Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 7
6 Arise, O Lord, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
7 Gather the nations before you.
Rule over them from on high.
8 The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord,
for I am innocent, O Most High!
9 End the evil of those who are wicked,
and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
10 God is my shield,
saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.
6 Arise, O Lord, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
7 Gather the nations before you.
Rule over them from on high.
8 The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord,
for I am innocent, O Most High!
9 End the evil of those who are wicked,
and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
10 God is my shield,
saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
7:6–11 Call to God to Arise as Judge. The singers see their requests as part of the larger picture: God is a righteous judge (v. 11), to whom all the peoples of mankind, and not just Israel, are accountable (vv. 7, 8); thus his anger (v. 6) and indignation (v. 11) are directed against those who threaten his faithful ones (the righteous, v. 9; and the upright in heart, v. 10). In the Psalms, judging is more often than not a saving action, God intervening on behalf of the innocent and oppressed. (In English the word “judge” tends to focus more on condemning than on rescuing.) The particular deliverance, then, is part of God’s larger project of putting the whole world back to its right order (v. 9).
7:8 God’s justice gives hope for vindication when we are in the right. But in the matter of eternal salvation, no one is in the right except Christ alone, and in him we take refuge (Rom. 3:23–26).
7:8 God’s justice gives hope for vindication when we are in the right. But in the matter of eternal salvation, no one is in the right except Christ alone, and in him we take refuge (Rom. 3:23–26).
Study Questions:
- God is the refuge for the DISTRESSED. The idea of God as a refuge is a wonderful and important gift to all of us who live in the midst of a broken world. We've seen so many horrible things, so much evil, so much death and suffering. As we said before, it's easy to question whether or not God is paying attention. But ultimately and eternally, evil WILL be punished. Are you broken? Tired? Frustrated? Stressed out? Confused? Hopeless? What would it look like for you to take refuge in Him? What must shift in you to get to where you can praise him in the midst of your suffering?
- Because of his righteousness and justice, like David, we should, "sing praise to the Lord Most High!" We tend to only sing praise on the mountain top, when things are going our way. That's when it comes easy. But praise is a weapon when done correctly. When you can choose to sing praise to the Lord, even in your misery, because of the hope you have in his justice and righteousness, it can completely change things. It has the power to lift your eyes to higher places, change your perspective and does major damage to the enemy's attacks on you. If you're in that low spot today, take some time to worship him in the middle of the storm. Ask God to shift your perspective as you trust in him.
Pray:
- That you would take refuge in the Lord.
- That you would praise him in the storm.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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