Happy Mother's Day!

Yours in Christ,

This week we have some more Psalms, mostly written by Asaph. So who was this Asaph guy again?

Asaph was servant in the Temple and a collector of songs; A Levite; One of the leaders of David’s choir (1Ch 6:39, Psalms 50, and 73-83). He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a "seer" (2Ch 29:30). The "sons of Asaph," mentioned in (1Ch 25:1, 2Ch 20:14, and Ezr 2:41) were his descendants, or, more probably, a class of poets & singers who recognized him as their master.

The rest of this reading sounds like a plea for God to battle the foes of David and Israel and for judgement to be passed on them. Let us not forget, though, that the resounding victories of Israel occurred when God did the fighting, not the Israelites.

Day 2

Now there's a concept. Put your hope in the Lord and let Him take care of the great matters. We could use more of that in this day and age, that's for sure! Who is this enemy that David has been speaking about, though? Was he referring to the old age that was creeping on him, forcing him to accept his own mortality? Was it the temptation to lose step as his path was nearing it's completion? What do you think?

David did remark that God had answered his prayers. The answer wasn't always what he was hoping to hear, but the answer was given nonetheless. God knows everything we have done or will do. He can see us no matter where we try to hide. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our weaknesses and He knows how they can be overcome. Without divine guidance, any attempt to better ourselves is ultimately futile. If you have been holding out on him, now is the perfect time to submit to His perfect plan for your life. Not tomorrow, not "some day." Now. He invested his Son. God made flesh. The least we could do is invest our lives with the promise of glory at the end of our paths. Our lives and beyond will be magnificent for it! All we need to do is lose our petty natures and allow him to shape us the way we need to be.

Day 3

God's love for us is endless and eternal. He looks over us and protects us. He sees that we have all that we need. He is our sustainer and He is there even before we cry out to Him, just waiting for us to ask for His deliverance. Sometimes life does look pretty bleak, doesn't it? We are here on this earth for a short time and we have absolutely nothing to offer God. No possessions will satisfy Him, for everything is ultimately His anyway. Our innate abilities are nothing compared to the resources of Him. Despair is all we have to offer Him. But He has so much to offer us!

Day 4

There's a new perspective. What right do we have even to glorify God? If we give to him what is already His, isn't that a little presumptuous? Perhaps even the approval He has given us to worship Him is a blessing in itself!

Most people don't take advantage of this blessing, and many more don't adhere to His wishes for us. But He's right there the whole time. Wanting what's best for us. Waiting for us to let Him take over and make our lives miraculous.

Day 5

God alone has the power to determine the time and place of...everything. I may feel a certain way about His decisions, but I am not God. I don't have His unending wisdom, so it wouldn't be right for me to try and argue against His wishes. In my humble opinion, "Thy Will Be Done" from the Lord's Prayer is the cornerstone of faith. If His will is being done, then you know that things are under control. I'll sometimes whisper a prayer of just that one phrase. Try it some time. It's actually quite relaxing!

Day 6

Boy, Asaph seems pretty upset. He must have seen quite a few Israelites turning away from God. Either that, or he had set standards above the expectations of others. He goes on about how he wants God to judge the nations that don't worship Him as the weak and the needy are cared for by Him. I believe Asaph would have been an interesting person to speak with. I would bring up the idea of these things happening in Gods time, though.

Day 7

Soloman was just starting to come into his own here. The nation was now united under him and he was becoming prosperous. God asked him to make a request and he asked for wisdom. It seems to me that in making that request, rather than one of riches or long life, he exhibited quite a bit of wisdom that he already had.

In his wisdom, he immediately began cleaning house. I knew Joab would have it coming after what he did. I was surprised that most of the ones killed in this reading had survived as long as they did.

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Thanks for sharing my goal of reading the Bible in its entirety this year!