Daily Encouragement

AUGUST 10, 2008 - Daily Load

Psalm 68 is such a fantastic psalm with comforting messages. It will take great amount of study and thoughtful reflection to absorb the many ideas of spiritual insight.

I like to concentrate on just one favorite verse of many Christians today. That is verse 19 which says, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation, Selah." (NKJV)

Indeed God loads us with many benefits every day. Just this psalm alone points out a lot of those blessings we receive form Him:

God gives special care to those who are fatherless, widows, and the aliens. He would defend for them and place them in a home. (v. 5-6)

He sends rains and provides for the poor. (v. 8-10)

He sends out words and proclaimed of His words to us. (v. 11)

God protects us from enemies. (v. 12-14)

God's angels surround around us. (v. 15-17 and see the story in 2 Kings 6:17)

God has given to Christians each with spiritual gifts to serve Him. (v. 18 and see the fulfillment of this verse through Christ in Ephesians 4:7)

God has given us the strength and various abilities to participate with others in worship and singing. (v. 24-35)

Indeed, we should rejoice before Him every moment of every day.

Moreover, there is another understanding of this verse which I enjoy so much. The Chinese translation on verse 19 says something like this: Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burden. In fact this is the literal meaning of the Hebrew words: Day be day he bears.

God does carry our burden when we cast them upon Him. (1 Peter 5:7) That is daily salvation for each one of us.

Isn't He wonderful!

AUGUST 11, 2008 - Suffering For Christ's Sake

Meditation on Psalm 69

This psalm expressed the intense feeling of a believer who suffered simply because he belonged to God. He suffered physically as well as mentally. His relationship with others was impaired. He worried what others thought of him and hoped that other believers would not be dishonored by his poor conditions. He felt like he was sinking in deep mire and in deep waters. All these troubles were due to no fault of his toward others. Yet he was persecuted and ridiculed by those who reproached God.

In times like that he could only cry out to God and wait for His deliverance. We don't blame him for his prayers of the destruction of his enemies. (v. 22-28)

The psalmist's faith in God preserved him. He maintained his hope in God's salvation for His congregation. His confinement was just an indication of being a prisoner of God (like Paul) in verse 33.

He knew for sure that God will build up all his saints to live in the city of God. (v. 34-36)

Jesus Himself while on earth must have meditated upon this psalm a lot. Couple passages in this psalm are Messianic. They described the feelings of Jesus during His ministry on earth and on the cross. Verse 9 (NKJV) says, "Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up" (also in John 2:17) Verse 21 described this, "They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." (also in John 19:28-30)

Since our Savior had experienced these kinds of suffering far more than us, can we sometimes endure reproaches for Him?

AUGUST 12, 2008 - Hurry Up To Help Me!

Meditation on Psalm 70

One of principle of teaching is repetition. Psalm 70 is very similar to Psalm 40:13-17. Both in Old Testament and New Testament, God uses this principle to reinforce His instruction so we would remember what to do in a particular situation. For this incidence, the psalmist then simply edited a former psalm to teach the congregation to sing in another occasion that was appropriate. It is interesting to note that the title of this psalm includes the word, "To bring to remembrance" (NKJV)

Both psalms teaches that in moment of stress and attack from enemies, one can simply express to God his or her urgent need for deliverance and vindication. There is nothing wrong to ask God hurry up to help me.

We can then magnify God when others' cynical "Aha! Aha!" would be turned to confusion. (v. 3-4)

O LORD, do not delay. (v. 5b) Even Your second coming!

AUGUST 13, 2008 - The Responsibilities Of Senior Christians

Meditation on Psalm 71

Many scholars consider David as the composer of this psalm. Keil & Delitzsch thought that Jeremiah could be the author. Psalm 71 seemed to indicate that the writer was a very active senior. He spoke out for God publicly and loudly. No wonder he had enemies. Therefore he asked God for protection.

As we grow older in life, are we seeking for rest, retirement and nice place to retreat? Instead of shunning from Christian responsibilities and services, we should rather learn from this psalmist to engage in Christian warfare.

I am quite aware that senior citizens have learned how to take care of themselves. But we need Christian seniors who are involved in helping the church to stand against the Devil's attack. Their prayers, faith and experiences will enhance our success.

Moreover, the psalmist has modeled for us a life style of praise. (v. 8) The aged Christians can tell us how God had taken cared of them since the day of their birth. (v. 6 & 17) They can show how they have had hope in God and praise Him even more. (v. 13-14)

Verse 15 should be the watch word for us all because it says, "My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure." (NIV)

We can learn from verse 16 even more specific assignment: "I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone."

The seniors also have the good privilege to declare God's power to the next generation, his might to all who are to come. (v. 18)

We sure need active, God-praising seniors. By the way, active seniors will live longer and have a better brain too according to research.

AUGUST 14, 2008 - Expectation Of The Messiah

Meditation on Psalm 72

There was an air of expectation of the reign of the coming Messiah in Psalms. Here David prayed for its fulfillment and his son, Solomon composed it for the congregation to sing.

The kings of Israel were not able to fulfill the expectation, but Jesus the Son of David will be able to rule the earth when He shall return.

The Messiah shall rule with righteousness and justice for the poor. He will bring peace to the whole earth. He will have absolute control of the whole world. All nations shall subject to Him. He cares specially the needy and the oppressed. There will be economic prosperity. He will reign forever. He shall be praised by all people.

"And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen." (v. 19 NKJV)

This was the earnest desire of the apostles and should be of all believers. John says, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20b)

AUGUST 15, 2008 - It Doesn't Seem Fair

Meditation on Psalm 73

There are full of frustrations in this psalm. Asaph, the musician could not understand why it was that the wicked were so prosperous yet he himself, a faithful follower of God suffered so much physically and emotionally. Why was it that those who cursed God are not being punished? Did the faithful follow God in vain? He questioned.

It was good that he kept up his worship in the sanctuary. For it was during his communion with God that he understood the end of the ungodly. He began to realize the temporal nature of man and his existence. It dawned on him that the powerful and mighty are but on a slippery road. Their foundation would be destroyed in any moment.

It was those who stuck close to God could survive forever. He rather claimed God as his strength and portion. He then grew to appreciate His LORD God a lot more and decided to draw close to Him and even told others about Him.

It is a delight to read this psalm for you can identify with the feeling of the psalmist easily.

But can we comprehend his statement after his spiritual conversion from seeing the unfairness of God, "I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You."? (v. 22 NKJV)

AUGUST 16, 2008 - When God Get Angry

Meditation on Psalm 74

After Israel was captured by the Babylonians in the sixth century B.C., the godly musician composed this song to instruct the Israelites how to pray. He acknowledged that their devastation then was the result of God's anger against them. (v. 1)

He reminded God that they were His people whom He has redeemed. He detailed how the enemies destroyed their place of worship. (v. 2-8)

He was not able to see God's action at all while the ungodly continue to desecrate God's name. (v. 9-11)

He recalled what God had done in the past for them: the miracles and the mighty act upon the sea. God did and still rule the sun, the moon and the seasons. Every thing should be under God's control. (v. 12-17)

So he pleaded for God's deliverance from their tragedy since God should honor His own name, His covenant with Israel and that He should be merciful to the poor and needy. (v. 18-21)

The psalmist closed with this, "Arise, O God plead your own cause; remember the foolish man reproaches you daily. Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually. (v. 22-23 NKJV)

Did God listen to this prayer? Psalm 75 would give us the answer.