Bible Pathways Daily Bible Reading Devotional

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!
<< Bible Pathway

Bible Pathways - July 13, 2009

 

July 13

Psalms 106

Highlights In Today's Reading:

Want to take a 40-year trip? Travel with God's people as they relive their desert wanderings. They confess their sins, including: lusted (106:14), murmured (106:25), mingled among the heathen (106:35), shed innocent blood (106:38). Finally, they praise God for their deliverance (note 107:19-20). There is a refrain in vss 8,15, 21,31

The magnificence of Israel's history was not the result of her heroes, priests, or prophets, but rather it was the fulfillment of the Word of God (Gen. 12:7). Accordingly, all failures which were written in their history, all losses, defeats in battle, famines, and exiles were to be seen as consequences of disobedience to His Word: They believed not His Word (Ps. 106:24).

It is significant that the psalmist said: He sent His Word, and healed them (107:20) rather than: "The Lord healed them." It simply means there is nothing of this world that will sustain one's spiritual nature and nothing in it will satisfy the hungering and thirsting of the soul. His Word alone is the infallible healer of all sufferings and sorrows. There is no other reliable source of counsel for the inner conflicts that seek to control our minds and emotions.

He sent His Word — Yes, this is the same Word by which the heavens were made (33:6) and by which our lives are brought into a spiritual relationship with Him. His Word is Jesus come in the flesh as well as His Written Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). His Written Word, when believed and acted upon, is the means God has chosen to supply and satisfy every need through Jesus the Living Word (Phil. 4:19).

God teaches us the necessity of faith in His Word and its unlimited resources. As our Lord often said: All things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). Experience has taught us that most of us are prone to view our problems based on our human abilities. But, throughout the Bible, we are taught the absolute necessity of relying on the Word of God to reveal His will for every problem and every situation — without exception. Through daily Bible reading and prayer, we obtain the insight to guide us to fulfill all His promises.

The disciple whose faith brings answers to prayer has recognized the inseparable link that unites the promises of God and His commands to be obeyed. We are able to trust God in prayer to fulfill His promises to the extent of our submission to His commands.

This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him (I John 5:14-15).

Thought for Today:

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the Commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day (Deut. 11:26-27).

Christ Revealed:

As the One who maketh the storm a calm (Ps. 107:29). When Jesus calmed the storm, His awestruck disciples exclaimed: What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him! (Matt. 8:27). Jesus offers to calm the storms of our lives and give us His peace (John 14:27).

Word Studies:

106:20 similitude = image, likeness; 106:29 inventions = evil activities; 106:30 stayed = stopped, checked; 107:11 contemned = despised, rejected.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts in memory of Reverend Leonard P. Miller • Executive Director of the IBRA in our Washington DC Branch: Reverend Michael Hall • Government Official: Rep. Rob Bishop (UT) • Country: St. Lucia (154,000) in the eastern Caribbean • Major languages: English and French patois • Religious freedom • 83% Roman Catholic; 13% Protestant; 2% spirit worship • Prayer Suggestion: Pray in faith that God will bless your family (Gen. 17:18-20).

Optional Reading: 1 Timothy 4

Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 7:24



More Bible Pathway Articles