Psalm 36

Scripture

Psalm 36:5-6

5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

Observation-What does it say?

King David’s Psalm opens with a message about the sinfulness of the wicked. He then speaks to the love and faithfulness of the Lord and petitions the Lord to continue His love towards those who KNOW Him. 

Understanding-What does it mean?

God’s love is what drives us to action.

God’s love, not punishment, is what drives us to action. Even His discipline is from a place of love (please see Hebrews 12:4-13). Loving discipline leads to a trusting relationship with whoever is doing the disciplining. If you are a parent, you understand this. Everything the Lord does is from a place of love and His goodness. Relying on His love means security in a loving, faithful God who will continue to keep us safe. It definitely opposes a life of sin and wickedness; it opposes a life and heart that does NOT know the Lord, which eventually leads to death. 

Life Application 

Obey what the Holy Spirit tells us to do from a place of love, not fear. 

About a year and a half ago, our daughters accepted Jesus’ invitation for salvation. However, our daughters were fearful about getting baptized, (which is the next step of obedience) because of being dunked in the water and people looking at them. I encouraged them not to do it if they were afraid. I encouraged them to do it from a place of love and obedience and to pray to the Lord for what He would want them to do. Long story short, the Lord worked in their little hearts and they were baptized on Dec. 23rd, 2018!

If Jesus cares about little children and can change their hearts and turn their fear into obedience and excitement, how much more can His love transform our hearts to obey what He calls us to do? Not just obey, but be excited about it!

So what is He calling you to do in obedience that you are fearful of? Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Getting baptized? Returning 10% of your income back to Him or if already a tither, being more generous and giving above the tithe? Leaving a relationship that is making you compromise your faith? Helping and serving people at the church? Sharing the Gospel with someone you’ve been praying for? 

Be encouraged by His love and obey not from a place of fear, but of love. 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19 NIV

 

"In face, this is love for God: to keep his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."  1 John 5: 3-4

 

Dear Lord, You know each of our hearts and what makes us fearful. I pray that as we grab hold of Your limitless love for us that we would step out in faith and obedience into all You have called us to do and become. Amen. 

-Please listen to this worship song “Your love Oh Lord” by Third Day. It is based on the Scripture passage chosen. https://youtu.be/0OBRvxrzhqs

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm_35

Scripture:

Psalm 35:28²⁸ My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,    your praises all day long.

Observation:

David pleads to God for defense – to fight against those who are fighting against him.  [The exact period of time this psalm is linked to is unknown – so we are not sure who is fighting against him at this time.] He prays for destruction of his enemies – may they be disgraced, put to shame, ruined.  He then promises praise for if/when he’s delivered. He recalls dealings with previous adversaries – how he cared for them (mourning them as if family, yet how they betrayed him).  Once again, he promises praise for deliverance from his enemies then goes back to prayer for vindication.

Understanding:

David seems to often be emotionally volatile – quickly (within a single psalm) going from one thing to the next.  But through much of David’s psalms he comes back to praise.  Whether promises of praise or actual praise – even when he doesn’t get what he wants, when he is delivered, with his whole being, remembering what God has done before (even if it doesn’t much what he’s experiencing in the moment), praising God’s character, love and compassion.  Despite his frustrations, his hurts, the times where he felt left and abandoned, he seemingly always turned to praise. 

Life Application:

Always return to praise.Regardless of where you may be today, there is something to praise God for.  If you need to jog your memory, I’ve included a list here from Psalm 103…What God has done for us…

• He forgives our sins (verse 3).
• He heals our bodies (verse 3).
• He has saved us from hell (verse 4). 
• He blesses us with love and compassion (verse 4).
• He satisfies us so deeply that it’s invigorating (verse 5).
• He will deliver justice for the oppressed (verse 6).
• He has revealed His character and deeds to us (verse 7).
• He will not forever accuse or be angry with us for the sins we have committed against Him (verse 9).
• He does not treat us the way we deserve to be treated or seek to punish us for our sins (verse 10).
• He has cleansed us from our sins (verse 12).
• He has the compassion of a Father who knows His children will sometimes fail to obey (verses 13-14).
• His love for His followers prevails over generations (verse 17).

Who God is…

• He is just (verse 6).
• He is compassionate (verse 8).
• He is gracious (verse 8).
• He is slow to anger (verse 8).
• He overflows with love (verse 8).
• He loves His followers beyond our imagination (verse 11).
• He is worthy of praise in heaven and on earth (verse 22).

https://www.scriptureconfidentliving.com/blog/how-to-praise-god-like-king-davidLet’s take time to praise today! <3Rei

Psalm 34

Scripture:  Psalm 34:17-18  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. Observation-What does it say?  David had an eventful life.  From his humble beginning as a shepherd and being the youngest in his family.  For a time, he was King Saul’s personal harp player.  He was then thrust into the limelight after killing Goliath.  Taken into the kingdom and made the leader of Israel’s military.  After time, Saul grew jealous of David, knowing that he would ascend the throne of Israel, and he made multiple attempts on his life.   From the title of this Psalm, we know it was written in a period when David was fleeing for his life from Saul.  The time in which he “feigned madness” was documented in 1 Samuel 21:10-22:1.  It is from this place of uncertainty that David was able to write, “I will bless the Lord at all times” (34:1).  In faith, David sees God’s deliverance, even though he is not living in it.  In obstinance of what he sees, which is complete chaos, he trusts in God’s provision for those who are broken. Understanding-What does it mean?  For most of my life, I have been called an “old soul.”  Which carries into my love of hymns.  One of my favorite hymns, “It Is Well,”  was written by Horatio Spafford in the wake of a horrible tragedy.  Once a prominent businessman, Spafford lost all of his assets in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.  His son died a short time before this.  Then in 1873, he was set to take part in a missionary trip to England with Dwight Moody.  Delayed by business, he sent his wife and four daughters ahead, with plans to follow only days after.  The ship carrying his wife and daughters was struck by another ship and sank, killing his four daughters.   After receiving the news of the loss of his daughters, Spafford sailed across the Atlantic to be with his wife.  It is said that as he crossed the place where his daughters died he penned the words of the hymn.  When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.    The uncertainty of today definitely feels like we are in the midst of a billowing sea.  But, God’s word tells us of his goodness and His plans for a bright future.  It is in these times where faith needs to take hold, even amidst what we cannot see.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  When we look at these incidents from a perspective focused on heaven, we know they will all be in the goodness of God’s plan (Romans 8:28). Life Application  Jesus, help me come to know you more intimately, where my faith in you will abound more.  Fill me with peace, even when the world feels as though it is trying to tear me down.  Help me to see this world from the view of eternity, where there is no more sorrow.  Teach me to say, it is well with my soul.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcp6w4zaW7U-Tyler Galloway