Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 129:1-8
Ps 129:1-8
1 They have greatly oppressed me from my youth--let Israel say--2 they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. 3 Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. 4 But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. 5 May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. 6 May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; 7 with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms. 8 May those who pass by not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD."
Matt 21:33-44
33 "Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 "The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. They will respect my son,' he said. 38 "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Jesus told this parable to show that the Jews and their leaders would reject him, even though he is the Son of God. Because of this, they would be rejected as the special people of God and his kingdom would be given to others who would trust him and live for him. This was fulfilled when the church was begun and Cornelius was converted to Christ. The gospel, God’s grace was opened to all the world.
The reason I used it is because the vengeance shown was not personal but was for the zeal and purpose of God. David had this kind of animosity toward his enemies. When he sought their destruction, it was not for his personal benefit but was because he was the Lord’s anointed king over God’s holy nation. Any assault on him was an assault on God. We are to become angry at sin and any assault on God or Jesus our Lord but are never to take our own personal vengeance.
Heavenly Father I am so thankful for your wisdom in revealing your will to all of mankind. Give me a greater understanding of the Bible and how to properly read it, interpret it and then to apply it in my daily life. Increase my faith so I will be stronger to have self-control to do what I know is right and to stay away from what I know to be wrong. Fill me with your love, your patience and compassion toward those around me. Give me a pure heart. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
