Bible reading for June 11.
Deuteronomy 16.
"You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns." (Deuteronomy 16:14)
THE FESTIVALS. When Israel comes into the land they are to continue observing the feasts the Lord commanded them in Exodus and Leviticus. In this chapter it is noted several times that these will be celebrated "at the place the Lord your God will choose" (vv 6, 7, 11, 15, 16). God himself determines where and how he is to be worshiped. Note also the references to joy (vv 11, 14, 15). It is God's desire that his people rejoice in the Lord and in what he provides, and to rejoice with others. And the joy of worship should overflow in the blessing of those who are in need. (See yesterday's post.)
TAKEAWAY. God's chosen place of worship is none other than the Lord Jesus himself (John 4:21-24; 20:27-28; Rev 21:22-23). Thus, true worship is Christ-centered. Further, joy comes as a result of knowing God through his Son (Gal 5:22; 1 Pet 1:8; Ps 16:11). Am I a joyful person? Do I recognize and take delight in what God has done for me through his son, the Lord Jesus? Am I sharing that joy with others?
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Psalm 103.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..." (Psalm 103:1-2)
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. David calls for praise to God for his many blessings. The backdrop again, like Psalm 102, is our brief and passing time on this earth (vv 14-16). The Lord's "benefits" (v 2) are the good things he has done for us, or his "bounties" (TNK/JPS). How kindly the Lord has dealt with us! Here's a short list: forgiveness, healing (v 3), redemption (4), his revelation (7), his character (8-9), his compassion and everlasting love (10-17), and the established throne of his kingdom (19). Like the colors of a stained glass window they shine forth God's manifold grace. From election and calling, to resurrection and reign, we have a complete and sure salvation through our Lord Jesus, with every good thing added (Rom 8:28-32). "Christ is all light and life and love and joy, an infinite and everlasting fullness of all blessing. I would lead you to him in the direct road, which is to lead you out of self entirely. Christ is the way..." (William Romaine, 1714-1795)
TAKEAWAY. Contemplate each of the benefits we have in Christ as you would facets of a precious gem. Like the old hymn says, "Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done" (Johnson Oatman, 1897). Say to yourself as David did, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name!" And see the final application that David infers in verses 19-22: that these blessings should propel us to obedience and eagerness in doing God's will as do the angels: "[May] your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10; Heb 1:14).
Image credit: photo above by Adrien Olichon on Unsplash.
We are following the Robert Murray M'Cheyne (RMM) two-year reading schedule, as arranged by D. A. Carson.
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The NET Bible is a free, online resource, and a ministry of bible.org.
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