Read the Bible in One Year!

Praise the Lord! Scripture June 30—Psalms 146-150: Praise for the Praiseworthy God Observation The psalmist's emotions have ridden a roller-coaster in the psalms you have read thus far: from the pit of depression to the pinnacle of exaltation. But the final segment of psalms leaves one clear impression on the reader: God is worthy to be praised! Praise him from one generation to the next; praise him for his help in the time of trouble; praise him as Creator and Sustainer, Savior and Lord. Application Psalms 146-150 all begin and end with the same Hebrew word, hallelujah , which means "praise the Lord!" It's the psalmist's way of saying, "Shout from the rooftops the praiseworthy character of the Lord and his mighty deeds on behalf of his people!" Psalm 146 alone catalogs a dozen things for which God should be exalted, including his creation, truth, judgement, provision, healing, protection, and rule. But God's praise is not...

His Greatness is Beyond Discovery! Scripture June 29—Psalms 140-145: A People of Praise Observation Your enemies will either drive you from God or cause you to walk closer to God. As the psalmist finds himself surrounded by those who would harm him, he cries out to be rescued (140), avenged (141), sustained (142), acquitted (143), and delivered (144). Truly God is great and glorious, a fact deserving to be acknowledged and broadcast by all his creatures (145). Application How many times did you worship God last week? Perhaps your first reaction to that question was to count how often you attended church: Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening, prayer meeting, etc. But read Psalm 145 and you'll come away with a totally different picture of what it means to worship God. In verses 1-2, David describes worship not as a Sunday once-a-week experience but rather the daily joy of his life. "I will praise you, my God and King, and bless your name each day ...

Gazing in the Heart of the Saints Weekly Devotional June 28— Psalm 60 : Good News and Bad News Reflection Martin Luther summarized the Psalms with these words: "In the Psalms we looked into the heart of all the saints, and we seem to gaze into fair pleasure gardens—into heaven itself, indeed—where blooms in sweet, refreshing, gladdening flowers of holy and happy thoughts about God and all his benefits." Perhaps that's been your experience as well this month as you've walked through the pages of the Bible's hymnbook. Today as we reach the halfway mark in our year-long journey through the Bible, let's stop and rest once again by lingering over Psalm 60, in which David responds to the events filling his life at the time. See what parallels we can draw with our own life as we read. With God's Help... What was the best piece of good news you received in the last year? What was the worst piece of bad news? Have you ever had someone come...

Our All Knowing God! Scripture June 27—Psalms 135-139: The Everywhere, Everything God Observation Sometimes it is easy to praise the Lord simply by recalling the past (135-136); at other times memories of the past produce more pain than praise (137). But even times of tears and trouble can produce shouts of praise to God for his loyal love (138) and has infinite knowledge and presence (139). Application Nothing is quite as comforting—and at the same time quite as troubling—as the truth that God knows everything. He knows your thoughts; he knows your actions; he knows your words. He knows when you get up and when you go to bed. He understands your motives and intentions even when no one else on earth does. But at the same time he knows your secret sins that no one else ever sees: pride, lust, jealousy, desires. And he holds you just as accountable for your secret sins as for those the others know about. Similarly, God's presence can be both a comfort ...

A Pilgrim Family! Scripture June 26—Psalms 128-134: Home Life of the Pilgram Observation Walking to the temple, the pilgrim contemplates the blessings of walking with the God of the temple. Whether with family (128) or foes (129), in the midst of cries (130) or quiet moments (131), in the sanctuary of God (132, 134) or among the people of God (133), it is good to praise the Lord, for that is the pilgrim's privilege. Application Which does your home most closely resemble: (a) the eye of the hurricane, or (b) the hurricane itself? Psalm 28 describes a family scene, with father, mother (the fruitful vine), and children (olive plants) assembled around the table. It's a picture of tranquility, harmony and stability. And it may be a scene you have trouble envisioning at your house! (As one harried housewife described it, "Getting my kids to sit still at the dinner table is like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall!") But don't miss the point o...

Back in the Land! Scripture June 25—Psalms 120-127: Weeping and Reaping Observation Psalms 120-134 are called "songs of degrees" (literally songs of ascents") sung by Jewish travelers on the way up to the Jerusalem temple for the annual days of festival. These hymns of the highway reflect the thoughts of a pilgrim traveling far from home and looking for peace, protection, and provision along the journey. Application Homecoming. It's a remarkable feeling. The feeling of being back where you belong, back where the family is together and the surroundings are familiar. Only those who have been away from home for long periods of time can appreciate the feeling. Psalm 126 describes a homecoming. The people of God, absent from their land of blessing and promise, have come home at last. It is like a dream come true—unspeakable joy punctuated by laughter, singing, and tears of gladness. The pilgrims have returned! But lest the emotions of the mom...

We Will Never Forget Your Words! Scripture June 24—Psalms 119: The ABCs of God Word Observation Psalm 119, the longest psalm and longest chapter in the Bible, spotlights the multifaceted Word of God. Using a dozen synonyms for God's Word, the psalmist magnifies the law of God and the God of the law in virtually all of the psalm's 176 verses. Just as the reading of Psalm 119 seems to go on forever, so your praise and love for God's matchless Word should be your eternal preoccupation. Application If someone were to walk up to you on the street, trust a microphone into your hand, and ask, "What in your opinion is the Word of God?" what would you say? How would you respond? If our "man on the street" had accidentally picked the psalmist who wrote Psalm 119, he would have received more of an answer than he bargained for! The psalmist describes God's Word as law to be obeyed, testimony to be shared, the way to be followed, pr...

The Work of Men's Hands Scripture June 23—Psalms 111-118: The Folly of Idols Observation Think of the collection of psalms you will be reading today as a "praise package"—praise for God's care (111), God's commands (112), God's compassion (113), God's power (114), God's help (115), God's goodness (116), God's kindness (117), and God's enduring love (118). From the cradle to the grave, there is ample reason to praise the Lord. Application How many "gods" are there in the world? How many "gods" are there in your life? The answer to the first question is simple. There is only one God, a fact to which Moses and the prophets frequently refer: "O Israel, listen: Jehovah is our God, Jehovah alone" (Deuteronomy 6:4) . "I am God—I only—and there is no other like me" (Isaiah 46:9) . The second question is more difficult because it asks you to search your life for idols that have ...

King David the Redeemed! Scripture June 22—Psalms 107-110: A Song Amidst Stress Observation God's goodness gives the redeemed cause to sing (107); God's faithfulness provides hop in times of helplessness (108); God's justice shows that the joy of the wicked is short-lived (109); God's majesty puts human history in sharp perspective (110). In short: When the wicked prevail, the righteous can sing by simply recalling the Lord is King! Application How do you react under stressful circumstances? Do you find yourself panicky or peaceful? Helpful or helpless? Productive or paralyzed? Now consider this. King David—a man to whom stress was no stranger—found that in God's strength you can hold up rather than fold up in even the most pressurized situation. That's no idle boast; it is the eloquent testimony of his life. Has your life ever hung in the balance? (David's did in the palace, in the cave and on the field of battle.) Have you eve...

King David Praying While on the Run Weekly Devotional June 21— Psalm 59 : Prayer While Being Pursued Reflection John Calvin once wrote of the Psalms, "What various and resplendent riches are contained in this treasury. I call this book not inappropriately 'an anatomy of all parts of the soul,' for there is not an emotion that is not here represented as in a mirror." No doubt you can agree with the great theologian as you've read through this rich collection of prayers and praise. Today let's mediate carefully on one psalm in particular as we pause in our daily walk through the Bible. In Psalm 59, David records his thoughts while he is pursued by King Saul's soldiers. Perhaps you're not literally running for your life as he was, but you may be experiencing the same feelings he did. Let's learn from his example. Praise Him In the Midst! Psalm 59 is a song of deliverance. Its title states, "Written by David at the time...

God's World! Scripture June 20—Psalms 104-106: Praise God! Observation The evidences of God's greatness are everywhere visible: in the natural world he has created (104), in his daily provision for his nation Israel (105), and in his patient dealings with his wayward and stiff-necked people (106). Like the songwriter has said, "He big enough to rule this mighty universe, yet small enough to live within my heart!" Application In a well-known poem entitled "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," Coleridge depicts the plight of some ancient voyagers whose ship has drifted off course. A seabird, the albatross, accompanies the ship and brings favorable winds—a good omen. But when one of the sailors shoots the bird with a crossbow, the winds die along the albatross. The dead bird is hung around the neck of the guilty sailor as a constant reminder of his foolish error. Israel, too, could have hung a dead albatross around her neck as a reminde...

Shout with Joy Before the Lord! Scripture June 19—Psalms 98-103: A Blameless Life, Heart and Walk Observation In today's section you'll discover songs of affection and affliction: "Sing a new song to the Lord" (98), "Jehovah is King" (99), "Shout with joy before the Lord" (100), "I will sing about your lovingkindness, Lord" (101), "Lord hear my prayer" (102), "I bless the holy name of God" (103). Application Knowing what to do is understanding. (Do you have understanding?) Doing what you know is wisdom. (Are you wise?) Teaching what you do is prudence. (Are you prudent?) David knew from reading the Old Testament law that holiness was to be the hallmark of his administration. Why? Because the character of David's God radiated mercy and justice. But it wasn't enough to know that truth. David had to search for practical ways to implement that truth in his daily decisions as king. That...

Psalmist Resting in God! Scripture June 18—Psalms 90-97: Resting in God's Shadow Observation The psalmist knew a God of incomparable greatness, a God of eternity (90), security (91), righteousness (92), sovereignty (93), and vengeance (94). Surely he is worthy of worship (95) and exaltation (96), for he is far above all other so-called gods (97). Application Transport yourself mentally from the place where you are sitting to distant and sultry desert. The sun is your fiercest foe, and a shady spot your most desired friend. But as far as the eye can see, there are no trees, no caves, no shady places of refuge. Then suddenly you remember a secret place—a haven that the casual eye might miss. And there, protected from the heat, you find shade and shelter. God's love is like that. A haven, a refuge and a shady spot in the noonday afflictions of life. Perhaps that's just the "breath of fresh air" you need today to persevere in your service f...

God's Presence God's Promises! Scripture June 17—Psalms 84-89: God's Persistent Promises Observation Four different authors penned the psalms you will read today, and the subject matter is as diverse as the composers! Korah yearns to a place in the house of the Lord (84) and for God's rule to be established over the nations (85) so that the greatness of God may be displayed in the city of God (87). David seeks for revival and restoration in the midst of opposition (86). Heman cries from the doorstep of death for God to come to his rescue (88). And Ethan bursts into song at the thought of God's faithfulness (89). Application If someone has made a promise to you, and then circumstances change, making it seemingly impossible for that person to keep his word, you are faced with a choice: you can either let your problem cast a shadow on his promise, or allow his promise to shed light on your problems. It all depends on the trustworthiness of you...

Wait for Deliverance! Scripture June 16—Psalms 78-83: Profiting from the Past Observation Rounding out the psalms of Asaph (50, 73-83) are six testimonies to God's greatness. Psalm 78, the second longest psalm in the Bible, is filled with lessons from Israel's history; Psalm 79 draws painful lessons from the destruction of Jerusalem; Psalm 80 provides a moving prayer for the restoration of God's chastened people. In the face of affliction and injustice, the believer in God can still sing for joy (81-83). Application Are you profiting from the mistakes of the past generation or are you destined to repeat them? Psalm 78 contains lessons from history regarding rebellious decisions and their painful consequences for the people of God. You'll find the psalm depressing because only the bad behavior of the nation is mentioned. God never whitewashes the conduct of his children. In spite of Israel's failings and faithlessness, God remained faithfu...

An Asaph Moment Scripture June 15—Psalms 73-77: What's Good about the Old Days? Observation Asaph, composer of the five psalms you will read today, struggles with some of the most difficult questions of life: why do the wicked prosper? (73, 75); why do the righteous suffer? (74); why do prayers seemingly go unanswered? (77). In the midst of fearfulness and uncertainty, Asaph discovers there is an immovable Rock. Application How do you respond when your thoughts turn to memories of the past? Is it a painful experience? Do you find yourself longing for "the good old days"? Does it provide hope for today? Memories of the past play a vital role in Asaph's thinking as he records Psalm 77. Lying on his bed at night and anxiously searching for God's comfort (v. 1-6), he finds himself asking, "God, have you changed? Are you still interested in me and my problems?" But then Asaph remembers God's work down through the history (v. 1-...

A Feature of Faith Weekly Devotional June 14— Psalm 55 : The Link of Faith Reflection Take just a moment to glance back over the psalms you've read in the past week. What lessons have they taught you in your personal walk with God? One that comes through repeatedly in this book of the Bible is that difficult circumstances shouldn't cause us to stumble, but to lean in dependence on our loving Lord. Today, take another look at Psalm 55, in which David reminds us of the trustworthiness of our Burden Bearer.  True Faith! When the forecast calls for storms, ships need a strong anchor; buildings, a sure foundation; trees, a deep root system. In each case, their very survival through the storm depends upon a strong link to something unmovable. David's anchor in stormy circumstances was an unshakable faith in an unchanging God. Rather than focus on the forces swirling around him, David concentrates on his link of faith to God (55:22). And since his ancho...

Elderly King David Scripture June 13—Psalms 67-72: Psalm for the Elderly Observation The six psalms you will read today provide ample reason to "take time to praise." God is big enough to rule the affairs of nations (67) and ride on the clouds of heaven (68), yet small enough to tend to the hurts of his people (69-71). Truly he is worthy of your worship and adoration as King over creation (72). Application Aging is a paradox. For the first twenty years you can't grow up fast enough. During the next twenty you're appalled at how time flies. And for the last twenty or thirty or even forty, time stands still. Though few would agree with the adage that "Life begins at sixty-five," It is certainly true that life continues at sixty-five and seventy, and for some in the family of God, eighty or more. But what is God's purpose for those crowning years? In the face of dwindling physical stamina, where can the "senior saint" t...

David Mediating on God During Night Watches! Scripture June 12—Psalms 60-66: Meditate Through the Night Watches Observation The freedom to be transparent before God, to express to him exactly how you feel, is an important part of prayer. David's prayer life reveals the deepest emotions of his heart. The welfare of his nation (60) and the duties of his office (61) weigh heavily upon him. He yearns for a growing relationship with God (62-64)—a relationship his enemies know nothing about! He stands in awe of God's powerful creation (65) and revels in God's matchless salvation (66), inviting all who read his words to "Come, see the glorious things God has done" (66:5). Application Psalm 63 was penned by David when he was in the wilderness of Judah, a desolate region where water is scarce, vegetation is almost nonexistent, and the heat of the day makes every activity a burden. These barren surroundings prompt David to write, "How I sear...

Tears in a Bottle Scripture June 11—Psalms 55-59: A Bottle Full of Tears Observation Is it possible to praise God, even in the midst of trials (57-59), tears ((56), and the treachery of trusted friends (55)? David would respond with a ringing "Yes!" With a bedrock trust in God, it is possible to praise him even in the face of cruel and treacherous dealings from friends and enemies alike. In each psalm you read today, watch for the way David's plea in the midst of crisis gives way to an expression of praise in the midst of confidence. Application Question: What do Psalm 56 and a penny have in common? Answer: They both bear the message, "In God We Trust." In the space of these thirteen verses, David repeats the phrase "in God"  or its equivalent a total of six times not because the psalmist has a limited vocabulary, but because trust in God is the focus of his hope. Like a brilliant jewel, David holds up his confidence in God ...

Take it to the Cross! Scripture June 10—Psalms 50-54: Don't be Foolish! Observation God is the righteous Judge (50), those who call themselves his people must view wickedness from his perspective. Sin is something to be confessed and forsaken (51), the tongue is often a tool of wickedness (52); the pursuit of evil is folly (53); but God is the loving Helper and Upholder of those who rely on him (54). Application Here are some wise words about fools: "If fifty million people say foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." "A fool and his money are soon parted. Then again, a fool and his money were lucky to get together in the first place!" "No one can make a fool out of a person if he isn't the right kind of material for the job." We smile at such humorous maxims. But here is another wise statement about fools that you dare not take lightly: "Only a fool would say to himself, 'There is no God" (53:1). Onl...

Longing for God's Nearness Scripture June 9—Psalms 42-49: Failure Turned to Victory Observation Today you will read a collection of psalms mostly attributed to the "sons of Korah"—songs that express a longing for the nearness of God and the furthering of his program. Psalms 42 and 43 speak of a deep yearning for the Lord and for his house of worship, while Psalm 44 pleads with God to turn defeat into victory. The lament of the psalmist's heart is answered in the remainder of the section, which speaks of God's majesty (45), might (46-48), and wisdom (49). What is earthly wealth when compared to the awesome grandeur of God? Application Did you know God was alive and well when your were growing up? And your grandparents? And your great-grandparents? If that is true, then why is it so difficult to put into practice the wise words of Henry Ford? "Anyone who stop learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays...