This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&handling) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of
Genesis through 2Kings are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just
mail your request for COMMENTARY ON (BOOK NAME) to the address above.
PSALM
CHAPTER 57
1 To the chief Musician, Al-tas'-chith, Mich'-tam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
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.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
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. Selah.
David had a lot of mixed emotions when he was running from Saul. He always took those emotions to God in prayer, and the prayers resulted in songs.
All the songs acknowledge the feelings of despair, but almost all the songs also ring with assurance. As such, they give us assurance and comfort.
There is truly no place better than the "shadow of" the wings of God for refuge and help. David pleads for mercy and also commits to calling upon God diligently. He realizes that it is God Who is in control of all things (verse 2).
Even though Christians live daily among the "lions" who would "swallow" them, our Lord is watching and He will surely not allow us to be faced with more than we can endure. Now sometimes OUR thought of what we can endure, and God's knowledge of what we can endure are two different things. God KNOWS how much we can endure.
Saul and his army tried to kill David by getting him in a war with them. But God allowed them to be caught in their own "net." (verse 6)
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
David avows he is "fixed" on God, and will continue to praise Him.
He calls himself to "awake" and sing praises to God. And he makes a commitment to sing the praises of God before other "nations."
CHAPTER 58
1 To the chief Musician, Al-tas'-chith, Mich'-tam of David.
Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
The word "congregation" here is the Hebrew word dabar (daw bar), which generally means judges.
David is acknowledging that the problem with real justice in the world is man's wickedness (verse 2). The judges (and people alike) are bent toward evil as soon as they are born.
And even though God sends prophet after prophet, they will not listen (verse 5).
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
David's prayer is that wickedness and those who determine to work wickedness will be destroyed by the Lord.
That phrase "Before your pots can feel the thorns," refers to a very quick fire. A pot on a fire made with thorns will heat very quickly.
And God's wrath will, one day, very quickly take away wickedness and those who work wickedness. Please continue in Bible Study with us.
The refrain (verses 5 and 11) is a wonderful statement. God IS exalted above the heavens in glory and splendor. But WE need to acknowledge that in our souls and give praise and honor to Him.