Bible League: Living His Word You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.— Psalm 16:11 ESV The songs and poetry of Psalms reverberate with praise throughout the entire book! But this large collection of worship material is the combination of five smaller books, each portraying a different perspective of our relationship with God. Book 1 (Psalms 1-41) portrays God beside us; His presence stands watch over us throughout all of life. Book 2 (Psalms 42-72) reveals God going before us, providing, and protecting us throughout life's journey. Book 3 (Psalms 73-89) reminds us that God is all around us; from generation to generation, God has remained faithful to His people. Book 4 (Psalms 90-106) focuses on the fact that God is above us; He, Creator God, reigns over His creation in glory and holiness from the heavens. And Book 5 (Psalms 107-150) focuses on how God is among us, offering to His people the opportunity to praise His name throughout all of life! Our psalm for today is a wonderful example of God remaining beside His people, fully committed, never abandoning them in their time of need. Take a moment to read the entire psalm. Now, ponder with me each of the sub-phrases of this verse. First, we are given all that is needed to walk our "path of life." We may not be given it all at one time, but when it is needed, rest assured, it is provided. It can be surprising at times to realize that others cannot see what has become so obvious to us—that without His initial call, we would not have been drawn to Him (John 6:44). But His "call" and "draw" give a reason for the psalmist to "bless the LORD who gives me counsel... because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken" (Psalm 16:7-8). Think for a moment about your path of life. Jesus revealed that there are two pathways, one is wide and easy, but it leads to destruction, while the other is narrow and hard, but it leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). What makes the narrow path hard at times is that it cuts across everything in life that the world holds dear: pride, ego, power, money... to name just a few of a much longer list! There is much along the wider pathway to distract us. But in the presence of God, who is walking with us along our path, we find "fullness of joy"! Remember, He gives us what we need when we need it. His "presence" is in the present, and we can seek His presence in any present moment. This is what Jesus meant when He declared that all we really need to "worry" about is seeking "first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). When His righteousness is at the forefront of our minds and hearts, we will indeed be filled with joy. One last thought arises from this final phrase. We can be filled with joy—that delight that flows from our relationship with Christ despite our circumstances—because we are in Christ who is at the right hand of God. This position is the place of authority within the heavens. The "pleasures" that come to us, come through the hands of our Savior! Notice that they are eternal, not temporal. Joy is "forevermore" when we refuse to exchange that which is eternally pleasurable for something of a cheaper value. Christ paid dearly for all that He is giving us, both for life here and for all eternity (Hebrews 12:2). By Bill Niblette, Ph.D., Bible League International staff, Pennsylvania U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 25, 26, 27 Numbers 25 -- Israelites Sin in Moab; Phinehas Intervenes NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 26 -- The Second Census Totals 601,730 NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 27 -- The Daughters of Zelophehad; Joshua to Succeed Moses NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 8:22-38 Mark 8 -- Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand, Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida; Peter's Confession of Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But I keep praying to you, LORD,hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Insight What problems David faced! He was scoffed at, mocked, insulted, humiliated, and made the object of citywide gossip. But still he prayed. Challenge When we are completely beaten down, we are tempted to turn from God, give up, and quit trusting him. When your situation seems hopeless, determine that no matter how bad things become you will continue to pray. God will hear your prayer, and he will rescue you. When others reject us, we need God most. Don't turn from your most faithful friend. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Peter 2:7 He is precious.As all the rivers run into the sea, so all delights centre in our Beloved. The glances of his eyes outshine the sun: the beauties of his face are fairer than the choicest flowers: no fragrance is like the breath of his mouth. Gems of the mine, and pearls from the sea, are worthless things when measured by his preciousness. Peter tells us that Jesus is precious, but he did not and could not tell us how precious, nor could any of us compute the value of God's unspeakable gift. Words cannot set forth the preciousness of the Lord Jesus to his people, nor fully tell how essential he is to their satisfaction and happiness. Believer, have you not found in the midst of plenty a sore famine if your Lord has been absent? The sun was shining, but Christ had hidden himself, and all the world was black to you; or it was night, and since the bright and morning star was gone, no other star could yield you so much as a ray of light. What a howling wilderness is this world without our Lord! If once he hideth himself from us, withered are the flowers of our garden; our pleasant fruits decay; the birds suspend their songs, and a tempest overturns our hopes. All earth's candles cannot make daylight if the Sun of Righteousness be eclipsed. He is the soul of our soul, the light of our light, the life of our life. Dear reader, what wouldst thou do in the world without him, when thou wakest up and lookest forward to the day's battle? What wouldst thou do at night, when thou comest home jaded and weary, if there were no door of fellowship between thee and Christ? Blessed be his name, he will not suffer us to try our lot without him, for Jesus never forsakes his own. Yet, let the thought of what life would be without him enhance his preciousness. Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner;Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Psalm 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Psalm 60:4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. Psalm 27:1,3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? • Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. 2 Chronicles 13:12 "Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed." Psalm 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Revelation 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." Psalm 2:1,4 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? • He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Isaiah 8:10 "Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; State a proposal, but it will not stand, For God is with us." 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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