The reading for day 44 was Psalms 109-134. 109:8 Let his days be few; [and] let another take his office. Psalm 109 is quoted in Acts as being a prophecy about Judas Iscariot when Peter quotes verse 8 as they are finding a replacement for Judas. Psalm 109 really takes on a lot of meaning when viewed as a condemnation of Judas and those who put Jesus to death. Verses 9 and 10 say: 109:9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. 109:10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places. Basically the whole Psalm is a curse on Judas and the others who put Jesus to death. Reading it makes me happy that I am no longer one who curses God and shakes my head at Him as I pass by. 111:2 The works of the LORD [are] great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. 111:3 His work [is] honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 111:4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion. 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. This passage brings to our minds the greatness of who God is and what He has done. The thing that I notice most is that it is all about what God has done, how He makes his name known, His works to be remembered, and how He is the one who remembers the covenant. Its great that He does because the human race has become excellent at forgetting, and thats no complement. 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments. The rest of Psalm 112 describes how the man who fears the Lord and delights in His commands will be blessed. I wanna be that guy. I want my children to be mighty in the land, wealth and riches to stay in my house and righteuosness to endure forever, to be freely generous and conduct my affaris with righteousness, to never be shaken and be remembered forever, to have no fear of bad news because I trust in the Lord, for my heart to be secure and have no fear, to look in triumph on my foes, to give gifts to the poor and my righteousness endure forever, for my horn to be lifted high in honor. What an amazing thing it would be and, Lord willing, will be in my life. And now a few verses from Psalm 119 119:2 Blessed [are] they that keep his testimonies, [and that] seek him with the whole heart. 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and] quicken thou me in thy way. 119:50 This [is] my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 119:71 [It is] good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments [are] right, and [that] thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 119:81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: [but] I hope in thy word. 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: [but] thy commandment [is] exceeding broad. 119:126 [It is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law. Psalm 119 has, in almost every verse, a reference to God's law, word decree, etc. I wonder what would happen if we began to pray the Psalms. What would happen in our lives and in the life of the church, especially if we prayed things like verse 126 of Psalm 119. In Psalm 127 we see that God is the master builder and without His approval our plans mean nothing. We also see that our children are a blessing to us. Is there any significance in pairing these two ideas together? 130:4 But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. God forgives so that men will fear Him. What an amazing thing it is to be forgiven. |