Philemon

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,  no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. vv.15-16

Read Philemon
This one chapter letter from Paul to Philemon, a wealthy man, about Philemon's runaway slave Onesimus.  Apparently Onesimus had run away from his owner and somehow met Paul who led him to Christ and now is a believer.  Now as a believer Onesimus wants to correct what he'd done wrong (whether by running away or also causing much financial hurt as we see Paul willing to pay his debt).  No doubt Paul is the one encouraging both parties, the offender and the offended, to make amends, especially now that they are both brothers in Christ.  Paul reminds Philemon to receive him forever as they will be eternally with God together as well, unlike unbelievers that will only be for a short time in this life.  
At times we've all been in one of their positions whether the one offended, the one who made the offense or the peacemaker between two parties.  Each one of those positions has some responsibility that isn't easy.  Onesimus had to humble himself and make right what he'd done wrong.  Philemon was to forgive and accept back a slave without punishment- canceling debt.  Paul was to do everything he could to bring unity between two brothers.  What position has been hardest for you in a certain situation?
If you were on an island and a phone dropped out of the sky and you could make three phone calls: one was to call someone to tell them I love you, one to tell them I forgive you, and one to say I'm sorry, to whom would those three phone calls be?

Titus 3

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared vv.3-4

Read chapter 3
Oh we must never forget how foolish we once were!  Let pride never get to us that we are better than others.  For before we knew the Lord as our Savior we were without wisdom, rebellious, deceived, giving in to lusts of the body and mind, doing what was good in our own eyes.  Let us remember where we once were before we act or respond negatively towards others.  Bible teacher Nathan Johnson says, "Our attitude towards others should be motivated from a realistic outlook on ourselves."  
And what was it that turned us from those things?  God's kindness and love!  It was nothing we did on ourselves to pull us out of the mess we were living in (and what still pulls us out of the mess we get ourselves in).  

“Love toward man” is the Greek word “philanthropia,” from which we get our word “philanthropy.”  It basically means a love (philos) of mankind (anthropos).  We need to understand that God loves humanity.  There is no other explanation for why He has allowed us to continue in spite of all the wickedness and perversion we have brought to this world.  God loves humanity, and it is His love that preserves us.  (N. Johnson)

Think back to when you were foolish and what was it that made a change in your life?  How do you see people in your life today with some of those same times of foolishness you once had and how do you respond?  Sometimes I respond worse to people I see my old self in so much, I need to be reminded of what got me out of that pit and show and respond that way to others.

Titus 2

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior... vv.1-3

Read chapter 2
Oh the characteristics of godly men and women.  Something that is fought against so much today.  Yet this is something believing men and women should strive for and honor.  How often is it the opposite though?  Where men don't want to live by these things but respect and desire a wife with these characteristics.  And vise versa with women.  I like how Dr. Voddie Baucham puts it,  "This is the list for all men. So for you young women here in the room, when you hear young men say, 'I’m looking for a Titus 2 woman, a Proverbs 31 woman,' you just look at him and say, 'Yeah, but I’m looking for a Titus 1 man. What you got?'”  Many people jump to the conclusion that there's only list for women how to be but men can do whatever they want.  Did they just skip over all of chapter one and the first two verses of this chapter?  There are more commands for men in all of scripture than there are for women!
How much also do we desire good role models in our lives, in kids lives, etc.  And this is what this is saying for the older men and women to be an example for the next generation. Even in unbelieving homes you can see the effects without a father or mother in a child's life and how sweet it is when older men and women can be that role model to them.  
What characteristics listed in this chapter do you struggle with and why?

Titus 1

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—v.5

Read chapter 1
"The apostle Paul speaks more highly of none of his fellow-workers than he does of Titus" (Bible Teacher Nathan Johnson).  Titus was with Paul in the beginning and seemed to be his "trouble-shooter" as he was sent by Paul to "harder" cities like Corinth (we read the most about Titus in 2 Corinthians), Crete, and Dalmatia.  This letter to Titus from Paul is one on giving instruction and organization for leaders of believers.  We know from Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 that there were Jews from Crete that became believers of Jesus Christ.  It seems like Paul and Titus went to Crete together at a later date (as we don't read about Paul ever going there in the book of Acts) and then left Titus there to set things in order or amend some things that were lacking.  How he was to do this was to set up representatives in the city as we read in the following verse of elders and bishops.  Paul gives Titus specific instruction in wisely choosing these representatives to be properly chosen.  The following verse go on to say specifics in choosing this leadership role.  These characteristics, although given to Titus, are great for us to live by as well in choosing leadership among believers.  
Why do you think the certain characteristic in verses six through nine are important in leaders?  Are you or do you know someone who is the "trouble-shooter" among the difficult people or situations in your life?  What is it about them that you or they do this well?

Nehemiah 13

But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, v.6


Read chapter 13

Nehemiah was governor for 12 years in Jerusalem but then returned to king Artexerxes to work. This could be because of the favor he obtained from him to leave for all those years and all their material the king provided for the rebuilding of the wall that it was more of a leave of absence than forever gone. Shortly after Nehemiah's gone from govern-ship the people start to sin against the law in subtle ways that then become the norm. The priests were even the ones doing and allowing this and they were supposed to be the leadership. 

1. First we see Tobias with a room in the temple - he was the one who tried to stop the building of the wall so many times before. Sometimes we can't or need to be careful to give our enemies favor thinking they'll change. 
2. Then we see buying and selling on the Sabbath. The one day of the week the weren't to do so. Were they not using their time wisely the rest of the week? Were they giving more importance to work than to God's commandments? 
3. Then we see the marrying of foreigners and children that did not know the Hebrew language. If they didn't understand Hebrew they couldn't understand God's law and therefore not know how to live in honor for Him.  

All these ways seem like little issues but they add up to so much more.

• What are "small" sins you tend to treat as normal because of the generation we live in? 
• How can you respond anew to that?

Nehemiah 12

Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. v.27


Read chapter 12

Who says Christians don't know how to party? God loves parties and actually commanded them in His laws to keep festivals. Most parties weren't just a Saturday night deal but a couple days, whole week long festivities. God is happy when we rejoice out of the joy for Him, praising what He's done and who He is. This joy turned into desire for others as we see in verse 44-47. The reason they sought all the levites to the dedication was to offer sacrifices, probably not atonement but peace sacrifices as priests were the only ones who could do it then. Thankfully we all have direct access to God through Jesus today that we shouldn't think we need a pastor or some "righteous" person to be the one that makes the party a Godly party, but we should all be the one to make Christ the center of any party whether with believers or not.

Nehemiah 11

For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. v.23


Read chapter 11

This chapter talks about the people that get to dwell in the land of Jerusalem, within the walls they just built and those that were to dwell in surround cities. Crazy that only one out of ten got to be there. Praise the Lord the that New Jerusalem will have room for everyone.  Interesting how highly appreciated the singers are - even in times of hardship for renewal and starting at square one again in becoming a nation. It's easy to think it's not an important job but how meaningful music is to all! It's how our emotions are expressed no matter what mood we're in. Music changes my soul and therefore changes my attitude. It's an importance among people in acts and attitudes of worship and daily life.

What are some jobs you look down upon in importance? Why? How can you still live like you dwell in God's city when right now you're in one outside?

Nehemiah 10

"these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes" v.29


Read chapter 10

They entered into a curse and an oath. The curse is the repercussions due to their disobedience in not complying with the Law. Just like when we (believers) sin, yes we're forgiven already but there still may be consequences in this life for them. God's law was a way to fight sin, not a burden. The verses in this chapter go into specifics of their lives of how they were to follow God - not just a blanket statement. Sometimes in our lives we need to make specific boundaries or decisions on how we choose to live. Not because we want to place a burden on ourselves but rather to keep us free from bondage to sin and things of this world. 

• What are some boundaries you need to make in your life?

Nehemiah 9

And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said:

“Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!
“Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise! v. 5

Read chapter 9

This chapter is a beautiful psalm of the Levites speaking of Israel's history with focus on God's continual mercy with them. A psalm about Israel's history and salvation moved them to a response. They humbled themselves and recommitted themselves to God's covenant. When they had true understating of God's words, promises, righteous judgements, graces, mercies, etc it led to confession, worship and renewal. 

How has God's word made you turn to Him? 

What do you need to remember about how you were saved by Him to continue to humble yourself and praise Him?

Nehemiah 8

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. v.9


Read chapter 8

I love this picture. The very words of God affected them so much it brought tears. Something they hadn't had for so long nor remembered how much life and truth it gave. These could have been a mixture of tears of joy, years of sadness (for how they disobeyed/rebelled), etc. But no matter what feelings were brought by hearing God's words being read titled to praise and worship the one and only true God.

The simple act that Ezra did by opening the book (8:5) is the same simple act we can do ourselves: OPEN THE BIBLE. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Yes it might not bring you to tears every time, but allow it to penetrate your soul. Just as there were people among them to help the people understand the words being read, so today we can find mentors and teachers to help us too when we have questions of what the scriptures say.

Nehemiah 7

Now the city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few, and the houses were not rebuilt...Altogether the whole assembly was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty. vv.4, 66


Read chapter 7

This was just the first return (7:5) of this many people back from captivity into the land and Nehemiah calls it "few." Just imagine how big and numerous it was before the captivity if the remnant was at least 42,360 (7:66). From God's promise of a remnant, this was sure a big remnant and there would be more to come later (Ezra 2:64). I wonder if the people lived in tents like in the Exodus since no houses were rebuilt yet?

How crazy that in our own lives we can be surrounded by thousands of people yet still feel alone or disturbed by past captivity in our lives and maybe not feeling like we don't have a home where we're at peace. But one thing for sure is that just as the wall was built as a defense, God is our defense and we're among a company of believers God will one day bring into His Kingdom!

Nehemiah 6

For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me. v.13


Read chapter 6

Tobiah and Sanballat spread rumors to try to get Nehemiah to stop building the wall. Making up harsh reports that would make him go and try to clear things up. But Nehemiah didn't fall to their deceitfulness. How often do rumors hurt us even when we know they are lies? Those who are against the Lord want to see God's people suffer and steal their joy and will go out of their way to make that happen, especially when God is doing a miracle through someone. This was a miracle indeed that the wall was built in 52 days (6:15)!  How upset they were when they realized they couldn't stop God (6:16). 

• How have words hurt you? 
• When was a time you saw God's faithfulness through enemies try to stop His work? 
• Do you notice the type of Christ Nehemiah foreshadowed of the same concept happened to Jesus when He walked this earth?

Nehemiah 5

After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers, and said to them, “Each of you is exacting usury from his brother.” So I called a great assembly against them... Then I said, “What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? vv. 7,9


Read chapter 5


When all the people left from the captivity were back in the land, they were still like slaves for how their own brothers were treating them - the nobles and rulers. Nehemiah is angry when he finds out about this and calls them out. How easy it can be sometimes to pick on the "weak," the one that doesn't "fit in." But we see this so often today among brothers and sisters in Christ. In the words of Nehemiah, "what you're doing is not good." Our action or other peoples actions can put someone in a bondage that we may not realize. Nehemiah didn't just stop there, he cared for those poor people by giving them food, wine, and shared meals at his table. How has another believer affected you to a bondage in your life or how may you have done that to someone else? How have you cared for them more than just sympathy?

Nehemiah 4

Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. v.17


Read chapter 4

Because of the warnings of attack, they had to be prepared at all times to defend themselves. Notice this fear doesn't stop them from building, from carrying out their daily lives, from doing the work for the Lord. How often when there's something of threat in our lives that we hide, run away, change our plans. Yes, sometimes it's necessary but we are to fear God alone and ask Him for discernment in how to respond. I love the picture this paints of working with a sword.  One hand working, the other hand always being armed to defend and fight. As we know from Ephesians 6 of the armor of God- the sword is the word of God and we should use it as our defender and fighter. To always have it on hand (either physically or in our minds) to defend against attacks of the enemy. Just like the Jews knew there were enemies all around and they would attack, so we too know Satan's schemes (2 Cor. 2:11) and that he's constantly surrounding us looking for where we are weak. 

Are you on guard as you go about your daily life?

Nehemiah 3

High priest, priests, goldsmiths, perfumers, daughters, leaders of districts, men of the palin, merchants, keeper of the gate.

Read chapter 3

Here's another chapter that seems easy to skip over because of so many names (especially ones hard to pronounce. How cool is it though of all the different types of people that are building this wall! It's not just the construction guys or just the "church" crowd, but people of so many different trades- many that have nothing to do with wall building. Hananiah, for example, is a perfumer! The sad thing is the one group of people that are seen in the negative light in this chapter are the nobles (v.5)!

It's easy to tell ourselves "we don't fit in" or "we can't or God can't really use me," but oh how He has and does!  Let us not use the excuse of lack of skill stop us from the work of God.

When have you not participated due to fear of not fitting in?

Nehemiah 2

And I went out by night through the Valley Gate to the Serpent Well and the Refuse Gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. v.13


Read chapter 2

Nehemiah snuck out. I used to sneak out when I was a teenager but it definitely wasn't for the things of God. God seemed to be giving Nehemiah the vision of what His plan was going to be and how Nehemiah would be prepared to carry it out. Sometimes we need to make sure we have God's vision on specific things in our life before we jump in unprepared and get others involved. I love the names of the gates. They're so simple and helpful for knowing which gate is what. Was the Refuse Gate really where they brought out all their poop and other refuse? I like to imagine the Serpent Well being where dinosaurs bathed. The English word dinosaur didn't come in to our language till a couple hundred years ago and why we don't see that word in scripture. But we do see dragon and characteristics of dragon descriptions describe what we'd call dinosaurs today. Now it's hard for both evolutionist and creationists to say when they were extinct but according to scripture man was made on the same day as dinosaurs, day 6, so man and dinosaurs walked the earth at the same time.

Do you sneak out with Jesus to get a clearer vision of the work He's doing?

What are some metaphorical names in your life that are burned down and need rebuilding?

Nehemiah 1

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. v.4


Read chapter 1

I love the song "Hosanna" because of the line "break my heart for what breaks yours." Nehemiah lived that. His heart broke for what broke God's heart. It wasn't just mourning for a personal situation going on in his own life but because of the walls of Jerusalem broken down and the city nothing. God hates sin. So many sins are so common today that we view them ok and normal but we shouldn't lessen this. Can we say like Nehemiah that we're sad and mournful for the brokenness around us? What are sins you've grown numb to? What does it look like to have a broken heart for what breaks God's?

Habakkuk 3

The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments. v.19

Read chapter 3

Chapter three is a psalm.  A similar wording to David's psalm in 2 Samuel 22 of making feet like a deer.  We all may walk our every day life like we're stuck in the mud, yet the deer's feet are so opposite.  The deer's feet or hind feet are "elastic, springing ease, of light and bounding gracefulness, that clears every obstacle, and sweeps swiftly over the moor...One sees the herd on the skyline of the mountain ridge, and at home up there, far above dangers and attack; able to keep their footing on cliff and precipice, and tossing their antlers in the pure air. One wave of the hand, and they are miles away. ‘" (biblehub.com).   Do you find yourself on hinds feet or stuck in the mud?  "Communion with Him will make us light-footed, and lift us high, and yet it will keep us at desk, and mill, and study, and kitchen, and nursery, and shop, and we shall find that the high places are reachable in every life, and in every task." 

Notice psalm has the pre and post scripts that we see throughout the psalm.  Notice that there is a post script - it ends with "To the Chief Musician... In the psalms we don't read any post scripts.  Yet due to scripture answering scripture this proves that any time this phrase is used, to the chief musician, it should be at the end of the psalm.  It also helps make sense of musical notations that actually have a deeper meaning, but since it would get put with the wrong psalm it didn't make sense to the translators so they put this broad term of a musical notation. Flip through the psalms and take a look.  Here the Hebrew word is Negnoth and refers to the smiting of Jehovah on the enemies of Israel.

Habakkuk 2

I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected. v.1

Read chapter 2
Now Habakkuk is ready to see  how's the Lord going to respond this time.  He's waiting to see what will he get back from his complaint, what is God going to say to all this from the prophet's second question at the end of chapter one.  After not being ready for God's response to his first prayer that He would use the Chaldeans to overtake God's people, Habakkuk now stands ready for God's answer and not his own.  He's going to wait and see what God's response to the turmoil will be instead of taking matters into his own hands.  The next verse God answers him.  I wonder if God waited till he was still long enough to answer him.  How impatient we all can be wanting an answer to our prayers, when God has it for us we just don't stop to listen or receive it.  Now that doesnt mean we're to sit in silence till God answers, but to sit in our prayers of hopeful expectation, alertness, attitude of anticipation of God's answer as we go about our day.  We have the completed Word today and that is the primary way God speaks in this dispensation we're living in.  So to hear His answer we can't just expect to ask quick in a prayer and then go on to immerse ourselves in TV, books, music, activities and wonder when God's going to show up.  "You can't ignore the Scripture, get minimum doses of it in your life, fill your life with other things, and expect to get answers from God" (Nancy DeMoss).  Habakkuk is also ready for correction, as hard as it is to be corrected because of our pride we also need the mindset of desiring the Lord's reproof.
How can you or need to take the Habakkuk stance in your life?

Habakkuk 1

“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you." v.5

Read chapter 1
Habakkuk starts off his book with a cry out to the Lord for the sin of the people.  He's wondering why hasn't God acted or answered his prayer.  So God speaks up and says, "Hey just watch and see I'm acting and answering your prayer in a way that's going to astound you" (my paraphrase).  God's answer isn't talking about bringing the kingdom in but is talking about His justice coming to confront and set straight  their sin.  He was raising up the Chaldeans (Babylonians) who at the time were a small nation unknown to Habakkuk.  They were a corrupt people yet God was still going to use them as His instruments to carry out His justice.  Sometimes the answer to our prayers is that God lets things to get worse.  It may not be the way we want God to answer our prayers but He's the one writing the script, not us.  Bible teacher Nancy DeMoss Walgamuth says, "We cry, and we whine, and we fret, and we stress, and we struggle, and we wrestle with God. But know that God sometimes answers our prayers in the very ways that we’re resisting."  
The apostle Paul also uses this statement in Acts. 13:41 of a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.  Paul is saying this preaching about Jesus Christ and the kingdom about to come, surly when the Kingdom does come it it will be so amazing and mind boggling that many don't believe even though they have heard about it.
What is something God has said in His word that you don't believe?  How have you seen God work in your or someone else's life that was unimaginable despite the circumstances?

Psalm 150

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord! v. 6

Read chapter 150

The summit of the psalms!  The last chapter of the longest book in the bible.  And as it is reached all it is are shouts of praise.  I don't know about you but anytime I summit a mountain, I can't help but praise God.  At the hard journey to get there with the view so worth it.  Feeling on top of the world standing in awe of creation.  Everything that has breath is to praise the Lord; from least to great.  The summit of the psalms is to the holy place with other believers in praise.  How true can that be to where we are going in life?  It may not be to our dream life, but it is to where we praise God fully and with others.

And now, in the last Psalm of all, we see an echo to the first Psalm. The first Psalm began with "Blessed", and it ended with "Blessed",—"Blessed are all they that meditate on God's law and do it." Such was the theme of the first Psalm; and now the fruit of that blessedness is shown in this Psalm, which begins and ends with Hallelujah.—Christopher Wordsworth.

If you have breath right now, praise the Lord.  Stop, stand, kneel, prostrate yourself and Hallelujah! 

Psalm 149

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand, v.6

Read chapter 149
Two opposites seems like in this verse here of the saints: singing praises and battling at war.  Yet perhaps this is what daily life for the believer is and should be in this dispensation.    They aren't always in a place of comfort and ease but also ready for time of warfare.  I couldn't have put it better as Charles Spurgeon described, the believers "way of fighting is of an extraordinary sort, for they sing to God but keep their swords in their hands. They can do two things at a time: if they do not wield the trowel and the sword, at least they sing and strike. In this Israel was not an example, but a type: we will not copy the chosen people in making literal war, but we will fulfill the emblem by carrying on spiritual war. We praise God and contend with our corruptions; we sing joyfully and war earnestly with evil of every kind. Our weapons are not carnal, but they are mighty, and wound with both back and edge. The word of God is all edge; whichever way we turn it, it strikes deadly blows at falsehood and wickedness. If we do not praise we shall grow sad in our conflict; and if we do not fight we shall become presumptuous in our song. The verse indicates a happy blending of the chorister and the crusader. Note how each thing in the believer is emphatic: if he sings, it is high praises, and praises deep down in his throat, as the original hath it; and if he fights, it is with the sword, and the sword is two edged."  
So in your battles, shout high praises and use that two-edge sword, the Bible.  It may be contrary to the way the world but the joy in our souls in this life and the one to come will prove the winner.

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
8 Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9 Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
10 Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl; vv.7-10

Read chapter 148
Mankind is the only creation that seems to doubt it's Creator.  All creation seems to know who it's creator is.  God the Creator didn't just make the sea creatures, snow, mountains, trees, etc. but he continues to sustain them as we see it said as a continuing thing as "fulfilling His word."  Matthew Henry notes in his commentary:

The powers of nature, be they ever so strong, so stormy, do what God appoints them, and no more. Those that rebel against God's word, show themselves to be more violent than even the stormy winds, yet they fulfil it. View the surface of the earth, mountains and all hills; from the barren tops of some, and the fruitful tops of others, we may fetch matter for praise. And assuredly creatures which have the powers of reason, ought to employ themselves in praising God. Let all manner of persons praise God. Those of every rank, high and low. Let us show that we are his saints by praising his name continually.

Jon Foreman's song "Your Love is Strong" sings about how perfect creation is in unison to how God made them "the birds are composing, not a note of out of tune or out of place" and "the fields of flowers are better dressed than any girl on her wedding day."
There's a praise to God above man (angles, stars, moon) and below man (creatures, nature), ought we not realize this and praise the same?!

Psalm 147

He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy. vv.10-11

Read chapter 147
It's funny as I read this psalm while the summer olympics are going on right now.  Strength is everything to be a winner of a gold medal.  Many athletes glory is in their legs.  The whole world sees and honors the strongest.  Even last night I was watching the swimming and the swimmers kick can make or break if they're going to win or not.  Yet I don't think the Lord would be cheering for one specific person if He were sitting in the stands at the olympics, but cheering for all before, during, and after the race has been won.  The Lord has equal pleasure in the strongest as well as the weakest.  God does not need or desire the strongest as if they could give him more glory or more power as kings in this world do, but it's the weakness and their need that delights Him.  What strength (physical or mental) do you take most pride in (either yourself or of others)?  Can you take pride in your weakness and necessity on God?  How or why not?

While the bodily powers give no content to God, spiritual qualities are his delight. He cares most for those emotions which centre in himself: the fear which he approves is fear of him, and the hope which he accepts is hope in his mercy. It is a striking thought that God should not only be at peace with some kinds of men, but even find a solace and a joy in their company. Oh! the matchless condescension of the Lord, that his greatness should take pleasure in the insignificant creatures of his hand. Charles Spurgeon

Psalm 146

Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish. vv.3-4

Read chapter 146
Has anyone ever let you down?  Many if not all of us put our trust in man more than we do God.  No matter how much someone loves us or how much we love someone we will eventually be let down or let them down.  We're all sinners and cant do all that only God can do.  We can have hope from others but let's not turn those hopes into expectations.  Even in death we can feel lost without them like we can only live if they're there.  But oh how wrong we got it.  It is only by the grace of God that we can live and survive in this world. 
When have you let false expectations of someone cause you sadness, anger, or other emotions?  When have you felt trusting in the Lord outweighing trust in man?  Who is someone you put expectations on as if they're God and how can you change that?

Psalm 145

You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing. v.16

Read chapter 145
This psalm of David is one of thanksgiving and praise.  We see the vertical praises up to God and the horizontal declarations to men of God's goodness.  We may not always agree with statements like "the Lord upholds all who fall" (v.14) because of circumstances in our life or others, but the deep waters of the knowledge of God are unfathomable and unsearchable.  So does this make Him a god you are suspicious of?  Or One you mistrust? Oh I hope not.  Let us not be staggered by what is dark in this dispensation of grace to all.
God's hands are outstretched for us.  And as we see the picture of God's hand in verse sixteen we must think of the difference between the hand and the heart.  Charles Spurgeon puts it, "God opens his hand, in the way of providence, towards his worst enemies. He gave Nebuchadnezzar all the kingdoms of the earth. But he opens his heart in the gospel of his Son. This is the better portion of the two. While we are thankful for the one, let us not rest satisfied in it: it is merely a hand portion. Rather let us pray with Jabez to be blessed indeed; and that we might have a Joseph's portion; not only the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, but "the good will of him that dwelt in the bush!"
What desires do you need from God's hand right now?  "The hand of grace is never closed while the sinner live."

Psalm 144

Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow. v.4

Read chapter 144
Didn't junior high school seem like the biggest deal, a matter of life or death of every little thing when you were in the midst of that season in life that most people never want to relive?  Don't you just wish you could tell yourself back then that that time is but a breath in your life and that there's so much more after those years of junior high or high school.  Yet there are so many teen suicides today because of the stress it is to be a teen in the world today by so many different factors.  Even as we get older life doesnt just get easier but we understand more seasons in our lives some harder than others.  It's not about just getting through the days but making the most of those days for it will pass faster than you realize.  So many would say in their old age how fast life passes you by.  The average age a person lives is around 70 years, depending on how old you think the earth is, whether thousands or millions of years, 70 years is but a breath to the Lord, yet He still is mindful of us as verse three says, "Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?"  Thank the Lord He doesn't just hurry his way past our life, but   is with us every moment and season we're in.  There may be people in your life only for a passing moment, but even those passing moments can be life giving, life changing, life worth living for.  How has someone's momentary passing in your life effected you?  How can you make the most of those that are in your life for a breath of time?

Psalm 143

Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You. vv.7-8

Read chapter 143
Oh how fast do we desire the Lord's answer to our prayers, especially when there seems like a deadline to them.   Here David's life is in jeopardy that he will die soon, no argument to ask for speed when it comes to life and death.  When one is facing near death the cry to the Lord is ever more real (even to those who may never have believed), yet even David knew that death was a separation from God where he would no longer be able to seek God's face.  David was pleading to last through the night that he here God's lovingkindness in the morning.  He was desiring life still, knowing that death didn't lead to heaven yet but to sheol (the pit where all go) where there is no work, no praise, no consciousness.  There is but one voice that can cheer and revive the spirit of man, and that is hearing God's lovingkindness.  
My favorite time of the day is morning. "A sense of divine love is to the soul both dawn and dew." I've been a morning person all my life but what I've come to love about it is the quietness while everyone is still sleeping and I can sit alone with God with no one else causing distractions.  It starts my day off with God, a springboard in to whatever the day may hold.  I know not everyone is a morning person, yet the Lord seems to repeat throughout the scriptures that serene time with Him in the morning.  To ask the way in which we should walk each day is what we should seek each day no matter how mundane or crazy the day may be.
How can you protect your time with the Lord at whatever time of day it may be for you?  

Psalm 142

Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul. v.4

Read chapter 142
How often have you felt this cry?  No one acknowledging you or seems like no one cares for your soul?  This psalm is a prayer of David when he was hiding in a cave from Saul, a crazed insane king, who was trying to kill him.  We know that there were some men (400) that followed David during this time, but sometimes when you're in a place of being bullied or facing a difficult situation you can feel all alone with no one seeming to care.  And there may be situations when this is literally true in some people's lives.  There are those that do care, even in the deepest pit of emotions or situations we are in, but the enemy likes to make us think it's not true.  We all want to be acknowledged and felt cared for and we may seek that more from someone that doesn't show it to us than those that do.  And when we don't get that attention we become in bondage to that person of what they say or don't say.  In verse seven David's prayer goes on to say, "Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise your name."  Nancy DeMoss Walgamuth comments, "That's the objective. It's not about me; it's not about my feelings. It's not about me being loved. Ultimately, it's about being able to praise God, to bring Him glory, to reflect His love to our world." 
If you had the affirmation and blessing of every single person in the world, do you think you'd finally feel cared for?  If that were true, it still would mean diddly squat compared to the care and affirmation God has for you!

Psalm 141

Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it. v.5

Read chapter 141
David writing here seeming to compare the two different companies he found himself going between in certain periods of his life: followers of God and non followers of Yahweh.   He realizes he'd rather have the hardship of believers than the delicacies of wicked men.  Lately I have been debating about changing careers with thoughts of not working as a leader in a ministry because it's been so hard being let down by believers and wondering if working with nonbelievers would be easier having lower expectations for them.   Yet this verse is a good reminder on both ends of striking and being struck.   Knowing that the righteous' hard love is good and edifying is not always easy.   David not only permits it though, he asks for it too: "Let the righteous strike me."  Sometimes godly men hit harder like a hammer then hints or taps of reproof.  Yet it shall be excellent as oil, that does not hit or feel hard but is smooth and fragrant.
Do you have people in your life that love you hard but good?  When have you felt a strike feel as smooth oil to you?  How have you felt the difference in companies of believers and nonbelievers in this area?