We Sing Praises To Your Name, Oh Lord
BRD REFLECTIONS:
1 Chronicles 7:1-40, 1 Chronicles 8:1-40 and Psalm 68:1-35 (NIV)
(Cassandra Leung, Pastoral Team Member)
READ:
For this devotion, I have chosen to focus on Psalm 68.
OBSERVE:
This is a song of God’s victorious procession; it’s about His faithfulness that gave victory to Israel over her enemies and made Jerusalem secure enough to bring the ark into the city.
The Psalmist begins with a statement of complete trust and full confidence that God would defeat Israel’s enemies. The image of vanishing smoke and melting wax shows God’s enemies have no ability to stand against Him. He is effortlessly powerful.
Then in verse 5, God is portrayed as “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, …” And in verse 6, we see God setting“the lonely in families, …” These verses tell me that God is not only a mighty God, defeating Israel’s enemies and overpowering kings, but He is also a compassionate and loving God to those who need Him in their daily living.
Verses 15 and 16 talk about Mount Bashan, known for its rich pastures, importance and grandeur. However, God chose for King David to bring the ark to Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Here, I see that God doesn’t value what is impressive or outwardly strong. His love is not based on appearances or great accomplishments but His personal relationships with His people.
APPLY:
The lesson for me is to have the same spirit of confident dependence as the Psalmist did. I can do so because I know God. He cares for me in every aspect of my life. He often works through humble and ordinary people like He did with Moses, David, Esther and Peter. An obedient and willing heart is what God is looking for in me to lead and serve.
God looks into my life and all its affairs. He sees to all my needs. I must know Him fully and believe that He is always there for me. When I am weak, tired, in pain, lost and overwhelmed, He will be there. Praise the Lord that I do not need to face my tomorrows alone.
DO：
I want to know God deeply so that I can fully trust Him in all my circumstances and experience His presence all the time.
I am willing to be used by Him as He designs His plan for me.
PRAY：
Dear gracious heavenly Father, help me to deepen my relationship with You and build on the assurance that You are walking right beside me all the time. Praise be to God for Your faithfulness. Help me to guard my walk. Draw me near to You so that I can always walk right with You.
I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
