The Devotional – A look at Psalm 62 (Part 1)

The Devotional – A look at Psalm 62 (Part 1)

Comment: In Christendom we fellowship a lot about various conditions of life in Christ. I for one am encouraged by these godly directed conversations. In these we discuss the “old man” the “new man” and the “sin nature”. Also our lives in Christ our LORD is governed by the Holy Spirit who guides us. “In Christ” we reveal “His Righteousness” and in this fellowship we share with “one another” revealing to the world around us that we are “redeemed in Christ”. Such thoughts are wonderful, King David had such thoughts of His Savior too and it is nice, comforting to even see his response to living in the light of eternity. Really is this not what we do as well? As in true Christ-like fellowship we are living in the Light of eternity. A comforting read on this is Ephesians 1:1-23.

Devotional: David begins this Psalm in a calm resolve as he waits for the salvation of God as He says in verse one. “Truly my SOUL silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation”. Is our soul at peace with the confidence of salvation? I know some who fret over eternal security, believing that The Great God Who Created the heavens and the earth cannot keep a promise, see Hebrews 13:1-6. It is God who provides salvation, thus man has only one response. In faith he or she believes God and in believing it is accounted (imputed) to him or her for righteousness, see Romans 4:5.

Psalm 62:2 – He (God alone) only is my Rock (foundation) and my salvation. As children of “faith in God” there can be NO OTHER foundation. No human being can gain salvation on their own merit and no act of work or self-righteousness is worthy of salvation. David says “He is my salvation; He is my defense; (in this confirmation of faith) I shall not be greatly moved!” Today, salvation is no different; as David looked forward to the cross of Jesus Christ, we look back. 

The work (sacrifice) of the Lamb of God is complete, even to the point that He is Risen. In verses 3 and 4 David identifies the problem of doubt, I believe that under the power of the Holy Spirit that David is speaking of Satan and his fallen angels. “How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence” The devil attacks mankind with doubt by asserting that man can be like God and all of his followers seek to disturb God’s children with lies as they bless with the mouth, but curse inwardly.

God provides GRACE to those who walk by FAITH, therefore I would much rather experience the GRACE of God by FAITH, then live in the FEAR of lies. The children of God are eternally separated from the children of the devil because we are children of LIGHT, see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, therefore let us not sleep in the lies of doubt. Thus be sober and comfort one another daily as we see and know that the Day of the LORD is near.

The Devotional – Beginning a look at Psalm 60 (Part 2)

The Devotional – Beginning a look at Psalm 60 (Part 2)

Comment: When is the last time you thought about the way in which you communicate with others. Communication is one of our common problems; what we say to others is often misunderstood. We know and understand perfectly our intended conversation to another. Yet far too often what we mean to tell another is less than what they retain or understand. There are several influences that may not even be considered when we talk with others. Nationality, family language, hearing impairment, truth and lies, distractions and many other obstacles interfere with good communication. How then do we let people in general know what it is that we are saying?

Devotional: Someone might say then, that the Word of God cannot be understood. That and because of the times of the writings, the languages used to write the Holy Bible or any excuse that satisfies one’s human fear to reject the Holy Word of God makes any pursuit useless to that person. This leaves out one important factor in the paragraph above, God speaks in TRUTH and HOLINESS, in the Holy Bible, God is HOLY, and He never speaks in ways that cause confusion, see Psalm 19:1-14.

Psalm 60:6 – We ought always to remember that the Psalms are songs, meditations and prayers and in these the psalmist is either crying out, rejoicing meditating or praying to God. Also all of this can be contained in one Psalm such as it is here in Psalm 60. In the first few verses David cries out to the LORD because God has cast away His people. As we covered this yesterday, we could cover it again and note that David prays and pleads with God to restore, verse 1. As David moves through his prayer he begins remembering God’s Power over the earth, verse 2.

David also sees that God in His grace and mercy has shown Israel hard things in life causing the nation to drink the wine of confusion, verse 3. Yet for those whose relationship with God is in HIS Righteousness, God has given them a “banner”. The banner is that those of us who know God personally are flags of TRUTH to an untruthful world. The children of God (His beloved) are protected and delivered by the Omnipotent Right Hand of God our Savior who speaks TRUTH in HOLINESS.

Psalm 60:6 – This is the turning point for David in this Psalm, he has prayed and meditated to the LORD and now David begins to REJOICE, God’s character (Statute) has given David a boast of confidence. This is how you and I ought to pray as well. We need to let God’s Holiness speak to us and in this we will rejoice. Verses 7 - 9 are David’s response to the Mighty Truth, God owns all of the nations who seek to cause Israel harm, David also realizes that only God can deliver him to the strong city.

David continues. “Is it not You O God who cast us off?” Not because we did not deserve it mind you! Is it not You who did not go out with our armies? Yes, LORD it was You who held back from helping us, yet I ask You, GIVE US HELP FROM TROUBLE, for the help of man is USELESS. Ought we not take heed to these words of David as we look at our national condition today? Through God we will do VALIANTLY, for it is He (GOD) who shall tread down our enemies. THERE IS NO HUMAN CURE to a nation full of idolatry and immorality. Prayer and meditation with God who is HOLY is the only victory.

The Devotional – Beginning a look at Psalm 60 (Part 1)

The Devotional – Beginning a look at Psalm 60 (Part 1)

Comment: One does not have to be in a military service to feel the effects of war or persecution. Lately I have sensed a rising trend in people; civilian and military caught in IMPROPER fear. A fear that ought not be present since it is an act of OFFENSE, yet because we live in this dispensation of time on earth it is this FEAR that drives many people to make dangerous and life changing errors regarding life and liberty. It is this FEAR that causes one person to murder a dozen others and it is this FEAR that causes one nation to cause others to build a DEFENSE to protect. What then would be the opposing character of man that would thwart the coward who fears? The answer is simple, yet it is always IGNORED; the answer and I am sure you know it. It is FAITH in God our CREATOR.

Devotional: Where then does this FEAR come from? Its origin is from SATAN the original SUPPLANTER who rejected FAITH in God and personally chose to have an improper FEAR for the Creator. His power as an angelic being was and still is capable to move his angelic followers and humankind to heights of sinful FEAR that stagger the common person and motivate the despot, see Isaiah 14:12-21. 

Thus and because sinful FEAR is gripping our world, even to the collapse of national order as in the days of Israel when the nations around them fell upon Israel to destroy them in the valley of Salt, we see David in (Psalm 60) our message for today as he called out to Israel for URGENT prayer, we too need to urgently pray for our banner of FAITH in God to wave again.

Psalm 60:1-3 – Our nation says David is “cast off” from you O God, you have broken us down and are displeased with us, Oh God, restore us again! The effects of Your displeasure is visible. You make the earth tremble and You have broken IT! The pillars that hold the earth are broken and in need of healing. What are these pillars or branches that give strength to the earth? There are two that I wish to look at this morning. First a proper alignment to FEAR and second a stabilizing FAITH in God. I find it interesting that David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is able to recognize sinful FEAR and how it effects the world around him. Improper FEAR is confusion, or as the Hebrew word in verse 3 further reveals STAGGERING.

Psalm 60: 4-5 – In this David also knows that those of us who are properly aligned to the FEAR of the LORD are like a BANNER. We are to display the banner, why because of TRUTH, (Selah) we should understand that TRUTH is eternal, at times it may seem like a small (twig) but in reality it is a (strong basket), that word at the end of verse 4, Selah carries the weakness of a twig and the strength of a strong basket, meaning the banner is FAITH, somedays we wave it and somedays we hide it. Our remnant of saints in this land need to stand up a wave our banner of FAITH in God, this TRUTH is eternal and God will save.

We will pick this up again tomorrow, in the meantime, pray for our nation as it is crumbling in idolatry and wasting away in immorality.