This week’s readings: I Samuel 15-24; selections from I Chronicles and Psalm 5,7,13,17,22,34,35,52,54,57,59,109,133,142 and 144.
One of the parts that I am enjoying while reading the Bible chronologically is that it is just that… in order. As David’s story begins in I Samuel…I was also treated to David’s words in the psalms that were associated to many events in his life.
I love the psalms…this week, I was especially touched as I read Psalm 34…in fact, I think this is a psalm that I could read daily for quite awhile and I would not grow tired of it or ceased to be challenged.
PSALM 34
I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
In this psalm we see God being God:
- He answers us
- He delivers us
- He changes our countenance
- He saves us out of all of our troubles
- He sends His angels to encamp around us
- He watches us
- He hears us
- He comes close when we are brokenhearted
- He protects us
- He redeems us
This psalm shows us how to walk before God:
- Extol the Lord at all times
- His praises always on our lips
- Our souls boast in the Lord
- Glorify the Lord
- Exalt His name
- Seek the Lord
- Look to the Lord
- Acknowledge our poverty
- Call out to the Lord
- Fear the Lord
- Taste the Lord and see that He is good
- Take refuge in the Lord
- Keep tongue from evil and lies
- Turn from evil
- Do good
- Seek peace
- Pursue peace
- Cry out to the Lord
The fruit of a life walked with the Lord as He is at work with us:
- No fear
- Radiant faces
- No shame
- Blessings
- There is nothing lacking that is good
- A life of many good days
- Justice
- No condemnation
What area needs your focus…is it allowing God to be God and work in your life…your situations? Do you need to walk with the Lord in more abandon and fullness…do you need to boast about Him more to others…or do you need to just plain cry out to Him…what would it look like to not just seek peace but to pursue it…how’s your tongue…is it prone to wander?
God working as you slide your hand in His and stride as one equates to a life characterized by freedom from shame, fear,or condemation…a life that lacks no good things or good days….blessings…blessings…blessings and a face that tells the story of His grace and a life fully offered up to the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
“Let us exalt His name together!”
It’s never to late to join us in reading the Word from beginning to end in chronological order…click here to find out more and join us.
