Three Reasons to Rejoice In God (Thoughts on Psalm 47)

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Wayne Davies

Looking for reasons to be joyful today?

Look no further than the psalms, which are filled with exhortations for the people of God to rejoice in the presence of God — to be glad in Him, to experience delight because of who He is, what He has done, and what He will continue to do.

Psalm 47 begins with a compelling and universal call to joy: “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2).

There are many reasons for Christians to rejoice. God is so good – He rarely tells us to do something without also providing a holy motive to do it. He wants us to know why the command to be joyful has been issued, as indicated by the key word “for” at beginning of verse 2, which means “because.”

These opening verses of Psalm 47 give us at least three reasons to lift our voices with joy to God, and they center on who God and what He is doing.

Reason #1: The Supreme Position of God
We can rejoice because our God is “the LORD Most High.” We serve the one and only true God. But He has much competition. Our rebellious nature has resulted in the creation of countless false gods, from the physical idols of wood, metal and stone so common in biblical times, to the more subtle yet equally profane idols of modern society, such as money and possessions, pleasure and entertainment, power and popularity.

God does not tolerate our idolatry. Immediately prior to bringing the Israelites into Canaan, He commanded them to “Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places” (Deuteronomy 12:2-3). This is the practical application of the first of the Ten Commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

And some 1,500 later, God continues to steer His people away from the temptation to replace Him with the vain imaginations of our evil hearts, as the Apostle John ends his first letter with these words, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21), for “He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

Yes, the lure of counterfeit gods surrounds us every day. The antidote to idolatry is to focus on the matchless supremacy of the LORD Most High. By meditating on His transcendence, we can live in the heavenly places of Colossians 3:1-2 and “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Reason #2: The Awesome Wrath & Grace of God
The Bible is filled with breathtaking adjectives that describe God. Here is one of my favorites: “The LORD Most High is awesome” (Psalm 47:2). This Hebrew word has a wide range of meaning, as demonstrated by the diverse ways it is rendered in various Bible versions. Consider these other translations: “the Most High is awe-inspiring” (HCSB); “the Most High is to be feared” (ESV and NASB); “the LORD most high is terrible” (KJV). Yes, in 1611 the King James Version used the word “terrible” to describe our God.

And for good reason. When you consider the never-ending wrath of God that awaits unrepentant and idolatrous sinners, isn’t the eternal destiny of hell the most horrific fate imaginable? Yes, God is terrible . . . for those who refuse to believe in Him, submit to Him, and worship Him.

For those of us who have humbled ourselves before the throne of grace, all things do work together for our good in both this life and the next (per Romans 8:28). But for the rest of the human race, the terror of God will be all they know on Judgment Day and forever.

The wrath of God gives us reason to be in awe of Him, because God’s saving grace in Christ has rescued us from that terror. Because of the death of His Son, He has delivered us from His wrath, and therefore we are awestruck and flabbergasted. His unfailing love takes our breath away. Surely this is reason to rejoice every day!

Reason #3: The Holy Reign of God
Our God is nothing less than “the great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). The kingdom of God is prominent in this psalm, for verses 6, 7 and 8 return to this theme. “Sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.”

In the presence of such glorious royalty, we show the utmost respect, honor and admiration. We bow down before Him. We prostrate ourselves in His presence, well aware of our unworthiness, yet here we are, blown away by His majesty – all because His holy throne is also a throne of grace.

Yes, God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He reigns over everyone and everything, whether we acknowledge it or not. Be not dismayed by what is reported in the news media on a daily basis — the Lord is in charge. He has ultimate authority and is in complete control of history. He reigns supreme because He is supreme.

Obviously, with the condition of the world the way it is, it doesn’t necessarily look like God is sitting on a holy throne. But for those with eyes of faith, we can see that Jesus is fulfilling every promise He has made, and that one day “every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:11). In every way, King Jesus is the best, the strongest, the wisest and the most beautiful Person in the universe. No one else comes close. He’s in a class by Himself, a league all His own, because He is the LORD Most High, the awesome One, the great King of the cosmos.

These are three great reasons to rejoice in God. Today, and every day, may we lift our hearts and our voices in joyful adoration to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

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What Is the Best Thing in Life?

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Wayne Davies

In July 2020 one of my spiritual mentors died.

J.I. Packer passed away and I recall vividly how sad I was to hear the news. But through the many books he wrote, his ministry of Christ-exalting Bible teaching continues. His best-selling Knowing God has had tremendous impact on me; it is the only Christian book (other than the Bible) that I’ve read more than twice.

For the one-year anniversary of his death, Sam Storms has written an excellent article, “J.I. Packer on the Hub of the Christian Life.” Please take a few minutes to read it and you’ll be blessed.

You’ll find answers to these questions:

1-According to Packer, what is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else?

2-Why study God?

3-What does the activity of knowing God involve?

4-Why did Packer say that God “does not exist for our sake, but we for his”?

You can access this article here:
https://www.crossway.org/articles/j-i-packer-on-the-hub-of-christian-life/

For more of what I have learned from Packer’s Knowing God, visit:
https://godwrotethebook.com/category/knowing-god/

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Who Made God?

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Wayne Davies

One of the best questions a child can ask is, “Who made God?”

Or how about this one: “Where did God come from?”

These are great questions that a person of any age can ask, don’t you think?

Fortunately, the Bible provides an answer that theologians call the self-existence of God.

 

The wonder of God’s greatness is beyond the limits of our finite minds. Yet God wants us to know Him to the extent we are able. He desires that we “Be still, and know that I am God “(Psalm 46:10). This is why the Bible is filled with profound statements that tell us who God is and what He is like. So let’s take a closer look at one of my favorite truths about God: His eternal self-existence.

The Reality of God’s Self-Existence
God has always existed. He is eternal, and His eternality extends into the past as well as the future. I think we have an easier time thinking about the never-ending future existence of God, mainly because “God has given us eternal life” (1 John 5:11). We will live with God forever because God lives forever. Of course, even this future aspect of eternal life is mind-boggling and way beyond our mental ability to comprehend. But even more difficult to grasp is the truth that God has always existed in the past.

Please join me in this brain-bending exercise: meditate on the fact that God has no beginning. He is uncreated. No one or no thing made God because God always was. We don’t have a category for this. Everything and everyone in the world has a beginning, a point in time when it came into existence. But not God. He has always been.

A.W. Tozer comments on the mystery of God’s eternality and the challenge we face in our attempt to understand it: “To think steadily of that to which the idea of origin cannot apply is not easy, if indeed it is possible at all . . . The human mind, being created, has an understandable uneasiness about the Uncreated. We do not find it comfortable to allow for the presence of One who is wholly outside of the circle of our familiar knowledge. We tend to be disquieted by the thought of One who does not account to us for His being, who is responsible to no one, who is self-existent, self-dependent and self-sufficient” (The Knowledge of the Holy).

We know God has no origin because this is what Scripture teaches. Moses begins Psalm 90 with these words:

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

It’s that last part of verse 2 that makes our heads spin. “From everlasting” God has been God. The Common English Bible translates this as “from forever in the past to forever in the future, you are God.” Psalm 93:2 is equally clear: “Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.” Or as the NIV puts it, “you are from all eternity.”

The Reason for God’s Self-Existence
God has always existed because God is life. This amazing truth is also revealed in the Bible. When God spoke to Moses in the burning bush He told him that “I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:9-10).

Moses’ response to God’s command was less than enthusiastic, so he said, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13).

God then said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation” (Exodus 3:14-15).

The Hebrew word for “LORD” (in all capital letters) is Yahweh, and it literally means “I am.” This is the most common word for God in the Bible, used over 6,800 times in the Old Testament! We must not miss the significance of this – God has a name (just like you have a name), and His name is based on the truth of His eternal self-existence. Every time we read the word “LORD” in the Old Testament, we should be reminded that our God is the source and fountain of life, because He is life itself. He is the only self-sufficient, self-sustaining being in the universe, dependent on no one else and therefore the only truly independent Person.

The Gospel of John makes this truth about God’s self-existence abundantly clear:
In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (1:4);
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself (5:26);
I am the resurrection and the life (11:25);
I am the way, the truth and the life (14:6).

The Overflow of God’s Self-Existence
The implications of God’s self-existence should humble us. The only reason we exist is because God exists. He is life itself and has chosen to give life to us. Every breath we take and every move we make is because of His sustaining power. We would not be here if God had not brought us into being. And we would not continue to live another second were it not for the grace of God.

He made us, and He upholds us. God is the only reason we are alive today. And only because of His mercy will you wake up again tomorrow. Let the goodness of God, as manifested in the provision of our daily existence, take your breath away. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Our Response to God’s Self-Existence
In light of this amazing truth, how do we then live? What effect should the self-existence of God have on us? It should bring us to our knees in worship of the living God. This is the only appropriate response!

John had a vision of God on His throne in heaven. Angels are worshipping Him, and this is what they are proclaiming day and night: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). God was. He “was” in the sense that He always was. There has never been a time when God was not God. This should evoke endless praise and adoration of the great I AM.

While these angelic beings “give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,” the 24 elders, representative of God’s people, join the celebration and “fall down before Him . . . and worship Him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being’” (Revelation 4:9-11).

Looking for a reason to glorify God today? Look no further than the beating heart in your chest. If you are alive and can read these words, you have every reason to worship King Jesus, “the author of life” (Acts 3:15) and the lover of your soul.

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How to Pray Like an Apostle: 6 Characteristics of Effective Intercessory Prayer

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Wayne Davies

Can I ask you a personal question:

How’s your prayer life?

If you’re like me, perhaps you have good days and bad days – days when prayer comes easily and often, and days when prayer is a struggle.

I find comfort in Paul’s description of Epaphras: “He is always wrestling in prayer for you” (Colossians 4:12). It’s good to know that I’m not the only one for whom prayer can be like a wrestling match.

Intercessory prayer — praying for other people — can be the type of prayer that requires the most self-discipline. The Apostle Paul is a good example for help in this regard. And Philippians 1:3-11 is a great passage to study to learn how to pray for other believers.

6 Characteristics of Effective Intercessory Prayer

#1 – A Sincere Thankfulness
“I thank my God every time I remember you” (v. 3). This is a wonderful way to begin praying for another Christian – by expressing gratitude. Before we ask God to do anything for anyone, we simply offer a sincere “thank you” for this person. The next time you pray for someone, start by offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving. “Thank you, Lord, for my friend (or spouse or child or Pastor or whoever). Thank you that I have the privilege of knowing him (or her) and being in a relationship with him.”

#2 – A Genuine Joy
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy” (v. 4). Paul got much pleasure from the Christian fellowship he had with believers. When he prayed for people, his heart was filled with gladness. Prayer was no easier for him than for us, yet he found reason to rejoice when he approached the throne of grace. When you pray for other believers, what brings a smile to your face as you think about the person you are praying for? Take time for communicate that joy and gladness to your heavenly Father. He would love to hear how someone He loves makes you happy!

#3 – A Shared Faith
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel” (v. 4-5). Here we find out why Paul experiences pleasure when he prays for other Christians – by praying for them, he is reminded of their faith in Christ, and this is the source of his gratitude and joy. These people came to Christ through Paul’s ministry, and now, some 10 years later, he can take much comfort in knowing that the Philippian believers have persevered on the path of discipleship and are still following Jesus. That is why Paul can say with confidence, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ” (v. 6). This, too, should be the cause of our thanksgiving and gladness when praying for believers — we share a common faith in Christ and are united in our love for Him. Paul is rejoicing because “all of you share in God’s grace with me” (v. 7). What could be more precious than that?

When praying for your Christian friend, take time to reflect on the glorious truth that you have a unique bond with this person. You are interceding for your spiritual brother or sister before our heavenly Father!

#4 – A Heart of Affection
“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart . . . God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (v. 7-8). Paul’s prayers were not a ritualistic formality, just another item on a busy man’s To Do List. Rather, they were an expression of his deep love for the Philippians. He was their spiritual father and even though he could not be with them in person, they lived in his heart every day. The word “affection” (NIV) can be literally translated “inward parts” (NASB). The Apostle missed them dearly and his prayers were the natural outflow of the tender feelings he had for them.

#5 – A Focus on Spiritual Growth
“And this is my prayer . . .” (v. 9). Now we come to the specific requests of Paul’s prayer. I am always amazed at the content of Paul’s prayers. He rarely, if ever, mentions physical needs. Rather, his focus is on spiritual growth, personal holiness, and living a life of love for God and His people. For the Philippians, Paul pleads with God “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v. 9-11). Wow! If you have never prayed a prayer like that for another believer, why not start doing so today? Use Paul’s words and make them your own. Ask God to give your Christian friend the love, knowledge, insight, purity, blamelessness and righteousness that can only come from Jesus. What we are asking God to do is to sanctify our believing friend – that God would make him/her more and more like Jesus.

Wouldn’t you like another Christian to pray this prayer for you? Of course you would. All the more reason to pray this prayer for your Christian friends.

#6 – A God-Centered Purpose
“To the glory and praise of God” (v. 11). Paul concludes his prayer by reminding us of the ultimate purpose of his prayer – that God would be glorified and praised. Think about it: do you think God wants us to pray for the sanctification of other believers? Do you think God would like to answer such a prayer? And if He does, who gets the praise and glory for that? He does! Yes, we can only become more like Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit, who produces His fruit in us so we can live a God-fearing, Christ-pleasing life. And the end result is that we see the work He has done in us and exclaim, “Praise you, Father, for doing a work in us that only you can do. You are renewing our minds and conforming us to the image of your Son, so that your power is displayed and your greatness is exalted.”

This is how Paul prayed for the Philippians. This is how we should pray, too, when interceding for our fellow believers.

You don’t have to be an Apostle to pray like one.

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How to Flourish Like David: 5 Keys to Spiritual Growth

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Wayne Davies

David wrote about half of the Psalms. He was a gifted writer and musician, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote a plethora of hymns that have resonated with the hearts of God’s people for centuries.

Psalm 52 is no exception. It ends with these words:

“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.
I will praise you forever for what you have done;
In your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.”
Psalm 52:8-9 (NIV 1978)

David experienced much pain and suffering in his life. In his early years, before he became Israel’s king, he was the victim of undeserved abuse at the hand of King Saul. And after taking the throne, he brought much turmoil on himself as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah.

Yet through it all, he maintained a life of devotion to God. He is described twice as a man “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). And here in Psalm 52 we see David reflecting on his life and saying, “I am like a green olive tree” (ESV). Like any tree, a healthy olive tree should have green leaves and bear fruit. This is what a tree is made to do. This is what it means for it to flourish and thrive.

After comparing himself to a mature, fruit-bearing olive tree, David then proclaims what that kind of life looks like. He takes a personal inventory and sees the evidence of God’s power at work in his attitudes and actions.  And while David praises God for His provision, we get a firsthand account of five spiritual keys which enabled him to pursue and maintain a godly life no matter what.

Key #1: Acceptance of God’s forgiveness.
“I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God.” Note that David says he is like a fruitful tree in the house of God. The temple wasn’t built yet, so this could be a reference to the tabernacle, the place where repentant sinners came to acknowledge their sins and offer an animal sacrifice to symbolize the provision of God’s grace through the forgiveness of sins. A godly life starts here, with the recognition of our rebellion against God and our need for His mercy. When we repent, God is more than willing to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). To live a God-pleasing life, David knew that he needed God’s forgiveness, as evidenced by his writing of Psalms 32 and 51.

Key #2: Faith in God’s love.
“I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.” David was a firm believer in the never failing, steadfast love of God. He had a confident conviction in God’s unwavering commitment to His people. This faith was based on a profound understanding that God knows what is best for us. He can be trusted because He is trustworthy. We can rely on Him to take care of us through thick and thin, good times and bad. Just like us, David had plenty of both.

Key #3: Praise for God’s work.
“I will praise you forever for what you have done.” At any point in time, David could look back on his life and see what God had done for him. David recognized God as the ultimate source of all he had experienced in life, and he continued to worship God regardless of his circumstances. The beginning of verse 9 can also be translated, “I will thank you forever, because you have done it.” David was a thankful man, filled with gratitude for the grace and mercy of God to him, an undeserving sinner.

Key #4: Hope in God’s goodness.
“In your name I will hope, for your name is good.” David was a man of hope. Because of the goodness of God, he had a positive outlook on the future. In Scripture, the word “hope” is not the wishful thinking that says, “I hope I win the lottery.” Instead, it is the strong expectation and certain assurance that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).

Key #5: Fellowship with God’s people.
“I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” David did not trust God in isolation from others. His faith and hope were bolstered by a close relationship with other believers. He lived for God with the people of God. This is one of the indispensable marks of genuine faith — identification with and involvement in the church of Christ. The genuine Christian life is not a solo flight. It is lived out in the context of the local church — the family of God, the household of faith.

Reality Check
As you reflect on these key characteristics of David’s life, I urge you to take an inventory of your own life. How are you doing in each of these areas?

Do you regularly and genuinely confess and forsake your sins, going to God directly to express heartfelt sorrow over your faults, as well as the need for God’s power to overcome them? Then, while looking to the death of Jesus as the sole basis for God’s forgiveness, you experience the sweet joy of reconciliation with your Savior.

Do you believe in the sovereign, never-changing love of God? To increase that faith, it is essential that you spend much time in the Word, knowing that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Do you offer praise and thanks to God for His work on your behalf? A true Christian is increasingly enthralled by God’s work of salvation on our behalf through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We never tire of hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ. It is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold!

Do you find hope in the goodness of God? You do not have to travel far or spend much money to experience God’s kindness. Simply open the Bible and you’ll find evidence of His grace on every page. Then take a look at your own life and you’ll see the same God extending that same grace to you.

Are you actively involved in a local church? Do you enjoy spending time with God’s people, worshipping King Jesus together, serving Him together, and becoming increasingly like Him together? If not, something is amiss and you are outside the will of God.

By the grace of God and the strength provided by the Spirit of God, every believer can flourish by living in the presence of God. May this be my experience, and yours as well.

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How to Cultivate Daily Bible Reading

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Wayne Davies


Looking for tips on how to cultivate the habit of daily Bible reading? Here’s 5 ways to increase your love for God and his Word.

1. Decide what time of day is best for you.
Are you a morning person, or is later in the day better? We’re all different. Some folks love to wake up in the morning and dive into the Word before doing anything else. But that may not be what’s good for you, your schedule and your family – especially if you are a parent with young children who need you from the moment you wake up.

So you’ll need to figure this out. If you’re married, this may require a conversation with your spouse. But be encouraged – this is not rocket science. It can be done. And you’re smart enough to make it happen.

2. Find a place where you can be alone.
Depending on your living situation, this can be a challenge. If you have a room at home where you can close the door and be left all alone, go for it! But in many families, this can be literally impossible, at least when everyone is awake.

You may need to leave the house to be alone with God. Going to a nearby coffee shop or public library might work for you, or just take a drive and find a place to park.

3. Make a commitment to meet with God at the designated time and place.
We all make appointments. Doctor, dentist, insurance agent, whoever. Well, don’t you think it makes sense to make an appointment with God? Doesn’t he deserve the same respect you give your  tax preparer?

I urge you to cultivate an attitude that takes your daily Bible time seriously, because you want to take God seriously. Sure, life will get in the way of your plans, and the unexpected will inevitably occur and you’ll have days when your appointment with God gets cancelled for any number of valid reasons.

But if you are hungry for God and his truth, you will have the desire to keep this commitment.

4. Do it whether you feel like it or not.
There will be days when you are tempted by a lack of desire to read the Bible. That’s OK. It’s normal for our hunger for the Word to vary from day to day.

But think about this – if you only went to work on the days you felt like it, how often would you go to work? You know how it is – once you get there and get going, you usually get over those feelings.

If you start reading the Word even when you don’t feel like it, and just give it 5 minutes, I know what will happen – God will honor your persistence and before long those fickle feelings will be long gone.

5. Pray about this.
Ask God to help you to cultivate an increasing desire for him and his Word. Ask God to give you the self-discipline to put this plan into action every day (remembering that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – see Galatians 5:22-23).

Do you think that God wants to answer such a prayer?  Of course he does! And may he bless you greatly for spending quality time with him in the Word, and may your love for King Jesus increase as a result.

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4 Simple Steps to Better Bible Reading

Posted on May 9, 2021 by Wayne Davies

We are blessed to have a multitude of excellent resources to enhance our time in the Word. I’m always on the lookout for books, articles and sermons that communicate effective ways to read the Word.

As a result of spending quality time in the Word, I want to know God more deeply, love Him more sincerely, and obey Him more wholeheartedly.

And I believe you do, too. That’s why you’re reading this article.

I recently came across a blog post by Erik Raymond that does all the above. It’s entitled “A Tool for Reading the Bible Devotionally.” Don’t let the brevity of this article fool you. In a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner, he explains a 4-step method to read Scripture that I find wonderfully beneficial.

It also includes an example by showing you how to use these 4 steps when reading a specific passage (Ephesians 5:1-21).

It may only take you 10 or 15 minutes to read Erik’s post. You won’t regret it. And if take to heart this approach to Scripture and implement it faithfully, I know God will open the eyes of your heart and mind, so that you will see wonderful things about Him in His Word.

Here’s the link:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/erik-raymond/a-tool-for-reading-the-bible-devotionally/

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How to Read the Bible Supernaturally

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Wayne Davies

There are always great resources available to help us read, study and understand the Bible — by the grace of God the Father, for the glory of King Jesus, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s how to obtain four excellent books that will help you to pursue God through His written Word.

3 Free eBooks: John Piper’s Trilogy on the Word of God
A Peculiar Glory: How the Christian Scriptures Reveal Their Complete Truthfulness
Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing & Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture
Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship
https://www.cross-points.org/3-free-ebooks-john-pipers-trilogy-on-the-word-of-god/

A Classic by R.A. Torrey, Free in Kindle Format
How to Study the Bible Intentionally: Methods and Conditions for Effective Bible Study https://www.amazon.com/How-Study-Bible-Intentionally-Updated-ebook/dp/B08DL1D157/

I don’t know how long this deal will last, so be sure to download your copies today.

 

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My Favorite Psalm

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Wayne Davies

Do you like to read the Psalms? I do.

Over the past several years, I’ve been cultivating the habit of starting the day by reading, meditating on, and praying through a psalm. As a result, God has deepened my understanding of who He is, increased my faith, and given me countless reasons to pursue a life of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord of all.

Do you have a favorite Psalm? I do. Well, several, actually.

I just read Psalm 40 a few days ago, and that has to be in my list of Top 10 favorites, along with Psalm 1, 16, 23, 32, 42, 51, 100, 103 and 110.

My wife and I have been leading a small group Bible study for the past few years. We usually meet in our home, but over the past year have been “meeting” via Zoom and conference calls. Lately we’ve been studying the Psalms, taking a closer look at one Psalm each week. This week’s study is on Psalm 40, and I thought I would share with you how we do a Bible study in our small group.

Just click here and you’ll find a Bible study on Psalm 40 that you are welcome to use. Enjoy!

https://godwrotethebook.com/bible-study-on-psalm-40/

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Bible Study on Psalm 40

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Wayne Davies

NOTE: This post is an excerpt from my book, How to Pray Like David: A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41, available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback.

I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to the Psalms.

I love reading them, meditating on them, and praying my way through them.

David wrote about half of them, so it’s no wonder that my list of “favorite psalms” includes many that are attributed to him. Such is the case with Psalm 40. This ancient hymn is definitely in my Top 10 Bible passages.

As in many of David’s hymns, God is the focus. This is David’s testimony of the work of God in his life. The breathtaking beauty of these verses is found in his heartfelt description of what God has done for him.

Ironically, however, David begins Psalm 40 with a statement about himself: “I waited patiently for the LORD” (Psalm 40:1a). But this simply sets the stage for David to shine the spotlight on the One who rescued him. Note how verses 1b – 3a is a string of sentences in which God is the subject of the verb:

He turned to me
He heard my cry
He lifted me out of the slimy pit
He set my feet on a rock
He gave me a firm place to stand
He put a new song in my mouth

David wants the world to know about the saving power of God. Is this not a compelling example of what we, too, should be talking about? Think about your conversations during a typical week. How often do you speak about God’s supernatural and gracious activity on your behalf? Over the past few days, you’ve undoubtedly talked with many people about many things. How many of those conversations were about Jesus? How many times did you mention his name?

I must make another confession: when I subject myself to this self-analysis, I realize how little I speak about my Savior to those I encounter in a typical day. I discuss politics and sports and the weather, but not much is said about the One in whom I live and move and have my being. Oh, God, save me from such a self-absorbed life!

As evangelicals, we are taught to “share our testimony.” And this is a good thing. The typical format goes something like this: what my life was like before I became a Christian; how I became a Christian; how my life has changed after I became a Christian. I applaud this approach to telling others “my story” – as long as the focus of “my story” is God, not me.

With Psalm 40:1-3 in mind, we must be sure to communicate what God has done for, in, and through us. “My story” should be told in such a way that it communicates “God’s story.” We must fill our testimony with sentences in which God is the subject of the verb. I must follow David’s example and let people know how God has lifted me out of the slimy pit of sin and how God gave me a firm place to stand by setting my feet on the Rock of Jesus Christ. God put a new song in my mouth – hymns about him and his salvation from the mud and mire of a meaningless existence in this life and a Christless eternity in the next.

This is how David talked about his God. May God help us to do the same, so that “Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3b).

Psalm 40: Questions for Further Study, Reflection and Discussion

1. Think of a time when God heard your cry, lifted you out of the slimy pit, and set your feet on The Rock. Please, go ahead and “speak of God’s faithfulness and salvation.” Take this opportunity to write out the “new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” And be sure to share it with others!

2. What does David expect to happen as a result of his testimony, and why is that significant? (v. 3b)

3. Who do you know who needs to hear your testimony of God’s goodness to you? Who do you know who needs to “see and fear and put their trust in the Lord”? How can others pray with you in this regard?

4. In verses 9 and 10, David reflects on several of God’s attributes. What are they?

5. Which of these divine attributes is especially meaningful to you today? And why?

6. Even though David has told us what God has already done for him (v. 1-3, v. 5), what does he pray for in verses 11-17? Make a list of David’s prayer requests. (There are many!)

7. What is prompting David to cry out to God for help? (v. 12, 14, 17)

8. What is the relationship between God’s past deliverance and David’s prayers for future deliverance?

9. Which of David’s prayer requests would you like to receive prayer for? (Pick one or two, and please be specific.)

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