I really enjoy a good thunderstorm. Sometimes in the spring and summer in Minnesota we can watch the sky turn dark and see and feel the lightning and thunder. I find it incredible, and it causes me to praise God for his awesome power and might. I should clarify, I enjoy it when I am in the safety of my home. If you have ever been trapped outdoors during a powerful storm it is amazing how weak and helpless you can feel. The first four verses of Psalm 61 remind me of a time when that happened.
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! (ESV)
Amy and I were out fishing in Canada when a powerful storm swept in out of nowhere. Being outside in a thunderstorm is scary enough but being in what amounts to a 16-foot aluminum lightning rod brings it to a whole new level. We were far enough from camp when the storm started that I knew we couldn’t make it back before the serious weather hit. In the middle of the lake, you are the tallest thing, especially if your wife is short. As it turns out, what we did is not advised but it worked out for us. We headed toward shore and pulled the boat under a large rock overhang and waited out the storm. It was still nerve wracking but being protected under that large outcropping gave a feeling of safety and security that would not have been found had we stayed in the middle of the lake. It’s good to know that in the storms of life, the only safe, reliable shelter is the rock that is higher than I. Our God is a strong tower against the enemy that we can take refuge in. Once we are there, verse 4 should be our heart’s cry: Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!
-Todd and Amy Blanchard
Reflection Questions
Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt very near to God? What were the circumstances that brought you there? Are you still there? If not, why?
Unfortunately, often we are closest to God when we are in dire circumstances. What can you do to find/maintain that closeness with God in your everyday life?
It is not easy to watch the wicked – those who don’t know God or choose not to follow God – prosper. Whether it’s wealth or power or fame, it can be very frustrating and disheartening. It’s easy to think, “That’s not fair!”.
In Psalm 58 David describes the rulers as wicked, having hands that deal out violence, lying from birth, and having venom. He follows that by asking God to deal with them….and not very kindly. Verses 6-9 are David asking God to “break the teeth in their mouths”, “when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted”, “let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime”, and that God would “sweep them away”. At first, verse 10 seems to speak of enjoying seeing the rulers fall, “The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.”. But it is not enjoyment, but rather an encouragement to the righteous to see God judge the wicked rulers. An encouragement in that we can know that, even though they had the power in this life, God will judge them. He ends this Psalm by encouraging the righteous, “Mankind will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth’”.
Don’t pray for bad things to happen to others. Even those who make really, really bad choices. Pray, rather, that God gives you the strength to stand firm. Then you will be able to say, as Paul does in 1 Corinthians 11, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
-Todd and Amy Blanchard
Reflection Questions
Paul’s statement is a very confident one. One I don’t feel comfortable making. Maybe in some areas, but not overall. What characteristics do you have that are good for others to imitate? What areas might you need to more closely imitate Christ?
It’s easy to want bad things to happen to bad people. It’s hard to wait for God’s vengeance to “give them what they deserve”. Is there anyone you need to leave in God’s hands? To trust in God’s timing and ability to judge rightly? Pray that God will give you strength to trust He will take care of it.
There were many parts of God’s character in today’s reading. Which ones were you most drawn to?
Have you ever wondered why some things “made it” into the Bible? Why do we need to hear about what people did thousands of years ago? 1 Corinthians 10 gives us one reason. In verses 6 and 11 Paul writes that these things took place as examples for us. He was referencing the Israelites as they wandered in the desert and telling us not to do the things they did (indulging in sexual immorality, putting God to the test, grumbling, etc.).
Yesterday we talked about God’s expectations. Sometimes rather than just giving us a list of do’s and do not’s He gives us examples of others’ choices and how that worked out for them. We can look in the Bible and find a lot of examples of people who made good choices and bad choices. We can learn from both of these.
We can also learn from David’s example in Psalm 57. Many of the Psalms tell us what the circumstances were when it was written. This one says it was when David fled from Saul into a cave.
Verses 1-3 – David cries out to God, believing He will save him
Verse 4 – David tells God some of his problems
Verse 5 – David exalts God
Verse 6 – David tells God more of his problems
Verses 7-11 – David tells God that his heart belongs to Him; he gives thanks and sings praises to God
It seems as if David does believe in God’s ability to protect him, but at the same time sees the big problems that are in his life at that moment. He reminds himself of God’s faithfulness, but the fears and trials don’t go away. He finally simply decides to praise God and recognize Him for his greatness, even in the midst of his difficult circumstances.
-Todd and Amy Blanchard
Reflection Questions
What can you praise God for right now in your life, no matter what your circumstances are?
Whose example in the Bible do you want to follow? Whose do you want to avoid?
Are you being a good example of a faithful child of God for others to follow?
What character trait of God did you see in today’s reading?
For the Christian it is considered a “no brainer” that our trust is supposed to be found in God. But so often the stresses and worries of the world come against us, and we may forget that we serve a mighty God who cares deeply for us.
Here in Psalm 52 we are shown a great contrast between David here and his enemy. David wrote this Psalm during the time when he was constantly on the run from Saul, who was chasing him down to kill him, out of jealousy. David lost many years of his life running from Saul but he never lost his trust in God. At this time David had amassed a group of strong men who were ready to fight for him, but Saul, having the armies of Israel behind him, had the greater strength. David had support from people who gave him food and supplies as he ran from place to place, but Saul had all the riches of Israel behind him. But the important thing is that David had God with him, and God had promised him the throne of Israel that Saul currently sat on.
David was able to stay strong in his faith because he had seen God help him against overwhelming odds again and again, the most notable time was when he took on the nine foot tall giant, Goliath all on his own. There were actually two times during David’s years of running, that we are told about, where David had the chance to rely on his own strength to defeat Saul. Once was when Saul went to relieve himself in a cave, not knowing that David was hiding in the cave. The other time, the Bible says that God caused the entire army that was with Saul to go into a deep sleep and David was able to sneak right up next to Saul. Both times the man who was with David encouraged him to kill Saul and take the throne. But each time David refused, saying that he would not harm the Lord’s anointed. It would have been so easy for David to trust in his own strength in that moment, and no longer have to keep running for his life, but just like when David faced Goliath, David put his trust in God and not in himself. And because David did trust God, he never had to draw his sword against Saul or anyone in his family. In one single battle, Saul and all of his sons were taken out by the Philistines. God provided David the throne without David having to shed blood. David’s faith in what probably seemed like the hopeless situation of being relentlessly chased down by King Saul, paid off in the end. Years later after David had become king, he penned another Psalm, in which he said, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” I hope and pray each day to have the kind of faith and trust in God like David had, and I hope you do as well.
-Jonny Smith
Reflection Questions
Is there a time you have trusted in God through a tough situation? What was the result?
What do you sometimes put your trust in instead? How does that work? Why?
What has God shown about Himself in your reading today?
If there is one thing we can all do well, it is sin! We mess up and usually a lot, whether in thought, word, or action. We have all done something in our lives to fall short of God’s desires. David wrote Psalm 51 during a time in his life when he had messed up big time. Most of us probably can recall the story of David and Bathsheba, if not it can be found in 2 Samuel 11-12. At this time, David was completely broken, it was in his brokenness his heart revealed the words found in Psalm 51.
When I read this Psalm, I see three parts to it. The first is in verses 1-9. Here, David acknowledges that he has sinned, and he asks God to forgive him of his sins. The second part is verses 10-12. In these verses, David asks God to be changed from his sinful ways with the statement “create in me a clean heart.” The final section is verses 13-19. David proclaims what he is going to do because he has been forgiven. He says he will teach the ways of God, he will joyfully sing, and he will declare God’s praise.
I think we can apply all three parts of this Psalm to our lives. When we sin and mess up against God, we need to be like David by confessing our sins, and asking for forgiveness. Right away in verse 1, David asks God to “Be gracious with me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.” We then need to take action, recognizing that we need a changed heart and restoration. But it doesn’t stop there, we need to take the forgiveness given to us and live for God. When you are transparent with people they will see your changed life with God and will hopefully want that as well. Just as verse 13 says, “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.” Follow David’s example, ask for forgiveness, ask to be changed, then show others how you have been changed.
-Camden Bormes
Reflection Questions
Have you experienced God’s forgiveness and the changing of your heart? If so, did you use the opportunity to declare His praises and show/teach others how you have been forgiven and changed? How?
What does your heart need to be cleansed of today? What sins stand between you and God right now? Pray this Psalm to the Lord. What does it feel like to have your sins blotted out by God? What will your clean, changed heart look like? How will you share with others what God has done for you?
What does God reveal about Himself in Psalm 51 and your reading today? What words would you use to describe Him? What will your response be?
New Testament: 1st & 2nd Chronicles Introduction – see below
Psalm 47 is all about praising God and realizing His power. In my Bible (ESV), it is titled, “God is King over All the Earth”. When the sons of Korah wrote this psalm/song, perhaps they had just completed a great military victory, or maybe there was some other big event that called for a celebration!
It’s easy to praise God when things are going well, right? Or… do we even remember to praise Him in the good times? A lot of us probably come before God most often when we need something. Sometimes we treat him like a cosmic genie or Santa Claus, asking for the things we want. Sometimes, we simply get busy and forget Him during the good times, but when we need His intervention, then we remember to pray.
It is so important to remember (and I am speaking to myself here too!) to praise God regularly, and talk with Him often. No one likes having that “friend” who only calls when they need something; however, if we have a dear friend in need, we want to help them! God is our Father who cares greatly for us, and He wants a relationship with us. So instead of just asking Him for what we need, we should remember to praise Him regularly and get to know Him better by reading His Word and listening for His still, small voice to speak to our souls.
-Rachel Cain
Reflections:
Rewrite Psalm 47 into your own words, using actual examples from your own life. Sing or pray the psalm to your Heavenly Father!
What picture do you get of God from your reading today?
In preparation for beginning 1st Chronicles tomorrow in our New Testament reading, here is our…
Introduction to 1st & 2nd Chronicles
Paul wrote the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians to the church in Corinth which he had personally founded. The city of Corinth was rich and sinful, and the church was struggling to resist the ungodly influences of the pagan society. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to the church in Corinth specifically to address division and sin in the church.
The most well-known chapter is 1 Corinthians 13, also known as the love chapter. This is sandwiched between two other chapters focusing on spiritual gifts and their use in the church.
The other well-known chapter is 1 Corinthians 15, also known as the resurrection chapter.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul defended the fact that he was an apostle. He emphasized the suffering he had endured for the gospel. He explained that he had not visited the church in Corinth again because he didn’t want to have to come down hard on them publicly. He was happy they had addressed the sin in the church. He emphasized the need to financially help other believers, and pointed out that “God loves a cheerful giver”.
Paul warned in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?”
I suspect that if Paul were to write to Christians today, he would write something very nearly like 1 & 2 Corinthians, so pay attention as you read it.
I am a Daddy’s girl, through and through. As a child, you could usually find me hiking with my dad, reading books with him, snuggling up to him, or helping him with a building project. He was so strong, secure, safe. Now, as his terminal illness has progressed, I have much more of a parental role toward him than he does toward me, but I’ll still always consider myself a Daddy’s girl.
Sometimes I like to sit back and just observe my daughters interacting with my husband too. They fawn over him! They want to attend all the Daddy-Daughter dances together. They draw him sweet pictures regularly. They beg him to scratch their backs to get them to sleep. When they are scared, they run to him for comfort and protection, knowing that he is strong and gentle.
Though in this flawed and sinful world many fathers don’t live up to God’s ideals, we all do have a Heavenly Father who wants to guide and protect us.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, ESV) I’ve always loved this verse. It has spoken to the depths of my soul during many tumultuous times in my life. Following these encouraging introductory verses, Psalm 46 proceeds to mention many catastrophic events – the earth gives way, mountains fall into the sea, waters roar, mountains tremble – and calls us to have no fear during these times. Verses 4 through 9 then remind us of the power and provision of our God.
“Be still and know that I am God.” This verse I have both underlined in my Bible and written in the margins so I will be sure to notice it as I read. It is a good reminder that when all the chaotic events occur (both the ones mentioned in this Psalm as well as any others that happen in my own life), I am still called to find shelter in His stillness and remember that God is on the throne and He is in control. I don’t know about you, but “be still” is a tough command for me to follow; I like to always keep my hands and mind busy. My mind, actually, does not often settle down at all; anxiety has been my constant (uninvited) companion for as long as I can remember. However, when I purposefully choose to be still, basking in the presence of God, I can feel His peace wash over me like a spring rain. It takes a lot of effort, as I am not naturally driven to “be still”, but I’ve never been disappointed following a quiet moment with God; to the contrary, I find a renewed sense of purpose and strength when I remember – rather, KNOW within the depths of my soul! – that He is God.
“‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!’ The LORD of hosts with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” God is our protector, our fortress… our Daddy who loves us so much!
-Rachel Cain
Reflections:
1. Pray this Psalm today. Think about it intently as you say each word.
2. Choose a time this week that you can “be still and know that He is God” – bask in his presence for a while as you praise and pray.
3. What in your reading today helps you KNOW that He is God? What are His qualities?
In our Old Testament reading, yesterday we finished reading Exodus, tomorrow we will begin Leviticus – here today is our
Introduction to Leviticus
Leviticus is the third book in the Old Testament, and the middle book in the Torah. Moses wrote Leviticus, which is mostly a record of God dictating His rules to Moses – while the Israelites were camped in front of Mount Sinai.
The recurring theme in Leviticus is, “Be holy, because I [God] am holy”. Leviticus 20:26 sums up the whole book pretty well, “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.”
God had rescued the Israelites from slavery to belong to God. They had served the Egyptians, and now they must serve God. And in order to do that, they needed to know what God required.
As you read, you’ll be struck repeatedly by the fact that God is holy, and people aren’t. God gave all these rules because He wanted His people to be holy, and if they followed all these rules, they would be holy. The story of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10 is a stark reminder that misdirected zeal for God can result in death.
You will see that reconciliation is possible for those who break God’s laws in ignorance, but only punishment awaits those who defiantly break God’s laws.
You will recognize that some rules were fulfilled in Jesus. For example, Leviticus 23 describes the “Feasts of the Lord”, which have fulfillment in Jesus. For example, Jesus fulfilled the 4 Spring feasts on the exact calendar day of the feast. I suspect the 3 fall feasts will be ultimately fulfilled exactly when Jesus returns.
Passover – Jesus *was* the Passover lamb, and was killed on the date of Passover
Unleavened Bread – Just as yeast was to be removed from houses, Jesus removed sin to his grave on this date.
Firstfruits – Jesus was raised from the dead on the date of the feast of firstfruits.
Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost) – The Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers on this date in Acts 2.
Feast of Trumpets – I believe this will be the date the last trumpet sounds
Day of Atonement – I suspect this may be the date of the Great White Throne Judgement
Feast of Tabernacles – I suspect this may be the date of God’s dwelling with men.
Ultimately, I suspect what you’ll recognize is that God is holy, and no matter how hard we try, we just can’t follow all His rules to be holy. You’ll acknowledge that we couldn’t please God on our own. And will appreciate all the more that God sent his one and only Son to reconcile us to Himself.
Have you ever received a mushy love letter that resulted in a permanent smile pasted on your face? My late father-in-law Rex Cain shared stories about writing love letters to his girlfriend Grace (who later became his wife) when he was states away at Oregon Bible College in the 1950s. He would save his pennies for postage stamps and brief long-distance phone calls while he anxiously awaited her letters via snail mail.
Communication has changed a lot since then. Now we can reach people almost anytime, anywhere, as they probably carry their cell phones everywhere they go. We can video chat instantly with people from all over the world and send written correspondence lickety-split via email and text. (Call me old fashioned, but even though I am very grateful for the technological advancements that have allowed us so much more contact with each other, nothing can quite replace a handwritten letter or card from someone you love.)
I’ve heard it said that the Bible is God’s love letter to us. I also envision that many of the Psalms are the writer’s love letters to God. Psalm 44 begins as a love letter style – it might have even been put to music. The author writes about God’s faithfulness to His people in the past and renews their devotion to God. “For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me… In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.” (Psalm 44:6, 8 ESV)
Then in verse nine, this love letter turns a bit sour as the writer wonders aloud why God seems to have abandoned them. Something bad has happened to Israel, perhaps some battles that didn’t end well, even “though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way…” (vs 17,18). Israel is still faithfully serving God, but things are not going well for them.
Here, the writer is poetically penning the collective thoughts and doubts of God’s chosen people, speaking directly to God. They need help and answers! Perhaps sometimes we are afraid to tell God what we really think, but He already knows. He created us with emotions and feelings, and I think He wants us to share those with Him. But notice how this psalm ends. It doesn’t conclude by harping on God and turning away from Him. Rather, in verse 26 we observe an optimistic plea as the author remembers how God has always been faithful in the past, and believes that He will yet again show up to help His people: “Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!”
Even in your times of doubting, don’t forget to remember God’s faithfulness. The Bible is packed with true tales of God’s provision, and if you think back hard enough into your own life, I bet you will recognize many times when God came through in your darkest moments as well.
-Rachel Cain
Reflections:
Pen your own psalm. In this season of life, would your psalm be mostly praise and triumph, or more lamenting and questioning? Be sure to remember His faithfulness in your life as you close out the psalm.
Do you journal? It can be a great way to remember God’s faithfulness in your life. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; you can even do a quick bullet journal style. Journaling is a concrete way to look back to see God’s provision in your life. Jump in this week and give it a try!
Which part of this psalm speaks most to your heart today?
I was struck by verses 3-5 of today’s reading in Psalm 33.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord. (NASB 1995)
Are we singing the same old song of praise to God? The thoughts that stirred in me when I read this passage were that we are on a journey of getting to know God and His word is His love letter to us. If we are open to it, He is gradually revealing the beauty of His character to us. His word is truly “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).
Furthermore, verse 8 reminds us that we should fear Him and be standing in awe of Him!
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (NASB 1995)
If we think about everything God has done and who He is, can we even help but do that? Well, I do think about Moses though from the reading earlier in the week. He seemed to lose sight pretty quickly of the majesty of God and that was evident in the way he communicated with God. He was showing up on holy ground with filthy sandals. However, some self-reflection compels me that I sometimes show up with filthy sandals on and don’t always remember to render the reverence God is due.
The contrast between David and Moses keeps revisiting my mind and heart, so maybe that’s a message God really needs me to hear and maybe you do, too. How are you showing up before God? Are we signing a new song of praise that can only be fueled by an intentional quest of getting to know Him more intimately. Otherwise, we will keep singing the same old song in those same old dirty sandals.
-Kristy Cisneros
Reflection Questions:
What are some new areas you can praise God in?
What new things have you learned about God’s character in this year’s reading so far that you could praise Him for?
The weight of unconfessed sin is heavy. Today’s passage in Psalm 32 helps us to see that unconfessed sin takes a spiritual, emotional and physical toll on us. David mentions that his body was wasting away under the burden of his unacknowledged sin.
Psalm 32
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.Selah. (NASB 1995)
When we confess our sins to God and repent of them, God is faithful to forgive. Many times we can be like Adam and Eve clamoring to find our leaves to cover our shame and nakedness. It is futile to try and conceal our sin from an omniscient, omnipresent God.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. (NASB 1995)
I hope the admonition in verse 6 was not lost on you.
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. (NASB 1995)
This verse reminds me that we do not have unlimited time and opportunity to right our wrongs with the maker of the Universe. There will be a time when God can no longer be found, so if you are bearing the weight of unconfessed sin, what are you waiting for?
Romans 2 reminds us of some of the amazing attributes of God’s character: kindness, patience and tolerance. However, it also warns us not to take those attributes lightly.
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (NASB 1995)
Meditating on how amazing our Heavenly Father truly is and how much He loves us should compel us to repent and to reconcile with Him. However, we are not special and there is a limit to His kindness, tolerance and patience. He is also a God of justice. We read in verse 11 of Romans 2, “For there is no partiality with God.” (NASB 1995) The subsequent verses make it clear what the outcome will be if we remain stubborn and unrepentant.
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. (NASB 1995)
I would like to circleback to the Psalm 32 passage of how David’s unconfessed sin was causing his body to waste away. We see a similar concept in Romans 2 and how our conscience accuses our thoughts and wears on us if we do not confess and repent of our wrongdoing.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (NASB 1995)
It all comes down to our hearts. In verse 29 of Romans 2, we see that our circumcision should be of our hearts. If we are a people after God’s own heart like David, we will inevitably have ‘the work of the law written in our hearts’ and our priority will be pleasing God and not man. That means confessing our sins and returning back to God while He still may be found.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (NASB 1995)
-Kristy Cisneros
Reflection Questions:
Are you currently bearing the burden of unconfessed sin? Enlist God’s help in confessing and freeing yourself of this burden. Go a step further and ask God to help you alter your course so that you aren’t falling into the same sin traps over and over that continue to get in the way of your relationship with God.
In reflecting on your life, does it seem to show more of an effort toward pleasing man or pleasing God?
What does God reveal about Himself in today’s Bible reading – and why does it matter?
Seek Grow Love 