December 2021
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Whoever said “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was a liar. Words penetrate beyond the flesh into the soul. The power of life and death are in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). The frailest of persons can deliver the most powerful blow with their tongue. Jesus said one’s words
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God is our provider both spiritually and physically. For this, we give Him praise. This is the theme of Psalm 65. We praise Him for His salvation and forgiveness (vv. 1-4). We praise Him for His power over everything everywhere (vv. 5-8). We praise Him provision and compassion (vv. 9-13). As David began this psalm,
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The introduction to Psalm 63 tells us David wrote it while hiding in the desert of Judah. This happened when he ran from Saul (1 Samuel 23:14-29) and Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13-37). In both cases, David ran from family that tried to kill him. Uprooted from his home in the barren wilderness with no certainty
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The context of Psalm 62 is unclear. There are several situations in David’s life where it could apply. After his coronation as king, it seems he indicated his enemy was attempting to throw him down and topple him from his lofty place (vv. 3-4). This is most likely a reference to someone trying to overthrow
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It’s a low point in life when your children rebel against you. I’m not talking about disobedience familiar to all young children but the hate of an adult child out to cause you great harm and pain. David faced this when his son Absalom started a revolt against him, “stealing the hearts of the Israelites”
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A setback will cause you to either doubt or trust the Lord. Woe to him who only trusts the Lord when everything is going well. You can get mad at Him or move closer to Him. Woe to him whose initial reaction is bitterness towards the Lord when everything does not go their way. The
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What if someone had you followed to your house and attempted to kill you twice? What if that someone was your father-in-law? How would you respond? This describes how King Saul treated his son-in-law David. 1 Samuel 19 tells us the story to which Psalm 59 refers. The introduction to Psalm 59 again tells us
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A leadership crisis will destroy a nation, business, church, and family. Leaders who do not respect, obey, implement laws, and govern according to God’s Word cannot help but act in selfishness, lawlessness, and sinfulness. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.” In
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When the enemy surrounds you and backs you into a corner, the best thing to do is worship the Lord. The introduction to Psalm 57 tells us it was written about the time David fled from Saul into the cave. David hid from Saul a couple of times in a cave (1 Samuel 22:1; 24:3).
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When we are in trouble, why do we foolishly return to evil practices and places thinking they have somehow changed and will now bring us comfort and peace when our past experiences have proven to us they never can? Why don’t we instantly seek the Lord? The introduction to Psalm 56 tells us it is
stephen R Harrison 