Daily Encouragement

September 28, 2008 - God Loves All People

Meditation on Psalm 117

Though short, this psalm is very significant. It is a missionary reminder. We are to invite the Gentiles of all nations to praise the LORD like the psalmist did. Since God's love is steadfast and great toward all people and His principles of salvation never changes, we definitely want to praise Him.

This psalm is also prophetic. More and more gentiles are praising Him. When the Messiah returns to reign, all shall praise Him. And that time is coming very soon. Praise the LORD!

September 29, 2008 - The Rejected Stone

Meditation on Psalm 118

Psalm 118 has tremendous implication for Israel who is surrounded by enemies today. (Read v. 10-14) It has even greater implication for all Christians who are wrestling against the devil and its demonic force around the world today. But we thank God for the rejected stone mentioned in verse 22. Apostle Peter said that this stone is Jesus who had become the chief corner stone that brought salvation to all men. (Acts 4:10-12) It is through this corner stone that we can stand to overcome the devil. This corner stone is the foundation of the church which prevails over the gate of hell. (Matthew 16:18) Surely we can depend on the rejected stone to grant us everlasting mercy which is the repeated theme of this psalm.

Another prophecy that has been fulfilled in this psalm is in verse 25-26, "Save now, I pray, O LORD; .....Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD." (NKJV) When Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, the people cried out this verse. (Matthew 21:9) Indeed today Jesus' name is far above every name. He is able to save because He is the High Priest that grant mercy to all who seek Him. (Hebrews 4:16)

"Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!" (v. 29a)

September 30, 2008 - Blessings From God's Word

Meditation on Psalm 119:1-16

Psalm 119 is a unique poem. It is divided into 22 sections with eight verses each. Each verse of each section begins with a word of the same Hebrew alphabet. The first word of all eight verses of the 22 sections of this psalm follows the sequence of the 22 Hebrew alphabets.

Since this psalm is the longest in the Bible, let us study only two sections of sixteen verses total each day in order for us to meditate upon them carefully.

The first group of eight verses begins with the first alphabet of Hebrews, א (Aleph).

When we walk in the law of the LORD and seek Him with the whole heart, we are blessed, the psalmist tells us. What does it mean to walk in His ways? We would do no iniquity and keep His precept and statutes diligently. The psalmist knows that this is what has commanded us to do so he asks God to direct him so he would not be ashamed but praise God for learning it. He realizes that it is not easy, thus he beg God not to forsake him. We must pray and do what the psalmist does.

The second section of eight verses begins with second alphabet, ב (Bet/Vet).

These verses tell us the blessings of God's word to help us get cleansing from sins. When we hid God's Word in our hearts, we will not sin against God. In return, the psalmist blesses God and praises Him! He wants to talk about God's judgments. He rejoices in God's testimonies as much as he rejoices in riches. He therefore determines to meditate upon God's Word and memorize them.

May we follow such course.

October 1, 2008 - Open My Eyes

Meditation on Psalm 119:17-32

The third Hebrew alphabet, ג (Gimel) is the beginning alphabet of every sentence of the third section. (v. 17-24)

The psalmist begins this section with a prayer. In order to live and keep God's word, he needs God to open his eyes that he may see the wondrous things from God's law. He acknowledges that there are many things in this life that relate to God's law which he still does not understand.

When he tries to keep God's testimony, others may reproach and speak against him. But God will rebuke them while he himself keeps delighting in God's counseling through His Word.

We should pray for our spiritual eyes to be opened today. Then we would love to follow God's word.

The fourth section begins with the fourth alphabet, ד (Dalet).

When the psalmist's eyes are opened, he begins to see his need for revival. He sees the poverty of his own spiritually life as if his soul clings to the dust. (v. 1) He continues to seek God's statues. He wants God to give him understanding as he meditates upon God's precept and work in this world.

He feels heaviness because he realizes his own sin of lying. He needs God's strength desperately so he can choose and cling to God's truth with determination. He knows that God will expand his knowledge of Him.

Let us come before God with our brokenness to seek greater spiritual understanding from God and not from the knowledge of the world.

October 2, 2008 - Revive Me

Meditation on Psalm 119:33-56

The fifth section begins with ה (He).

Twice the psalmist asks God to restore his spiritual life by praying "Revive me". When God gives him the spiritual understanding in God's word then he realizes how much he himself needs revival. So he will turn from looking at worthless things, but that he will long for God's precepts and righteousness.

The sixth section begins with ו (Waw/Vav).

When revival comes to a person, he will experience salvation according to God's Word. (v. 41)

He will also have hope in God's ordinances. He will then begin to keep God's law permanently.

He will walk at liberty. He will have boldness to speak of God's testimonies before persons with authority. He will pray and continue to meditate.

We want to pray for this kind of revival in our lives individually.

The seventh section begins with ז (Zayin).

Since we have hope and life now, we will not be confused by the proud as well as having comfort in the LORD. I will be angry at those who forsake God's law. Yet I can sing songs about God's statutes at the temple. God's name is important to me day and night.

May the LORD grant you and me such a revival.

October 3, 2008 - Mercy For The Afflicted

Meditation on Psalm 119:57-88

In the eighth section, all sentences begin with the Hebrew alphabet, ח (Heth).

God is full of mercy. His word is full of mercy. When the psalmist claims God as his portion, he would sense that the earth is full of God's mercy. (v. 64) The psalmist have been bound by the cords of the wicked. He needs God's word to set him free. When he makes haste to keep God's commandment, he finds God's righteous judgments so he even rise at midnight to give thanks to God.

In the ninth section, all sentences begin with the Hebrew alphabet, ט (Teth).

In the midst of his affliction, the psalmist still acknowledges that God has dealt well with him. He knows that he went astray before his affliction. (v. 67) With his eyes opened to the ways of God now, he can see that "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." (v. 71 NKJV)

I shall never forget that one time when I visited a patient in the hospital, he told me he had been suffering for quite awhile there and that he didn't know why God allowed all this pain for him. On that occasion, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to read him the verse above. Then I pray for him and left. A month later at a banquet I met him again. He told me that he was thankful for my visit at the hospital and the verse I shared with him!

For the tenth strophe, all sentences begin with י (Yodh).

The psalmist pleads for more understanding of God's commandment. He hopes that other believers will be glad and turn to him for answer. Once again he realizes that in faithfulness God afflicted him so he would come back to Him. (v. 75) But he asks God to grant him merciful kindness for his comfort and living.

As to the proud and those who treated him wrongfully with falsehood, he asked God to put them to shame while he himself has no shame at all now.

In the chorus of the eleventh strophe, all sentences begin with ך (Kaph).

Some of the affliction that came upon the psalmist was persecution. He was innocent. Yet he has become like a wine skin in smoke. (v. 83) He is cracked and dry. The proud have dug pits for him. (v. 85) They almost made an end of him.

At this hour he is seeking God's restoration even for his physical life. (v. 88) But throughout all these happening, he never fails to search for God's word nor forget God's statutes and precepts.

In the toughest circumstances, we hang on to God's word. For our hope is in it. (v. 81)

October 4, 2008 - The Supremacy Of God's Word

Meditation on Psalm 119: 89-104

The twelfth Hebrew alphabet is ל (Leamed/Leamedh).

All of the psalms are the inspired word of God. These twelfth and thirteen strophes of Psalm 119 are specially powerful to point out that the word of God is incomparable.

Look at verse 89, "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (NKJV) Jesus says "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one joy or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled." (Matthew 5:17-18) The law and the prophet refer to the words of the Old Testament.

The word of God keeps us alive. (v. 92) The word of God is limitless and endless. (v. 96) It is eternal.

The thirteenth Hebrew alphabet is מ (Mem).

Continuing, the psalmist tells us that through the commandments, God makes him wiser than his enemies. (v. 98)

He has more understanding than all his teachers and the ancients, he says. (v. 99-100)

As a result, God's word is sweeter than honey to him and he hates every false way. (v. 103-104)

Wow, these are fantastic promises and applications of the word of God. May we all take them in hearts.