Bible League: Living His Word For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;With favor You will surround him as with a shield. David says that the Lord will bless the righteous. Who are the righteous? Are they those who walk in sinless perfection? If so, then in Psalm 14:2-3 David tells us that there really aren't any, for "There is none who does good, No, not one." Indeed, David himself would not qualify, because he had some major sin in his life. According to the Apostle Paul, David's actual point of view is that the righteous are those "whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered" (Romans 4:6-7). Our verse for today tells us that the righteous, those forgiven by God, are blessed. What are the blessings of the righteous? The Bible mentions so many of them that they can't all be listed here. The sons of Korah, however, sum them all up by saying in Psalm 84:11 that, "No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly." The righteous, in other words, are blessed with whatever it is they need. Our verse for today mentions one particular blessing that the righteous receive. They will be surrounded with favor as with a shield. Just as a shield surrounds the one who holds it up and protects him from harm on the battlefield, so the Lord will surround the righteous with favor so that they will be protected from harm in life. If a person has the favor of the Lord, then good things happen to that person despite the circumstances. Here's just one example from the Bible: Although Noah lived at the time of the Great Flood, he found favor with God. For him, the favor of God meant that he and his family were spared from the devastation of the flood (Genesis 6:8). The righteous receive favor like Noah not because they walk in sinless perfection, but because they have sought forgiveness for their sins. The Lord does not look upon the self-righteous with favor, but those who are "humble and contrite in spirit" (Isaiah 66:2). Today, come before the Lord with a humble and contrite spirit and ask for the same thing the Psalmist asked for: "I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise" (Psalm 119:58). Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 10, 11, 12 2 Chronicles 10 -- Israelites Rebel against Rehoboam NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 11 -- Rehoboam's Reign over Judah; Rehoboam's Family NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 12 -- Rehoboam Punished, Shishak Plunders Judah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 13:18-38 John 13 -- Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet, Predicts His Betrayal and Peter's Denial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.Insight It's easier to do what's right when we gain recognition and praise. To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity (Matt 6:4), prayer (Matt 6:6), and fasting (Matt 6:18). Those acts should not be self-centered, but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. The reward God promises is not material, and it is never given to those who seek it. Challenge Doing something only for ourselves is not a loving sacrifice. With your next good deed, ask, “Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?” Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Chronicles 4:23 These were potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.Potters were not the very highest grade of workers, but "the king" needed potters, and therefore they were in royal service, although the material upon which they worked was nothing but clay. We, too, may be engaged in the most menial part of the Lord's work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for "the king;" and therefore we will abide in our calling, hoping that, "although we have lien [1] among the pots, yet shall we be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold." The text tells us of those who dwelt among plants and hedges, having rough, rustic, hedging and ditching work to do. They may have desired to live in the city, amid its life, society, and refinement, but they kept their appointed places, for they also were doing the king's work. The place of our habitation is fixed, and we are not to remove from it out of whim and caprice, but seek to serve the Lord in it, by being a blessing to those among whom we reside. These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they dwelt "with the king" and although among hedges and plants, they dwelt with the king there. No lawful place, or gracious occupation, however mean, can debar us from communion with our divine Lord. In visiting hovels, swarming lodging-houses, workhouses, or jails, we may go with the king. In all works of faith we may count upon Jesus' fellowship. It is when we are in his work that we may reckon upon his smile. Ye unknown workers who are occupied for your Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have been found upon dunghills ere now, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ill weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell ye with the King for his work, and when he writes his chronicles your name shall be recorded. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.Luke 21:34-36 "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; • for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. • for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. • While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. • But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; • for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; • so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 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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