Filled with His Glory

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 72:15–20 (ESV)

¹⁵ Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! ¹⁶ May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! ¹⁷ May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! ¹⁸ Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. ¹⁹ Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! ²⁰ The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

Understanding and Applying the Word

These verses begin with a call for long life for the king and then requests that the people pray for the king. Also, there is a prayer for gold and an abundance of food and crops for the land. In verse 17 we see the nations recognizing this king’s reign and submitting to him, not out of subjection, but because they find their blessing in him.

As we have mentioned previously, this psalm does not describe any earthly king who has ever reigned, but the rule of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. In Genesis, God promised Abraham that he would be blessed and that through his seed the nations would be blessed. It is through the Messiah, the descendant of Abraham, that the world finds its blessing. Jesus Christ came to remove the curse of the fall and restore the world to what it was intended to be. It is through Christ’s reign that we find life in abundance. May the whole earth be filled with his glory!

**Shaped by the Word is a daily Bible reading devotional. Please use the links at the bottom to subscribe to this page. You can also share this post with your friends through social media using the buttons below. Thanks for reading!

In the Time of Old Age

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Tim Farley

Psalm 719 [widescreen]

Shaped by the Word is a daily Bible reading devotional. I do not publish devotional material on Sundays, but I do include a suggested reading for the day. Please be sure to subscribe to this page so you can read through the Book of Psalms with us in 2018.

Reading the Word

Psalm 71:7–18 (ESV)

⁷ I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. ⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. ⁹ Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. ¹⁰ For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together ¹¹ and say, “God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him.” ¹² O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! ¹³ May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. ¹⁴ But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. ¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. ¹⁶ With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. ¹⁷ O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. ¹⁸ So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

You Are My Rock and My Fortress

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Tim Farley

Photo by Riccardo Bresciani on Pexels.com

Reading the Word

Psalm 71:1–6 (ESV)

¹ In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! ² In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! ³ Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. ⁴ Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. ⁵ For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. ⁶ Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.

Understanding and Applying the Word

This psalm expresses the hope and trust of one who depends on the Lord for deliverance. God is called his rock and his fortress. Both of these images speak of stability and safety.

Trust is often something that develops over time through experience. This is something that has taken place in the psalmist’s life as well. He states, “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth.” The psalmist has a long experience with God’s faithfulness and care in his life and it leads him to trust in God in his present situation.

As you look back on your life, notice how God has lovingly and faithfully brought you to where you are right now. He has been with you all the way and He will continue to be with you in the future. You can trust in Him as you face today and tomorrow and every day in His strength.

God Is Great!

Posted on June 8, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 70:1–5 (ESV)

¹ Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! ² Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! ³ Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!” ⁴ May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” ⁵ But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!

Understanding and Applying the Word

This psalm is almost identical to the words of Psalm 40:13-17. Here we find David once again calling out to God to defeat his enemies and deliver his from trouble. In verse 4 we read David’s words of praise as he considers that God is the one who is able to deliver him.

As David calls out for God’s help and even finds words of praise in the midst of his prayer, he ends the psalm with “But I am poor and needy.” These words are true of all of us, which is exactly why we all need God to save us. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we come to a realization of our poverty and need, it is then that we are in a position to find God’s salvation. When we realize we cannot save ourselves, we are forced to look outside of ourselves to the one who can deliver us. This is why those who seek the Lord say, “God is great!”

You Know My Reproach

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Tim Farley

Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

Reading the Word

Psalm 69:19–21 (ESV)

¹⁹ You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. ²⁰ Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. ²¹ They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

Understanding and Applying the Word

When we read these words of David, we may at first find them discouraging. David speaks of the pain and suffering he was facing as well as the lack of anyone to give him comfort or support. However, notice how he begins verse 19: “You know my reproach.” David knew he was not truly alone. God knew what he was going through.

These words also remind us of our Savior as he hung on the cross at Calvary. He too was mocked and ridiculed. He was abandoned by his friends. And He was given sour wine to drink. God Himself felt the same things that David felt.

Jesus walked in our shoes. He has felt the pain of this world. He has been mocked and ridiculed. He has been lied to. He has been treated unfairly. He knows what it is like to be abandoned and alone. God knows our pain, not just from afar, but because He became man. He truly knows our reproach. Because of this truth, we can be assured of His love for us and we can go to Him in our times of trouble. Let us find encouragement in David’s words and in the cross of our Lord.

My Prayer Is to You

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Tim Farley

man standing on rocks near beach during golden hour

Photo by Samuel Silitonga on Pexels.com

Shaped by the Word is a daily Bible reading devotional. I do not publish devotional content on Sundays, but I do include a suggested reading for the day. Please subscribe to the page so you can follow along as we read through the Book of Psalms in 2018!

Reading the Word

Psalm 69:13–18 (ESV)

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. ¹⁴ Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. ¹⁵ Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. ¹⁶ Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. ¹⁷ Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. ¹⁸ Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

Considering Our Prayers

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 66:17–20 (ESV)

¹⁷ I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. ¹⁸ If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. ¹⁹ But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. ²⁰ Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Understanding and Applying the Word

These verses conclude Psalm 66. Here we read that the psalmist called out to God. This is a way of saying that the psalmist prayed for God’s help. This is no surprise, especially given the verses that we have been reading in the rest of the psalm. But notice what accompanies the psalmist’s petitions: praise and repentance.

Praise and repentance should always be a part of our prayer lives. When we come before the holy God of creation, He is deserving of praise and it is through our praise that we are reminded of the privilege of prayer as it produces humility in our hearts. Also, when we confess our sin with a sincere desire to turn from it, our focus shifts from ourselves to God’s grace and His overflowing love. When we come before God in this manner, we can be sure that God does not reject our prayer, but that He hears and He answers according to His will.

Praise Is Due to You, O God

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 65:1–4 (ESV)

¹ Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. ² O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. ³ When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. ⁴ Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!

Understanding and Applying the Word

“Praise is due to you, O God.” What great words. This is how Psalm 65 begins. It then goes on to tell us why God is due praise. He hears prayer. He forgives sin. He brings us near to dwell with Him. And he shows us goodness in His house. What a great God!

It truly is amazing to think of the goodness and love of God towards us. Scripture and our hearts tell us that we are sinners, but God, who is holy, shows His grace to us by making forgiveness available through the cross at Calvary. Not only does God forgive us, but he welcomes us into His presence, not as servants, but as children! Amazing! Then He shows us goodness by His loving care for us. He truly is deserving of our praise. Let us lift our hearts and voices to Him. He is the great God!

You Have Been My Help

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 63:5–8 (ESV)

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, ⁶ when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; ⁷ for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. ⁸ My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Understanding and Applying the Word

Life can be a roller coaster. In the heat of the moment we can feel fear and loneliness when things get tough. We may even feel as if God has abandoned us. However, how often have you looked back on difficult events after the passing of time and realized that God had not abandoned you after all? In fact, He was using those difficult times to do some work in your life?

In this psalm, David is in the heat of battle, yet he is comforted as he thinks about God’s faithfulness to him in the past. David declares that “you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” David sees that God has been with him in the past and trusts that He will continue to be with him in his present trouble.

Are you feeling troubled? Are you afraid of what may lie ahead? Look to the past and see how God has been with you all the way. Look at the demonstration of His love displayed on Calvary as the Son gave His life for you. The Lord has not abandoned you. Cling to Him now and sing for joy.

My Soul Thirsts for You

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Tim Farley

Reading the Word

Psalm 63:1–4 (ESV)

¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ³ Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. ⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Understanding and Applying the Word

Have you ever been thirsty? Really thirsty? I have seen movies where people are trapped in the desert for days on end without water. They quickly become parched and their lips become dry and cracked. This is the type of thirst that is described in Psalm 63 where David speaks of being “in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

It is amazing to hear David’s words as he compares his desire for God as being like the thirst of one trapped in the desert with no water. He then goes on to say that God’s love is better than life and because God is so great David will never cease to praise Him.

May we desire God’s presence in our lives as David did. May we see God’s love towards us as the most important thing we can have. And may we spend our lives telling of His glory as we praise Him.

Shaped by the Word

A Bible Reading Devotional

Tag Archives: Prayer

Filled with His Glory

In the Time of Old Age

You Are My Rock and My Fortress

God Is Great!

You Know My Reproach

My Prayer Is to You

Considering Our Prayers

Praise Is Due to You, O God

You Have Been My Help

My Soul Thirsts for You

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