Highlights:
Can we even count the number of times the Lord rescued David from King Saul? As king, David never lost a war. The first five chapters in today's reading are full of trust and love for the Lord. He then contrasts the One True God with worthless idols. Do we qualify as the Lord's peculiar (very special) treasure (Ps. 135:4; Ex. 19:5; Titus 2:14; I Pet. 2:9)? Psalm 136 is called The Great Hallel and was sung during Passover.
Another of David's best-known Psalms is 138: I will praise Thee with my whole heart . . . I will sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy Holy Temple, and praise Thy Name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy Name (Ps. 138:1-2).
Those who make up the family of God should surely live together in peace and harmony. They will be unable to discover any beauty worth speaking of in the false unity created and maintained by compromise of principles and man-made rules and regulations. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (133:1)!
The unity that is pleasant to the Lord is the unity of Christians brought about through the Holy Spirit. It is like many musicians in a great orchestra playing in harmony. There may be a great diversity of instruments, yet there is perfect unity. The word pleasant denotes delightful and lovely. It should be an attitude that we express toward others.
Psalm 133 was sung three times a year by those who went to worship at Jerusalem on the Lord's appointed feast days (Ex. 23:17; Deut. 16:16). There were all kinds of people on the road to Jerusalem, but they had one thing in common — they were all going to the city of God to worship their Lord.
In keeping with this spirit of unity are the words of Abram to Lot, and they are still applicable for Christians under every circumstance: Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee . . . for we be brethren (Gen. 13:8). In contrast to this we are told: He that soweth discord among brethren is an abomination unto the Lord (Prov. 6:16-19).
All true believers in Christ, regardless of denomination, nationality, education, or wealth, have been redeemed by the same Savior, serve the same Master, cherish the same hope, and are looking forward to the same heaven. All of us are subject to trials, temptations, and sorrows. No one is perfect or knows all the answers (including me). But we all are led by the same Spirit. It is therefore an expression of His love to dwell together in unity and to let brotherly love continue (Heb. 13:1)..
Thought for Today:
By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).
Christ Revealed:
As the Descendant of David, who would sit upon David's throne (Ps. 132:11). He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32; Acts 2:29-30).
Word Studies:
132:6 Ephratah =he district in which Bethlehem was located; 132:11 fruit =b> offspring; 132:17 horn =b> authority, power; bud =b> flourish; 135:4 Jacob . . . His peculiar treasure =b> the people of God are God's own possession; 135:14 will repent Himself concerning His servants =b> will have compassion upon His people; 136:12 a stretched out arm =b> mighty power; 137:3 wasted =b> plundered; 137:4 strange =b> foreign; 137:7 Rase =b> Overthrow, Destroy, Demolish.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Country: Libya (5 million) in North Africa • Major languages: Arabic and Italian • No form of Christian witness to Libyans is permitted • 98% Muslim; 2% Christian • Prayer Suggestion: Begin each morning with prayer (Ps. 5:3).
Optional Reading: II Timothy 2
Memory Verse for the Week:
Psalms 34:3
