Day 125 – Psalm 1-2,15,22-24,47,68

Talking Points

• In these songs, we see the blessing of living in the truth of God’s Word rather than in the counsel of the world. Counsel translates “advice or strategy.” How often do we build our life strategies upon the world’s ideas, opinions, and advice? We also see that following God’s Word daily becomes a delight, not a drudgery.
• There are distinct, observable qualities in a person who truly fears the LORD. This person walks in integrity, does the right thing, speaks the truth, and is marked by honesty, kindness, and moral character.
• Psalm 22 is quoted by Jesus on the cross and at the same time, Jesus is described by this psalm. It was written by King David approximately 1000 years before the crucifixion.
• All through the psalms, we see the great attributes of God praised. In Psalm 68, we find that He cares for the orphan, the widow, the forgotten, and the lonely. We see that God defends the falsely accused. He is the Champion of those society casts off and those who are of no benefit to Him (as we all are).
• God powerfully saves and delivers, and He also walks with His people daily, helping them shoulder the burdens of life (68:19).

Thoughts

“God is to us a God of deliverances” (68:20). Isn’t that the truth!? Adam and Eve were delivered out of the garden. Noah and his family were delivered out of the flood. Isaac was delivered by the Lord’s substitute sacrifice. Joseph was delivered out of the hands of his brothers; his family was delivered from the famine. Moses was delivered out of a basket in the Nile. The Israelites were delivered by the lamb, out of slavery, across the Red Sea, from thirst, from hunger, from serpents, across the Jordan, from their enemies, from God’s wrath. Rahab was delivered out of Jericho. Ruth was delivered by a kinsman redeemer. David was delivered from Saul. Naaman was delivered from leprosy. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedgnego were delivered out of the fire. Daniel was delivered from the lions’ den. Jonah was delivered from the whale; Ninevah from God’s judgment. And, on and on it goes.

In each account mentioned, every single deliverance, you can see glimpses of Christ — promised in the garden, the Ark of our salvation, our substitutionary Sacrifice… Then, in the final act of deliverance, He delivered up Himself. While those other acts were temporary, in Jesus Christ, we have eternal deliverance from death.

Truly, clearly, our God is a God of deliverances!