Daily Meditations

Psalm 16:4    Keep away from them!      It is estimated that, at the time of David, the heathen nations may have worshipped up to 30,000 different gods or idols. There is no satisfaction in such idolatry for these false deities have nothing to offer but pain and sorrow.  In truth, every one of them is an invention of the Satan and most are organised and empowered by demons. Thus, instead of condemning their followers we should pray for them and feel some pity for their journey to “truth” will be a bitter disappointment and will lead to increasing frustration and sorrow. Libations are mentioned in this verse; these embrace any offering or outpouring to a god, including water, wine, corn and blood.  The latter was particularly unpalatable in David’s day because certain gods demanded the blood of human sacrifice. Note that David warns us here by declaring, “I will not offer libations to such gods OR TAKE UP THEIR NAMES ON MY LIPS.” He point...

Psalm 16:3    True nobility      The Apostle Paul’s introduction in his letter to the Romans is addressed,  “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be His holy people.”  Romans 1:7. In a similar vein, here in verse 3 of Psalm 16, David identified holy people in the land while he was alive. I Peter 2:9-12 refers to such people as,  “Chosen People, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a People belonging to God.”  Wow! Noah, Abraham, Job, David himself, Hezekiah – there’s quite a list in the Old Testament of those qualified as holy. What does it mean?  Holy means to be consecrated or dedicated to God, set apart for Him and free from defilement. David is able to identify such people living in his land and he calls them the true nobility, the true royalty, for they acknowledge the Lord as King and seek to serve and obey Him and Him alone.  They are set apart for His service. This is unusual talk from a King...

Psalm 16:2    You are my Lord       This verse has to be repeated, I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you, I have no good thing.”   The Lord is the Lord, that is irrefutable, but is He my Lord?  David affirms that he trusts in and serves one Lord only, this is personal, no other being is worthy of worship, praise and service. When asserting that,  “apart from you, I have no good thing,”  what is he saying?  Well, let us make a list! The Lord’s words are truth, they are good.                Every other voice is affected by sin. The Lord’s heart is pure, it is good.                            All other hearts are evil. The Lord’s intentions are right, they are good.  ...

Psalm 16:1    Positivity      This beautiful Psalm of David describes the blessings of the righteous, their confidence, security and all-encompassing sense of well-being. Here David’s heart is full, he knows that he is safe, that all good things come from the Lord at all times and in all places, and his response is simply joy and thanksgiving. He spares one verse (4) for those who “run after other gods”, but the main point of the Psalm is to reinforce the happy state of mind of those who worship the true God, whose spirits are at rest in the comforting presence of the Lord.  What can the Satan or the world offer that remotely compares to this? We all need these times of reflection, of thanksgiving, when we weigh up our blessings and lay down our woes. This is not possible for human beings unless they have full confidence and trust in the Lord, no one or no thing can compare with Him.  The “power of positivity” is a much-vaunted phrase fro...

Psalm 15:2-5    In conclusion   “Whoever does these things will never be shaken.”  It’s a bit humbling to read these words and discover that the key to a powerful Christian life is not so much about amazing encounters with the Holy Spirit as it is about faithful, moral obedience to God’s will! Let’s just review the list one more time.  God says I will never be shaken if my walk is blameless, if no one can point the finger of blame at me and say, “Call yourself a Christian!” My thoughts and actions are to be holy and right before the Lord. If I am never to be shaken, God’s truth will be in my heart and on my lips. I will pursue truth, and love truth, and so will never speak ill of others or gossip about them. I will be a man who loves all people and cares for them, and will never say anything that could be used against them.  Never being shaken means that I will love God so much that anyone who hates Him, ignores Him, blasphemes Him or belittles Him,...

Psalm 15:2-5   Obedience by faith    David lists the characteristics and qualities that are evident in people who live on God’s holy mountain, close to His heart. How do we measure up? ·        Their walk is blameless ·        They do what is righteous ·        They speak the truth from the heart ·        Their tongues utter no slander ·        They do no wrong to a neighbour ·        They cast no slur on others ·        They despise vile people ·        They honour those who fear the Lord ·        They keep an oath, even when it hurts, and do not change their minds ·        They lend money to the poor without interest ·      ...

Psalm 15:1  Verse 1 - again!      One day all of the tabernacle and temple Sanctuaries will be joined in one great throng before the throne of God. This is Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the new Jerusalem. The Ark of the Covenant has been replaced with a new covenant and all who stand on the mountain have been made perfect through the blood of the Lamb. David’s longings will have found their ultimate fulfilment!  Who can claim to be a living tabernacle of a Holy God? Who has the right to worship in God’s Holy Temple?  Who dares to dream of that heavenly Mount Zion? The passage in Hebrews 12 tells us; “ The church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven,  the righteous made perfect, those whose faith is in Jesus the mediator of a new covenant and in His sprinkled blood.”  The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5 that it is those to whom God has given the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Wh...