Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 88
This is thought of by many as the saddest Psalms in the whole book. Most of the Psalms have pleas, cries, and prayers for help that usually end with faith, joy, and peace at God’s answer. This Psalm from start to finish is a continual cry and complaint to the Lord. This song is called, “The Suffering of Affliction” by Heman the Ezrahite. Don’t let this songs depress you as we have all been there. It reminds me of the old Hee Haw song, “Doom, Despair, and Agony on me”.
The one positive I see in this song is found in the fact that Heman did not let the afflictions or terrible struggles of his life stop him from continually praying to the Lord. This reveals that although there was no end in sight to his troubles, he never stopped taking them to the Lord. The other positive that I see is that he was honest and open to the Lord about how he felt in his struggles and stress. Heman cried out day and night to the Lord which shows a faith that never fails to trust in God’s care for him. In verses 1, 9, and 13 it mentions that he prayed “day and night”, “every day”, “in the morning prayer”, for the Lord to hear and bring relief.
His description of his afflicted state was of one who was dead. While not literally dead, his body and soul felt like there was nothing left to live for. In verses 3-9 he mentions that not only was he hurting without hope, he was also cut off from any friends and family that would support, encourage or help him. He even felt as if God had removed His support and care and in fact was piling on the troubles in his life.(vs. 6-7) Verse 8 speaks to us today that have been shut in during our time of struggle and feel like we can’t go out. While there seems to be no end in sight, and the Lord seems to have forsaken or forgotten, Heman continues to pray. Many times the relief comes not from God’s immediate answer, but from the fact that we continue to have hope and faith in Him. We have His promises of hearing our prayers and never leaving or forsaking us, and sometimes that is all we can hold onto as our struggles in this world hold and hound us.
The truth about our lives is that we may not get to see the eternal good that God accomplishes in our struggles and pain. But through faith and trust in His mercy, lovingkindness and care, we can know that He works mighty things through the faithfulness of His children.
Father, it is hard to see how anything good can come out of the pain and struggles of this life. I know that You hear and answer my prayers even when I can not see the answer or purpose in my struggles. Help me to be faithful, honest and consistent in my prayer to You, trusting that in the end You will be glorified. In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob
Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 89
Rescued from the pit of despair, Psalms 89 is the song of praise for God’s faithful mercy and grace. The Psalm starts out with a great worship chorus that we sing yet today; Psalms 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.(KJV) The praise continues as He recounts the Lords promises in the covenant He made with His children, Israel.(vs. 3-4) The great question in describing the Lord is found in verse 6; Psalms 89:6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?(KJV) We know that nothing compares with our great God!
From verses 5-14 the writer extols the great attributes of God and the power shown in His creation and the faithfulness of His character.(vs. 8) The wonders of the Oceans and the mountains make us catch our breath as we look at the glories of what God has created for us. But the greatest wonder of them all is the blessings that are ours as we trust and follow Him. Psalms 89:15-18,15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17
For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favor our horn shall be exalted. 18
For the LORD is our Defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.(KJV) Truly, what a great God we have!
In verses 19-37 we have the description of God’s covenant promises that He made to David and the Israelites. We see God choosing and anointing David to be the king whose throne is blessed with the promise of his lineage reigning and ruling victoriously forever. As you read these verses, you find a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ and see that the completion of these promises found only in Christ’s future reign. Yet David believed God’s promises and became a “man after God’s own heart”.
David had a relationship with God like a Father and Son and therefore was used by God to give us hope and faith in the future Son that would reign and rule forever. Psalms 89:27-29, 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.(KJV) God gave warnings of discipline if His people refused to keep His commandments, but this Davidic Covenant would last forever and God would show His lovingkindness in saving a remnant of His people that would be blessed in Christ!( vs. 31-33)
In verses 38-45, we find that God did punish His people and many times they felt that He had forsaken His covenant promises to them. The spankings of God on His children are hard, but He still keeps His promises. From verses 46-52 we find the plea for God to shorten the time of His discipline and return His favor on His people. We must continue to hope and pray in faith believing that God has not and will not forsake the promises of His word. This Psalm ends with a statement of hope and trust in the Lord, Psalms 89:52 Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.(KJV)
Father, I can not begin to thank You enough for Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, and lovingkindness, shown to me because of the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Your word is full of Your promises that lead my heart to trust in Your eternal purposes for me. May I always know that even in the middle of hard times and spankings that I deserve, You are still the same, yesterday, today, and forever. In Jesus name, Amen! Pastor Rob
Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 90
This is the start of Book 4 of the Psalms. The unique thing about this book is that 17 of the 20 Psalms in this Book are written unanimously, with Psalms 90 written by Moses, and 101 and 103 by David. This Psalm is probably the oldest of the Psalms and contrasts the Eternal God with the finite man. One of the attributes of our God that man can never copy or compare to is the Eternity of God. God has always been and always will be with no start or end while we have a start at birth and an eternity to follow. We may think that this is insignificant, but we all face this reality when we birth and death.
God has been our dwelling place to all generations.(vs. 1) This is contrasted with the fact that man is made of dust and returns to dust.(vs. 3) Everything in our lives is limited and determined by time while God is not bothered in the least. A day is like a thousand years and that is just an example for us to begin to understand our Everlasting God. There is another great attribute of God mentions in verse 2, “from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God”! Understanding that God is not only Eternal but changeless gives us something to count on and live for all our lives. The only problem we have is that we may not live long enough to see all that God is doing with our lives for eternal purposes.
In verses 7-12 we find that the problem in our lives is that sin has caused God’s anger and wrath to be upon us instead of His lovingkindness. Life outside God’s grace and mercy is miserable and ends shortly with no purpose in sight. As God’s children we have the opportunity to live for God’s purpose in His strength rather than live in His anger or wrath. Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.(NAS) My prayer needs to be that I will take stock in the time, energy and purpose that God has gifted me with and allow Him to use them for His eternal purpose with a heart of wisdom.
I realize how short my life is on this earth as I grow older and I want to know that the Lord is able to use me in such a way that others are blessed and brought to love and know God’s lovingkindness in their lives. I often ask if it is worth the struggles and pain of this life, but by faith in my Eternal, Immutable God I can know that it will be worth it all when I see Jesus. Psalms 90:17 And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and do confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands.(NAS) I often get to see little glimpses of God’s work in my life as He assures me that my labor is not in vain in the Lord.(1 Corinthians 15:58)
Father, thank You for being my Eternal, Unchanging Father that I can rely on and take refuge in. Forgive me when I lose sight of Who You are and begin to doubt that You are in control working out Your eternal purposes through me. Thank You for confirming that You love me and are using me for Your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob