Psalm 109:1-4:
1 O GOD of my praise! Keep not silence, 2 For the mouths of the wicked and the mouth of deceit are opened against me; they have spoken to me and against me with lying tongues. 3 They have compassed me about also with words of hatred and have fought against me without cause. 4 In return for my love they are my adversaries, but I resort to prayer.
This was David's reaction to those who came against him. He could have tried to avenge himself. In fact, he had opportunity to do so where Saul is concerned on more than one occasion! But David KNEW that vengeance belonged to God and God alone (Romans 12:19)! David went to the LORD in prayer for the situation and God delivered him! He rejoiced in the Truth found in verses 30-31:
30 I will give great praise and thanks to the LORD with my mouth; yes, and I will praise Him among the multitude. 31 For He will stand at the right hand of the poor and needy, to save him from those who condemn his life.
Develop the confidence for yourself that you really CAN cast every care and worry on HIM! He truly cares for you and wants to take care OF you! Thank You, Jesus! Here is Hillsong with "The First And The Last"
1 Peter 1:3-5:
3 Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
Because of all that Jesus accomplished through His death, burial land resurrection, we have become NEW! We are now of the royal family of Almighty God Himself! We have an inheritance, we have authority in His Name and we have His Word to speak! After all of that, we have the God of the Bible's Heaven as our home when we leave this earth! We are, of ALL people, MOST BLESSED! Verse 6-9:
6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, 7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed. 8 Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy. 9 [At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We SHOULD be glad! We SHOULD be filled with joy every day for all of the blessings we have received and for all that the Spirit of Almighty God will do THROUGH us to set people free! Remember, you are the only Jesus that some people will ever see!
Jeremiah 22-23 covers again the reign of king Josiah of Judah. There were 20 rulers over Judah and only 8 of them were "good" rulers. They are:
- Asa
- Jehoshaphat
- Joash
- Amaziah
- Uzziah
- Jotham
- Hezekiah
- Josiah
Josiah was only eight years old when he began his thirty-one year reign, so he had advisers helping him rule. When he was sixteen he committed himself to the LORD and began to seek to please God. He was a great king and it says of him in 2 Kings 23:25 we see this:
25 There was no king like him before or after [Josiah] who turned to the LORD with all his heart and all his soul and all his might, according to all the law of Moses.
WE are to love the Lord with all of OUR heart, and mind, and soul, and strength; and then to love each other as HE loves us (Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27)! That's a tall order, but one He has fully equipped us to carry out! Do "right" in the sight of the LORD and be BLESSED! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
