THE LORD SPOKE (September 1)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 139-144

Just how closely do you want God to look at you? Are you willing to let Him see deep inside? Really? Do you have a choice? With the possible exception of Job, no other character in Scripture expresses it quite like David. He is deeply aware of God’s omniscience and his own inability to hide anything from Him. Yet he invites divine examination.

This psalm is built around four stanzas of six verses each. A statement of David’s main theme concludes each paragraph. He begins and ends the psalm with a reference to God’s searching and knowing his every thought (Ps. 139:1 & 23).

God’s Omniscience (Ps. 139:1-6)

There is not a thought or deed that He does not know even before it is formed or acted upon. He knows all things before they take place!

God’s Omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-12)

No spot in the universe offers escape from God’s presence. He not only knows and sees everything, He is in every place. There is no place to hide.

Man’s Composition (Ps. 139:13-18)

Of course God knows us - He made us! We are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. It is His grace and our privilege that we should have a relationship with Him, the Creator of all things.

Man’s Dependence (Ps. 139:19-24)

The only thing left to man is to recognize his utter dependence upon God. Surely He does not need our help but He delights in showing us “the way everlasting”.

Are you on that path or are you still trying to hide from God? Don’t be a fool. “A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:7-8)


New Testament: Revelation 7

The Lamb...will be their shepherd. (Rev. 7:17)

Only God would do something like that. Only God would make a lamb the shepherd. Only God could make such an arrangement really work. Consider, for example, the work of a shepherd:

• provide food and water
• provide shelter from heat and storms
• protect from wild animals
• bind up wounds and nurse back to health
• discipline when necessary
• keep flock together on correct path
• encouragement, comfort, calming influence

Add to that the jobs of a pastor as outlined in Scripture:

• teaching biblical truth (Gal. 6:6; I Tim. 5:17; Tit. 1:9; c.f. Eph. 4:11)
• modeling Christlike behavior (I Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6; I Thess. 2:10-12)
• maintaining doctrinal purity (Acts 20:29-30; Tit. 1:9)
• disciplining unruly believers (Gal. 6:1-2)
• overseeing financial matters (Acts 11:29-30; II Thess. 3:10-12)
• prayer for those who are ill (Jas. 5:13-15)

Now ask yourself: “Does the Lamb do that for me?” What a wonderful shepherd He is! In every case, He does exactly what’s right. Time and again, He provides exactly the right measure of care that we helpless lambs need.

Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us,
For we need You to help us find our way.
Gentle Shepherd come and feed us,
For we need Your strength from day to day.

There's no other we can turn to
Who can help us face another day.
Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us,
For we need you to help us find our way.