LookingtoJesus

FEBRUARY 3

Psalm 24

Psalm 24:7 & 9, “That the King of glory may come in.”

Deep down this is what we all yearn for.  To have the King of Glory take up residence in our hearts and right the wrongs inflicted by the curse.  To come in, to abide, and reign, and benevolently transform and provide by His presence.  It is sin that has kept Him distant, but He has worked to provide a means of entrance.

The context of this psalm was the entrance of the ark into Mount Zion, when God went up with much celebration.  It is thought that the first part of our verse was a cry to the keepers of the gates, while the second was a reply by those who accompanied its entry.

But for us, the verse serves to remind us of the welcome entrance our hearts must avail to our most glorious Lord and Savior.  To trust in Him to save is to receive Him into our hearts, and revel in the blessings of his company.  To host him with open arms and gladly permit his renovations.  To give him the keys to our lives that he might be free to put things in order.  To allow the glory of his presence to shine forth so that others might behold the beauty of our guest. 

Years ago, a man by the name of Robert Boyd Munger published a tract entitled “My Heart, Christ’s Home.”  He imagined inviting Jesus into his home to view and inspect every room and make the necessary changes.  The tract concludes this way:

“Dropping to my knees, I said, ‘Lord, You have been a guest and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the owner and Master.’ Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation. I eagerly signed the house over to Him alone for time and eternity. ‘Here,’ I said. ‘Here it is, all that I am and have, forever. Now You run the house. I’ll just remain with You as a servant and friend.’ Things are different since Jesus Christ has settled down and has made His home in my heart.”

“Come, O mighty God, break through the doors of iron, and bars of brass, and make way for thyself by thy love and power!”—James Janeway

Application Questions: How much welcome are you extending to the Lord Jesus?  Is He but an occasional guest, called upon when needed?  Or, is He the Lord of your “house,” arbitrator of both your devotion and duties?  Does He even now have the freedom to make the necessary renovations in transforming you into His likeness?

JANUARY 31

Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Psalm 23:5, “My cup overflows.”

This psalm is one of the most beloved and recited passages in all the Bible.  I’ve read it at funerals and directed hospice patients to the promise of verse 4 many times: “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”  What wonderful reassurance that is to those who are walking in life’s last steps!

The author of the psalm, King David, had himself been a shepherd.  He provided and protected his father’s sheep and recounted how “when a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, (he) went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth” (1 Samuel 17:34-35).  David understood what it took to take good care of the sheep.

With that understanding, David wrote about God’s compassionate care.  In his shepherding of us, God provides nourishment and rest.  He uses his “rod and staff” to defend the sheep from predators and guide them from danger.  He is ever present, providing comfort and reassurance.  He knows his sheep personally, speaking to a close and intimate relationship.

God does these things in an above and beyond fashion.  A common question we asked of our hospice homes is “do you have everything you need?”  Similarly, God so provides for us so that we “shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).  God, who abounds in grace and mercy, fills our cups to overflowing through his provision (Psalm 23:5).  In God, we have a strong and loving Shepherd who takes the very best care of us.  We can trust Him always.

“Whatever be the believer’s position, he is even now under the pastoral care of the Lord.”—Charles Spurgeon

Application Questions: The Lord is your shepherd.  Because He’s provided all that you need, you needn’t want (Psalm 23:4; 2 Peter 1:3).  Because of the riches of His grace, your cup overflows (Psalm 23:5; Ephesians 1:8).  Is that how you see it?  Read again through the psalm and consider the various ways the Lord is lovingly shepherding you.

JANUARY 30

Psalm 22

Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus death on the cross was no accident.  It was not simply the bad end to a good man’s life, as some might suppose, but was according to the “definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23).  Centuries before Jesus’ death on the cross, David prophesied through his own experiences of the future suffering of Israel’s Messiah.  Portions of this psalm are either quoted or alluded to some 24 times in the New Testament.

From the cross, Jesus spoke these poignant words.  He had already endured suffering at the hands of men—betrayal, arrest, abandonment, false accusations, interrogation, beatings, humiliation, insults, pain, thirst, etc.  But those were mere precursors to a degree of imaginable pain that would come at the hand of his Father.  Isaiah wrote, “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him, putting him to grief” (Isaiah 53:10).  From eternity he’d experienced nothing but intimate fellowship with the Father, but in a moment of time He “who knew no sin” was made “to be sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  He who was “without blemish or spot” was made to bear the ugly stain of a world’s transgressions (1 Peter 1:19).  See Him there.  Naked.  All alone.  Forsaken by man and God.  “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”  (Galatian 3:13).  That’s Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, through whom all things have come into existence, bearing sin’s curse so that you might be set free from the penalty and power of sin.

Jesus uttered these prophetic words centuries after David wrote them.  Now you stand two millenniums removed from Jesus’ sacrifice—the redemptive story of the ages.  Consider again the high price Jesus paid to redeem you (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Someday soon, you’ll be enjoined to a great choir in heaven singing “to the Lamb who was slain” is worthy of praise.  But you need not wait until then.  In Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins, you’ll always have reason enough to praise and thank Him.

“What thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain
Oh mine was the transgression
But thine the deadly pain”
—O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, Hans Leo Hassler and Johann Sebastian Bach

Application Question: You had a sin debt you owed to God.  Jesus took that debt to himself and thereby canceled out yours.  How grateful are you, even now, to Jesus for what He’s done for you?  Find the hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (online or in a hymnal) and prayerfully sing it to yourself.

JANUARY 29

PSALM 21

Psalm 21:3, “For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.”

“Queen for a Day” was a popular television show in the 1950s and 60s, offering a brief moment of regal recognition to contestants facing financial or emotional struggles. An applause meter determined the winner after contestants shared their personal stories and explained why they deserved the title. To the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the winner was draped in a red velvet robe with sable trim, crowned with glittering jewels, seated on a velvet throne, and handed a dozen long-stemmed roses while their prizes were announced.

This psalm, often classified as a “Royal” psalm, shares similarities with that sense of exaltation. God granted David his throne and established his kingdom, for which David expressed deep gratitude. He praised God for the strength that enabled him to overcome his enemies (Psalm 21:1, 5). David also thanked God for the blessings that followed his answered prayers (Psalm 21:2). Above all, God’s presence and steadfast love were the source of David’s joy (Psalm 21:6-7).

While you may not have been crowned “King” or “Queen for a Day” on a game show or been placed on a literal throne, as a child of God, you are incredibly blessed. In Christ, you have already received all that David experienced and more (Ephesians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 3:21). Take a moment to reflect on the numerous ways God has blessed you and offer Him your heartfelt thanks.

“With Jesus my Savior I’m a Child of the King!”—Harriet Buell

Application Questions: Make note of all the things David thanked God for.  A healthy prayer life includes Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (A.C.T.S.).  How much gratitude is there in your prayers? 

JANUARY 28

PSALM 20

Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Ezra was an exemplary leader. As the author of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, he knew well the disastrous repercussions of his people’s unbelief. Determined not to repeat the mistakes of those before him, Ezra, a man of strong faith, resolved to study the law of the Lord, live by it, and teach it to the people of Israel (Ezra 7:10). When it came time to lead the exiles back to Jerusalem, he gathered them at the River Ahava. Though the King had generously offered soldiers and horsemen to accompany them for protection, Ezra declined. He told the King, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him” (Ezra 8:22).

Instead, Ezra called for a fast, and the people prayed for God’s protection. Their journey was long—about nine hundred miles—and took approximately three and a half months. Along the way, they faced threats from enemies and the danger of ambushes. Yet, God’s hand was upon them, delivering them from both the enemy and any traps set along the route (Ezra 8:31). In choosing to refuse the king’s horses and to trust God alone for protection, Ezra ensured that all the glory and credit went to God.

Ezra was of the same heart as the psalmist.  We all face challenges and concerns, and there’s a temptation to look humanward for help. However, God is better able to guide and provide and protect.  We do well to trust Him always!

It is foolish to trust in the earthly instead of the One who created the heavens and the earth!

Application Questions: What is your first inclination when confronted with a difficult decision or challenging situation?  What makes us prone to place our trust in ourselves or other earthly resources?  What can work to encourage you to pray and trust God first?

JANUARY 24

PSALM 18

Psalm 18:33, “He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.”

I slowed to a stop as a doe and her fawn crossed the road, making their way from the reservoir below toward a hill on the other side. The mother bounded effortlessly up the steep trail, leaving her baby behind at the roadside. The fawn called out to her, as if pleading for help, its cry echoing with a sense of helplessness—there was no way it could climb that near-vertical slope. The mother, secure on the side of the hill, stood still, watching quietly. After a tense moment, the fawn seemed to understand that its mother wouldn’t be coming to the rescue. With determination, it cautiously followed her steps and made it up the hill, too.

David faced numerous challenges and hardships during his prolonged conflict with Saul. Throughout this time, he placed his trust in God for deliverance, and God answered by rescuing him. This psalm represents his triumphant celebration, brimming with vivid imagery, as reflected in our verse.

Climbing a hill may be difficult, but scaling a cliff presents an entirely different level of challenge. Imagine the added difficulty of loose rocks underfoot, or the pressure of enemies pursuing you as you ascend. Life’s struggles can often feel overwhelming, and we may find ourselves in situations that seem insurmountable—much like the young fawn caught in a perilous spot.

However, God has the power to grant us the strength and capability to achieve what might seem impossible (Ephesians 3:20). Regardless of the size of the obstacles or the intensity of the opposition, the Lord is more than capable of making us stand firm and secure, allowing us to reach the heights of His glorious plans for us.

God is able to do for us and in us far more than we can imagine.

Application Questions: Have you ever been so threatened in your circumstances that you felt as if you were losing control?  How has God worked to rescue you in the past?  What circumstance or challenge can you trust Him in today (1 Peter 5:7)?

JANUARY 23

PSALM 17

Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”

Set before us in this psalm are two different approaches to life.  David observed that there were those whose “portion is this life” (Psalm 17:14).  Such folks live in the “here and now,” and only for the “here and now.”  Their vision reaches no further than the next opportunity to satisfy their fleshly passions.  David, however, looked forward to the glory promised by the blessings of the “then and there.” 

C. S. Lewis once wrote about this dichotomy of desires: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

There are those who have their minds set on earth things (Philippians 3:19).  But as citizens of heaven, we aren’t so easily pleased.  Instead, we live in eager anticipation of Jesus’ return, when he will “transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).  David longed for such, and we should too!

“To behold God’s face and to be changed by that vision into his image…this is my noble ambition; and in this prospect I cheerfully waive all my present enjoyments.” —Charles Spurgeon

Application Questions: A soon-to-be vacationer lives in eager anticipation of arriving at his destination.  Is your mind set on earthly things, or do you live in eager anticipation of being with Jesus? How much time do you spend thinking about, and even yearning for, heaven?  

JANUARY 22

Psalm 16

Psalm 16:11, “In your presence there is fullness of joy.”

In pursuing joy, it’s imperative to have one’s heart-compass set in the right direction.  All pursue happiness, but most struggle to find it.  Happiness is an earthly commodity, lost or found by circumstance, but joy is a heavenly treasure, impossible to steal.

The psalmist had his heart set in the right place.  He witnessed the disappointment of those who ran after other gods (Psalm 16:4).  But the Lord was his chosen portion, and in the Lord, he enjoyed both security and blessings. 

These words of Peter, to persecuted believers, have long challenged me: “Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).  A “joy that is inexpressible and full of glory” can be possessed independent of one’s circumstances.  Peter did not say that they should rejoice like that, but that they did.  That reminds me that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, etc.  A fountainhead of Spirit-birthed joy lies in the heart of every believer (John 7:37-39).  To the extent we are living under the influence of the Spirit, walking close to Jesus, we experience the inexpressible joy that is already ours in Him. 

One day, when you pass from this life to the next, you will enter into God’s presence to experience a fulness of uninterrupted and unimaginable joy. That heavenly joy is even now Spirit-imparted to those who draw near to God.

The treasure map to an inexpressible joy leads to a nearness to the God who alone can impart it.

Application Questions: Do you consider yourself to be a joyful Christian?  How much of your time and energy do you devote to experiencing happiness through circumstances?  Considering that nearness to God brings fullness of joy, what changes must you make in your pursuit of Him?

JANUARY 21

Psalm 15

Psalm 15:1, “O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?  Who shall dwell on your holy hill?”

This psalm speaks to the requisite moral characteristics of the worshippers of God.  David, the psalmist, knew God to be holy.  Would-be worshippers, be they priests or pilgrims, needed to be holy too.  As the pilgrims ascended to Jerusalem, where God’s tabernacle was located, on the “holy hill”—they needed to examine themselves before entering the courts of God’s sanctuary.

As Hebrews 10:10 makes clear, the believer in Christ “has confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.”  Positionally speaking, God has cleansed him from sin and declared him to be a “holy one” (1 Corinthians 6:11, 1:3).  Practically speaking, the child of God’s holy identity demands a corresponding holy walk (1 Peter 1:15-16).

The holiness of God is his “set-apartness” and holy “otherness.”  Being perfect in all ways, God’s holiness is transcendent.  We are holy to the extent we are separating ourselves from sin and dedicating ourselves to God.  The holy conduct of would-be worshippers is all-encompassing, affecting one’s heart, words, and walk. He speaks truth from the heart; is blameless in his walk; does not slander with his tongue; and deals with others with integrity (Psalm 15).   

You’re not ascending a physical hill to a physical tabernacle, but as you enter with confidence, by the blood of Jesus, into the holy presence of God, keep in mind his call to his children: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

“God sees us perfect in His Son while He disciplines and chastens and purges us that we may be partakers of His holiness.”—A. W. Tozer

Application Questions: Read Isaiah chapter 6.  What was Isaiah’s response to be given a vision of the holiness of God?  This psalm speaks to some aspects of a God-honoring walk.  What are some others?