Psalm 136 - 5.8.24

Scripture

Psalm 136:1

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

Observation

Psalms 136 is a song. Most likely the priest would call out a statement about God (the first half of each verse) and the people would respond, “His love (or mercy) endures forever.” The first three verses speak to who God is. Verses 4-9 speak of His wonders. The rest of the book describes what He has done for His people. The Psalm ends with a command to give Him the thanks that He deserves.

I read it described as, “It seems that the Psalmist is exploring the parameters of God’s love and rule, and he finds that there are no limits to it. There are no limits to the merciful lovingkindness of God.”

Application

I am challenged by this Psalm to focus on God’s love and mercy and actively explore new ways to thank Him. I want to learn to respond to whatever comes my way with His love endures forever. When I hear my grandchildren laugh – His love endures forever. When I am disappointed or offended – His love endures forever. When I get a promotion at work – His love endures forever. When I am dealing with a health issue – His love endures forever.

· The past, present, or future will not end His mercy.

· The storms of life will not end His mercy.

· Distance from loved ones will not end His mercy.

· Death itself will not end His mercy.

· God’s never-ending mercy should make us merciful to others.

· God’s never-ending mercy should make us hopeful for others.

· God’s never-ending mercy should make us hopeful for ourselves.

Charles Spurgeon

Prayer

Thank you to my amazing, almighty, eternal, powerful, compassionate, and merciful God. Thank you for your love for me. May my answer always be – Your love and mercy endure forever.

- Debbie Dunn

Exodus 23 - 5.7.24

SCRIPTURE:  Exodus 23: 10 - 12

10 “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, 11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.

12 “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.

OBSERVATION

Verses 10 – 12 cover the Sabbath Laws about “rest” for all – including when to rest the harvest field, for people and even the animals.  I’m currently studying earth science and this week’s chapter happens to cover planting, harvesting, plowing and rotating crops. Science confirms exactly what God gave us in Exodus 23: the ground even needs rest. Farmers today still practice crop rotation every 7 years. They have found it helps prevent disease and it allows time for the ground to recover nutrients for crop use in the future. Throughout time farmers have used this tried and true method that God gave to us.

I love how God also provides the unplowed / unused crops can be used by the poor and wild animals. Although in modern times, allowing the poor to get food from a crop is not possible, the wild animals can sure use them.

Rest for people is another proven fact. We have all heard we need enough sleep per night, take vacations and resting; but God’s standard is more important to our physical and spiritual health. He knows that having a systematic rhythm of rest is important to refresh us. He wants us refreshed in order to do His work. We are also honoring God for all He did in creating the heavens and earth. Genesis 2: 2 says “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”  We are all created in His image. If He found it important to rest on the 7th day, there’s a good reason for us to also rest. He knows us intimately, cares for us and understands our physical and spiritual need to rest:  to “refresh” us.

APPLICATION

In our busy lives, not working on the Sabbath (Saturday for Jews and Sunday for Christians) is easy in principle but our “on the go” society can easily wrap us up in the chaos of life. It’s easy to get swallowed up in our busy lives yet, in all of this, God wants us to rest on the Sabbath. But what does “not working” on the Sabbath and rest look like? In the Jewish culture, not working on the Sabbath is very strict to the point you can’t cook, write, or even brush off mud from your shoes. I don’t think God wants us to be legalistic about it, but we can sure change our schedule to not “work” on the Sabbath and find ways to rest. After church there’s family time, take a walk, a nap, visit with other family and friends, go to a special place, read more of your Bible and simply enjoy all that God has given to us. The ultimate goal of keeping the Sabbath holy is to honor God, give glory to Him for all that He’s provided and rest so we can be refreshed. He has a plan for each of us and needs us refreshed to do His work.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for caring for us so much. You know each of us intimately and understand how important rest is to us. Help me, Lord, to always keep the Sabbath holy, to rest, to reflect, and to restore. Forgive me when the busyness of life can feel so consuming and “work” creeps into life on the Sabbath. Help me to realize those times of busyness and to reflect on other ways to rest in You. In Jesus name! Amen

- Mary Oberg

Luke 24 - 5.6.24

Scripture

Luke 24:51-52

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.  Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Observation

Jesus had revealed Himself to His disciples. He was alive! After spending some time with them, catching up, teaching and eating, He “was taken up into heaven.” (Vs. 51)  The first thing the disciples did, after Jesus left to be with the Father, was worship and praise Him with great joy continually at the temple! The resurrection had inspired hope and purpose in the disciples’ lives. Jesus was (and is) alive!

Application

When feeling joyless, hopeless, confused, or even doubtful about the faith, go back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ resurrection gave the disciples joy, hope and purpose. His resurrection is the basis of our faith in Him. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

How has Jesus’ resurrection changed our hope and purpose in life?

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I always have a reason to praise You. Your death has put to death my old life and saved me from hell, but Your resurrection has given me new life and purpose in You! May I be like the disciples when they discovered You were alive and continue to praise and worship You with my whole heart and soul until You return. Amen!

Psalm 134-”Praise the Lord all you servants of the Lord who minister by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who is Maker of heaven and earth.”

-Michelle Gaddi