Reading

• Psalm 88; 91; 95; 108; 109

Devotional

As we journey through the Psalms, our daily focus is upon what we learn of GOD. Today’s reading begins with Psalm 88, which is a song from a person who was dying and wondering if GOD hears him. It focuses upon the discipline of GOD, possibly for multiple reasons, but clearly as GOD uses physical death as a punishment and consequence for our sins. In this Psalm it says that GOD:

• Saves me.
• Has put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
• Has put His wrath upon me and overwhelmed me with His waves.
• Has taken me from my closest friends and made them turn away from me.
• Rejects and hides His face from me.
• Has taken my friends and loved ones from me and made darkness my closest friend.

It is important to recognize that we die because we live in a sin-cursed world and we sin ourselves. Despite GOD’s promise to always be with us and never forsake us, we can still feel very much alone at times. I believe Psalm 88 is an expression of those feelings of being alone.

From Psalm 91 we learn that GOD will:

1. Save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
2. Cover you with His feathers.
3. Provide refuge under His wings.
4. Shield us with His faithfulness.
5. Command His angels to guard you.
6. Rescue him because he loves GOD.
7. Protect him because he acknowledges GOD’s name.
8. Answer him when He calls upon GOD.
9. Be with him in trouble.
10. Deliver and honor him.
11. Sustain him with long life and show him GOD’s salvation.

From Psalm 95 we learn that GOD:

1. Is the Rock of our salvation.
2. Is the great GOD, the great King above all gods.
3. Holds the depths and the mountain peaks of the earth in His hand.
4. Owns the sea because He made it.
5. Formed the dry land with His hands.
6. Is our Maker and our GOD.
7. Cares for us as the people of His pasture.
8. Was angry with the generation of Israelites who left Egypt because of the hardness of their hearts.
9. Was angry with them.
10. Refused to allow that generation to enter His rest.

From Psalm 108 we learn that GOD:

1. Has so great a love for us that it is higher than the heavens.
2. Has faithfulness that reaches up to the skies.
3. Has spoken from His sanctuary.
4. Will give us the victory and trample down our enemies.

From Psalm 109 we learn that GOD:

1. Loves us out of His goodness.
2. Stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.