Daily Encouragement

JULY 27, 2008 - Song Of Deliverance

Meditation on Psalm 54

God has delivered us from sin, darkness, Satan. And he can deliver us from all kinds of trouble too. When we have been delivered, we should sing about it and share with others our song.

Some people had risen up against David in the midst of his fleeing from King Saul. He and his followers had to keep on running and hiding. He was not hopeless. He knew he could pray to God about his desperate condition. And he knew also that God had answered his prayers as well as vindicated him. Therefore he worshiped the LORD and praised His name. He wrote this psalm and gave it to the chief musician for setting it into string music. No doubt, his followers also sang this psalm.

Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (NASB)

Hearty singing of song of deliverance by God is something we should learn and shared. Our spirits will be lifted up as we remember what God has done and give thanks to Him.

How often do you sing or hum Christian songs? I know many godly people do.

JULY 28, 2008 - How Do You Deal With Traitors?

Meditation on Psalm 55

It was a most heart-wrenching experience for David to discover that his dead-set opponent and the like were used to be his close friends. In this psalm, he cried that he would rather hide and escape to some place rather than to face the situation.

I think that we can understand this psalm in two ways:

1. David was probably addressing a national problem. His enemies were the enemies of Israel. During war and a national crisis he was directed by God to pray for the destruction of the wicked and unjust enemies.

2. For David himself, he was the anointed king whose descendant is the Messiah. He was predicting the destruction of those who were willful to oppose God and His program.

But for us personally in the New Testament time, we need to follow the example of Jesus who was betrayed by his own disciple Judas.

He endured the shame and the cross in order to show his forgiveness and mercy for all sinners and traitors. Those who accept his mercy will receive salvation. But those who still oppose Him, will have the final outcome like Judas, who got a severe judgment from God. (Acts 1:16-20) Therefore, we can follow the admonition in Romans 12:20: "If your enemy is hungry feed him, If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." (NKJV)

God's word has promised though David, "He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me." (v. 18a) God will answer our prayers in distress and affliction in the midst of betrayal.

God's word also encourages us, "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (v. 22)

JULY 29, 2008 - God Takes Account Of Your Trials

Meditation on Psalm 56

Christians do face trials. Sometimes our trials are so unbearable that one may think that no body cares and that he or she is all alone.

But we need not give up hope at all. David, the psalmist had endured great trails and terrible days. But he recorded his prayer before God like this, "You numbers my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?" (v. 8 NKJV)

Just trust in God and observe what He is doing. The first sign when you see the attack of your enemies retreat, you will know God is with you. (v. 9)

Then you will have much reason to praise God and His Word. (v. 10)

It is very important to give thanks to God when we have the victory, David said. It was a binding vow. (v. 12) That is why we worship the LORD always.

"For you have delivered my soul from death." (v.13a)

God has also kept our feet from falling so we can walk before God in the light of the living. (v. 13b)

He cares for you daily living!

JULY 30. 2008 - Wake Up The Dawn

Meditation on Psalm 57

When God had protected him in a marvelous way, David had determined to sing praises to God among all people and the nations. With his music, he wanted to wake up everyone to see God's glory like the rising sun. Powerful praises could even wake up the souls of men. (v. 7-11)

That's the kind of praise we need today in our church and in our personal life.

How can musicians and singers have that kind of dedication and spiritual influence? Looking at David's experience would help us to discover that.

David and his followers were running from Saul and his army for quite awhile. He hid from mountain to mountain and from cave to cave. God had rescued him from danger time after time. He sensed that he could hide under the shadow of God's wings as if God had reached down from heaven to shield him from the violence and verbal attack of his enemies. (v. 1-5)

The most interesting thing was that while Saul was setting traps to capture him, he went into the same cave to relieve himself where David and his men were hiding. (1 Samuel 24:1-4) No wonder David sang, "They have dug a pit before me; into the mist of it they themselves have fallen." (v. 6b NKJV)

In the midst of God's deliverance, David did not kill Saul. He was a man of forgiveness. Spurgeon in "The Treasury of David" said that this was why David wrote this song with the tune, "Do not destroy."

Here is the spiritual power of David. He trusted in the LORD and he was a man after God's own heart.

Let us be a man who will awaken the dawn praising God with power.

JULY 31, 2008 - Eliminate Wicked Judges And Leaders

Meditation on Psalm 58

There are many very wicked leaders, judges, and evil forces in the world. As God's children we want to cry out to God for His justice and vengeance so the righteous shall rejoice. David gave us an example of such prayer in a poetic form.

Verse one should read, "Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods?" (NASB) The word gods can mean judges here in Hebrew. The whole context of this psalm indicates that these wicked people are leaders and powerful people.

David describes that these people are liars with poisonous words. They behave like a cobra that does not hear the voice of the charmers. In other words, they are not reasonable people.

David continues to ask God to break their power and confuse their aims. He describes different images to call for their elimination. (v. 7-8) He expects that God will get rid of these leaders like a whirlwind sweeping down on them while they are cooking thorny schemes. (v. 9)

The symbol of the victory for the righteous is graphic. (v. 10) But our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29) "Surely there is a God who judges on earth." (v. 11)

AUGUST 1, 2008 - Facing The Terrorists

Meditation on Psalm 59

At one point in his young life, David had to face some enemies who were constantly watching him in secret and planning ways to kill him. That was a horrible experience. But he wrote a song about it to share his experience of God's deliverance and defense for him. We are grateful for God's inspiration upon him to show us universally all of God's people how to deal with those who intend to abolish us for no fault of our own.

We who live in U S A do live under the threat of terrorists every day. We thank God for those who are keeping watch over us everyday so that there has not been another incident since 9/11. Many Christians around the world are constantly in danger of attack and persecution today. Wicked unbelievers abuse them verbally and physically. In fact we do see that we are living in a world full of graphic murders and insensible crimes.

But we can still trust in God for His answer to prayers and His sovereignty. He will rule and consume the terrorists. He will give His people strength. Thus we will sing praises to Him.

We can be strong because He is our strength. (v. 17; cf. Philippians 4:13) We need to pray more.

AUGUST 2, 2008 - Victory Of The Banner Of The Gospel

Meditation on Psalm 60

This is a psalm of community lament. David expressed his faith in the final victory of the Messiah over all enemies. I believe we can apply this psalm to the conquering power of the Gospel which Jesus has given to us.

After lamenting the weaken state of God's people because of His judgment (v. 1-3), David presented a great truth in verse 4 and wanted us to reflect upon it. (Selah). For he said, "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth." Selah. (NKJV)

A banner is a rallying point and a protection for the troops. Our banner is the Gospel which is the power unto salvation and it's preaching is for all Christians to defend and strife for. (see Philippians 1)

The word of God continues to say that "God has spoken in His holiness: I will rejoice;" Then God announced His conquest of many nations in various descriptive languages. (v. 6-9)

I believe God will first of all conquer many nations and peoples with the Gospel until the Gospel reached the whole world. And at the final stage, the Messiah, King of Kings will come to rule over all the earth as Revelation and Zechariah have prophesied.

"Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (v. 12). The Word of God concludes. Only God can grant us victory.