BETTER TO FEAR AND OBEY GOD THAN MAN

PROCLAMATION

“And Saul said unto Samuel, ‘I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of The Lord, and thy words; because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.’ ”  1 Samuel 15:24 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  In this chapter Samuel tells Saul that The Lord said to attack and totally destroy the Amalekites for what they did to Israel. (1 Samuel 15:1-3)  Saul attacked the Amalekites and defeated them but did not totally destroy them as he was told to do. (1 Samuel 15:4-9)  Thus The Lord God told Samuel that He regretted that He had made Saul king because he would not carry out His instructions. (1 Samuel 15:10-11)  When Samuel caught up with Saul he told him what The Lord had said to him and he asked Saul why he disobeyed The Lord.  Saul said that he brought back the king of the Amalekites as a prisoner, and he said that the soldiers took the best of the sheep and cattle to use them as a sacrifice unto The Lord.  Samuel said it is better to obey than to sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:13-22)  Samuel told Saul that because he had rejected The Word of God, now God has rejected him as king.  Then Saul admitted that he had sinned but said that he was afraid of the men so he gave in to them. (1 Samuel 15:23-25)  Samuel said that he would not go back with Saul.  As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed his robe and it tore.  Samuel said that The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel away from him and given it to one of his neighbors. (1 Samuel 15:26-29)  Saul begged Samuel to come back with him and Samuel relented and went with him.  When they got back to Gilgal Samuel sent for Agag the king of the Amalekites and cut him into pieces before The Lord.  Then Samuel left for Ramah and Saul returned to Gibeah. Samuel did not see Saul again. (1 Samuel 15:30-34)

 

APPLICATION

No man can serve two masters.  We cannot serve The Lord God and serve man at the same time. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  We must choose which one we will serve. (Joshua 24:15)  It is never a good idea to choose man over God.  It is much better to put our trust in The Lord than it is to trust in man. (Psalm 118:8)  No human can save your soul. (Psalm 146:3)  Christ is the only way we can make it out of this world alive and have life after death. (John 14:6)

SAMUEL'S FAREWELL SPEECH

PROCLAMATION

“Only fear The Lord, and serve Him in truth with all you heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you.  But if ye shall do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”  1 Samuel 12:24-25 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  After the people had officially made Saul their king, (1 Samuel 11:14-15) Samuel told them that they now had what they asked for. (1 Samuel 12:1-2)  He said that he had been their leader but now he was old and gray.  He asked them if he had done any of them any type of wrongdoing and they replied that he had not. (1 Samuel 12:2-5)  Then Samuel reminded them that The Lord had given them Moses and Aaron, and a series of other leaders to deliver them from their enemies.  But they wanted a king and now they have a king. (1 Samuel 12:6-13)  Samuel warned them that if they and their king did not serve The Lord and obey Him, then He would raise His hand against them as He did to their ancestors. (1 Samuel 12:14-15)  Then Samuel told them that he would call on The Lord for thunder and rain, in the middle of the dry harvest season, as a sign to them that they had done in the sight of the Lord evil by requesting a human king in place of God.  Then Samuel prayed and that day The Lord sent thunder and rain, and the people stood in awe. (1 Samuel 12:16-18)  Then the people asked Samuel to pray for their forgiveness.  Samuel told them that as long as they and their king served The Lord they would be okay, but if they turned from Him they would be punished. (1 Samuel 12:19-25)

 

APPLICATION

Sometimes we ask for things which are not in our best interest.  Why would we want to imitate and copy the sinful people of the world when we know that in the end they will end up in hell? (Revelation 20:15)  As believers we have The Holy Spirit of God within us (Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26-27) and therefore we are not of this world. (John 8:33)  We know that the wages of sin is death (Roman 6:23) and those whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire for eternal damnation. (Revelation 20:15 and 21:27)  Having been warned of the consequences, the lost have no one to blame for their plight but themselves.  Choose wisely.

WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE

PROCLAMATION

“When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of The Lord … Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, ‘You are lying!  The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’  But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.’  So Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers and all the people disobeyed The Lord’s command to stay in the land of Judah.”  Jeremiah 43:1-4) (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After the remnant of the Israelites had returned to Judah, they sought out Jeremiah and asked him to pray to God for them saying, “May The Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything …” (Jeremiah 42:5-6)  When Jeremiah told them what The Lord God had said they called him a liar.  They said that he was trying to get them killed or captured, so they disobeyed the word of God and went to Egypt. (Jeremiah 43:1-7)

APPLICATION

Some of the bad times that we go through in this life are part of our punishment as a direct result of our willful disobedience to The Word of God.  We have heard God’s Word preached to us, but the preacher was not saying what we wanted to hear so we ignored it.  The Bible says that the time will come when men will not want to hear sound doctrine but will prefer to hear teachers who say what they like. (2 Timothy 4:3)  If what the preacher is saying is consistent with that which is in The Bible, it would be in our best interest to listen to him.  Read The Bible for yourself and verify that what has been said is the truth.  If it is true, then do it.  Christ said, “If you love me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 and 14:23) 

THE COVENANT IS BROKEN

PROCLAMATION

“They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to My words.  They have followed other gods to serve them.  …  Therefore this is what The Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape.  Although they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.’ ”  Jeremiah 11:10-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah and proclaimed to the people of Judah.  The Lord God told him to listen to the words of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 11:1-3)  Jeremiah did as The Lord told him, and he told the people what thus said The Lord. (Jeremiah 11:6-8)  Because the people did not listen, The Lord said that He would bring disaster on them.  The people did not like the message that Jeremiah gave them, and they plotted to kill the messenger.  However, The Lord revealed their plot to him and spared him (Jeremiah 11:18-19) and then He destroyed all of the people in the city that had plotted against him. (Jeremiah 11:21-23)

APPLICATION

When we were first saved, we promised to obey The Word of God, but not long after that we broke our covenant with The Lord God.  Some of us messed up, and confessed, and tried to walk the walk while frequently falling down and getting back up.  Some of us went into a backsliding mode for a period of time before we tried to turn from our sinful ways.  While some just gave up and completely turned away from God.  The day will come when we will pay for our mistakes.  Because The Lord God is just and righteous, our punishment will be appropriate for our sins.  Believers will stand before the mercy seat, and all that we thought, said, and did will be judged.  That which did not give God glory will be burned like wood, stubble, and hay. (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)  Others will stand before the great white throne and they will be judged. (Revelation 20:11-15)  Regardless of what it is that we have done, there is still hope for us if we repent.  If we confess our sins, The Lord God is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)  Don’t wait until it is too late.

GOD PUNISHES HIS PEOPLE FOR DISOBEDIENCE

Proclamation:

“Israel has sinned; they have violated My covenant, which I commanded them to keep … That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies … I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever is among you …”  Joshua 7:11-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The Lord God told the Israelites not to keep any of the spoils from Jericho after they took the city.  The precious metals were to go into the treasury of The Lord. (Joshua 6:18-19)  But Achan, from the tribe of Judah, took some of them for himself and this angered The Lord God. (Joshua 7:1)  So when they went to war against the army of Ai, God was not with them and they were routed. (Joshua 7:4)  Afterwards, Joshua asked God why they lost and what were they to do? (Joshua 7:6-9)  The Lord God told him that Israel had sinned and violated His covenant.  Then Joshua examined the people, tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, and man by man, until Achan was found and admitted what he had done. (Joshua 7:16-21)  They gathered all that he had taken, and his family, and his animals, and all that he owned and took them to the Valley of Achor.  There they stoned him, and them, and then burned them all. (Joshua 7:22-26)

Application:

Don’t play with The Lord God.  Don’t say that you are a believer, and then go about and act like a non-believer.  When we sin, we need to confess and ask to be forgiven.  We should not try to hide it as if God can’t see it.  We should search ourselves, our hearts, and our homes to make sure that we are not harboring something which The Lord God abhors, or holding back something which should be given to Him.  Unrepentant sin can not only bring God’s wrath down upon the individual sinner, but also upon his children, his grand-children, and on their children. (Numbers 14:18)   One fine day, all that we thought, said, and did will be judged, it will all pass through the fire of judgment.  All of it that gives God glory will pass through the fire, and we will be rewarded for it.  However, everything else will be burned up and we will suffer a loss, but we ourselves will be saved. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)  Let us do all that we can to the glory of God.  When we pray, let us ask to be forgiven for sins of omission as well as sins of commission.

GREAT OBSTACLES FOR MAN ARE NO PROBLEM FOR GOD

Proclamation:

“When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when all the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.”  Joshua 6:20 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After they crossed the Jordan River, the Israelites proceeded to Jericho.  The walls of Jericho were a formidable obstacle. (Joshua 6:1)  However, Joshua listened to The Lord God, (Joshua 6:2-5) and he obeyed Him and the walls collapsed. (Joshua 6:6-20)   The Israelites entered the city and destroyed every living thing within the city (Joshua 6:21) except for Rahab and her family who were in her house. (Joshua 6:22-23)  Rahab’s house, which was built into part of the wall around the city, (Jericho 2:15) was left standing when the walls collapsed. (Joshua 6:22-23)

Application:

In our lives today, everything is not always smooth sailing.  At times we run into obstacles, or road blocks, or mountains too steep for us to climb.  Whatever the problem is that hinders us, it is not a problem for The Lord God.  He is omnipotent, and with Him all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26 and Mark 10:27)   We just need to pray, listen to The Lord, and then obey Him and do what He says for us to do.  If we believe in Him, and have faith in Him, He will take care of our obstacles.  Trust in The Lord, and He will give us something to shout about.

OBEY THE LORD GOD AND HE WILL EXALT YOU

Proclamation:

“And The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so that they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.’”  Joshua 3:7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After The Lord God had encouraged him, (Joshua 1:7-8) Joshua told the Israelites to get ready because in three days they would cross the Jordan River and enter the promise land. (Joshua 1:11)  The people answered him by saying that would do whatever he says for them to do, and they would go wherever he says for them to go.  They said they would obey him just as they had obeyed Moses. (Joshua 1:16-18)  Then Joshua sent two spies to go scout out the city of Jericho and they went to the house of Rehab. (Joshua 2:1-24)  Then Joshua told the priests to take up the Arc of the Covenant and pass ahead of the people and step into the Jordan River. (Joshua 3:6-8)  When they stepped into the river, the waters stopped flowing. (Joshua 3:13)  Just as Moses had led the Israelites across when The Lord God parted the Red Sea, so Joshua led them across the flooded Jordan River when The Lord stopped the flow of the river and it piled up. (Joshua 3:15-17)

Application:

It is not necessary for one to brag, or to boast, or to puff one’s self up in order to impress people.  When we humble ourselves and follow The Lord God, and do as He says for us to do, then He will exalt us. (Psalm 37:34, Matthew 23:12 and Luke 14:11)  He can work a miracle in our lives and cause the people around us to respect us.  We may not be well known throughout the nation but we will be well respected by those within our sphere of influence.  People who push their way to the front in order to be first, will end up being last in the minds and hearts of the people that they pushed aside and those who saw their behavior.  The Bible says that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. (Matthew 19:30, Mark 9:35, and Luke 13:30)  When we lift Him up, and do His will, He will lift us up. (Psalm 37:34)  

THE LORD GOD SAID AS I WAS WITH MOSES SO WILL I BE WITH YOU

Proclamation:

“After the death of Moses the servant of The Lord, The Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ‘Moses My servant is dead.  Now then … As I was with Moses, so will I be with you.  I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Joshua 1:1-5 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The Lord God allowed Moses to climb to the top of Mount Nebo and to see the promise land, but He did not allow him to cross over into it. (Deuteronomy 34:1-4)  Moses died in Moab and The Lord God buried him somewhere in the valley. (Deuteronomy 34:5-7)  Joshua was filled with The Spirit because Moses had laid hands on him. (Deuteronomy 34:9)  After the Israelites had grieved for Moses for thirty days, (Deuteronomy 34:8) The Lord God spoke to Joshua and told him that he would lead the people into the promise land. (Joshua 1:1-6)  The Lord God also told Joshua to be strong and courageous, and to obey the law which Moses had given to them. (Joshua 1:7-9)  There were no written Scripture available to Moses, The Lord God spoke to him directly.  However, Moses had faithfully written all that The Lord God had spoken to him so the first five Books of the Bible were written and available to Joshua.

Application:

Moses was clearly a man of God, and so was Joshua.  Both of them were leaders of God’s people.  The Lord God was with them to counsel and advise them, to guide and direct them, and to protect and defend them.  The same is true today for the men of God who are leading God’s people.  However, this also applies to all of the leaders of God’s people who are believers.  That also includes the patriarchs and matriarchs who are believers and leaders of our families today.  When they die, it passes on to us to obey The Word of God and to lead our families.  As leaders of God’s people, even if we only lead or influence a few of them, we must also obey The Lord.  If we will obey His Holy Word, then He will be with us as He was with Moses and Joshua.  He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5) 

WHOSE WORD DO YOU LISTEN TO AND OBEY

Proclamation:

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey; whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”  Romans 6:16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome.  His point was that believers should be dead to sin and alive in Christ. (Romans 6:11)  He said that every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself to.  He ends this chapter by saying that the result of sin is death, temporal, spiritual, and eternal, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:23)

Application:

If we frequently give in to sin, then we are slaves of the devil.  However, if we frequently obey The Word of God, then we belong to Him.  If we love Him then we will keep His commandments. (John 14:15)  Believers are not perfect, they are ashamed of the times when they used to sin and when they slip and fall back into it. (Romans 6:21)  We should not be using our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness and sin, but we should be instruments of righteousness doing that which is pleasing to The Lord and giving  Him glory.(Romans 6:13 and 12:1)

WE NEED TO HAVE OUR HEART CIRCUMCISED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD

Proclamation:

“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by The Spirit, not by the written code.  Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”  Romans 2:28-29 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul wrote these words under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  He begins by stating that is unacceptable and inexcusable for those who do the things which they condemn others for doing.  Those who pass judgment on others for doing something and yet do the same thing will not escape the judgment of God. (Romans 2:1-3)  The Lord God will repay each person according to what they have done. (Romans 2:6-10)  Then Paul speaks out against those who teach or preach against a sin then they commit it themselves. (Romans 2:21-24)  After this he goes on to describe who is a Jew.  He clearly states that being a Jew is not a birth right but a behavior.  One can be a Jew outwardly or physically, but if they do not obey the law of God then they are not a Jew inwardly or in their heart.  And, conversely, one who is not a Jew by birth but who keeps the law of God, he then is a Jew by his behavior and he will receive God’s praise.

Application:

Some people will say “Do as I say do, not as I do” but that is not Christ-like.  Our actions speak much louder about us than our words.  It is our behavior which defines us and not our words.  When Judgment Day comes, we will all be judged on our actions, (Revelation 20:12) our words, (Matthew 12:36) and our thoughts (Hebrews 4:12) by The Lord God who sees and knows our hearts. (Proverbs 21:2)  Let us pray that The Holy Spirit of God will make us real Christians, not just outwardly appearing to be one but inwardly, in our heart and spirit.  We want to truly be one of God’s people.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO REVERE AND OBEY THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“Blessed are all who fear The Lord, who walk in obedience to Him.  You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessing and prosperity will be yours.”  Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author of this psalm of ascent is probably the same as the author of the previous psalm, Psalm 127, given the similar focus on the family.  Blessed is the family in which all members fear The Lord God and follow His ways.  The husband will prosper and provide, the wife will be fruitful when she is supported, and the children will honor and follow the lead of their parents. (Psalm 128:1-4)  This is similar to the blessing on the family offered in Psalm 112:1-3.  The psalmist ends this psalm by offering a prayer for the blessings of prosperity and a long life, long enough for one to see their grand-children and to enjoy the delight they give.

Application:

Repeatedly we are told that blessed is the man who walks uprightly and follows The Lord God. (Psalm 1:1, Psalm 15:2, Psalm 101:6, Psalm 128:1, Proverbs 10:9, Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 14:2, Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 28:6, and Isaiah 33:15)  It has been said, “Before the fall, paradise was man’s home.  After the fall, the home is man’s paradise.” (Author unknown)  However, the home can be either be a paradise or the exact opposite if The Lord God is not in it. (Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24)  If the reverential fear of The Lord God is not in the home and His Holy Word is not followed there, that home will not be happy or peaceful.  The family is blessed when all members of the family revere and obey The Word of God.  They are blessed with provisions, prosperity, productive partners, and flourishing progeny in addition to a long life.

MAY MY LIPS AND MY MOUTH PRAISE THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“May my lips overflow with praise, for You teach me Your decrees.  May my tongue sing of Your word, for all Your commands are righteous.  May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.”  Psalm 119:171-173 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is the twenty-second and last part, Taw, of this twenty-two part psalm.  David ends this conversation with The Lord God with a series of personal requests.  He asks that God would hear his cry, give him understanding, hear his supplications, and deliver him according to His promises. (Psalm 119:169-170)  Then he asks that The Lord would help him praise God, that his lips would overflow with praise and that his mouth would sing songs of praise. (Psalm 119:171-172)  Then, recognizing that he would need help, he asks that The Lord God would be ready to help him to follow His word. (Psalm 119:173)  He asks that God would let him live so that he could give Him praise. (Psalm 119:175)     

Application:

David essentially ends a very long prayer by asking The Lord to help him praise God.  As believers we know that we need God’s help in all that we do.  However, if we are honest with ourselves, we also know that we do not pray, praise God, or thank Him enough or as often as we should.  He has done so much for each of us, most of which we take for granted and we appear to be ungrateful.  We should not need to be told to praise and thank The Lord.  In Psalm 107 the words “O that men would praise The Lord for His goodness and His wonderful works to the children of men” are repeated three times. (Psalm 107:15, 21, and 31)  Let us pray that He will help us to praise Him and to thank Him more often that we are presently doing.  Every breath, every heartbeat, every movement, and the fact that we are aware of who we are, where we are, and that we can respond to those around us, are all blessings that we sometimes take for granted.  Let us remember to praise Him and thank Him for all that He has done.

PUT YOUR HOPE AND TRUST IN THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word.  Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God.”  Psalm 119:114-115 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This is the fifteenth part, Samekh, of this twenty-two part psalm.  While David is continuing his conversation with The Lord God, he interjects a comment to the worldly evildoers telling them to leave him alone. (Psalm 119:115)  He did not want anything to hinder him from keeping The Word of God.  Then he asked God to sustain him and help him keep His commands. (Psalm 119:116-117)

Application:

We cannot serve to masters. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  We cannot walk God’s way and walk worldly at the same time. (John 8:12 and Ephesians 2:2)  People who try to do that are referred to as double-minded.  Double-minded people are unstable in their thoughts and their ways. (James 1:8)  They are divided in their thoughts and they are inconsistent in their beliefs.  The Lord God made it very clear that He did not like “wishy-washy” people and referred to them as “lukewarm”, they were not hot or cold. (Revelation 3:15-16)  Believers are not perfect, we occasionally fall into sin.  However, when we give in to our sinful nature, we do not change our belief in God and we know that sinning is wrong.  We pray and ask Him to forgive us, and to help us walk the right straight and narrow path.  Because of our faith and trust in The Lord, we know that if we humble ourselves and ask Him, He will forgive us and help us. (2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 John 1:9)

MAY THOSE WHO FEAR YOU REJOICE WHEN THEY SEE ME

Proclamation:

“May those who fear You rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in Your word.”  Psalm 119:74 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  This is the tenth part, Yodh, of this twenty-two part psalm.  After acknowledging his creator, (Psalm 119:73) David asks The Lord God to let the believers be truly happy to see him when they meet.  He wants to be, and to be seen as, one who believes in and trusts in The Lord.  He knows that God’s punishment of him was just.  He asks for The Lord’s tender mercies and His loving kindness in the forgiveness of his sins. (Psalm 119:76-77)  There were some good men who turned away from him because of his sinful affair with Bathsheba and he wants them to return to him again that he may enjoy the favor of their company. (Psalm 119:79)

Application:

There is value in the good will of the saints and it is good to maintain fellowship with them. (Psalm 133:1)  But we must first get right with God before we can get right with each other.  If we have a problem with one of our brothers, we ought to resolve it and restore the fellowship with them. (Matthew 5:23-24)  The saints should be able to come together in Christian love and truly enjoy one another’s company.  Before that can happen, we must be in Him and He must be in us. (John 6:56 and 15:5)  Believers should be glad when they see us coming.

I WENT ASTRAY I WAS AFFLICTED AND NOW I OBEY

Proclamation:

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word.  You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees.”  Psalm 119:67-68 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This is the ninth part, Teth, of this twenty-two part psalm.  David is continuing his conversation with The Lord God and is still asking Him to teach him.   He admits that he strayed from God’s word through weakness of the flesh, by yielding to temptation, and by careless, needless neglect.  He also admits that because of this he has suffered afflictions, probably referring to mental and physical, in addition to familial and financial.  However, he affirms that God is good, and that He made his afflictions work out to his good. (Psalm 119:71)

Application:

David was a man after God’s own heart.  He messed up, he confessed, and he got back to that which was right.  He suffered for his mistakes but he admits that his punishments made him a better man. (Psalm 119:71)  God knows that we are sinful by nature. (Romans 3:23)  We all like sheep have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)  We all occasionally exercise bad judgment, give into temptation, and fall into sin.  The difference is that the believer does not stay there.  We are convicted by our beliefs, we pray, we confess, and we ask for help and forgiveness.  We know that if we are sincere when we ask, that He will forgive us and cleanse us from our unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)  We know that all things, including our punishment, will work for our good. (Romans 8:28)  Blessed is the man whom The Lord God chastises and teaches. (Psalm 94:12)

AT MIDNIGHT I WILL RISE UP AND GIVE YOU THANKS

Proclamation:

“At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous laws.  I am a friend to all who fear You, to all who follow Your precepts.”  Psalm 119:62-63 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This is the eighth part, Heth, of this twenty-two part psalm.  Here David is continuing his conversation with The Lord God and telling Him that he has committed to obeying His words. (Psalm 119:57-60)  Here he states that not only will he offer a prayer of thanksgiving before going to bed but he will wake up at midnight and pray again.  When men of God are undergoing difficulties, they rise us and pray at midnight as Paul and Silas did. (Acts 16:25)

Application:

It is up to each one of us to dedicate our lives to The Lord God.  We each must decide for ourselves to follow His Holy Word and to obey His laws.  Offering prayer and praise to The Lord God is appropriate at any time and at all times.  However, sometimes a sacrificial prayer at a personally difficult time is in order.  Giving up an hour of sleep in order to pray and thank God may be more beneficial to us than the sleep would have been.  We give up our sleep for worldly and sinful pleasures, why can’t we lose a little sleep for The Lord.  And when we are awake during the day, let us spend a little more time hanging out with and encouraging other believers.

I WILL LISTEN TO WHAT THE LORD GOD SAYS

Proclamation:
“I will listen to what God The Lord says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants, but let them not turn to folly.”  Psalm 85:8 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were thought to be written by the three sons of Korah, Asir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  They were descendants of Levi and thought to be the gate-keepers and musicians in the temple at Jerusalem.  The psalmist begins telling The Lord God that He had forgiven the people of their iniquity and sin in the past, and he asks that The Lord would restore them again. (Psalm 85:4)  He offers a petition to The Lord on behalf of the people, whom he represents, stating that even though they did not listen in the past, they would listen to Him now.  The psalmist knows that God’s Word is the gospel of peace.  Then he prayed that the people would not return to their sinful ways of idolatry, immoral living, self-righteousness, or blatant neglect of Christ and The Word of God.

Application:

Believers know that The Lord God speaks to us through His Word.  His Holy Spirit brings to our mind the remembrance of the things which we read and heard preached from The Word of God. (John 14:26)  The promises that He made to us are contained within His Holy Word.  The problem is with our lack of willingness to read The Word of God and to be obedient to it.  Some people hear the gospel preached but it “goes in one ear and out of the other” without the benefit of affecting anything in their brain as it passed through.  However, hearing and believing The Word of God will change an individual and transform their mind. (Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 5:17)  Then they will no longer want to do all of the sinful things that they used to do.  They will not become perfect, but they will change.  The more we listen to what The Word of God says, the more Christ-like we will become, and the more likely we will become a good and faithful servant.

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“… He commanded our ancestors to teach their children so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.  Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but would keep His commands.”  Psalm 78:5-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Asaph, the chief singer who was the director of music appointed by King David, who was also a seer who was said to prophesy. (2 Chronicles 29:30)  This psalm is a didactic psalm and a historical psalm written to teach the children about the graciousness of God in spite of the rebellious nature of their ancestors. (Psalm 78:3-58)  It recounts the history of God’s chosen people.  The purpose was that they would not be like their fathers or the generations before them. (Psalm 78:8)

Application:

If we do not teach our children about The Lord God, then the world will teach them to disregard Him.  We are commanded to tell our children who He is, what He has done, and what The Word of God says. (Deuteronomy 6:7 and 11:19)  If we train them the right way while they are young, when they grow up they will walk the right way. (Proverbs 22:6)  Children learn what they see and what they hear at home.  If they see us reading The Bible and praying, and hear us quoting verses from The Bible, that will be imprinted in their minds and hearts.  If they see us behaving in a Christ-like manner, that will be the beginning of their Christian foundation.  It is not good enough to tell them one thing and then do another.  Our actions speak louder than our words.

LET US FOLLOW THE WISE COUNSEL OF THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.”  Psalm 73:23-24 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of the psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Asaph, a Levite who was an outstanding musician in the days of King David who was also appointed minister of music, or choir leader, in the center of worship in Jerusalem.  Even though he had been tempted to sin because he envied the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:3) and was angry with God for allowing them to prosper, (Psalm 73:21-22) The Lord God took him by the hand, like we would do a small child, gave him wise counsel and led him to the sanctuary.

Application:

After going through the temptations, trials, and tribulations of our journey in the wilderness of this world, if we would just follow the guidelines from The Word of God, The Lord will lead us to His sanctuary.  We need not concern ourselves with what others have or are doing, we just need to pray and do that which is right in the sight of The Lord.  Then, after this life is over and we have passed through death, He will receive us into His kingdom to enjoy everlasting joy in His presence for eternity.

THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD

Proclamation:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord; and he delighteth in His way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for The Lord upholdeth him with His hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24 (KJV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David began this psalm by encouraging the people of God, telling them not to worry about, or be envious of those who prosper by doing wrong, for God will deal with them. (Psalm 37:1-2 and 7-9)  He told them to trust in The Lord, to commit themselves to Him, to delight in Him and He will give them the desires of their heart. (Psalm 37:3-6)  David knew that The Lord God directs the steps and conduct of a good man.  The Lord God knows and approves of, guides and directs his path. (Psalm 1:6 and 37:23)  Even though he may occasionally slip and fall into sin, he will not stay down and perish, he will be kept and lifted up by the power of God through faith which leads to salvation. (Psalm 37:24)  David said that he was now old, and he had seen and experienced a lot, but he had never seen the righteous forsaken by God. (Psalm 37:25)

Application:

The direction and path of the righteous man is determined by The Lord because he follows The Word of God and walks in the way that God would have him to walk.  Regardless of the success and prosperity of evil doers, the true believer will not follow them because their way leads to destruction.  We are encouraged to wait patiently on The Lord and to follow His way. (Psalm 37:7)  We are to trust in The Lord, to do that which is good and right, and to delight in His way and know that we will be blessed for doing so. (Psalm 37:3-6)  Our prayer should be that The Lord will order our steps in His word so that we can walk worthy of our calling.  We are to keep The Word of God in our heart and on our mind. (Psalm 37:31)