Daily Encouragement

June 6, 2010 - A Genuine Worshiper

Meditation on Psalm 26

David examined his heart when he worships God. We too must examine ourselves every time when we come to the congregational worship. Otherwise we may be categorized with those who are hypocrites. And our worship would be in vain.

Let us see how David prepared himself for worship:

First of all he prayed for God's vindication and examination. If there was someone who might accuse him for wrong doing, he wanted God to straighten it out for him. He knew he walked with integrity before God. He was depending on God's lovingkindness. He did not participate with those who were evil before God. (v. 1-5)

Before he gave thanks to God, he washed his hands to show his innocence. He knew he was coming before the holy God in His sanctuary where His glory dwelt. We thank God in this New Testament time Jesus has already sanctified us through His body once for all. And our hearts have been sprinkled form an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (v. 6-8 and Hebrews 10:10,22) So we as Christians can sense His glorious presence in the church among His congregation.

As far as the congregational business, like David, we want to maintain our righteous dealing at all cost. (v. 9-10)

Then we can truly bless the Lord without reservation. But of course, we are still relying on His mercy. (v. 11-12)

Jack Hayford, the Pastor who wrote the famous and well loved song, "Majesty" said that one time as he prayed in his church, he sensed God's glory like a silvery mist filling the sanctuary and he checked that there was no smog nor dust in the room or sky.

The next day, the attendance of his church doubled.

I pray that our church and your church will be as such as we seek to worship Him like David did. "LORD, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place your glory dwells." (v. 8 NKJV)

June 7, 2010 - When Friends Become Enemies

Meditation on Psalm 35

In our walks of life, we may run into a terrible situation as David had experienced: Our intimate friends turn against us for no legitimate reason. It is very difficult to face a time like this. Let us see how David dealt with it.

This man of God showed us he told God all about it. Since he was gifted in music, he expressed his feeling of frustration openly to God.

This emotion of being betrayed is hard to be understood by others sometimes. But we can learn to air it out with God.

David pleaded for God 's defense for him and destruction against his enemies who tried to trap him. (v. 1-8) He had confidence that God would see his poor and needy condition and would deliver him so he could praise the LORD. (v. 9-10)

David pointed out that he did love those enemies and declared how he prayed and fasted for them with genuine feelings when they were sick. Yet to no avail, his prayers were not answered. But when David was in trouble, these people gathered together to attack him. (v. 11-16)

Once again, David promised to God that he would praise God for his deliverance among the congregation. (v. 17-18)

David could not stand the laughter, verbal attack, the deceit, and the boasting of these people whom he knew so well yet had hated him for no cause. He asked God to vindicate him but shamed his attackers and confused their plot. (v. 19-26)

The third time in this psalm, he worship and prayed, "Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. And let them say continually, 'let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.' And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long." (v. 27-28 NKJV)

All Christians who offer his or her gifts, talents and resources to the ministries of God are servants of God. We should pray as the servants of God like David and defend for all the servants of God in the days when the servants of God are blamed, criticized, abused and attacked without right cause by those who deny Jesus and make fun of the Word of God.

June 8, 2010 - When One Is In CCU

Meditation on Psalm 41

When a believer is landed in Critical Care Unit of a hospital, he may encounter these feelings in his soul:

First of all, he praises God that he did not die because God has kept him alive. He expresses his faith in God that God will give him strength to recover.

Then he confesses his sins and asks for God's thorough healing.

But he may not want anyone to visit him because those who oppose him would come and want to find out what's happening to him so they can spread out more rumors about him.

Even his own dear relatives and intimate friends may criticize him and wonder if there is something wrong with him since he is so sick.

Based on what God has done for him this time, he knows that God is with him.

Therefore he knows that God will defend for his integrity as a believer and watches over him always.

Finally He praises God who cares for His people all the time.

Those were the similar feelings that David had when he was critically ill at the time when he wrote this psalm.

God is willing to heal His people today!

So let those who are sick today pray like David, "But you, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up" (v. 10 NKJV)

June 9, 2010 - The Greatest Wedding Ever

Meditation on Psalm 45

This psalm is a big contrast from those psalms of lament. It is about a royal wedding of the King of Israel. More than that, students who love the Scriptures have concluded that this wedding description is a symbolic prophecy of the coming wedding of the Messiah King, Jesus with the church. In Ephesians 5:23-33, the church is depicted as the wife of Christ. In ancient Hebrew culture, this can be referred to a bride to be in engagement. In God's schedule, this wedding is being planned for the time of Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2, 9.

This psalm is full of joy, victory, glory and praises. The description of the Son as the eternal King in verse 6 is confirmed by Hebrews 1:8 in the New Testament. It says, “But to the Son, He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom…’ ” (NKJV)

This wedding is the greatest because it is the coming together of the righteous yet merciful God with the church whom He has redeemed. The beauty and majesty of this wedding has been carefully penned by the psalmist.

Very significantly, the bride is called upon to forget her past. The Disciples of Christ must commit totally to Christ, the Groom. For verse 10 says, "Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your own people also, and your father’s house".

May we anticipate the day when we shall meet the Lord, the bridegroom face to face. Then in our lives, we shall dedicate ourselves to Him from this day forward.

June 10, 2010 - Repentance

Meditation on Psalm 51

This is the most important psalm for our days, I believe. May I urge you to read it carefully and reflect upon it.

David was special not just because of his great victory over Goliath or his many accomplishments. The reason he maintained himself to be a man of God was because of his willingness to admit his own sins. For a great king he was well respected by his countrymen as well as all his enemies and friends of other nations. He could have covered up his adultery with Bathsheba like others in his era. He could do anything he wanted and get anything he wanted. He needed not answer to anybody.

But when he was confronted by Nathan the prophet, he realized his sin against God. And he wrote this psalm as a confession before God and even gave the psalm to the chief musician for putting it into music implying for teaching others to sing. He recognized that he could not hide his sin before God and his nation. Notice that he even confessed his quilt of bloodshed- his indirect killing of the husband of Bathsheba. (v. 14)

He pleaded for God's thorough cleansing and asked this, "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (v. 11 NASB)

God did answer his prayer and restored unto him the joy of salvation. And he then could teach other sinners to turn back to God's way.

David brought out the most important fact when we came before God: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (v. 17)

In these day and culture, we are hardly encouraged to admit our wrong. Therefore we design many new terms to cover up our mistakes and sins. No wonder we would not grow as Christians. But asking for God's forgiveness for a specific sin will lead to our victory in Christian life and a giant step of growth. Our Jerusalem will be built up too!

June 11, 2010 - 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.

June 12, 2010 - 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.