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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise The Holy Spirit said through David, “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” (Ps 95:1–6 NIV). I praise you today, O Lord, and exalt your name! All glory and honor and majesty be to you, the King of kings! Today in Your Word Today you shared with me more of David’s psalms. Psalm 68 is a magnificent song that celebrates your faithfulness to Israel and your victory over the wicked. It traces the establishment of your kingdom in the past, and it looks forward to the defeat of all opposition in the future. In that day the entire world will acknowledge you as Lord and bring gifts to your throne. Paul later invoked the image of your victory procession to explain that Christ descended to earth as the baby of Bethlehem, suffered and died, then rose in glorious power and ascended into heaven to be exalted at your right hand (Eph 4:7–13). He triumphed over His enemies, and like a conquering king, He led His foes into captivity and gave gifts to His people (cf. Ps 68:18). The gifts He gave were the most precious that can be given, for they were the blessed Spirit’s gifts of grace! They were given to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” and “for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:11–12). When these gifts are exercised in love, the church achieves its full maturity: the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ! “Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!” (Ps 68:35). Reflection When the Holy Spirit wanted to give an example of unfaithfulness, he spoke of the Exodus generation (Ps 95:7b–11; Heb 3:7–4:11). That generation began in faith, quickly forgot you, disobeyed your commands and went to their wilderness graves persisting in unbelief. Their lives are a warning to me. I should take care lest there be in me “an evil, unbelieving heart,” leading me to fall away from you, and I should fear lest I fail to reach the promise of entering your rest. Request “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Ps 86:11 NIV). Thanksgiving “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever” (Ps 86:12). My heart rejoices in your mercy, and I sing with joy of your grace! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “‘Twas for Thy Sake, Eternal God” — Isaac Watts (Psalm 69). Meditation Verse: Psalm 70:4. |