Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
--Psalm 73:23-24,26 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on April 14, 2013 of Psalm 73:21-28; Romans 11:17-36; Deuteronomy 32:39-34.
Asaph, the author of twelve Psalms, including Psalm 73, is recorded as being an outstanding musician during King David's reign. He was appointed as the minister of music in the temple, and his sons, listed in the book of Ezra among the Levites (please see Ezra 2:41), were also official musicians. Music was obviously very important to him and writing psalms would have been a natural outlet for his talent. For most of this psalm, Asaph has been lamenting the effects of evil, how the wicked almost made him stumble, and all the harm they do on earth with shockwaves reaching even to heaven. He admits to his own weaknesses and failings. But then he recognizes that even in all this madness, God is right there beside him through it all, holding his hand.
We need to follow Asaph's example more often. In the midst of life's turmoil swirling all around us, we need to stop, take a deep breath, and realize we are not alone. Even as wicked people exercise their God given free will wreaking harm and havoc in the lives of others, the Lord is standing at our side ready to take us by the hand and uphold us. If we purpose ourselves to continually be with God, always seeking to be with Him, to follow Him and believe in His Son, He will remain by our side. If we listen to and heed the Holy Spirit, He will guide us; we can follow and live by His counsel. And then, when our earthly life is finished, our heavenly Father will warmly welcome us into His many-roomed mansion, redeemed by our faith, reconciled to the Father by the blood of Jesus Christ His Son. After the tempest of this life on earth, eternal heavenly peace awaits.
God our Father, as evidenced by the words of Asaph, knows and understands that we humans are weak, our flesh and our heart may surely fail us. Only Jesus as the Son of Man could completely resist Satan's temptations. We are subject to falling prey to fear and trepidation. We too often succumb to pleasures of the flesh. The world and its charms prove to be too great a lure. But God is our strength. Paul noted this in Philippians 4:13 when he declared that Christ strengthened him to where he could do anything. All we have to do is accept that hand extended to us, accept the strength and courage and fortitude that is freely offered, accept salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, and He will give us more than just our portion, but will fill us to overflowing so we have plenty to share with others. Praise the Lord! Amen.
Dearest Father, thank You for always being by our side. Thank You for blessing us with the strength and courage to face another day. Thank You for not forsaking us when the wicked one assails us, hoping to break us down. Please guide us, Lord, and be our only needed portion forever. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
We need to follow Asaph's example more often. In the midst of life's turmoil swirling all around us, we need to stop, take a deep breath, and realize we are not alone. Even as wicked people exercise their God given free will wreaking harm and havoc in the lives of others, the Lord is standing at our side ready to take us by the hand and uphold us. If we purpose ourselves to continually be with God, always seeking to be with Him, to follow Him and believe in His Son, He will remain by our side. If we listen to and heed the Holy Spirit, He will guide us; we can follow and live by His counsel. And then, when our earthly life is finished, our heavenly Father will warmly welcome us into His many-roomed mansion, redeemed by our faith, reconciled to the Father by the blood of Jesus Christ His Son. After the tempest of this life on earth, eternal heavenly peace awaits.
God our Father, as evidenced by the words of Asaph, knows and understands that we humans are weak, our flesh and our heart may surely fail us. Only Jesus as the Son of Man could completely resist Satan's temptations. We are subject to falling prey to fear and trepidation. We too often succumb to pleasures of the flesh. The world and its charms prove to be too great a lure. But God is our strength. Paul noted this in Philippians 4:13 when he declared that Christ strengthened him to where he could do anything. All we have to do is accept that hand extended to us, accept the strength and courage and fortitude that is freely offered, accept salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, and He will give us more than just our portion, but will fill us to overflowing so we have plenty to share with others. Praise the Lord! Amen.
Dearest Father, thank You for always being by our side. Thank You for blessing us with the strength and courage to face another day. Thank You for not forsaking us when the wicked one assails us, hoping to break us down. Please guide us, Lord, and be our only needed portion forever. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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