In Psalms chapter sixty nine David said, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached you are fallen upon me”, and in chapter sixty-nine and verse ten of Psalms David said, “when I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting” where we read,
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
The verse begins, “When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, ...” David began with the words, “when I wept” or “at the time and moment I, David, bewailed and shed tears in grief and humiliation”, “and chastened my soul” which means “and disciplined, instructed and admonished my, David's, inner man, heart, mind, appetite, desire, living being and seat of emotions and passions” “with fasting” or “by the use of denying the consumption of food or drink”. David referred to the time and moment that he disciplined his inner man with denying himself food or drink.
The verse goes on to say, “... that was to my reproach.” David continued with the words, “that was” or “the discipline of fasting was” “to my reproach” which means “to my, David's, taunting and scorn”. David said at the time he disciplined himself with “fasting”, the reproaching people taunted and scorned him.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how the people who hated David continued to taunt him even while he was practicing a spiritual discipline. Jesus faced taunting and scorn and He lived a perfect life. God knew we would face opposition even when we are in a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Many Christians were persecuted and some died for their faith and trust in Jesus, but they are promised everlasting life with God. God loves us, and His desire is forgive our sins, grant us eternal life and be with us even when people who hate us mock our spiritual practices.
Next time David shares about, “I made sackcloth also my garment”, 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".
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