In The Word
Read: Psalm 15-16
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
A Psalm of David.
15 O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
The Lord the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.
A Mikhtam of David.
16 Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You.”
3 As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
4 The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
7 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
In the reading today, we see an outline of the Ten Commandments. These two psalms can be summed up by the verse in Matthew 22, the two greatest commandments that Jesus spoke about: loving God above all else, and loving our neighbor as our selves. David’s desire was to do what was right before the Lord. When the storms of life would come, he would not be shaken by them, but be grounded in the Lord. David knew that, when he placed God first in his life, everything he needed would fall in line. God would provide his every need, even protection.
What does it mean to place Him first in our lives? Before we start our day, we must get God’s perspective by spending time with Him. Jesus modeled this for us by getting up early to pray. Then we must check our hearts about the relationships we have with others. Are our thoughts, actions, and words toward one another following His example of being loving, patient, and kind? We must also assess our finances. Our finances should be operating in the first fruits principle (Deuteronomy 26). God’s Word is so descriptive about putting God first in all things that it even says we are to write His commands on our walls and teach them to our children as we go about life (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). To never be shaken means to put your relationship with God first in everything. Go today and choose to put Him first in every area of your life.