{"id":3691,"date":"2020-08-06T17:16:42","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T00:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?p=3691"},"modified":"2020-08-06T17:17:05","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T00:17:05","slug":"hobart-devotionals-psalms-84-87","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?p=3691","title":{"rendered":"Hobart Devotionals – Psalms 84-87"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 84<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   This Psalm is a pilgrimage song that was\nused to worship the Lord in celebration of coming into His house or\ntemple.  The people of Israel knew that\nthey could come to the House of the Lord and enjoy the presence of the Almighty\nGod!  While we know that the Holy Spirit\ndwells in the Believer, for the Old Testament follower of God, the temple was\nthe place where God dwelt and worship and praise always happened in God\u2019s\npresence.  The annual pilgrimages to\nworship at the temple became wonderful opportunities to sing and celebrate\ncoming into the presence of God and enjoying His love and fellowship.  It is from this Psalm that we get words for\nthe worship chorus, \u201cBetter Is One Day in Your House than Thousands\nElsewhere\u201d.(vs. 10)  Ps 84:1-2, 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How lovely are Thy\ndwelling places, O LORD of hosts! 2     My\nsoul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing\nfor joy to the living God.(NAS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   One of the things that has happened in this\npandemic is that we have again realized the joy and worship that we share\ntogether in our churches.  I know how\nmuch I have missed being together with others of like faith in fellowship and\nworship.  There truly is nothing like\nraising our hearts and voices together in celebration of our God and King!  I would liken this song to a travel song that\nwould be sung together as the people anticipated being in God\u2019s temple and His\npresence.  Maybe similar to a camp song\nthat is shared on the way to camp in a bus, looking forward to the wonderful\ntimes of fun, fellowship and worship in a place where we meet with God.  In verses 5-7 you can feel the joy building\nas they knew the highways and roads, the valleys and trees, the springs with fresh\nwater of refreshment, and the ever increasing happiness of God\u2019s presence as\nthey drew nearer to His temple.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real promise of\nGod\u2019s presence brings the trust and faith we need to continue on the pathway of\nlife.  Psalms 84:11-12, 11        For the LORD God is a sun and shield;\nthe LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who\nwalk uprightly. 12        O LORD of hosts,\nhow blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!(NAS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritually speaking it\nis like coming home to be refreshed and encouraged by our marvelous God.  We can trust that in His presence is\neverything I need for life and joy (Philippians 4:19).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Father, I long for Your presence and Your\nlove.  I know that I have Your Holy\nSpirit dwelling in me, but many times I need the fellowship and loving\nencouragement of Your people in Your presence. \nI want to worship and glorify You together with my church family.  Thank You for allowing me to have some of\nthis restored in our church services gathering again.  May I never take for granted the ability to\ngather together and be with You in heart, song and service with Your\npeople.  In Jesus Name, Amen!  Pastor Rob<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 85<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Revive us again, fill each heart with Thy\nlove, may each soul be rekindled with fire from above.  We sing this hymn as we remember and long for\nthe joy of being forgiven, restored, and renewed in relationship with God.  Some feel that this Psalm was written after\nGod restored Israel to their homeland after the captivity under Babylon and\nPersia.  The miracle of God\u2019s restoration\nas He forgave their sin and brought about the ability and provisions needed to\nreturn home and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.(Ezra and Nehemiah)  In verses 1-3 we have the praise of\nrestoration and revival as God removed His wrath and revealed His blessings and\nprovision again.  The only problem\naddressed by the song is that this renewal, revival, and restoration would be\nneed again.(vs. 4-7)  Psalms 85:6-7,\n6  Wilt Thou not thyself revive us again,\nthat Thy people may rejoice in Thee? 7     Show\nus Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.(NAS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Oh the thrill that is ours when we are able\nto stay and bask in the presence of right relationship with God.  When we listen to His Word and obey with love\nHis commands.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ps 85:10-11, 10  Lovingkindness and truth have met together;\nrighteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11   Truth springs from the earth; and righteousness looks down from\nheaven.(NAS)  The description of\nrighteousness and peace kissing is like a couple in love who have made up from a\nfight and are enjoying the peace and satisfaction of being freely in love\nagain.  The oneness in unity and love\nwith each other and with God is the best feeling as heaven and earth are in\nagreement and peaceful love again!  \u201cAll\nis right with the universe!\u201d(vs. 11)  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   It is great to know that God in His\nrighteousness goes before us and makes our path clear and right.  Ps 85:13 \nRighteousness will go before Him, and will make His footsteps into a\nway.(NAS)  We all pray for the repentance\nand restoration of our nation during these times.  It is the greatest joy and purpose ever to\nknow that God has forgiven, restored and renewed our right relationship with\nHim.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Father, we need revival today and\neveryday.  We can only be joyfully\nfulfilled when we are in right relationship with You.  Forgive me for needing to be renewed moment\nby moment as I need You every hour of every day.  Thank You for Your patient love and\nforgiveness and grace.  In Jesus Name\nAmen!  Pastor Rob<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 86<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   While the previous Psalms talk of national\nrestoration and revival, Psalms 86 is a very personal Psalm asking for\nprotection, and personal preservation of \u201ca godly man\u201d.(vs. 1-4)  This prayer is based on God\u2019s grace,\ngoodness, forgiveness and \u201cabundant lovingkindness\u201d to all who call on the\nLord.(vs. 5)  David had faith that God\nwould hear his prayers because of God\u2019s character.  As he begins to worship God for Who He is,\nhis faith in that same God is strengthened to continue to call on God because\nhe knows God hears and has the power to answer. \nThere truly is none like God and He is God alone!(vs. 6-10)  I need to allow my worship to lead my heart\nto faith and trust that God will protect, preserve and provide.  Psalms 86:8 \nThere is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; nor are there any\nworks like Thine.  Psalms 86:10  For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds;\nThou alone art God.(NAS)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   In verses 11-13, we find that David knew\nthat he needed instruction in remaining in right relationship with God.  How many times do I ask God to instruct and\nteach me in His ways?  One of my pet\npeeves with people is that they want God\u2019s protection, power and preservation\nin their lives, but they refuse to study His word and become wise and obedient\nin His ways.  I often pray that others\nmight learn to obey God\u2019s Word, but frequently forget that I need His\ninstruction most of all.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   In verses 14-17 we see the prayer for\nstrength in the midst of dealing with our enemies.  The basis of our prayer is God\u2019s grace.  Psalms 86:15 \nBut Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant\nin lovingkindness and truth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need God\u2019s strength\nto live in God\u2019s grace towards others. \nMany times I want God to deal quickly and harshly with my enemies when He\nis showing grace and mercy that some might repent and be saved.  I just need to know that God is with me and\nproviding strength and protection while I wait on Him.  David just asks for a sign of good so he can\nreally know that God has been with me and comforted me in the hardest of\ntimes.(vs. 17)  We often fail to see the\neternal good in the situations we find ourselves in; so we need to trust that\nGod can give us strength to trust and wait on Him showing His grace love and\nmercy to others as He has shown them to us! \n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Father, thank You for protecting and\npreserving me through the times of trouble. \nI know that You are a gracious, merciful and loving God as You have\nshown me over and over again.  Help me to\nnot lose sight of Who You are and what You have done.  Give me Your strength and grace to live and\nwait on You.  In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor\nRob<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 87<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   I think that many of the hateful thoughts\ntowards God\u2019s people are caused by God\u2019s love for them and His city, Jerusalem.  One of the pictures found in Jerusalem is a\nmap with Jerusalem as the center of the world and the 3 leaves branching out to\nAsia, Europe, and Africa.  While this\nseems prideful and self centered, God\u2019s first chosen people, His Promised Land,\nand His city of residence, Jerusalem are facts of Scripture.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In verses 1-3, we find\nthe description of God\u2019s foundation, His holy mountain, is Jerusalem.  God loves His city and His Son, Jesus Christ\nwill rule and reign from there in the Millennium.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   The Great news is that God has brought many\nfrom the surrounding countries into the fold as part of His people.  We are reminded that some from every tribe\nand nation will be part of Christ\u2019s Kingdom. \nRevelation 5:9     And they sang a\nnew song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its\nseals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood {men}\nfrom every tribe and tongue and people and nation.(NAS)  I am so glad that we are adopted, grafted\ninto God\u2019s family by the precious blood of His Son.  While we may be physically born from many\nlocations, we are spiritually born again into one family in Christ Jesus.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Psalms 87:7     Then\nthose who sing as well as those who play the flutes {shall say}  “All my springs {of joy} are in\nyou.”(NAS)  All of those who are\nsaved by the blood of the Lord will sing with perfect pitch and play with\nperfect ability our songs of praise and joy to the Lord.  I can truly say, all my joy is found in\nChrist!  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Father, we look forward to that day when we\nwill be able to worship You all together from all over the world in every\nlanguage with perfect pitch and ability. \nWhat a day that will be!  Thank\nYou for including me!  In Jesus Name,\nAmen!  Pastor Rob<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hobart Herd Devotional \u2013 Psalms 84    This Psalm is a pilgrimage song that was used to worship the Lord in celebration of coming into His house or temple.  The people of Israel knew that they could come to the …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[142],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3691"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3691"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3692,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3691\/revisions\/3692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}