Numbering My Days

Author: Bill Craig

  • Psalm 72

    For he will rescue the poor
    who cry out
    and the afflicted who have
    no helper.
    He will have pity on the poor
    and helpless
    and save the lives of the poor.
    He will redeem them
    from oppression and violence,
    for their lives are precious
    in his sight.

    The righteous King: sees the plight of the most vulnerable in his kingdom. And though they can do nothing for him, they can’t bring him gold, power, or fame like others do, he has pity on them.

    He redeems them from oppression.

    The King extends his own resources to buy back the lives of the poor and needy in his kingdom.

    Solomon was such a king – but just a glimpse of Jesus – THE Righteous King.

    Jesus redeems us, poor and pitiable as we are; in bondage to sin of our own making.

    He sees us.

    We are precious in His sight.

    He redeems us.

    He HAS redeemed me.

    Praise Jesus!

    (A start on one version of this illustration, but I already know I don’t like it – it’s not what I see.)

  • Psalm 71

    Even while I am old and gray,
    God, do not abandon me,
    while I proclaim your power
    to another generation,
    your strength to all who are
    to come.

    Even as I age I can be, I will be, a witness for the powerful work of God!

    The next generation: Nancy, Chris, Lilli, Nathanael, Emmy – they all need to hear me proclaim your power, Lord.

    • You are God almighty!
    • Source of life.
    • Sustainer of all I am and the giver of joy and purpose.
    • You have done great things!

    Have I experienced trouble? Yes. But, Lord God, you are the One who restores me, protects me, revives me, works on my behalf because of your faithful love.

    Lord God, may all know, through the words of my mouth, the glory of your name, the wonder of your love.

    Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

    (A sketch toward the illustration for Psalm 75 – this one took several attempts and iterations – I’ll try to show the journey along the way. There were even earlier attempts than this – it was a tough one!)

  • Psalm 70

    God, hurry to rescue me.

    This is the cry of the soul who recognizes his sin, his need of a savior.

    Too often I rely on my own strength, my own devices to try to wriggle out from under the destructive forces of sin – of the enemy who pursues me to destroy me.

    I need to open my eyes and see that I have no resource on my own to defeat this enemy. He knows me so well because I have so often given myself to his devices.

    So, Lord, I call to you. Same desperation as David. Hurry to help me! This evil one, with his crafty ways, is closing me in.

    I know you, Lord Jesus, are the victorious King who has already won this war.

    Defeat the enemy in my battle, today!

    That I may “rejoice and be glad in you!”

    Lord Jesus, come quickly.

  • Psalm 69

    But as for me, LORD,
    My prayer to you is for a time of favor.
    In your abundant, faithful love, God,
    Answer me with your sure salvation.

    David called out to God for salvation – aware of his own sin. Sin that led him into the miry pit. There he recognized that only merciful, gracious, loving God could save him

    So, he called out.

    And even prayed for the favor of God on his life.

    He also foretells Christ’s experience on the cross, suffering for my sins: Jesus endured insults, injury, thirst, death on my behalf – that I might come to experience the grace and favor of God.

    Lord, indeed you hear the cry of the needy.

    In my life, Lord, you have heard and responded in grace to me. I will praise you for your constant love and compassion, because, like David, I walk myself into the pit of sin.

    Rescue me Lord, not because of my life, but because of your abundant compassion.

  • Psalm 68

    God arises. His enemies scatter, . . .
    God in his holy dwelling is
    a father of the fatherless
    and a champion of widows.

    Lord, God Almighty, this Psalm recalls and highlights all the ways you are powerful.

    Creator of life.

    Sustainer.

    Restorer.

    Conqueror.

    Savior.

    And I see how you’ve chosen to apply your majesty and power. You are “father to the fatherless.” “Champion of widows.”

    Lord, you use your power, your might, your majesty on behalf of the most vulnerable. And the world sees it, and rejoices.

    Your enemies – those who love war who take advantage of the vulnerable – they can’t stand in your presence.

    They melt away.

    Praise God in the sanctuary!

  • Psalm 67

    . . . so that your way may be known
    on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.

    God has richly blessed me:

    • His mercy has provided salvation, spiritual security.
    • His grace flows to provide every need I have.
    • His love is reflected in the family, friends, and in the fellowship of His Church.

    I join my voice, my life, my energy, my being to the chorus of the faithful:

    • Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
    • He is worthy to receive power, glory, honor.
    • I lift my hands, heart, head, and life in this chorus of praise to almighty God and to Jesus Christ our Lord.

    To God by the glory! Great things He has done.

    May all the world know through our praise!

    (Another step toward the finish)

  • Psalm 66

    Come and listen, all who fear God,
    and I will tell what he has done for me.

    This psalm is all about worship and praise of God almighty. And in the midst of praise to God, there is the chance, the moment for personal testimony, for the worshipper to let everyone know what God has done for them.

    Lord, you have been my source, my strength, my solace, my joy.

    You have held me up.

    Held me close.

    Lord you win the victory for me when I am too weak to go another step.

    Lord, you provide, sustain, give lavishly to me.

    You are the Lord of my life!

    I worship you.

    Listen, if I can’t tell you anything else, know this: God almighty loves you, has provided for you, has made a way for you – through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

    Praise Him!

    Honor Him!

    Love Him!

    He rules!

    Amen.

    (WIP – along the way to Ps 65)

  • Psalm 65

    (Closer to the image in my mind than the earlier version.)

    You visit the earth
    and water it abundantly,
    enriching it greatly.
    God’s stream is filled with water,
    for you prepare the earth in this way,
    providing people with grain.

    My devotional reading today is fascinating. Two other passages I’ve read, plus this one, all use water from God as a promise of His blessings and provisions – AND it is raining outside my window, for the first time in quite a while.

    The Word of the Lord:

    • He provides. His blessings and provisions flow to me like rain, causing all that is around me to flourish in the goodness He gives.
    • I can be a source of His blessing to others. Because I receive blessings beyond measure from a gracious God, I can be a conduit, source, vessel that He uses to bless others.

    Lord, for those who will be blessed BY YOU – may I be your servant to them; a channel of your living water.

    Through Jesus Christ our Lord!

  • Psalm 64

    The righteous one rejoices in the LORD
    and takes refuge in him;
    All those who are upright in heart
    will offer praise.

    There are people who are aligned with God – who desire to be righteous before Him, to be upright in heart; they desire that their motives and actions will honor and bring praise to the Lord.

    David longed for that.

    But he also realized that there are people whose very existence is centered on the destruction of those seeking to follow the Lord. They lay traps for them, scheme against them.

    I believe that is true today. The enemy, Satan, is still scheming, longing to entrap those who would follow Christ, seek to know Him, desire His righteousness.

    Satan longs to destroy that.

    But my Lord is a refuge when I am threatened, a protector when I am pursued.

    Praise God for His righteousness.

    This week’s image is from Psalm 65. This is NOT the final illustration, but an early version that I wasn’t too pleased with – but it gave me direction for the final (we’ll share that tomorrow.)

  • Psalm 63

    My lips will glorify you
    because your faithful love is better
    than life.

    It is easy to start with the second phrase in this verse – it’s so true. So glorious. God’s faithful love (chesed) is better than life.

    Best thing. Bar none. In this world, in my life, for my life: God’s faithful love.

    If He is the one faithfully loving, well, I am truly loved, truly cared for, never abandoned, betrayed, in need, lonely – God loves me.

    My response?

    Too often I keep all His faithful love to myself as if I share it and somehow lose it, or it is diminished.

    But David had it right. And I must get this right: My lips shall glorify God.

    I will make his faithful love known far and wide.

    He is glorious and He loves us.

    God almighty, creator, sustainer – our lover.