Daily Encouragement

AUGUST 24, 2008 - Judging The Judges

Meditation on Psalm 82

What a fitting psalm for America today! Judges in our society are the most powerful in these days as the ancient Israel. What Asaph was singing and praying should be our cry absolutely.

The word gods in verse one of NKJV is from the Hebrew word, "elohim". It can be translated as judges as in Exodus 21:6 and 22:8-9. NIV translated it as rulers.

We need judges today who will defend the poor and the weak at all times. Once a while, good judgment is not enough. Some judgments today from the courts do cater to the opinion of the society and not on the truth. Some U S judges even imitate European countries.

When the supreme court of the land or a state decided wrong, the earth will shake. (v. 5)

But believers know that they are but just men.

We can call on God to judge these judges for God possess all the nations! (v. 8)

AUGUST 25, 2008 - Onward Christian Soldiers

Meditation on Psalm 83

In the midst of all the enemies' attack and conspiracy, it may seem that God is silent. (v. 1) But He is not. He wants to develop our faith in the His rule over all things as it was shown in the incident when Jesus was asleep in the boat while the disciples were so afraid of the storm.

Our immediate task is to pray and call on him for His action against the enemies. Those who are against the Christian cause and beliefs are actually against the Lord. (v. 5) God will destroy them and overthrow them quickly. As God had delivered Israel from the surrounding enemies in the past, God will also save us from Satan and His puppet's attack.

We must also realize that God's ultimate purpose is that "They may seek Your name, O LORD." (v. 16b NKJV) and that the enemies "may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth." (v. 18)

Let us march forward for the course of Christ that His name may be vindicated on this earth.

AUGUST 26, 2008 - Loving God's House

Meditation on Psalm 84

One of the most beautiful Psalm ever written is Psalm 84. It is full of charming and spiritual images that are educational and encouraging. The psalmist expressed his deep longing for the house of God. We know that God is not localized in one place but that we can sense His presence in His sanctuary. Our God does not tolerate any image made for Him either. It is interesting to note that the Altar of Heaven in Beijing which was shown on T V recently during Olympics Game does not have any idol or image of God either. Some how through natural revelation, the ancient Chinese thousand years ago realized that Shang-Di (上帝) the Heavenly King Above did not want any image of Him.

Where is our sanctuary today? It is where God's people are gathered together. There God dwells in the midst of them. Christians are being built to be the Holy Temple through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22)

As the psalmist loves and desires God's house so much we are to love the place where God's people worship too. We should build our young there. (v. 3) We should draw our strength from the worship of God and always prepare to be in the presence of God among His congregation. It may take some hardship at times to get to church. There are wildernesses during the weekdays in the world. But God can make it a spring time and cover our journey with satisfying rain. (v. 6) So we can obtain strength to worship Him in His sanctuary. (v. 7)

Each of us can look upon the face of Jesus Christ, the anointed in prayers of worship. (v. 9) God will shower His grace and good things upon His people who walk uprightly. (v. 11)

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand, I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wickedness." (v. 10 NKJV)

AUGUST 27, 2008 - Holiness And Love Kissed

Meditation on Psalm 85

"Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed." (v. 10 NKJV) This concept expressed the hope of the psalmist that God's holiness and lovingkindness would be fulfilled toward mankind. On the one hand, His righteousness demanded that he must judge the sin of man. Yet on the other hand, His mercy yearns for His forgiveness.

This can only be done through the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ who has fulfilled both of these aspects of God's character through His death on the cross. (John 1:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:21) Therefore psalm 85 is prophetic and Messianic. Indeed, "righteousness shall look down from heaven." (v. 11)

The sons of Korah had composed this psalm for the people of God to seek their spiritual and national revival from God. Yes, they had experienced God's forgiveness and blessings. They had returned to their own land. But they must continue to pray, "Will You not revive us again that Your people may rejoice in You?" (v. 6)

And they must determine to hear what the Lord will speak. Then they will see the meeting of holiness and love of God. And the land will yield its increase also. And they will follow the righteous footsteps of the LORD.

Since Jesus has come and we have seen the kiss of God's holiness and love, we can rejoice in His provision through prayers and His revival daily in our hearts through Christ.

AUGUST 28, 2008 - A Sign For Good

Meditation on Psalm 86

David prayed to God, "Show me a sign for good". (v. 17 NKJV)

As Christians we want to discern God's will in our life, especially when we are in a big project or in some kind of great trouble. We need to see a sign of God's help and victory over opposition.

Psalm 86 shows us how to pray for this sign of God's help and comfort. First of all David acknowledged that he was poor and needy. He pleaded for God's merciful hearing. He declared that he was a servant of God and that he was holy before God. He knew that God would answer Him because God was good and was ready to forgive. (v. 1-7)

Secondly David called for all to worship the only God who did wondrous things. (v. 8-10)

Thirdly, David asked God to teach him His way and pledged to walk in it. He promised to praise His name forever and ever for God had already saved His soul. (v. 11-13)

Fourthly, David told God that those who were against him were against God also. God would have mercy toward him but not toward the proud. (v. 14-15)

So finally he asked God for a sign to show His mercy and salvation. (v. 16-17)

I remember that when our church had sought to have a building of our own for a long time, but there were so many difficulties and obstacles including opposition. But one day when God turned around, a person form opposition to active support. I knew that God had shown us a sign that He was going to accomplish it for His name's sake. Indeed today God has granted us the sanctuary by providing for its purchase, construction, and equipments. It has been marvelous how He did it and is continuing to provide for it. Praise the LORD!

AUGUST 29, 2008 - Birth Record

Meditation on Psalm 87

Why is it that God's word says, "The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob"? (v. 2 NKJV)

I believe that it is because Zion is where Jerusalem is built on and that Jerusalem signifies the church. For Hebrews 12:22-24 implies this concept, "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel." Revelation 21:9-10 is also one of other passages indicates Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.' And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,"

Therefore this psalm is not only Messianic indicating the future rule of Christ, but also prophesizes the supreme importance of the church where people from all nations will have their people born there. These are "those who know Me" God says. (v. 4) These are those who are born again and have eternal life by faith in Christ.

Through the church of God, people from all walks of life can find the springs of life. (v. 7) God will record and register those who are born into the family of God, His church. (v.6)

"Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!". (v. 3)

AUGUST 30, 2008 - Perseverance In Prayer

Meditation on Psalm 88

If there is a sad song, this is it. Psalm 88 is probably the saddest of all psalms. It was set to a tune of affliction by the choir master in ancient Israel. This psalm best expresses the feeling of those in convalescent hospital. The psalmist himself was probably having a disease since the days of his youth. (v. 15)

He complained that his soul is full of troubles and he was like a dead man without strength and is cut off from God totally. He felt that he was in total darkness and his eye sight had gone away. He asked God why he was punished. Why was it that even his loved ones and friends were not seeing him while he was a shut in?

Yet in time like this he still called on the LORD, God of his salvation, "I have cried out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; Incline Your ear to my cry." (v. 1b-2 NKJV)

His argument for his existence before God is marvelous:

"Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You. Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise you? Selah
Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grace? or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? and Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?" (v. 9b-12)

This psalm has no positive answer at the ending. But we do know that the faith that exhibited in the personal LORD through prayers is most outstanding. Those who learn this psalm and pray like that shall please God (Hebrews 11:6), who will answer in the future psalms.