New Year Bible Reading Plan and More

Has this ever happened to you? You start out a brand-new year and want to read the Bible. But, like any other habit, it’s hard to start and see it all the way through. If you fall behind on a Bible reading plan, then it’s easy to get discouraged. After a few weeks, giving up and hoping for next year seems like the inevitable outcome.

I’d like to invite you to read the New Testament with me over the next three months, no more than five days a week. We’ll start in January of 2021, and finish 13 weeks later, on April 1st. Each day’s Bible reading will be around 20 minutes or less. Built into this reading plan are opportunities to catch up if you fall behind.

Throughout this reading program, the emphasis will be on reading whole books of the Bible as quickly as possible. And that’s why I’ve called this reading plan, Wholly Bible Reading. Some of the longer books will take a few days, even a couple of weeks. But we can read the shorter ones quickly, in just a few days.

The “Whole Book” Advantage

It’s especially important to read whole books. This is how an author intends for his or her material to be read, and the Bible authors are no exception. I have found that reading an entire book of the Bible in one sitting helps me to grasp its overall message and see firsthand its continuity from beginning to end. You’ll be in a far better position to see each book’s main divisions and hear the author’s tone, key words, and passion. You’ll especially see this in the letters.

The Reading Plan

In fact, we’ll start with the letters. We’re going to ease into our New Testament reading program by only reading two days the first week. But in those two days, we’re going to read three of Paul’s thirteen letters! In just six weeks, you’ll have read all 13 of Paul’s letters in the order that he wrote them. If you fall behind, you’re going to have plenty of time to catch up.

After reading the remaining letters—Hebrews through Jude—we’ll read Revelation together and then turn our attention to the Gospel of Luke. We’ll finish our reading plan with Luke’s companion volume, Acts.

Earlier I wrote that we’re going to read the New Testament in three months. That’s not entirely accurate, though, because we’ll only be reading one of the four Gospels. In order to shave off 1½–2 months, we’ll be omitting Matthew, Mark, and John this time around, which means we’ll only read Luke’s Gospel in January, February and March of 2021. (What I would love for us to do is read the remaining three Gospels in April and May.)

Throughout the Wholly BibleReading program, you need to remember that we’re just reading these books. There’s a big difference between reading and studying. For this reading plan, try not to get too bogged down in the details. You’ll do that later when you study these books. Right now, as we start the new year, we’re just trying to reacquaint ourselves with the glorious content of the New Testament.

Daily Videos

I want to help you stay with your reading plan and turn it into a habit (if it isn’t already). And that’s why I’ve made some short videos to go along with each week’s readings. In these videos, there are numerous highlights of important concepts to look for as you read. I’ve started a new YouTube channel, where the videos will be made available at the start of each week.

Most of us are familiar with YouTube. But in case you’re not, please know that watching these videos on YouTube costs nothing. It is absolutely free to watch the YouTube channel, Big Picture Seminars. Every week, there will be new videos made available. There’s a bell that you can click, which will enable the YouTube platform to send a message to you via email or text, alerting you to any new videos. (You can always “unclick” the bell at any time if you don’t like this reminder.) The videos will be made available every Sunday afternoon, starting January 3rd.

These short videos are not intended to be detailed studies. Rather, they hopefully will motivate you to read each day. They will remind you of the assigned reading and provide just enough to help you have some ideas of what to expect and details to look for in each day’s reading.

Some Suggestions

Here are five suggestions to help you get started:

1. Find somewhere quiet to read. In other words, if possible, get in the habit of reading in the same place. This will help you stay with it and make your daily Bible reading a habit. I would like to encourage you to read your Bible out loud. If you think this is a good idea (it will help with retention), but feel timid, then it’s important to find a place where you won’t be overheard.

2. Before we start the plan next month, find 20 minutes in your schedule for when you can read. Preferably, this should always be at the same time of day.

3. Find a good translation that is easy for you to read. I highly recommend that you use a more literal translation, such as the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the English Standard Version (ESV), the New King James Version (NKJV) or the austere King James Version (KJV).

4. Consider also using a paraphrase. If you’re a seasoned Bible student whose read from these more literal versions for many years, you might consider reading from a thought-for-thought translation such as the New Living Translation (NLT). As you know, we must be careful when we read from these more dynamic translations. But it can be beneficial to read from a translation we’re not accustomed to. It might break something loose in our minds as we read, causing us to reevaluate the meaning of a phrase, or a verse, or a passage. If you decide to try the NLT or something comparable, I would recommend you use it alongside one of the more literal translations mentioned above.

5. Sign up for the daily videos. These short videos are designed to encourage you and keep you focused on key concepts you’ll read in each day’s reading. The easiest way to get these is to subscribe to the new YouTube channel, “Big Picture Seminars.” (See the link below.)

Conclusion

There are a lot of other Bible reading plans out there. This one, Wholly Bible Reading, is just one more among many. I hope it will be a great way for you to go through your New Testament as you start the new year.

THREE IMPORTANT LINKS:

BIG PICTURE SEMINARS YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/bpseminars-youtube

BIG PICTURE SEMINARS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bigpictureseminars

PDF checklist of each day’s reading: https://bit.ly/2020-WBR-NT-luke

Marc Hinds

Come Hungry

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6).”

Righteousness is a verdict of approval or an acceptable condition. All reasonable people desire righteousness; but it is the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness who will be blessed with satisfaction.

We would like to live in a righteous environment, yet we live in a fallen world.  We would like to have righteous leadership, yet frailties invade even the best of human administrations.  We would like to be righteous souls, yet our fleshly lusts and pride betray us. It should not come as a surprise that man hungers for a good society, good leaders, and a good self.  After all, we were created to be inhabitants of Eden, companions of our Creator, upright souls formed in His image. Now look at us – it is no wonder both our Maker and we find our current condition unacceptable, unsatisfactory, unrighteous.  Still, Jesus promises blessedness in the eager pursuit of righteousness and a satisfying conclusion to our search.

Do you hunger for a righteous world? God promises “a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2Peter 3:13).” In this new, righteous world, “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water (Revelation 7:16-17).”

Do you hunger for righteous leaders? God has enthroned a righteous King, one both wise and powerful, who is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness (Isaiah 55:6-7).”

Do you hunger to be righteous? God has established a way for us to be counted by God as righteous, despite the guilt of our sin. This righteousness is not “a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith (Philippians 3:9).” It was bought and paid for by God (2Cor 5:21), revealed to man by God (Romans 1:16-17), and is sustained by God’s faithful justice and merciful forgiveness (1John 1:9).”

A feast of righteousness which will satisfy our hunger is set. A hungry person comes to the table; he eats what is set before him; he delights in the meal.  God cries out, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David (Isaiah 55:1-3).”

Come and hear; come hungry! I will never forget the May 28, 2017 assembly. It was a very special occasion for me.  That Sunday morning, as I sat beside my brother, Aaron, his kind, smiling “Good morning” somehow seemed more pleasant and welcoming than ever.  As Jason led us in prayer, I listened carefully; when he interceded on behalf of those suffering, tears welled in my eyes.  I had just spoken to two sisters whose physical infirmities were weighing more heavily on my heart than before.  Ryan led us in a medley of songs which ended with How Deep The Father’s Love. For some reason, the songs were somehow more encouraging, sweeter than the other times I had sung them.  Conrad had me spellbound as he read about and commented on the centurion at Calvary.  The Supper seemed more poignant and personal. Rickie spoke to us about excelling in our knowledge of God’s Word.   His exhortations seemed more applicable to my needs than ever.  What was happening here?  Were the prayers and songs and communion and sermon somehow different on this day?

I had entered this assembly under a personal cloud. I had been told by my employer that I would have to work seven days a week for at least the next two months.  I was stressed about the challenges of the job, but much more distressing was the prospect of not being able to assemble with my brethren for many Sundays and Wednesdays to come. Why hadn’t I listened as intently prior to this Sunday?  What hadn’t I sung with more joy and passion before?  Why hadn’t I wept about my Lord’s suffering or my brethren’s struggles the previous Sundays?

Before that Sunday, my attitude about the assembly had been that there would be another assembly next Sunday, and each Sunday after that.  I knew where and when my next meal would be. Sundays were pleasant, but I just wasn’t all that…hungry.  It wasn’t until I faced the likelihood that assemblies would be few and far between for a while that every aspect and activity in the assembly became delicious to me.

Had I become complacent, jaded, self-assured, and neglectful to the point of just going through the motions?  I suppose I thought I had mastered worship.  What a fool I was.  I had forgotten that what I needed was for worship to master me.

Joni Mitchell sang, “Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”  I had paved paradise, made it all level and comfortable and easily navigated.  But on May 28, 2017, I came to the Throne with a hunger for His righteousness. That Sunday, I brought only my brokenness for my Lord to heal.  I came empty, needy, hungry and thirsty. And I remember that Sunday, because I left filled.

What if every Sunday was like that for you and me?  It would change us individually. It would change us as a congregation. We know about other times and other places where assemblies have been restricted or forbidden. We have now experienced that even in America, assembling on Sunday is not to be taken for granted.  The lesson from 2020:  Come hungry to be filled!

By Boyd King

"Out of the Mouths of Infants" - Psalm 8

1   O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! (ESV)

Just as our songbooks contain various categories of songs, Israel’s book of praises contained various styles of psalms. Some are hymns of thanks, others are expressions of lament, and others summarize the wisdom for living. Psalm 8 is a hymn of praise, beginning and ending with the same expression of adoration for God:

O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1, 9)

There are many reasons to praise God to be sure. This psalm focuses on one aspect of God’s praiseworthiness – his work as creator. God’s glory is revealed in the moon and stars (8:3); the sheep, oxen, and beasts of the field (8:7); the birds of the heavens and fish of the sea (8:8).

But above all, the psalmist expresses awe and gratitude for God’s creation of humanity. Compared to the vast stretches of space, it seems unlikely that God would be mindful of us (8:4). And yet, not only has God created us, he has crowned us with “glory and honor,” a “little lower than the heavenly beings [“God,” NASB or “angels,” NKJV]” (8:5). And just as God declared in Genesis 1:26, he has given mankind “dominion” over the works of his hands. “You have put all things under his feet” (8:6).

The majestic power of God displayed in creation is so potent that it can establish sufficient strength in the praise of nursing babies and developing toddlers “to still the enemy and the avenger” (8:2)!

As Christians, we understand that the Psalms point to our Lord (Luke 24:44), so that we can take these ancient hymns and transpose them to a higher key, centered on Christ. The New Testament usage of Psalm 8 is a beautiful example of this transposition (in the citations that follow, I will italicize the references to Psalm 8 in each passage). Since this psalm praises God for crowning mankind with glory, honor, and dominion, it is only natural to apply it to the man who is the supreme expression of God’s dominion, the Lord Jesus. So, the writer of Hebrews refers to Psalm 8 when he describes the incarnation:

“For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, ‘What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet‘” (Hebrews 2:5-8a).

And, as the writer goes on to say, while Christ has dominion over everything, that dominion has not been finally and completely acknowledged. Not everything is actually “under his feet” to use the language of Psalm 8:6. There is a “now” and a “not yet” aspect to Christ’s dominion:

“Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:8b-9).

This dominion will be realized in its entirety when Christ has subjected all enemies, including and concluding with death. “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet'” (1 Corinthians 15:25-27).

In the meantime, you and I have a job to do, taking our cue from the children who saw the mighty works of Jesus in Jerusalem:

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant, and they said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-16).

As the psalmist declared, God’s majestic power will strengthen us to “still the enemy and the avenger” – not by violence or vitriol, but by praise. Let’s get to work!

Shane Scott

Blessed Is The Man - Psalm 1

What characterizes the one considered “blessed” by God? Riches? Good health? A large family and friends? The first psalm in the Old Testament book of Psalms offers several characteristics that might surprise us:

1. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly”(1a). The man blessed by God does not look to the ungodly for advice. Having rejected the counsel of God’s word, the ungodly should be the last source we consider. If their deeds are sinful, their insights will be equally poisoned by a wicked spirit.

2. “Nor stands in the path of sinners”(1b). The “path” of those is sin is their course of life. The choices they make, the places they frequent, the responses they take to different situations all make up a “path” the blessed man will choose to avoid. He will neither follow it, nor stand in it, because he has chartered a better course.

3. “Nor sits in the seat of the scornful”(1c). Those who reject the guidance of God’s word seldom do so with a dispassionate indifference. To soothe the pains of a guilty conscience, the rebel finds it easier to mock the truth than to simply ignore it. The man blessed by God does not approach serious things with scorn but recognizes the true source of good counsel.

Having begun with three things the man blessed by God does not do, the Holy Spirit now leads the psalmist to one supreme positive characteristic:

1. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD”(2a). What delights you? A lover? A hobby? A favorite food? A law code?—probably not! God’s law is different than the volumes of books that line the shelves in a lawyer’s office. Yes, it offers mandates and prohibitions, but unlike human laws, every word revealed by the Holy Spirit gives to us the counsel of God regarding how best to live our lives.

2. “And in His law he meditates day and night”(2b). The blessed man doesn’t isolate his consideration of God’s word to a few brief hours on Sundays and Wednesdays. He reads it, reads it, and then reads it again. With every meditation he discovers some new jewel of wisdom from the mind of his Creator.

This devotion to God’s word bears great fruit. The Holy Spirit makes this clear in four graphic descriptions of the results of such focused delight:

1. “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water”(3a). The tree growing by the riverside has a constant and unceasing source of water. It is not subject to that uncertainty of rain. It does not rely upon irrigation or the melting snows of some far away mountain. Its source of life stays always near. The blessed man who delights in God’s law finds in it a constant source of life and sustenance.

2. “That brings forth its fruit in its season”(3b). Doing the right thing at the right time isn’t always easy. One left to his own experience alone can miss opportunities, overlook serious dangers, and neglect important responsibilities. The blessed man, following the guidance of God’s word bears fruit at the right time and in the needed proportions.

3. “Whose leaf also shall not wither”(3c). Seasons of life wear upon all living things, but the soul who feeds upon the eternal nourishment of God’s word maintains a youthful spiritual vigor that defies the decay of the flesh. Whether he is a young man or an old man, the blessed man of God who feeds upon the rivers of God’s law maintains an undying vitality that does “not wither.”

4. “And whatever he does shall prosper”(3d). Most human efforts are a mix of failure and success. The athlete doesn’t always score the goal. The investor doesn’t always pick a winner. The farmer doesn’t harvest every seed planted. Unlike all other human endeavors, all efforts the blessed man makes in following the direction of God will “prosper.” No other activity carries such promise.

The Holy Spirit began this psalm by offering three things the man blessed of God does not do. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit ends the psalm by contrasting the hope set before the blessed man with the negative fate that awaits the ungodly:

1. “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away”(4). It is commonly claimed that the Old Testament says nothing about life after death, the resurrection, or final judgment. The contrasting fates of the wicked and the blessed in this psalm refute these claims. While the righteous will not“wither” but “prosper,” the wicked are driven away like chaff in the wind. Is this annihilation of the soul? No. Because the psalm goes on to say:

2. “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment” (5a). What judgment is under consideration here? Many wicked avoid temporal judgments in this life, but none can avoid ultimate judgment before God. To “stand in the judgment” here expresses divine approval. Rather than being humiliated and shamed in judgment, those approved of God—those “blessed” shall “stand in the judgment.”The wicked shall not. They will face disgrace and punishment.

3. “Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous”(5b). This foresees a future “congregation”of God’s people. Who will be included in this assembly of the righteous blessed? Not sinners! Not only will they be unable to “stand” with divine approval at the final judgment, but they will be excluded from the gathering of God’s people into eternity. The psalmist does not teach universal salvation. The fate of the wicked is eternal exclusion from fellowship with God.

The contrast between the blessed man and the fate of the ungodly culminates in two clear statements regarding God’s knowledge of all men:

1. “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous”(6a). The wicked may receive the spotlight while the righteous fade into the background, but God is not blind to the true nature of every soul. The Lord knows the quiet deeds performed by the godly in secret. He sees their trials and knows the good they do. Nothing His people do escapes His notice. He knows “the way of the righteous.”

2. “But the way of the ungodly shall perish” (6b). When this world comes to an end—when human life expires, the deeds of the wicked will be brought to nothing. All popularity, beauty, wealth, and honor “shall perish.” The reality of the final fate of the wicked stands as a concluding encouragement to the righteous. The godly man devoted to God’s word will not find that his way perishes. The blessed condition of the one faithful to God will prosper into eternity.

Kyle Pope

The Good Life - Psalm 34

“The good life is here,” read the sign advertising the new housing development down the street. It communicates the commonly held view that “the good life” is found by being in the right place. What a sad and limiting view!

In contrast, Psalm 34 shows us that the good life comes from knowing the right person. No matter where you are, you can live the good life if you know the goodness of God.

David learned this lesson in one of the darkest moments of his life. He lost his job, was separated from his family, exiled from his country, sentenced to death and fell at his enemy’s gate (1 Sam. 21:10-15). From all angles life was not good. Yet surprisingly when David looked back on the occasion all he saw was goodness!

First, he saw the goodness of God. Psalm 34 begins with ten verses of praise (34:1-10), and ends with twelve verses of preaching (34:11-22). The order is significant. Yes, life is full of “troubles” (34:17). We are often “brokenhearted” and “crushed in spirit” (34:18-19). We are ignorant and needing direction (:11). But these words do not paint the full portrait!

When we step back to see the activity of God the painting is suddenly engulfed in goodness. The vision of God’s goodness comes into focus through praise (:1, personally, “I will;” :3, collectively “let us”). Worship draws our attention to how God hears the prayers of the humble (:6, “this poor man”) and answers them with deliverance and protection (:6-7, “saved” “encamped”), because “the Lord is good” (:8).

David, you are singing my song! I was also brought low by circumstances, personal weakness, and moral failures. I cried out for help and the merciful Lord heard me and helped me. My song of God’s goodness has 1000 verses! Could you not sing along with me?

Life is colored by what we choose to look at the most. If we stick our nose in the dirt all we see is mud. Worship directs our eyes backward, forward and upward to see the activity, promises and character of God. Only then do we see we are surrounded by God’s goodness. See it! Taste it! Don’t just squint your eyes to believe some facts. All of your senses tingle with the experience of his goodness (James 1:17). Once you see His goodness sing it…share it!

It is no coincidence that Peter urged believers enduring a “fiery trial” to reflect on their salvation and remember they “tasted the Lord was good” (1 Pet. 2:3; quoting Psalm 34:10). Their place was temporarily unpleasant, but that could not hide the goodness of God. The same goodness that saved them would follow them all the days of their life so that they “lacked no good thing” (Psalm 23:6; 34:10).

Secondly, the good life is not only a gift from God, but it comes from following the direction of God. David asks, “Is there anyone who wants to love life and see good days?” (34:12). Yes! Me. But is it really possible to love life? Most people “endure life” or even “hate life.” How can we love life? It happens when God’s goodness teaches us to be good to others. This takes three clear forms.

1. Talk right. “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit” (34:13). If we want to love life, we must change how we talk (Luke 6:45; Phil. 4:8). We cannot keep telling ourselves Satan’s lies without creating hell on earth.

2. Do good. “Turn away from evil and do good” (34:14). The good life is lived! One reason people “hate life” is because it is all about them. We are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10; Heb. 10:24).

3. Seek peace. “Seek peace and pursue it” (34:14). An active peace between people is the pleasant breeze of the good life. Oh, the heartbreak of conflict, the grief of strife, and the pain of disunity! Blessedness is for “the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:10; Rom. 12:18; Heb. 12:14).

Peter used David’s poem to show how the “good life” is a living testimony to the gospel in a trash talking, self-centered, violent world (1 Pet. 3:8-17, note Peter’s exposition of “good” talk, behavior and peace in :13,16(x2)17). The world needs you to live the good life (Matt. 5.13-16)!

The Good Life Has No Broken Bones

David was the first to admit “the afflictions of the righteous are many” (34:19), but he was certain that God “keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken” (34:20). In other words, life may land a few punches, but it will not knock him out.

But is this true? Will the good life survive? Just look at the cross! John applies these words to Jesus (John 19:36, quoting Psalm 34:20). Yes, he was dead when the soldiers came to check on him. So, Jesus’s legs were not broken as the others on the cross. Jesus had more life to live. This is John’s signpost to the resurrection. Ultimately, the good life knows no end!

Tim Jennings

Thirsting For God - Psalm 63

“1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:1–8 ESV)

A number of years ago I baptized a woman who had been in evangelical churches most of her life. She was a terrific student of the scriptures and passionate about her pursuit of God. However, after attending worship and classes for a number of months, she was discouraged with what she was seeing in many Christians. Her words to me were basically this: “I readily admit that evangelical churches have missed many of the details about how we are to serve and worship God and especially about baptism. But in my limited experience in churches of Christ, I find that though the culture is careful obedience, passion for God and who he is, is lacking.” I agreed that her perception was true of many, but it wasn’t true of all churches or all Christians.

Psalm 63 addresses this failure as David describes his relationship with God. It should cause us to pause and consider our own approach before God.

Twice in the psalm David speaks of his lips uttering joyful praise. But when is praise truly praise? Is it praise simply because we say the words? Is praise when we sing an upbeat song that chants, “God is great?” Everything David says in the psalm explains the foundation for praise. David clarifies when praise is truly praise, and by implication, when praise is the song of a hypocrite.

In verses 1-2, David expresses a strong desire for God. This should challenge us. Do we earnestly seek God. Does our soul thirst for God. Does our flesh faint for God in the same way we would for water in a dry and weary land? These inner spirit emotions are a fair test of our spirituality and our pursuit of God. Notice carefully, it is not simply God’s word for which David is earnestly seeking or thirsting, it is God himself. The word of God certainly is the means by which we learn and know God, but study of the word can be mechanical – simply discovering the right side of morality, behavior, and hot-button issues – but not truly developing a passion for God himself (Cf. John 5:39). It is the failure to know God in an experiential way.

Verses 2-3 explain why David has a deep desire for God. First, he has “looked upon” God “in the sanctuary” and beheld “his power and glory.” We should ask ourselves whether we have looked upon God? Have we beheld his power and glory? I remember when I would have answered that question with, “Huh?” In the Prophets (especially Isaiah), God offers us beautiful descriptions of himself that cause us to long for him and thirst for him. As John records in his gospel (12:38-41), “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.” Isaiah saw the glory of God (John’s context, Jesus), and then revealed that glory to us in his prophecy. When we study to see God, we respond as David responded.

David also thirsted for God because his “steadfast love is better than life.” Abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness is how God described and revealed himself to Moses (Ex. 34:5-6). It was that steadfast love to which Moses repeatedly appealed when he would intercede for the people. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment, “and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). To appreciate God for his steadfast love requires us to be in touch with our sin and deeply moved by our failure. Ezekiel said we would “loathe ourselves for our iniquities and abominations” (36:31). The sinful woman of Luke 7:36-51 loved much because she was forgiven much. That cannot happen until we look on God and behold his power and glory.

Verses 5-8 give us David’s contrast between one’s soul in a dry and weary land and being filled and satisfied with God. When God is our desire and our soul thirsts for him, we will be satisfied “as with fat and rich food.” Physical food is frustrating. Regardless of how good and filling it can be, in a few hours the emptiness returns. But when we hunger for God, he is the all-satisfying object; nothing else comes close. We look in vain to be filled elsewhere but we always end up in that “dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Again, David offers the mechanism by which one is satisfied by fat and rich food. He looked back and “remembered” God. On his bed, at night he rehearsed God’s presence and work in his life. He replayed how God had always been his help and protection. He saw himself “under the shadow of your wings” and as a result would “sing for joy.” Oh what a song to sing! David wrote this psalm while living in the wilderness as he escaped Saul. He was able to meditate on how God had rescued him and sustained him. David had truly experienced God’s presence, which drove him to say, “My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”

There are two primary lessons that are sorely needed by every Christian.

1. God is our ultimate goal and pursuit. To speak of the Christian life without the knowledge and experience of the ever-present and all-satisfying God is to miss what it means to “know what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:18-19).

2. Praise is a result of God being our all-satisfying joy. Praise happens when we taste the fat and rich food, tasting “the pure spiritual milk…that the Lord is good” (1 Pet. 2:2-3). Why is praise such a prominent part of the Psalms? It is because all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise. We praise what we love. We praise that which fills us. John Piper says it this way: “God is not worshiped where he is not treasured and enjoyed…Not to enjoy God is to dishonor him. To say to him that something else satisfies you more is the opposite of worship. It is sacrilege.” Indeed, to go further, to assemble and “sing songs of praise” when we have never been filled with fat and rich food is like praising a restaurant we have never visited or a person we have never known.

   Berry Kercheville

Wait On The Lord - Psalm 27

One of the greatest – and most challenging – admonitions in the entire Bible is found in Ps.27.14: “Wait on the LORD. Be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD!” There are numerous circumstances scattered along the road of life which test our trust in God. Trial and temptation, death and disease, opposition and oppression, failure and frustration each have their own peculiar impact upon our confidence in God. But few things test us like waiting tests us. Comparatively, many followers of Jesus are more than willing to stand up and contend for what is right, to actively defend our faith, to set our heart and persist in our service when confronted with difficulties. Like Peter in the garden, we’re ready to draw our sword and fight. But it is a much greater challenge to put our sword away and wait for the Lord to accomplish His plans and purposes.

We are not alone in when it comes to the challenge of waiting. Abraham waited twenty-five years for the child of promise. Moses waited four decades before God sent him back to Egypt. Saul failed to wait a full seven days for Samuel to arrive, and who knows how long David waited for God to set him on the throne of Israel. Esau couldn’t wait for supper, and sold his birthright. Job had to endure horrible loss and unfair accusation before God reminded him of His power, and still we do not know that God ever explained to him what had happened. Habakkuk and Zechariah cried to God in their confusion, waiting for answers and resolution. The prodigal son couldn’t wait to leave home. The farmer waits for the early and latter rain (Jas.5.7). The souls under the altar are told to wait for God’s vindication of their unjust death (Rev.6.10-11). Waiting is hard.

Yet, waiting on God is the ultimate expression of trust.

Psalm 27 is somewhat uncommon compared to many of David’s compositions. Most are reflective expressions of emotion, directed toward God in supplication or praise. David’s heart is laid bare in the majority of his psalms. He is crying out in pain, or fear, or confusion, or despair. Or, he is singing the praises and hailing the virtues and glories of the LORD. And, while he occasionally calls upon the reader to join him or engage in some kind of activity, most of his psalms are expressive. Rarely, however, he will offer a psalm that is purely instructive. Psalm 37 is a series of admonitions and imperatives. Similarly, Psalms 33, 34, and 66 have some directive at their heart. I would propose that Psalm 27 is intended to fall into this didactic category, though it is unique in design.

This psalm begins with statements of supreme confidence in God (v.1-6). David sees the LORD as his “light…salvation…strength.” He notes God’s past deliverance when confronted by armies of his enemies. The value of association and intimacy with YAHWEH is clear in his desire to “dwell in the house of the LORD.” He is unwavering in the certainty of God’s victory on his behalf, and that faith is expressed in sacrifice and praise. However, beginning in v.7, many see a change in tone, as David cries out for mercy, assurance, and association. This tone, it is often argued, pervades the psalm through v.13. It is has even been suggested that Ps.27 is a composite, either written by two different authors, or by David in two different circumstances. Please consider an alternative.

What if David has a simple admonition for us? “Wait on the LORD. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD.” Just how do I get there? We all need this most powerful ability. But waiting is not merely the product of a simple decision. Instead, waiting on the LORD is the product of a well-developed faith. In v.13, David notes that he would have “lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” From whence such conviction? From experience.

Vv.1-3 offer what David had learned from his own past. God had delivered him. We do not know the circumstances that David has in mind, nor do we need to know them. David knew what he had experienced, and was confident in God’s protection. Thus, “the LORD is my light and my salvation…the LORD is the strength of my life” (v.1). Vv.4-6 record the impact of God’s activity upon David. He was utterly devoted to God, and nothing appealed to him more than dwelling in the very presence of YAHWEH. Residing in the tent of God, marveling at God’s glory, rejoicing in God’s wisdom was, to David, the ultimate protection. Moreover, as David looks to the uncertainty of the future, and the almost inevitability of further opposition, he knows that God will continue to hear him and accompany him. Vv.7-12 are not expressions of hesitation and fear, but considerations of temporal uncertainty wherein God will again be the light, the salvation, the strength. Perhaps v.12 notes an enemy at the gates, but David knows that the LORD will “take care of me” and “lead me in a smooth path” (v.10-11), even if his own parents were to desert him. It is this confidence in God that prompts the declaration of v.13, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed…”

God calls us to trust…even trust in its most difficult form. When life is hard. When the enemy is near. When all others forsake us. When we can see no end. When defeat seems inevitable. When we do not know what to do. When we realize that there is nothing we can do. Then is when we look back and reflect upon the activity of God in the lives of His saints. God delivers His people, even though we may have to wait…and wait…and wait. Even if our waiting has to transcend this temporal realm. Trust never loses sight of “the goodness of God in the land of the living.”

Wait on the LORD.

Russ Bowman

Worshiping Joyfully - Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

There is way to come to church and worship the God of all joy.  There is an attitude of heart that is essential. This Psalm is powerful and forms the basis for a hymn, “All people that on earth do dwell.” This Psalm speaks to the way we need to worship and the worship we need to offer this great, joyful God.  This Psalm calls us to be a happy people serving a happy God. This is a hymn or Psalm of thanksgiving, a call to praise God. God is not addressed in the Psalm. This Psalm addresses the worshipper. It addresses how we should worship. It addresses how we should enter His presence.  Praise toward God produces edification.

Worship joyfully- vs. 1-3

There is a call to worship God with a joyful shout (vs. 1). It is an invitation to all people; “lands.” Everyone comes and shouts as the King goes by. Come into the court and shout joyfully to the King with praise and adoration. This is a global invitation. The thought is people come out with a response full of joy and gratitude to worship God.

Worship is tied to service (vs. 2). If we do not serve the Lord Monday through Saturday, our worship will become stale and artificial. Worship is a service, and it calls us to serve the Lord in every way possible. Come to the Lord with singing. Remember the sacrifice of our lips goes up before the Lord (Heb. 13:15).

When we do this there are three things we can know. First, we can know who God is (vs. 3). That is the language of Jehovah. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He is God. Second, we know where we came from: “It is he who made us and not ourselves.” We are created beings.  Third, we can know who we are.  “We are His people.” We belong to God. We are given a favored position. We are sheep in His pasture. We belong to the good and great Shepherd.

Worship Thankfully- vs. 4-5

How do we bless the name of the Lord?  To bless the name of God means to speak well of Him. “Name” of God stands for all God is.  When I say His name, I say good things about Him. I ascribe glory and majesty. He is our Creator. We come before God and we say good things. We are thankful to Him. We praise and adore Him.

Notice three things said about God (vs. 5):  The Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, His truth endures to all generations. Mercy is the word of steadfast love of the covenant. That is, God’s willingness to perform the covenant out of great love.

Worship should be a joyful experience.  The invitation to worship here is not melancholy, as though worship were a funeral. It is a cheery and glad exhortation, as though we were invited to a marriage feast. This is serious, yes, but at the same time worship must not be performed in the slavery of fear. There should be an element of joy and gladness and the thrill that our God is our God. This is not a reference to style. For example, the kind of songs we sing. “If we could only sing different songs, then we can really be joyful.”  That focuses attention on us and what we are doing. If style produces joy, we will always have to change the style. Worship is an acknowledgement and celebration of the centrality of God in all our lives.

Worship is an acknowledgement and delighting of the center of everything we are. I may not be able to tell you how joy ought to work itself out in your life. I may not be able to tell you how to express your emotions. That is, if you do not cry when I cry or smile when I smile, your worship is vain. We are different. Having said that if worship is joyful there are some things that fit joy universally. Joyful experience dispels apathy. I have never known a young woman who has just become engaged to be apathetic. “I am getting married and it is no big deal.” Have you ever seen an apathetic new parent? Have you ever seen an apathetic new grandparent?

Joy comes to our lives because good things happen that we care about intensely. If I do not feel joyful in my worship, I do not need to look to others to blame. If I am apathetic about God, then the hole in worship where joy is leaking out, is a hole in my heart. Joy and half-heartedness do not go together. Joy calls forth from us the best we can do. It moves us and energizes us. If we are intensely concerned about God, care deeply about the Lord and His word, then our worship can never be a case of “Whatever.”

It is up to me to bring my whole heart to this effort. It is up to me to assemble with an attitude that I am ready to serve the Lord. As I do that, worshipping the Lord ought to be an experience of thanksgiving (vs. 4). Thanksgiving runs all through this Psalm, Our God is good, be thankful (vs. 5). We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (vs. 3). Many have never been around sheep and do not know much about shepherding. Sheep love their shepherd. They look to their shepherd and know that they are lost without Him.

Maybe one problem with our worship is we do not see ourselves as sheep and do not realize how lost we are without our Shepherd.  The Psalmist did not say we are grizzly bears or tiger sharks. They can get along on their own. We are sheep. What are sheep without a shepherd? Dead. Every wolf and coyote will show up and take advantage of sheep without a shepherd. Even if there is no predator, sheep will wonder off, get lost, and lose their way. They will not be able to find water.

We are sheep and we need a shepherd. How thankful we ought to be to have Jesus as our chief Shepherd. We do dumb things, and we cannot find our way. We need the Shepherd’s help, guidance, and concern. Being in a flock that is pastured by the Good Shepherd brings enormous benefits to us, the sheep (vs. 3). We must not miss that. Too often we look at what the shepherd has set up for our protection and say, “We do not want to follow those rules.  You are stopping us from having a good time.” Remember we did not make ourselves and we need the Shepherd’s guidance (vs. 3).

Unfortunately, some do not even want to be in the shepherd’s flock. Yet, the Psalmist celebrates how good it is to be one of the Lord’s sheep.

So how do we “come to church?”  Maybe the answer comes once we settle how we describe God. This Psalm will say the Lord is a joyful Shepherd who blesses and cares for His sheep. A Shepherd that is pleased by our worship. Who we can come before and adore and praise with hearts full of gladness and thanksgiving?

How do I “come to church?” With a heart joyfully ready to praise the Lord, Who is so good to us!

Let this Psalm help you get your heart ready to be a joyful worshipper.

Rickie Jenkins

God in the Midst of the Divine Council - Psalm 82

Isaiah prophesied that in the messianic age, “darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples” (Isa. 60:2). Indeed, it is all around us and we are at times both confused and amazed. How can so many people be so wicked? How have people become so deceived? Psalm 82 has the answer – and also the solution.

The psalm speaks of a divine council with God bringing the “gods” into judgment. Verse 6 refers to these gods as “sons of the most High” who in spite of being given this lofty position will be weak and die like men. Because of these gods, unjust judgment is practiced in the world. The weak, fatherless, afflicted, and needy are languishing and delivered into the hand of the wicked. The foundations of the earth (foundational principles of law and order and morality by which the world is to function) are shaken and the world is without knowledge and understanding. Who is at fault? It is the gods whom the Lord has called into his divine council.

Jesus helps us understand the text in John 10:31-39. Jesus answered the Jews’ accusation of blasphemy by quoting Psalm 82:6. Jesus argued that the word of God had been committed to these “gods.” In other words, their commission was to bring “knowledge and understanding” by delivering God’s word to a dark world. Instead, they failed their purpose. On the other hand, Jesus accomplished the purpose God gave him to bring light into the world. If the gods who failed could be called “gods,” then Jesus who succeeded certainly had the right to be called the Son of God.

At first, we might be surprised that spiritual beings or angels were commissioned to deliver the word or had some direct influence on the world. But consider briefly the following texts:

1. The Law of Moses had been delivered through the agency of angels (Acts 7:53; Heb. 2:2).

2. Satan raised up two allies to deceive the world: the Sea Beast [government] and the Earth Beast, or False Prophet [religious deception] (Rev. 13).

3. God used a “lying spirit” in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets to bring about his death (1 Kings 22:22).

4. Our battle is not against humans but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).

5. Paul said that though an idol “has no real existence,” there are “so-called gods in heaven or on earth” (1 Cor. 8:4-5). Paul also argued in 1 Cor. 10:19-22 that an idol is nothing, but what the pagans offer to idols is actually a sacrifice to demons.

6. The angel who came to answer Daniel’s prayer revealed that he had been delayed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” and could not overcome him until Michael came to help him. Further, the angel revealed that after he battled with the prince of Persia, he would go and battle the prince of Greece (Dan. 10:10-21).

7. Adding to the above, Moses revealed that when God gave the nations their inheritance, “he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God” (Deut. 32:8).

8. Finally, in regard to a “divine council,” we see a similar council in Job 1:6 with Satan joining the council.

We could go on, but the above should be sufficient to see the influence of Satan’s kingdom through the spiritual forces of wickedness on both individuals and governments in our present world. But what should we make of this knowledge? How are we to respond to the influence of beings so powerful that some of God’s own angels are hindered?

First, the psalm reveals the ultimate power of God to judge and crush these forces. “Arise O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!” (vs. 8).

Second, the offspring of the woman will crush the head of the Serpent (Gen. 3:15). In Revelation 12:10, the “accuser of our brethren has been cast down.” In Romans 16:20, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” And in 1 John 4:4, “You have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Third, we must stop being so casual about our spirituality. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned us to watch, pray, and put on the armor. Our comfort and wealth in America makes us believe all is well and that we are secure. We are not! Persecution is already on the horizon. As Paul warned in his day, the present form of this world may soon be passing away. We need more intentional prayers and we need to go beyond a superficial knowledge of “doctrines” and diligently seek God in all 66 books of scripture.

Fourth, we must boldly step into the battle. We cannot hide as darkness grows. We are the light of the world and we are commissioned to bring the light. When Isaiah warned of the coming thick darkness of the world, he added, “but the Lord will arise upon you; and his glory will be seen upon you. And the nations shall come to your light” (Isa. 60:2-3). As the darkness grows, God promised that our light will shine even brighter, and through our light he will bring the nations to us. We need not fear the darkness, for light will overcome it. We “conquer by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, for we love not our lives even unto death” (Rev. 12:11).

The gods of the divine council were judged because they failed their commission. Jesus fulfilled his commission and then passed that commission on to us. We must not fail our Lord lest we find ourselves called into a similar council.

Berry Kercheville

The Real Heroes

The longer I live and the more I see the confusion and corruption in this world, I find great comfort in what the wise man said in Proverbs 10:7, “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.” How true! I can’t tell you how many times I have been blessed and encouraged by hearing and thinking about the righteous deeds of so many who have been such a blessing often times in such silent ways. Oh how we have real heroes in the kingdom (both ancient and modern), who are worthy of our remembrance; worthy of our respect.

Heroes…everyone has them. They change over time; they improve as we better ourselves; they come in all shapes and sizes, but make no mistake about it, we have our heroes.

And, who we make our hero will largely be determined by what we value. You see, because I’m a sports enthusiast, my heroes when I was a kid were those athletes that were the best of the best. I remember those days on our driveway shooting jump shots from the corner and pretending I was Larry Bird. It seems only a short time ago that I slipped on my high tops hoping these would be the ones that would make me jump like Michael Jordan. My life as a kid was centered around sports and so my heroes were the ones I thought were the best of the best. I wanted to be like them. And, to be quite honest, they were my heroes because they had what I wanted. I wanted to excel as they had excelled. I wanted the talent they had and the ability to do what they could do better than most others. I dreamed of a day when I would take their place and have people depending on me, looking to me to “come through in the clutch.”

But, as I stated earlier, our heroes change! When life changes and more importantly you change, your heroes change. Your heroes change because who and what you value changes. While I still am a sports enthusiast, my life does not revolve around basketball. While I have an appreciation for those athletes that have a gift few possess, that’s not the talent I treasure. Yes, I have heroes, but they’ve changed. I’ve changed.

Who are my heroes? Who do I look up to? My heroes are those who say “yes” to what is right, when most follow the path of least resistance. It’s the people who keep their promise, even when it hurts and is hard. It’s the humble who have time for the little people, and who notice and value the day of small things. My heroes are those who refuse fame and fortune in order to put their family and their God ahead of themselves. They’re not controlled by “the praise of men” or corrupted by success that’s measured by a secular standard. Clearly, they’ve invested their time in who and what is eternal and are content to leave future results and rewards to He who alone is righteous. And those who face adversity in faith; who praise God even in the storm, these for sure are my heroes!

I’ve seen them lately; I know them well. I preach to many of them on a weekly basis. They refuse to quit; refuse to complain; refuse to blame others. They keep loving, living and learning, knowing that God sees and takes notice, and will do the right thing at just the right time.

If you stop and think about it, we have some heroic people among God’s people, both in this country and others abroad. Men and women (young and old) whose faith can be followed, and whose life should be remembered. So, when you think nobody is looking; nobody is learning; nobody is empowered and encouraged by your silent example and steadfast devotion to duty, remember…God doesn’t just use the preacher to preach or a shepherd to lead. He uses your faithfulness and fruitfulness to strengthen and sustain others. He uses your generosity and hospitality to teach and train the next generation.

Now, I know, and you know, that all people have feet of clay. The best of people with the best of intentions will fall short at times. But, let’s not kid ourselves. We are living in a world today where villains are portrayed as victims, and the real heroes are reviled and even subjected to hostility. Truly, it’s an upside down world! But, God said such would be the case. And it’s nothing new when we find ourselves surrounded by people who say that evil is good and good is evil; that dark is light and light is dark; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter (Isa.5:20-21). The worldly wise and the outright ungodly of our day will always be confused and willfully wrong when it comes to who and what is to be deemed heroic! So, let’s not allow such deception and degradation to rob us of the great value and blessing of remembering and respecting the real heroes (both ancient and modern). Oh, how the memory of the righteous is a blessing!

Paul White