Readings for 4/17-4/23

APRIL 17

David certainly lays the groundwork for his son Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem, including the national convention to establish the importance for unity and support. Did you get a good grip on how many people will be supervising the work on the building of the temple?

David believed that the glory and honor of God should be extolled in the music at the temple whether vocal or instrumental.  And what a choir…4,000 voices praising the Lord. Imagine that!

And Obed-Edom plays an important part again.  The Ark of the Covenant had been in his possession for a while and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had. Now we read about even more blessings for Obed-Edom. God gives him eight sons. They were all leaders, capable men, with strength to do the work assigned to them. Obed-Edom is appointed a worship leader and is mentioned along with Asaph (a writer of some of the psalms).  Obed-Edom and his associates minister regularly before the Lord in worship and yet he also is put in charge of the Southgate and his sons were named keepers of the storehouse. Obed-Edom was faithful in carrying out his duties for the Lord and the Lord rewarded him by establishing a legacy of generational blessings. What legacy of blessings does God have for each of us as a reward for our faithfulness to Him?

There is a seemingly rather obscure, insignificant verse hidden away in today’s reading concerning the twenty four divisions of the priests and their appointed order of service in 1Chronicles 24:10

the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

The priest Zechariah, father of John the Baptist was in the order of Abijah.  The date on which he served in the temple sets the timeframe of John’s conception and sets the timeframe of the birth of Jesus. Obscure verse?  Hidden away?  Seemingly insignificant?  Don't think so!

Part of the duties of the Levites were to serve the Lord by standing every morning and evening to praise and thank the Lord, in addition to other prescribed times. Should we behave any differently? Shouldn’t we be praising and thanking God morning and night? Do we praise Him in all things and for all things?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:19-20
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So even when we don’t feel like praising and thanking Him, even when we don’t like our circumstances, even when the world seems to be against us, even when we are suffering and experiencing trying times, even then….we should pray and praise! Chances are…when we do that; things won’t seem so gloomy anymore!

APRIL 18

The preparations for Solomon’s building of the temple is a foreshadow of the Millennial Kingdom temple. 

The divisions of the gatekeepers and their placement around the temple are recorded.  There are more gatekeepers required for the Eastern Gate than the others, possibly because it was the most frequented gate.  It was the chief gate at the temple.  

There is much significance to the keeping of the genealogical records as recorded in 1 Chronicles 26:29-32.  That's how David knew about the Hebronites, who were put in charge of some of the tribes of Israel.  

Twelve military commanders are listed.  These were not one from each of the 12 tribes.  The officers of each tribe are listed as well.  The tribes of Gad and Asher are left out.  

The plans for the temple were not David’s plans, they were God’s plans.
“I have in writing from the hand of the Lord upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.”
Same thing happened to Moses concerning the tabernacle. 

David gave his resources for the building of the temple, including his personal treasures. He, in effect, gave away Solomon’s inheritance. But that’s okay, God had plans to financially take care of Solomon. 

At the end of David’s address to the assembly, he spoke these words. “Now who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?” What a great admonition to us today! Indeed, who IS willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?

David asked for WILLING givers. The leaders stepped up to the plate and set the example for the people. The people then willingly followed their example.  They willingly gave for the temple, in addition to the 10% tithe. 

Look what David did next…he praised God…not the people for their generosity…he praised God! Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-20 and count all the times that the words either “you” or “yours” (in reference to God) appear. Pretty clear David was quick to give God the credit for everything.

Another foreshadowing:
1 Chronicles 29:22
They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the LORD that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the LORD to be ruler and Zadok to be priest.

Zadok is to be priest. His descendants will hold a high position in the Millennial Kingdom temple. 

APRIL 19

It seems as if through many of the psalms David is doing what we might refer to today as venting. Then once he vents, he feels better and can see more clearly that God is definitely in control!  In many of the psalms David cries out for God's justice. And in a great many of the psalms David acknowledges that he has done wrong, laments the fact that he has sinned, repents and asks for forgiveness.  Paul mentions something similar in one of his letters.  Jesus said in the garden the night He was arrested, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
Ponder this verse for today.  
Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. 

What would happen if we just laid our requests before Him each morning?  What would happen if we didn't pick up our "baggage" and carry it with us during the day?  What would happen if we just let Him handle it?  What would happen if we just LET GO and LET GOD handle things?  Maybe we should try that!!!
  
The psalms listed in today's reading truly are psalms of the troubled soul.  David was quick to call out to the Lord when he was troubled but most always ended with thanksgiving or praise.

Psalm 5
Prayer should be at the beginning of the morning and the end of the evening and all during the day. Don't you think He delights in our little conversations with Him?  David says He wants us to take sides with Him against the things He hates.  Just as David says, we should not focus on the evil that surrounds us but keep our focus on God, just as David said he would keep his focus on God's holy temple.  By the way, what did David mean by holy temple - it hadn't been built yet.  Was he referring to the tabernacle or was he given a vision of the temple that his son Solomon would later build?  Or was he given a glimpse of the millennial temple or was he speaking of the future when the Holy Spirit would indwell believers?

1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? 

Psalm 6
David cries out.  God answers. Sometimes during the day we may find ourselves down in the valley weeping as we go, overcome with sorrow and pain.  If we look up to Him, we can see that He is just waiting for us to trust Him enough to take those tears and put them in His "tear bottle".  He will dry our cheeks and take care of our pain.

Psalm 7
David cries out for justice. When our enemies, our accusers come against us and slander us, we must remember that we have a righteous judge in the court of heaven, a defense attorney, and one who pays the penalty for all our sins.

Psalm 10
David cries out to God again and then acknowledges God's answers at the end.
Psalm 10:1
Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Hmmm...ever feel that way?  Why do we always assume God is the one who left?  If God seems far away...guess who moved???
There is a very sad verse in this psalm..."there is no room for God".  We could also add there is no time for God.  For unbelievers there is no room for God in their lives.  As believers in Jesus are we sometimes guilty of living our lives so driven by trivial pursuits that we have no time for God? Read verses 2-11 and see if that doesn't sound like characteristics of Satan.  We just need to remember that at the throne of the King, all wrongs will be addressed and made right.

Psalm 11
David poses this question. "When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" We may ask that same question today.  What will the firm and true believers do when the foundations of the faith are being torn down or ignored?

There is One who pleads His precious blood in our behalf  and is an Intercessor at the right hand of the throne who is never deaf to the cries of those who put their trust in Him.

Bottom line for today's reading?  Reread Psalm 5:3!

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. 

Lay requests before Him each morning.  Don't pick up the "baggage" and carry it during the day.  Let Him handle things.  For heaven's sake, LET GO and LET GOD!

APRIL 20

In the psalms for today, we see a theme woven throughout.  David cries out to the Lord and pleads his case, then asks for vindication from his enemies. In order to understand the psalms better, try putting them in your own words, maybe even with some specific details of your life at the moment.  

Psalm 13
In this psalm David prays for deliverance from his enemies. Just because God's face seems to be hidden from us and we feel overwhelmed because of our enemies, it doesn't mean that God has forgotten us.  We need to trust Him and rejoice in our salvation, no matter what Satan may throw our way.  This psalm is a perfect example of going from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high. David speaks from the depths of despair to the heights of joy. 

Psalm 17
David prays for relief from the pressure of enemies. He gives us an answer to why the wicked prosper. "O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life." They receive their reward in this life and not in eternity.  David clings to the prospect of sleeping in death and awakening in His presence. This enables David to cheerfully waive the discomforts, trials, tribulations of this life and suffer with patience keeping eternity in mind.  So applicable to us today as well!
 
Psalm 26 
David cries out to the Lord to vindicate him from his enemies, stating that he has led a blameless life - not sinless but blameless because he's forgiven. Same thing applies to Believers.  We certainly are not sinless, but praise God, He forgives us, making us blameless. (see Jude 24)

Psalm 28
David contrasts "the pit" to the "Most Holy Place".  Can't get much farther apart than that!  The heart that truly believes in Him will praise Him!

Psalm 31
There is a prophetic nature to some of the verses of this psalm. "Into your hands I commit my spirit;" These words were spoken by Jesus on the cross.  "anguish of soul" Jesus suffered the ultimate anguish of soul (that word soul means His entire being, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional) when He took all our sins upon Himself on the cross. Read this psalm again and see the foreshadowing with Jesus from the garden to the cross.

There is a great image presented in Psalm 31.  "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you." Picture God holding a large container filled with goodness and blessings. He waits in anticipation of our demonstrations of our love, respect, and reverence for Him so that He is able to lavish upon us that goodness and blessing.

Through Psalm 31 and many of his others, David teaches us that our lives are safe in God's hands and we should yield ourselves to Him, to be sanctified by His grace, devoted to His honor, employed in His service and fitted for His Kingdom.  Believers are already sanctified by His grace, if we use our spiritual gifts for His service in His Kingdom, being devoted to His honor just naturally follows. 

APRIL 21

David continues in the psalms to cry out to the Lord for vindication and relief from his enemies.   

Psalm 35:1-2  Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid.

God has promised that He will fight our spiritual battles for us.  We need to stand firm, trust Him and defer to His authority.  Our enemies may not always be defeated in exactly the way we want them to be.  Before David died, God took revenge on David's enemies.

The safest place to leave a righteous cause is with the righteous God who is able to give judgment on it in the right way and at the right time. If God is our friend, what does it matter who our enemies are? 

Psalm 41

David wrote about the betrayal of friends. He could also have written about the betrayal of his family as well. The words of this psalm tell of things that literally happened to David but they are also prophetic concerning Jesus as well.  In effect David lived in foreshadows of the prophecies of Jesus. 

David cries for those who suffer betrayal from friends. “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” Does this sound as if Jesus is speaking of Judas?

The remainder of this psalm is a foreshadowing of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Psalm 43

Light and truth guide us to eternity in heaven.
David cries out for insight in the face of opposition. He asks for the defeat of his enemies. And then he admonishes himself in the following:

Psalm 43:5  

Why are you discouraged, my soul? Why are you so restless? Put your hope in God, because I will still praise him. He is my savior and my God.  

Read Psalm 46 again and pause for reflection every time you see the word Selah.  David has been given a keyhole view of the Day of the Lord at both the beginning and the end of the Millennium.  Notice what is said about the earth melting. Kind of matches what Peter told us about.

2 Peter 3:7  But the present heavens and the earth being kept in store by the same Word, are being kept for fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 

Psalm 55

David again bemoans his disloyal companions. His suffering at the hands of false friends is prophetic of Jesus' sufferings. 

There is a spiritual connection we can make with this verse. "...my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship..." David was most likely referring to one of his once loyal friends.  Unlike our friends here on earth who may betray us or abandon us,  Jesus is our constant companion, our close friend.  We enjoy sweet fellowship with Him.  

David ends the reading for today with a great verse to pause and contemplate.

Psalm 55:22  Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you: he will never let the righteous fall. 

Though we may stumble, He will never let us fall!  He will not let us fall away from our salvation. Our salvation is secure. (2 Corinthians 1:22) Cast burdens to Him, He can handle it!

APRIL 22

Psalm 62 
David professes his confidence in God and encourages himself to wait on God.
These words are applied to God; rock, hope, shelter, refuge, strength, salvation, strong tower, fortress, help, deliverer.
These words are applied to man; leaning wall, tottering fence, nothing, a breath.
Quite a contrast!

 “Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.”

These are not the rewards we take to the earthly bank. These are deposited in the heavenly treasury.

1 Corinthians 3:11-14
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
Made a deposit in the heavenly treasury today?

Psalm 64

Even though our enemies may conspire and scheme against us, we need not worry about the arts of self-defense, but may leave the future of our enemies in His hands. 

Psalm 69
This is another prophetic psalm, lived by David, but a prophecy of the Messiah.  Psalm 69:14-20 describe His Gethsemane experience (Matthew 26:36-45). Psalm 69:21 describes the cross (Matthew 27:34-48.  
David says, "zeal for your house consumes me."  Does our zeal for the Lord consume us? In a good way?
David mentions putting on sackcloth.  Do we figuratively "put on sackcloth" and ask God to reveal our sins to us so that we can repent?   The last few verses of this psalm are layered prophecies, yet to be fulfilled in our future. 

In verses 30 and 31 of Psalm 69 David says that praising Him in song and thanksgiving pleases Him more than our sacrifices.  It has been our experience (Phil and Patti) that whenever a person may experience "sinking in the miry depths where there is no foothold" is when God is looking for us to praise Him.  It is then that He does His best work in us!

APRIL 23

Psalm 70
Evil is seeking to devour us.  We should seek God with the same intensity that evil seeks us. Verse 4 says, "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you."
We are blessed just in the act of seeking Him! Seeking Him means we are craving His presence as if we were starving for food.

Psalm 71
Attention Cradle Christians! These are our verses!
Psalm 71:5-6
For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
Both of us (Phil and Patti) were brought up in Christian homes. We knew Jesus first as a friend before we even knew we needed a Savior! Praise God for Christian homes!
It is very clear in this psalm as well as many other Scriptures that we are admonished to teach our children and grandchildren.
It seems from this psalm that David was raised in a godly home, in addition to being taught by the Lord Himself. (Since my youth, O God, you have taught me.) Possibly he had intimate fellowship with the Lord while a mere shepherd boy alone in the field with the sheep.

There also appears to be layered prophecies in this psalm as well.  David certainly saw troubles, many and bitter as stated in the psalm.  We can relate this part of the psalm to Jesus as well as David. David affirms that his life will be restored again and brought up from the depths of the earth.  This will happen for David during the Millennium and for eternity.  Again we can relate this to Jesus. Jesus' life was certainly restored again and He was brought up from the depths of the earth. David's and Jesus' honor will be increased.

Lots of questions posed in Psalm 77;
Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show favor? Has His love vanished? Has His promise failed? Has God forgotten? Has He withheld His compassion?

Whenever we have these same questions, we need only take to heart the following verse found in the same psalm. “I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”When we consider His mighty deeds, we won’t question very long!

“…though your footprints were not seen.”
How often does God work in our lives even when we can’t see what He is doing?

Psalm 83
Numerous prophecies from this psalm that are being fulfilled in our lifetime.
Verse 4
Come, they say, let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more.
The same people who are listed in this psalm; the Edomites, Ishmaelites, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, etc. (made up primarily of Muslims now) are all enemies of Israel today.

There is much more in this psalm to relate to each of us as individual Believers in Jesus.  Look at verse 12.  "Let us take possession of the pasturelands of God."  This, of course, refers to the land itself, the land promised to the nation of Israel.  But we can compare this to the promises and the blessings that God offers to us as Believers. The enemies of Israel want to rob them of the land.  Our enemy (Satan) wants to rob us of our blessings.

Psalm 86
In verse 9 David says that ALL nations will come and worship and bring glory to the Lord's name. This will not happen until the Millennium.

“Teach me your way O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.”
Yes, Lord, teach us your way! So that we may walk in your truth.  This thought takes us right back to the beginning of the reading for today.  "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you."

When we seek Him, He is pleased to teach us HIs ways and His truth. In that we should rejoice!