Psalm 142: The Righteous Will Surround Me

Today’s reading is Psalm 142.

The Congregation of the Righteous

Despite David’s struggles, sadness, and lament, he does maintain faith in God. Deliverance is coming on God’s timetable, not David’s. He ends this prayer:

Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Psalm 142:7 (ESV)

David was not literally in prison. This causes some to suggest the attribution at the beginning of this psalm means “In the style of David” rather than “written by David.” These would suggest that “in the cave” is simply intended to give the readers a setting in David’s life to help understand when and how to use the psalm in our own praying. However, these are psalms. They are poetic and often figurative. We have no reason to believe David was literally imprisoned, but rather saw his circumstances as a kind of prison, a kind of bondage. He was not free to do his work, be with his family, even serve his king. Frankly, I envision David seeing himself in Joseph’s shoes. He has been turned on by his “brother” Saul and has ended up in a hole in the ground. He knows God’s plan is for him to rule and so, like Joseph, he needs to be freed from his “prison” in order to fulfill God’s plan for him.

Once freed, David knows he will be surrounded by the righteous. This calls to mind Psalm 1. In that initial contrast between the blessed man and the wicked, the psalmist wrote:

Therefore the wicked will not stand in judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous…
Psalm 1:5 (ESV).

By contrast, David knows he will be surrounded by the righteous. He will stand among the congregation of the righteous. David’s suffering and trial is not judgment. God is not condemning David. Despite his struggles, David knows where God is leading him. No matter what it looks like in the moment, David knows he is the fruitful tree planted by God’s streams of waters and he will bear God’s fruit in its season.

For David, standing in the congregation of the righteous was initially fulfilled as he was made king over God’s people. However, ultimately it speaks of an eternal standing in the face of judgment. Rather than being cast down in judgment, he will be able to stand with the righteous.

As we consider our own use of this psalm, we, through Christ, have confidence God will deliver us from every evil in this world and bring us home to His eternal dwelling place. As we hang on to God in faith, whatever happens to us in this life, we can be confident we will be surrounded by the righteous in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells. And no matter what is happening in this moment, we can pray like those who will be surrounded by the righteous.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 142.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 142 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 77: The Children of Jacob and Joseph

Today’s reading is Psalm 77.

When the psalmist turns from self-centered memories to remembering the mighty works of God, he writes in vs. 15, “You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph” (ESV).

No doubt, referring to Jacob and Joseph calls to mind the northern tribes and recognizes the ultimate unity between Judah and Israel. However, I think there may be more to this reference. Why refer to the nation by these names in this psalm?

Because the psalmist remembers he isn’t living in a vacuum. He is a descendent of Jacob and, if not a direct descendent of Joseph himself, Joseph was an exemplary patriarch of the entire nation. When the psalmist simply thinks about his own life and his own memories, the past good times, the blessed days, all he can think about is what he’s lost. He can only wonder if God has abandoned him.

But then he remembers his identity. He is not just “Asaph,” he is a child of Jacob and Joseph. What do these men have in common? They had been taken out of their homeland. They had been misused and abused. Jacob was mistreated by his father-in-law. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers and taken prisoner in Egypt. Yet, how did it work out for both of these men? In the end, God, working through them, brought His people into the Promised Land.

Yes, things are bad in this psalm for the psalmist and for all of the nation. But they are children of Jacob. They are children of Joseph. The very stories of their ancestors remind them God is with them even when they go into the far off lands. God will give them favor. God will deliver them. God will settle them in His homeland.

We too are children of Jacob and Joseph. Not because we are biological descendants of Israel, but because we come from the same spiritual stock. At times our lives go in directions we don’t understand. At times, others will take advantage of us and mistreat us. At times, we may even be wrongly accused, abused, imprisoned. But God is always with us. Let us remember who we are. Let us remember how our God works. Let us hang on to Him as did Jacob and Joseph.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 77.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 77 prompt or improve your trust in God.

A Better Possession

Today’s reading is Hebrews 10.

When the original readers of Hebrews first turned to Jesus, they went through hardships. Significant ones. Honestly, I’ve never been through these kinds of hardships myself. They were publicly exposed to reproach and affliction. I mean sure, I’ve been made fun of on occasion, but not on a level I’d call affliction. Further, this is connected to being put in prison. I’ve never been put in prison for my faith. Though, I did have the cops called on me once for trying to follow up with some fallen Christians. They accepted the plundering of their property. Wow! Because they were disciples of Jesus, some people seized, plundered, stole their possessions. Someone broke into my truck once, but not because I was a Christian. This isn’t just someone happening to be robbed by an opportunistic criminal. This is people targeting Christians because they’re Christians to take their stuff. This would include suing for the Christians’ cloaks and tunics and getting away with it because the judges hated the Christians as well. This would include being driven out of their homes. This would include having land taken away and flocks and herds being confiscated.

These Christians joyfully accepted the plunder. They didn’t complain and groan about it. They didn’t countersue. They accepted it and counted it all joy. Why? Because their earthly goods were not their greatest possessions. They were looking forward to the eternal possessions and the heavenly city. We might be homeless on earth, but we have a greater home waiting. We would rather be homeless temporarily on earth if that is where faithfulness to Jesus leads, than give up our eternal home with Jesus to protect our present possessions. Of course, here is the shocking point of the passage. Sometimes that is exactly where we end up. Sometimes, if we are not careful, in our attempts to store up and protect our earthly possessions, property, and home, we give up our heavenly possessions, property, and home. Sometimes to build up and protect our heavenly possessions, property, and home, we have to sacrifice our earthly possessions, property, and home. Sometimes, we really do have to choose.

Remember, where your treasure is your heart will be also. Where is your heart? Where is your better possession?

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 10.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why is our eternal home a better possession than our present one?
3. Why is it hard to think of our eternal home as a better possession than our present one?
4. How do we help each other develop and maintain a faith that would joyfully let others plunder our possessions in persecution in order to stay faithful to Jesus and look forward to our eternal home?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?

Ready for Prison

Today’s reading is Acts 21.

“I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

I believe Paul fully thought he was about to walk into Jerusalem and follow the footsteps of his King all the way to a cross. After all, a prophet cannot die except in Jerusalem, right? (See Luke 13:33). And Paul was ready. Why? Because Jesus had resolutely walked into Jerusalem ready to die for Paul. Turnabout is fair play, don’t you think? Paul did. Paul had once fought against Jesus, but he had been conquered, taken captive, and enslaved to the greatest Master he could ever know. In a shocking turn of events and emotions, he was excited to be a captive of Jesus Christ. He never once called himself a prisoner of Caesar. He always called himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ. And he was happy to follow Jesus right to his own death. I pray God will strengthen me to be ready to face whatever the enemy throws my way. Jesus was ready to die for me, I want to be ready to do so for Him.

Today’s reading is Acts 21.

Yes, Sadducees, There are Angels

Today’s reading is Acts 5.

I can’t help but laugh when I read Acts 5. I think about the Sadducees and the fact that they don’t believe in angels (see Acts 23:8). So they toss the apostles into jail, and they promptly escape. How? An angel let them out. HA!!! It also just blows my mind that when the Council hauls the apostles back into their meeting hall, they don’t ask, “How on earth did you get out of the prison?” That is the question that would have been burning in my mind. The doors were locked. The guards were still stationed outside. The apostles were gone. How did that happen? Nope. They don’t want to know. I guess that shouldn’t surprise me, they still aren’t dealing with the question of how Jesus escaped a locked and guarded tomb. Answering these questions might have implications and consequences they don’t want to consider. Instead, they just get mad that the apostles were back to teaching in the name of Jesus. Wow! This is just a reminder to me of the world we live in. Folks who don’t want to believe, won’t. Further, they won’t give us a fair shake about it. They won’t ask the questions that really matter or consider the topics that are really important. They will continue to sidestep and focus on the parts they don’t like. However, that doesn’t change the fact that there really are angels. That doesn’t change the fact that Jesus is real and He really rose from the dead. That doesn’t change the fact that Jesus is my King. Like the apostles, I can keep spreading the good news about Him no matter how others act. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 5.

Free

Today’s reading is Acts 28.

I love the way Acts ends. Don’t get me wrong. I hate that Paul is in prison. I would much rather he be free to travel. However, what I love about it is the Jews were doing everything they could to keep Paul from preaching and keep the gospel from spreading. But even with Paul under house arrest in Rome, the proclamation of the kingdom and the teaching of Jesus Christ is free. It is progressing with boldness and without hindrance. That is how amazing and powerful the gospel is. Even when its #1 teacher is stuck under the watchful eye of Roman guards, the gospel is still progressing and growing. You know what that means? We have no excuses about spreading the gospel today. Let’s get busy.

Tomorrow’s reading is Romans 1.

Resurrection Hope

Today’s reading is Acts 23.

Everyone dies. It’s just a fact of life. That is what makes the gospel so powerful. Don’t get me wrong, obeying the gospel often improves the present life. However, as Paul pointed out while on trial, the hope of the gospel is not a better job, a better marriage, a better retirement, a better house. The hope of the gospel is resurrection. The hope of the gospel is when this life is over, life isn’t. The hope of the gospel is being with God for eternity. We cannot escape death as an event, but we can escape death as an end. Would you live eternally with God? Then hear and heed His gospel message through Jesus Christ. Then hang on to the hope it gives no matter what.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 24.

Ready to Die

Today’s reading is Acts 21.

How many people throughout history have been willing to die for their king? It is not surprising at all to hear of a knight, soldier, ambassador who says he will put his life on the line for his lord and liege. And yet, we are surprised when we hear Paul say that about his King, Jesus. However, he is saying what so many others have said. Paul understood what was happening. This wasn’t just evangelism, personal work, missionary work. This was war. There was a battle between the forces of evil and his King. He was ready to step up to the fight. Of course, unlike literal war, the battle isn’t fought with sword and shield, but with the Word of God. He was ready to take the Word of God that he might be part of the enemy’s defeat and the deliverance of his prisoners of war. He was ready to die in service of his King. I have a long way to grow. Let’s grow there together.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 22.

The Good in the Bad

Today’s reading is Philippians 1.

Since the church in Philippi practically began by a conversion that came from Paul being thrown in jail, it probably wasn’t very surprising to the Christians there to hear that good was coming from Paul’s present imprisonment. But it is very surprising to us. What a lesson we need to learn. When we are mired in the messes of life in this world, we must keep our eyes open for the opportunities to share the gospel. Who knows, but perhaps for such a time as this we find ourselves in these situations simply because someone there needs the gospel. In some of the darkest circumstances, the greatest good can be done. God may use even our worst circumstances in order to advance the gospel. Keep your eyes open today and keep advancing the gospel.

Tomorrow’s reading is Philippians 2.

Walk

Today’s reading is Ephesians 4.

Making and being disciples is about so much more than simply getting people baptized. Discipling is not just about the initiation into Christ, but about becoming more like Him. Putting off the old self and putting on the new is a process. It is a journey. It is a walk. So let us walk, not as we once did before we entered Christ, but more and more as He walked. And let’s help each other walk this way. That is truly making disciples.

Tomorrow’s reading is Ephesians 5.