Daily Encouragement

SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 - The Lord Of David

Meditation on Psalm 110

King David wrote, "The LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'" (v. 1 NKJV) Who was his Lord? From the context of this psalm, we know that it was definitely referring to Messiah, the future King who shall rule over all nations.

The Jews in Jesus' day recognized that the Messiah is the son of David. (Matthew 22:42) Following that text, we find that Jesus asked the Jews, “why is it that David called the Messiah Lord if He is David's son?” No one was able to answer Jesus.

Praise the Lord, we have the answer. The Messiah is also the Son of God. And this Son of God is Jesus who is the Christ, the Messiah.

Revealing form this most significant psalm, the Messiah is not only the Lord and King whose people are volunteers, He is also an eternal priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (v. 4)

This is referring to the Genesis account of Abraham's encounter with the priest from Jerusalem after his great battle to rescue his nephew, Lot. (Genesis 14:18f) The book of Hebrews links this priest to Jesus. (Hebrews 7) So our Messiah is not only the King but also the Priest who made a perfect sacrifice for us forever so our sins can be forgiven and we can come into the presence of God. (v. 3-4)

The rest of this psalm is a prophecy of the Messiah King who shall destroy all His enemies and shall reign triumphantly. The book of Revelation affirms that.

In the light of such great promise, Christians should have assuring hope in Christ. We should continue to worship Him now in the beauty of holiness. (v. 3) Our Messiah Jesus is our King and our Priest. We can come before Him freely. Let us meditate upon this fact and receive His strength.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 - Praise God's Work

Meditation on Psalm 111

As you read this psalm, you can readily observe that this psalm talks a lot of about the work of the LORD. God's work can be seen and studied. (v. 2)

The psalmist mentions that God has given them food. God will surely perform His promises in His covenant with His people. He has given His people land to settle down. He has given us law also. His works is of a variety nature and are all righteous. He has sent redemption to His people. We should fear Him and obey Him. He deserves to be praised forever.

It should be pointed out that this psalm was written in a very poetic and linguistic manner. After the initial hallelujah, eight verses with two sentences each began with the sequence of sixteen Hebrew alphabets in an acrostic manner. The final verses of nine and ten have three sentences each. Together they complete the remaining six alphabets at the beginning of each sentence. (Hebrew language has 22 alphabets)

Besides those great topics of God's work in our lives and our world mentioned by the psalmist, what are some of the specific work God has done for you that your can remember or observe?

Once you are concentrating to praise God for those specific work He as done in your life, you will understand Him more. (v. 10) Are you willing to take the time to meditate upon Him as the psalmists did?

SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 - Blessings For The Righteous

Meditation on Psalm 112

Psalm 111 and Psalm 112 are a pair of acrostic psalm. Each has 22 sentences. Each begins with a Hebrew alphabet that is according to the sequence of the 22 alphabets.

This psalm lists the blessings for the righteous persons.

Who are the righteous? They are the ones who fear the LORD and delights greatly in His commandments. (v. 1) To fear the LORD in the Old Testament is equal to the those who believe in the LORD, Jesus Christ and keep His commandments in the New Testament.(1 John 3:23)

The righteous will be blessed with mighty descendants on earth. They will have rich provisions from God. (v. 2-3 & ref. Philippians 4:19) And their righteousness will last forever because Jesus is their righteousness. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

They will have light in the darkness. (v. 4)

They will be firm and not be afraid of evil tidings for they trust in the LORD. They will be able to see their enemies defeated. (v. 6-8)

They will have strength and authority. (symbolizes the word "Horn" in v. 9b)

The psalmist also emphasizes that the righteous people would be full of compassion and lend to others with discretion. (v. 5) They disperse abroad and give to the poor. (v. 9a)

There will be those who are jealous of the righteous. But their wicked desire will not be fulfilled. (v. 10)

Do you believe all that? Blessed is the one who trust God's Word.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 - A Call To Praise

Meditation on Psalm 113

In Hebrew tradition, Psalm 113 and 114 are to be sung before the Passover meal. Together they exhort God's people to praise Him for His care for them in historical past and the continuing present. There are three sections with three verses each.

The first three verses call His servants to praise the LORD. God's servants are those He has redeemed. We should praise him NOW and forevermore! We should praise Him universally. We should praise His name.

The second section tells us why we should praise Him. God is transcendent above all. He is glorious. He is incomparable. Yet he humbles Himself to watch over us and the things around us.

The third section emphasizes that God cares specially for the underclass and the despised ones. He lifts them up to sit with the nobles. He grants barren women with children so they can be joyful. Hallelujah!

This psalm gives us hope and joy. This psalm teaches us that we need to praise God all the time. This psalm reminds us God's character so we can learn from Him.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 - God's Presence

Meditation on Psalm 114

Before the Passover meal, the traditional Jews read both Psalm 113 and 114 to remember God's blessings for the Israelite during Exodus and wilderness experience. Psalm 114 brings out the importance of God's presence.

Verse two says "Judah became His sanctuary, and Israel His dominion." (NKJV) This indicated that God lived among His people and He ruled over them. When these happened, the Red sea divided, the River Jordan turned back, and the mountains and hills shook. (v. 3-6) Therefore verse seven says "Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob." Two times this verse emphasizes the presence of God. Furthermore, God's presence caused pools of water came out from the rock. (v. 8) God performed miracles on His people's behalf.

Without the presence of God, we can do nothing for Him. In fact we would have never been redeemed personally. We praise Him that His manifested presence is with us as we obey the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20

SEPTEMBER 26, 2008 - Keep Yourself Away From Idols

Meditation on Psalm 115

This psalm contrasts the sovereign LORD with the idols and exhorts the people to praise God. It can be sung as an antiphony between the priest and the choir or the congregation. It is sung after the Passover meal by the traditional Jews. Basically it has four points: A contrast between God and idols (v. 1-8), a three-fold appeal to trust the LORD (v. 9-11), an assurance of God's blessings (v. 12-15), and a commitment to praise (v. 16-18).

Right from the beginning this psalm reminds us this, "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory" (v. 1 NKJV) Man likes to give glory to ourselves. Therefore we make idols or worship the picture of a dictator, a politician or a hero other than the God of heaven who does whatever He pleases.

This psalm also tells us that our God is the God of all who fear Him. He is mindful of us and cares for us to give us increase while idols have no function at all.

May we praise God and avoid idolizing man and man's invention.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 - Praise God For Answered Prayers

Meditation on Psalm 116

After the Passover meal, the Israelite also sang this psalm which praise God for His answered prayer in personal life.

The psalm begins with exciting emotion for the love of God, "I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications." (v. 1 NKJV)

He has committed to prayers all his life. (v. 2)

The singer gives testimony of God's deliverance for his body and soul form death simply because He is gracious and merciful to a simple folk. (v. 3-11)

The singer in the right spirit expresses his deep appreciation to the LORD by celebrating His salvation with others and pays His vows in the presence of all God's people. (v. 12-15) He also comes to know that God does not permit the death of His saints lightly.

The psalmist is so convinced and willing to be the servant of God now. To serve the LORD is such a freedom because "You have loosed my bonds." He promised in front of the congregation that he will offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, call on His name, pay His vows and praise Him in worship. (v. 16-19)

When God has done something wonderful for you and answered your urgent prayers, will you do what the psalmist do? Engaging in love- exchange with God in words and action like this psalmist is so good!