Daily Bible Reading
Psalm 95
1 O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Psalm 97
1 The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalm 98
1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Psalm 99
1 The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.
3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
4 The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.
8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.
9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.
Daily Devotion
The “Rest” of the Story
Rest, refreshing, peace and comfort; are not these the states of mind and heart we all desire? We seek rest at the end of a long day of work. We feel refreshed after a nice hot bath, or cold shower. When we spend special time with Jesus, we feel peace wash over our spirit; and time with His Spirit brings the comfort we so desperately crave.
There is a ‘rest’ to the people of God…Read Hebrews chapter 4 one day as time allows and consider this element of ‘rest’ in light of scripture. Verse 10 says,”For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Then we are told to ‘labor’ to enter that rest so we do not fall into unbelief.
How do we equate ‘labor’ with ‘rest’…is it work to rest? Seems contrary one to the other; yet labor we must. See David; tending flocks, chasing away lions and bears and writing songs to God…many songs to God. He labored at that, I do believe.
And all through these Psalms today we read of the Mighty God and his power and dominion. Still, the warning that concludes Psalm 95:6-11 instructs that indeed, our ‘labor’ is our worship. We are commanded to sing unto the Lord, to rejoice and make loud and joyful noise of praise to Him. If we desire to enter into His Rest, let us labor in the creation of praise and worship.
Then we can rest, and truly repent and be converted so our sins will be blotted out when the times of refreshing come from his presence. Whatever costs us something, we value. Never miss church because our corporate worship brings that rest and refreshing.
I heard one of my children testify recently this, “…I never remember a time when we asked if we were going to church…there was never a doubt…” Thank you, Jesus, for putting this revelation deep into the hearts of us as parents so early in our walk with you! I will sing, I will worship, I will play my harp for you…and I will rest in the refreshing you give. Hallelujah!
~Marthalee Lyman