Category: Uncategorized

MARCH 3

Psalm 44

Psalm 44:23-24, “Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!  Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?”

The psalmist, after recalling times past when God led his people to victories, lamented the fact that God had abandoned them.  Defeated and disgraced, he pleaded with God: Why are you sleeping?  Why are you hiding?  Why have you forgotten us?  The psalmist’s questions are not that uncommon.  We tend to wonder about such things when things don’t go as expected or especially if we are met with some sort of tragedy.

Jerry Sittser and his family were returning home from a visit to an Indian reservation.  It was dark.  “Ten minutes into our trip home,” Jerry said, “I noticed an oncoming car on a lonely stretch of highway driving extremely fast.  I slowed down at a curve, but the other car did not.  It jumped its lane and smashed head-on into our minivan.  In an instant, a tragic accident claimed three generations of my family: my mother, my wife, and my young daughter.”  In Jerry Sittser’s book, A Grace Disguised, he describes his painful journey through grief and questions regarding where God was in his tragedy. 

For a long time, the memory of the traumatic accident deeply haunted and tormented Jerry, replaying in his mind both awake and asleep. One sleepless night, he saw the accident in a different light, standing with his children near the accident site, witnessing the collision again. This time, a divine light illuminated the scene, revealing not only the destruction but also God’s presence, offering comfort and peace. While the waking dream didn’t provide answers to why the accident occurred, it brought a sense of peace, knowing God was there to welcome his loved ones home and guide the survivors toward healing.

At the heart of Jerry’s reassurance were the unchanging realities of the nature of God and his promises.  God is good.  He does good (Psalm 119:68).  Even when things go “bad,” God causes them to work together for good (Romans 8:28).  He is with us and has promised to never leave us nor forsake us, and that promise holds true no matter what! 

We may not know the answer to the question why, but we can trust the One who knows.

Application Questions: Have you ever asked God “why” regarding something that happened in your life?  Why is it important amid such circumstances to keep one’s focus on the good nature and faithful promises of God?

FEBRUARY 28

Psalm 43

Psalm 43:3, “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me.”

Jacob DeShazer grew up not far from here in the small central Oregon town of Madras.  One of WW2’s “Doolittle Raiders,” Jacob was imprisoned in a Japanese prison camp after being captured in China.  Together with his fellow airmen Jacob endured incredibly harsh mistreatment and abuse.  Jacob responded in kind, which only worked to exasperate his troubles. 

Some books were brought to the prison camp and amongst them was a Bible.  Jacob was told by a guard that he could have the Bible for three weeks.  God’s light and truth pierced through the darkness of that foreboding place as Jacob eagerly read through the Word.  Reading through the book of Romans, he came across Romans 10:9 and discovered God’s promise of salvation to those who confess and believe in the Lord Jesus.  He trusted in Jesus and was saved. 

How difficult it must have been to navigate through life in that prison camp, but the truth of God’s Word worked a radical change in Jacob.  Jacob learned to love his captors.  Even before his release, he sensed a call from God to return to Japan as a Christian missionary.  And that’s what ultimately happened.  The former captive attended Seattle Pacific College and while there, met and married his wife.  Six years and eight months after he had set out to fly to Japan as an airman, he returned to Japan as a missionary.  The DeShazers ministered Christ’s love there for thirty years.  One high spot in his ministry came when Captain Kato (the guard who had given the prisoners a Bible) became a Christian.

One day, in Jacob’s life, God sent forth His light and His truth.  Life was thereby imparted to a sin-dead soul.  His situation was dire, but by the truth he was led down a path to unimaginable blessings.  No matter the extent of our troubles, the Word of God is powerful to save and transform (1 Thessalonians 2:13).  Send your light and your truth, Lord, for we need them to lead us!

“It (The Bible) contains light to direct you…It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass.”—Found in the opening pages of every Gideon Bible

Application questions: What difference has the truth of God’s Word made in your life?  Imagine trying to navigate your life’s journey apart from the instruction of the Word.  Why is it so important to be led by the Spirit through the Word?

FEBRUARY 27

Psalm 42

Psalm 42:5, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Do you ever talk to yourself?  What do you say?  The psalmist asked his soul a question, then gave himself advice.  His troubles were sourced in the deep sorrow he was experiencing.  Sorrow is universal; even the most spiritual are not exempt, as seen throughout Scripture and church history.  It comes to us in a variety of ways and for a host of reasons.

The Sons of Korah served as musicians in temple worship. Many believe this Psalm reflects their sorrow as they accompanied King David during his flight from Jerusalem due to his son Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15). As they left, they mourned their exile from their home (Psalm 42:5).

The Psalmist’s sorrow stems from several sources. He longs for God as a deer longs for water, but feels distant from Him (Psalm 42:1, 9). He is far from the temple, which once brought him joy (Psalm 42:4, 5b). Facing relentless trials, he feels overwhelmed by troubles and the mocking of his enemies, who ask, “Where is your God?” His tears have become his food, and he is broken-hearted.

Many can relate to the Psalmist’s feelings of despondency and sorrow. Have you ever felt so low that the only prayer is “help”? Yet, amidst this, the Psalmist speaks of hope. He talks to his soul, asking, “Why?” and directs his focus toward God. The repeated refrain, “Hope in God,” shifts his thoughts from despair to trust in God. As Charles Spurgeon has noted, “God is faithful, God is love, therefore there is room and reason for hope.”

The Psalmist reminds us that in times of sorrow, focusing on God’s unchanging nature and His promises offers hope. Despite life’s ups and downs, God remains our constant Rock.  We do well to yearn even more for him, as a deer pants for flowing streams (Psalm 42:1), even as A. W. Tozer has prayed: “I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.”

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.” — Corrie Ten Boom

Application Questions: What kind of things bring you sorrow?  The psalmist’s sorrow had to do with losing access to temple worship.  Do you yearn for a closer fellowship with God?  Ask God to make you more thirsty for Him.

FEBRUARY 26

Psalm 41

Psalm 41:1, “Blessed is the one who considers the poor!”

You know the story.  The fictional character, Ebenezer Scrooge, was described by Charles Dickens as “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!” Despite his considerable personal wealth, Scrooge underpays his clerk, hounds his debtors, and disregards the needs of the poor, as he lives cheaply and joylessly in the chambers of his deceased business partner.  Not surprisingly, he detests Christmas.  When two men approach him on Christmas Eve for a donation to charity, he sneers that the poor should find work, or else die to reduce the surplus population. His last name now serves as a byword for greed and misanthropy.

It takes little effort to live like Scrooge.  We are born sinners, and in sin we’ve a propensity to look out primarily for our own interests.  Sin makes us selfish.  In “looking out for number one,” there’s little desire or inclination to consider the needs of others.

It took three visits by three spirits to change the heart of Scrooge.  They opened his eyes to the error in his ways, both with respect to what might have been, what was, and what would be lest he change.  Scrooge begs for another chance, promising to alter his ways, and finds himself in his bed on Christmas Day. An overjoyed Scrooge then commits to being more generous and compassionate.

It takes far more than that to change the heart of a selfish sinner.  Nothing less than a born-again experience through faith in Christ can work to do that.  The psalmist understood God to be a giving God (Psalm 41:2).  That reality has been visibly demonstrated for all to see in the sacrifice of God’s own Son for our sins.  Jesus works not just to forgive us, but to change us that we might freely give, even as we’ve freely received (Philippians 2:1-10).  Happy are those who consider the poor, for in considering them, we are more like Jesus, who said, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

One of the most Christlike things you can do is to be considerate of the needs of others.

Application Questions: Why does God want us to consider the poor?  Think back to before you were saved.  How selfish were you? How has Jesus worked to change you?   How does his example work to encourage you to be more considerate of the needs of others (Philippians 2:3)? 

FEBRUARY 25

Psalm 40

Psalm 40:2-3, “He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”

My heart was distressed ‘neath Jehovah’s dread frown,
And low in the pit where my sins dragged me down;
I cried to the Lord from the deep miry clay,
Who tenderly brought me out to golden day.
He brought me out of the miry clay,
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, hallelujah!
-Henry J. Zelley, 1898

An aggravated murder suspect, somehow managed to escape a psychiatric hospital in Salem, Oregon. However, his attempt at freedom was short-lived. He found himself trapped in a situation he couldn’t get himself out of.

It was an emergency call reporting a possible dead body that led to his rescue. Far north of Salem, the man was found stuck in the mud up to his armpits, about 75 feet from solid ground. For 12 long hours, he struggled helplessly, his efforts only trapping him deeper in the muck. He was utterly powerless, until a rescue team arrived, using ropes and ladders to pull him to safety.

Ironically, the man’s name was Christopher Pray. Had he only heeded the words of his name, and prayed, he might have experienced an earlier spiritual rescue—one that could have spared him from the troubles that led him to this desperate situation.

Spiritually speaking, the miry clay speaks to the troubles we encounter in this world, and especially the entanglement of sin.  The psalmist speaks of a “pit of destruction,” and that’s an apt description of what happens with sin, as has been said, “If you find yourself at the bottom of a pit, stop digging.”  Sin is much like digging a pit in which to bury oneself.  Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus of how they’d been stuck in their sins and trespasses, doomed to destruction as children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3).

The problem with sin, as with the miry clay, is that it is impossible to rescue oneself.  Assistance is needed.  David cried out to the Lord, and the Lord “drew (him) up from the pit of destruction” (Psalm 40:2).  The God who is rich in mercy is well able to rescue from sin’s guilt and power.  On the other side of rescue is rejoicing.  After being welcomed by his father, following his time spent wallowing in the pigs’ mire, the prodigal son was invited to a grand feast and joyous celebration.  Every rescued sinner has a song of praise to sing.  The choir of the redeemed sings to the vast audience of others needing rescue.  And you, believer, are a part of that choir.

Having been rescued from the mire of sin, the choir of the redeemed have a song of praise to sing!

Application Questions: Remember when you cried out to God for salvation?  How joyous were you?  Have there been times since you’ve felt as if you were stuck in the mud?  What lessons can be learned from the psalmist’s experience?

FEBRUARY 24

Psalm 39

Psalm 39:4, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”

I am deeply grateful for the work we do in hospice care. It is a privilege to provide comfort and support to patients and their families in their final days. Each situation is unique, but they all share one common element: a terminal diagnosis. For some, death comes quickly, as with the patient who passed away during their admission. For others, the process is more gradual, with patients living for months or even years beyond their initial prognosis. Occasionally, patients even improve to the point of being discharged from hospice, though their eventual death remains an undeniable reality.

In a broader sense, we are all in “hospice” because, sooner or later, death comes for us all. The psalmist grasped this truth and prayed for God to make him fully aware of his mortality. In Psalm 39, David asks God to help him understand the fleeting nature of his life and the measure of his days. But why did David pray this way?

While David intellectually understood the brevity of life, his prayer was for a deeper, spiritual awareness of it. The context of this prayer is essential. David, like all of us, was a sinner who battled against sin (Psalm 39:1), faced God’s discipline (Psalm 39:10-11), and sought forgiveness (Psalm 39:8). His hope, however, was firmly rooted in the Lord. He saw himself as a sojourner in this world (Psalm 39:12), knowing that the troubles of life are temporary, and that deliverance was imminent (Romans 7:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Though life’s journey can be challenging, it is comforting to know that life’s troubles are not forever (2 Corinthians 4:17). For those who have faith in Jesus, the good news is that one day they will be freed from all earthly burdens. In the meantime, our awareness of life’s fleeting nature should prompt us to make the most of the time we have, as Paul exhorts in Ephesians 5:16: “Be making the best use of the time, for the days are evil.”

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”—C. T. Studd

Application Questions: How aware are you of the fleeting nature of your life?  The psalmist asked God to increase his awareness.  Why?  What changes would such an increased understanding bring?

FEBRUARY 21

Psalm 38

Psalm 38:22, “Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!”

In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis writes, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

David found himself immersed in suffering, overwhelmed by guilt, loneliness, and a desperate longing to restore his relationship with God. Under God’s discipline for his sins, his body and soul were weighed down, his health deteriorating, and his spirit burdened by a guilt too heavy to bear. His foolishness had led him to a place of sorrow, where he felt utterly crushed and isolated, his heart groaning with anguish.

In the depth of his despair, David cried out to God, seeking deliverance. Troubles often have a way of capturing our attention, which is why we hear of “foxhole” or “jailhouse” conversions. There’s nothing wrong with that—after all, we live in a broken world as broken people. It would be naive to think we can navigate life without God. I’ve often said that everyone has a desperate need for Jesus; the only question is how deeply we recognize that need. Challenges in life serve as a wake-up call, reminding us of our dependence on God.

The encouraging truth, however, is that God hears the cries for help. Just as Peter’s desperate plea, “Lord, save me,” was met by Jesus’ outstretched hand, the thief’s cry from the cross was answered with the promise of paradise. In many ways, the thief is my hospice hero, as countless patients may relate to his distress. Yet, in crying out to God, all of us can find a Savior who is both willing and able to rescue us from our darkest moments.

If you find yourself in the bottom of a pit, stop digging, and look to the One who can readily lift you up.

Application questions: Can you relate to David’s experience in this psalm?  What lessons can we take away from C. S. Lewis’ quote about our troubles?  Have you ever cried out to God in desperation?  How did God respond?

FEBRUARY 20

Psalm 37

Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The Rolling Stones had it mostly right when they sang, “You can’t always get what you want.” However, there is one way in which you truly can get exactly what you need.

This psalm draws a sharp contrast between the lives of the righteous and the wicked. The psalmist highlights that while the righteous are sustained and blessed by the Lord, the wicked face futility in their lives and will ultimately face judgment.

In this context, verse 4 offers both a better path and a beautiful promise. To “delight” in something means to take joy and satisfaction in it, much like indulging in an ice cream sundae. However, in the grander sense of life, to delight in something is to actively pursue it as the object of your affection. The wicked delight in sin—there’s temporary pleasure to be found in accumulating possessions, indulging in lustful desires, and seeking power (Hebrews 11:25; 1 John 2:15-17).

On the other hand, to delight in the Lord is to find one’s deepest joy and satisfaction in Him. It is to seek after God as the goal in life (Philippians 3:10). This door is wide open to us, thanks to the saving work of His Son. There is no one to prevent us from walking through it—except for ourselves. When we set our hearts on pursuing God, we will find Him ready and willing to meet us there. As James 4:8 promises, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

When our hearts are aligned with God’s will, He is pleased to fulfill our desires. Imagine, for instance, that we would never hand over our credit card to a drunken sailor, knowing it would be wasted on foolishness. But if we entrusted it to a faithful friend who would spend it according to our instructions, it would be a completely different matter. As Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, “Men who delight in God desire or ask for nothing but what will please God.” In seeking after God, we not only fulfill His will, but experience in Him that what is truly “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

“The desires of God, and the desires of the righteous, agree in one; they are of one mind in their desires.”—John Bunyon

Application Questions: What do you delight in?  What does it mean to delight oneself in the Lord?  To what extent are your desires aligned with God’s?

FEBRUARY 19

Psalm 36

Psalm 36:9, “In your light do we see light.”

With advice from a friend, I purchased a therapy light for Laura. The theory beyond such lights is that exposure to bright light can help to improve mood and regulate sleep.  Light therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including seasonal affective disorder and depression, thereby improving well-being.  We’ll watch to see how well it works.

There’s another kind of light that is far more therapeutic—the light of God’s presence.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).  Just as the sun enlightens the world so that we can see things clearly, the Lord alone can give intellectual and spiritual light.  He unveils to us the truth about Himself, ourselves, and the nature of the lives He’s given us.

Life in the dark leads to misery in one’s ignorance, but the light of God leads to freedom in the truth. But how are we to see His light?  No inward intelligence of ours can work to flip that switch.  The Spirit alone can light up the dark recesses of our hearts and minds.  In trusting Jesus, that door is opened.  It remains for us to walk in the light, even as we walk by the Spirit and seek the truth bound up in God’s Word.  God is light (1 John 1:5), and by the light of God’s presence we enjoy both the warmth of His fellowship and the knowledge of truth.

“Vain are they who look to learning and human wit, one ray from the throne of God is better than the noonday splendor of created wisdom.”—Charles Spurgeon

Application Questions: Have you ever stumbled in the dark?  What does it mean to be darkened in one’s understanding (Ephesians 4:18)?  How much has knowing Jesus worked to enlighten you?  Are you walking in the light?    

FEBRUARY 18

Psalm 35

Psalm 35:3, “Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation!'”

In this psalm, the psalmist, David, prays with great emotion and urgency for God to intervene on his behalf.  He pleads for God to take up his cause to vindicate him and enact vengeance on his enemies. He understands God to be the One capable of coming to his aid, both to defend and deliver him.  And he cries out to God to speak to his soul that he might be thereby assured of his salvation.  In biblical usage the pronoun “I” when referring to the Lord signifies the God who has promised to deliver His people (Exodus 6:6-8; Isaiah 49:26).  God is able to save!

I’ve sat at the bedside of lots of dying folks. The final steps of their journey are into unexplored territory.  As much as loved ones or hospice folks want to help them, there are unknowns and fears they alone can fathom.  What they need is heaven-sent assurance that they are going to be okay.  To know that there’s someone to walk alongside. Someone who can bring them safely home when that time comes. That someone is Jesus, and there’s no substitute for the salvation and assurance He alone can provide.

It is one thing to hear comforting and assuring words from good-hearted family members and friends.  And there are verses to share and songs to sing that bear such messages.  But there’s no substitute for the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.  Assurance is the language he speaks to those belonging to God (Romans 8:10-13; 1 John 4:13). 

The plea of the psalmist, however, is not just for the dying or when we find ourselves in times of trouble.  It is with assurance that we are free to occupy ourselves in doing vs. wondering.  Having awareness that we are safe in the arms of Jesus, we are free from fears to stand and serve without reservation. 

We are frail creatures.  How good is an encouraging word to our soul from our God and Savior!  Speak to my soul, O Lord!  My heart rejoices in your reassurance.

Application Questions: Think back to the last time you were sorrowful.  What worked to turn your emotions around?  How important is this promise of joy in times of sorrow?  What means does God use to restore joy?