[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (AG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟘𝟟:𝟡
"For He has satisfied the
thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good."
Of course, if we thirst and hunger
after sin, God is not going to satisfy us with those sins. We just have to give
up sins, hate sins, and flee from them.
But if we thirst and hunger after
godly things, righteous things, God shall fulfill our heart's desire.
Let's wait upon God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟘𝟠:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛
"Oh give us help against the
adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we will do valiantly,
And it is He who shall tread down our adversaries."
To have confidence in God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟘𝟡:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚
"But You, O GOD, the Lord,
deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good,
deliver me; For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within
me."
This is also my prayer this
morning. Only God can understand and heal the wounded heart, the afflicted
soul.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟘:𝟙
"The LORD says to my Lord:
'Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your
feet.'"
The Lord shall be the King of all.
Even the rebellious sinners will accept that. May not be now, but someday they
shall.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟙:𝟟
"The works of His hands are
truth and justice; All His precepts are sure."
A verse to remember the awesome
truth concerning God. Such assertion/declaration must be echoed in the
philosophy of smart people of our times.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟚:𝟙
"Praise the LORD! How blessed
is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments."
We want to be a blessed person, to
be a blessing to many people.
Fear God. Delight in His
commandments.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟛:𝟞
"Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?"
Our God is a humble one. Human
beings are so proud. We don't want to look up to God. While God looks down from
heaven to see the affairs of humans to help.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟜:𝟝-𝟞
"What ails you, O sea, that
you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? O mountains, that you skip like rams? O
hills, like lambs?"
The mighty acts of God are reconsidered
in this Psalm. Nothing can stand against anyone whose side is God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟝:𝟙
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
But to Your name give glory Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your
truth."
May this be our confession in
everything we do!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟞:𝟝-𝟟
"Gracious is the LORD, and
righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The LORD preserves the simple; I was
brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has
dealt bountifully with you."
If you are a sinner like me, I am
sure you have more prayer points than praise points. There were some things I
prayed for fervently, and when they were answered, I wasn't totally at peace,
and I kept praying for other things, fearing some other things.
This Psalm is reminding us to learn
to be quiet, calm, peaceful knowing God has answered our prayers. He remains
gracious, compassionate, and righteous. So, we don't need to fear the uncertain
things of life, knowing He has dealt with us in a good way this far.
And I do need to preach this to
myself like the Palmist.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟟:𝟚
"For His lovingkindness is
great toward us, And the truth of the LORD is everlasting. Praise the
LORD!"
The word of God written in the
Bible is also eternal.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟠
"The LORD has disciplined me
severely, But He has not given me over to death."
God shall either discipline or
punish people. Some to life and others to death.
God disciplines those He loves and
grants them life.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟝-𝟞
"Oh that my ways may be
established To keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon
all Your commandments."
Bible Reading Update should convict
us of our lifestyle. Have you been reading casually? Take time to think through
as well!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟘:𝟚
"Deliver my soul, O LORD, from
lying lips, From a deceitful tongue."
Stay away from the liars!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟙:𝟚-𝟛
"My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps
you will not slumber."
How comforting is it to have the
God of heaven as the keeper of my soul!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟚:𝟙
"I was glad when they said to
me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'"
Let's memorise this verse to recite
to our friends who have the habit of skipping church service.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟛:𝟚
"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."
We do need to experience the grace
of God. There's an abundant grace of God. It's the grace of God that we are
alive now, but in mundane things of life, we do need to desire the grace
of God to help us go through all things, enjoying life and godliness to the
glory of God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟜:𝟙
"'Had it not been the LORD who
was on our side,' Let Israel now say,"
Let's learn to see the hands of God
– protecting, providing, and prospering our life!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟝:𝟜
"Do good, O LORD, to those who
are good And to those who are upright in their hearts."
A positive motivation to be a
righteous man in this corrupt world.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟞:𝟙
"When the LORD brought back
the captive ones of Zion, We were like those who dream."
The Lord is not only our saviour
and sustainer but also our restorer. The Scripture has promised and
demonstrated again and again that God is a gracious restorer.
Have we lost anything because we
want to honor God? Have we lost anything because of our ignorance, arrogance,
and foolishness? Have we lost anything because we are weak, poor, and timid?
The exhortation is the same for us:
to keep trusting God. He will restore us both in this life and the next to
come.
Let's remember, Paul, Abraham,
David, Ruth, and other Biblical characters.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟟:𝟛
"Behold, children are a gift
of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward."
Children are not a burden nor a
thing of inconvenience. It's a gift from the Lord.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟠:𝟛
"Your wife shall be like a
fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your
table."
Fear the Lord and you shall not be
afraid of anything!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟚𝟡:𝟚
"Many times they have
persecuted me from my youth up; Yet they have not prevailed against me."
Stand firm on God and you shall not
be utterly cast down.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟘:𝟟
"O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant
redemption."
3 reasons to hope in the Lord:
Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, Redemption
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟙:𝟙
"O LORD, my heart is not
proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in
things too difficult for me."
Over the years, slowly and slowly
but increasingly I have been learning to recite this Psalm.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟚:𝟡
"Let Your priests be clothed
with righteousness, And let Your godly ones sing for joy."
This is my prayer for our church
leaders and members!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟛:𝟙
"Behold, how good and how
pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!"
The blessedness of unity among the
brethren! A great Psalm to recall in any Christian get-together program.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞𝟙𝟛𝟜:𝟙-𝟛
"Behold, bless the LORD, all
servants of the LORD, Who serve by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your
hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD. May the LORD bless you from Zion, He
who made heaven and earth."
A call to praise God and a
benediction for the blessings of God.
Grace and gratitude go together
well!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟝:𝟞
"Whatever the LORD pleases, He
does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps."
God is in control of everything.
Nobody can thwart the plan of God. His plan and pleasure are always good, yes
even to us.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟞:𝟙𝟚
"With a strong hand and an
outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting."
God will do wonders to make a way
for us if He pleases to do so. Seek the will, pleasure, praise of God!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟟:𝟜
"How can we sing the LORD'S
song In a foreign land?"
Indeed, praise is more comely in
some places. We can worship God anywhere but there are better and more
appropriate places to worship Him.
"Work is worship" is one
of the most abused sayings. And I think it doesn't originate from Christianity.
Btw, we can defend anything using
Bible, but it doesn't mean it's right!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟠:𝟞
"For though the LORD is
exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar."
What can a wretched man like me do
in the face of this earth than to humble before the Lord? And the Scripture
says again and again that the Lord regards those who humble before Him.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟛𝟡:𝟙𝟚
"Even the darkness is not dark
to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to
You."
It was my elder brother who let me
realize that what we think at night is often different from what we think in the
daytime. Day and night affect our emotions and many aspects of life. But God
remains unchanged because He is perfect and knows everything and is all-powerful
and good.
Let's learn to take refuge in God
when we are overwhelmed by anything!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟘:𝟠
"Do not grant, O LORD, the
desires of the wicked; Do not promote his evil device, that they not be
exalted. Selah."
There's such verse in the Bible.
Surely, the desire of some wicked people to control the proclamation of the
Gospel should not be granted. Even their mundane desires for seemingly neutral
things so as to frustrate them to help them realize that they are living in
God's world, not the world they have created for whatever they like.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟙:𝟝
"Let the righteous smite me in
kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it,
For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
He who loves righteousness must
hate wickedness. A godly man wouldn't want to be accused of any sin. He would
rather be exposed of his sin than be concealed so as to flee away from it.
Love correction!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟚:𝟟
"Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name; The righteous will surround me, For You
will deal bountifully with me."
David's Prayer even for deliverance
from miserable and troubled times is God-centred. To praise God. To make the
people of God praise God along with him.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟛:𝟠
"Let me hear Your
lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I
should walk; For to You I lift up my soul."
This is an appropriate Psalm for me
to meditate on this morning. Those who have committed their life to God should
keep trusting Him forever. It's not only right to trust God but also the safest
and best thing to do.
He is trustworthy. He is loving. He
overlooks sin. He delivers. He guides. He answers. He is my hope!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟜:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟜
"Let our garners be full,
furnishing every kind of produce, And our flocks bring forth thousands and ten
thousands in our fields; Let our cattle bear Without mishap and without loss,
Let there be no outcry in our streets!"
It's right to desire and pray for
prosperity like King David. But David also loved the lovingkindness of God more
than anything.
If we don't forget the giver, we
can enjoy the gift as well.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟝:𝟚
"Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever."
The older I have become the
stronger I have affirmed this.
God is praiseworthy!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟞:𝟚
"I will praise the LORD while
I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being."
This is my desire and resolution
too. To praise God forever!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟟:𝟛
"He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds."
There's hope and comfort, healing
and restoration in the Lord for those who learn to wait and trust Him
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟠:𝟟-𝟠
"Praise the LORD from the
earth, Sea monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind,
fulfilling His word."
If inanimate things are called to
praise God and they indeed display the glory of God, we, His people, ought to
praise God joyfully!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟜𝟡:𝟜
"For the LORD takes pleasure
in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation."
Who wants the Lord to be angry with
him? None. The psalmist says that God takes pleasure in His people. God
purposes only good things for His people.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟝𝟘:𝟚
"Praise Him for His mighty
deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness."
While the whole psalm exhorts to
praise God, verse 2 gives the reason to praise God. It's not a personal/private
reason btw, though we must praise God for such reason too. The point is, God is
praiseworthy no matter whether we feel like He seems to be far away from us or
disciplining us. God remains good and praiseworthy!