Bible League: Living His Word "But I trust in your faithful love, Lord. I will be happy when you save me. Then I will sing to the LORD because He was so good to me."— Psalm 13:5-6 ERV Psalm 13 is a song that concludes with a beautiful proclamation of trust and rejoicing. But the Psalm does not start out that way. The author and songwriter David begins with a series of lamentations. How long will you forget me, Lord? Will it be forever? How long will you refuse to accept me? How long will I wait knowing you forgive me? How long do I have to feel sadness in my heart? How long will my enemies keep having victory over me? Who among us as believers has not struggled with such painful questions from the heart? Yet we know that it takes patience and endurance to live our lives for God. The Bible tells us that patience works perfection in our lives (James 1:4-8). Abraham and Sarah are an amazing example of God's goodness and redemptive purpose through much patience. Abraham gets the promise from God of a great nation coming from his descendants. The problem was that Sarah was barren with no children, and Abraham was 75 years old. They waited patiently for 25 years, and suffered the failures of trying to move ahead of God's timetable. Such sorrow, no doubt, followed many prayers and cries of "How long, O Lord?" But the promise came from the one and only true God, the One who cannot lie. Deep down Abraham did not waiver in belief (Romans 4:20-21), and in the end their patience was perfected as God provided the promised heir. It was, and is, and continues to be the purpose of God that true believers will be saved through faith. Life as a believer will be a journey as we are being perfected in faith the same way God worked His perfection in the lives of Abraham and Sarah. Right now, you may be crying "How long, O Lord?" How long before I get an answer to this or that issue? How long must I endure through this trial? This temptation? This suffering? But God sees it all. He sees even when our patience is waning. But He never forgets or forsakes you. He always accepts and is ready to forgive you. Sorrows will turn to joy, and in the meantime sing! Rejoice for you are saved unto an eternity with the everlasting Lord. Look at all the good He has done in your life and sing. David's Psalm is intended to be sung together by the children of Israel. It speaks to the common experiences we have as believers whereby we find comfort in the presence of others as we sing and share with one another. Rejoice and cry together. Exhort, encourage, and pray with each other. In fellowship, our patience and endurance is strengthened. And let us not forget, God is patiently waiting for the last soul to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). He continues to work and perfect on behalf of those who wait for Him (Isaiah 44:4). So sing, beloved of Christ. Sing out in the midst of the congregation as well as in the quiet times of your meditations and prayers. The Lord has heard the cries of my weeping. The Lord has heard my pleas for help. The Lord has received my prayers (Psalm 6:8-9). By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International Staff, California USA Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 62, 63, 64 Psalm 62 -- My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 63 -- David's Psalm of Thirst for God (2Sa 16) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 64 -- Hear my voice, God, in my complaint. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 1 Romans 1 -- Paul Longs to Visit Rome; Consequences of Sin NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” Insight This widow gave all she had to live on, in contrast to the way most of us handle our money. When we consider giving a certain percentage of our income a great accomplishment, we resemble those who gave “a tiny part of their surplus.” Here, Jesus was admiring generous and sacrificial giving. Challenge As believers, we should consider increasing our giving—whether of money, time, or talents—to a point beyond convenience or safety. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 17:23 I in them.If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to him to carry him our loves, and bring us tidings from his Father's house; but see his kindness, he has built his house next door to ours, nay, more, he takes lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble hearts, that so he may have perpetual intercourse with us. O how foolish must we be, if we do not live in habitual communion with him. When the road is long, and dangerous, and difficult, we need not wonder that friends seldom meet each other, but when they live together, shall Jonathan forget his David? A wife may when her husband is upon a journey, abide many days without holding converse with him, but she could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in one of the chambers of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit at his banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for he is thy Brother. Hold Him fast, for he is thine Husband; and press him to thine heart, for he is of thine own flesh. Daily Light on the Daily Path 2 Timothy 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.Isaiah 55:4 "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader and commander for the peoples. Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Ephesians 6:12,13 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. • Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 2 Corinthians 10:3,4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, • for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 1 Peter 5:10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 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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