Bible League: Living His Word May the words of my mouthand the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. David prayed earlier in Psalm 19 that the Lord would keep him from sinful deeds of all kinds. In our verse for today, he takes the issue deeper by asking that the Lord would also keep him from speaking words that are sinful. From David's point of view, the things that we say are just as capable of being sinful as the deeds we do and we need the help of the Lord to keep from speaking them just as much as we do to keep from doing sinful deeds. David, furthermore, wants to take the issue even deeper into his inner being. He is not just concerned about the quality of his words; he is also concerned about the quality of the very meditations or thoughts in his mind. From David's point of view, the thoughts in our minds are just as capable of being sinful as the words of our mouths and the deeds we do, and we need the help of the Lord every bit as much in this area as well. If our words and meditations are free from sin, then they will be pleasing to the Lord. The word translated as "pleasing" is borrowed from the language of the sacrificial system of the old covenant. The animal sacrifices that were brought before the Lord were required to be without defect, so likewise the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts should be without defect. The idea here is that everything we say and think is done before the Lord and should be pleasing to Him as a consequence. David's prayer is directed to the Lord, his rock and redeemer. The Lord is the rock that we can depend upon to help with our words and meditations. Apart from the Lord, nothing we say or think can be pleasing to Him. Further, the Lord is our redeemer. He delivers us from the consequences of our sinful words and meditations, and from the bondage they have over us. The Lord wants us to be pleasing before Him. He is concerned not only with the deeds we do, but also with the words we say and the thoughts we think. Today, then, let us ask the Lord to cleanse us, inside and out. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJob 21, 22 Job 21 -- Job Says God Will Deal with the Wicked NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 22 -- Eliphaz Accuses and Exhorts Job to Repentance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 10:1-23 Acts 10 -- Cornelius' and Peter's Visions; Peter Preaches to the Gentiles NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.Insight Christ's defeat of the devil in the desert was decisive but not final. Throughout his ministry, Jesus would confront Satan in many forms. Challenge Too often we see temptation as once and for all. In reality, we need to be constantly on guard against the devil's ongoing attacks. Where are you most susceptible to temptation right now? How are you preparing to withstand it? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Genesis 3:8 The voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.My soul, now that the cool of the day has come, retire awhile and hearken to the voice of thy God. He is always ready to speak with thee when thou art prepared to hear. If there be any slowness to commune, it is not on his part, but altogether on thine own, for he stands at the door and knocks, and if his people will but open, he rejoices to enter. But in what state is my heart, which is my Lord's garden? May I venture to hope that it is well trimmed and watered, and is bringing forth fruit fit for him? If not, he will have much to reprove, but still I pray him to come unto me, for nothing can so certainly bring my heart into a right condition as the presence of the Sun of Righteousness, who brings healing in his wings. Come, therefore, O Lord, my God, my soul invites thee earnestly, and waits for thee eagerly. Come to me, O Jesus, my well-beloved, and plant fresh flowers in my garden, such as I see blooming in such perfection in thy matchless character! Come, O my Father, who art the Husbandman, and deal with me in thy tenderness and prudence! Come, O Holy Spirit, and bedew my whole nature, as the herbs are now moistened with the evening dews. O that God would speak to me. Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth! O that he would walk with me; I am ready to give up my whole heart and mind to him, and every other thought is hushed. I am only asking what he delights to give. I am sure that he will condescend to have fellowship with me, for he has given me his Holy Spirit to abide with me forever. Sweet is the cool twilight, when every star seems like the eye of heaven, and the cool wind is as the breath of celestial love. My Father, my elder Brother, my sweet Comforter, speak now in lovingkindness, for thou hast opened mine ear and I am not rebellious. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."Psalm 116:6 The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Psalm 28:6,7 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplication. • The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 118:8,9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. • It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes. Psalm 146:5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Psalm 107:7 He led them also by a straight way, To go to an inhabited city. Joshua 21:45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass. Luke 22:35 And He said to them, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing." Psalm 63:7 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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