Bible League: Living His Word God is my strength and power,And He makes my way perfect. Our verse for today is part of a song of praise and thanksgiving that David wrote early in his reign over Israel. The song is almost identical to Psalm 18. God had delivered David from his many enemies, including King Saul and the surrounding pagan nations. He had trusted God that the promise of his anointing by the prophet Samuel would come to fulfillment and the moment had finally arrived. His heart, as a result, was full of gratitude to God. God had been David's strength and power. One translation says, "God is my strong fortress" (NLT). During the period of time between his anointing by Samuel and its complete fulfillment at the time of this song David had gone through many trials, troubles, and tribulations. During it all, God had been his strength and power. God had given him what he needed to prevail over everything that had come against him. God had also been his strong fortress. God had protected David from every attack of the enemies arrayed against him. Rather than writing a song in praise of all his accomplishments, David knew that all the praise, glory, and honor belonged to God. And God had made his way perfect. One translation says, "and keeps my way secure" (NIV). During the period of his ascent to the throne God had made David's way sure and true. That is, God had made sure that David took the right way to get to his goal. There were many obstacles in the way that could have side-tracked him or stopped his progression, but God cleared the path and made the way plain to him. God had also made his way secure. God had made sure that the pathway he took to the top was one that would not fail or lead him astray. Every one of us is on a journey like David. We are moving from the promise of God's call on our lives to the point of its fulfillment. There are many obstacles and difficulties along the way. If we trust in God, then we can count on Him being our strength and power; a strong fortress to protect us from every form of opposition. And we can count on God to make our way perfect. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading1 Kings 12, 13 1 Kings 12 -- Israelites Rebel against Rehoboam; Kingdom Divided; Jeroboam begins Idol Worship NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 1 Kings 13 -- Jeroboam's Hand Withered and Restored; Prophet Reproved NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 24:36-53 Luke 24 -- The Resurrection; Road to Emmaus; Appearances to disciples, Ascension NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But for those who are righteous,the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. Insight At times the path of the righteous doesn't seem smooth and it isn't easy to do God's will, but we are never alone when we face tough times. God is there to help us through difficulties, to comfort us, and to lead us. God does this by giving us a purpose and giving us provisions as we travel. God provides us with relationships of family, friends, and mentors. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust him. Challenge Don't despair; stay on God's path. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 John 4:13 We dwell in him.Do you want a house for your soul? Do you ask, "What is the purchase?" It is something less than proud human nature will like to give. It is without money and without price. Ah! you would like to pay a respectable rent! You would love to do something to win Christ? Then you cannot have the house, for it is "without price." Will you take my Master's house on a lease for all eternity, with nothing to pay for it, nothing but the ground-rent of loving and serving him forever? Will you take Jesus and "dwell in him?" See, this house is furnished with all you want, it is filled with riches more than you will spend as long as you live. Here you can have intimate communion with Christ and feast on his love; here are tables well-stored with food for you to live on forever; in it, when weary, you can find rest with Jesus; and from it you can look out and see heaven itself. Will you have the house? Ah! if you are houseless, you will say, "I should like to have the house; but may I have it?" Yes; there is the key--the key is, "Come to Jesus." "But," you say, "I am too shabby for such a house." Never mind; there are garments inside. If you feel guilty and condemned, come; and though the house is too good for you, Christ will make you good enough for the house by-and-by. He will wash you and cleanse you, and you will yet be able to sing, "We dwell in him." Believer: thrice happy art thou to have such a dwelling-place! Greatly privileged thou art, for thou hast a "strong habitation" in which thou art ever safe. And "dwelling in him," thou hast not only a perfect and secure house, but an everlasting one. When this world shall have melted like a dream, our house shall live, and stand more imperishable than marble, more solid than granite, self-existent as God, for it is God himself--"We dwell in him." Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 85:10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.Isaiah 45:21 "Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious. 2 Corinthians 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Romans 3:25,26 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; • for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 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. Romans 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 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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