Tag: Psalms 140-145
Prayer like incense!
Scripture reading for July 2nd: Psalms 140-145
Have you ever experienced a prolonged time of sickness or trouble that seemed would not end? Have you felt like God didn’t hear your prayer or wasn’t answering your call? David’s life was one of deep trouble and prolonged times of pursuit by his enemies. Often these enemies were from his own friends or family! His brothers were jealous of him and spoke in a derogatory manner about him. David developed a habit of prayer that helped him to keep his soul steady in times of crisis. These psalms are written down for us to give us encouragement to pray!
In Psalm 140, David cried out to the Lord for rescue from evil men. These men had sharp tongues and plotted violence against him. David realized that he needed God’s mercy to make it. He prayed that those who surrounded him would be covered with the trouble that their own lips had caused! (Psalm 140:9) In other words, he wanted them to reap what they sowed! He prayed that they would have burning coals fall upon them and that they would be thrown into the fire and miry pits. He assured himself that the righteous would praise God’s name because God was just!
In Psalm 141 David asked that his prayer would come before God like incense. David knew the priests would add incense to the burnt offerings to make the smell of the burning meat more fragrant. As they offered the prayers before the golden Altar of Incense in the Holy Place, the incense on the coals would rise in sweet fragrance to the Lord before the veil. In Revelation 8:3-5, John the Apostle sees an angel offering incense with the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before God’s throne. As the prayers and incense ascended, the Angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it toward the earth producing thunder, lightning, rumblings and an earthquake! David understood the power of prayer and expected God to help him!
Pray along with David for God’s help today using Psalm 143:10-11. “Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
“My God the King”
Scripture reading for July 2nd: Psalms 140-145
“I will exalt You, my god the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your might acts.” (Psalm 145:1-4)
The Israelites had demanded an earthly king like the other nations, but in reality, God was their true King. Psalm 145 is a psalm of King David written in praise of “KING GOD”! David recognized God as worthy of all praise and great beyond our ability to comprehend. He wrote this psalm down to pass on the record of God’s greatness to the next generation and saw this happening as history rolled on. Here we are today, recounting the greatness of “my God the King” as we read this record!
God the King’s greatness was centered in His mercy and compassion for all He had made. Those who have come humbly to God the King have found His forgiveness of sins to be amazing and precious. Those who needed deliverance from enemies without and within have found the King all powerful and merciful on their behalf. God the King is faithful to all His promises and loving toward His creatures! (Psalm 145:13) His kingdom is everlasting so He will always be available for help to those who will call on Him!
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145:18-21)
This great King is always near to those who love Him. He hears their cry and answers them. He saves them in trouble and watches over them for good and blessing. He destroys all the wicked and preserves the life of His people! The only logical response is eternal praise! Take time today to lift your voice in praise to “my God the King”! If you don’t know Him as “my God”, ask Him to show you mercy through Jesus Christ!