Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 147:7-14
Ps 147:7-14
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Extol the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
1 Thess 5:15-22
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.
There are two ways to read and study the Psalms. One way is to try to learn the historical setting of the Psalm and then understand it in that setting. This may or may not have any application for us today. A second way to read them is to get the general idea and then if there is a general application, make it. If not, read it and move on. Unlike many portions of Scripture, many of the Psalms are often best understood and the most good is gotten when we do not try to get too deep in them. In many of these the lesson is to trust God and follow his will.
Israel was God’s chosen nation on earth and the Jews were his chosen people, and therefore, anyone who opposed them were enemies of God. Most of the Psalms were written in this context of national physical battles and struggles.
God’s kingdom today is a spiritual kingdom. His people are those who are of the faith of Abraham and not just his physical descendants. Jesus is our king and the saved are his people, his nation. Jesus is our High Priest, and all of his people are priests under him. God is still in control of this earth. We are to trust him today. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth. We still put our hope in his unfailing love.
O Lord, my God, you alone are the only true God. Thank you for sending your Son to the earth to live and to die for my sin. Thank you for raising him from the grave as proof that he is your Son and that his sacrifice has been pleasing to you. Thank you for sending your Spirit to live in me and to provide what I cannot do or attain on my own. My heart is heavy for those who face physical persecution for their faith, so I ask you to be with them and strengthen them. Be with our nation and our leaders so that your people can live in peace. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
