Devotions from April 2023

Passage Read: Psalm 79-82 Meditation Verses: 81:10-14 It is interesting that in the previous psalm, the writer pleads with God to strengthen the king, then the people will follow the Lord, restore them, then they would worship Him. But in this psalm, the Lord says…

Passage Read: Psalm 83-86 Meditation Verse: 86:17 One psalm ends with a plea that the Lord would cover the writer's enemies with shame that they would seek the Lord, this one ends with a plea that the Lord would give him a sign of His…

Passage Read: Psalm 87-90 Meditation Verses: 90:9-15 Putting this psalm in the context of Moses' life makes it hit with more weight. For forty years, he enjoyed the pleasures and treasures of Egypt; for forty years, he enjoyed (?) the solitude and simplicity of a…

Passage Read: Psalm 91-94 Meditation Verse: 94:23 The Lord desires all men to be saved, but they must repent of their sins and submit in faith to Jesus Christ. Those who will not believe and obey the Son will be marked for destruction. Though they…

Passage Read: Psalm 95-98 Meditation Verses: 95:7-11 "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." The Israelites heard His voice once directly, from fire above the mountain, all the rest of the time was through Moses, with multiple confirmations that the Lord…

Passage Read: Psalm 99-102 Meditation Verse: 99:8 The Lord loves those who are His. He loves them enough not to leave them in their sins, as objects of wrath. He determines to train them to walk in His ways, and that requires rebuke and even…

Passage Read: Psalm 103-106 Meditation Verses: 105:43-45 The Lord did good to Israel in accordance with His promise to Abraham, and He did it so that they would obey Him and follow His laws. Interestingly, the next psalm then details the sins of the people…

Passage Read: Psalm 107-110 Meditation Verses: 109:25-27 When Jesus returns, all this prayer will be answered, but that's not what the psalmist is asking for. He wants justification in this life, in these days. He wants the evil man to suffer and the innocent to…

Passage Read: Psalm 111-114 Meditation Verses: 113:5-7 Who is like the Lord, who sits on high, who stoops down to look at the heavens and the earth, who raises the poor from the ash heap? The Lord has to stoop down to see the earth…

Passage Read: Psalm 115-118 Meditation Verses: 118:8-9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men, even in princes and powerful people. It is easy to turn to those we can see, those who have authority or influence, but the…

Passage Read: Psalm 119 Meditation Verses: 119:99-100 Insight and understanding come from meditation and obedience. To be as wise or wiser than teachers of the Word or elders who have much more lived experience of God requires meditating on God's Word (probably day and night)…

Passage Read: Psalm 120-123 Meditation Verses: 121:1-2 In anything and everything I do, the Lord is my help. I need to remember to call on Him not just for strength or protection, but wisdom and guidance. I don't just need Him to keep me safe…

Passage Read: Psalm 124-127 Meditation Verses: 127:1-2 If the Lord doesn't want a thing accomplished, those who work at it do so in vain. They may make progress, may even complete it, but it will continually be under threat of overthrow. They'll have to watch…

Passage Read: Psalm 128-131 Meditation Verse: 131:1 There is freedom and great peace when I understand my place, my responsibilities, and trust those over me. When I content and confine myself with just things I have control of or responsibility for, when I can let…

Passage Read: Psalm 132-135 Meditation Verse: 135:14 The Lord has done mighty works for the sake of His name and His people. He will yet do mighty works that will save His people and bring glory to His name. While we wait for those final…

Passage Read: Psalm 136-139 Meditation Verse: 138:1 I don't have much cause for this, in that I don't spend much time among other gods or among great men who think and act like they are gods, but even when I encounter those who think much…

Passage Read: Psalm 140-143 Meditation Verses: 141:4-5 Several things I learn from this: I don't want my heart to be drawn to what is evil or to take part of evil deeds, so I should not enjoy or partake of their delicacies. Enjoying their riches…

Passage Read: Psalm 144-147 Meditation Verses: 147:19-20 God has revealed His Word to Israel. Paul speaks of that as a great advantage Jews have over Gentiles. It is a privilege that we don't often recognize. That God would choose a people and make sure they…

Passage Read: Psalm 148 - Proverbs 1 Meditation Verses: Proverbs 1:22-33 Wisdom is brutal! Yes, generous to those who listen to rebuke, she pours out her heart to them. But refuse to listen to rebuke, and she cuts you off. When calamity strikes because you…

Passage Read: Proverbs 2-5 Meditation Verses: 2:1-5 Understanding the fear of the Lord and finding the knowledge of God doesn't just happen, it takes effort. It starts with accepting the commands of a parent, directing the ear to listen and the heart to understand wisdom…

Passage Read: Proverbs 6-9 Meditation Verses: 9:7-9 A mocker and a wicked man abuse those who rebuke them, but a wise man welcomes correction and learns from it. This is not just instruction on how to treat different kinds of people and the importance to…

Passage Read: Proverbs 10-13 Meditation Verse: 10:24 This is an encouraging word. As long as my desires are in line with righteousness, with the will of the Lord, they will be granted. The righteous receive what they desire because they do the will of the…

Passage Read: Proverbs 14-17 Meditation Verse: 15:12 To resent correction is the behavior of a mocker, not a wise man. To refuse to consult the wise for fear of finding oneself in error is dangerous. Correction is hard to receive; as good as we all…

Passage Read: Proverbs 18-21 Meditation Verse: 20:15 Gold is precious because it is rare; rubies are supposed to be the rarest of gems. A good wife is as rare as rubies, and so very precious if found. But this says that lips that speak wisdom…

Passage Read: Proverbs 22-25 Meditation Verses: 24:33-34 This proverb suggests that poverty starts with a little coddling of self. Laziness doesn't start off as an absolute unwillingness to do anything, but with a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to…

Passage Read: Proverbs 26-29 Meditation Verse: 28:23 Thought This doesn't always feel true, but if I really care about people and see them going astray, I have to warn them. This proverb assures me that those who rebuke honestly will receive more favor in the…

Passage Read: Proverbs 30 - Ecclesiastes 2 Meditation Verses: Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 Thought Solomon basically says that the one who is content with what he has and is satisfied with the work he had to do, this is a wise man. The fool is one who…

Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 3-6 Meditation Verse: 3:17 Thought There is no guarantee of justice among men, but one thing is for sure: God will judge every one of us. We may be able to escape judgment here, or we may be unfairly judged here, but…

Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 7-10 Meditation Verses: 9:16-18 Thought Wisdom is better than strength, but few if any really appreciate wisdom or honor it. Though wisdom may get a chance to show its power and benefit, men almost always return to praising strength and power. So…

Passage Read: Ecclesiastes 11 - Song of Solomon 2 Meditation Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:4 Thought Conditions are often less than ideal for what needs to be done. If there is a work that needs to be done, there will always be excuses that can be found…