REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by then (2013) staff of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan, was first posted on September 23, 2013.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Remember This When You Question God’s Faithfulness”
Psalm 89:38-52
But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed. 39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust. 40 You have breached all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins. 41 All who pass by plunder him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors. 42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice. 43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not made him stand in battle. 44 You have made his splendor to cease and cast his throne to the ground. 45 You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. Selah 46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man! 48 What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah 49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David? 50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked, and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations, 51 with which your enemies mock, O Lord, with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed. 52 Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.
Psalm 89 concludes on a note of anguish and despair. The psalmist mentions rejection, desolation, and defeat. His surety of God’s covenant with the line of David now seems dubious. While he previously proclaimed that God would not violate His covenant, yet here we see him declare that God has renounced the covenant. But even in the midst of despair and anguish, the psalmist is not hopeless; he calls on God to remember His servants. The psalmist even ends with a note of praise.
While it may seem audacious for us to ask God to remember us, we find the psalmist crying out to God in this manner. What do we make of this? Certainly we are not asking God to remember because He forgets, but rather, it is akin to declaring to God to take action according to the truth of who He is; it is a faith declaration that God will show himself to be who He said He is.
There are times when our situations and circumstances make us question the heart, will, and desire of God in our lives. In those moments, call out to God to remember who He is and what He said He will do. Hold onto the promises of God as seen in His Word.
Lunch Break Study
Read Philippians 3:17-4:1: Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Questions to Consider
- Nobody is perfect; we all know that. So, if someone asks the question, “How can I know how to live for God?”, how would you answer?
- Do you have a spiritual mentor? Are there brothers or sisters whose examples you can follow as you seek to live for the Lord?
- Are there “earthly things” that have laid hold of your heart? How can you set your eyes on things above?
Notes
- It would seem somewhat arrogant to say, “Well, just imitate me.” That’s what Paul does here, but not in a prideful boastful way. He is just stating explicitly what we implicitly know: that what we see is what we do. It’s not a question of whether or not we should follow an example, but rather, we should ask ourselves, whose example are we following?
- If you don’t have one, you really should find someone who is mature in faith who can encourage your walk with God.
- Paul’s simple suggestion: “Flee the evil desires of youth” (2 Tim. 2:2).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have been my comforter even when I didn’t recognize You. Continue to be my comforter now and always, Almighty God, for You delight in being compassionate and bringing comfort to Your children. Thank You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 27
Evening Reflection
Isaiah 49:13: “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.”
Tell the Lord of your desire to always be open and to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s comforting love. It brings much pleasure to the Lord when we perceive Him rightly, knowing that He will fight and give everything for your future in accordance to His will.