Tag Archives: Psalms

God’s Word Is More Precious Than Gold

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Last night in housegroups one of the passages that we looked at was Psalm 19:7-11 and we spent some time discussing verse 10.

David here describes the Law of the Lord as being “more precious than gold.” This is a challenging thought especially when you think that he did not have the whole bible like we do. In fact he may well have only had the first four books of the bible.

Some of these passages we find a bit dry and difficult yet to David they were precious and worth more than gold. I’m reminded of believers in countries where it is illegal to have a bible. I’ve read stories of these believers taking all sorts of risks just to acquire one. They risk imprisonment yet the bible is so precious to them that they are prepared to risk their all to obtain a portion of scripture.

Most of us no doubt have many different translations at home and if we visit Bible Gateway we have access to numerous versions.

I guess if we are being honest we would find it difficult to honestly say with David that God’s word is “more precious than gold.” We need to ask God to give us that hunger for His word so that it might become fresh and exciting to us too.

Praying the Psalms

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There are some wonderful prayers in the Psalms which we can pray for ourselves. I’ve just read the following two which I found very useful:

Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. (Psalm 141:3-4)

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I Know the Lord Is Great

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The Psalmist confidently declares in Psalm 135:5 “I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.”

Interesting he does not say “I believe that the Lord is great” but instead “I know.” To him there is no doubt, debate or hesitation it is a fact that the Lord is great.

So do I know that? Well of course I do is the quick answer that comes back! As Christians it’s easy sometimes to come up with the right answer to questions like that. However deep down in my heart do I really know that as a reality in my day to day life?

If I know that the Lord is great then I can rest secure in Him and not worry about the future. There may be difficult economic times ahead but if I know the Lord is great that should make a difference to my life.

There are many wonderful expressions of praise and worship in the Psalms. If I know that the Lord is great then this be shown in my worship of Him. It should be full of awe, amazement and wonder at His greatness.

May we all be able to say sincerely “I know that the Lord is great!”

Trusting in God

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I am currently reading through the Psalms and one of the themes that is occuring regulary is the psalmist saying that God is his refuge and the importance of trusting in God.

As our new government prepares to annouce its spending plans many people are nervous about how this will effect them. I think we need to learn from the psalmist and ensure that we take refuge in God and trust Him.

Trust in Him at all times , O people: Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8

Watch Your Words

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This morning I was reading Psalm 15 in which David asks the question “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?” He lists some characteristics of such a person and then at the end of verse 3 says, “and casts no slur on his fellow man.”

According to the dictionary the word “slur” means: a disparaging remark, an insult or slight.

The Bible contains much teaching on the importance of the words we speak and James warns us that praising God and cursing men, who he has made, out of the same mouth is not acceptable.

Most of us no doubt have opened our mouths and said things that we later regretted. At work we can recall emails and resend them if we decide to rephrase something we have said. However you cannot do that with words that you speak. Once you open your mouth and say them it’s too late to recall them!

These days we also have to remember that we can slur someone by a comment we might leave on a blog or something we might post on any of the social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

We need God’s grace to help us ensure that our words are honouring and pleasing to Him.

Prayer: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. O Lord. my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

He does not treat us as our sins deserve

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In Psalm 103 as David praises God for all His goodness he says the words:

“he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities”

David knew only to well the reality of sin in his life. This is a man who after all had committed both adultery and murder. He was guilty and knew what he deserved. David also though knew the mercy and forgiveness of God in his life too. No wonder he delighted in praising God.

Likewise all of us deserve to go to hell. We have greatly sinned against God and there is no excuse as we are all guilty. We deserve the ultimate punishment. Yet in His wonderful mercy and grace God reaches down in Christ Jesus and offers His forgiveness to those who trust in Him. What wonderful news! I’m not being treated as I deserve but can experience God’s mercy and compassion.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul”

Cherishing Sin

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This morning I read Psalm 66 and was struck by verse 18

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened”

According to the dictionary the word cherish means: “care for, be fond of, be attached to.”

So if I apply that to any sin in my life the obvious challenging questions to ask myself are:

1. Am I fond of the sin in my life?

2. Am I attached to the sin in my life?

3. If so then why?