Exchanging Evil for Good

S
(Psalm 109:4,5) In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

O
In shocking, graphic detail, David inventories how he promotes justice in the midst of an unjust and painful world. Half of this psalm lists specific prayers that cause spiritual crimes to boomerang back upon evildoers. Before being able to pray this way, though, David loved and prayed for his accusing adversaries, and he did good to them when they hurt and cursed him (v. 4, 21, 18).

A
How easy it is to abuse justice by two equally pain-producing extremes: either taking justice into our own badly informed hands or allowing fear to shrink us into a false apathy that causes us to forsake justice. Vengeance clearly belongs to God, not to people (Romans 12), yet He requires people to fearfully use this tool (Romans 13; 1 Peter 4; Ephesians 1:22,23).

P
Lord, You explain that "light dawns in the darkness for the upright" and that Your people are "gracious, merciful, and righteous" (Psalm 112:4). For a season, You evidently allow evil be believe it's winning (1 Corinthians 5:5) so that the contrast between it and Your character becomes increasingly evident. I volunteer to walk the Valley of the Shadow so Your dawn can be increasingly glorious (Proverbs 4:18).

More Honest Honors

S
(1 Samuel 30:24) ...For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.

O
David learns his life-lessons well. Had these exhausted men stayed behind to protect their families or had they not remained to behind to protect their travel supplies, their stories would have been much different. Similarly, had the Amelikites cared for their sick Egyptian, their story would have been very different, too. In God's kingdom, the strong care for the weak. They don't ascribe praise and honor to themselves when it belongs to God or should be shared with others.

A
Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 describe the equity of the Body of Christ. Although the world spotlights some jobs and accomplishments at the expense of others and it rewards some jobs with praise and honors, this view doesn't fit well in Christ's kingdom. Each task done unto the Lord receives His praise and approval...and in time, His rewards, too.

P
Lord, I want to avoid discouragement from not being appreciated as much as I want, and I want to avoid being praised for things I've done with the help of the quiet, more honorable and hard-working servants of yours...which pretty much includes everything I do. May I be content with quiet, humble, and anonymous service.

Surprise Packages

S
(Psalm 23:6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

O
David conscripted a startlingly vivid and thought-provoking word for this gentle, calming psalm. Radaph (translated "follow"), usually meant (1) pursue to overtake, usually with hostile intent, (2) chase or put to flight, as an army would do to a defeated foe, (3) hunt down an elusive prize, or (4) attend to very closely.

A
I am comforted to know that God employed this picture to help me understand how He feels and thinks about me. In this description, He deploys two expert trackers to keep up with me. Goodness (tov) chases me in order to bestow upon me all necessary things that are "pleasant, beautiful, excellent, lovely, delightful, convenient, joyful, fruitful, precious, sound, cheerful, kind, correct, righteous, and virtuous" (and much more). Mercy (chesed) bestows God's lovingkindness...as though I could tell His goodness from His lovingkindness.

P
Lord, I just don't understand why You do this. Your mercy and goodness track me down even though I seem lost and play hard to find. Hebrews 12 informs me that I reject Your health-producing gifts because they come in packages that don't expect or want. Help me to always recognize and receive You gifts.

Warriors of Valor

S
(1 Chronicles 9:2) Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and Nathinims [temple servants]."

O
The first people to repossess their land was a diverse group. They regained the security and liberty that their fathers--through abandoned morals and spiritual corruption--had squandered. God described these repossessors as "mighty, very able warriors of valor" (v. 13). Jesus sticks to this model. When He sent out His disciples to reclaim lost Israelites (lost souls), He told them to not fear being wrongly accused and killed (Matthew 10:10-39); instead, they were to fearlessly proclaim Jesus' kingdom, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:6).

A
Warriors can be spiritual or political, and warriors without valor--no matter how able to fight or willing to suffer and die--are a scourge. They're bullies, pirates, murderers, and despots. In contrast, warriors who possess and who are possessed by submission to virtue make justice and security possible for even the weakest of citizens. Jesus redefines these ideals: the reality of such valor and virtue is defined by one's love for and obedience to Himself, the King of kings.

P
Lord, see that Your end game is for lot people to dwell safely in peaceful and secure homes. For this to happen, You send out warriors of righteousness and justice who blaze paths for others to follow. Lord, help me to be such a warrior of valor. Help me to reclaim all You desire for my relational connections.

Learning Precedes Teaching

S
(Matthew 9:13) Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

O
This Great Commission—to learn of God’s desire for mercy instead of sacrifice—preceded His other Great Commission to go teach, disciple, and baptize people (Matthew 28:19,20). The context here is Jesus—the friend of sinners—collecting, befriending, redeeming, and commissioning people who had been trampled by people and troubled by life.

A
The Old Testament prepares us for the New, and in it David demonstrates God’s merciful, benevolent strength. In a similar way, he collected everyone who was in distress, in debt, and discontent in their soul. He told the persecuted, “Stay with me, do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safe keeping” (1 Samual 22:2,23).

P
Lord, when David was in this distress, he worshiped You. Thank You for recording David’s thoughts and words in Psalm 63 so I can pray that way, too. Thank You for providing relief, comfort, and direction for my soul, too.

Learning to Fall Well

S
(Matthew 4:9,10) “All these I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”

O
Falling down is a significant aspect of worship. Falling, in those ancient times, meant “casting down,” and it described utter submission and dependence. To receive that sort of relationship, Satan offers false hopes to keep people depressed and oppressed. Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3) demanded that worship, too, only to learn that “the Lord upholds all who are falling and raises all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).

A
Too easily have I stumbled and fallen into false worship, dedicating my energies into worthless endeavors. Too casually have I bowed myself to lies, only to find myself distressed and humiliated. But finally, I’ve learned to cast myself upon the Lord’s mercies and to commit myself to His kingdom. He feeds the hungry, sets prisoners free, and lifts those who are bowed down. He is the glory and lifter of my head (Psalms 146:7,8; 3:3).

P
Lord, I gladly cast myself before You in total submission. You alone deserve such worship. You alone are gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and great in mercy (Psalm 145).

A Rare Friendship

S
(1 Samuel 18:3,4) Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

O
Jonathan, a prince and overtly superior, initiated this deep friendship. He entered into a covenant friendship before God (20:8) that consisted entirely of giving, not gaining. The stripped robe resented transferred authority: David could speak into Jonathan’s life and David represented now Jonathan to the world. The stripped armor represented giving David unguarded access—vulnerability—to all points of Jonathan’s life. The stripped weapons represented Jonathan surrendering his ability to attack or harm David while choosing to be defenseless against David.

A
How rare it is to have such a friend. Even worse, it’s rare to be such a friend. To what extent is my marriage like this? To whom—to what Samaritan in my life—should I covenant such a friendship?

P
Lord, I think receiving this friendship empowered David to go out and be successful wherever Saul sent him (verse 5). You call me to become such a friend to You and to others (Matthew 22:39), but You first demonstrated Your friendship to me (John 15:11-16; see also Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 19:6; 26:6,9,10,17).

Patient Praying

S
(1 Samuel 14:19, 24) Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." ... So Saul laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until evening and I am avenged of my enemies."

O
In these two quotations, Saul demonstrates how his rejection of prayer and his refusal to submit to God led to him cursing people. Saul talked to the priest, keeping them both from praying. Then he tried to disguise his spiritual rebellion with spiritual bravado (imposing a fast on others). Meanwhile, the deteriorating condition of the enemy had no correlation to Saul's leadership--God did that despite Saul. Yet Saul, in his self aggrandizement, referred to these people as merely his own enemy, not the enemy of so many who suffered directly from the Philistines.

A
Are some decisions so obvious that prayer isn't necessary? That's crazy. Prayerlessness and independence from God lead to arrogance and foolish decisions. Godless ideas may seem spectacularly spiritual, but they end in misery and loss. God's enemies are always eventually routed, destroying themselves with their darkened confusion. Saul exemplified this. I don't want to.

P
Lord, I want to be like David, who learned from Saul's bad example. David learned to wait patiently for Your perfect timing and methods (Psalms 37.7,34; 25.3; 33.20; 52.9; 62;1,5; 104.27; 106.13; 123.2; 130.6). I want to wait on You, too.

I Give You My Word!

S
My son, keep my words and store up my commandments within you. Keep my commands and you will live. Guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Proverbs 7:1-2

O
Jesus knows the temptation man will face and with a holy desire to see us stand strong and resist, gives us the keys we will need in order to do that.

A
How many times has someone said to you "I give you my word!" You look at that one and there is a battle going on inside you...can I really trust them to tell me the truth? Now, how do you feel when God says "I give you My word..." When you know God personally a confidence settles over you—God said it and He cannot lie. You know Him and his Word is truth. What is His Word telling me? "Keep my words and store up my commandments within you...and you will live." Keep them. Don't pick them up, look them over, see how they feel, then put them down and walk away! Keep them—within you. Not as an outward adornment but within you. Apply it to your heart. Let His commands be the thing that shapes your heart and your mind. Let it shape how you think about things and how you respond in each situation. Keep it means you never put it back. It is always with you. "Guard my teachings..." Guard is an active word; you must continually guard. What can happen if a guard turns away even for a moment? That which he is guarding can be lost or stolen. A guard is diligent, constant. Guard God's commands as the apple of your eye—the most precious and vulnerable thing you have and that which gives you clarity of vision. Because when you see clearly you know clearly.

P
Father, how precious is Your Word to me. I want to see clearly and to know and keep close Your commands to me. Thank you for Your Word that gives us wisdom and understanding.

Two Good Legs to Stand On

S
(2 Corinthians 6:3,4) “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we command ourselves in every way.”

O
The preceding verse declares that today is always the day of salvation, and more specifically, now is perpetually the exact time of salvation. Atheist existentialists tend to focus on the here-and-now to justify hedonism. Paul agrees—a joyful life is part of God’s plan for us. The difference is in knowing that we must give account to Christ for how we spend our moments. We have a unique perception on what is available to us at each moment; joy, contentment, and purpose.

A
Because of our rich options, these first Christians refused to let life’s problems impede their readiness to enjoy salvation or share it with others. As examples, Paul listed ten super problems in verses 4 and 5. And in verses 6 and 7, Paul lists tools to thrive in the midst of these problems. Each problem launches new options for demonstrating the Gospel to others. Finally, in verses 8 to 10, Paul combines the difficulties with the opportunities to show how we can live.

P

Lord, I thank You for Your frankness. You are not glorified by the sin that sometimes affects us and hurts us, but You are glorified by us withdrawing from sin in ways that commend Your goodness to others. Thank You for saving us from ourselves.

I Just Wanna Be Happy!

S
Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10

O
Paul feels bad that his earlier letter (1 Corinthians) caused sorrow to his readers, but he quickly sets that aside while rejoicing in sorrow's result. He tells them that God intended for them to feel this kind of sorrow—the kind that leads to repentance, salvation, and no regret. He also tells them there is another kind of sorrow that comes from the world and brings death.

A
Wow. I can feel sorrow without fear. And it's a good thing when the Holy Spirit reveals my sin, not to condemn me, but to stimulate repentance. Sometimes this sorrow comes as the voice of conscience or the rebuke of Scripture as I'm reading. Other times it is in the words of a dear friend who sees me as I am and loves me enough to gently tell me the truth. But this kind of sorrow is always short-lived. As soon as I turn to the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing, the sorrow begins to give way to joy. If I wallow in a selfish sorrow, worrying about what others might think or how I may have harmed myself, I'm not aware of anything but my own injury. There's death in that kind of sorrow because I'm looking at myself rather than the God who saves and heals.

P
Dear Jesus: I want to be quick to repent. I want my heart to be so tender that I feel the pangs of Godly sorrow as quick as possible, so that I can turn to you from my sin without delay. I love you Lord and I want to be the kind of Christian who has a tender heart and really thick skin.

Well Equipped

S
(2 Corinthians 1:21,22) “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us, and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a down payment” (ESV).

O
What does God do for us wounded, lost, proud people who humbly turn to Him? He establishes us securely in relationships with other redeemed and Heaven-bound saints. He anoints us like He anointed our Savior—the Anointed One—was devotes us for God’s good plans. He seals us so we are certified, identified, and protected as His prized possessions. Finally, (at least in this list), He equips us with a downpayment of His Spirit, promising that in Heaven we’ll be fully equipped to fully know and experience His Spirit.

A
God has outfitted me with reasons to be secure in an insecure world, to have excesses of hope in a hopeless world, and to have purpose and value in circumstances that look at first glance only pointless and painful.

P

Lord, because You’ve established me inside and alongside Your church, I give myself to honor and bless Your beloved people as You do. Thank You for anointing, sealing and outfitting me with Your Spirit...What amazing grace!