Bible Pathway - July 5, 2011
Read Psalms 60
Highlights:
The reason for praise to our faithful God is revealed in these seven Psalms. They begin with thanksgiving for restored fellowship. Today's reading will put in your heart a desire to give praise and more praise to our marvelous Creator.
King Saul had forced David to retreat to a desolate area outside the Promised Land. David was exiled from his home, his loved ones, and the comforts of the palace. However, what he felt most deeply was his exile from the Promised Land where God had chosen to manifest His presence. David was overwhelmed with sorrow and a sense of emptiness, but he prayed: Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a Shelter for me, and a Strong Tower from the enemy (Ps. 61:1-3).
This desolate place seemed like the end of the earth, and he prayed: O God. . . . Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Surely this is the prophetic, spiritual Rock, and that Rock was Christ (I Cor. 10:4).This is the cry of a man who knows he is unable to properly choose what he should do. It is also a testimony of David's sense of his great need of being led by One who was far above him in wisdom and power. Obviously, prayer was not a mere theory or spiritual exercise with David, for he knew its reality from past experience: Thou hast been a Shelter for me, and a Strong Tower from the enemy (61:3).
Is it possible that Christians feel that they cannot afford to spend at least fifteen minutes a day in reading His Word? When a friend comes to see us or there is anything to our advantage or pleasure, we "take time" to be interrupted. The things that are really important to us are the things that we can always find time to do (Matt. 6:33).
Wise disciples determine that, no matter what is left undone, our time with God in His Word must have priority. They take time to read His Word while others make excuses (Ps. 63:1).
In His wondrous love, our great God longs for us to give our time Him so that He may communicate to us His wisdom and strength. As we spend time in earnest prayer and meditation in the Word of God, the Holy Spirit reveals His will to us.
Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. . . . teach me Thy Statutes (119:11-12).
O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them (John 17:25-26).
Thought for Today:
The Law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver (Ps. 119:72).
Christ Revealed:
As the Rock — the unmovable, eternal, unchanging Savior (Ps. 61:2; 62:2,6-7). Jesus is the Rock of our salvation and that spiritual Rock (Petras) that followed (accompanied) them (Israelites) (I Cor. 10:4).
Word Studies:
60:12 do valiantly, gain the victory, do great things; 61:4 covert, shelter, protecting power; 62:9 to be laid in the balance, they prove to be worthless; 63:5 marrow and fatness, the richest of foods; 64:6 search out iniquities, devise injustices; 64:8 their own tongue to fall upon themselves, their own words will bring them to ruin; 66:3 terrible, awesome.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Officials: Rep. Todd Akin (MO), Rep. David Dreier (CA), Rep. John Fleming (LA), Rep. Jim Himes (CT), Rep. Nita Lowey (NY), and Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) • Country: Japan (126.7 million) off the eastern coast of Asia • Major language: Japanese • Religious freedom • 49% Buddhist; 45% Shintoist; 1% Christian; 5% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Glorify God who is able to use national leaders to accomplish His purposes (Ezra 7:27-28).
Optional Reading:
Memory Verse for the Week:
Psalms 34:1
