Lord, hear me out.
Listen when I pray. I’m speaking from a pure heart and not trying to lie to you. May I be made right and may you see me the way you desire me to be. You search deep into my heart. You test me as I lie in bed. May I pass your exam and be found without sin. I have committed myself to not hurting others with my words. I have committed myself to not follow people who live only to satisfy themselves. I want to keep myself on your path. I want to stay as close to the mountain as possible so that I won’t slip off the edge. Lord, when I speak please answer back. Hear what I am saying. Give me attention. Show me how much you love? Display your wonder and power. Shelter me. May I remain the apple of your eye. Don’t allow my sinful desires to creep back and bully me. Whenever I give in to them I pay the price. Don’t allow a heart of peace to turn calloused. Or a mouth that wants to encourage turn arrogant. Why does sin keep finding me? I want to be surrounded by you – not by sin. I want to hide in you – not in my sin. Nothing good ever comes from giving in. I get thrown to the ground and taste nothing but dirt. I lose control, feel attacked, and lie in the road dying. I don’t want to slip, but I get too close to the edge. And when I fall over, one of my vices, waiting like a lion, pounces on me. Once again I give up the peace of being close to you for the sorrow of getting beaten up. But you are the God of resurrection. Through the cross Jesus confronted sin and brought its army down. Then Jesus rose from the dead and rescued me. You crushed the devil’s head and slew him with your sword. I’ve got much better things to live for than the pleasures of this life. You cherish us and give us so many blessings. Help me to learn my lesson and stay on your path. You have forgiven my sin. You have made me righteous. One day I am going to be able to look into the eyes of the one who loved me so much. When you come back and raise me from the dead I will see you for who you are. Then I will be totally satisfied and never walk away from you again. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 17 A prayer of David In this prayer, David appeals to God to listen to him. He asks for God to vindicate him and see – that he resolved to restrain his tongue, kept himself from the ways of the violent, and his feet have not slipped. David asks that God show the wonder of his love, keep him as the apple of his eye and protect him from his enemies. David ends the psalm by saying that he in righteous will see God’s face and be satisfied (v15). Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” David prays to God about his enemies in this chapter, appeals to God to keep him as the apple of his eye and seeks refuge from him. Zechariah 2:8-9 says “For this is what the Lord Almighty says: for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. I will surely raise my hand against them…” How special it is that God considers us as the apples of his eye. David appeals to God to keep him as such. He does not want his status with God to change. He wants God to know he has not slipped so that his present relationship with God remains unchanged. We too need to be constantly conscious of keeping our status with God and appeal to him to help us keep our status good. We need to walk faithfully with him. We (like David) will see God’s face. God has said whoever touches (or harms) us touches him and he will raise his hand against them. He is our protector and we can hide and rest in the shadow of his wings. God will hold to his promises. Point: May we remain the apple of his eye.
0 Comments
Lord, keep me safe. Make sure I stay close to you. If I run out on my own I’m bound to get into trouble.
I love to read the biographies of men and women who were faithful to you. Their hopes, their struggles, and their faith continually encourage me. Unlike the lives of those who lived for themselves – why waste my time reading their boring lives? Lord, you have called me for a specific purpose. May I be faithful to your calling and not compare myself to others. Forgive me for not being content with what you have given me and for not using what you have given me. You have given me a wonderful place of work and an unbelievable inheritance. May I bloom where I’m planted. You are my teacher. May I spend time with you every morning so that I can learn from you and sit in your classroom. Lord, if I put into practice your instructions and stay close to you I will be able to stand against the things that want to shake my faith. When I am close to you, you bring me great comfort. When I speak of your love, I can rest and be at peace. Lord, you keep me safe. Even the grave is not a threat. You have the final claim on my life. Just as Jesus didn’t remain in the grave but was raised up on the third day, so I have the assurance of resurrection on the day that Christ comes back. You do look after us! You have taught us the way to live. And when we stay close to you we find the joy and pleasure that lasts forever and ever. Lord, keep me safe. Make sure I stay close to you. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 16 A miktam of David (a ‘miktam’ is probably a literary or musical term) David says in this miktam that he takes refuge in God, that the Lord has assigned him his portion and his cup and made his lot secure. Psalm 16:8-11 is a prediction of the resurrection. These verses are repeated in Acts 2:25-28. In Acts 2:31 Luke said “Seeing what was ahead, he (David) spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.” Psalm 16:5 “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.” David denotes in v5 “who” is responsible for his spiritual inheritance – it is the Lord. David is thankful to God for his grace towards him. He involves God in his daily life – he converses with God and listens to God (v7). David knows that God will not abandon him to the grave or let him see decay (v10). He knows that God has made his lot secure. We need to do the same. Be grateful to God for what he has done for us and make him our priority in this world. After all, our spiritual inheritance is being one with him in this world and with him in eternity. God keeps our lot secure. What greater gift is there than that? In v7, David said the Lord counselled him. God will also counsel us in this world if we look to him for his instruction. We do not walk this road by ourselves but rather we walk with God by our side. What greater friend could we ever ask for – to walk alongside us? Point: To remember it is God who makes our lot secure. Lord, who can get close to you?
Who can know you? The answer: The one who is free from sin and who always does right. The one who speaks the truth and never uses their tongue to hurt. The one who is there for the good of others. The one who hates sin and the promoters of sin. The one who keeps their promise even when it hurts. The one who lends and doesn’t expect repayment. The one who never accepts a bribe. The one who never turns a blind-eye on injustice This is the person who never fails. This is the person who can approach you and know you. But where is a person like this to be found? And if they can’t be found, who can possibly know God? Thank you God for Christ Jesus! He is the truly human one. He is the one who can approach God. He is the one through whom God approached us. With Jesus on our side we can have fellowship with God. We are forgiven and given new life as Jesus continues to intercede on our behalf. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in me. In Christ, I can dwell in God’s presence forever! Devotion by Cora Goodyear: Psalm 15 A psalm of David “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?...” is the question David asks in v1. Then he answers the question in verses 2-5. He ends the psalm with the comment in v5 “…He who does theses things will never be shaken.” Psalm 15:2-3 “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbour no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man.” David is asking God here what kind of man can live in God’s sanctuary. Or what kind of man will be one with God in this world and spend eternity with God in heaven. One thing spoken of here in v3 is regarding our neighbours – not to do wrong to them. V2-3 also says we are not to say an untruth about them which damages their reputation, and not to insult or make any accusations against them which could damage their reputation. This can be done so easily, perhaps just in general conversation with others. If someone is telling us something negative about someone else, it can be easy to agree with them. It can be easy to slip and say something else we personally know to be negative about that person or to repeat something negative that we have heard about them to others. Us- adding onto the damage perhaps already done by others. Doing no wrong to our neighbour doesn’t mean that we are blind and do not recognize the negative attributes of others but just that we are personally careful not to be the ones who damage other people’s reputations. Point: To do no wrong to one’s neighbour. You’d have to be pretty stupid to say that God doesn’t exist.
Most arguments against the existence of God may appear intellectual, but are often just excuses to live without God interfering. We are continually trying to convince ourselves that a good life comes by indulging in self-gratification. How stupid can we be? Lord, how often have you “repented” of having made us? None of us understand. No one is looking for you. We all run down the wrong path. We have all gotten ourselves dirty. No one chooses the good. How long will we continue in our stupidity? We kill each other by the words we use, as if people are of no more value than pulling weeds, and we don’t realise that you overhear every syllable. The few people who do try to follow you are persecuted and feel overwhelmed by a world that is against them and seems to be winning. But you are with your children. We live and hide in you. Send us a saviour. Send us a deliverer Restore your children. Take the poverty that has been inflicted upon us and turn it into riches. Allow us to be a people who can celebrate because we have been rescued by your saviour. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 14 Of David David begins this psalm with a potent description of those who do not believe in God. He says there is an overwhelming feeling of dread within these people perhaps because they see God in the company of the righteous (v5). In comparison, David says God is present in the company of the righteous and the Lord is their refuge. David ends the psalm looking forward to when salvation for Israel will come out of Zion. Psalm 14:6 “You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.” In this psalm, David is trying to comfort God’s people by telling them the Lord is their refuge. People can persecute Christians and disapprove of their faith. Which should never weaken us but instead have the opposite effect. It should make us stronger in our faith rather than do as those people may hope and turn us away from God. After all, we have proof of God’s presence in the past and know we would rather have that, than anything unbelievers profess to. It is also comforting to know we have God as our refuge. We sometimes take our problems to good friends and they may have good advice to give us. But God is the one we can always trust with our problems. He will listen and we can leave our burdens with him. He is our shield and our protector in the world. Point: To remember God is our refuge. God, how long will you forget about me?
Will it be forever? How long will you play hide-and-seek? Sometimes I wish I could shut off my brain because I’m constantly fighting my thoughts. These enemies of anxiety and depression won’t go away. How long are you going to let this continue, Lord? Why won’t you listen to me? Are you deaf? Give me relief. Am I going to go on like this until I’m dead? Are you going to let my enemies claim victory over me? Are you going to let them throw a party when I’m gone – thinking they’ve got me? I can’t see you. I can’t hear you. I can’t feel you. And yet…. I will trust in you. Where else can I go? You alone have the words of eternal life. So, when everything is black, I will trust that you are there for me. I will choose to live joyfully in the hope that your salvation is coming. Despite how I feel, I will sing songs about what a good God you have been. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 13 A Psalm of David In this short psalm, David is feeling that God has forgotten about him. He is wondering how long God will be silent or when he will hear a response from him David is wrestling with his thoughts, is sorrowful in his heart and his enemies are winning. He pleads to God to answer him. Yet, he is reminding himself to trust and rejoice because God was good to him in the past Psalm 13:1, 6 v1 “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” v6 “I will song to the lord, for he has been good to me.” How long? – a question likely all of us have asked at times in our Christian life. Times perhaps when we are struggling with our concerns over a particular issue or various issues all at once. Times when we are not sure what to do. Times when other people may also wonder what God is doing in our lives or our enemies may look on us and even gain satisfaction at our seeming defeat. We hear no immediate answer from God. We get discouraged and wonder where God is and we can easily jump to the assumption that God has forgotten us. He has forgotten his promises to us and that we are his children. We try to find answers within ourselves. Perhaps, we cannot. During these times, we have to be careful not to lose hope. Losing hope can often lead to anger or depression. David begins his prayer by saying “How long?” And he pleads for God to give light to his eyes. But as he prays, he realizes that he trusts in God’s unfailing love and rejoices in his salvation (v5). David ends the psalm by saying in v6 “I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” David (as we should) remembers the past, remembers the times when God was good to him. And he (as we should) continues to trust in Him. It is good to remember that God can do even more than we ask. Paul says in Ephesians 3:20 “… to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” When we look back – we can note what God has done for us in the past, even if we could not see it at the time. We can remember difficult times when God walked beside us and comforted us. Times when we weren’t sure if God was there – we can now realize that he was and worked things out for our good. This reminds us that God does not forget about us in dire circumstances and later on down the road, we will always be able to look back and say – God was faithful and this is what he did for me. Oh, the joy when we can do that! He has promised to never leave or forsake us and we can hold onto that promise. Point: We can trust God’s promises. Help us Jesus!
There doesn’t seem to be many people following you anymore. Where are all the faithful? They seem to have disappeared. People lie to one another and say things to try and look good. Our tongues sure cause a lot of problems – even within the church. (I believe the apostle James wrote something about this). Sometimes I wonder if it would help us if we cut our tongues out. Jesus talked about poking out eyes and cutting off limbs if they were causing us to sin. I’m surprised he didn’t say anything about ripping out our tongues. Obviously those drastic measures can’t really stop us from sinning. There are still one armed thieves, lusting blind people, and boastful lying mutes. The problem is with our personhood not our body parts. A better approach would be to give you control of our lives - rather than trying to subdue our problems on our own. As long as we think we can control ourselves we will remain out of control. Only when we let you take over do we find self-control. It is your turn to speak, Lord. You are the God of new life. You see the wounded and the weak. You hear the groans of those who are in need. It is time for you to shout: I will protect the innocent from those who try to harm them by their deceitful words! Your words are perfect. Like silver refined by fire. We see and hear your holiness in your Word Jesus Christ. He is the one who keeps us safe. He protects us from liars and from becoming a liar. He protects us from the father of lies - the devil. He keeps us forever. It may appear that the wicked strut their stuff with no consequences, but it won’t be long until you strut on them. It’s all going to come crashing down on them and they will be licking up their spew with their filthy lying tongues. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 12 A psalm of David David, in this psalm, pleads from help from God because the godly seem to be no more. He asks that God deal with those who claim to have no master. V8 says “The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honoured among men.” In v5 the Lord says, he will protect those who are oppressed and will keep us safe and protect us from such people (those who malign us) forever. This is an example of parallelism in which an idea is developed by the use of repetition. Psalm 12:5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” David was in bad times. Times when no one was godly. The faithful were failing in their duties to God. They were doubleminded in their undertakings – saying one thing but their intentions were for another. They were acting according to their own wishes without considering the wishes of God. But David (as we) know in difficult circumstances – have someone to call upon. David calls “Help Lord” in v1 and the Lord responds in v5. He responds to the weak and the needy and says he will protect them from those who malign them. When we are confronted by enemies, wisdom dictates times we should be silent and times we should speak up but we always have a friend we can call on. We can call on God when need be. He will give us safety and protect us from such people – in this world or in eternity. Point: God is our protector. There is safety in the Lord.
I don’t need to listen to those who tell me to run and hide when I have already run to the Lord and hidden myself in his presence. When temptation comes – like a sniper scoping me out for a kill – it wants to destroy my very personhood. Is there anywhere I can go to get away from these temptations? Didn’t the monks who hid themselves in desert caves still continually face their demons? Even plucking out one’s eyes – as you suggested – won’t stop someone from lusting. The problem is with us, not with our eyes! There is nowhere a person who wants to do right can go to get away from temptation. This is why I run to you. You are the cement that never moves. You are the bullet-proof jacket that shields me from the snipers. Only in your organization with you chairing the meeting is there safety. You watch over the good and the bad – showing disdain and hatred for those who enjoy evil and pull others down with them. Judgement will come upon them. As king you will rain/reign fire and brimstone upon them like you did to Pharaoh and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. You will burn them up and consume every memory of them in your holy anger. We forget about this side of you God. That you really do love what is right and just and that you really do hate what is despicable and evil. Those who love you see your face in your son Jesus. Jesus is the perfect picture of your love. But let’s not forget that Jesus is also the perfect picture of your hatred – just read the book of Revelation! Devotion By Cora Goodyear Psalm 11 Of David David is encouraged to run away in this psalm. But he puts the idea to rest. He says with confidence in v4 “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.” In v 5-7, David says God examines the righteous but hates the wicked, who will be punished. David ends the psalm by saying the Lord is righteous, loves justice and the upright will see his face. Psalm 11:7 “For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face (another translation says his countenance will uphold the righteous).” How great is it to know that God’s countenance upholds us. David is faced with danger in this chapter and encouraged to run away, perhaps for his safety. But he stands firm in his beliefs. He will trust in the Lord, no matter what. He KNOWS God sees all – what people say, do, think and desire. God knows the hearts of all – those who are his children and those who are not. The wicked will be judged and even the righteous tried at times BUT his countenance will uphold the upright. When God’s countenance shines on us we can reflect that light back to others – that love and pleasure bestowed on us when God is pleased with the things we do for him. Paul says in 2 Cor. 18 “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory…” We can stand assured, no matter what circumstances we are in – God is there loving us and is pleased with what we do for his glory. He will stand up for us. Point: We will see God’s face. Where are you God?
Why does it seem like you’re not around? Do you really listen to my prayers or am I just talking to the air? How come it seems like you hide from me whenever I am in trouble? There are a lot of prideful people around. They live as if there will be no consequences for their actions and they take advantage of the innocent. Many people are exploited by the sins of our society. The abusers follow the cravings of their hearts and use other people for sex and cheap labour. They throw around their money to get what they want – all the while spitting in the face of God. They are so sure of themselves that they don’t spend a minute thinking about their need for God. But here is what I don’t understand. How is it that these people who ignore you get along so well? Why don’t you do something about it? Here they are bragging to the world and looking down their noses at anyone who stands in their way. And nothing happens to them. No wonder they think, “I’ll never be knocked over. Life’s great. I’ve got everything I want. Nothing ever goes wrong.” Why do you let people live like this? Spewing lies and curses in their blogs and hiding behind their computers to exploit people’s images for their own gratification. Does this not kill the “image of God” in all of us? Does this not make us the victims of lust, greed, and power? How long will you let this go on? People are devouring one another and then accusing the victims. And yet, so many of the victims were dragged into this mess against their wills, only to be torn apart and left for dead by immoral lions. They then try to survive with a shot of drugs and alcohol – where else can they go for comfort? All they get from people is abuse and you seem to have forgotten them. All they can do is cover their faces in shame and hope they never see daylight again. Rise up, God! I thought you were the God of resurrection! If you can rise from the dead, surely you can raise a helping hand. You can’t possibly forget the weak and helpless. Why do you let these people get away with their exploits? Why are there no consequences for their actions? I know that you see people’s trouble and grief – at least that’s what my theology tells me. You are in control. You are on the side of the victim. You have a special place in your heart for those without a father-figure in their life. You are a Saviour and a helper. Isn’t it time you broke some bones and got into some fist fights? Take some of these people out! Show the world who’s the boss. Then even the secret acts of the wicked will be severely dealt with. You are the king. Not just in the days of old, but today and forevermore. Every nation will pass away, but your kingdom will remain forever. I have to trust that you listen to the pleas of the wounded. I have to believe that you encourage and love them and even suffer alongside them. In fact, this is where I see the image of the cross. You will defend those without good parents. You will defend those who have been crushed by others. You will bring about justice so that we will not be able to dehumanize each other anymore. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 10 The psalmist refers here to the wicked – how there is no room for God in all their thoughts and how the wicked think God does not see what they have done. The psalmist questions God as to why he does not respond in times of trouble (v1). He pleads with God to do so and not to forget the helpless (v12). He reminds God in v14, that he does see trouble and grief and that he considers it to take it in hand. The psalmist ends the psalm by saying in v16-18 that the Lord is King for ever and ever, he hears the afflicted, encourages them and listens to them and that he defends the fatherless and the oppressed. Psalm 10:2 “In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak…” In v2, arrogance is mentioned. Pride can be a positive attribute if it is simply having an assurance or confidence in one’s gifts and talents. But here in this verse – pride has developed in an insidious way and become a negative attribute. Pride becomes arrogance or conceit, when people think they are better than others. This can easily happen when personal pride is with no acknowledgement of God in the picture. For it is God who gives us our gifts and talents. We also know from experience that we can meet people who have the same gifts as us but have utilized them more. When we do, it offers us opportunities to learn from them and experience growth within ourselves. V2 deals with two problems – arrogance and persecution, the former being the cause of the latter. In this psalm, the wicked think they are better than the weak and hunt them down to kill or crush them. Prov. 16:18 says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride can also be about people who want others to agree with them, think as they do, and submit to them and their desires. If others do not – they will very quickly become hated by these prideful people and often persecuted. Tyranny in the world – owes its origin to pride. It is when those in power rule in a cruel and unfair way. But we know God is loving, just and will defend the helpless. Even if that defense does not seem immediate at the time of unfairness and persecution – he will defend. And the wicked who are arrogant will eventually fall. Point: To be beware of false pride. Lord, I can’t keep quiet about you.
As someone in love I have to boast and tell everyone about the things you do. I cannot help but sing joyful songs about your love and holiness. And when I do this my sin dies within me. I know you are always there for me. The things that people run to for security only brings them death. For that reason, you destroy these things for our own protection. You dealt them a death blow on the cross. Your enemies are defeated. Their cities are smashed - annihilated into oblivion. What were their names again? Your rule is forever. No one will ever forget your name. You judge everything fairly and you rule with justice. You are a place of healing for those who have been wounded and oppressed. No matter how uncertain our lives may seem, you are the one we can hold on to. I want everyone else to be able to talk and sing about you as well. But Lord, in many places in the world your people are not allowed to do this. Do something Lord! Protect your children from those who are persecuting them. Topple their governments and put leaders in place who will allow your people to speak and sing freely. No nation who persecutes your people does well. They dig their own graves and set their own traps. You are a God who has ordered the universe in such a way that those who hurt others end up only hurting themselves. Any nation who forgets about you will be forgotten by you. While those who know they need you will never be forgotten by you. Rise up, Lord. People will not win. Only God wins. The resurrection of Jesus already proved that. Wicked nations will be judged by you. And when they see what is coming to them, they are going to do more than just pee their pants. Humiliate them Lord, the way they humiliated others. No one is going to get away with abusing God’s people. Show them who’s boss and put them in their place. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 9 A psalm of David David praises God for dealing with his enemies in this psalm. He says in v8 that God will judge the world in righteousness, and he will govern the people with justice. David calls for praise to God for what he has done (v11) and says that God does not ignore the cry of the afflicted (v12). David asks God once again to deliver him from his enemies. But this time, he is even more confident because he knows –
Psalm 9:9-10 “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Our Lord may not always deliver us immediately when we are oppressed or in times of trouble. But as v9, 10 says we can still always go to him for refuge and the more we know God, the more we will trust him. We will be confident like David and assured of his deliverance. We can go to him in prayer and state our circumstances and needs. We know that he is a righteous God, a powerful God and that he loves and cares for us. And even if we are not receiving the answer we think we should be right away – we can be assured that he has promised to never forsake us, if we seek him. Hebrews 13:5 says “… Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We can trust in his promises. Point: To remember God will never leave or forsake us. Lord, all around the world people worship you because of the beautiful story you wrote.
Your creation is fantastic, but you are much more fantastic than your creation. Even tiny babies declare your praise. How? Just look at them. Is there any other explanation to how uniquely each one has been designed, but you? That alone should shut the mouths of those who deny your existence. Let’s see if they can create something like that without any help from you. When I think of the cosmos and realize that we can barely see past our own small galaxy my mind is perplexed. To think that every star, every moon, and every planet has been put in its place by you. And none of this even compares to those little babies you continue to make. Another thing astonishes me. It’s that though we are small in a cosmos that is small compared to you, we are the most important thing in your creation. You even made us in your image and called us to rule your creation. What a fumble on our part to have forfeited that right by rebelling against you. Yet you still care for us so much that you rescued us through your son Jesus. Though he was equal with you, and the exact image of your being, he became human to save us from our fall. Your son lowered himself and identified with all of our suffering and temptations, but never gave into them. He took our death by being nailed to a cross as an innocent man. You then raised him up and put a crown on his head. By rising from the dead, he proved his power over all things. All glory and honour belong to him. You made him the King of kings and the one who has authority over everything. All the wild and domestic animals are under his authority. All the birds and fish are under his authority. Everything that walks, swims, and flies is ruled by him. And through Jesus you restored our authority over creation. In becoming human Jesus won back our right to be human. As Christ is your image, we are restored in him to be created in your image. We now find ourselves ruling alongside Jesus. God, empower us to exercise our authority over your creation like proper image bearers. What a glorious restoration. Lord, all around the world people worship you because of the beautiful story you wrote. Devotion by Cora Goodyear Psalm 8 A psalm of David This psalm by David speaks of the majesty of God’s name. David considers God’s creation and the insignificance of man in comparison. He wonders what is man that God could be mindful of him. Yet, God has made man ruler over the flocks and herds, beasts of the field, birds, fish and all that swims in the sea. Psalm 8: 4,5,6 are repeated in Hebrews 2: 6,7,8. In Hebrews, these verses refer to Christ. Psalm 8:3 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.” David looked and considered the heavens. Most people who lived on this earth have also looked at the heavens and perhaps, considered them. There is a majesty of the heavens – the sky above us (dark at night, clear or clouded in the daytime), the moon (which varies in shape) and the light it provides at night, the stars (sparkling, some closer and brighter, others further in the distance), and the sun which rises every day to light the world, then sets again every evening. What majesty, what a grand design and plan for mankind. David also mentions that this was done by God’s fingers and set into place by him. It is difficult to believe otherwise when we “consider” the heavens. Romans 1:20 says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” When men observe the wonder of what has been made – they cannot help but realize that only a powerful God could carry out this feat. His power is surely seen – when one considers the heavens. Point: To remember creation is proof of God. |