The Word for Today with Ray: August 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Give the LORD Glory and Strength - Psalms 29:1

Psalms chapter twenty-nine begins with the heading, [[A Psalm of David.]] which breaks down, “A Psalm” or “a melody of a poem set to notes and played with a musical instrument” “of David” which means “belonging to David whose name means beloved and was the second king of Israel”, and in chapter twenty nine and verse one of Psalms David said, “give unto the LORD glory and strength”, where we read,

Give unto the LORD, O you mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

The verse begins, “Give unto the LORD, O you mighty, ...” David began with the words, “Give unto the LORD” which means “provide, ascribe, set and place to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”, “O you mighty” or “O you, people whether males or females who are god-like, people of rank and powerful. David appealed to the “people of rank and power” among him to provide and ascribe the following.

The verse continues, “... give unto the LORD glory and strength.” David added the words, “give unto the LORD” or “provide, ascribe, set and place to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “glory” which means “honor, splendor, abundance and riches” “and strength” or “and power and might whether material, physical, personal, social or political”. David instructed the “people of rank and power” to provide and ascribe to Jehovah God “honor, splendor, abundance and might”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how David appealed to the people who were powerful and held positions of power to ascribe to Jehovah God glory and honor. God gives power and positions to people, and without Him, no one would have any “strength, influence or authority”. Pilate asked Jesus, “Speak you not unto me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify you, and have power to release you?” to which Jesus answered, “you could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered me unto you has the greater sin.” (See John 19:10-11). God gives power and positions to people, (See Psalm 75:7), and all praise, honor and glory is due unto Him alone for sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for all mankind so we may be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and enabled to believe and trust in Him for strength, influence and authority in this world.

Next time David says, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Save Your People - Psalms 28:9

In Psalms chapter twenty-eight David said, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed”, and in chapter twenty eight and verse nine of Psalms David said, “Save your people”, where we read,

Save your people, and bless your inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

The verse begins, “Save your people, and bless your inheritance:” David began with the words, “Save your people” which means “deliver, liberate and make victorious your, Jehovah God's, kinsmen, compatriots, countrymen and nation”, “and bless” or “and congratulate and salute” “your inheritance” which means “your, Jehovah God's, possession, heritage and portion”. David called out to Jehovah God to rescue, deliver and bring victory to, congratulate and salute His compatriots, nation and heritage.

The verse goes on to say, “feed them also, and lift them up for ever.” David continued with the words, “feed them also” or “shepherd, pasture, graze and tend to them, Jehovah God's people and inheritance, even so and indeed”, “and lift them up” which means “and bear, carry, support and sustain them, Jehovah God's people and inheritance” “for ever” or “to antiquity, futurity, evermore, perpetually and unto everlasting”. David appealed to Jehovah God to shepherd and tend to His inheritance and people perpetually and unto everlasting.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how David expanded his idea of Jehovah God being his own “strength and deliverance” to include the people in his nation. God desires to be the “Lord and Savior” of all people, and He provided His Son Jesus to die on the cross for their sins so they may be in a personal relationship with Him. When we rely upon, trust in and cling to Jesus Christ, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and be our power, might, protection and deliverer, and we shall spend all eternity giving Him praise and honor for His blessings to us and to everyone who comes to Him.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see David say, “give unto the LORD glory and strength”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The LORD is Their Strength - Psalms 28:8

In Psalms chapter twenty-eight David said, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him”, and in chapter twenty eight and verse eight of Psalms David said, “The LORD is their strength”, where we read,

The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

The verse begins, “The LORD is their strength, ...” David began with the words, “The LORD” which means “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “is their strength” or “exists as his people's might, power and force whether personal, social or political”. David broadened his idea of Jehovah God being his strength to include God's people relying upon God as “their” power and might” as well.

The verse continues, “... and he is the saving strength of his anointed.” David added the words, “and he is the saving strength” or “and Jehovah God exists as the delivering, prosperous and victorious might, power and force” “of his anointed” which means “pertaining to Jehovah God's consecrated One and Messiah”. David declared Jehovah God to be the “delivering might and power” of His people and His Messiah.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how David included Jehovah God's people and His Messiah as those who relied upon Him as their “power, might, deliverance and victory”. God desires to be the “strength” and “saving strength” of everyone, and He provided His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of mankind so they might have access to Him. When we submit to Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life with Him and become our “power, might, deliverance and victory” regardless of what we encounter. Praise be unto Jehovah God for His provision and protection for all who come to Him through Jesus.

Next time David says, “Save your people”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The LORD is My Strength and Shield - Psalms 28:7

In Psalms chapter twenty-eight David said, “Blessed be the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplications”, and in chapter twenty eight and verse seven of Psalms David said, “The LORD is my strength and my shield”, where we read,

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:

therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.

The verse begins, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:” David began with the words, “The LORD” which means “Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “is my strength” or “exists as my, David's, might, power and force whether personal, social or political” “and my shield” which means “and my, David's, buckler, ruler, scale and defense”; “my heart” or “my, David's, inner man, soul, mind, understanding, thinking and seat of emotions and passions” “trusted in him” which means “had confidence, security, boldness and safety in Jehovah God”, “and I am helped” or “and I, David, exist as succored, supported, protected and given aid”. David proclaimed Jehovah God to be both his protector, defense and support which was a result of his confidence and faith in Him within his mind and soul.

The verse goes on to say, “therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him.” David continues with the words, “therefore my heart” or “wherefore, then and on this account my, David's, inner man, soul, mind, understanding, thinking and seat of emotions and passions” “greatly rejoices” which means “jumps for joy, is exulted and exceedingly joyful in triumph”; “and with my song” or “and by the use of my, David's, ode, singing and music” “will I praise him” which means “shall I, David, laud, give thanks, revere and worship him, Jehovah God”. David said the result of Jehovah God being his “protection, defense and support” was that his inner man jumps for joy, and he used his music to adore and exult Jehovah God in response.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn within whom David put His confidence and faith. Jehovah God was who he relied upon for “strength, protection and aid”, and this caused him to “jump for joy” within his soul and mind. David broke out in “song” to give honor, praise and adoration to Jehovah God, and anyone who comes to Him through His Son Jesus will have the same response as they receive Him into their hearts. Paul the apostle said, “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (See Romans 10:9-10), and when we come to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ His Son we will jump for joy within and break out in “songs” of adoration of Him.

Next time David says, “The LORD is their strength”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Blessed Be the LORD - Psalms 28:6

In Psalms chapter twenty-eight David said, “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up”, and in chapter twenty eight and verse six of Psalms David said, “Blessed be the LORD”, where we read,

Blessed be the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplications.

The verse begins, “Blessed be the LORD,, ...” David began with the word, “Blessed” which means “congratulated, praised, saluted and adored” “be the LORD” or “exists Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. David exalted and adored Jehovah God for the following reason.

The verse goes on to say, “... because he has heard the voice of my supplications.” David continued with the words, “because he has heard” or “since and on account that he, Jehovah God, has listened to, perceived, understood and given heed to” “the voice” which means “the sound, noise, proclamation and claim” “of my supplications” or “ pertaining to my, David's, entreaty and earnest prayer for favor”. David said Jehovah God was to be praised and adored on account that He listened and gave heed to his earnest prayer for favor.

When we consider the words in this verse, we note how David broke out in praise and adoration of Jehovah God for hearing his earnest prayer for favor. God desires to listen to us when we pray, and when we come to Him through receiving His Son Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, He will respond in a manner according to His perfect will. God loves us, and His desire is to have an intimate relationship with us that includes understanding our prayer requests. God has a perfect will for our lives, and when we align with His will through prayer, we fulfill His purposes for us. Let us give praise, honor and adoration to Jehovah God for His willingness to hear us when we pray and for His direction for us throughout all eternity.

Next time David says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Regarding Not the Works of the LORD - Psalms 28:5

In Psalms chapter twenty-eight David said, “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert”, and in chapter twenty eight and verse five of Psalms David tells what happens, “because they regard not the works of the LORD”, where we read,

Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands,

he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

The verse begins, “Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, ...”. David began with the words, “Because they regard not” which means “since and on account that the wicked and workers of iniquity do not discern, understand, consider and know” “the works” or “the labors, rewards and recompense” “of the LORD” which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God”, “nor the operation” or “no and not in any way the deeds, labors, undertakings, pursuits and achievements” “of his hands” which means “belonging to his, Jehovah God's, hands”. David said the reason Jehovah God should punish the wicked and workers of iniquity according to their deeds was on account that they did not understand or perceive His acts, deeds and undertakings.

The verse continues, “... he shall destroy them, and not build them up.” David added the words, “he shall destroy them” or “he, Jehovah God, will tear down, break, overthrow and utterly ruin the wicked and workers of iniquity”, “and not build them up” which means “and in no way establish or cause the wicked and iniquity workers to continue”. David declared that Jehovah God would utterly ruin the wicked and workers of iniquity so that they would never be rebuilt.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how David knew the reason wicked people and workers of iniquities spoke deceptively and committed evil acts. They did not perceive or understand the labors and rewards belonging to Jehovah God, and therefore lived according to pernicious ways. God wants people to know Him even as Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”, (See John 17:3). God sent Jesus into the world to die for the sins of mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and allow us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (See 2 Peter 3:18)

Next time David says, “Blessed be the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Given According to Their Deeds - Psalms 28:4

Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors:

give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

The verse begins, “Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors:”. David began with the words, “Give them” which means “grant, bestow, appoint and assign the wicked and workers of iniquity” “according to their deeds” or “in keeping with the works and acts of the wicked and workers of iniquity”, “and according to the wickedness” which means “and in keeping with the badness, evil and willful naughtiness” “of their endeavors” or “belonging to the practices, deeds and acts of the wicked and workers of iniquity”. David desired that Jehovah God bestow upon the wicked and workers of iniquity in keeping with their acts and practices.

The verse goes on to say, “give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.” David continued with the words, “give them” or “grant, bestow, appoint and assign the wicked and workers of iniquity” “after the work of their hands” which means “in agreement and accordance with the undertaking, enterprise, business and pursuit pertaining to the wicked and iniquity workers' physical hands”; “render to them their desert” or “return and give back to the wicked and iniquity workers' their own recompense and dealings”. David wanted Jehovah God to bestow upon the wicked and the workers of iniquity in accordance with the acts and deeds of their physical hands and return to them the recompense or compensation they deserved.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how David committed the punishment of the “wicked and workers of iniquity” to Jehovah God. David wanted Jehovah to “give” them in keeping with their own practices even as Paul the apostle wrote, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” (See Galatians 6:7) Rather than avenge himself, David put the retribution of these wicked people in the LORD's hands. God desires to have a personal relation with every person through His Son Jesus, and when we submit to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and bring retribution to those who are evil and commit iniquity.

Next time David tells what happens, “because they regard not the works of the LORD”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…