July 18, 2006 - Psalms 20-22 and Acts 21:1-17
For the past several weeks God has been speaking to me about joy as I have read His Word and as I have prayed. Today, as I read, this theme of joy came through loud and clear again. I think He wants all of us to live in His joy all of the time regardless of the circumstances of life. I pray that you will have the fullness of joy in your life today and always.
Psalm 20 is a prayer of David that expresses confidence in God's desire to bless us. That is a reason to have joy. He is there for us in the day of trouble. He wants to strengthen us and to grant us our heart's desire. (v.4) If we trust Him, He will raise us up as He did Jesus, the Anointed One. (v.6) He is waiting to hear from us. What a joy that brings to my heart! Talk to Him and pour out your heart to the King of Kings. He wants to bless you, as you seek His will.
Psalm 21 is a psalm of rejoicing. David is rejoicing in how God blessed him as the king. God walked with him. He gave Him victories. Again, it mentions God giving him his heart's desire. (v.2) All of this led David to sing God's praises continually. It should have the same effect on us.
Now look at Psalm 22 in the light of joy. This psalm is a prophetic psalm about the death of Jesus. It tells us the details of His death over a thousand years before it happened. They mocked Him, they inflicted much pain upon Him, and He suffered until He died for our sins. You might think this psalm would be a sad one, but look at the end. When Jesus cried out to God, He heard Him. (v.24) The result is praise for God who has thought of everything. Yes, there was great suffering, but it was for a wonderful purpose. Therefore, we can praise God even in pain. Could it be that verses 30 and 31 refer to us as Christians, the ones who will be born? I think so. There was joy for Jesus even in His terrible death, because He knew God was working redemption and creating the church. In our lives we can have the same joy in trials, because we know God causes all things to work together for good as we love Him and seek His will.
Acts 21 tells us of Paul's travels back to Jerusalem, but it also gives us a look at the early believers. Did you notice how sensitive they were to the Holy Spirit? They were told by the Spirit what would happen to Paul. (v.4,11) Philip had 4 daughters who spoke forth God's Word. They were not pastors, but they were in tune with God, and they told people what He told them. They were people of prayer. (v.5) They wanted God's will to be done, so they listened to Him all of the time. That is how it should be today. God wants to speak to all of us by His Spirit to direct us in His will. I hope you walk in the Spirit every day. That will lead you to live in joy, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 23-25 and Acts 21:18-40.
Psalm 20 is a prayer of David that expresses confidence in God's desire to bless us. That is a reason to have joy. He is there for us in the day of trouble. He wants to strengthen us and to grant us our heart's desire. (v.4) If we trust Him, He will raise us up as He did Jesus, the Anointed One. (v.6) He is waiting to hear from us. What a joy that brings to my heart! Talk to Him and pour out your heart to the King of Kings. He wants to bless you, as you seek His will.
Psalm 21 is a psalm of rejoicing. David is rejoicing in how God blessed him as the king. God walked with him. He gave Him victories. Again, it mentions God giving him his heart's desire. (v.2) All of this led David to sing God's praises continually. It should have the same effect on us.
Now look at Psalm 22 in the light of joy. This psalm is a prophetic psalm about the death of Jesus. It tells us the details of His death over a thousand years before it happened. They mocked Him, they inflicted much pain upon Him, and He suffered until He died for our sins. You might think this psalm would be a sad one, but look at the end. When Jesus cried out to God, He heard Him. (v.24) The result is praise for God who has thought of everything. Yes, there was great suffering, but it was for a wonderful purpose. Therefore, we can praise God even in pain. Could it be that verses 30 and 31 refer to us as Christians, the ones who will be born? I think so. There was joy for Jesus even in His terrible death, because He knew God was working redemption and creating the church. In our lives we can have the same joy in trials, because we know God causes all things to work together for good as we love Him and seek His will.
Acts 21 tells us of Paul's travels back to Jerusalem, but it also gives us a look at the early believers. Did you notice how sensitive they were to the Holy Spirit? They were told by the Spirit what would happen to Paul. (v.4,11) Philip had 4 daughters who spoke forth God's Word. They were not pastors, but they were in tune with God, and they told people what He told them. They were people of prayer. (v.5) They wanted God's will to be done, so they listened to Him all of the time. That is how it should be today. God wants to speak to all of us by His Spirit to direct us in His will. I hope you walk in the Spirit every day. That will lead you to live in joy, too.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 23-25 and Acts 21:18-40.