Morning, January 22
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“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?  — Ezekiel 15:2
Bible League: Living His Word
I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
— Psalm 9:1-2 NLT

If you wanted to, you could boast. If you wanted to, you could tell everyone about the great things you have done. After all, they were great. You have defeated your enemies. They had devised a tricky trap for you. Not only did you avoid the trap, but your enemies have fallen into it themselves. (Psalm 9:15). It was a great victory. How clever you were! How bold and courageous! It's only right that you sing your own praises.

Or you could do what David did and give credit to the Lord. David had a glimpse of what was behind his victory and saw the hand of the Lord at work. Sure, he fought against his enemies and won a great victory. But he had seen the work of the Lord in the battle and couldn't ignore it. From David's point of view, one must give credit where credit is due. If the Lord went to war for him, then he was going to acknowledge that fact.

So, he praised the Lord with all his heart. He didn't hold anything back. He put his whole being into the effort. He wasn't going to minimize what the Lord had done by not giving it his all. He had avoided defeat. He had turned the tables on his enemies. The Lord was behind the whole thing. He deserves all the praise David could muster.

David also told the whole story. Instead of telling only his own story, instead of beating his own drum, David told the story of all the marvelous things the Lord had done for him. The Lord had been working behind the scenes, but David brought everything He did to the forefront in his telling of it.

David also allowed himself to be filled with joy because of the Lord. He didn't act stoically or hold his emotions in check. He allowed joy to fill his soul to the brim! It was the joy that comes from knowing what the Lord has done.

The Lord has done some marvelous things for you as well. Today, then, praise Him. Like David, praise Him with all your heart!
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Exodus 1, 2, 3


Exodus 1 -- Israelites Multiply; Oppression in Egypt

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Exodus 2 -- Birth, Adoption and Escape of Moses

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Exodus 3 -- Moses and the Burning Bush

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Matthew 15:21-39


Matthew 15 -- Clean and Unclean; Jesus Heals the Canaanite Woman's Daughter, Feeds Four Thousand

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.
Insight
King David's reign was characterized by doing what was “just and right.” David was fair in interpreting the law, administering punishment with mercy, respecting people's rights, and recognizing people's duties toward God. Is it any wonder that almost everyone trusted and followed David?
Challenge
Justice should characterize the way you relate to people. Make sure you are fair in the way you treat them.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Ezekiel 15:2  Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

These words are for the humbling of God's people; they are called God's vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God's goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord hath trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to his glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them? O believer, learn to reject pride, seeing that thou hast no ground for it. Whatever thou art, thou hast nothing to make thee proud. The more thou hast, the more thou art in debt to God; and thou shouldst not be proud of that which renders thee a debtor. Consider thine origin; look back to what thou wast. Consider what thou wouldst have been but for divine grace. Look upon thyself as thou art now. Doth not thy conscience reproach thee? Do not thy thousand wanderings stand before thee, and tell thee that thou art unworthy to be called his son? And if he hath made thee anything, art thou not taught thereby that it is grace which hath made thee to differ? Great believer, thou wouldst have been a great sinner if God had not made thee to differ. O thou who art valiant for truth, thou wouldst have been as valiant for error if grace had not laid hold upon thee. Therefore, be not proud, though thou hast a large estate--a wide domain of grace, thou hadst not once a single thing to call thine own except thy sin and misery. Oh! strange infatuation, that thou, who hast borrowed everything, shouldst think of exalting thyself; a poor dependent pensioner upon the bounty of thy Saviour, one who hath a life which dies without fresh streams of life from Jesus, and yet proud! Fie on thee, O silly heart!

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Psalm 48:14  For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

Isaiah 25:1  O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Psalm 16:5  The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot.

Psalm 23:3,4  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. • Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 73:23-26  Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. • With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. • Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. • My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 33:21  For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.

Psalm 138:8  The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

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.

Evening January 21
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