For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
1 Chron. 16
Now there’s a job for you. “Hey, Asaph, what do you do for a living?” “I give thanks to God all day.” Certainly not your typical job description! Then again, maybe it is our ‘job’ and we simply fail to acknowledge it. Take a look at the details of the job. Call on His name. Proclaim His deeds. Sing praise to Him. Tell about His wondrous works. Boast in His holy name. Seek Him and rejoice. Now look at the commission Jesus gave His disciples. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20). Somehow I think engaging in the first list might result in the second.
Ps. 1
We humans are too short-sighted when it comes to cause and effect. We want to see immediate results from our intentional actions. Thus, we tend to attribute whatever happens next to whatever we just did. So when we try to delight in the LORD’s instruction and live an upright life and we run into struggles, while the guy down the street is cheating and prospering, we wonder if things aren’t the way the Bible says they are. This Psalm clearly states that the upright man will prosper in whatever he does while the wicked will be blown away like chaff. But that isn’t always what we see (just ask Job).
The thing is, short-term results are often deceiving. Ask any statistician if that isn’t so. In addition, the path of least resistance doesn’t always take you where you want to go. I actually believe that getting through the hardships that come with an obedient life is what results in the ultimate prosperity. We can refer to the classic butterfly analogy to see that truth. In spite of the long-term nature of the lifestyle results noted in this Psalm, it still holds some very real time truths. “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.” (Ps. 1:6). And because the one who trusts in God knows these statements are true, he really is the one who is happy.
Ps. 2
This Psalm is one of those passages in the Bible that make people think that God is some harsh taskmaster, waiting to jump on anybody who dares disobey Him. It makes it sound like He could lash out in anger at any moment, so you better mind your step and avoid Him if you can. However, that is completely contrary to the message in other parts of the Bible. So how do we reconcile that? I truly believe that when things don’t make sense to us, we need to stop and look at our perspective.
At the start of this Psalm, we see the people of the nations conspiring against God. “Let’s tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.” (Ps. 2:3). What does God do in response? He laughs. He laughs because He knows that there is refuge in His so-called chains. God isn’t trying to smother us, He is offering us a fire-proof blanket! He knows that the “anger” of His just righteousness – otherwise known as His wrath – burns hotter than we can stand. He is patient in His anger, giving us all opportunity to take refuge in Him. But those who refuse to see the truth, putting both themselves and God into proper perspective, reject the safety God offers. So to them, He is what this Psalm depicts.
Ps. 15
Jesus is the only one who lived blamelessly and practiced righteousness. He is the only one who did all these things His whole life. It is He who kept God’s word at a far greater cost than any of us could ever bear. He is the only one who rightly dwells with God and will never be shaken. Thankfully, God offers us mercy through Christ’s blameless life so that He can impart His righteousness to us. When we humble ourselves to live under that grace instead of trying to elevate ourselves above it, then we, too, can dwell with God and never be shaken.