TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:10-11; Job 1:13-22; 42:10-17
We consider blessed those who have persevered. . . . The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. - James 5:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
Arizona Senator John McCain has inspired admiration of many because of what he endured during the Vietnam War. Captured as prisoner of war, McCain was held in captivity in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” for five years where he was routinely tortured or kept in solitary confinement. Yet he survived and returned to the United States still committed to serving his country.

Although McCain endured terrible suffering, the Bible is filled with stories of great saints who experienced far worse, and still maintained their commitment to serving God. In our passage today, James points to Job as an example of perseverance that has great significance for us today.

If you missed last month’s study in Today in the Word on the book of Job, it is well worth going back to. Here he is mentioned as one example of an Old Testament character who demonstrated how to live in the light of God’s promises. And the key promise that James has already highlighted for us is the return of Christ (v. 9).

Our patience and perseverance will bear fruit–God will do what He has promised. Christ will return, and we will receive judgment and reward. This certainty should encourage us to keep living wisely.

Wise living is walking by faith and not sight. We trust God’s promises and act on His desires, even when the wisdom of the world urges us to get what we want here and now. The world says, “Take advantage of others to get more! Base your friendships on what others can do for you! Get all the stuff you can now!” God’s wisdom says, “Favoritism is a sin. Your wealth will rot. You must treat others generously.” Our goal as Christians is to shape our desires to conform to God’s desires, even when the world thinks we’re crazy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Wealth and happiness are gifts from God, but they are not the only way that He demonstrates His love for us. Sometimes He allows these things to be taken away and allows us to undergo suffering so that He can help us grow in wisdom (1:2–4).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37
Simply let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No” anything beyond this comes from the evil one. - Matthew 5:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
A first-grader was reprimanded by his teacher for calling other children names on the playground. “But those aren’t bad words!” he protested. “Bad words are what Mommy says when she’s driving the car!”

Swearing seems far more prevalent than a few generations ago; now even in casual conversation it isn’t unusual to hear words that would have been unacceptable in the past. James addresses another use of our tongues that we should guard against: taking oaths and swearing.

What we today think of as using bad language or cursing could be considered part of the prohibition against taking an oath, because it is “foolish talk” that does not glorify God (v. 12; cf. Eph. 5:4). But the exhortation in our passage today is dealing with more than just using four-letter words. We might never need our mouths washed out with soap, and still be guilty of the kind of speech to which James refers.

Part of wisdom is knowing what to say yes and no to. As we have seen, Christians are to be peaceable and not doubleminded. And so when we give our word about something, we don’t need additional oaths in order to bind us to what we have said (cf. Matt. 5:33–37). We shouldn’t try to squirm out ofour obligations through manipulating what we have said; swearing an oath doesn’t increase our obligation to be accountable to what we should do. Our word should stand alone.

Additionally, oaths are a form of boasting, a declaration of what we will and will not do in the future (cf. 4:13). This is yet another way that swearing and taking oaths do not conform to living wisely, which involves humbly submitting to God.

Christians should be people of good reputation, whose word can be trusted and who are not characterized by foolishness. Swearing, whether through bad words or taking oaths, has no place in the speech of believers.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This would be a good day to go back through our study of the book of James this month and make a list of all the ways that we should and should not use our tongues. Clearly God is deeply concerned with our speech, because it reflects so much of where our heart is. As you review the list, pray that “your speech will be seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6), not to impress others with how well-spoken you are, but to bring glory to God through the wise use of your tongue.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:13-18; 1 Kings 18:16-46
As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word. - 1 Kings 17:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the history of Israel. In the course of his life, he prayed for a drought on the land and God answered. He prayed for the Lord to raise the son of a widow from the dead, and God answered (1 Kings 17:22). He prayed for God to send fire from heaven, and God answered (18:38). He prayed for God to judge the wicked, and God answered (2 Kings 1:1–17). And then we read in James, “Elijah was a man just like us” (v. 17)!

Understandably, we might think that James is exaggerating here. Could we really pray to alter the forces of nature–and have God answer? By citing Elijah in our passage today, James is providing us insight into what a powerful prayer life looks like. It’s not simply believing in our minds very, very strongly that God will do something. Our prayer life is tied to how we are living.

We know from the story of Elijah that indeed he was not superhuman. He got tired, hungry, irritable, and even depressed, just as we do (see 1 Kings 19). But Elijah had two characteristics that consistently emerge: first, he had a certainty about who God was; and second, he obeyed the commands of God. Elijah almost always prefaces his pronouncements and his prayers with, “As the Lord Almighty lives,” (17:1; 18:15). And he went where God told him to go and said what God told him to say.

James is describing very practical ways that we can minister to each other, by prayer for each other when we need healing or forgiveness (vv. 14–16). But the key behind our prayers is that we are righteous. Right-eousness is a gift of grace, and as we have seen over and over again in this book, is reflected in wise living. Our prayers for each other will be powerful when we know who God is and obey what He says. We can pray effectively when we are living in a way that pleases God and follow His desires.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you have extra time this weekend, read the whole story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2. As you read, jot down the examples of his obedience and the ways that God answered his prayers.

We can have a powerful ministry of blessing others through our prayers. But first, we must be living in a way that glorifies God. Our decision to serve God affects more than just our own lives–it also has significant implications for our ability to serve others.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: James 5:19-20
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. - 1 John 2:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
We have reached the final exhortation in the book of James, and unlike many other letters in the New Testament, he doesn’t conclude with a list of personal greetings. Instead, he ends the letter more like a sermon, with a last command about how we should treat each other in the body of Christ.

Throughout the letter, James has stressed that we cannot claim to know God if our actions aren’t consistent with our profession of faith. Truth for James is far more than a list of correct principles to know in our heads–it must include correct behavior as well. When we read that a brother or sister has strayed from the truth, then we know that James is referring to how they are living, not just doctrinal purity (v. 19).

We don’t live the Christian life in isolation from one another, unconcerned about how anyone else is doing. James has already told us to resist favoritism and fighting in the church, and to practice generosity and compassion. Now he instructs us to help each other live wisely.

The stakes for restoring each other to righteousness are high, for if believers continue to follow their own desires, it’s doubtful that they possessed the spirit of God–they will be on the path that leads to death (v. 20). Additionally, James implies that our efforts to help others remain faithful will bring blessing to us, because we have followed the desire of God to restore a brother (cf. 1 Tim. 4:16).

James does not propound a “social gospel” where our sole concern is for the material needs of others. Meeting those needs is important (cf. 2:16–17), but we are also to be concerned about the spiritual needs of others (5:13–20). In fact, for James these two elements are inseparable–if we are concerned with practicing the generosity and compassion that reflects God’s desires, both physical and spiritual needs will be a priority. This will be the outworking of our desire to live wisely with true faith that pleases God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
After going through the book of James, we cannot say that we don’t know what God expects of us.

May our prayer be to follow the desires of God, forsaking the sin that so easily entangles us (Heb. 12:1), and pursuing a life of obedience and wisdom. In all of this, our motivation is remembering who God is and expecting the return of our Lord. As believers, may we walk in truth so that we will bring glory to the name of Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 6:5-15
Lord, teach us to pray. - Luke 11:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The U.S Census Bureau recently reported that 103 million American households, about 98 percent of the total, have telephone service at home. The press release also noted that Americans annually made 515 billion local and 98 billion toll calls, as well as logging 540 billion interstate long-distance minutes. An average family’s phone bill ran $914 per year. That’s a lot of communication!

Do we invest the same kind of time and energy in communication with God? Prayer should certainly be a common part of our daily lives, as common as the telephone often is. In keeping with this year’s overall theme of wisdom, our study this month focuses on Prayer: A Life of Wisdom. Following today’s introduction, the bulk of the month will be spent in Book I of the Psalms (Psalms 1–41), then in the last week or so we’ll add examples from elsewhere in Scripture. We want to flesh out a vivid picture of a life of prayer, to examine its many moods, forms, and variations. It is truly a discipline for all seasons.

The key to a satisfying prayer life is to have a personal relationship with God. Only then can we honestly say, “Our Father in heaven,” as Jesus did in today’s reading. His model prayer (vv. 9–13), which many congregations recite every Sunday, includes three key elements: (1) It’s based on a personal relationship. (2) It centers around God’s glory and kingdom and an overwhelming desire for His will to be done. (3) It includes petitions or requests, especially for daily needs, forgiveness, and protection from temptation. Note that Jesus specifically comments on the aspect of forgiveness at the conclusion of the prayer (vv. 14–15).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
No matter where we are in our prayer lives, there’s always room for improvement. As we begin this month’s study of prayer, search for some personal goals to set along the way. Ideally, these goals would flow from a Scripture or devotional reading that the Holy Spirit brings to your special attention. For example, you might choose to increase the time you spend in prayer and pray more regularly, to expand your range of prayer topics, to imitate biblical prayers, or to start a prayer journal as an aid to meditation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 3
To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. - Psalm 3:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
During His ministry on earth, Jesus put a great deal of time into training twelve special disciples. He taught them, told them parables, prayed for them, and answered their many questions. He had called them from many different walks of life to follow Him as friends. Imagine, then, how much it must have hurt Him to know that one of them would betray Him; what pain must have filled His final words to Judas: “Friend, do what you came for.” He was betrayed not by an enemy or a hostile religious leader, but by someone into whom He’d poured His best efforts (Matt. 26:14–25, 47–50).

That’s the way David felt in today’s psalm. His son, Absalom, had betrayed him and led a rebellion against his throne (see 2 Sam. 15–19)–David had bottomed out personally (as father), professionally (as king), and spiritually. At this lowest of low points, he fled to God in prayer.

The situation seemed hopeless. Enemies surrounded him and it appeared God had deserted him. Nonetheless, David’s faith remained strong. Even the lament of the opening verses is framed within the prayer, “O Lord.” Why? Because God was greater than the terrible situation David was in, even greater than the betrayal of his own son. He trusted that God would be his protection and seized on the picture of the Lord as a shield, an image also found in Moses’ final blessing on the Israelites (Deut. 33:29). David declared his confidence that God would not only save him but give him the victory (v. 3). He was sure enough of God’s answer that he could sleep peacefully under the Lord’s protection, and sure enough to keep courage when foes were drawn up on every side.

The psalm closes with an emotional climax. David prayed that God would arise, sustain and rescue him, and strike down the wicked. He understood God’s character and demonstrated complete faith that He would deliver His anointed king.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yesterday we mentioned that you might want to start a prayer journal as a possible goal this month. What do you write in such a journal? Here are a few suggestions: Keep a list of prayer requests and answers. Copy down powerful phrases from biblical or other published prayers. Jot down new prayer habits, goals, and ideas. Try to compose your own psalm or write out a prayer for a public occasion, such as Election Day. Write a diary entry on your perceptions and feelings about your current prayer life.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 4
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress. - Psalm 4:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Three-year-old Gabby Gingras suffers from a nerve disorder called hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy Type 5. It’s so rare that only about 25 people in the entire United States are thought to have it. In this disorder, pain sensations are blocked from reaching the brain. Gabby might break a tooth or skin a knee, but she would feel nothing. As a result, she doesn’t know when she’s injured herself, and her parents must keep a watchful eye on her at all times. The pain that would warn another child doesn’t exist for her.

Gabby’s condition shows us that pain has a purpose in the natural world. The same is true in the spiritual world–God can use difficulties to teach and transform us. But it’s still not easy or pleasant, and so we cry out for comfort as David did: “Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer” (v. 1). When we pray, there’s no need to tiptoe around our real thoughts and feelings–we can urgently and directly call on God. Such boldness is a sign of faith. It shows we believe He’s the kind of God who wants and is able to respond to our prayers, just as David believed God was righteous and merciful and would come to his aid. “Give me relief” literally means “make a spacious place for me,” a picture of freedom and security.

Whatever the exact situation was that prompted David to write Psalm 4, the crisis clearly had a public dimension. Some people had turned to false idols and other delusions, which for their king meant his God-given glory was turned to shame (v. 2). They had made a huge mistake, though, for God keeps the promises He’s made to the people He’s chosen; therefore, He will surely answer the prayers of the godly. Godly people are ready to search their hearts and repent (v. 4), trust steadfastly, and worship rightly.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we continue reading different psalms, you’ll notice that the psalmist’s body language is an important part of his prayer life. We might be used to kneeling or folding our hands. Such body language is meant to indicate humility, submission, and worship, though it sometimes becomes merely an unthinking habit.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 5
Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. - Psalm 5:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1932, musician Thomas A. Dorsey experienced a shock. While singing in a revival meeting, he received a telegram saying his wife had just died in childbirth. A few days later, anguished and depressed, he sat down at a piano. As he toyed with the keys, a song emerged: “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” Today, Dorsey is considered the father of gospel music and “Precious Lord” is considered one of the greatest gospel songs ever.

Like “Precious Lord,” Psalm 5 is a prayer for help and refuge in times of trouble. As he had done in earlier psalms, David began by describing his situation. He felt discouraged and was waiting in faith for God to act (vv. 1–3). In his prayer, he described not only his own state but the “state of God” as well: God loves righteous and humble people, but abhors and judges the proud, dishonest, and violent (vv. 4–6).

Because of God’s character, David had a valid basis for confidence that God was on his side (vv. 7–12). He was humble and worshipful. He honored God’s lovingkindness, sought His presence, pursued righteousness with His help, and tried to live blamelessly before his enemies. They, on the other hand, were untrustworthy, destructive, deceitful, and malicious. In a striking metaphor, their throats are compared to open graves (v. 9). They were on the side of death, not life. David loved God’s justice so much that he boldly called on Him to judge and punish such people. In the meantime, he would remain safe and glad, enjoying God’s favor and praising His blessings (cf. Ps. 30:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One resource that can help you grow in your prayer life is the book A Journey to Victorious Praying: Finding Discipline and Delight in Your Prayer Life, by Bill Thrasher (Moody Publishers, 2003). Dr. Thrasher is a professor of Bible and theology at Moody Graduate School in Chicago, where he has taught a course on prayer for many years. Chapter titles include “Transforming Fear Into Faith,” “Realizing the Struggle of Prayer,” “Experiencing the Joy of Waiting,” and “Cultivating a Lifestyle of Worship.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! - Psalm 8:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
William F. M. Buscombe had a passion for the stars. After his doctoral studies, he worked in Australia and was a pioneer in studying and classifying stars in the southern hemisphere. Later he taught at Northwestern University near Chicago. Since this is a difficult place to do astronomy, he compiled data from other researchers. The star catalog he published, MK Spectral Classifications, is considered a standard reference work in the field. He was working on the sixteenth edition when he died early last year.

As a young man, Buscombe left his agnosticism to become a practicing Quaker, or Friend, a faith he retained throughout his life. He studied the stars, and he studied their Creator. So can we! Today’s psalm is a familiar one, perhaps so familiar you didn’t realize it’s a prayer addressed directly to the Lord. This prayer exalts God’s “majesty,” a term that can also be translated “noble,” “magnificent,” or “glorious.” David perceived God’s majesty in His creation, especially humanity, creation’s crown jewel (vv. 3–5; cf. Heb. 2:6–8). Recognizing God’s power and artistry displayed in the natural world, he marveled that He used His own “fingers” to set the stars in place.

Even more astounding than the galaxies of stars is what God has done with and for humanity. He has been “mindful” of us, that is, remembered us in the sense of loving and caring for us. He created us, “crowned” us by making us in His image, and appointed us as rulers or stewards over the rest of the created world (cf. Gen. 1:28–30). As amazed as he is by the splendor of nature, David was even more amazed by the relational love God has shown and proved towards us. Even children must be able to see and respond to such an obvious truth, a fact that heaps coals on the heads of those who oppose God (v. 2; cf. Matt. 21:16; Rom. 1:19–20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Step outdoors for your prayer time today, and revel in the glory of God as seen in creation. If you’re in an urban area, this application may take extra effort, but perhaps you can find a park or other natural setting.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 9
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. - Psalm 9:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
In The Godhood of God, A. W. Pink wrote, “To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that the Helm is in His hand, and that He is steering according to His own good pleasure. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that He is the Potter, that we are the clay, and that out of the clay He shapes one as a vessel to honor and another as a vessel to dishonor according to His own sovereign rights . . . To speak of the God-hood of God is to give the mighty Creator His rightful place; it is to recognize His exalted majesty; it is to [acknowledge] His universal scepter.”

In today’s reading, David praised God for His sovereignty over the nations, especially as seen in judgment on the wicked (which is unspecified but might have referred to an Israelite military victory). The language seems harsh--“rebuked,” “destroyed,” “blotted out their name,” “endless ruin,” “uprooted.” Are we really allowed to pray like this? The psalmist does use hyperbolic language, but clearly these sentiments are acceptable because they are rooted in the truth that God hates sin and judges righteously.

This core truth is seen clearly in verses 7 through 10. God is the eternal king of the universe, the righteous judge, the just sovereign. But this does not make Him distant or uncaring--He is also a “refuge for the oppressed.” His righteousness and justice, expressed through love, mean that He is a protector and champion for the needy. He is faithful and more than worthy of our trust.

The best response to God’s sovereignty is to say and sing wholehearted praises, to “proclaim among the nations” the “wonders” of the One who rules us all with both authority and lovingkindness. And like David, we can pray that He will do more of the same--that is, pass judgment on the wicked and give them their just desserts. In their pride, they may “forget,” neglect, and disrespect God, but the psalmist is sure He will act to put things in right perspective (v. 20).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Prayer that shows faith in God’s sovereignty is as close as your daily newspaper. If you wish, pray with it open in front of you today. Was a child rescued from danger? Praise the Lord. Are you concerned about foreign policy? Ask for God’s will to be done. Are unemployment rates climbing? Intercede for the needs of the poor. As you pray your way through the headlines, do not become anxious, but rather remember that God is in control and rest in that truth.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 10
Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. - Psalm 10:12 Psalm 10:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
The United Nations recently estimated that 25,000 people a day die of hunger around the world. Every year, six million children under the age of five suffer from hunger. There are about 840 million malnourished people globally, with 95 percent of them in developing nations. While the number of such people has decreased in Asia, it has actually increased in Africa. In addition, as many as two billion people are said to be undernourished--that is, they are technically getting enough to eat, but their diets lack key nutrients.

The hungry are often victims of war, corruption, or greed. When we hear about the poor and the powerless, we should be moved to prayer, as the psalmist was in today’s reading. Many commentators think Psalms 9 and 10 were originally a single composition, and indeed a running thread through both is that a sovereign and just God upholds those who cannot stand on their own. Yesterday we focused on God’s sovereignty, today we’ll look more at how He cares for the victims of the world.

In this prayer, the oppressors are described as arrogant, powerful, wicked, self-confident, and self-centered. They hunt, trap, lie, threaten, ambush, plot against, and crush those who stand in their way or have something they want. Their attitude toward God is even worse. They pay no attention to Him or His laws, and when they do they slander His name, claiming that He either doesn’t see or won’t do anything (vv. 11, 13). Their sinful appetites are the center of their lives (v. 3; Phil. 3:18–19).

Although such observations might make it feel as though God is far away (v. 1), David prayed for Him to teach the oppressors a severe lesson and break their power. He believed that God does see and will hold the wicked accountable. After all, He is the “helper of the fatherless” (v. 14). He hears and encourages the afflicted and steps up to defend the victim--there’s a special place for them in His heart (Isa. 61:1). Why? Justice must be done, and people must understand their finite place in the order of things (v. 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Let today’s psalm inspire you to pen your own prayer for the powerless.

You might pray for a specific group--babies who are aborted, addicts trapped in their own desires, or people victimized by unjust social structures.

You might pray in general, calling on God to help anyone in need today. Or you might pray evangelistically, asking the Lord to save powerless individuals in bondage to sin. As you compose your prayer, be sure to include descriptions of God’s love for such people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 12
Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. - Psalm 12:1 Psalm 12:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
The summer of 2003 set a record for tornadoes. In the first ten days of May, over 400 tornadoes were reported in the midwestern and southern United States. President Bush issued disaster declarations for Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas, and Missouri. In Oklahoma alone, more than 130 people were injured, more than 300 homes and businesses were destroyed, and storm-caused damage hit $100 million.

“We just don’t have a down day,” said a meteorologist at the time. “It just doesn’t seem to stop.” That’s what David must have felt like in Psalm 12. All around him, evil seemed to be winning the day. It appeared as though the godly had vanished from society. That wasn’t literally true, of course, but it reflects the psalmist’s very human fear and depression at that moment. “Help, Lord,” sounds like a feeble cry under the circumstances! But David was looking in the right direction (v. 1).

His prayer is refreshingly straightforward. He told God what he saw and asked Him to do something about it. He saw people lying, flattering, and boasting, and prayed for God to cut off their tongues. He saw people living for themselves first, and prayed for God’s perfect Word to be revealed. He saw people oppressing the weak, and prayed for Him to watch over the needy. David fully trusted God to answer these prayers. After all, His Word is enduring and pure, like silver repeatedly refined in a furnace (Isa. 40:. And yet . . . it did seem that the wicked were running the show, and on that note the prayer ends (v. . David honestly portrayed the situation at that time--all was not well with the world. But his faith was strong enough to look the facts full in the face and still believe God would act.

How might we pray when it seems evil is prevailing? Like David, we can be honest and straightforward in describing how sinful people act in sinful ways. Like David, we should put our confidence in the flawless Word of God. And like David, we must trust absolutely in the Lord as our protector and bodyguard (v. 7).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today might be a good point at which to reflect on what you’ve learned in this first week of Prayer: A Life of Wisdom. Have you noticed any differences between David’s prayers and your own? Has the Spirit convicted you about anything specific? Do you feel burdened in any area? Are there topics about which you’d like to find out more?

Take time to reflect on what we are reading, as the Holy Spirit often uses these times of prayerful thoughtfulness to guide and encourage us.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 13
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? - Psalm 13:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
A little more than a year ago, Jane Barbe of Georgia died of complications from cancer. For the previous forty years, she had recorded messages for telephone companies nationwide. We’ve probably all heard her say, “We’re sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed” or “The number you reached has been changed. The new number is . . . ” Her voice was heard by 22 million people a day!

Hearing Barbe’s voice meant that you would have to wait or try again to make your call. Sometimes it can feel that way with God. Does He plan to keep us “on hold” forever? The forceful “How long?” that opens Psalm 13 even sounds mildly accusatory. Does He know what He’s doing? Does He have a plan? Has He forgotten us? “Forget” is an even stronger word in Hebrew than it sounds in English, suggesting neglect and lack of care (v. 1).

In his prayer, David described his feelings of abandonment through poetic repetition, hyperbole, strong word choices, and evocative imagery. He felt forgotten. He couldn’t sense God’s presence. He wrestled internally with loneliness, doubt, and sorrow, and externally his enemies seemed to be triumphing. Some commentators believe the king was suffering from a serious illness because of the “sleep in death” reference (v. 3), but it’s more likely that David spoke hyperbolically, exaggerated for effect in order to show his desperate state of mind.

These are strong feelings, but faith is always more than feeling. David’s prayer continued by calling on the Lord to “Look on me and answer.” Despite God’s apparent silence and inaction, he still believed in God as “my God” (v. 3) and he still desired God’s presence most of all. That’s why his first request was “Look on me”--the opposite of God hiding His face. He closed his prayer on a strong note of faith and joy--for him, the bottom line was God’s unfailing love, and so he could say God “has been good to me” or “dealt bountifully with me” (nasb) as if it had already happened.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
By now we see clearly how psalms can be a rich resource for our personal prayer lives. Prayers from church history can also inspire us as we see the faith and insight of those who have run the race before us. A book of such prayers can be an encouraging resource, for instance, Classic Christian Prayers, edited by Owen Collins (Random House, 2003). This inexpensive volume can be ordered through your local Christian bookstore or a Web site such as www.christianbook.com.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 15
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? - Psalm 15:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the classics in the devotional literature of church history is The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century French monk. He learned to sense and enjoy God’s presence no matter what he did, whether praying or washing dishes. He recounts his experience through the book’s collection of letters and conversations. He once said, “I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility and with love; and I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think nothing which may displease Him. I hope that when I have done what I can, He will do with me what He pleases.”

To dwell in God’s presence was also David’s purpose and joy. We saw yesterday how much God’s presence meant to him, and today’s psalm focuses entirely on seeking this blessing (cf. Ps. 24:3–6). The question of verse 1 defines the theme and is addressed to the Lord, and the answer that follows is a sort of descriptive prayer. The answer not only describes the person who dwells in God’s presence, it is also a prayer to be or become such a person. When we seek to deepen our prayer lives and draw closer to God, as we’re doing in this month’s devotional study, we should pray to be made into this kind of person.

So, what kind of people can enjoy God’s presence? Whatqualities does God love? The list is daunting. They must be blameless, upright, righteous, and truth-loving. They must love those who love God and keep their promises no matter what the cost. They need to control their tongues, avoiding lies, slander, and gossip. They should be generous, just, and compassionate, certainly not selfish people who flout God’s commands or trample on the poor. They should hate sin as God does (v. 4).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
David desired above all else to enjoy God’s presence: “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple” (Ps. 27:4). Using today’s psalm as a model, pray to become or to be made into this kind of person--one who wants intimacy with God above anything else life has to offer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 16
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. - Psalm 16:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Early American theologian Jonathan Edwards wrote that believers should have “a real sense of the excellency of God, and Jesus Christ, and of the work of redemption, and the ways and works of God revealed in the gospel. There is a divine and superlative glory in these things . . . a glory greatly distinguishing them from all that is earthly and temporal. He that is spiritually enlightened truly apprehends and sees it, or has a sense of it. He [does not] merely rationally believe that God is glorious, but he has a sense of the gloriousness of God in his heart. There is not only a rational belief that God is holy, and that holiness is a good thing; but there is a sense of the loveliness of God’s holiness.”

In today’s reading, the psalmist has this sense of God. God was all the world to him: “Apart from you I have no good thing” (v. 2; cf. Ps. 73:25). This didn’t mean that David wasn’t thankful for his family, kingship, and other blessings. It simply meant that God Himself is incomparably greater than any of His gifts--that He was the all-sufficient, all-satisfying joy, truth, and purpose of David’s life. The king delighted to worship with other believers who thirsted after God in the same way (v. 3).

What had God done for David? He had given him wisdom and strength. In contrast to the “libations of blood” poured out by pagans to their idols, the true Lord had given the king a cup of blessings and a generous portion of His goodness. The pictures of land and food pictures communicate feelings of peace, prosperity, and safety, all grounded in a personal relationship with God. Only as a child of God would David have been able to speak of the “delightful inheritance” from and of his heavenly Father (v. 6). Part of that inheritance was eternal life (vv. 9–10; cf. Acts 2:25–33).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What is your favorite verse from this psalm? Study and meditate deeply on each word, each phrase, then say it to the Lord as your own heartfelt prayer. Don’t just recite the verse, but rather explore its meanings and implications, paraphrase it in modern terms, or pray it back in relation to your own circumstances.