Bible League: Living His Word The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid? In this life we live before the second coming of Jesus Christ we go through all sorts of trials, troubles, and tribulations that tempt us to give way to fear. In our verse for today, however, David basically makes the claim that we have nothing to fear. We have nothing to fear because we have the Lord on our side. We have nothing to fear because the Lord is our light. This reminds us of Psalm 43:3, "Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me." Although darkness may surround us, the Lord shows us the way. Although darkness hides many difficulties, perplexities, and enemies, the Lord is there to lead us and guide us through them and around them. David's followers referred to him as the "lamp of Israel" (II Samuel 21:17), but this was only true of him because the Lord was the light showing him the way. We have nothing to fear because the Lord is also our salvation. This reminds us of Psalm 62:2, "Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." The Lord not only shows us the way through the darkness with all its difficulties, perplexities, and enemies, but He saves us from it all. He is our deliverer and savior. Although the enemies hidden in the darkness try to knock us down from the solid rock we stand upon, we shall not be shaken from our sure foundation. "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand" (Psalm 40:2). And we have nothing to fear because the Lord is also the stronghold of our lives. This reminds us of Psalm 144:2, "He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge." Although we are vulnerable to the attacks from the trouble and the enemies hidden in the darkness, the Lord protects us, supports us, and upholds us. Given what the Lord is for us, whom shall we fear, of whom shall we be afraid? As the Apostle Paul put it, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLamentations 3, 4, 5 Lamentations 3 -- Jeremiah Shares Israel's Affliction and Prays for Deliverance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 4 -- The Distress of the Siege NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Lamentations 5 -- Zion's Prayer for Mercy NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Hebrews 8 Hebrews 8 -- Jesus the High Priest of a New Covenant NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.Insight Doing everything “as a representative of the Lord Jesus” means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times—wherever you go and whatever you say. Challenge What impression do people have of Christ when they see or talk with you? What changes would you make in your life in order to honor Christ? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 47:4 He shall choose our inheritance for us.Believer, if your inheritance be a lowly one you should be satisfied with your earthly portion; for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you. Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition. A ship of large tonnage is to be brought up the river; now, in one part of the stream there is a sandbank; should some one ask, "Why does the captain steer through the deep part of the channel and deviate so much from a straight line?" His answer would be, "Because I should not get my vessel into harbor at all if I did not keep to the deep channel." So, it may be, you would run aground and suffer shipwreck, if your divine Captain did not steer you into the depths of affliction where waves of trouble follow each other in quick succession. Some plants die if they have too much sunshine. It may be that you are planted where you get but little, you are put there by the loving Husbandman, because only in that situation will you bring forth fruit unto perfection. Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances, and if you had the choosing of your lot, you would soon cry, "Lord, choose my inheritance for me, for by my self-will I am pierced through with many sorrows." Be content with such things as you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good. Take up your own daily cross; it is the burden best suited for your shoulder, and will prove most effective to make you perfect in every good word and work to the glory of God. Down busy self, and proud impatience, it is not for you to choose, but for the Lord of Love! "Trials must and will befall-- But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all; This is happiness to me." Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Corinthians 6:11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.1 John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, • so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, • that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. Revelation 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; Psalm 32:1,2 A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! • How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! 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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