Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 78:65-72
Ps 78:65-72
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, as a man wakes from the stupor of wine. He beat back his enemies; he put them to everlasting shame. Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim; but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever. He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
Heb 7:25
Therefore, he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
No matter how deep one goes into sin, be it an individual, a family, a church, or a nation, if we will turn back to God in genuine repentance, he is willing to forgive us. Israel left God in spirit, even before they got out of Egypt. They repeated this same mistake in the wilderness several times and then again when they reached the land of promise. Once they got into that land and it became their own, they still rejected the God who gave it to them and turned to idols and false gods.
God sent a savior in the form of Moses, Joshua, various judges, and victoriously in David the greatest king. It is from the lineage of David that Jesus came and in him we find eternal salvation. Their salvation was from physical enemies, and it was temporary in nature. The salvation that God offers us today is freedom from sin in Jesus Christ, and it is everlasting into eternity. He is our King and our High Priest.
Every day we face temptations. We constantly face trials, hardships, pain, death, sickness, and the list of problems seems to be endless. Jesus is our only true source of hope, both for this life and into the next. Each day we make a choice to trust God in what we face, be it something horrible or be it prosperity. This gives us opportunities to praise him and give him thanks as he takes care of our needs and guards us from the evil one. Jesus has walked in our shoes, and he has faced what we face. He was the greatest man in Israel when he rode into Jerusalem, but less than a week later, this same crowd of people cried for him to be crucified.
O Lord God, protect me in my trials, give me strength to overcome temptations, and wisdom to know how to react to every situation I face. Most of all, increase my faith so I will trust you as God and Jesus as my Lord and as my Savior. Help me have a servant attitude as I live for you. Fill me with your Spirit so I can accomplish your will today. I need your wisdom and self-control to know when to keep my mouth shut and to do it, and when to speak wisely. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
