Tag Archives: David

Open the gates! (Psalms 24), Feb 14, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 24
Set – Leviticus 24; Psalms 24
Go! – Leviticus 23-24; Psalms 24; Acts 21

Psalms 24
1 The earth and all that’s upon it belong to the Eternal.
The world is His, with every living creature on it.
2 With seas as foundations and rivers as boundaries,
He shaped the continents, fashioned the earth.
3 Who can possibly ascend the mountain of the Eternal?
Who can stand before Him in sacred spaces?
4 Only those whose hands have been washed and hearts made pure,
men and women who are not given to lies or deception.
5 The Eternal will stand close to them with blessing and mercy at hand,
and the God who redeems will right what has been wrong.
6 These are the people who chase after Him;
like Jacob, they look for the face of God.
[pause]
7 City gates—open wide!
Ancient doors—stand back!
For the glorious King shall soon pass your way.
8 Who is the glorious King?
The Eternal who is powerful
and mightily equipped for battle.
9 City gates—open wide!
Ancient doors—stand back!
For the glorious King shall soon pass your way.
10 Who is the glorious King?
The Eternal, Commander of heaven’s army,
He is the glorious King.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

A lot of you probably think of David as a sweet little shepherd boy and don’t think about his family, his heritage, who he became, or even his exploits as a shepherd. But this sweet little shepherd boy killed lions and bears. He ripped his sheep from their paws because he didn’t want to pay for the lost sheep. This sweet little boy was a fighter. David was a warrior.

You probably got the wrong picture of David by equating the shepherd picture with Saul’s armor falling off of David. But it’s the wrong picture. Remember how Samuel recognized Saul? He stood head and shoulders above everyone else! Saul’s armor fell off of everyone. Saul didn’t go to the local store and buy clothes off the shelf. David was a big guy; Saul was a giant of a man.

Despite his prowess as a warrior, though, David had a way with words. He spent hours alone thinking about life, about what’s important, about Me. In so doing, He wrote many of the songs collected in the Hebrew songbook, the Psalms. I like the one you just heard. It reminds you that I own everything. Everything belongs to Me. Everything. Even you. Because I made you.

The psalm also reminds you that I am a holy God and want you to approach Me with clean hands and hearts. But you can do nothing to make yourself clean enough to come near to Me. That’s why I had to wrap Myself in flesh and sacrifice Myself to redeem you. But I did that because I want you to come close to Me. All you need to do is believe what I did, I did for you. Believe I spilled My blood for you, so that your sins can and are forgiven.

I like to picture the ancient gates as the walls of your heart. All you have to do is open the gates and I’ll come in. The gates can only be opened from the inside, though. There are no bars on the outside, no locks to manipulate, no latches to work. Only you can release the bars that hold fast the doors so that the gates can open and let Me in.

As long as I’m inside, you have no fear of whatever enemies you might face. The Eternal, Commander of the heaven’s army, powerful and mightily equipped for battle stands with you to fight any battle you face. Your enemies cannot penetrate the fortress when I’m with you and in charge. When I lead, I win. When I’m in charge, the battle is as good as done. I never lose. Satan thought he defeated Me on the cross…until the tomb burst open. He thought he won a victory with My death…until I exchanged it for life.

Open the gates, the Eternal is passing by. Give Me an invitation to come in! 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Society doesn’t think much of God’s wisdom (Psalm 19), Feb 4, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 19
Set – Psalms 19; Acts 11
Go! – Exodus 37-38; Psalms 19; Acts 11

Psalms 19
1 The celestial realms announce God’s glory;
the skies testify of His hands’ great work.
2 Each day pours out more of their sayings;
each night, more to hear and more to learn.
3 Inaudible words are their manner of speech,
and silence, their means to convey.
4 Yet from here to the ends of the earth, their voices have gone out;
the whole world can hear what they say.
God stretched out in these heavens a tent for the sun,
5 And the sun is like a groom
who, after leaving his room, arrives at the wedding in splendor;
He is the strong runner
who, favored to win in his race, is eager to face his challenge.
6 He rises at one end of the skies
and runs in an arc overhead;
nothing can hide from his heat, from the swelter of his daily tread.
7 The Eternal’s law is perfect,
turning lives around.
His words are reliable and true,
instilling wisdom to open minds.
8 The Eternal’s directions are correct,
giving satisfaction to the heart.
God’s commandments are clear,
lending clarity to the eyes.
9 The awe of the Eternal is clean,
sustaining for all of eternity.
The Eternal’s decisions are sound;
they are right through and through.
10 They are worth more than gold—
even more than abundant, pure gold.
They are sweeter to the tongue than honey
or the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 In addition to all that has been said,
Your servant will find, hidden in Your commandments, both a strong warning
and a great reward for keeping them.
12 Who could possibly know all that he has done wrong?
Forgive my hidden and unknown faults.
13 As I am Your servant, protect me from my bent toward pride,
and keep sin from ruling my life.
If You do this, I will be without blame,
innocent of the great breach.
14 May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart
meet with Your gracious approval,
O Eternal, my Rock,
O Eternal, my Redeemer.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

David really knew how to write songs, didn’t he? I love to listen to his poems and prayers and songs. They come from his heart. He’s never afraid to tell Me what he thinks. Whether he wants to praise Me or doubts Me, it comes out in the words he pens. He’s honest and open with Me. He lets himself be vulnerable as he expresses his inmost thoughts to work through the darkest days and the brightest days of his life.

I especially like the middle part of this song. A lot of people don’t realize the truth of these words, but David did. My law turns people around and instills wisdom in open minds. If you’ve asked Me to forgive your sins and let Me take charge of your life, you know how true that first part really is. I do turn lives around. I break the shackles of the guilt sin brings into life. I give your life new meaning and purpose. I change things for you. And My word is full of wisdom. Not many people live by My rules consistently, but those that do, know wisdom pours from the pages of My Book like water flows over Niagara Falls.

Society doesn’t think much of My wisdom, but then society never made a star or a planet or a person or even a rock…from nothing. Society can’t keep their own from arguing, cheating and fighting and killing each other. Society doesn’t know what peace looks like or sounds like or feels like. Society claims it knows what love is about, but if it did, divorce rates wouldn’t hit 50% where there are marriages and living together to “see” if couples love each other wouldn’t happen.

You see, I don’t care much what society thinks of My wisdom. One day every man, woman, boy, and girl will bow to Me whether they say they believe in Me or not. They will when I come back. All will bow before Me. Until that day comes, David had it right with the closing words of his song, though. I hope his words are your words, too. More people should live by them. It would keep them out of trouble. Remember them?

“May the words that come out of my mouth and the musings of my heart meet with Your gracious approval, O Eternal, my rock, O Eternal, my Redeemer.”

Now there is a bit of wisdom for you today.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Prayer changes things? or you? (Psalms 5), Jan 17, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Psalms 5.
You know, I never tire of hearing my children’s prayers. I hear sometimes that you don’t think I listen or care, but I always hear your prayers. Take David’s prayers as examples. He didn’t always get what he wanted when he prayed, but I always heard him. Sometimes, we needed to talk so he could work through his trials and still recognize who I am.

His prayer recorded in the book of his songs in chapter 5 is a good example. He wanted my help and called for it. I heard him, but his prayer goes on. David soon recognized he should come to Me every morning to begin his day with Me and then watch for My answers to his prayers throughout the day. He saw parts of his life that didn’t measure up to what I had asked him to do and saw that sin separates us when not confessed repentantly.

David began to see our relationship as the more important part of his life than any answer to some temporary hiccup in his plans. Whatever enemies he thought were against him didn’t matter when our relationship stood strong. When I’m on his side, he cannot fail,…because I cannot fail.

David’s prayers often begin with a cry for help, but more often return to solidifying the relationship between us. He wanted an open, honest dialog with me and his emotions pour out in his prayers. He comes around from a plea for help to thanksgiving for the blessings he already knows. His past with Me makes him confident of his future with Me.

Spend some time with Me in the morning. Before you rise from your bed, ask Me to be a part of your day. Let Me help you with those decisions coming up. Allow Me to worry about your enemies and you just do what I ask. You will find your day goes much smoother when you start it that way. Then watch for My handiwork throughout the day. You just might find Me in some unexpected places today.

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 5
Set – Psalms 5; Luke 17
Go! – Genesis 42-43; Psalms 5; Luke 17

Psalms 5
1 Bend Your ear to me and listen to my words, O Eternal One;
hear the deep cry of my heart.
2 Listen to my call for help,
my King, my True God;
to You alone I pray.
3 In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice;
in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer.
4 You’re not a God who smiles at sin;
You cannot abide with evil.
5 The proud wither in Your presence;
You hate all who pervert and destroy what is good.
6 You destroy those with lying lips;
the Eternal detests those who murder and deceive.
7 Yet I, by Your loving grace,
am welcomed into Your house;
I will turn my face toward Your holy place
and fall on my knees in reverence before You.
8 O Eternal One, lead me in the path of Your righteousness
amidst those who wish me harm;
make Your way clear to me.
9 Their words cannot be trusted;
they are destructive to their cores.
What comes out of their mouths is as foul as a rotting corpse;
their words stink of flattery.
10 Find them guilty, O True God;
let their own devices bring them ruin.
Throw them out, and let them drown in the deluge of their sin,
for in revolt they brazenly spit in Your face.
11 But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did;
let them break out in joyful song.
May You keep them safe—
their love for You resounding in their hearts.
12 You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps of the right-hearted.
Your blessings surround them like a shield.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Music by the Booth Brothers from Room for More, “Faithful One” ©2008.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.