Flattery. The psalmist highlights the reality and prevalence of flattery in society – even among neighbours (v.2). False compliments and “fawning congratulations” are manipulative. Those who are recipients “know that if they take they must give them” to the flatterer. Thus, flattery must be taken seriously for it is a form of lying and deception. This should not surprise us for such words come from a “double heart,” by which people show us one side of their heart but the other side is “black with contempt for me, or foul with intent to cheat me”. Such deception is opposed by God (v.3). how can our speech be radically different? One, we need to call on God for his help (v.1) for we cannot tame the tongue ourselves (James 3). Two, we allow God to shape our hearts so our conversations reflect the way God speaks (v.6). “What God’s words are, the words of his children should be. If we would be God-like in conversation, we must watch our language, and maintain the strictest purity of integrity and holiness in all our communications”. The Psalms for Everyday Living. By David J. McKinley – used with permission 3 Month Reading Plan - Psalms 11-14
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1 I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.- ESV Has there ever been a moment in your life where you are questioning events in your life. Your outlook now seems hard to you as you wake up in the morning. You wonder, “Is God really involved in your life?” Does he feel distant. There is a simple solution that we can turn to in those times in our lives. This turning is found in the first few verses of Psalm 9. The writer is encouraging us when we find time is our lives when everything seems to be crashing in, we are to turn and give thanks. Not only are we to give thanks, but this giving is an all-in statement. Giving with our whole heart. When we turn to giving thanks, our focus is taken off the situation we find ourselves in and we turn to God. This turning is an act of our will. We could stay focused on the situation, but we must turn to rejoicing. This turning, the act of our will, is done when we begin to remember the many times God has worked in our lives. We recount the times in the past and we hold onto that fact that He is a faithful God that will continue his wonderful deeds in our lives. So, if you find yourself today, struggling, turn to God, give thanks to Him, be glad in Him. The troubles will not disappear, but how you see them will. Continue to read the rest of Psalm 9. Things looked weary for the Psalmist, but in all that was going on, He first turned to God and gave thanks and praised His name. Pastor Paris 3 Month Reading Plan - Psalms 9-10 On a recent visit to Wells Grey Park, as we stood looking over the edge of a precipice to view the falls, my son
commented that he felt very small. The view was stunning and, yes, we were very small in that landscape. The world, at times, feels very large and at other times it feels very small. It is all a matter of perspective. In Psalms 8 we hear David commenting on how small he feels while looking at the night sky. He can see all the stars shining and be in awe at the scope of the universe, even though he knew less than we do, and ask God why He should care about us. We know from science that our world is just one planet in one galaxy surrounding one sun which is only a star in all the universe full of many stars and galaxies. Now that makes us very small indeed. The most shocking news of all is that the God who is big enough to create all that we know and see, is also the same God who cares for each and every one of us. We may think that He couldn't possibly care because we are so small, and yet He does care what happens in our lives each and every day. The Bible says that He even cares for little birds and how much more valuable we are. He knows the number of hairs on our heads and every detail about us. He cared so much to make a way of salvation from our sins so we could spend eternity with Him. That is why, with David, we should praise God for His majesty and sing His praises to the ends of the earth. God deserves our all because He is Master and Creator of everything. Sharon 3 Month Reading Plan - Psalms 7-8 David understood God! He understood that God does not look on man's outward appearance, but He looks upon the heart. He knew, too, that God knew when he was sincere, or when he was not sincere. Every morning, David found himself too busy not to spend time with the Lord. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. Do we look to God in the morning, approaching Him even before our day begins, or are we too busy to spend even just a few minutes with Him before we start our day? I fear that too often we as Christians tend to worship God from afar. We mean to develop a closer relationship with the Lord, but we let the busyness of life get in the way. And yet, what is there in our lives that is more important than God? Nothing! God does not take pleasure in wickedness, for no evil lives in God! The boastful do not stand before Him, for He hates all sin; He abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. With this knowledge David continued Psalm 5 with these words, But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face. Here we find the secret to David's success. Coming before God with no arrogance or pride, He humbly sought God to lead him in His righteousness. Only by living our lives in faithfulness toward God will we find any true success. Oh, we may have much success from a worldly point of view, but what good will that do us in eternity? When we come to God with nothing, only pleading for His help to keep us faithful, He will answer. God hears the voice of the humble but will not listen to the voice of the proud and arrogant. Let us not be fooled by the wicked of this world. Those who serve only themselves do not have the best interests of others in mind. They only seek to promote themselves. Let us not look to the world for joy, peace, or happiness. These can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Psalms 5 - https://www.devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com/Psalm5.html 3 Month Reading Plan - Psalms 4-6 Afflictions and assurance. David’s psalm is a realistic reflection on his own life and a sober reminder that we are not immune from struggles and painful experiences. He faced not only the rebellion of his son, Absalom, but also the desertion of many others (2 Sam 15:12). Critics would have us believe there is no hope when God apparently cannot help us in our adversity (v.2). “It is the most bitter of all afflictions to be led in fear that there is no help for us in God.” Yet, David did not give up hope, knowing God would protect him. He could sleep at night knowing God was his deliverer who destroyed his enemies and blessed those who trusted in him (v.5-8). Very early in his pastorate in London, Spurgeon faced vehement criticism from the secular media who regarded him as a charlatan due to his young age and lack of theological training. Religious media also attached him because of his theological beliefs and his concern to see people come to Christ. In response, Spurgeon’s “strongest reply to them was the glory of the gospel that he preached.” We too can rest in God and depend on all the resources of his grace which he avails for us. He has the final word.
The Psalms for Everyday Living. By David J. McKinley – used with permission 3 Month Reading Plan - Psalms 1-3 Sunday Morning Worship Service
Please join us for worship and the sermon. Pastor Paris will be speaking. 3 Month Reading Plan - Starting tomorrow September 6 |
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