Colossians 1:9 That is why we keep on talking to God about you since the day we heard about you. We ask him that you may know everything he wants you to do. We ask him that you may be very wise and that the Spirit will help you to understand.
10 We ask him that you will live the way the Lord wants you to live, so that you will please him in everything you do. We ask that you will do everything that is good. We ask that you will see the fruit from what you do. We ask that you will know more and more about God.11 God has wonderful power. And we ask him to give you all the strength you need to go through all your troubles, to be very patient in them, and to be happy.
12 Thank the Father who has made us ready to be with the people of God who live in his light.
Day 29—A Psalm from David who encouraged himself to praise the Lord. |
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David was anointed of the Lord to reign over Israel, yet the throne of his kingdom was by no means immediate to him. He spent his time in the caves, hiding from King Saul who despised him, and feared him. Could this represent the call of the saints to reign with their Redeemer, and yet be afflicted under the pressures of anti-Christ? It surely seems a close resemblance. David said, in Psalm 57:1, one of his Golden Psalms, Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea, in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
He went on to say in verse 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. That his enemies had themselves fallen instead of himself was a point of confidence that strengthened David. Then, beginning to rejoice in the midst of his fearful trial, he said in verse
Psalm 57:7-11—My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations. For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let Thy glory be above all the earth.
My heart is fixed—One would have thought he would have said, “My heart is fluttered,” but no, he is calm, firm, happy, resolute, established. ”O God, my heart is fixed. I am resolved to trust thee, to serve thee, and to praise thee...Satan shall not stop me, nor Saul, nor the Philistines, I will make Adullam (the cave) ring with music, and all the caverns thereof echo with joyous song.” Let us make a firm decree that our soul in all seasons shall magnify the Lord.
*Fain would stop the joyful song:
Sing, and count it highest treason
For a saint to hold his tongue.”
[From C H Spurgeon]
Dear LORD, I am too ready to complain, to murmur, to speak quickly in judgment of others. Please release me from these offenses. Make my life a constant praise to the glory of Your Kingdom. Make the fellowship other believers with whom I worship into a company of saints that will rock Satan’s design to stop Your Kingdom’s progress in us, and through us.
The attack on David’s soul turned to his advantage and development. Thus it can be with us.
—Romans 8:28
*Fain—allow no circumstance to make me do some thing.
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