Psalm 22:2-32 (DB of 30/6/2017)

Friday June 30th 2017

key verse: 22b

YOU RESPONDED TO ME

The psalm is divided into two parts, the first is the prayer of an oppressed person and the second is the exaltation of those who see that his prayer is answered. It's the prayer of our Lord in suffering.

1. My God, my God, why are you turned away from me ? (2-22a)

This scene of the suffering of the king very precisely relates the ordeal of Jesus on the cross. It seems that salvation is far and that God's silence is absolute. He considers himself like a worm, as he confesses in his weakness. The mockery of the people is unbearable, it's seems that he was born for pain. He is surrounded by animals which lick him. Verse 15 particularly describes the suffering of Jesus on the cross. He is flowing away like water, his heart is like wax. The people make a division of his robes among them. So the king prays that God doesn't leave him (12, 20-22a).

2. You answered me (22b-32)

The psalmist David gazes with joy and elation upon the fulfillment of his prayers. God isn't indifferent to the unfortunate people's pain. In his time, God raises and puts up his hand to save them. The king strongly urges the people to exalt the name of the very benevolent Eternal God. He humbles the mighty of the world who are only like dust, but he raises the humble from contempt and disdain. All the families of the earth will be blessed in him and their posterity will give worship to God. His justice will be recognized by the descendants.

Prayer: Lord, thank you because you watch over my anguishes and pains, and when I cry you don't forget me and you answer me. I want to exalt you among your saved people.

A word: the Lord saved me from the abyss of death

Psalm 20:2-10 (DB of 28/6/2017)

Wednesday June 28th 2017

key verse: 7

THE MIGHTY RESCUE OF THE ETERNAL GOD

This psalm constitutes one part with the second: both describe the intercession and the thanksgiving of the people, before and after the fight led by the king.

1. The people intercede (1-6)

When Jacob was in a crisis, God had rescued him. On the way of the desert, at Laban's home, and in Yabboq, God was his rescue. Israel well knows the God of Jacob. We have reason to depend on him and implore his rescue, because God doesn't forget to send his rescue from the sky. God remembers our offerings and he responds when we are in the lack of materials. Above all God is the one who listens to the requests of our heart (5,6). The people know that the king is sacrificial, so they pray that God blesses him and gives him success. 

2. But us, in the name of the Eternal God (7-10)

Now it's the king who prays. He knows that the Eternal God saves him and rescues him in the fight. The powers of this world rely on their military power. But for the Messiah, God's people rely on the Eternal God's name, which is the source of all power. When God sends his rescue, even if the powers of this world are powerful, they abide and surrender, whereas we stand firm. In the v. 10, the soldier prays for the king. Assurance coming from God ensures the near certain victory. But in the Bible, assurance doesn't provide sufficiency, but rather it provides the occasion for a pressing prayer and a call on God's salvation.

Prayer: Lord, help me to ask you and invoke you. We know that you will never forget to respond to us. So help me to wait on you with patience and faith. I pray that the king wins the fight making the people repent. 

A word: from where comes the rescue ? The rescue comes from the sky.

SONG OF VICTORY (II) (DB of 26/6/2017)

Monday June 26th 2017

key verse: 47

Previously, David made two declarations about his personal righteousness and about God's principle in his dealings according to human character. This second part deals with God's call and the conclusion.

1. God's resouding call (29-46)

The Eternal God with his light and his strength encourages David and gives him an ardent and constant fire to serve Him. God is worthy of honour and worship because of his blessings and also because of the absolute truth of his word (31). God had carefully formed David on the physical point of view (health, strength, agility), giving him a warrior instruction, and on the moral point of view (perseverance, resistance, humility) to make the small shepherd David become a mighty king. David accepts the goal of this training. The conquest of his enemy is God's action (40). God refuses all the prayers of his enemies (42). God makes David the chief of numerous nations, even the peoples who don't have any relation with him recognize his sovereignty when they hear something about him. (46). It's historically proved (2 Sa: 10-18) and also it's prophetic (Ps 2:8).

2. Conclusion (47-51)

With all this reflection, David fully recognized the will of  the loving God. He is the living God (47). Even though David is an avenger, he knows that God avenges his noble cause using men (48). His sovereignty contributes to spread God's law far (50), and finally David benefits from the permanent alliance with God which will be accomplished in the end in the eternal reign of David' Son (51).

Prayer: Lord, you are my Eternal God, my rock and the God of my salvation. I pray that the news of your Son spread out far and near.

A word: be a winner because He is with you

DAVID'S PRAYER

Friday June 23th 2017

key verse: 1

We see in this psalm a prime example of David's prayer. He overcomes the enemy by the mighty prayer which goes up to the sky.

1. David's pure conscience (1-3)

Sincerity is the first condition of the prayer, says John Bunyan. David claims his sincerity before God. With the assurance of having a proper heart, each person can start approching God. 1) his things are pure and his tongue is bound (1b, 3b). He relies on God's word before doing whatever. 3) he defends himself from the bad actions of the wicked. 4) he decides to be faithful to God's word.

2. He demands God's justice (4-12)

Now he invokes God who protects those who flee to him. David wants God's justice to be fully manifested when the enemy attacks. The assault of the enemy is like the assault of a devouring lion which looks out in the shadow for the step of its prey. The situation is perilous like when we walk on sharped blades. But Davis is assured of God's caring who protects him like the apple of his eye. Note the constrast between the wicked and the righteous man about the use of the tongue (3b, 10b).

3. The satisfaction of the psalmist (13-15)

The wicked are closed in their fat (10). Their part is the life on the earth;  (14b) they are satisfied by abundance of the world and they enjoy the wordliness. Their system of value is age-old. But the interest and the value of the man of God are different. David searches to be satisfied by God and his image, and no water of Jacob's wells can do it (15).

Prayer: Lord, make me really pray. I pray that your reign comes, expulsing the wicked ! And make me be satisfied by your image !

A word: really pray

BEYOND DEATH Psalm 16:1-11 (DB of 22/6/2017)

hursday, June 22nd 2017

key verse: 11

The psalmist manifests his decision to act in a certain way, and though surrounded by enemies, he continues to put his trust in God.

1. The psalmist's decision (1-4)

In Psalm 1, the psalmist already said that those who walk in the way of sinners and receive council from evildoers are unhappy. The world is filled with the wicked and sinners who do not seek God. Their lives are filled with idols, but the psalmist has clearly decided to not share in their way of life. 

2. The psalmist's portion (5-11)

David the psalmist has a clear idea of his portion. It happened when he decided to separate himself from sinners. Sin and the Holy Spirit each have antipodes directly linked to other antipodes : the portion of the psalmist in verse 5, his lines in verse 6 and even his inheritance in verse 6b. All Christians inherit eternal life in the kingdom of God (1 Peter 1:3-4). It never fades; therefore, it is a living hope. So, this portion or inheritance is something that transcends death. It is prepared for us in heaven by our Lord God. When his disciples worried about the future, Jesus told them that there are many rooms in heaven. The Holy Spirit comes to instruct the psalmist, especially at night when obscurity falls. Surrounded by idolatrous enemies, David risks falling into temptation. Yet, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he sets the Lord before him. God, protecting him from falling, fills him with more and more joy and gladness. The greatest fear will come at the hour of our death. Yet we can be in peace if we trust in God who saves us (verse 10). In complete confidence, the psalmist confesses, "for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol (the grave)". He will not see the pit of death.

Prayer: Lord, separate me from idolatrous people and help me to trust in you. You will lead me beyond death into your kingdom.

Bottom line: You will have fullness of joy before Him.

WHO WILL STAY IN MY TENT ? (DB of 2162017)

Wednesday June 21th 2016

Psalm 15:1-5

key verse: 1

This short poem talks about the behaviour of a righteous man. He understands personal and social behavior.

1. The aspiration of the righteous man (1, 5b)

The aspiration of a pious man is to remain in his tent and on the mountain of Sion. He searches God's presence in the life of pilgrimage and in the holy city in the midst of the assembly of the people. Here is the most trusted place. Then, he aspires to have a noble character, personnaly and also socially. Therefore, he will never falter in his life.

2. Personal and social behaviour (2-5a)

First, the psalmist talks about personal behaviour. From a positive point of view, he leads an honest life (Gn 6:9; 17:1), he practices justice in all his transactions, because his heart is founded on truth. From a negative point of view, he doesn't slander, that's to say that he is not a rapporteur with the wicked and unfair words. Then, he behaves properly socially. The Christian judges the people according to moral criterions. He doesn't take into account the people who merit disdain because of their actions, but he respects all person who honour and fear the Eternal God. If they had an engagement which is expensive and boring, he doesn't avoid his responsability because the terms of a vow are sacred (Jos 9:19).  About wealth, he rejects the greedy practice of stealing and practices liberality toward others, and he doesn't corrupt justice through gifts, especially if the result damages an innocent person. 

Prayer: Lord, make me have a pious aspiration and obtain the character worthy of you practicing justice towards you and the others.

A word: search his presence and burn his character 

I REJOICE DESPITE ALL THAT (DB of 19/6/2017)

Monday June 19th 2017

Psalm 13:1-6
key verse: 6

The psalmist prays for a subject, he thanks God and rejoices despite all that. His joy is much contrasted with the despair in his heart.

1. How long ? (2-5)

David says "how long ?". The tribulations and the persecutions continue to make him suffer. They are endless. In this situation, his heart is full of afflictions. It seems that God hides his face. We often experience the same thing. God appears to be deaf to our requests. So our heart is down and we moan in the suffering. But God permits us to pray to him with our laments. "How long, O Eternal God ?". There is also another reason for this lament. David prays that the enemy doesn't rejoice because of David's fate, so that God's name be not degraded. That's why he demands that God save his servant from contempt. He wants his eyes to be illuminated to see the spiritual reality, without being clouded by an unfortunate fate (4).

2. I trust in you (6)

The psalmist confesses that he trusts in God's kindness. His heart is full of grief because of the delay of God's coming. But it's not a reason to query God's love. The psalmist doesn't change, he continues to put his trust in God and in his mercy which doesn't change. When he continues to put his trust in God depite all that, God pours his clear waters in his heart, his heart doesn't blur and his eyes remain illuminated. Above all, God pours an unchanging mercy in his soul and an indescribable joy. His heart is very joyful and is full of new songs. "He blesses me" says David. The illuminated eyes are those which can see the sky and mercy depite the whole visible, unfortunate situation. God pours his immeasurable love and mercy.

Prayer: Lord, humble the enemy, raise me up, because I want you to be raised up. Make me fully rejoice in your presence.

A word: thanks be to God despite all that