Oct 5 Daily Rhythms

Morning
Psalm 18:25 – 30

With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. This is not some sort of method of getting what you want, this is a reminder that you can ONLY find refuge in him. That means laying down all other shields. Self protection, power, wealth, reputation, ability, intelligence all need to fall away and he alone is your refuge. What do you trust in?

Afternoon
Psalm 18:31 – 42

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them and did not turn back till they were consumed. I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.

As you think about your day today, who is the one who leads? Where is your trust and your hope? Who is he who makes you great? Stop and rest knowing that it is God and God alone who makes your foot secure. You are not wise, you are not great, you are not able. You are trusting. Trust in the one who is king of the ages.

Evening
Psalm 18:43-50

You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation – the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who delivered me from my enemies yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you rescued me from the man of violence. For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.

Early in the reading of this Psalm we noted that it was a Psalm of the faithfulness of God to his people and to his chosen King. Jesus is the ultimate descendant of David’s line. God has proven his faithfulness to David and to his people by upholding the throne and placing Jesus on it as the King who stands forever. Tonight as you rest, sleep in the knowledge that there is a king on the throne. You don’t need to check the news when you get up. You don’t need to check the stocks, Jesus is and will always be king over creation. Sleep well.