Devotions

the heavy lifting

Posted on April 27, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

Psalm 32:1-2

Psalm 32:1¹ How fortunate is the one whose crime is forgiven, whose mistake² is covered!

Psalm 32:2 How fortunate is a person whom Yahveh does not charge with violation and in whose breath is no deceit!

the heavy lifting

When we were on the Appalachian Trail last year, I carried most of our weight because my back was stronger. Fortunately I had a well-made backpack, and a stronger back, so the weight was not a major obstacle for me. It was my contribution to the hike.

What is being celebrated here is neither the size of one’s past sin nor the size of one’s present personal goodness. What matters is the sovereign choice of a loving God to forgive. He can lift the largest weight, and cover the worst mistake. He is not reluctant to forgive: it’s what he does.

Lord, we give our past to you, because we want to be free. Thank you for doing the heavy lifting.

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¹ superscription: Of David. A Maskil.

²חֲטָאָה

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intimidation

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

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Psalm 31:23-24

Psalm 31:23 Love Yahveh, all his faithful ones. Yahveh protects the loyal, but fully repays the arrogant.

Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in Yahveh.

intimidation

It takes strength to stay devoted and loyal. Anyone who has ever tried to love anyone or anything can attest to that. That is why the psalmist first encourages his readers to love God and stay loyal to him, then adds encouragement that they be strong and courageous.

We are living in an interesting era. We have access to more information and quicker means to it than ever in the history of the planet. One would expect adherents to all kinds of religious ideals to be bombarding us with their doctrines all the time. But that is not what is happening. Strangely, any profession of exclusive faith is rare. What accounts for this? One word – intimidation.

Lord, make us strong and courageous so that others might know that you exist, and that pursuing you is worth the battle.

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the shelter of his presence

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

Psalm 31:19-22

Psalm 31:19 How great is your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear you and accomplished in the sight of children of Adam for those who take refuge in you.

Psalm 31:20 You hide them in the protection of your presence; you conceal them in a shelter from human schemes, from disputing tongues.

Psalm 31:21 Blessed be Yahveh, because he has wondrously shown his covenant faithfulness to me in a city under siege.

Psalm 31:22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the sound of my pleading when I cried to you for help.

the shelter of his presence

Last year’s hike on the Appalachian Trail gave me a deep appreciation for the shelters that have been placed on it. Every few miles that are these lean-tos, which really don’t seem like much, unless you have been hiking all day and are looking for a little rest. Usually there are one or two other hikers who join you for the experience. There are no amenities – not even picnic tables at some. But the shelters are there, and they a just a hint that you are not completely shut off from civilization.

The psalmist speaks of God hiding his people in a shelter of his own presence. All it took for him was prayer, expressing his feelings of fear and loneliness, and God was there.

Lord, thank you for the shelter of your presence.

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shut them up, Lord

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

Photo by Mikes Photos on Pexels.com

Psalm 31:14-18

Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, Yahveh; I say, “You are my God.”

Psalm 31:15 The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from those who chase after me.

Psalm 31:16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your covenant faithfulness.

Psalm 31:17 Yahveh, do not let me be disgraced when I call on you. Let the wicked be disgraced; let them be quiet in Sheol.

Psalm 31:18 Let lying lips that arrogantly speak against the righteous in proud contempt be silenced.

shut them up, Lord

David’s enemies were strong, and their arrogant words were digging a grave for him. But he had a helper. He knew that the course of his life was in God’s power – that God could save him because of his covenant faithfulness.

David prayed for God to shut his enemies up. The options were only two: either he will lie silent in Sheol in disgrace, or his enemies would. God was the one to make the call.

Lord, enemies and adversities surround us, seeking to silence our song. We rely on you.

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like broken pottery

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

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Psalm 31:9-13

Psalm 31:9 Be gracious to me, Yahveh, because I am in distress; my eyes, my throat and my belly are worn out from frustration.

Psalm 31:10 Indeed, my life disappears with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my violation, and my bones waste away.

Psalm 31:11 I am ridiculed by all my adversaries and even by my neighbors. I am dreaded by my acquaintances; those who see me in the street run from me.

Psalm 31:12 I am forgotten: gone from memory like a dead person– like broken pottery.

Psalm 31:13 I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my soul.

like broken pottery

Physically, he is a wreck. Mentally, you could say he is paranoid, except that everyone is really conspiring against him. Those who do not deride him are careful to avoid him. He has committed a great sin – a violation – so the people who once respected him now just wish he would go away. He has gone away – inside, and his outsides (eyes, throat, belly, bones) are wearing out in frustration.

There are men and women all around us who are experiencing this kind of ordeal. They may have hearts like poets. But their vessels are ruined. They feel like broken pottery.

Such people need God’s help. It would also be a good idea if God’s people could look beyond their current condition and show them some respect and concern.

Lord, help us to remember those who are forgotten – to love them back to life again.

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a spacious place

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

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Psalm 31:6-8

Psalm 31:6 I hate those who worship temporary and trivial¹ things, but I trust in Yahveh.

Psalm 31:7 I will celebrate and be happy in your covenant faithfulness because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul

Psalm 31:8 and have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a spacious place.

a spacious place

Oh, today of all days to come to this passage, and be reminded that my Lord knows the troubles of my soul! I have waited and worked for months seeking guidance from God, and this week I have been forced into yet another delay. I just want to get on with my life!

While hiking the Trail, I came to numerous tricky spots that I would have to be especially careful on, because there was precious little space for error. The psalmist here declares his trust in God because he has not handed him over to the enemy, but set his feet in a spacious place.

Lord, give me the courage to trust you through this – to trust in the place you have put me.

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1שָׁוְא

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boulder of refuge

Posted on April 21, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

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Psalm 31:1-5

Psalm 31:¹ Yahveh , I seek refuge in you; let me not be disgraced permanently. Save me by your righteousness.

Psalm 31:2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly. Be a boulder of refuge for me, a mountain fortress to save me

Psalm 31:3 because you are my rock and my fortress; you lead and guide me for your name’s sake.

Psalm 31:4 You will free me from the net that is secretly set for me, because you are my refuge.

Psalm 31:5 Into your hand I entrust my breath; you have redeemed me, Yahveh, God of truth.

boulder of refuge

On New Year’s Day my wife and I went hiking in Virginia. It was cold and windy, and we chose a particularly steep mountain. We were several miles into the hike when we took our first rest. We found a boulder that would give us a bit of protection from the wind. We sat down behind it, and rested for a few minutes. We had a snack from our backpacks. It was glorious.

David’s boulder of refuge was God himself. Even though he had enemies that sought to destroy him, he could find rest, because he had entrusted his breath into God’s hands.

Jesus and Stephen quoted these words at the time of their deaths. They both trusted God to give them victory over the ultimate defeat. We can too.

Lord, you are our boulder of refuge. We trust in you for the ultimate victory over all our enemies – even the enemy of death.

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¹superscription: A psalm of David.

Posted in dependence upon God, rest, resurrection | Tagged Psalm 31 | Leave a comment

lament interrupted

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

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Psalm 30:6-12

Psalm 30:6 When I was secure, I said, “I will not be shaken permanently.”

Psalm 30:7 Yahveh, when you showed your favor, you made me stand like a strong mountain; when you hid your face, I was terrified.

Psalm 30:8 Yahveh, I called to you; I sought favor from my master:

Psalm 30:9 “What gain would there be in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your truth?

Psalm 30:10 Yahveh, listen and be gracious to me; Yahveh , be my helper.”

Psalm 30:11 You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and decked me out with gladness,

Psalm 30:12 so that I can sing to you and not be silent. Yahveh my God, I will praise you permanently.1

lament interrupted

David went from arrogant self-confidence, to fearful lament. Fortunately he did not stay lamenting for long. He called to his God in prayer, seeking favor from his master. He appealed to God, admitting that if he were to die in this state, it would not accomplish God’s purposes. When the believer dies, there is no more praise and no more proclamation. He pleaded for God to be gracious to him – to be his helper.

God said Okay. He stopped lamenting, and started partying.

Lord, come and rescue us today. Interrupt our laments!

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1subscription: For the choir director.

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morning is coming

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

Photo by Mikes Photos on Pexels.com

Psalm 30:1-5

Psalm 30:11 I will exalt you, Yahveh, because you have lifted me up and have not made my enemies happy over me.

Psalm 30:2 Yahveh my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me.

Psalm 30:3 Yahveh, you brought my soul up from Sheol; you spared me from among those going down to the Hole.

Psalm 30:4 Sing to Yahveh, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name

Psalm 30:5 because his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.

morning is coming

When David praises God for bringing his soul up— he was not talking about heaven. He was being thankful for being rescued from death. In death, the soul goes down to the hole where the soul lies, and rests in unconscious sleep and defeat. Only a resurrection will change that. A resurrection lifts up a dead soul. A resurrection brings a soul up from Sheol.

No matter what we face in this life, believers can have confidence in a rescue via resurrection. Neither our sins nor our sadness will have the last word.

Morning is coming.

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1superscription: A psalm; a dedication song for the house. Of David.

Posted in resurrection, sleep of death, Uncategorized | Tagged Psalm 30 | Leave a comment

morning is coming

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Jefferson Vann

Photo by Mikes Photos on Pexels.com

Psalm 30:1-5

Psalm 30:11 I will exalt you, Yahveh, because you have lifted me up and have not made my enemies happy over me.

Psalm 30:2 Yahveh my God, I cried to you for help, and you healed me.

Psalm 30:3 Yahveh, you brought my soul up from Sheol; you spared me from among those going down to the Hole.

Psalm 30:4 Sing to Yahveh, you his faithful ones, and praise his holy name

Psalm 30:5 because his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor, a lifetime. Weeping may stay overnight, but there is joy in the morning.

morning is coming

No matter what we face in this life, believers can have confidence in a rescue via resurrection. Neither our sins nor our sadness will have the last word.

Morning is coming.

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1superscription: A psalm; a dedication song for the house. Of David.

Posted in resurrection, sleep of death, Uncategorized | Tagged Psalm 30 | Leave a comment

Devotions

the heavy lifting

intimidation

the shelter of his presence

shut them up, Lord

like broken pottery

a spacious place

boulder of refuge

lament interrupted

morning is coming

morning is coming

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