June 30
Read Psalms 31 -- 35
What a privilege we have to join with David and the multitudes since his time, saying: I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. . . . O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together. . . . This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The Angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them (Psalms 34:1,3,6-7). Praise in our worship services, at mealtime, and during daily devotions is good and right and fills our hearts with joy. But, the psalmist went beyond the expected times of worship and praise because he was continually expressing love and devotion to the Lord. He wrote: My tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long (35:28).
We are expected to praise the Lord even when everything seems to go wrong since we know that many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all (34:19). God causes all things (to) work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). David suffered numerous injustices at the hands of enemies of God as well as the result of his own sin (Psalms 31:10; 51:1-19). He refers to himself as a broken vessel. . . . they took counsel . . . to take away my life (31:12-13). He could have become bitter or could have blamed others, but he chose to trust the Lord, and confidently said: My times are in Your hand (31:14-15). Only in yielding our lives to God will we find the assurance and security we long for. This is not "holding on" to Him, but abiding in Him -- trusting that He is holding on to us. Though, at times, we may not feel like praising God because of some pressing problem, we should think about the difficult, trying times of David. Yet he said: Be glad in the Lord, and . . . shout for joy (32:11). Yes! Without hesitation, and regardless of circumstances, David said: I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth (34:1).
Praise results from submitting to Christ and giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our lives. Then we should let everyone know that all that we are and all that we have accomplished are because of what the Lord has done in us and through us. And the humble shall hear (the Good News) and be glad (34:2). What a difference from the worldly-minded who boastfully praise themselves for what they have accomplished without acknowledging the God who gave them their abilities. In contrast David said: I will praise You, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto You among the nations (108:3). Say aloud with the psalmist: Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. I will bless You while I live (63:3).
Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name (Hebrews 13:15).
Christ Revealed: In the prophecy: He keeps all His bones: not one of them is broken (Psalms 34:20) fulfilled in John 19:36: For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.
Word Studies: 31:4 privily means secretly; 31:6 lying vanities means vain idols; 31:8 shut me up means given me over; 32:2 guile means deceit; 32:3 roaring means groaning; 35:12 spoiling means sorrow; 35:15 abjects means slanderers.
Government Official: Rep. Joe Skeen (NM) · Pray for Rick Hash and the Bible Pathway Radio Broadcasts on WCVJ-FM, Jefferson, OH · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John A. Hash · Country: Nepal (24 million) a mountain-ringed Himalayan state between Tibet and India · Major language: Nepali · Limited religious freedom · 89% Hindu; 7% Buddhist; 3% Muslim; .3% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Pray in secret before God, not seeking human praise (Matthew 6:6).
Optional Reading: Colossians 3
Memory Verse for the Week: II Corinthians 12:9