Category: King David

Blessed are Those...

6/8/2021

Psalm 119:1-16 NASB How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD. [2] How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. [3] They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. [4] You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently. [5] Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes! [6] Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments. [7] I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. [8] I shall keep Your statutes; Do not forsake me utterly! [9] How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. [10] With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. [11] Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. [12] Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. [13] With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. [14] I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. [15] I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. [16] I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.

The 119th Psalm happens to be the longest chapter in the Bible. It is longer than a number of shorter books in the Biblical Canon. It also happens to be one of my favorite chapters found in scripture. King David begins by proclaiming that the people who walk in the law (instruction) of the Lord are "blessed!"
Look around...is it true? Are the people who live their lives based upon God's instructions enjoying greater blessing in life than those who are living life on their own terms? I can only answer that question with what my eyes have witnessed; and the answer is "yes." People who embrace and apply God's truths to their lifestyle seem to be blessed.
I think that wisdom begins with the absolute understanding that God's ways are infinitely better than man's ways. The blessings that are associated with the person walking in God's wisdom is realized on two different levels.

Firstly, there are the natural blessings that come from obedience. God's wisdom warns against the folly of man; read the Proverbs and apply them.
Secondly, there are the supernatural blessings of God. This is God blessing your life simply because He loves you.

Rather than kicking against what you might perceive to be the restraints of God's Word, delight in His statutes with the understanding that you will be blessed!

Questions to Consider:

What are some of the statutes of God that you have obeyed and have experienced God's blessing because of your obedience?
Can you think of any experiences where you ignored God's wisdom, did it "your" way, and paid the price?
Humility begins with the understanding that God's wisdom is greater than our own. How can we cultivate more Godly humility in our lives?

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A Song for Change

4/16/2021

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Psalm 51:10-17 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

David messed up. What? Really? A man after God's own heart is still just a man. After falling into sin...deep sin, David cried out in repentance. "Create in me a clean heart, O God." God happens to be the only available resource that can actually bring cleansing to the human condition.
The human condition, the hubris of the human heart is in need of supernatural intervention. We need God. We are in desperate need of God. David was a desperate man. He was an adulterer, a murderer, a thief, a complete moral failure. But, in the midst of his failure, David recognized an important truth: "A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
Are you guilty of messing up? You are in good company. According to Romans 3:23 "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God." Wow...7 billion people on planet earth are in need of a clean heart.

Here are a couple of new songs that are crying out for change. Don't let the "style" of Holy Water put you off--it is passionate for sure, but I love the message!

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Discipleship plan

Blessed are Those...

A Song for Change

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