Five Psalms and a Proverb E-Book

Brian Simmons

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: The Passion Translation Devotionals
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 504

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Fill your heart with God's love and wisdom.   The books of Psalms and Proverbs contain a wealth of guidance and instruction from the omniscient and omnipresent God. His poetic words are brimming with divine knowledge, filling you with the power of his presence in every season.   Journey through Psalms and Proverbs in thirty-one days with this powerful devotional. Each day features five psalms, a chapter of Proverbs, and an inspiring message highlighting timeless truths to help you connect deeply with the passionate heart and encouraging counsel of God. Containing the entire books of Psalms and Proverbs from The Passion Translation®, this devotional invites you to come to God as you are and daily walk the path of wisdom for his glory.  

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC

Savage, Minnesota, USA

BroadStreetPublishing.com

Five Psalms and a Proverb: A 31-Day Devotional

Copyright © 2024 Brian Simmons

Written by Brian Simmons with Sara Perry.

9781424567928 (faux leather)

9781424567935 (ebook)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com.

Cover and Interior Design by Garborg Design Works | garborgdesign.com

Printed in China

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Contents

Introduction

Day 1: Wisdom’s Pleasant Portion

Day 2: Safety in Following Him

Day 3: The Power of Integrity

Day 4: Corrective Wisdom

Day 5: The Blessings of Encounter

Day 6: The Light of Truth

Day 7: How to Live Well

Day 8: Patience Pays Off

Day 9: A Feast Awaits You

Day 10: God’s Ways Are Better

Day 11: Humble Hearts

Day 12: A Father’s Help

Day 13: Unending Source

Day 14: Reflections of the Father

Day 15: Treasures Found in Surrender

Day 16: God of the Breakthrough

Day 17: Pain: A Purifier

Day 18: Run into His Heart

Day 19: He Knows What He’s Doing

Day 20: Unbelievably Good

Day 21: With His Help

Day 22: Living Hope

Day 23: Embrace Truth

Day 24: Rise up and Keep Going

Day 25: Active Pursuit

Day 26: Stay Close

Day 27: Hopeful Expectations

Day 28: Waiting on Wisdom

Day 29: The Honor of Humility

Day 30: Sustained by His Faithfulness

Day 31: Glorious Leader

Study Guide Questions

About the Author

INTRODUCTION

This thirty-one-day devotional pairs several psalms and a chapter of Proverbs with a daily, hope-filled message to inspire you to connect with God in your everyday life. No matter what you are working through or what you face, the powerful presence of God meets you in it, surrounding you with his compassion, strength, and guidance. As you surrender your heart to your maker through prayer and worship, he turns even your hardest challenges into seeds of breakthrough.

The book of Psalms reflects the varied human experience from the vantage point of ancient songwriters. Whether you find yourself in the deepest of dark valleys or the mountaintops of life, you can find timeless comfort, encouragement, and reasons to praise God as you read and meditate on the Word.

You can glean a wealth of practical wisdom from the book of Proverbs. It is full of life-giving advice and words to live by. You will always find more than enough to feast on in its pages.

You can approach this book however works best for you. Maybe you prefer to begin your day in the Psalms. Perhaps you like to start off with the practicality of Proverbs instead and end your day in reflection and worship. However you choose to use this tool, know that it is a catalyst for you and your relationship with the Creator. He knows you, loves you, and delights in the person he has created you to be. Invite him into your day, and you will quickly find that the invitation began with him all along. He always loves to help you, empower you, and teach you his ways.

This devotional was created to be used over and over again. As you read through the Psalms and Proverbs this month, it will not be rote in the next. God uses his living Word to speak to and inspire you each time you read it.

My prayer is that you encounter the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in tangible and awe-inducing ways each and every day. Every moment is an opportunity to grow closer to the Life-Giver. May this devotional be a salve to your aching heart and a spark for restorative change. Bless you in your reading. May the Spirit of God encounter your heart with his love each time you open this book.

Day 1

PSALMS 1–5, PROVERBS 1

Wisdom’s Pleasant Portion

At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.

Psalm 5:3

Their insight will bring you success, adorning you with grace-filled thoughts and giving you reins to guide your decisions.

Proverbs 1:9

As you open your heart in prayer, God meets you with the power of his presence. An incredible exchange happens as you offer your burdens to him. He gives rest for your weariness, confidence for your worries, and power for your weakness. As you choose to follow in God’s ways, you walk the path of wisdom.

You will find that God is close, and you can hide yourself in him whenever the pressures of life get to be too much. He offers rest, restoration, and strength for you to keep choosing his ways. He is a safe place to lay your head, and you can count on his faithfulness. He is your Champion-Defender, Grace-Granter, and Wonder-Worker. Trust in him, and you can live unafraid no matter the challenges you face. When God is your confidence, you don’t have to go through anything on your own.

God doesn’t require blind allegiance or the appearance of perfection. He welcomes your doubts, your grief, and your real experience. He cannot be fooled, so why would you feel the pressure to present to him anything but who you really are in every moment? You can worship him with awe and adoration and still struggle with questions. In the end, God will meet you every time you call on him, so don’t be afraid to call out to him as often as you need to.

As you read through the book of Psalms, you will see how often David and the other psalmists did the same. Take their lead and offer yourself as you are while leaving room for who God is through it all. As you keep an open heart of prayer, following God and inviting him to meet you where you are, you will find rest under his canopy of kindness and joy.

In Proverbs, we find practical wisdom to guide us in life. There are kingdom keys that open our understanding and encourage us to continue trusting and following in God’s ways. As we do, we find peace, courage, and confidence. We can remain unafraid even when storms come. This peace is what kept Christ at rest in the belly of a boat in the middle of a fierce storm. He could sleep through a terrifying tempest because he wasn’t afraid of what would happen. When you follow God’s wisdom, you will find the same confident peace making its home in your heart.

Dearest Lord, I open my heart to you as it is—not how I wish it would be. I offer you the real state of my thoughts and emotions, and I trust that you will meet me with the power of your wisdom that brings peace, clarity, and confidence. You are my hope, and I trust in you.

PSALMS

BOOK 1

THE GENESIS PSALMS

Psalms of man and creation

1 THE TREEOF LIFE

1 What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!

He won’t walk in step with the wicked,

nor share the sinner’s way,

nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.

2 His passion is to remain true to the Word of “I AM,”

meditating day and night on the true revelation of light.

3 He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree

planted by God’s design,

deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,

bearing fruit in every season of life.

He is never dry, never fainting,

ever blessed, ever prosperous.

4 But how different are the wicked.

They are like chaff blown away by the wind.

5 The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,

for God will not defend them.

Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,

for they have no part with those who walk in truth.

6 But how different it is for the righteous!

The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward

while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.

2 THE CORONATIONOFTHE KING

Act I – The Nations Speak

1 How dare the nations plan a rebellion.

Their foolish plots are futile!

2 Look at how the power brokers of the world

rise up to hold their summit

as the rulers scheme and confer together

against YAHWEH and his Anointed King, saying:

3 “Let’s come together and break away from the Creator.

Once and for all let’s cast off these controlling chains

of God and his Christ!”

Act II – God Speaks

4 God-Enthroned merely laughs at them;

the Sovereign One mocks their madness!

5 Then with the fierceness of his fiery anger,

he settles the issue and terrifies them to death with these words:

6 “I myself have poured out my King on Zion, my holy mountain.”

Act III – The Son Speaks

7 “I will reveal the eternal purpose of God.

For he has decreed over me, ‘You are my favored Son.

And as your Father I have crowned you as my King Eternal.

Today I became your Father.

8 Ask me to give you the nations and I will do it,

and they shall become your legacy.

Your domain will stretch to the ends of the earth.

9 And you will shepherd them with unlimited authority,

crushing their rebellion as an iron rod smashes jars of clay!’ ”

Act IV – The Holy Spirit Speaks

10 “Listen to me, all you rebel kings

and all you upstart judges of the earth.

Learn your lesson while there’s still time.

11 Serve and worship the awe-inspiring God.

Recognize his greatness and bow before him,

trembling with reverence in his presence.

12 Fall facedown before him and kiss the Son

before his anger is roused against you.

Remember that his wrath can be quickly kindled!

But many blessings are waiting for all

who turn aside to hide themselves in him!”

3 COVEREDBYTHE GLORY

King David’s song when he was forced to flee from Absalom, his own son

The Humbling of a King

1 Lord, I have so many enemies, so many who are against me.

2 Listen to how they whisper their slander against me, saying:

“Look! He’s hopeless! Even God can’t save him from this!”

Pause in his presence

The Help of God

3 But in the depths of my heart I truly know

that you, YAHWEH, have become my Shield;

You take me and surround me with yourself.

Your glory covers me continually.

You lift high my head.

4 I have cried out to you, YAHWEH, from your holy presence.

You send me a Father’s help.

Pause in his presence

The Song of Safety

5 So now I’ll lie down and sleep like a baby—

then I’ll awake in safety, for you surround me with your glory.

6 Even though ten thousand dark powers prowl around me,

I won’t be afraid.

The Secret of Strength

7 Rise up and help me, YAHWEH! Come and save me, God!

For you will slap them in the face,

breaking the power of their words to harm me.

8 For the Lord alone is my Savior.

What a feast of favor and bliss he gives his people!

Pause in his presence

4 AN EVENING PRAYERFOR HELP

For the Pure and Shining One

For the end, a melody by King David

1 God, you are my righteousness, my Champion Defender.

Answer me when I cry for help!

Whenever I was in distress, you enlarged me.

I’m being squeezed again—I need your kindness right away!

Grant me your grace, hear my prayer, and set me free!

2 Listen to me, you elite among men:

How long will you defame my honor

and drag it down into shame?

Will you ever stop insulting me?

How long will you set your heart on shadows,

chasing your lies and delusions?

Pause in his presence

3 May we never forget that YAHWEH works wonders

for every one of his devoted lovers.

And this is how I know that he will answer my every prayer.

4 Tremble in awe before the Lord, and do not sin against him.

Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him.

Pause in his presence

5 Bring to YAHWEH the sacrifice of righteousness and put your trust in him.

6 Lord, prove them wrong when they say, “God can’t help you!”

Let the light of your radiant face

break through and shine upon us!

7 The intense pleasure you give me

surpasses the gladness of harvest time,

even more than when the harvesters

gaze upon their ripened grain

and when their new wine overflows.

8 Now, because of you, Lord, I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once,

for no matter what happens, I will live unafraid!

5 SONGOFTHE CLOUDED DAWN

For the Pure and Shining One

For her who receives the inheritance, by King David

Morning Watch

1 Listen, YAHWEH, to my passionate prayer!

Can’t you hear my groaning?

2 Don’t you hear how I’m crying out to you?

My King and my God, consider my every word,

for I am calling out to you.

3 At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice

as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you.

Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar

and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.

Making It Right

4 I know that you, God, are never pleased with lawlessness,

and evil ones will never be invited into your house.

5 Boasters collapse, unable to survive your scrutiny,

for your hatred of evildoers is clear.

6 You will make an end of all those who lie.

How you hate their hypocrisy and despise all who love violence!

Multitude of Mercy

7 But I know that you will welcome me into your house,

for I am covered by your covenant of mercy and love.

So I come to your sanctuary with deepest awe to bow in worship and adore you.

8 YAHWEH, lead me in the pathways of your pleasure

just like you promised me you would,

or else my enemies will conquer me.

Smooth out your road in front of me,

straight and level, so that I will know where to walk.

Multitude of Sins

9 Their words are unreliable.

Destruction is in their hearts,

drawing people into their darkness with their speeches.

They are smooth-tongued deceivers, flattering with their words.

10 Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their own schemes be their downfall!

Let the guilt of their sins collapse on top of them,

for they rebel against you.

Multitude of Blessings

11 But let them all be glad,

those who turn aside to hide themselves in you.

May they keep shouting for joy forever!

Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice.

Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy.

12 Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous.

Your favor wraps around each one and covers them

under your canopy of kindness and joy.

PROVERBS

The Prologue

1Here are kingdom revelations, words to live by,

and words of wisdom given to empower you to reign in life,

written as proverbs by Israel’s King Solomon, David’s son.

2 Within these sayings will be found the revelation of wisdom

and the impartation of spiritual understanding.

Use them as keys to unlock the treasures of true knowledge.

3 Those who cling to these words will receive discipline

to demonstrate wisdom in every relationship

and to choose what is right and just and fair.

4 These proverbs will give you great skill

to teach the immature and make them wise,

to give youth the understanding of their design and destiny.

5 For the wise, these proverbs will make you even wiser,

and for those with discernment,

you will be able to acquire brilliant strategies for leadership.

6 These kingdom revelations will break open your understanding

to unveil the deeper meaning of parables,

poetic riddles, and epigrams,

and to unravel the words and enigmas of the wise.

7 We cross the threshold of true knowledge

when we live in obedient devotion to God.

Stubborn know-it-alls will never stop to do this,

for they scorn true wisdom and knowledge.

The Wisdom of a Father

8 Pay close attention, my child, to your father’s wise words

and never forget your mother’s instructions.

9 For their insight will bring you success,

adorning you with grace-filled thoughts

and giving you reins to guide your decisions.

10 When peer pressure compels you to go with the crowd

and sinners invite you to join in,

you must simply say, “No!”

11 When the gang says—

“We’re going to steal and kill and get away with it.

12 We’ll take down the rich and rob them.

We’ll swallow them up alive

and take what we want from whomever we want.

13 Then we’ll take their treasures and fill our homes with loot.

14 So come on and join us.

Take your chance with us.

We’ll divide up all we get;

we’ll each end up with big bags of cash!”—

15 my son, refuse to go with them and stay far away from them.

16 For crime is their way of life and bloodshed their specialty.

17 To be aware of their snare is the best way of escape.

18 They’ll resort to murder to steal their victim’s assets,

but eventually it will be their own lives that are ambushed.

19 In their ungodly disrespect for God

they bring destruction on their own lives.

Wisdom’s Warning

20 Wisdom’s praises are sung in the streets

and celebrated far and wide.

21 Yet wisdom’s song is not always heard in the halls of higher learning.

But in the hustle and bustle of everyday life

its lyrics can always be heard above the din of the crowd.

You will hear wisdom’s warning as she preaches courageously

to those who stop to listen:

22 “Foolish ones, how much longer will you cling to your deception?

How much longer will you mock wisdom,

you cynical scorners who fight the facts?

23 Come back to your senses and be restored to reality.

Don’t even think about refusing my rebuke!

Don’t you know that I’m ready

to pour out my spirit of wisdom upon you

and bring to you the revelation of my words

that will make your heart wise?

24 I’ve called to you over and over;

still you refuse to come to me.

I’ve pleaded with you again and again,

yet you’ve turned a deaf ear to my voice.

25 Because you have laughed at my counsel

and have insisted on continuing in your stubbornness,

26 I will laugh when your calamity comes

and will turn away from you at the time of your disaster.

Make a joke of my advice, will you?

Then I’ll make a joke out of you!

27 When the storm clouds of terror gather over your head,

when dread and distress consume you

and your catastrophe comes like a hurricane,

28 you will cry out to me, but I won’t answer.

Then it will be too late to expect my help.

When desperation drives you to search for me,

I will be nowhere to be found.

29 Because you have turned up your nose at me

and closed your eyes to the facts

and refused to worship me in awe—

30 because you scoffed at my wise counsel

and laughed at my correction—

31 now you will eat the bitter fruit of your own ways.

You’ve made your own bed; now lie in it!

So how do you like that?

32 Like an idiot you’ve turned away from me

and chosen destruction instead.

Your self-satisfied smugness will kill you.

33 But the one who always listens to me

will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace.

Free from fear, confident and courageous,

that one will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”

Day 2

PSALMS 6–10, PROVERBS 2

Safety in Following Him

Everyone who knows your wonderful name keeps putting their trust in you. They can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you.

Psalm 9:10

The Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom made accessible to his godly ones. He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways, protecting and guarding you as you choose what is right.

Proverbs 2:7–8

Have you ever felt as if your back were against a wall and that God was your only option for help? David put it this way: “There is none to deliver me but you” (Psalm 7:2). In Psalm 6, David begged God for his protection and deliverance. He called on God for vindication from his enemies in chapter 7.

Still he recognized, even in the midst of his trials, that God makes “everything right in the end” (v. 17). It is this God who never neglects those who come to him. We can come to the Lord in every situation, no matter how hopeless it may seem on the surface, and trust that God will help us, protect us, and lead us into peace. He is with us through every trial—even the ones of our own making.

God is a helper to those who have no one else in their corner. He sees the humble and each of their hopes. He is a God of justice, and he saves those who rely on him. No matter how dire our circumstances, God is powerful to save, redeem, and restore. As we follow his ways, putting his wisdom into practice in our lives, God becomes a personal bodyguard who never leaves our side.

What a powerful picture of faithfulness this is! He is our Savior, defender, and tender caregiver. He will never neglect those who come to him. The wraparound presence of God is like a shield that covers us. The earth is filled with the glory of God and his creative genius. With intention, he set the planets into motion and created all that is within the universe.

His creativity is on display for us to see as we look around us, so let it remind us that the same creativity is also at work in his solutions for our problems. We can trust him wholeheartedly, for he will not fail us. As we worship him, we will watch as he works on our behalf, for he has “heard the desires of the humble and seen their hopes . . . hear[d] their cries and encourage[d] their hearts” (Psalm 10:17).

Trustworthy One, I put all my hope in you. I cry out to you from the depths of my soul, and I place my trust in your unfailing love. Be near, Lord, and help me in ways only you can.

PSALMS

6 A CRYFOR HEALING

For the Pure and Shining One

A song for stringed instruments, for the new day by King David

How Long?

1 YAHWEH, don’t condemn me.

Don’t punish me in your fiery anger.

2Please deal gently with me, YAHWEH;

show me mercy, for I’m sick and frail and weak.

Heal me, YAHWEH, for I’m falling apart.

3 My soul is so troubled; but you,

YAHWEH—how long?

Return to Me

4 YAHWEH, turn to me and rescue my life

because I know your faithful love will never fail me.

5 In the darkness of death who remembers your name in worship?

How could I bring you praise if I’m buried in a tomb?

Extreme Anguish

6 I’m worn out with my weeping and groaning.

Night after night I soak my pillow with tears,

and flood my bed with weeping.

7 My eyes of faith won’t focus anymore, for sorrow fills my heart.

There are so many enemies who come against me!

He Heard My Cry

8 Turn from me, all you troublemakers!

For YAHWEH has turned to hear the sound of my weeping.

9Yes! YAHWEHmy healer has heard all my pleading

and has taken hold of my prayers and answered them all.

10 Now it’s my enemies who have been shamed.

Terror-stricken, they will turn back again,

knowing the bitterness of sudden disgrace!

7 SONGFORTHE SLANDERED SOUL

David’s passionate song to YAHWEH

To the tune of “Breaking the Curse of Cush, the Benjamite”

Rescue Me

1 YAHWEH, my God, I turn to hide my soul in you.

Save me from all those who pursue and persecute me.

2 There is none to deliver me but you!

Don’t let my foes fall upon me like fierce lions with teeth bared.

Can’t you see how they want to rip my soul to shreds?

3 YAHWEH, my God, if I have done evil like they say I have,

and my hands are guilty,

4 if I have wronged someone at peace with me,

if I have betrayed a friend, repaying evil for good,

or if I have unjustly harmed my enemy,

5Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me.

Let them grind me into the ground.

Let them take my life from me and drag my dignity through the dust!

Pause in his presence

Vindicate Me

6 YAHWEH, arise in your anger against the anger of my enemies.

Awaken your fury and stand up for me!

Execute the judgment you have decreed against them.

7 All the people gather around you.

Return to your place on high to preside over them.

8 You are YAHWEH who judges the people.

Vindicate me publicly, YAHWEH, and restore my honor and integrity.

Declare me innocent.

9 Once and for all, bring to an end the evil tactics of the wicked!

Establish the cause of the righteous,

for you are the righteous God, the soul searcher,

who tests every heart

to examine the thoughts and motives.

10 God, your wraparound presence is my shield.

You bring victory to all who are pure in heart.

11 God, your righteousness is revealed when you judge.

Because of the strength of your forgiveness,

your anger does not break out every day.

God’s Lethal Weapons

12–13 Yet if one does not repent,

you will not relent to sharpen your shining sword.

You have an arsenal of lethal weapons

that you’ve prepared for them.

You have bent and strung your bow,

making your judgment-arrows shafts of burning fire.

14 Look how the wicked conceive their evil schemes.

They go into labor with their lies and give birth to trouble.

15 They dig a pit for others to fall into,

not knowing that they will be the very ones

who will fall into it.

16 Every pit-digger who works to trap and harm others

will be trapped by his own treachery.

Thankful Praise

17 But I will give my thanks to you, YAHWEH,

for you make everything right in the end.

I will sing my highest praise to the God of the Highest Place!

8 GOD’S SPLENDOR

For the Pure and Shining One

Set to the melody of “For the Feast of Harvest” by King David

God’s Majesty

1 YAHWEH, our Sovereign God,

your glory streams from the heavens above,

filling the earth with the majesty of your name!

People everywhere see your splendor.

2 You have built a stronghold by the songs of children.

Strength rises up with the chorus of infants.

This kind of praise has power to shut Satan’s mouth.

Childlike worship will silence

the madness of those who oppose you.

Human Dignity

3 Look at the splendor of your skies,

your creative genius glowing in the heavens.

When I gaze at your moon and your stars,

mounted like jewels in their settings,

I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all!

But I have to ask this question:

4 Why would you bother with puny, mortal man

or care about human beings?

5 Yet what honor you have given to men,

created only a little lower than Elohim,

crowned with glory and magnificence.

6 You have delegated to them

rulership over all you have made,

with everything under their authority,

placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers.

7–8 All the created order and every living thing

of the earth, sky, and sea—

the wildest beasts and all that move in the paths of the sea—

everything is in submission to Adam’s sons.

9 YAHWEH, our Sovereign God,

your glory streams from the heavens above,

filling the earth with the majesty of your name!

People everywhere see your splendor!

9 TRIUMPHANT THANKS

For the Pure and Shining One

To the tune of “The Secrets of the Son”

A Psalm of David

Delighting in God

1 I will worship you, YAHWEH, with extended hands

as my whole heart erupts with praise!

I will tell everyone everywhere about your wonderful works!

2 I will be glad and shout in triumph.

I will sing praise to your exalted name, O Most High.

Deliverance

3 For when you appear, I worship

you while my enemies run in retreat.

They stumble and perish before your presence.

4 For you have stood up for my cause

and vindicated me when I needed you the most.

From your righteous throne you have given me justice.

Divine Judgment

5 With a blast of your rebuke, nations are destroyed.

You obliterated their names forever and ever.

6The Lord thundered and our enemies have been cut off,

vanished in everlasting ruins.

All their cities have been destroyed—

even the memory of them has been erased.

7 But YAHWEH, our mighty God, reigns forever!

He sits enthroned as King ready to render his verdicts

and judge all with righteousness.

8 He will issue his decrees of judgment,

deciding what is right for the entire world,

dispensing justice to all.

9 All who are oppressed may come to YAHWEH as a high

shelter in the time of trouble, a perfect hiding place.

10 For everyone who knows your wonderful name

keeps putting their trust in you.

They can count on you for help no matter what.

O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those

who come to you.

11 Listen, everyone! Sing out your praises to the God

who rules in Zion!

Tell the world about all the miracles he has done!

12 He tracks down killers and avenges bloodshed,

but he will never forget the ones forgotten by others,

hearing every one of their cries for justice.

Daughter of Zion

13 So now, O Lord, don’t forget me.

Have mercy on me.

Take note of how I’ve been humiliated

at the hands of those who hate me.

You are the one who can snatch me away from the gates of death.

14 Then I will sing your praises as I pass through the gates

of the Daughter of Zion, rejoicing in your deliverance!

15 For the nations get trapped

in the very snares they set for others.

The hidden trap they set for the weak

has snapped shut upon themselves!

16 YAHWEH is famous for his justice.

While the wicked are digging a pit for others,

they are actually setting the terms for their own judgment.

They will fall into their own pit.

Consider the truth of this and pause in his presence

Destruction of the Wicked

17Don’t forget this: all the wicked will one day

fall into the darkness of death’s domain,

including the nations that forget God and reject his ways.

18 He will not forget the needs of the poor.

One day the needy will be remembered,

and their hopes will not be forever dashed in disappointment.

19 YAHWEH, it’s time to arise and judge

the nations who defy you.

Don’t let rebellious men triumph.

20 Make them tremble in fear before your presence.

Place a lawgiver over them.

Make them know that they are only puny, frail humans

who must give account to you!

Pause in his presence

10 THE CRYOFTHE OPPRESSED

The Lord is Concealed

1 Lord, why do you seem so far away when evil is near?

Why have you hidden yourself when I need you the most?

2 The arrogant in their elitist pride persecute the poor and helpless.

May you pour out upon them

the very evil they’ve dreamed up against others!

3 How they brag and boast of their cravings, exalting the greedy.

They congratulate themselves as they despise you—

4 these arrogant ones, so smug and secure!

In their delusion the wicked boast, saying,

“God doesn’t care about what we do.

There’s nothing to worry about!”

5 So successful are they in their schemes

and prosperous in all their plans!

Your laws are far from them;

they scoff at their enemies.

6 They boast that neither God nor men will bring them down.

They sneer at all their enemies, saying in their hearts,

“We’ll have success in all we do

and never have to face trouble.”

7 Their mouths spew out cursing, lies, and threats.

Only trouble and turmoil come from all their plans.

8–9 Like beasts lurking in the shadows of the city,

they crouch silently in ambush, waiting for the innocent to pass by.

Pouncing on the poor, they catch them in their snare

to murder their prey in secret

as they plunder their helpless victims.

10 They crush the lowly as they fall beneath their brutal blows,

watching their victims collapse in defeat!

11 Then they say to themselves,

“The Lofty One is not watching while we do this.

He doesn’t even care! We can get away with it!”

The Lord is Concerned

12 Now arise, YAHWEH-God! Crush them once and for all!

Don’t forget the helpless and oppressed.

13 How dare the wicked think they’ll reject God and escape judgment.

They say to themselves,

“God won’t hold me accountable.”

14 Lord, I know you see all that they’re doing,

noting their each and every deed.

You know the trouble and turmoil they’ve caused.

Now punish them thoroughly for all that they’ve done!

The poor and helpless ones trust in you, Lord,

for you are famous for being the helper of the fatherless.

I know you won’t let them down.

15 Break the power of the wicked and all their strong-arm tactics.

Search them out and destroy them

for the evil things they’ve done.

16 You, YAHWEH, are King forever and ever!

All the nations will perish from your land.

17 YAHWEH, you have heard the desires of the humble

and seen their hopes.

You will hear their cries and encourage their hearts.

18 The orphans and the oppressed will be terrified no longer,

for you will bring them justice, and no earth-dweller will trouble them again.

PROVERBS

Searching for Wisdom

2My child, will you treasure my wisdom?

Then, and only then, will you acquire it.

And only if you accept my advice

and hide it within will you succeed.

2 So train your heart to listen when I speak

and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment—

then pass it on to your sons and daughters.

3 Yes, cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight.

4 For if you keep seeking it like a man would seek for sterling silver,

searching in hidden places for cherished treasure,

5 then you will discover the fear of the Lord

and find the true knowledge of God.

6 Wisdom is a gift from a generous God,

and every word he speaks is full of revelation

and becomes a fountain of understanding within you.

7–8 For the Lord has a hidden storehouse of wisdom

made accessible to his godly ones.

He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways,

protecting and guarding you as you choose what is right.

9 Then you will discover all that is just, proper, and fair,

and be empowered to make the right decisions

as you walk into your destiny.

10 When wisdom wins your heart and revelation breaks in,

true pleasure enters your soul.

11 If you choose to follow good counsel,

divine design will watch over you

and understanding will protect you

from making poor choices.

12 It will rescue you from evil in disguise

and from those who speak duplicities.

13 For they have left the paths of righteousness

and walk in the ways of darkness.

14 They take pleasure when evil prospers

and thoroughly enjoy a lifestyle of sin.

15 But they’re walking on a path to nowhere,

wandering away into deeper deception.

Wisdom, the Way of the Pure

16 Only wisdom can save you from the flattery

of the promiscuous woman—

she’s such a smooth-talking seductress!

17 She left her husband and has forgotten her wedding vows.

18 You’ll find her house on the road to hell,

19 and all the men who go through her doors

will never come back to the place they were—

they will find nothing but desolation and despair.

20 Follow those who follow wisdom and stay on the right path.

21 For all my godly lovers will enjoy life to the fullest

and will inherit their destinies.

22 But the treacherous ones who love darkness

will lose not only all they could have had,

but even their own souls!

Day 3

PSALMS 11–15, PROVERBS 3

The Power of Integrity

YAHWEH looks down in love, looking over all of Adam’s sons and daughters. He’s looking to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, any who are searching for God and wanting to please him.

Psalm 14:2

Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught. Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart.

Proverbs 3:3

When we live in the love of Christ, aligning our lives with his wisdom, we can be confident that we are reflecting on the earth the values of his eternal kingdom. It is not enough to say we believe in something if we do not adopt it into the way we live.

Integrity is a way of wholehearted living. Having integrity means that we are honest and that our habits and choices match our spoken values. We don’t give ourselves allowances that we refuse others. Double standards do not exist. This may sound too good to be true or even unattainable. Integrity is not perfection though; rather, it is transparency and follow-through. It is knowing the power of our word and backing it up with action. There is room for messing up, for repentance and repair are as important to our humanity and to God’s ideals as any other virtue.

God is full of integrity, and we can trust in him like no other. “Every word YAHWEH speaks is sure and reliable. His truth is tested, found to be flawless, and ever faithful” (Psalm 12:6). When we look to him, our depression turns to delight (Psalm 13). He turns our mourning into songs of joy.

If we want to be trustworthy, as God is, we will embrace the wisdom of Psalm 15 and follow through on our commitments, never abuse our power, and refuse to harm our loved ones with harsh words. We will choose to encourage others in truth rather than insult them, no matter who they are. There is deep freedom and peace when we act toward others the way that we want to be treated. The golden rule is golden for a reason, after all.

Jesus summed up the whole of God’s laws in this one statement: “In everything you do, be careful to treat others in the same way you’d want them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12). If we follow his wisdom, we live in the power of integrity. We find satisfaction, “a long and satisfying life,” when we “follow closely every truth” that God has given us (Proverbs 3:1–2). What he has offered is accessible, so let’s do as he says and hold on to his loyal love by putting it into action every day.

Lord, I don’t want to live wholeheartedly before you only sometimes. Help me to keep first things first and to consistently put your truth into action in my life. I know that it is the best way to live.

PSALMS

11 SONGOFTHE STEADFAST

For the Pure and Shining One by King David

The Advice to Flee

1 My faith shelters my soul continually in YAHWEH.

Why would you say to me:

“Run away while you can!

Fly away like a bird to hide in the mountains for safety.

2 For your enemies have prepared a trap for you!

Can’t you see them hiding

in their place of darkness and shadows?

They’re set against all those who live upright lives.

3 What can the righteous accomplish

when truth’s pillars are destroyed and law and order collapse?”

The Answer of Faith

4Yet YAHWEHis never shaken—

he is still found in his temple of holiness,

reigning as King YAHWEH over all.

He closely watches and examines everything man does.

With a glance, his eyes examine every heart,

for his heavenly rule will prevail over all.

5 YAHWEH tests both the righteous and the wicked.

God’s very soul detests lovers of violence.

6 He will rain down upon them judgment for their sins.

A scorching wind will be their lot in life.

7 But remember this: YAHWEH is the Righteous One who loves

justice, and every godly one

will gaze upon his face!

12 SONGFORTHE NEW DAY

For the Pure and Shining One

A song of smiting, sung for the new day by King David

Intercession

1 Help, Lord! Save us! For godly ones are disappearing.

Where are the dependable, principled ones?

They’re a vanishing breed!

2 Everyone lies, everyone flatters, and everyone deceives.

Nothing but empty talk, smooth talk, and double-talk.

3–4 You will destroy every proud liar who says, “We lie all we want.

Our words are our weapons, and we won’t be held accountable.

Who can stop us?”

May YAHWEH cut off their twisted tongues

and seal their lying lips.

May they all be silenced—those who boast and brag with their

high-minded talk.

Intervention

5 But the Lord says, “Now I will arise!

I will defend the poor,

those who were plundered, the oppressed,

and the needy who groan for help.

I will spring into action to rescue and protect them!”

6 For every word YAHWEH speaks is sure and reliable.

His truth is tested, found to be flawless, and ever faithful.

It’s as pure as silver refined seven times in a crucible of clay.

Inspiration

7–8 Lord, you will keep us safe,

out of the reach of the wicked.

Even though they strut and prowl,

tolerating and celebrating what is worthless and vile,

you will still lift up those who are yours!

13 PRAYER TURNS DEPRESSIONINTO DELIGHT

For the Pure and Shining One

A Psalm of David

Depression

1I’m hurting, Lord—will you forget me forever?

How much longer, Lord?

Will you look the other way when I’m in need?

2 How much longer must I cling to this constant grief?

I’ve endured this shaking of my soul.

So how much longer will my enemy have the upper hand?

Intercession

3 Take a good look at me, YAHWEH, my God, and answer me!

Breathe your life into my spirit.

Bring light to my eyes in this pitch-black darkness

or I will sleep the sleep of death.

4 Don’t let my enemy proclaim, “I’ve prevailed over him.”

For all my adversaries will celebrate when I fall.

5 I have always trusted in your kindness, so answer me.

I will spin in a circle of joy

when your salvation lifts me up.

6 I will sing my song of joy to you, YAHWEH,

for in all of this you have strengthened my soul.

My enemies say that I have no Savior,

but I know that I have one in you!

14 GOD LOOKS DOWNFROM HEAVEN

For the Pure and Shining One

A Psalm of David

No God

1 Only the withering soul would say to himself,

“There is no God.”

Anyone who thinks like this is corrupt and callous,

devoid of what is good.

2 YAHWEH looks down in love,

looking over all of Adam’s sons and daughters.

He’s looking to see if there is anyone who acts wisely,

any who are searching for God and wanting to please him.

None Who Are Good

3 But everyone has wandered astray,

walking stubbornly toward evil.

Not one is good; he can’t even find one.

4 They live in luxury while exploiting my people!

Won’t these workers of wickedness ever learn?

They don’t ever think of praying to God.

Overwhelmed with Dread

5 But look at them now, in panic, trembling with terror.

For God is on the side of his godly lovers.

6 YAHWEH is always the safest place for the poor

when the workers of wickedness oppress them.

Overcome with Joy

7 How I wish that Israel’s rescue

would arise from the midst of Zion!

When YAHWEH restores his people,

Jacob’s joy will break forth

and Israel will be glad!

15 LIVINGINTHE SHINING PLACE

A poetic song by David

A Question Posed

1 YAHWEH, who dares to dwell with you?

Who presumes the privilege of being close to you,

living next to you in your shining place of glory?

The Answer Provided

2 They are passionate and wholehearted,

always sincere and always speaking the truth—

for their hearts are trustworthy.

3 They refuse to slander or insult others;

they’ll never listen to gossip or rumors,

nor would they ever harm a friend with their words.

4 They will despise evil and evil workers

while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth.

They make firm commitments and follow through,

even at great cost.

5 They never crush others with exploitation

and they would never be bought with a bribe

against the innocent.

Those who do these things will never be shaken;

they will stand firm forever.

PROVERBS

The Rewards of Wisdom

31–2 My child, if you truly want a long and satisfying life,

never forget the things that I’ve taught you.

Follow closely every truth that I’ve given you.

Then you will have a full, rewarding life.

3 Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go,

and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught.

Let your life be shaped by integrity,

with truth written upon your heart.

4 That’s how you will find favor and understanding

with both God and men—

you will gain the reputation of living life well.

Wisdom’s Guidance

5 Trust in the Lord completely,

and do not rely on your own opinions.

With all your heart rely on him to guide you,

and he will lead you in every decision you make.

6 Become intimate with him in whatever you do,

and he will lead you wherever you go.

7 Don’t think for a moment that you know it all,

for wisdom comes when you adore him with undivided devotion

and avoid everything that’s wrong.

8 Then you will find the healing refreshment

your body and spirit long for.

9 Glorify God with all your wealth,

honoring him with your firstfruits,

with every increase that comes to you.

10 Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings

from an uncontainable source of inner joy!

Wisdom’s Correction

11 My child, when the Lord God speaks to you,

never take his words lightly,

and never be upset when he corrects you.

12 For the Father’s discipline comes only

from his passionate love and pleasure for you.

Even when it seems like his correction is harsh,

it’s still better than any father on earth gives to his child.

13 Blessings pour over the ones who find wisdom,

for they have obtained living-understanding.

14 As wisdom increases, a great treasure is imparted,

greater than many bars of refined gold.

15 It is a more valuable commodity than gold and gemstones,

for there is nothing you desire that could compare to her.

16 Wisdom extends to you long life in one hand

and wealth and promotion in the other.

Out of her mouth flows righteousness,

and her words release both law and mercy.

17 The ways of wisdom are sweet,

always drawing you into the place of wholeness.

18 Seeking for her brings the discovery of untold blessings,

for she is the healing tree of life to those who taste her fruits.

Wisdom’s Blueprints

19 The Lord laid the earth’s foundations with wisdom’s blueprints.

By his living-understanding all the universe came into being.

20 By his divine revelation he broke open

the hidden fountains of the deep,

bringing secret springs to the surface

as the mist of the night dripped down from heaven.

Wisdom, Our Hiding Place

21 My child, never drift off course from these two goals for your life:

to walk in wisdom and to discover your purpose.

Don’t ever forget how they empower you.

22 For they strengthen you inside and out

and inspire you to do what’s right;

you will be energized and refreshed by the healing they bring.

23 They give you living hope to guide you,

and not one of life’s tests will cause you to stumble.

24 You will sleep like a baby, safe and sound—

your rest will be sweet and secure.

25 You will not be subject to terror, for it will not terrify you.

Nor will the disrespectful be able to push you aside,

26 because God is your confidence in times of crisis,

keeping your heart at rest in every situation.

Wisdom in Relationships

27 Why would you withhold payment on your debt

when you have the ability to pay? Just do it!

28 When your friend comes to ask you for a favor,

why would you say, “Perhaps tomorrow,”

when you have the money right there in your pocket?

Help him today!

29 Why would you hold a grudge in your heart

toward your neighbor who lives right next door?

30 And why would you quarrel with those

who have done nothing wrong to you?

Is that a chip on your shoulder?

31 Don’t act like those bullies or learn their ways.

32 Every violent thug is despised by the Lord,

but every tender lover finds friendship with God

and will hear his intimate secrets.

33 The wicked walk under God’s constant curse,

but the righteous walk under a stream of his blessing,

for they seek to do what is right.

34 If you walk with the mockers you will learn to mock,

but God’s grace and favor flow to the meek.

35 Stubborn fools fill their lives with disgrace,

but glory and honor rest upon the wise.

Day 4

PSALMS 16–20, PROVERBS 4

Corrective Wisdom

The way you counsel me makes me praise you more, for your whispers in the night give me wisdom, showing me what to do next.

Psalm 16:7

Receive my correction no matter how hard it is to swallow, for wisdom will snap you back into place—her words will be invigorating life to you.

Proverbs 4:13

When we resist correction, we let pride keep us from an important opportunity to grow in love, grace, and goodness. When we remember that learning is a lifelong venture, we can more easily embrace correction when it comes. We will never reach a time, no matter how much experience we have, when we are suddenly perfect. Let us embrace the correction of God, the opportunity to humble ourselves before him and others, and the blessing to be able to correct our course.

So much grace is always available to us. The ways of the Lord are good. David poetically proclaimed, “Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places. I’m overwhelmed by the privileges that come with following you!” (Psalm 16:6). When we submit to the Lord’s correction, we can be sure that he is leading us to pleasant places. Humbling our hearts before him is good practice to continually learn from his lead and taste the joy of his presence.

In Psalm 17, David prayed that God would examine his heart. What an invitation this is! As we invite God to read our hearts, we give him permission to correct what is out of alignment with his will and ways. We can trust that God will answer us when we call out to him. He is the foundation of our faith, the shield around us, the shelter to which we can run and hide anytime, anywhere.

The revelation-truth of God’s counsel is a gift to us. Wisdom is more precious than silver or gold, after all. It is the greatest resource God has given us to direct us in how to live in the abundance of his life-giving ways. Why would we resist it, then, when it points out our own failings, faults, and flaws? Every correction provides a chance for the power of God’s grace and mercy to strengthen us, and as we do, we find freedom from condemnation. What a gift each and every adjustment becomes when we submit to the Lord’s leadership.

David reminded us, “YAHWEH, what a perfect God you are! All YAHWEH’s promises have proven true” (Psalm 18:30). God is faithful and true, and he never stops moving in loyal love, even when he corrects us. We will find the wisdom of the Spirit’s words as an invigorating life force within us.

Perfect One, I am so relieved that I don’t have to have it all together in my life. Examine me, Lord, and reveal where I can more wholly align with the fruit of your Spirit. Have your way in me, correct me, and teach me to be more like you.

PSALMS

16 THE GOLDEN SECRET

A precious song, engraved in gold, by David

My Protection

1 Keep me safe, O mighty God.

I run to you, my safe place.

2 I said to YAHWEH,

“You are my Maker and my Master.

Any good thing you find in me has come from you.”

3And he said to me, “My holy lovers

in the land are my glorious ones,

who fulfill all my desires.”

4 Yet there are those who yield to their weakness,

and they will have troubles unending.

I never gather with such ones,

nor give them honor in any way.

My Portion

5 YAHWEH, you alone are my inheritance.

You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion.

You hold my destiny and its timing in your hands.

6 Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places.

I’m overwhelmed by the privileges

that come with following you!

My Praise

7 The way you counsel me makes me praise you more,

for your whispers in the night give me wisdom,

showing me what to do next.

8 Because I set you, YAHWEH, always close to me,

my confidence will never be weakened,

for I experience your wraparound presence every moment.

9 My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory!

Even my body will rest confident and secure.

10 For you will not abandon me to the realm of death,

nor will you allow your Faithful One to experience corruption.

11 Because of you, I know the path of life,

as I taste the fullness of joy in your presence.

At your right side I experience divine pleasures forevermore!

17 A CRYFOR JUSTICE

A priestly prayer of David

Hear Me!

1 Listen to me, Lord.

Hear the passionate prayer of this honest man.

My cause is just and my need is real.

I’ve done what’s right and my lips speak truth.

2 Examine and exonerate me.

Vindicate me and show the world I’m innocent.

3 For in a visitation of the night

you inspected my heart and refined my soul in fire

until nothing vile was found in me.

I will not sin with my words.

4 Following your word has kept me from wrong.

Your ways have molded my footsteps, keeping me

from going down the paths of the violent.

5 My steps follow in the tracks of your chariot wheels,

always staying in their path,

never straying from your way.

6 You will answer me, God; I know you always will.

Hear my words like you always do as you listen to my every prayer.

Hide Me!

7 Magnify the marvels of your mercy to all who seek you.

You are the loving Savior of all who turn aside

to hide themselves in you.

8 Protect me from harm;

keep an eye on me as you would a child

who is reflected in the twinkling of your eye.

Yes, hide me within the shelter of your embrace,

under your outstretched wings.

9 Protect me there from all my foes.

For there are many who surround my soul

to completely destroy me.

10 They are pitiless, heartless—hard as nails,

swollen with pride and filled with arrogance!

11 See how they close in on me,

waiting for the chance to throw me to the ground.

12 They’re like lions eager to tear me apart,

like young and fearless lions lurking in secret,

so ferocious and cruel—ready to rip me to shreds.

Help Me!

13 Arise, God, and confront them!

Challenge them with your might!

Free me from their clutches and rescue me from their rage.

14 Throw them down to the ground,

those who live for only this life on earth.

Thrust them out of their prosperity

and into their portion in eternity,

leaving their wealth and wickedness behind!

15 As for me, because I am innocent, I will see your face

until I see you for who you really are.

I will be satisfied in an awakening of your likeness in me!

18 I LOVE YOU, LORD

A song to the Pure and Shining One by King David, his servant, composed when the Lord rescued David from all his many enemies, including from the brutality of Saul. He said:

1 I love you, YAHWEH, and I’m bonded to you,

my strength!

2 YAHWEH, you’re the bedrock beneath my feet,

my faith-fortress, my wonderful deliverer,

my God, my rock of rescue where none can reach me.

You’re the shield around me,

the mighty power that saves me, and my high place.

3 All I need to do is to call on you,

YAHWEH, the praiseworthy God.

When I do, I’m safe and sound in you—

delivered from my foes!

4–5 For when the cords of death wrapped around me

and torrents of destruction overwhelmed me,

taking me to death’s door,

6 in my distress I cried out to you, the delivering God,

and from your temple-throne you heard my troubled cry,

and my sobs went right into your heart.

7 The earth itself shivered and shook.

It reeled and rocked before him.