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A Resource by Mark D. Roberts |
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by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts
Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts
Note: You may download this resource at no cost, for personal use or for use in a Christian ministry, as long as you are not publishing it for sale. All I ask is that you give credit where credit is due. For all other uses, please contact me at mark@markdroberts.com. Thank you.
Sunday, July 23, 2006 
Psalm 21:1
In your strength the king rejoices, O LORD,
and in your help how greatly he exults!
Prayer
O Lord, how easy it is for me to take credit for that which You have done in and through me. I can claim as my own that which is truly a gift from You. Help me, Lord, to be like David, to rejoice in Your strength and to exult in Your help. May I see just how much You are guiding and blessing me. And even if I don't always see it, may I nevertheless understand how much my very life depends on You.
Gracious God, even as I rejoice in Your help, I ask for more. Help me to walk in Your ways. Keep me from evil, from temptations I cannot overcome. Guide my thinking, my praying, my writing. Help me to think Your thoughts after You, and to acknowledge You as the source of all truth.
Amen.
Postscript
"I was merely thinking God's thoughts after him. Since we astronomers are priests of the highest God in regard to the book of nature, it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
Attributed to Johannes Kepler, a 17th century German astronomer
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Psalm 49:7
Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life,
there is no price one can give to God for it.
Prayer
Indeed, there is no ransom I can give You for my life. I can't pay any price to set myself free from my bondage to sin and death. My good works won't buy my freedom. My good intentions won't unlock the chains. No matter how hard I try, I simply don't have the required resources to come up with the ransom.
But You, gracious God, have done an amazing thing. You have paid my ransom. You have done what I could never do, paying the price for my sin. In Jesus Christ I have been set free.
Thank You, dear Lord, for this marvelous gift. May I receive it, not lightly or in vain. May I live today as a free person, one no longer under the domination of sin. Knowing that I am forgiven, may I live in consistent fellowship with You, enjoying that which Your ransom has bought for me.
Postscript
For there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
who gave himself a ransom for all.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Psalm 56:13
For you have delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Prayer
This is what I truly desire, Lord, to walk before You, to live my life with intentional awareness of Your presence, to seek to glorify You in all I do . . . everything, not just the "religious stuff." You know, dear Father, that sometimes I do live with this intentionality. But often I do not, either because of forgetfulness or because of willful disobedience. Forgive me for the times I walk as if You weren't there, even for when I wish You weren't watching me.
O Lord, help to live before You each moment, offering my life as a living sacrifice to You. Guide me by Your light – the light of life! Show me how I might magnify You in all I do, every day.
Postscript
To walk before God means, of course, to live one's life before God. Sometimes I wonder about this use of the walking metaphor, especially when I think of how I tend to live. Running would be a more accurate image, or perhaps rushing, or scurrying, or multitasking. I'm not sure I like how these play out, however. "So that I may rush before God in the light of life" – not there's something I'd rather not pray!
I don't want to read into the walk metaphor more than is intended. But I am convinced that walking works better than many other options. When I walk, I'm more attentive. I see the weather, the flowers, even my neighbors. When I walk I often think and pray. When I walk I make forward progress, but I'm not exhausted when I'm done. And when I walk, I can go on for a long time. Whereas when I run, for example, I can only go about an hour at the most.
Are you walking through life? Or running? Scurrying? Multitasking? Or . . . ?
Sometimes, of course, walking isn't all that easy. In the picture below my wife and children are trying to "walk" up the Virgin River in the Narrows of Zion National Park. Does your life ever feel like this?
The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, September 3, 2006
Psalm 63:2
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory .
Prayer
Dear Lord, though my sanctuary differs greatly from that of David, as a place for congregational worship rather than a temple for sacrifices, nevertheless I can echo his prayer. I have seen You in the sanctuary. I have beheld Your power and glory in this precious context.
How many times have I limped into a worship service, dry and distracted, only to be quickened by Your presence? How many times have I been reminded, by songs and prayers, by Scripture and sermon, of Your grace, majesty, and love? Though I don't see You with my eyes in the sanctuary – and, of course, David didn't either – I see You with the vision of my heart. I sense Your gracious, holy, transforming presence.
Thank You, dear Lord, for making Yourself known to me in the context of corporate worship. Thank You for all the times You have graciously reached out to me. Thank You for those who have written hymns, songs, and prayers. Thank You for those who have preached Your truth. Thank You for meeting me at Your table, for revealing Your mercy once again through bread and the cup. How good it is, Lord, to "see" you in the sanctuary!
Postscript
During my sabbatical I've had opportunity to be in worship, not as a preacher, but as a congregational participant. A few days ago I was able to worship with my own congregation and hear the Word of God preached by a member of my church. I sensed God's gracious presence as we sang and confessed together. I heard the Spirit nudge my heart through the sermon. It's a wonderful thing to "see" God in the sanctuary!
The picture below of is a worship service in the sanctuary of my church.
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The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, September 3, 2006
Psalm 70:4
Let those who love your salvation
say evermore, “God is great!”
Prayer
As I read this verse, Lord, I'm struck, first of all, by how easily I take Your salvation for granted. I'm truly glad that You have saved me from sin and death. Yet I find it terribly easy to live as if this is old news. After all, I first put my faith in Christ over forty years ago. Sometimes I can forget just how wonderful Your salvation is. Forgive me, Lord, for my presumption and lack of gratitude.
I wonder, though, what would it mean for me to love Your salvation? Surely it would involve feeling grateful. But I think there's more. When I love something, I delight in it, I treasure it, I focus upon it, I am energized by it. And I tend to tell others about it. This is exactly where Psalm 70 leads me: "Let those who love your salvation say evermore, 'God is great!'"
Lord, this is more than merely enjoying Your salvation. It's enjoying You and declaring, not merely the greatness of what You have done for us, but also the greatness of You! When I reflect upon Your salvation, I realize just how wonderful You are. Thus loving Your salvation flows naturally into love for Your and the desire to share this love with others.
Finally, dear Lord, I notice the word "evermore." I am to proclaim Your magnificence, not just when I'm a new believer, and not just once in a while, but continually. Help me to do this more faithfully. Help me, when I rise in the morning, to remember Your salvation and to proclaim Your greatness. Remind me, through Your Spirit, to share this good news with others.
Postscript
Charles Spurgeon,
The Treasury of David, on Psalm 70:4
And let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. Those who have tasted divine grace, and are, therefore, wedded to it, are a somewhat more advanced race, and these shall not only feel joy, but shall with holy constancy and perseverance tell abroad their joy, and call upon men to glorify God. The doxology, "Let the Lord's name be magnified, "is infinitely more manly and ennobling than the dog's bark of "Aha, aha." |
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Comment?
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The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Psalm 77:12
I will meditate on all your work,
and muse on your mighty deeds.
Prayer
O Lord, sometimes it's easy for me to forget who You are. It's not that my theology has changed, or that I have intentionally rejected the truth. Rather, in my mind and heart You become, well, smaller, more like my personal valet than the Creator of the Universe and the Savior who directs all of history. My prayers end up focusing on my personal needs, but even then I don't ask too much. My vision shrinks even as my sense of who You are diminishes. Forgive me, Lord!
Help me take time to meditate on all your work, to muse on your mighty deeds. Let me remember the majesty of Your creation, its beauty, grandeur, and intricateness. Help me recount Your wondrous works of salvation, both in history and in my own life. Clarify my vision so that I might see You more clearly, and thus be astounded afresh by Your power and mercy. May I remember You when the challenges of life seem like too much, or when I feel afraid, or when I try to take on that which is Yours to do. As I reflect on who You are, gracious God, may I experience once again the peace that exceeds understanding.
To You be all the glory! Amen!
Postscript
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:6-8)
Talk about God's mighty deeds! This view of the Sabrina basin in the High Sierra of California offers a tiny glimpse of God's beauty and power.
Comment?
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The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Psalm 84:1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
Prayer
Lord, when the writer composed Psalm 84, he knew where Your dwelling place was to be found . . . in Jerusalem, in the temple. The temple was lovely, not only because of its striking architecture, but most of all because it signified Your presence with Your people. What, indeed, could be more lovely than this?
So how should I pray Psalm 84 as a Christian? Where is Your dwelling place now?
I think of the heavens, both literally and figuratively. The brilliant colors of a summer sunset remind me of the beauty of Your dwelling. Indeed, the heavens declare Your glory.
But Your dwelling is more than "up there." Scripture teaches us that the divine Word became flesh and "dwelt" among us. In Jesus Christ You were fully present here on earth. How wonderful to consider Your beauty in the humility, grace, strength, and sacrificial love of Christ!
Through Him You gave us the Spirit who now dwells in and among us. When we gather as Your people, Lord, we are a dwelling place for You. How beautiful it is to see Your people worshipping together, ministering to each other, and representing You in the world. Your church, however confused and distracted we can be at times, is nevertheless lovely when we reflect Your presence. Thank You for dwelling among us. Help us to enjoy Your presence more, to marvel at Your beauty, and to shine with Your light into the world.
Postscript
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Some Images of God's Dwelling Place
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A model of the temple in Jerusalem (from the Holyland Hotel in Jerusalem) |
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A blazing sunset in Montana |
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The congregation of Canal Street Presbyterian Church in New Orleans. The church property sustained major damage in Hurrican Katrina, and the congregation was scattered for many months. But they are gathered again, a moving forward in ministry. (HT to Steve Norris for this picture). |
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Sunday, October 1, 2006
Psalm 91:9-10
Because you have made the LORD your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
Prayer
Have I made You my refuge, Lord? Really? Are You the shelter to which I run in times of trial? Do I find my safety and security in You?
Ultimately, the answer is "yes." When the storms of life pound upon me, eventually I run to You. But the operative word here is "eventually." So often I look for security elsewhere before turning to You. I try to figure things out, to come up with a plan to fix things. "I should be able to think myself out of this jam," I reason. At other times, when my own cleverness doesn't seem to help, I get stuck in worry. I spin out all sorts of terrible scenarios, keeping myself up at night and revving up my adrenaline during the day. Finally, when I can't fix things either by thinking or by anxiety, I look for refuge in You. You end up as my last resort rather than my first shelter. Forgive me, Lord, for my foolishness and arrogance. Forgive me for neglecting Your goodness and kindness. Forgive me when I forget Your promises.
O Lord, by Your Spirit, help me to find refuge in You. When the trials of life mount up, may I turn to You first and foremost. In fact, Lord, teach me to live in You each day so that finding refuge in You is something I experience all the time, both in stormy times and in times of blessing. Then, when the challenges come, I don't so much have to run to You for help as to enjoy the security I already have in Your presence.
Finally, thank You, dear Lord, for being my refuge and strength, my very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). You are there for me when I need You. You are there, waiting, even when I forget to turn to You. How blessed I am to have You as my God! How blessed we are who put our trust in You!
Postscript
The idea of refuge reminds me of an experience I had a couple of years ago. My son and I were hiking in the High Sierra mountains outside of Bishop, California. While we marveled at the alpine lakes and towering cliffs, large, ominous clouds began to form. When the winds picked up, we decided to turn around and head back to our car. But before long the rain began. First it just sprinkled on us. But, soon, we were being pounded by large, cold drops that felt like tiny pebbles when they hit bodies. As we raced down the trail, we got thoroughly drenched. Finally we made it back to my car, a VW camper. While we changed our clothes, I brewed some hot chocolate. Finally, in dry clothes and sipping our drinks, Nathan and I sat in silence as we listened to the rain batter the roof of my car. How good it felt to be warm and safe in the midst of the storm. It was refuge, sweet refuge.
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Nathan, cozy in my camper while it pours outside. |
Comment?
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The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Psalm 98:5
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
Prayer
Thank You, Gracious God, for the "lyre." Thank You for the gift of music. How wondrously music lifts our souls before You. It gives life to our words of praise. It joins our hearts and our minds. Through music we are able to praise You with heart, soul, mind, and strength. It gives us the freedom to sing, to shout, even to clap or dance. Music loosens our voices and inspires our hearts.
Music also binds us all together in our worship. When we sing, our voices agree, both in words and tones. Music helps us to worship You as one people, with one heart.
Thank You, dear Lord, for those who lead worship in our churches. [Take a few moments to mention these people by name.] Thank You for their skill and talent, for their practice and preparation. Thank You most of all for their love for You, and for the way that love touches us and encourages us to adore You.
May the music of Your people give You joy this day, dear Lord! All praise be to You!
Postscript
Psalm 98:5 tells us to sing praises "with the lyre." The Hebrew original of this phrase uses the word kinnor. Interestingly, this word seems to have come from an Indian word kinnara, which was imported into Hebrew by way of Hittite, an ancient Semitic language. The kinnor was a harp-like instrument, with a wooden frame and ten strings (usually). It is the first musical instrument mentioned in the Bible (Gen 4:21). It was used in both secular (Gen 31:27) and sacred contexts. Even today, in many of our churches, musical worship is accompanied by stringed instruments (pianos, guitars, etc.).
In 1 Samuel 16:23, David, the future king, is said to play the kinnor with his hand. The first-century Jewish historian Josephus attributes the invention of instruments, including the kinnor, to David, though he believes the kinnor (translated below as viol) was played with a bow (or plectrum, a sort of pick).
And now David being freed from wars and dangers, and enjoying for the future a profound peace, composed songs and hymns to God, of several sorts of meter; some of those which he made were trimeters, and some were pentameters. He also made instruments of music, and taught the Levites to sing hymns to God, both on that called the sabbath day, and on other festivals. Now the construction of the instruments was thus: The viol was an instrument of ten strings, it was played upon with a bow; the psaltery had twelve musical notes, and was played upon by the fingers; the cymbals were broad and large instruments, and were made of brass. And so much shall suffice to be spoken by us about these instruments, that the readers may not be wholly unacquainted with their nature. (Antiquities 7.12.3)
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Left: a modern version of the lyre (or kinnor) based on the ancient Jewish instrument.
If you'd like to hear a what a kinnor sounds like, there is a video clip on YouTube, believe it or not! |
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| Above: This design comes, in part, from Jewish coins minted 132/133 A.D., during the Jewish revolt against Rome led by Simon bar Kochba. On the reverse of the coin was a picture of a kinnor. The words read in translation: Year 1 of the Redemption of Israel. |
Comment?
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The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Psalm 112:1
Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I'm struck today by the notion that I might "greatly delight" in your commandments. Of course, for me, your commandments include more than just the Old Testament law. The whole of Scripture could be summarized by the phrase, "your commandments." So I ask myself: Do I greatly delight in Your Written Word?
Sometimes I do truly take joy in Scripture. I think of times when I'm exhausted or discouraged. I turn to my daily psalm and find words of reassurance and hope. I am like a thirsty man drinking from a fresh stream, truly enjoying Your Word.
There are other times when I'm studying, perhaps in preparation for a sermon or a lesson, and I discover something new even in a text I've examined dozens of times before. I'm amazed at the depth of Your revealed truth, and how it continues to teach me throughout decades of study.
For those times of delight in Your Word I thank You. They are gifts from You, and how grateful I am for them.
Yet there are too many other times, Lord, when I take Your Word for granted. It's rather like how I am with members of my family. I get so used to them that I don't see them as the wonderful gifts they are too me. So it can be with the Bible. This nonchalance seems almost like an inevitable result of a familiarity with the Scripture that is, in some ways, a good thing. Yet I long for a continual, yes, even a daily delight in Your Word.
So forgive me, Lord, when I forget what a gift You have given me in Your written revelation. By Your Spirit, help me to delight, not only modestly, but greatly in Your Word. And may that joy spill over so that others may be drawn to Your truth.
Postscript
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
(Psalm 19: 7-10)
Comment? |
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Copyright © Leonid Nishko
(Purchased through istockphoto.com) |
If you would like to add a comment on this post, click here.
The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Psalm 119:11
I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
Prayer
As I reflect upon this verse, Lord, I am struck by the good news it conveys. I would really like to sin less. I know that sin hurts me even as it dishonors You. Yet sometimes it seems that the harder I fight against my sin, the more I am caught in it. There are times when my soul echoes the lament of Paul in Romans, "Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
The good news is that You can rescue me, that You have rescued me through Christ, and that You will continue to rescue me from sin as a rely upon You. One of the ways You do this is through Your written Word. As I take Your word into my heart, as I treasure it, meditate upon it, memorize it, and, indeed, pray it, my desires slowly change. The sin that once lured me no longer seems so pleasing because You are infinitely more desirable. The lies I told myself in order to rationalize my sin are exposed in their falsehood by the clarity of Your truth. Though I can still be tempted to sin, my heart yearns to be with You even more. Your Word helps this to happen in my heart.
So I thank You, Lord, for the gift of the Scripture. Yes, it teaches me who You are and how I might know You. Yes, it reveals truthful theology. Yes, it shows me how I should live my life. But today I celebrate the fact that Your Word transforms my heart, helping me not to sin. What a gift this is! Thanks, dear Lord!
Postscript
As a first-grader in the Sunday School of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, I learned Psalm 119:11, though in the classic King James Version: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." This verse was interpreted as referring to Bible memory, something that was strongly encouraged for children at Hollywood. The original Hebrew uses the verb tzafan for "I have hid." It does have this literal meaning, but it can also mean "to treasure something or someone." Thus the sense of Psalm 119:11 can sure include memorization of Scripture, though the meaning is broader. It encourages us to treasure God's Word, not only through memorizing it, but also through study, meditation, prayer, and obedience. |
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The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood
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About Psalm 119:11 John Calvin wrote in his commentary:
"Here we are informed that we are well fortified against the stratagems of Satan when God’s law is deeply seated in our hearts. For unless it have a fast and firm hold there, we will readily fall into sin. Among scholars, those whose knowledge is confined to books, if they have not the book always before them, readily discover their ignorance; in like manner, if we do not imbibe the doctrine of God, and are well acquainted with it, Satan will easily surprise and entangle us in his meshes. Our true safeguard, then, lies not in a slender knowledge of his law, or in a careless perusal of it, but in hiding it deeply in our hearts."
Comment?
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The Daily Psalm
The Daily Psalm is my devotional website. Each day I put up a psalm, a prayer based on that psalm, and some additional input, like a brief commentary or a quotation. I use material from The Daily Psalm on markdroberts.com for Sunday inspiration.
Sunday, November 5, 2006 |
