Daily Bible Devotionals

“I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever.  Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.  Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.  I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.” Psalm 145:1-5 (NKJV)

In today’s psalm, David begins as expected: extolling, blessing and praising the Lord.  It is a worship song, after all.  But the narrative of #145 quickly shifts to reveal that David’s personal worship impacts the entire community.  The speed of the leader determines the speed of the team.  The impact of David’s worship resounds way beyond the fact that David is singing so loudly that nobody can tune him out.  David is telling us that if we want the next generation of believers (and the next and so on…) to worship wholeheartedly, they must learn to do so from us!

If the church of our generation ever needed a message today, it is this one!  Values are not taught.  They are caught!  We can teach & preach doctrine to a filled sanctuary every Sunday, but the people will not value it unless they spend quality time with (and live close to) people who have a dynamic relationship with the Lord.  That is what David describes: Every day, all day, forever.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

The great concern of church leaders is that proper Biblical values will not be passed down to the next generation.  And the concern is not unfounded.  Church attendance in our generation is on the decline.  The church of tomorrow is beginning to mirror the generation that ushered in the period of the Judges after Joshua’s generation.

“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10

In fearful response to declining church participation, many church leaders have tried to soften the hard truths of the Gospel and focus only on the positive aspects of God: grace, love, and acceptance.  But when we diminish God’s Word from our teaching, what counsel do we dilute it with?

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Seek the Lord, obey His Word, and share it with both your words and your lifestyle!

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle - my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues [a]my people under me.  Psalm 144:1-2 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm begins with David declaring that the Lord trains his hands for war and his fingers for battle.  Some folks may find that a strange statement, because many people (even within the Church) hold to a false idea of God, that He is a pacifist.  We must remember there was a lot of warfare in the Old Testament, which the Lord commanded.  While it should be the last resort, there is a time when warfare becomes the only wise choice:

“…a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8 (NKJV)

If you are scratching your head, wondering how a God who prefers love and peace would both train soldiers and ordain hate and warfare, it helps to understand that terms of peace are always His first option, even in the Old Testament.  

“When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.  And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.”  Deuteronomy 20:10-12 (NKJV)

Likewise, in the New Testament, God offers us terms of love and peace through a saving relationship with the “Son of David,” Messiah Jesus.  

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.  Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, “They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.” So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest.” Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.’”  Hebrews 3:7-13 (NKJV)

Make no mistake, just as David was trained for warfare against unbelievers, so Jesus is also readied.  

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.  He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.  And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.  He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications!  In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.  Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.”  Psalm 143:1-2 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm presents a great human dilemma.  How can sinful people plea to a holy God and petition Him to judge the sin of another person?  Regardless of the level of persecution, they are under, the person petitioning God also sins and deserves punishment.  After all, we have all “sinned and fallen short of God’s glory,” and He will “by no means, clear the guilty.”  (Romans 3:23; Number 14:18)  So, where does David get the confidence to plea to the Lord and the faith to know that He will judge David’s oppressors while overlooking David’s sin?  David’s faith comes from God’s Word, the Bible!

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.  I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah” Psalm 143:5-6 (NKJV)

You see, when we read the Bible, our faith grows.  

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

And the reason faith grows (when we read the Bible) is because, as we experience God’s faithfulness to His Word in ages past (God, whose character never changes – Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17), we gain confidence to trust Him with our futures, ages yet to come.  And we see this process articulated in David’s psalm today.

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good.  Lead  me in the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:10 (NKJV)

David sought God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-2), so he understood that God extends grace and mercy to sinful people who humbly seek Him. David expected blessing, not based on his righteousness but on God’s righteousness and His ability to keep His Word!

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”  Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (NKJV)

“Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!  For your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.  In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.” Psalm 143:11-12 (NKJV)

“I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.  I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.” Psalm 142:1-2

“And they went to a place called Gethsemane.  And he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.  And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.  Remain here and watch.’ And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  And he said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.  Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” Mark 14:32-36

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path.  In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me.  Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.” Psalm 142:3-4

“And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man.  Seize him and lead him away under guard.’ And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ‘Rabbi!’ And he kissed him.  And they laid hands on him and seized him.  But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.  And Jesus said to them, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.  But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.’ And they all left him and fled.” Mark 14:43-50

“I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.  Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.’” Psalm 142:5-6

“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.  So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous Man!’” Luke 23:44-47

“Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me.” Psalm 142:7

“Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, angels said, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” Luke 24:5-6a

“Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me!  Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.  Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.  Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.” Psalm 141:1-4 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm, number 141, is another composition of King David.  We are very aware of both David’s triumphs against temptation and his failures to live righteously.  Not that David was blame-shifting, per se, but we must quickly correct an error in his theology.  God does not incline the hearts of people to do evil or practice “wicked works” or “eat of their delicacies.”  While God allows situations to develop in our lives that bring us to moments of crisis, where we must choose to follow Him or cave into worldly pressure, He does not tempt us.  Testing comes from God to show us the extent of our faith, but temptation is the world’s advertisement offering a means of escape from God’s testing.  It’s a trap.  

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  James 1:12-15 (NKJV)

Again, the same scenario that Satan uses to tempt us, God intends to use to build our faith.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:2-8 (NKJV)

Now that we know the difference between a “trial” and “temptation” and how we should faithfully hold to the Word of God until He brings us through the trial, what happens if we succumb to temptation?  What do we do then?  We humble ourselves and receive correction from fellow believers.  (Galatians 6:1; Proverbs 27:5-6) Confession and restoration are always better than concealing or denying our sin.

“Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness.  And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it.” Psalm 141:5 (NKJV)

“Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their hearts; they continually gather together for war.  They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; the poison of asps is under their lips.  Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble. – Selah” Psalm 140:1-3 (NKJV)

It is important to note that there have been evil men throughout history.  And until Messiah returns, there will continue to be evil on earth.  Just as David, the author of Psalm 140, was unjustly persecuted, so the “Son of David,” Jesus, was persecuted.  Jesus told His disciples that anyone who follows Him will also be persecuted.

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates Me hates My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.  But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’” John 15:18-25 (NKJV)

This reality of persecution “for the sake of the gospel” is not popular in many pulpits these days.  Preachers would rather focus on the more positive aspects of the gospel: grace, peace & love.  While that type of preaching may draw a crowd, sadly, it draws a gasp in heaven because it leads people into false expectations of how the life of a believer should look.  And it causes people to wrongly judge the presence of persecution in their lives (or in the lives of other believers).  Under false teaching, if coming to faith means the end of hardship, then the presence of persecution must signal a departure from the faith.  Persecution, then, becomes a signal of something the believer is doing WRONG when it actually signals what we are doing RIGHT!

In claiming the “promises” of Jesus, perhaps we should consider His promise of persecution/tribulation.  (John 16:33)  But knowing persecution is coming should not lead us to anxiety when we also know that Jesus not only predicted our persecution but also prayed for our ultimate protection & redemption.  

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” John 17:14-15 (NKJV)

(Compare: Psalm 140:5-13 with Revelation 20:11-15; 21:1-8)

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Psalm 139. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.  I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your Name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name.  In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.”  Psalm 138:1-3 (NKJV)

Boxer Mike Tyson said, “Everyone is a fighter until they get hit.”  Christians may aspire to a life of humble service, but no one likes to be treated like a servant.  We all want to be bold proclaimers of the gospel, but who takes the time to learn to articulately share their faith or risks relationships to see others come to faith?  King David, the author of today’s Psalm, was not ashamed to proclaim the greatness of God.  He did not feel the cultural pressure to be politically correct for fear of offending non-believers with his zeal for the Lord—quite the opposite.  David praised the God of Israel (the One, true God) with his whole heart before the pagan gods.

It is one thing to worship the Lord in a church service, but are we so bold out there in a world where there may be no believers around you, and people may actually be hostile toward people of faith?  The setting of today’s Psalm was not in the temple (or “Tabernacle” in David’s day).  No, David was out among the pagans, praying “toward” God’s holy temple.  It is the same level of boldness in the message that we are called to display, the kind that earns the great “Well done!”  (Matthew 25:14-30)

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV)

What was the source of David’s boldness?  God’s Word!  David was so confident in the Word of the Lord that he trusted it had the power to convert the souls of even pagan kings & nations!

“All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth.  Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.  Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.” Psalm 138:4-6 (NKJV)

What if David’s gospel message were to get him into trouble or even cost him his life?  David was confident that the Lord could protect and revive him!

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 (NKJV)

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.  We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.  For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?  If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!  If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth - if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.” Psalm 137:1-6 NKJV

It helps set the context for the Israelite musical boycott if we recall how the Levite priestly musicians served before the Lord 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.  (Psalm 134; 1 Chronicles 9:33) The demand for Jerusalem’s “greatest hits” from their Babylonian captors was more akin to mocking than a request from music aficionados.  That is because all of the Levitical songs were about the power, majesty, and faithfulness of God, the same God Who allowed Israel to be taken captive!  Not only did the Israelites refuse to play their harps, but they also prayed for vengeance.

“Remember, O Lord, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, ‘Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation!’ O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed,Happy the one who repays you as you have served us!  Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!” Psalm 137:7-9 (NKJV)

The Jewish captives desired vengeance but knew vengeance was God’s job alone. (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19-20)  Faith in His Word was their only comfort.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.  Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.  For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.  For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.  For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.” Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NKJV)