Tag: Most High
Day 3–Good News for ‘Tent-Dwellers’!
Scripture reading for May 27: Psalm 91:7-10 “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place–the Most High, Who is my Refuge–no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.”
In Scripture, our bodies are likened to ‘tents’ that we live in while on earth. John 1:14 states that ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . ‘, referring to Jesus coming to earth to live among His people and reveal the heart of the Father God. The word ‘dwell’ actually means to ‘tabernacle’ or pitch a tent. If you remember, the Israelites had a ‘tent’ for God, the Tabernacle, that they carried and pitched for God to dwell in their midst. The cloud of God’s glory would rest over it until it led them in their journey. It was a fire by night bringing light and the comfort of God’s presence. They also had a yearly feast of Tabernacles where they lived in temporary dwellings remembering their journey through the wilderness. (Leviticus 23:33-36)
The psalmist wrote to encourage those who know God by Name and trust in Him as their Refuge and Fortress. Thousands may fall close to you, but the plagues and satanic attacks of this life will not come near you. You will observe the recompense of the wicked only. The psalmist King David wrote in Psalm 37:34 that those waiting on God will look on when the wicked are cut off. If the Lord Most High is your ‘dwelling place’, if His ‘Tabernacle’ is your refuge or secret place, no harm or evil will come near your ‘tent’!
What good news the psalmist brings to first responders on their missions to help the hurting and diseased! These ancient confessions of faith in the Most High God give us comfort and courage to face danger with calm and trust. No plague or evil can harm us as God abides in our ‘tent’.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these ancient words written down to encourage and teach Your people faith and trust. Help us as faith responders to remember that You dwell in our ‘tent’ by the Holy Spirit. You give us power and courage to share the Good News with those You send us to. Amen.
Week 22–Day 1–Declaring God’s Names
Scripture reading for May 25: Psalm 91: 1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My Refuge and my Fortress, my God in Whom I trust.”
For many years, Psalm 91 has been a favorite of those in the military and those involved in the first responder network. It is held in reverence by believers who regularly face danger and enemies, seen and unseen. It is a personal declaration of faith and trust in God, naming God in these first two verses with four names that reveal Who God is to this psalmist. The first thirteen verses are faith statements and declarations of God’s overcoming grace towards those who trust in Him personally and communally. The last three verses are a prophetic declaration by God of His provision for those who humbly cling to Him in faith and trust.
Today we will consider these first two verses and the names ascribed to God by this psalmist. The psalmist encourages everyone to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. This term exalts God to the highest place of honor, above all powers and thrones, in heaven and on earth. Taking refuge in God Himself places the one needing shelter in a totally secure place. In fact, it is described as ‘abiding’ in the shadow of the Almighty. To abide is to chose to dwell in a continual relationship in close proximity to the One Who has all power and authority.
The psalmist personally confesses to the Lord that he is declaring Him as his personal refuge and fortress. A place of refuge is a hiding place where one can be secure against any attack of their enemies. A fortress signifies a walled enclosure providing safety and security. The psalmist declares it is ‘my God’ Who is this Refuge and Fortress. He places full trust in his God Alone, the Almighty and Most High God, abiding in Him in humble trust and faith.
As responders, we would do well to read and meditate on this psalm regularly. We will bless our God to declare our Him as our Refuge and Fortress on a daily basis. Abiding requires us to stay close so His shadow will cover us.
Prayer: Father God, I declare that You are the Most High God, the Almighty One. You are my Refuge and Fortress, My God in Whom I place my trust. Amen.
Leaving a legacy–last words!
Scripture reading for April 1: 2nd Samuel 21-24
These are the last words of David: ” The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’ (2nd Samuel 23:1-4)
David, the shepherd boy, anointed King by the Lord, speaks prophetically under the Spirit of the Lord. His last words are inspired by the “Most High”, “God of Jacob”, “God of Israel” and “Rock of Israel”. The Bible states that no prophet speaks on his own but is moved on by the Holy Spirit. ( 2nd Peter 1:20-21) After seventy years of walking with God, he writes not so much for himself, but for those who will follow him in the walk of faith.
David left a mighty legacy for us. His Psalms are prophetic of the coming Messiah, his life, suffering and death! As a young boy, he knew God as his own Shepherd. Jesus Christ is the good Shepherd Who so cares for His sheep that He lays His own life down for them. David knew God as the “Rock of Israel”! That Rock was a firm place to stand in the trials that continually came to this man. That Rock was a source of water and refreshment in a dry and weary land as David was being pursued by his enemies. His Psalms flow with an anointing of truth and grace that make them easy reading for people from every age and generation. His last words still speak to us and encourage us to press on to meet our great “High God”!
Have you ever thought about what your ‘last words’ might be? What legacy would you like to leave for the next generations? What names might you ascribe to God in your walk of faith today?
Son of the Most High!
Scripture reading for March 2nd: Deuteronomy 3-5, Luke 1
Key Scriptures: Luke 1:30-33 “And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.””
Luke records for us the record of Gabriel’s visit to Mary, the virgin betrothed to Joseph. Both were descendants of King David. However, the Son to be born in Mary’s womb, would be known as the “Son of the Most High” and would reign on David’s throne forever! God by His grace would fulfill the prophesies given over the past ages to His people and would fulfill His grand plan to restore the promised inheritance to His people of all nations.
Deuteronomy 4:5-8 “See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon Him.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Your Son to fulfill Your laws and statutes in wisdom and understanding. Indwell me today by Your Holy Spirit that I might walk in Him. Amen.
Famous last words!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: 2nd Samuel 21-24
These are the last words of David: ” The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'” (2nd Samuel 23:1-4)
David, the shepherd boy, anointed King by the Lord, spoke prophetically under the Spirit of the Lord. His last words were inspired by the “Most High”, “God of Jacob”, “God of Israel” and “Rock of Israel”. No prophet spoke on his own but was moved on by the Holy Spirit. ( 2nd Peter 1:20-21) He wrote not so much for himself, but for those who would follow him in the walk of faith. David wrote out of nearly 70 years of walking with the Lord and living a life of faith.
David left a mighty legacy for us. His Psalms are prophetic of the coming Messiah, His life, suffering and death! As a young boy, he knew God as his own shepherd. Jesus Christ was the Good Shepherd who so cared for His sheep that He laid his own life down for them. David knew God as the “Rock of Israel”! That Rock was a firm place to stand in the trials that continually came to him. That “Rock” was a source of water and refreshment in a dry and weary land as David was being pursued by his enemies. His Psalms flow with an anointing of truth and grace that make them easy reading for people from every age and generation. Even though David lived over 3000 years ago, his last words still speak faith to us and encourage us to press on to meet our great “High God”! May we ponder these “last words” for more understanding and grace!
Famous last words!
Scripture reading for April 2nd: 2nd Samuel 21-24
These are the last words of David: ” The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel’s singer of songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.’ (2nd Samuel 23:1-4)
David, the shepherd boy, anointed King by the Lord, speaks prophetically under the Spirit of the Lord. His last words are inspired by the “Most High”, “God of Jacob”, “God of Israel” and “Rock of Israel”. The Bible states that no prophet speaks on his own but is moved on by the Holy Spirit. ( 2nd Peter 1:20-21) He writes not so much for himself, but for those who will follow him in the walk of faith. David writes out of nearly 70 years of walking with the Lord and living a life of faith.
David left a mighty legacy for us. His Psalms are prophetic of the coming Messiah: his life, suffering and death! As a young boy, he knew God as his own shepherd. Jesus Christ is the good shepherd who so cares for His sheep that he lays his own life down for them.
David knew God as the “Rock of Israel”! That Rock was a firm place to stand in the trials that continually came to this man. That Rock was a source of water and refreshment in a dry and weary land as David was being pursued by his enemies. His Psalms flow with an anointing of truth and grace that make them easy reading for people from every age and generation. David’s fear of the Lord and humility make him stand out as a leader. Even though David lived over 3000 years ago, his last words still speak faith to us and encourage us to press on to meet our great “High God”! May we ponder these “last words” for more understanding and grace!
Israel’s history of rebellion!
Scripture reading for June 10th: Acts 7:30-50
Stephen’s sermon defense to the rulers of Israel who crucified Jesus and now were plotting to get rid of him was taken from their own Scriptures. Stephen went on to show how the Moses that the Israelites had rejected was picked by God 40 years later to be their deliverer. He was sent to them with signs and miracles and led them out of Egypt. (Acts 7:35-36) Moses also prophesied that God would raise up another prophet like him from his own people.
While Moses was on the mountain of God getting the Ten Commandments, the people rebelled by making a golden calf. They began to worship the works of their hands and turned away from God. God gave them over to the worship of the creation and idols that they made. Their rebellion would eventually send them to captivity in Babylon. Stephen quoted Amos 5:25-27 showing that God knew about the rebellion and promised to punish them.
Stephen was being used by God to instruct these men, showing God held the Israelites accountable for their idolatry. They had always rejected His prophets and refused to follow His ways. Even now, these men were rebelling against the same God by persecuting those who were preaching Jesus Christ as Lord and performing signs and miracles in His name. They had rejected God’s chosen leader Moses and had also rejected the prophet like Moses that God raised up, Jesus! They were in danger of being given over themselves to their own idolatry of the Law and the temple!
Stephen used Isaiah 66:1-2 to show that God had already stated that He dwelled in heaven and that any earthly house could not contain Him. These truths were made plain by Stephen’s preaching to those who were ruling in Jerusalem. But truth will either bring conviction and repentance, or bring hardening and God’s judgment. Stephen’s job was simply to present the truth in the power of the Holy Spirit and let the people choose their response. How are you at listening to God’s truth when you are living outside of it? Do you like it when God reveals an area of rebellion in your own life? Is Jesus the leader you are following?