May 28 - Evening
"Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins."
- Psalms 25:12-18
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins."
- Psalms 25:12-18
David Teaches Us How to Trust the Lord for Strength and Deliverance
Psalm 25 is one of the nine acrostic psalms. An acrostic psalm has a verse for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet and that verse begins with the corresponding Hebrew letter. This was a system designed to assist the student and the worshipper with memorization of the text. Assisting the worshipper with the ability to remember the content of the psalm would enable the worshipper to apply the principles of the psalm to their daily life. (Psalm 25 is missing two of the 23 Hebrew letters: waw, the 6th and qof, the 19th letter).
In the opening two verses David establishes that he is:
1. Waiting on the Lord
2. Has lifted his soul up to the Lord
3. Has trusted in the Lord because David knows God’s character, covenant love and God’s previous acts of deliverance (25:6)
Although David has sinned in the past (25:7, 18) he is different from the enemies who resist God’s counsel and truth, and instead, refuse to walk in his ways (25:3). Instead, David asks to be taught by the Lord (25:4) and seeks to know the Lord’s ways (25:4).
Friendship (or, counsel) with the Lord is David’s hope (25:14), so he steadily gazes (25:15) as he:
1. Waits for the Lord (25:1-5)
2. Seeks the Lord (25:4)
3. Expects deliverance to come from the Lord (25:6, 15)
Deliverance will be “repose” (Hebrew “talin”, 25:13) which means “peace”, “sleep” and “good things” in this life for David and the inheritance of the earth for David’s next generation. Life sets many “traps” or “nets” which come from a Hebrew word referring to traps set for small animals. But, David has turned to steadily gaze at the Lord. Now, the Lord needs to “turn to” the psalmist David and “be gracious.” David is waiting for help based on God’s mercy. He is alone and in need of friendship wit God. He is afflicted and in need of God’s salvation.
There are two problems:
1. Affliction, trouble and enemies from the world (25:18-19)
2. Sins from David’s own human weakness
David needs the Lord’s intervention for deliverance. This deliverance is based on the Lord’s graciousness (25:16) and on David’s constant looking to the Lord for help (25:15)
Euangelizo (Gr) – Proclaim Good News (Eng) – euangelizo is a Greek word that is translated “to preach good tidings” in Luke 4:18 as quoted from Isaiah. Euangelizo is also used in Acts 13:32, Romans 10:15 and Hebrews 4:2 to say “to brings good tidings” and “to declare glad tidings” referring to the presentation of the facts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 3:6 and Luke 1:19 it is referring to announcing good news that is something other than the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Do I seek the Lord? Do I wait for the Lord’s answer?
Do I anticipate that the Lord will reply to my request with a manifested response in my life?
I will seek the Lord and wait expectantly for his response.
Do I anticipate that the Lord will reply to my request with a manifested response in my life?
I will seek the Lord and wait expectantly for his response.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Right words for the right moment
Church
Spiritual understanding
Nation
Foreign Policy
World
The Gambia
A view looking south towards Jerusalem at Nabi Samwil the traditional site of the tomb of the prophet Samuel. This location was the high place of Gibeon where Solomon had has vision of God as a young king and where Samuel anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel. (1 Kings 3:4-15)
Someone to Quote
“Nobody ever outgrows Scriptures; the Book widens and deepens with our years.”
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Something to Ponder
According to Jesus in Mark 4:24-25 the amount of God’s Word that you understand is equal to the amount you already understand and apply to life.
“Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
“Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
Here’s a Fact
A seal that reads, “Belonging to Shema, servant of Jeroboam,” was found at Megiddo. (Details 1, 2, Image) Jeroboam was the king of northern Israel for 41 years (1 Kings 14:23-29).
Proverb
"Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
will fall into their own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance."
- Proverbs 28:10
will fall into their own trap,
but the blameless will receive a good inheritance."
- Proverbs 28:10
Coach’s Corner
When you decided what you want to do and you are sure of it after testing and trying, then focus on it and get it done. No more wonder. No more talk. No more second thoughts. No more other options. All that is left is to focus and do!
Hosea 8
New International Version (NIV)
Israel to Reap the Whirlwind
8
“Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the Lord because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.
2
Israel cries out to me, ‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
3
But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.
4
They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.
5
Samaria, throw out your calf-idol! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?
6
They are from Israel! This calf—a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.
7
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.
8
Israel is swallowed up; now she is among the nations like something no one wants.
9
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.
10
Although they have sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them together. They will begin to waste away under the oppression of the mighty king.
11
“Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.
12
I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something foreign.
13
Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me, and though they eat the meat, the Lord is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.
14
Israel has forgotten their Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses.”
New International Version (NIV)
Israel to Reap the Whirlwind
8
“Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the Lord because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.
2
Israel cries out to me, ‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’
3
But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.
4
They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.
5
Samaria, throw out your calf-idol! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?
6
They are from Israel! This calf—a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.
7
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.
8
Israel is swallowed up; now she is among the nations like something no one wants.
9
For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.
10
Although they have sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them together. They will begin to waste away under the oppression of the mighty king.
11
“Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.
12
I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something foreign.
13
Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me, and though they eat the meat, the Lord is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.
14
Israel has forgotten their Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses.”
Genesis 3
New International Version (NIV)
The Fall
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
18
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
New International Version (NIV)
The Fall
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
18
It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.