Tag: Psalm 80:17-19
Mercy over sacrifice!
Scripture reading for April 21st: Matthew 12, Psalm 80, Proverbs 18
Matthew 12: 9-14 “He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”--so that they might accuse Him. He said to them, “Which of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how to destroy Him.”
Jesus was continually trying to instruct the religious leaders on the real heart of God: showing mercy over keeping rules or sacrifice. They continually sought to trap Him or judge Him in matters concerning the law. Here, they confronted Jesus about if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Was healing forbidden as a form of work that did not honor God’s Sabbath commandment? Jesus gave them a simple truth about taking a fallen sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath and them told them that people were much more valuable than a sheep. He healed the man’s hand as a demonstration of mercy from God. They refused instruction like fools, and sought to destroy the Messenger of God’s Truth. This still happens today.
Psalm 80:17-19 “But let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, the Son of Man Whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from You; give us life, and we will call upon Your Name! Restore us, O Lord God of Hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to help us understand the heart of God and the depth of meaning in Your laws. Help me to understand how to be merciful instead of judgmental. Correct me when I become like those Pharisees. Use me today to demonstrate Your mercy to those in need of healing and the Good News of a Savior Who is merciful and forgiving.
Proverbs 18:2 “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
Beware: Deception in the Church
Scripture reading for October 20th: Jeremiah 47-49, Psalm 80, 2nd Peter 2
2nd Peter 2:1-3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”
Peter’s final letter to the Church contained warning similar to other apostles and Jesus and even the prophets of Old Testament times. False teachers and false prophets would arise among God’s people and seek to draw believers away from Christ. They would encourage greed and sensuality and bring disrepute on true believers living in the way of Truth. These deceivers would preach and teach heresies–teachings that divide and cause strife–rather than bringing love and unity and peace. Peter cited examples in Scripture of God’s judgment on the sensual world in the case of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah. He cited Balaam as a false prophet motivated by greed instead of truth. Swift destruction awaits those deceiving and being deceived if they don’t repent.
Psalm 80:17-19 “But let Your hand be on the Man of Your right hand, the Son of Man Who You have made strong for Yourself. Then we shall not turn back from You; give us life, and we will call upon Your Name! Restore us, O Lord God of Hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!”
Prayer: Father God, we live in deceptive times with many voices seeking to influence us that are not from You. Fill me and Your Church with the Holy Spirit and gifts of discerning of spirits. Use me to warn and be a prophetic voice to this generation concerning the present dangers of deception and idolatry. Restore us, O Lord God of Hosts! Let Your face shine on us for we trust only in You!
Jeremiah 48:6-8 “Flee! Save yourselves! You will become like a juniper in the desert! For because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials. The destroyer shall come upon every city and no city shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord has spoken.”
Thankful for the Son of Man!
Scripture reading for June 21st: Psalms 79-83
Key Scriptures: Psalm 80:17-19 “Let Your hand rest on the Man at Your right hand, the Son of Man You have raised up for Yourself. Then we will not turn away from You; revive us, and we will call on Your Name. Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”
The psalmist prayed for God to bring revival and restoration to His people. The key was the Man at God’s right hand! This person was a “Son of Man” that God raised up for His purposes! The psalmist desired God’s smiling face to look upon him and all God’s people. This would result in salvation! What a prayer a thousand years before Jesus Christ came to earth!
Thankful for God’s Man at His right hand: “For the law appoints men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.” (Hebrews 7:28-8:1)