Psalm 105 & 106: God’s Works

Verse of the Day: (106:22) Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.

God reminded Israel of His miraculous signs and wonders that He did for them since the day He called Abraham to establish Israel as His chosen nation. God made an everlasting covenant with Israel that He shall bless and multiply them as the stars of the heaven and the sand of the sea shore, and that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, shall be from their linage. (Genesis 22) God cautioned Israel of the time when He sent His 10 plagues to judge and punish Pharaoh of Egypt so that he eventually freed them from slavery. (Exodus 7-12) Today, the church is God’s focal point, as Israel had time and again sinned against Him. However, after the Rapture (when all Christians shall be caught up in heaven to be with Christ forever), and the 7 years of Great Tribulation (when Satan shall rule this earth), God shall again appoint Israel to be His focal point. (Daniel 9) Indeed, let us truly thank God for all His miraculous signs and wonders that He performs in our lives. (Hebrews 2)

In the Old Testament, Moses was God’s focal point as he was the type of Christ in doing His mighty works and acts, the likes of miraculously opening the Red sea for Israel to cross dry, before the wilderness journey to the Promised Land. In the New Testament, Christ was God’s focal point as He delivered Christians by miraculously saving their souls from the devil’s hell, and one day, they shall be promoted to glorious heaven to be with Him forever. God admonished Israel of the momentous time when He judged and destroyed Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their followers, when they staged a rebellion against His servants, Moses and Aaron, because of envy and strife. (Numbers 16) Let us thus submit to the Almighty and the King of saints for all His great and marvellous works, and just and truthful ways, that He has done and performed in our lives. (Revelation 15)

God warned Israel that it was faithful Moses who pleaded with Him not to destroy them, as they had greatly sinned against Him by rejecting Him and building and worshipping the golden calf. (Exodus 32) Let us worship and fear God, and do His wondrous works of sharing the Gospel of Christ, otherwise His wrath shall be upon us. (1 Thessalonians 5)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for Your wondrous works in me, especially my salvation.

Psalm 103 & 104: The Majesty Of God

Verse of the Day: (104:1) Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

King David knew that he was living and well, all because of God’s mercy and grace. Though David failed God many times as a shepherd boy before he became the King of Israel, God’s chosen nation, yet God richly blessed him with innumerable benefits, and forgave him of all his sins, and healed all his sicknesses. Beside David, God also blessed Moses, His servant, to miraculously deliver Israel out of the slavery of the Egyptians, and even opened the Red sea for them to cross dry as they headed towards the Promised Land.  God bless all who believe in Him as He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. God knows all about us as we are made in His own image. God knows we are frail and weak as we are made from the earth and dust, and our lives are like grass and flower that will eventually wither and die. However, God gives us souls, and whoever believes in Him, his soul shall live and enjoy with Him in glorious heaven forever, but whoever rejects Him, his soul shall live and suffer in fiery hell forever. Let us therefore trust, obey and fear God for His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, and His righteousness is upon us and also our future generations now and forever. (James 5) 

Let us bless and praise God for who He is, and what He has done in, with, for and through us, especially saving our wretched souls from hell, and one day, He shall promote us to His heaven as we trust and obey Him. Let us bless and praise God for His marvellous creation of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, valleys, oceans, seas, animals, birds, fishes and all living creatures. Let us bless and praise God as long as we live on this earth, before we are eventually promoted to be with Him forever in heaven. Let us truly believe in Jesus, our Saviour and High Priest, who is at the right hand of the throne of God, the Majesty, in the heavens, interceding for us, as we pray for His protection and providence in the new covenant of love, grace and mercy now and forever. (Hebrews 8)

Let us daily meditate of God and His holy Word, and be glad in Him all the days of our lives. Indeed, God is sweet and good to us all the time, even bad time, when He tests our faith in Him, so that it shall be like precious gold for His glory and praise. (1 Timothy 4)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for Your majesty and mercy as I daily meditate upon You.

Psalm 101 & 102: God Of Prayer

Verse of the Day: (102:1) Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.

King David of Israel learned the hard and painful way, before God greatly and mightily used him with a perfect heart in a perfect way for His glory and honour. David reaped the grave and dire consequences of his sins of immorality and murder, before God poured out His richest blessings upon his life, family and kingdom. Indeed, God is looking out for faithful and truthful people, who fully trust and obey Him, and growing in perfection and maturity, and doing His perfect will, and obeying His holy words, performing His great works, and preaching His everlasting Gospel to the ends of the earth. (Hebrews 6:1-8)

David cried to God in his distress and depression, as he went through almost like hell on earth, experiencing the loss of his loved ones and people, and the vicious infighting, and the bloody battles with his fierce enemies. Though David could never fully understand all that happened in his life, especially the tragedies and crises, yet he prayed and committed everything to God, knowing He knew best, what was best for him. David described himself as a pelican of the wilderness, an owl of the desert, a sparrow alone upon the house top, and his days were like a shadow that declined, and like grass that withered. David could only cry and pray to God, as no one, not even his loved and dearest ones, could truly understand and help him. Only God truly knows all about us, and our life storms and struggles, as we are made in His own image, and saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Indeed, God’s ultimate desire is for His people to humble ourselves before Him, requesting everything from Him, and performing all His works and services according to His perfect and sovereign will, and for His glory and praise. (1 Peter 4:1-8)

David knew that it was wrong for him to live for himself, and he ought to live for God and his generation, and future generations of the whole world that all shall know that the God of Israel is the true and living God. Let us therefore fear and praise God, and preach His Gospel, as one day, He shall judge the whole world for who we are, and what we have done on this earth. Indeed, may we be found faithful, truthful and humble before God, doing His perfect will and works, and for His glory and praise. (Revelation 19:1-6)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I can pray to and praise You all the days of my life.

Psalm 99 & 100: The People Of God

Verse of the Day: (99:1) The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.

Time and again, God reminds Israel and Christians today, that we are His people created in His image to worship and share His truth to all that He is the true and living God. Indeed, God reigns this universe as well as heaven in judgement and righteousness, and let all His creatures and people fear and praise His holy name. Though today, many reject and rebel against God, but one day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who left the splendour of heaven, and humbled Himself to become obedient to the death of the cross, that at His name, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess, that He is Lord, to the glory of God, His Father. (Philippians 2:1-11) Let us therefore as God’s chosen and special people be holy, as He is holy, and be thankful, as He has called us out of the darkness of sins and wickedness to His marvellous light of love, grace and mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

God points out to Israel and His people today, what He has done for, in, with and through us, and we should continue to trust and obey Him. God recalls the time when His servants, the likes of Moses, Aaron and Samuel called upon Him in time of trouble, and He answered and delivered them. God reminisces when He was a pillar of cloud in the day, and a pillar of fire in the night to give Israel light as He helped them escaped slavery in Egypt, and eventually led them to His Promised Land. (Exodus 13) Indeed, God is the pillar and ground of truth, and let us hold fast to His Word amid shifting sand of false teachings, and one day, He shall receive us into His glory in heaven. (1 Timothy 3:14-16)  

God commands Israel and His people to serve Him with joy and gladness, and to sing praises to Him as He is our Almighty Maker and good Shepherd, while we are His creatures and sheep of His pasture. Indeed, our good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loves us so much that He laid down His life on the cruel cross at Calvary for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Him shall never perish but have everlasting life with Him in heaven. (John 10:11-18) Let us therefore hear God’s voice and obey Him, and preach the Gospel, and He shall keep us from falling into sins, and one day, we shall be with Him in heaven faultless in His glorious presence with exceeding joy. (Jude 20-25)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that we are Your people called to preach Your Gospel to all.

Psalm 97 & 98: Reign In The LORD

Verse of the Day: (97:1) The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

God reminds Israel and even Christians today to share to the whole world that they must acknowledge and believe in Him as the true and living God, as He reigns with righteousness and judgment on this earth and in heaven. Indeed, God is the mighty Creator of all things, and one day, the heavens shall declare His righteousness and all the people shall see His glory. Let us thus believe in Jesus, His Son, who suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the whole world, and one day, we shall reign with Him in glorious heaven as we had suffered for Him while on lowly earth. (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

God truly loves us that He made us in His image, and sent Jesus to die for our sins, and whoever believes in Him shall never perish in hell, but have eternal life with Him in heaven. This is why God commands Israel and all who believe in Him to rejoice in Him, as His love for us is everlasting. (Jeremiah 31) Let us thus rejoice in God, and remember His holiness in us, and that all our labour is never in vain in Him. (Philippians 2:12-17)

God commands Israel and all who believe in Him to sing new songs to praise Him for who He is, and what He has done in, with, for and through us. Israel must have recalled God’s mercy and truth, as He time and again delivered them from their troubles when they called upon Him. They must have remembered the time when God delivered them out of the bondage of the Egyptians, by miraculously sending the 10 plagues to judge the Egyptians, and opening the Red sea for the people of Israel to cross dry, while drowning the pursing Egyptians soldiers by covering back the sea. (Exodus 7-14) Indeed, God commands His people to share our belief and faith in Him to everyone that Jesus left glorious heaven and became the son of a carpenter on earth to minister to the people before He was crucified for the sins of the world. (Matthew 28:18-20) Let us look forward to the day when we shall meet God in Christ’s righteousness, who had reconciled us to Him, as we become Christ’s ambassadors for His glory. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) 

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that one day I will reign with You in heaven for Your glory.

Psalm 95 & 96: God Is Our Song

Verse of the Day: (96:1) O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

God encourages Israel and all who believe in Him to sing and make a joyful noise to Him, as He is our Rock and Salvation. God then reminded Israel of the time when their forefathers hardened their hearts, and rebelled against Him, and He judged and chastised them for 40 years in the wilderness, and all died, except Joshua and Caleb, the 2 faithful men of God, and those who were 19 years old and below, who survived, and thereafter they proceeded to inherit Canaan, the Promised Land. (Numbers 14) God desires His children to be faithful, obedient and thankful to Him, for He is our great King, Maker and Shepherd, and for all that He has done in, with, for and through us. Indeed, when we get to God’s pearly heaven, we shall see Jesus, our Salvation and Saviour. We shall then sing praises to and worship Jesus, our Groom, as we are His bride, His glorious church, ready for the marriage of the Lamb, and to be with Him for all eternity. (Revelation 19:1-10)

God’s desire for Israel and His people is to sing innumerable songs including creating and composing new ones to Him, as He is truly the Song, the centre of all our worship and life. Let us daily declare to the whole world to believe and fear God, the true and living God of Israel, the Creator of heavens, earth, and all things, including man made in His image. (Genesis 1-2) Let us therefore let God’s Word, grace and wisdom richly dwell in our hearts, and humbly teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs giving thanks, glory and honour to Him now and forever. (Colossians 3:16-17)

Time and again, God inspires Israel and all who believe in Him to praise and sing spiritual songs to Him, because He is our Salvation, Song and Strength. God commanded Israel to bring an offering, and worship and fear Him in His sanctuary in the beauty of His holiness, and also to proclaim to the world that He reigns on earth, and in heaven with His honour, majesty, strength and beauty. Indeed, let us together with the countless angels and saints in glorious heaven, be joyful and sing praises to God who judges us with His righteousness and truth. God is worthy of our praise and worship, as Jesus, the Lamb of God, was slain for our sins. Whoever believes in Him shall never perish in fiery hell, but shall have everlasting life with Him in His eternal heaven. (Revelation 5:11-14)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my Song as I sing praises to Your Salvation.

Psalm 93 & 94: God Is My Help

Verse of the Day: (94:17) Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

The mark of God is holiness. This is the sole desire of God that He makes man in His own image, so that he be holy as He is holy, and to acknowledge and worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:21-24) Adam and Eve, the first man and woman created by God, failed to be holy and obedient to Him, when they disobeyed Him by eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 3) Indeed, God’s love and blessings are only to those who are holy before His holiness, and who acknowledge and worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as their Saviour and Lord. (2 Corinthians 7:1-3)

When our hearts are after God’s heart, we will do what He desires us to do. We will commit our hurt and humiliation, and grief and grievances to God, and fully trust and patiently wait upon Him. Let us not take things into our own hands, but truly know and understand that vengeance belongs to God, and He shall eventually judge and punish the wicked for all their evil deeds. Indeed, God loves us, and He is testing the faith and obedience of His children, and He chastises us as a father will discipline his children, so that we will be holy and obedient before Him. (Hebrews 12:1-17) In fact, God is longsuffering, and He is patiently waiting for all to repent their sins, and believe and trust in Him, so that they will have His eternal heaven to gain, and a devil’s hell to shun. When we truly have God’s pure heart, and pray to Him, and seek His holiness, we shall spiritually see Him. What a blessed day it will be when we shall see Jesus, our Saviour, and all our loved ones who had gone ahead of us in His pearly heaven! (Matthew 5:1-12)

Many times we are overwhelmed by our unending problems, and it seems that God is silent, and far away from us. Nevertheless, let us continue to pray and seek God’s help, as He is our Defence amid the devil’s attacks, our Rock amid sinking sand of sins, and our Refuge in time of storms, and He shall help, deliver and comfort us amid all our trials, troubles and tribulations. Let us fully trust God that He shall judge and punish the wicked, and cast them into fiery hell, and nothing, not even distress, persecution, famine, peril or even Covid-19 or death can separate us from His great love for us. (Romans 8:18-39)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my Help when I am hopeless and helpless.

Psalm 91 & 92: God Is My Refuge

Verse of the Day: (91:2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

God assured Israel as well as believer today that He is our Refuge, Secret Place and Almighty, and He shall protect and cover us, like the mother hen to her chicks, with His strong feathers, and place us under His mighty wings amid Satan’s fiery darts and wicked offences. Indeed, let us put on the God’s feathers and wings, His whole armour of helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, sword of the Spirit, and fervent prayers, as we stand firmly, and wrestle against the wicked principalities and evil powers of Satan and his demons, and we shall prevail against them. (Ephesians 6:10-19) Let us hide and seek refuge in Jesus Christ, the Author of our faith and the Anchor of our souls who is sure and steadfast and shall help us through our life journey from this tough earth to glorious heaven. (Hebrews 6:17-20)

God commanded Israel and all who believe in Him to sing praises to Him for His lovingkindness in the morning, and for His faithfulness in the night, as without Him, we are eternally condemned in fiery hell, because of our sin nature since the fall of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3) Indeed, let us open our eyes each morning thanking God for His lovingkindness toward us in the day, and close our eyes in the night thanking Him for His faithfulness in preserving our life throughout the day. Let us truly trust and thank God for His promise that He shall bless and flourish us like the beautiful palm tree amid the mud of sins, and keep and grow us like the strong cedar in Lebanon amid sinking sand of wickedness. God knows the righteous will remain righteous in Him to the end, and those who reject Him will continue to reject Him, and be cursed at the end. (Revelation 22:6-21)

Amid the shifting sand of Satan’s relentless and ruthless attacks, let us trust our God, our Rock, who shall fight for us and prevail against Satan and the gates of hell. Our victory is sure and steadfast as God has already defeated Satan, and has promised all who believe in Him that one day, we shall be with Him in His heavenly kingdom. (Matthew 16:16-19)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my Refuge and Rock in time of our life storm.

Psalm 89 & 90: God’s Faithfulness

Verse of the Day: (89:1) I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Ethan the Ezrahite, whose wisdom only surpassed by the wisest man, King Solomon, sang to God proclaiming His faithfulness and mercies to all His people, especially Israel, His chosen nation. (1 Kings 4:29-31) This psalm is a double prophesy of the future of Israel as well as the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, the Seed of David. Indeed, let us be faithful to God committing His Word and Gospel to faithful men who shall also commit to others that the legacy of Jesus shall continue till His glorious return. (2 Timothy 2:1-2) 

God makes everything perfect and holy in this world, and has filled it with fullness and abundance. However, man has made a mess out of this world through our first parents, Adam and Eve, and today, the world is suffering from it, as it is tainted with sins and wickedness, and diseases like Covid-19, and pollution in the air and seas. (Genesis 3) Nevertheless, Ethan, inspired by the Holy Spirit, prophesied that God has a redemption plan as He sent His Son, Jesus, who shall deliver our souls from fiery hell, and one day, He shall promote us to glorious heaven. Indeed, let us be filled with God’s love and faithfulness sharing the Gospel that Jesus saves, as well as taking care of His environment that it be restored to its fulness for His glory and praise. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

This psalm was written by Moses, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as it was his prayer to God reflecting the brevity of life, and how he desired God to teach him and Israel to treasure their lives, and wisely used them for His glory. Even though the average life span of man is 70 years, and some may live up to 80 years, and even above, yet as compare to eternity, it is like a vapour flying away and vanishes in thin air. In fact, the longer we live, the more are our labours and sorrows, because of our sins and imperfections. Let us thus seek God and His righteousness, as they are eternal and precious, while the fame and fortune of this world are only transient, flying away like eagles toward the sky. (Proverbs 23:1-5)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for Your faithfulness and please forgive my unfaithfulness.

Psalm 87 & 88: God’s Salvation

Verse of the Day: (88:1) O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

The sons of Korah were God’s appointed singers and players in His holy tabernacle as they sang to Him praising Him for who He is, and what He had done for, with, in and through Israel, His chosen nation, and in particular, the holy city of Zion. (2 Chronicles 20:14-19) This psalm was a double prophecy that God’s richest blessings shall be upon Israel if they would obey Him, as well as the coming of the Son of man, born in Israel, to be the Saviour of the world. Indeed, let us sing to our God in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts, and sharing the Gospel that Jesus saves, that all may come to know Him, and make Him known throughout the world. (Ephesians 5:16-20)

Heman, the wise man of Israel, whose wisdom only Solomon’s surpassed him, lamented and cried day and night of his sufferings and troubles, and how he wished that God would bring him to His heaven. (1 Kings 4:29-31) In fact, this was a double prophecy as it not only foretold the sufferings of Israel, but also the sufferings of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, whom everyone would forsake Him, as He would be crucified, not for His own sins, but the sins of the world. (Luke 23) Indeed, every one of us, whether we are wise or rich, will suffer, and in particular, when we are diagnosed with terminal illnesses or in our dying moments. However, let us look to Christ, our Saviour, as only He can truly save us from the devil’s hell, and one day, He shall promote us to His eternal heaven. (2 Timothy 2:10) 

Heman cried out to God for His strength amid his weaknesses, as he knew that only He could truly strengthen him for his challenging journey from earth to heaven. Heman confessed that at times he doubted God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness. This was also the case of Jesus, when He cried to God, His Father, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34) However, it is not that God has forsaken His people, but it is because of the sins of the people. Jesus has no sin, but He bore the sins of the world, so that whoever believes in Him shall have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. Like Apostle Paul and all of God’s saints in the Old and New Testament, let us trust God, and He shall grant us His strength and comfort amid our storms and struggles. (2 Corinthians 1:1-11)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for saving a wretch like me and making me Your saint.

Psalm 85 & 86: God Is Gracious

Verse of the Day: (86:15) But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

The sons of Korah were grateful to God for sparing their lives, as their father, Korah, had led a rebellion against God and Moses, His chosen leader. God then judged and slayed Korah and many others who joined in the dissent. The sons of Korah knew that they could have been killed, if not because of God’s goodness and mercy. In this psalm, the sons of Korah pleaded with God for His goodness, mercy, truth and salvation to them and Israel, as they shared His attributes to Israel so that they might truly know and fear Him. Indeed, God is good as He shall keep His people in His perfect peace, and grant us with great harvests. Let us fear God, and do good, as he who does good is of God. (3 John 11)

Beside the sons of Korah, King David also cried and praised God daily for His mercy, goodness and forgiveness, as he could have been slayed for his immorality and wickedness. God heard David’s prayer of repentance, and forgave him his sins. (2 Samuel 12:1-23) Even though David reaped the severe consequences of his sins, yet he still praised and worship God for who He is, and how great He is, and the marvellous works that He had done for, with, in and through him and Israel. He daily prayed to God to truly teach him to walk in His truth, fear His name, praise and glorify His name forevermore. Like King David, and the man of Gadarenes whom Jesus cast out many demons from him, let us praise and worship God for who He is, and what great things He has done in, for, with and through us, especially our precious salvation. (Luke 8:26-40)

Though King David time and again experienced many crises and challenges from his royal family, as well as from his wicked enemies who hated God and His people, yet he kept trusting, praising and praying to God for His forgiveness, compassion, longsuffering, mercy and truth. Indeed, as David sought after, cried and prayed to God, He heard, helped and comforted him to the end. Let us lay aside all lies and hypocrisies, and seek God and His Word, and be truthful and sincere to all, including our enemies, and like David, it is because we have tasted God’s goodness, greatness and grace. (1 Peter 2:1-3)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my good, great and gracious God amid crises.

Psalm 83 & 84: JEHOVAH

Verse of the Day: (83:18) That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Asaph cried to God to protect and preserve Israel as many nations joint forces to invade and destroy them so as to wipe out the name of Israel from history. However, they failed because God was with them. Throughout history, since God called out Abraham to establish Israel, and until today, many nations and peoples have tried to annihilate Israel, primarily because of the evil influence of the devil, who hates what God loves, but they have all failed. (Genesis 12:1-3) Until today, Israel not only survives, but they even thrive as one of the most powerful nations of the world with nuclear warheads. Indeed, if God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) God loves Israel with everlasting love, and He is still waiting for all Israel to truly repent their sins, and return to Him. (Jeremiah 31:1-3) Let us truly believe in God, and love Israel, and He shall richly bless and keep us, and made us His heirs, and joint-heirs with Christ, now and forever. (Romans 8:14-17)

Amid all the doom and gloom, Asaph had hope in God as he believed that He is the JEHOVAH, the most high over all the earth. Indeed, our God is the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, and He shall return one day to judge the world, and to destroy and cast all who reject Him including the devil, the beast, the false prophet into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:11-21) Let us trust the LORD JEHOVAH, and He shall keep us in His perfect peace with His everlasting strength. (Isaiah 26:1-5) 

The sons of Korah, the Levite, inspired by God, penned the wonderful worship of God in His tabernacle declaring that one day in His court was better than a thousand in the world, and rather to be a doorkeeper in His house than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. They must have been grateful to God that they were alive, because their father, Korah, had led the rebellion against Moses. Subsequently God opened the earth swallowing Korah and all who rebelled against Him, and even sent fire killing all who offered incense. God reminded them that only Aaron’s descendants were to offer incense before Him. (Numbers 16) Let us thus submit to God’s appointed leaders, and earnestly pray to Him, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our God of yesterday, today and forever. (Acts 3) 

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You, JEHOVAH, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Psalm 81 & 82: God Is Our Strength

Verse of the Day: (81:1) Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Asaph, the prophet and musician, reminded Israel to sing praises to the Almighty God for His strength amid their weaknesses. Like a choir director, Asaph would joyfully lead the people in playing the musical instruments, the likes of timbrel, psaltery and trumpet, singing with joy and gladness, and praising God for who He is, and what He had done for, with, in and through them. Asaph reminded them of God’s grace, as though they murmured and complained against Moses in the wilderness that there was no water for them, which was actually the result of their unbelief and rebellion against God, yet God through Moses still graciously gave them water from the rock as He commanded Moses to strike it. That place was called Meribah where Israel failed God’s test, yet He still gave them water. (Exodus 17:1-7) Let us not test God’s grace, but truly trust and obey Him. Like Sara, who trusted God for His strength to conceive her son, Isaac, with Abraham, her husband, when both were already past the conceiving age, let us also through faith in God receive His strength to do the impossible for Him, and His glory. (Hebrews 11:11-19)

God through Asaph reprimanded Israel that if they would have feared and called upon Him, He would have richly satisfied and fed them with the finest wheat and honey from the rock, and gave them victory over their enemies, but instead time and again, they disobeyed and rebelled against Him, even until today. Let us therefore truly fear and call upon God, as He is able not only to satisfy our deepest need and desire, but to grant us victory over all our challenges, as He is our Saviour and Satisfaction. (Psalm 145:16-21)

The Almighty God through prophet Asaph warned Israel, and even the people today, that one day, He shall judge all men and women for our belief and conviction. Those who believe and trust in God shall be blessed as His children of the most High, and one day to be with Him in glorious heaven, while those who doubt and reject Him shall be judged and punished in fiery hell together with the devil and his demons. Let us truly believe in God, and stand fast in Him, never waver even amid crises and challenges, as He who calls us, shall surely help us go through this life now and forever. (1 Thessalonians 3:8-13)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please give me strength and satisfaction when I am weak and stressed.

Psalm 79 & 80: God Is Our Shepherd

Verse of the Day: (80:1) Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

Asaph cried out to God as the wicked enemies of Israel invaded and killed many of them leaving their corpses lying everywhere with no one to bury them. They also destroyed God’s holy temple and the city of Jerusalem leaving everything in complete ruin. Asaph knew that Israel, whom God had chosen them to be His people to live in holiness, and shine for His glory, before the people of this evil world, had failed to believe and trust in Him. This was why Israel’s enemies mocked at them, as to where was their God, who did not save them from their defeat. Indeed, God would not save Israel, unless they repent their sins and turn to Him. Until today, many of the people of Israel have yet to believe that Jesus is truly the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Indeed, let us believe and trust in Jesus, living a holy life, and sharing the Gospel, that only He truly saves. (Acts 4:8-12)

Asaph prayed to God, the Shepherd of Israel, as well as the Almighty in glorious heaven between the cherubims, to forgive the sins of Israel, and to revive and restore them to Him for His glory and praise. However, time and again, Israel failed to repent their sins, revive and restore themselves to God. Let us who are truly God’s sheep, hear His voice and obey and follow Him wherever He leads us for His glory and praise. (John 10:11-18)

Though Asaph saw seemingly hopeless situation of Israel, yet God gave him hope, and encouraged him that He shall send forth a man of His right hand, the Son of man, who is none other than Jesus, coming to this earth, and to live and subsequently die and shed His precious blood to save the people from fiery hell, and one day, promote them to glorious heaven. Indeed, Jesus shall grant those who believe in Him strength amid their weak faith, and hope amid their hopelessness. Thanks be to God, that our greatest hope in this hopeless world, is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is at the right hand of His Father’s throne, interceding for and granting us His grace and power strengthening and solidifying our faith, so that we may glorify and praise Him now and forever. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my Shepherd leading me now and forever.

Psalm 77 & 78: God’s Glory

Verse of the Day: (78:61) And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.

Why me? In time of tragedy, we may doubt God’s love and even His existence, and this was the case of Asaph as he cried to and questioned God. Whatever that Asaph was suffering, he kept reminding himself of God’s past blessings upon his life. Though he kept doubting God, yet he had experienced His greatness in his life. Indeed, let us trust and obey God, and experience His exceeding greatness in us, and looking forward to the glorious day that we shall be with Him in His eternal home in heaven. (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Though Asaph and Israel experienced God’s greatness, as their Rock and Redeemer, yet time and again they failed to trust and obey Him. Asaph reminded Israel of how God gave them His law so that they shall receive His blessings if they would obey them. However, they rebelled against Him. They were also reminded of how God miraculously sent the plagues to punish the Egyptians so that they would free them from slavery. Finally, God opened the Red sea for them to cross dry, but drown the pursuing Egyptians army. God then led them as a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire in the night throughout the wilderness. He provided them with daily manna, and even waters from the rock. God eventually defeated their enemies until they possessed the Promised Land. However, there was one battle when the Philistines defeated them, and took God’s ark with them, and this was the time when His glory and blessings departed from them. Indeed, throughout the history of Israel, until today, God is with them, and patiently waiting for them to repent their sins, and return to Him. (1 Samuel 4) Let us truly fear and worship God, and give Him all the glory due to Him now and forever. (Revelation 14:6-7)

Even though Israel time and again rebelled against God, yet He was faithful to them, and even raised up David, a shepherd boy, and guided him to be their King. God commended David as a man after His heart, and prophesied that Jesus, the Saviour of the whole world shall come from his linage. (Acts 13:22-24) Indeed, let us fully trust God, and let Him guide us, as we guide the spiritually blind to see His light of salvation. (Romans 2:12-20) 

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to live my life so that Your glory be always upon me.

Psalm 75 & 76: God’s Presents

Verse of the Day: (76:11) Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

Asaph, the musician and prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, penned this passage of Psalm, giving thanks to God that everything was from Him. God created the heavens and earth, and He sustained all lives, and He promoted people to leadership. Though some people may not deserve to be promoted, yet God has a purpose in His plan. This was the case when King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, but subsequently he hanged him for his wickedness, by the gallows which Haman built for Mordecai. (Esther 7) Indeed, everything is from God, and let us praise Him, knowing that ultimately the righteous shall be blessed, the wicked shall be punished, and He shall get all the praise. (Proverbs 3:35)

Asaph led the people of God in praising Him through spiritual songs, as they worship Him in spirit and truth in the sanctuary. (John 4:21-24) Though they might not understand God’s ways yet they knew that even man’s wrath could be used for His praise. The perfect example was Jesus’ crucifixion. It was man’s wrath that determined His crucifixion, as men chose Jesus, instead of Barabbas, the notorious prisoner, to be nailed on the cross. However, ultimately, it was God’s plan that Jesus must die as a Saviour of the whole world. (Matthew 27-28) Let us therefore trust God for everything, and praise Him for saving us out of spiritual darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9-10) 

Asaph kept encouraging the people to praise God for who He is, and what He had done in, for, with and through them. He exhorted them to offer presents, the likes of gold, silver and materials for the construction of God’s sanctuary, as well as provision for the priests and Levites who served in the sanctuary. The people then willingly and gladly offered their presents to Him in gratitude of God’s precious salvation and blessings upon their lives. Asaph reminded them that God who promoted the kings and the princes, was also able to remove them from their thrones, and even cast their souls to eternal condemnation for their unbelief. Indeed, let us fear God, and present ourselves living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him, as both are bodies and souls truly belong to Him. (Romans 12:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to give my life to You which is my best present to You.

Psalm 73 & 74: The Sanctuary Of God

Verse of the Day: (73:17) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

God not only spoke to King David in writing most of the book of Psalm, He also inspired Asaph, the musician and prophet to write portions of Psalm. (2 Chronicles 29:30) Asaph cried out to God for the seemingly injustice of this world as many wicked prospered and even died peacefully of old age, while many righteous suffered for His sake, and died in persecution. As a result of God’s seemingly passive response, the wicked are emboldened to continue in committing evil deeds. However, God is not mocked, as one day, the wicked will reap the consequences of their sins, and even if not on earth, it will be in fiery hell. Only when Asaph went to God’s sanctuary to study and meditate on His Word, did he understand His way in judging the wicked. Indeed, God loves the world, that He sent Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, to die and shed His precious blood on the cruel cross for the sins of the whole world. On the third day, Jesus arose from the grave, and is now the Minister of the heavenly sanctuary at the right hand of His Father’s throne, interceding for all who believe in Him in the new covenant of love and grace. (Hebrews 8)

Asaph thanked God for strengthening and encouraging him amid his weaknesses and infirmities, so that he could continue to do His works, sing for Him, and praise and declare all His works in saving souls from fiery hell to pearly heaven. Let us trust and obey God, and He shall strengthen and increase our faith now and forever. (Romans 5:6-8)

Though Asaph knew that God shall eventually judge the wicked, yet he still lamented that His sanctuary and synagogues were destroyed time and again. He prayed that God’s judgement be swift so that His name shall be glorified instead of being blasphemed. Asaph loved God knowing that He was working in the hearts of the people that they would all come to know His saving grace. He believed that the same God, who delivered Israel from the Egyptians by dividing the Red sea so that they could cross it dry, and fed them with manna and even waters from the rocks while they were in the wilderness, was able to save and sustain all who believed and trusted in Him. Let us thus believe in and receive Christ as our personal Saviour as now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that I understand Your way when I am in Your sanctuary.

Psalm 71 & 72: God Is My Rock

Verse of the Day: (71:3) Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I am continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Have you ever hit rock-bottom? Have you ever reach the lowest and most depressing point of your life? Whatever situation you have been, let us reach out to the Rock of the bottom, Jesus Christ, who shall lift and raise us up to the highest and most joyous point of our lives! Each time as David experienced discouragement and depression amid crises and challenges, he prayed to his Rock and Fortress who would hear and help him. Since the day he was conceived in his mother’s womb, and when he believed his Rock, he would praise Him amid the shifting sand of life storms. Indeed, no one knew David best than his Rock. Let us therefore reach out to the Rock, the Son of the living God, as He promises those who believe in Him that He will build their faith as well as His beloved church in overcoming the fiery gates of hell, and the Devil and his demons, so that one day, we shall be with Him in His home in glorious heaven forever! (Matthew 16:13-19)

After David believed in God, his Rock, he began to stay close to Him, and drew His righteousness and strength amid his infirmities and weaknesses till the day he was promoted to pearly heaven. Throughout David’s life, God was his righteousness and salvation as he repented his sins, and believed in Him, and God was his peace amid confusion, and God was his comfort amid sorrow. As a musician, David sang praises to God with the psaltery and harp thanking Him for all that had happened in his life, whether good and bad, as he knew that they worked for good to him who truly loved God, and was called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Indeed, let us awake to God’s righteousness, and be a shining light in this dark and evil world. (1 Corinthians 15:34)   

David was prepared to meet his Redeemer as he knew that he was precious in His sight as He had redeemed his soul from sins, and made him as His son. Let us be ready to meet God, as He is coming soon to judge the world, and only those who truly believe in Him shall be saved, while those who reject Him shall be cast into fiery hell. (Luke 21:25-28)

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, please help me to trust in You as my Rock each time I hit rock-bottom.

Psalm 69 & 70: God Of Redemption

Verse of the Day: (69:18)

Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

God has not promised sky always blue, and flower never dies, and let us embrace suffering, and believe that He has a purpose for it. David cried out and prayed to God as his life was like in hell and high waters, yet he never gave up, as he believed in and waited upon Him. This psalm was a double prophecy of David’s as well as Jesus’ life. Both David and the Lord Jesus experienced extreme sufferings for God’s sake. This is especially for Jesus who committed no sin, yet He was tortured, tormented, and eventually crucified. (Matthew 27) Indeed, without God, David’s enemies were mightier than him, but with God, his enemies were like grasshoppers seen through his eyes of faith in Him. The more David trusted God, the more he felt like he was a stranger and fugitive in this world, as his enemies, and even his own family, treated him with animosity and hostilities. But praise be to God, as He sent His Son, Jesus, to die and shed His precious blood, and eternally redeemed us from fiery hell, that one day, we shall be promoted to glorious heaven. Let us keep praising and thanking our Redeemer. (Hebrews 9:11-12)

Many times, David cried out for help, and it seemed no one would hear him, except his God. This was also the case of Jesus, except for one incidence on the cruel cross, when He cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And this was because Jesus became the sin of the world and God, the Father, had to forsake Him from the 6^th to the 9^th hour. (Matthew 27:45-46) Let us thank Christ as when we believe in Him, our names are written in God’s book of life, and He shall see us in Christ’s righteousness now and forever. (Romans 4)  

Once saved, always saved, and once a child of God, always a child of God. King David encouraged his people to believe in God, and to rejoice in Him, as He had miraculously saved them from eternal condemnation, and one day, they shall be promoted to be with Him in heaven forever. Indeed, let us believe in and receive Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord, and we shall have a heaven to gain and a hell to shun. (Hebrews 3:1-6).

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You for redeeming my soul from fiery hell to glorious heaven.