and sexual indulgence cannot SATISFY the human heart.  Only God can.”

David described a common event at that time – the piercing of a slave’s ear to denote permanent servanthood – “my body and life are Yours … My God, I want to do what You want.  Your teachings are in my heart.”

Because of all God had done for him, David would tell his story to others, glorifying God.  Our reaction should be the same.  We are to tell OUR story – how God actively intervened in our lives – to glorify Him.

David readily admitted that he sins.  He wasn’t going to claim otherwise.  Therefore, he asked God never to hold back His mercy.

As the king, David had access to everything he’d ever need, but as a man, he knew he was poor and helpless without his God – his Helper and Savior.  He asked for God never to wait to help him and save him.

My commentary boiled it all down to three instructions for difficult times:

                Praise God for all He has done.

                Give God all that He asks.

                Trust God for all that remains.

“God wants our hearts first of all, then open ears to hear and obey His will … an open ear means a yielded will and a surrendered body.  When the heart delights in God’s law, the will has no problem obeying … Worship is not an escape from life, but the opportunity to honor God and be equipped to face life and live for His glory … David couldn’t see what lay ahead [and neither can we], but God knew the future and He had everything under control.”

Father, I think of my precious son as I read these words.  I pray that over the past two months You have opened his ears and his heart to these words and given him strength to face life, tell his story, and live for Your glory.  Watch over him, Father!  Do not wait!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 39 -- God's Timing -- Parallels With David's Life

It’s amazing how some things in David’s life has paralleled events in my own life lately.  I know it’s Your timing, Father – perfect as always.

My commentary started, “David was attempting to remain silent in a time of trial, lest he say something that would offend believers or give ammunition to unbelievers.”  I too have found myself wanting to say some things, yet fighting not to say them and invite blowback that would cause dishonor to God.  Like my own feelings, David felt “this restraint only made his heart burn with intense pain … David didn’t even say good things; he just kept quiet as long as he could.”

“When we find ourselves burying our true feelings and creating physical and emotional pain for ourselves, then it’s time to talk to the Lord and seek His help,” my commentary added.  David’s heart was burdened at this point.  But in verse 7 it all begins to turn.  David recovers his believing heart.  “If life is short and goes past so swiftly, what am I waiting for?” he says.

Once David humbly asks for forgiveness, his broken heart is healed.  “We don’t know the particular sins that brought this stroke from the Lord, and we don’t have to know.  We do know that God listens to the cries of the brokenhearted and forgives when we confess.”

“David then prayed for God’s direction … His closing prayer was that God would turn away His frowning face and give him strength to return to life with its duties and burdens and then one day enable him to pass into eternity … dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.”

Oh, how I’ve also held back, Father.  My heart has been burdened.  It is a believing heart, for I know You are in control and that You will win.  I too seek Your direction.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 38 -- Three Responses To God's Chastening

“David’s sins had brought God’s chastening to his life … David doesn’t question the legitimacy of his suffering, for he admitted his sins, but he wonders why his suffering is so severe … David wanted God to remember to be merciful … For God to remember someone means that He begins to act on their behalf and meet some need,” my commentary said.

It also said, “When God’s people suffer the consequences of sin and feel the chastening hand of God, they must choose one of three responses:
    1)      We can focus on ourselves and experience sin’s painfulness;
    2)      We can focus on others and experience sin’s loneliness;
    3)      We can focus on the Lord and experience sin’s forgiveness.

I loved several truths that my commentary brought out:

“If we don’t listen to the words of His heart, we will feel the weight of His hand.”

“We are free to disobey the Lord, but we are not free to change the consequences.”

“David took his eyes off his own suffering and looked to the Lord, knowing that God saw his heart and knew all his longings.  God knows what we want, but He also knows what we need.  Then why pray?  Because God has commanded us to pray, and ‘you do not have because you do not ask (James 4:2).”  LET’S ASK!

“He wanted God to work so the enemy couldn’t use him as an excuse for sinning.  When they slandered David’s name, they also slandered the Lord, and David wanted to honor the Lord.”

“Confident that the Lord had forgiven him, he closed his prayer with three requests:  Be WITH me, Be NEAR me, and Be FOR me and HELP me.”

Father, I loved the truths You showed me this morning.  Please help me to quickly come to You in confession and repentance when I sin so that I won’t be separated from You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 37 -- Reassurance When The Wicked Seem To Be Prospering

My commentary said that when it seemed that the wicked were prospering and God wasn’t doing anything about it, the righteous could:

n  Fret over the problem

n  Leave the Land

n  Or go on being faithful, trusting the Lord to keep His word.

“David took the long view … and evaluated the immediate and the transient in terms of the ultimate and the eternal… He gave four assurances to believers who question how God is running His world” or His church:

n  The Lord can be trusted

n  The Lord understands your situation

n  The Lord blesses His people, and

n  The Lord judges the wicked.

There were several truths I saw as my commentary discussed these assurances:

“For us to get upset because of the evil schemes of the ungodly is to doubt the goodness and justice of God.”

“Meekness does not mean weakness.  It means force under the control of faith.”

“Eventually the wicked will be cut off, which in Israel usually meant exclusion from the covenant community.”

Father, thank You for reassuring me.  It’s tough to feel like things are wrong and feel in the middle of it all, doubting my own assurances from You.  Thanks for the booster shot.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 36 -- What IS God Telling Me?

I've sensed God showing me something over the last several days, and these verses seem to back that up.  Father, let me not misunderstand what You are saying.

"Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts ... They think too much of themselves so they don't see their sin and hate it ... What they do leads to nothing good.... Lord, Your love reaches to the heavens, Your loyalty to the skies.  Your goodness is as high as the mountains ... Your justice is as deep as the great ocean ... Your love is so precious! ... Your light lets us enjoy life.  Continue to love those who know You ... Don't let proud people attack me and the wicked force me away."

And then the assured promise -- "Those who do evil have been defeated."

I have watched and listened as I have ministered this week.  Yet something doesn't seem right and true.  Some reactions don't line up with what I've read in the Word that Jesus would have done.  It's not just this week, but for some time now.

I loved what our new friend "A" said about first building relationships with unbelievers before we earn the right to share the Gospel with them.  That's what I've always been taught.  Relationship building is what opens doors.  The love of Christ didn't drive people away.  Yes, salvation is our intention, but it is accomplished in God's timing, not our own.  The horse is led to water, not bloated with a fire hose.

That's something that we need more of at home.  We impact lives by first building relationships.

Verses 5-9 reveal the Lord's ways which are higher than ours -- His love reaches to the heavens.  Where is ours?  His loyalty to the skies.  Where is ours?  His goodness is as high as the mountains.  Ours?  His justice is as deep as a great ocean (where He buries our sins, never to have them surface again.  Is our justice shallow?  Do we demand compliance?  His love is precious.  Is ours hypocritical?  His light lets us enjoy life.  Ours? God shows us His will for our lives.  If ours doesn't happen to sync with someone else's, that's not particularly wrong.

Don't let the proud people attack me, Father.  If they think too much of themselves, help them to see their sin and hate it.  Your light leads to enjoyment, not being put down.  I know that You have not suddenly changed what You have shown me and taught me over the last 23 years.  Point out the problem, Father.

Psalm 35 -- David's Cry In Less Than Ideal Circumstances

David cries out for God to battle those who battle with him.  In his longing for God's help, he cries, "Tell me, 'I will save you.'"

Some of these people may have been his friends, thinking they were right and he was wrong.  I've been there, Father.

"For no reason ... for no reason they ..."  David can't understand why he is being attacked so.  But he knows His Lord, and says, "Then I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be happy when He saves me.  Even my bones will say, 'Lord, who is like You?'"

David continues about his enemies -- "They repay me with evil for the good I have done, and they make me very sad.  Yet when they were sick, I put on clothes of sadness and shaved my sorrow ... I acted as if they were my friends or brothers ... But when I was in trouble ... they gathered to attack before I knew it...  Lord, how long will You watch this happen?  Save me from their attacks ... My God and Lord, fight for me! ... defend me ... they were happy when I hurt ... they thought they were better than I was."

But David knows God will win, and looking forward to that day, he says, "May my friends sing and shout for joy.  May they always say, 'Praise the greatness of the Lord, who loves to see His servants do well.  I will tell of Your goodness and I will praise You every day."

Father, do this for me.  You know the circumstances.

Psalm 34 -- Confirmation from God

I'd wondered if we would have troubles here, but it has been great.  So what I read today was like a confirmation from God:

"I will praise the Lord at all times ... His praise is always on my lips.  My whole being praises the Lord ... Glorify the Lord with me, and let us praise His name together ... I asked the Lord for help and He answered me.  He saved me from all that I feared.  Those who go to Him for help are happy ... The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear God, and He saves them.  Examine and see how good the Lord is.  Happy is the person who trusts Him ... Those who fear Him will have everything they need ... Those who look to the Lord will have every good thing ... The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers ... The Lord hears good people when they cry out to Him ... The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and He saves those whose spirits have been crushed ... People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all."

Father, thank You for watching over my boys while I've been gone.  Thank You for lifting their spirits.  Thank You for reinvigorating my spirit and giving me kids here to get to know and love and tell about You when I can.  Bless us as we finish this week of ministry, and use it to grow Your kingdom here.

Back from our Central Asian trip & catching up some -- Psalm 33 -- Away From Regular Worship

Away from normal Sunday worship, how special this psalm is:

"Sing a new song to Him; play well and joyfully."  Being on the other side of the world, 12 time zones away, I loved reading this:  "The Lord's love fills the earth... All the earth SHOULD worship the Lord; the whole world SHOULD fear Him ... The Lord upsets the plans of nations.  He ruins all their plans.  But the Lord's plans will stand forever; His ideas will last from now on...  The Lord looks down from Heaven and sees every person.  From His throne He watches all who live on earth.  He made their hearts and understands everything they do ... We rejoice in Him, because we trust His holy name.

Lord, show Your love to us as we put our hope in You on the opposite side of this planet.

Psalm 32 -- The Blessing of Confession

What an awesome psalm!  We all dread having to confess to God what we’ve done – David waited almost a year to do so – and here he tells us of “the freedom of forgiveness” he experienced.

My commentary called verses 1-2 “The Blessing of Acceptance”.  God blesses the disobedient who have been forgiven, my commentary said.  “When we confess our sins, God cancels the debt and it’s no longer on the books … Jesus paid the debt on the cross, and His blood cleanses the record AND the heart of the offender.”

It calls verse 3-4 “The Folly of Impenitence”.  “David honestly admits what a fool he had been to hide his sins for almost a year … God does not permit His children to sin successfully… Sin is a serpent, and he that covers sin does but keep it warm, that it may sting the more fiercely, and disperse the venom and malignity thereof the more effectually.  The Lord chastened David … and made him miserable until he stopped lying, humbled himself before God, and confessed his sins … God’s chastening is proof that He loves us and that we are genuinely His children.”

Verses 6-7 are called “The Way of Deliverance”.  I read, “David’s confession ‘I have sinned against the Lord’ was answered with, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin.’ … all he had to do was sincerely confess his sins, and the Lord forgave him … Guilt is to the conscience what pain is to the body:  it tells us something is wrong and must be made right, or things will get worse … we must confess our sins immediately, when we find them out and while God may be found.”

Finally, verses 8-11 are called “The Joy of Obedience”.  One sentence said it all – “God doesn’t forgive us so that we can go back and sin.”

Father, I know what it’s like to labor under the weight of unconfessed sin.  I thank You for making me uncomfortable until I do confess it to You.  Thank You for not allowing me to sin successfully and for reminding me that You don’t forgive me so that I can go back and sin.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 30 -- A Day Late, But Worth Sending

God had rescued David.  From what he wrote, it was a dangerous situation, but we don’t know exactly which one.  He was near death, and God had been angry with him.  It apparently involved disobedience.

David learned that God Himself sometimes lifts us out of our depression.  God’s grace is the source of His help.  My commentary also said, “God doesn’t replace sorrow with joy; He transforms sorrow into joy.”

David needed a new heart because pride had done a number on his old heart.  God was teaching him humility.  My commentary said, “Prosperity is a constant temptation to believers.  God permits trials so that we might not get comfortable in our faith and stop growing.”

Another thing it pointed out was the seven times David said, “Thou hast …”, “Bearing witness to the strong and gracious hand of the Lord working on his behalf.  Even God’s chastening of David was an expression of His love.”

Rather than having a pity party when hard times come, instead, David wants us to focus on “the lifetime of grace God gives to prepare us for an eternity of glory.”

Father, thank You for walking through the hard times with me, for lifting me out of my own emotional pit and for giving me a reason to praise You.  Help me not to forget Your love and not to doubt Your rescue is always on the way.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 31 -- Asking God For Mercy

David faced a time when everyone was against him, and Christ echoed these words on the cross.  My commentary listed three valuable lessons David learned: 

                When others do evil, trust God for His strength.

                When others cause pain, ask God for mercy.

                When others see victory, give God the glory.

“The emphasis is on trusting (taking refuge) in the Lord, no matter how difficult the circumstances might be … Along with God’s protection, David needed God’s direction so he would avoid the traps the enemy had set for him.”

Because he was having to endure such a huge assortment of attacks, David asked for the mercy he desperately needed – asking God to give him ease from his depression caused by these attacks.  “He had committed himself into God’s hands, and now he committed his circumstances into God’s hands,” my commentary noted.  “We would say, ‘All the affairs and details of my life are in the Lord’s hands.’”

In verse 22, David may have been ready to give up.  “I am cut off from Your sight.”  “It wasn’t the enemy that frightened him but the thought of being abandoned by the God he trusted and served.  He did what all of us must do when we sense that God is no longer near:  he cried out to the Lord for His mercy, and the Lord answered.”

Father, I’ve felt overwhelmed lately myself.  I know that I trust You.  I know that You will not desert me.  Yet You use trials like this to build my faith.  Please show me Your mercy, too, Father.  I know You will answer.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 28 & 29 -- God's Delays Are Not God's Denials

My commentary spoke of David’s concern about unanswered prayer in verses 1-5  “In verse 1 he called on the Lord, and in verse 2 he cried out to Him in desperation, but the Lord didn’t answer.  The unchanging Rock had changed … According to God’s covenant with Israel, David’s idolatrous enemies should have been judged and condemned, but the Lord was doing nothing.  How could God treat His appointed king like a criminal?  (Remember He did the same to His Son to save us.)  David’s prayer was not an expression of personal revenge but a call for God to fulfill His covenant and bright righteousness and peace into the land.”

His whole attitude turns on a dime in verses 6-7, and we hear:  “My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.”  My commentary said, “Faith in Jehovah made all the difference …When David believed God and lifted up his hands in prayer, then God’s hands went to work and met the need.  Faith moves the hands of God, and God’s hands control the universe … His testimony was clear:  ‘God heard me and God helped me!  I trusted Him and now I praise Him!’  David now had the strength to obey God’s will, no matter what the enemy might do.  He also had the Lord as his shield.  David had God’s power and protection … God has not forsaken His people.”

Father God, I thank You for taking me to see my son this weekend and for showing him, in his anxiety, everything that You have done for him despite his rebellion.  Like David he was feeling powerless and needed to be reminded that the powerful God of the universe had been personally intervening in his life for years.  Heal him, Father.  Let him experience the joy that David rediscovered himself in this chapter.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 27 -- A Worship Time This Morning

I worshipped as I read this chapter!  It’s hard to choose what to write about! 

“I ask only one thing from the Lord.  This is what I want:  Let me live in the Lord’s house all my life [eternity].  Let me see the Lord’s beauty…”  That’s what will happen when God calls me home!

I thought of my boys when I read verse 10, for it has already happened!  “If my father and mother leave me, the Lord will take me in.”  God sent me to get them for Him!

My commentary had several great things to say:

“The secret of David’s public confidence was his private obedience:  he took time to fellowship with the Lord and get directions from Him.  David knew that the most important part of his life was the part that only God could see, and this was one priority he would not negotiate… David took time to meditate and to contemplate the wonders of God’s grace.  He came away from his times of worship feeling the rock under his feet and seeing above and beyond the enemy to the victory God had prepared.”

“When David cried out, God answered him in his heart and said, ‘Seek My face.’”

“David believed that God’s goodness followed him and also anticipated him, that God stored up goodness to use when it was needed.  God’s goodness never ran out, for David could go into God’s presence and receive all he needed.  The key was faith in God.”

Father, thank You for this fresh reminder of Your love and watchcare over me and Your sufficiency to be everything I need.  Thank You for this worship moment.  You teach me here not to fear the circumstances around me, my potential failure, or my future, because You have conquered them all.  Thank You for being my God!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Psalm 26 -- Again, God's Perfect Timing For Me

My commentary explained the situation:  “Not all who gathered to worship at the sanctuary were sincere in their walk or their worship, and some of them were openly disobedient, and spread lies about the king.  It was this situation that led to the writing of this psalm.  David makes three requests of the Lord.”

Vindicate Me

From my commentary:  “’Vindicate’ means ‘give me justice, defend my reputation.’  David was a man of integrity, a fact that was affirmed by the Lord Himself.  The people attacking him were ‘dissemblers’ … His life revealed a balance of faith (“I have trusted”) and works (“I have walked”) … When your character and conduct are attacked, it isn’t wrong to vindicate yourself, as Paul did (2 Cor. 10-12), or to ask the Lord to vindicate you.  We aren’t just defending ourselves; we’re defending the name of the Lord whom we serve.  Our vindication is for His name’s sake.”

Examine Me

“The Lord was faithful to His covenant and David was faithful to the Lord.  Though David occasionally fell, AS WE ALL DO, the HABITUAL BENT of his life was toward the Lord and His Word … The wicked came to the sanctuary to hide their sins.  But David went to the sanctuary to worship God and bear witness to His grace and mercy.”

Redeem Me

“David couldn’t stop the hypocrites from joining the worshipping congregation, but he could help from becoming like them; so he asked the Lord to deliver him from THAT sin … The godly must constantly beware of the evil influences of the world and especially of those who profess to love God, but are using religion as a cover-up for their sins.  To remain faithful, we must also ask God to be merciful to us and help us to maintain our integrity.”

Father, You have examined me.  You know that like everyone, I occasionally fall, but You know that the habitual bent of my life is toward You and Your Word.  You know I’ve had to vindicate myself lately.  Please vindicate me for the sake of Your name.  Please show others the truth of these words and restore my joy.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford