Refuge and Rest

Read:  Psalm 119:25-32 / Proverbs 12 / Judges 13 / Mat. 11 

 

Psalm 119:25,31 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word… I have stuck unto thy testimonies.

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

Judges 13:24,25 Samson [Heb. Sunlight]… grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him. 

Matthew 11:28,29 Come unto me… Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 

My soul at times to dust will cleave,

Yet to the Word of God I cling. 

His Word is light, so I will leave

The darkness that obscures my King. 

 

Beware!  Though Samson had been blest,

He then was hindered by seduction. 

Christ is my Refuge and my Rest

From vain distraction and destruction. 

 

Counselors and Commandments

Read:  Psalm 119:17-24 / Proverbs 11 / Judges 12 / Mat. 10

 

Psalm 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Judges 12:3 I put my life in my hands… Wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

Matthew 10:36 A man's foes shall be they of his own household.

 

God’s Word is like a multitude

Of counselors supremely wise.

By their commandments I conclude

What is the truth, exposing lies. 

 

My life is daily in my hands,

But Jesus lives who died and rose.  

So, I will follow His commands,

For He is greater than my foes. 

 

Meditate on the Memory

Read:  Psalm 119:9-16 / Proverbs 10 / Judges 11 / Mat. 9

 

Psalm 119:15,16 I will meditate in thy precepts… I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Proverbs 10:2,7,22 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death… The memory of the just is blessed… The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich.

Judges 11:40 The daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

 

How sweet it is to meditate

Upon my Shepherd and my Savior,

As I consider love so great

That motivated His behavior. 

 

The memory of my Lord is blest

That makes me love Him more and more.

His great compassion is my rest

That I forever will explore. 

 

Christ Commands

Read:  Psalm 119:1-8 / Proverbs 9 / Judges 10 / Mat. 8

 

Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Judges 10:16 They put away the strange gods… and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Matthew 8:27 But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

 

My heart belongs to Jesus Christ

Who clothed me with His righteousness.

For me my Lord was sacrificed

To rescue me in my distress.  

 

The fear of God is purging me;

Let idols thus be cast away! 

My Lord commands the wind and sea;

Shall not I hear Him and obey? 

 

Choosing Christ

Read:  Psalm 118 / Proverbs 8 / Judges 9 / Matthew 7

 

Psalm 118:28,29 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Proverbs 8:35,36 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Judges 9:12,14 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us… Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction.

 

The choice is plain:  I will not halt

Between decisions others make. 

Christ is my God, whom I exalt,

Though others make their great mistake. 

 

Though all the forest of the trees

May choose the bramble, not the Vine,

I’ve chosen Christ, whom I will please,

For I am His, and He is Mine. 

 

Salvation for Sinners

Read:  Psalm 117 / Proverbs 7 / Judges 8 / Matthew 6

 

Psalm 117:1,2 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us:  and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD.

Proverbs 7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Judges 8:27 And Gideon made an ephod… which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

Let all the nations praise the Lord

For His salvation He extends. 

His life for sinners was outpoured;

His lovingkindness never ends! 

 

Let every idol be accursed

And every snare from us depart

That we may seek His kingdom first

And love the Lord with all our heart. 

 

Love the Lord

Read:  Psalm 116 / Proverbs 6 / Judges 7 / Matthew 5

 

Psalm 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Proverbs 6:20-22 My son, keep thy father's commandment… When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

Judges 7:7 And the LORD said unto Gideon… By the three hundred men… will I save you… let all the other people go.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

I love the Lord!  How could I not? 

He heard my urgent supplication

And gave me peace that I had sought

At His expense by His salvation.  

 

I love the Lord who died for me;

He gave His life to rescue mine!

This is the truth that makes me free;

This is the light that I will shine.  

 

 

Christ Commissions

Read:  Psalm 115 / Proverbs 5 / Judges 6 / Matthew 4

 

Psalm 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 

Proverbs 5:1,7 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and… to my understanding… depart not from the words of my mouth.

Judges 6:14 The LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might… have not I sent thee?

Matthew 4:4,19 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God… Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 

All those who fear and trust the Lord

Shall know Him as their Help and Shield.

His written Word shall be their sword

Whereby His truth shall be revealed.

 

Since Christ commissions us to go,

We trust His Word as we advance

And follow Him who shall bestow

His grace in every circumstance.  

 

Daylight vs. Darkness

Read:  Psalm 114 / Proverbs 4 / Judges 5 / Matthew 3

 

Psalm 114:2,7 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion… Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.

Proverbs 4:18,19 The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Judges 5:31 Let all thine enemies perish… LORD, but… them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.

Matthew 3:11 He that cometh after me is mightier than I… he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

 

Let all the earth be still and tremble

As God reveals His dominion.

Let all His enemies assemble

As God refutes their false opinion. 

 

As daylight will intensify,

Beginning at the early dawn,

Let us arise to magnify

Our risen Lord who leads us on.  

 

Message to the Mocker

Read:  Psalm 113 / Proverbs 3 / Judges 4 / Matthew 2

 

Psalm 113:5,6 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

Proverbs 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

Judges 4:15 The LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword.

Matthew 2:2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

There’s no one like our Lord and Savior

Who dwells on high, yet stooped so low

To rescue us with heaven’s favor

Which none but Jesus could bestow. 

 

Though by the foolish Christ is scorned,

The wise still humbly seek His face. 

Let every mocker be forewarned:

Apart from Christ, there is no grace. 

Triumphant Titles

Read:  Psalm 112 / Proverbs 2 / Judges 3 / Matthew 1

Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious…  full of compassion, and righteous.

Proverbs 2:4,5 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Judges 3:28 Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies… into your hand.

Matthew 1:21,23 She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins… and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

 

The light of God’s compassion shined

When we were rescued by His favor.

How great the treasures are we find   

In Jesus our triumphant Savior!   

 

His titles are victorious,

For so is their interpretation:

Emmanuel is “God with Us”,

And Jesus is “the Lord’s Salvation.” 

 

The Call to Come

Read:  Psalm 111 / Proverbs 1 / Judges 2 / Revelation 22

 

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Judges 2:2 Ye shall make no league with… this land… but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

Revelation 22:14,17 Blessed are they that do his commandments… And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

The fear of God has its beginning

In those who hear Him and obey,

But those who choose to go on sinning

Are fools who cast His Word away. 

 

We’re pilgrims in a land that’s cursed;

By all means let us rescue some! 

We call to all who are athirst;

The Spirit and the bride say, Come!