Bible League: Living His Word "He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail."— 1 Samuel 2:9 NKJV Do you want to win in life? Do you want to overcome life's adversities and troubles? Then you have to look to the Lord God of heaven and earth. Like Hannah, who spoke the words of our verse for today, you have to go to Him in prayer and receive from Him what you need. Hannah went before the Lord in prayer and overcame the shame and heartache of infertility. In gratitude, she spoke a psalm of praise to the Lord that lists many of the wonderful things we can expect from Him (1 Samuel 2:1-10). Our verse is a part of what she said. First, "He will guard the feet of his saints." It is the Lord that keeps people from stumbling in their walk of life before Him. David said, "You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:13). and Moses said, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone" (Psalm 91:11-12). Indeed, even if we do fall, we shall not be utterly cast down, because the Lord upholds us with His hand (Psalm 37:24). Second, "But the wicked shall be silent in darkness." The wicked do not have the help of the Lord in their walk of life. As a result, "They meet with darkness in the daytime, And they grope at noontime as in the night" (Job 5:14). Even worse, the Lord is opposed to them: "But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out their days" (Psalm 55:23). Third, "For by strength no man shall prevail." The reason why the wicked fail in the walk of life is because they think they can prevail by their own strength. The people of God, on the other hand, prevail because they realize it all depends on the Lord. "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). Hannah's message, then, is clear: look not to the world or the flesh for power in this life; look only to the Lord for protection and success. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 34, 35, 36 Numbers 34 -- Borders of Canaan NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 35 -- Designation of Cities for the Levites and Refuge NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 36 -- Zelophehad's Daughters Marry NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 10:32-52 Mark 10 -- Divorce; Let the little children; Rich Young Ruler; Jesus Predicts His Death; James and John's Request; Blind Bart NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion How lovely is your dwelling place,O LORD of Heaven's Armies...What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Insight The writer longed to get away from the bustling world to meet God inside his dwelling place, his holy temple. Challenge We can meet God anywhere, at any time. But we know that going into a church building can help us step aside from the busy mainstream of life so we can quietly meditate and pray. We find joy not only in the beautiful building but also in the prayers, music, lessons, sermons, and fellowship. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Let us not sleep, as do others.There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song-- "When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither, And hear how these two pilgrims talk together; Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise, Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes. Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well, Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell." Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto him; let your heart be full of him; let your lips speak of his worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open--the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them--a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 38:14 Yes, I am like a man who does not hear, And in whose mouth are no arguments.Psalm 123:1,2 A Song of Ascents. To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! • Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us. Psalm 61:1-4 For the choir director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. • From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. • For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. • Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall. 1 Peter 2:21-23 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, • WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; • and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 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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