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Psalm 37:38-40

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 18, 2018
 
Psalm 37:38 “But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.”
 
[The certainty of your judgment, Lord, is absolute: sin and all who choose to remain in it, will be condemned, destroyed in this world and removed from your presence in the next. Then the new Heaven and the new earth will have only obedience, love, glory-giving and worship of you, Lord God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are worthy, the only One to be exalted, for you are the wise and good God.
 
Now David ends his Psalm with a reminder of how you are the Protector and Savior of your people.]
 
Psalm 37:39 “The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.”
 
[we should look nowhere else for salvation, for no one and nothing else can save us, protect us, keep us as You can, Lord God. You are our Savior, Shepherd and Warrior King.]
 
Psalm 37:40 “The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,”
 
[You, Lord, are active, powerful and always present; you allow pressures that are good for us and remove those which are destructive. We can trust you to work all things out, as you did in defeating the wicked at the cross.
 
“because they take refuge in him.”
 
[You call us, Lord, to find our refuge in you, our great and good God. When difficulties come we so naturally and quickly flee to others for help. We run first to the doctor for a pill, to the banker for a loan, to the politician for influence, to a friend for comfort–instead of first coming to you in prayer, seeking wisdom, direction, help and healing.
 
You give us insight here: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). After we seek you in prayer, you may direct us to human help that you will use, although many times you act without that.
 
I praise you, Lord, for your calling us to partnership with you. Help us to remember to come to you first, all the time, displaying before men and angels our trust in you, for you have proved yourself many times over to be our refuge, our fortress, our shield and our defender. And then from this refuge, you will guide us in utilizing whatever human resources you choose, to bring about the conclusion you desire for us in each difficulty you allow.
 
Praise be to you, the God of Abraham, the Lord of Joseph, the Shepherd of David, and the Savior of the world. May you be honored, exalted and glorified as we respond in all things with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, the calmness of faith and the obedience of trust.]
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Psalm 37:35-37

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 17, 2018

Psalm 37:35,36 “I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.”

[Think of Stalin, of Hitler, of Genghis Khan, and Napoleon. They all died and are no more–broken like the hollow tree in this picture. Their evil was dealt with, their powerful punishment is now implemented.

You, Lord God, are just, working out the proper punishment, while using the evil of men to bring about your purposes in the lives of many. I praise you that you continue to work against the designs of the devil, to destroy the plans of death and darkness.]

Psalm 37:37 “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.”

[Abraham, Joseph, David, Elijah and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Paul, Luther and Billy Graham–these all live on, having an endless existence and unlimited joy with you.

I praise you, Lord, for the certainty of our future with you, filled with life, light, love and lavish goodness. I praise you for your unending, undeserved, unreserved, unrestrained grace, flowing from your heart of holiness into our lives of light.

We stand in your presence, chosen, cherished, dearly loved, deeply cared for, doted on and delighted in. You, Lord God are a wonder–no, you are THE Wonder of all existence, the God who lives in multi-dimensions, full of multi-goodness, operating out of multi-wisdom.

In the light of these great Truths, help us to consistently listen to your Word and respond to your Spirit, to grow in humility, brokenness, obedience and praise.

May we daily take up your grace, receive your wisdom, add endurance to our obedience, and become ever more godly, extending brotherly kindness and love to all those around us (2 Pet. 1:5-7). May you be honored, glorified and pleased with our walk today.

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Psalm 37:34

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 16, 2018
Psalm 37:34
 
“Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land;”
 
[In the midst of the twists and turns of life, the necessity of surrender is so clear: it is His timing and His way that are right, not mine. I must deny myself, take up His patience, obey what I know to be true and wait for His work. Guide me today, Lord, in walking in your way. Thank you that you will help us in your right timing.
 
What you do is always good, so your timing is good, your outcome is good. We can trust you and we choose to do so, praising you now for the outcomes of all before us, including Barbara’s depression.
 
“when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.”
 
[The outcome is sure–am I willing to wait for it, to join you in what you are doing now, Lord, leaving it to you to deal with the wicked? Or will I, in my arrogance, rush out in my own strength and time to battle foes far to powerful for me?
 
Help me to rest in the outcome you promise and to endure through the misunderstanding of others, the disapproval of others, the negatives of their responses. Help me to think and live in truth. Help those who oppose me to see truth also, to surrender to you, to come to walk in your light.
 
Praise you, Lord God, that you are the Winner, the Victor, the triumphant One in the end–always. Praise be to you for your power, your wisdom, your patience, your grace and your goodness. We can wait for you, knowing that you will go before us, giving us light in this dark valley and leading us out the other side, strengthening and maturing us along the way.
 
Help us all to endure, to move through with your power, listening to you, doing what is right and best, cooperating with you rather than doing our own thing in our own timing. Help us to avoid the mistake of Abraham, who in his impatience, fathered Ishmael, bringing trouble on many. We submit to you, Lord, for you are the wise One, the good One, the holy One.
 
I thank you for the certainty of your being with me through this day, of my being able to join you in what you are doing. Show me continually how to do this and I praise you now for the help you will give.]
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Light in Darkness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 15, 2018
From EDIFIED, written in 2011 while living in Germany
 
“Bow down and hear me, O Lord, for I am poor and needy.”
Psalm 86:1 NKJV
 
Praise you for this word, Lord Jesus, as it clarifies what is happening in my life. There is too much to do and I do not have the strength to work hard at it, being so tired. I praise you for this situation for it reminds me that without you I can do nothing (John 15:5).
 
Thank you for my weakness, thank you for there being more work than time, thank you that I cannot handle it in my own strength. In my mind there is a jumble of things, giving me an underlying sense of unsettledness; this further saps my strength, confuses my thinking and works against my being disciplined in doing the next thing.
 
Yes, “I am poor and needy” but you, Lord, are rich and powerful. Being at the end of my fraying rope, I willingly switch to your strong, eternal, graceful rope. I praise you for your love and kindness in prodding me to surrender like this. Praise you for working to “preserve my soul, for I am holy, devoted to you,” knowing that you “save your servant who trusts in you” (Ps. 86:2).
 
I praise you for all that is happening in my life, both positive and negative. Thank you that I seem to be catching up on my sleep. Thank you that I am making progress on the big writing project, endless as it appears to be. Thank you that my restless legs have returned, again a sign of unsettledness, a need to return to rest in you.
 
Thank you, too, for the seeming failure of my mother-in-law’s eye operation; you are doing something with that, something we can’t see yet, but which you will use for good. Praise you now for how you will work this out. Thank you for my wife’s illness. Thank you for the uncertainty about our going to the US, about what to do in the next two months, about the uncertainty in the church. Also for the three, possibly four tax problems before us.
I look away to you, for you are “good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all those who call upon you. … In the day of my trouble I will call upon you for you will answer me” (Ps. 86:5,7). You are the trustable One, the wise One, the powerful One. In the seeming unsolvable turmoil, looming failure and insurmountable tasks, you are at work, guiding, directing, helping, overcoming.
 
You are my Rock, worthy of praise and worship, and I give those to you now before any solutions come to pass. You are “full of compassion, gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and truth” (Ps. 86:15). Glory is due you; praise is our privilege; worship is our response–because your character is holy.
 
Thank you that you “grant your strength to your servant and save the son of your handmaid” (Ps. 86:16). Praise you that daily you give “a token of your love so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, for you, Lord, have helped and comforted me” (Ps. 86:17).
 
Prayer: “Give me your wisdom, Lord, that I may do what is on your agenda today. I lay down my will and take yours instead. Thank you for the guidance you will give, the ways you will open and shut, the protection you will provide, shielding my head in the day of battle. Amen.”
 
[Epilogue: in the end my mother-n-law’s eye operation was successful; all our tax problems (with the German government) were solved with minimal cost, my writing project was finished, Barbara got well and He carried us through, guiding us in when to leave Germany. In the midst of our weakness He is faithful!]
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Psalm 37:32-33

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 14, 2018
 
 
Psalm 37:32 “The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives;”
 
[This is an unavoidable fact of life here on fallen earth: those who reject your way, Lord, will attack those who follow Jesus. They hate the righteous, as they are motivated and guided by Satan, who seeks to use them for his destructive and evil purposes.
 
So, we should not be at all surprised when such attacks come. To expect them is to have a biblical view of things, remembering Jesus’ words, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).]
 
Psalm 37:33 “but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial.”
 
[You, Lord, are faithful, and are always with those you have made righteous, that is, your children. You will guide us and carry us through each attack, as we rest in you.
 
You will rescue us, whether it be by some divine intervention, by giving justice, by giving grace to endure through or by taking us to yourself. Praise you for the certainty that you will guide, direct and protect us in all.
 
This is what we experienced in being arrested and put on trial for our faith in 1988. In the end, you led the prosecuting attorney to defend us and to define our freedom of religion widely and officially, leading to a rapid expansion in the number of believers and little churches—all glory to you.]
 
I praise you, Lord, for the security, the rest, the peace, the joy that comes from knowing you, the great and sovereign King, Ruler of time and space and all that is in them.
 
You are the truly good One, the wonderfully wise One, the gloriously gracious One, the infinitely patient One. In you we can trust, in you we can rejoice when all goes sour, for your grace and goodness are enough, lifting us above the evil and hurt of life. Thank you, Lord God, for your care which will come in each succeeding moment.
 
To you be honor and glory in my life today, Lord Jesus, through my listening to your Word, submission to your Spirit, obedience to what I know to be true and praising you in and for all that comes.
 
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A Book To Read!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 13, 2018

I’m reading an interesting and stimulating book called “From Jerusalem to Timbuktu” by Brian Stiller, who is the global ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance. He travels extensively throughout the world, and in this book shares what is developing in the Body of Christ worldwide, primarily the tremendous growth outside of Europe and North America.

 

Here is a most encouraging quote from the book. “Between 1970 and 2020 Renewalists [Spirit-filled Evangelicals] will have grown from 18.8 million to 226 million; in Latin American from 12.8 million to 203 million; and in Asia from 9.3 million to 165 million.” Who said that Christianity was dying?!!

 

If you want to be informed and encouraged, this book is a good read.

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Psalm 37:30-31

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 12, 2018
 
Psalm 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.”
[Lord, this is certainly does not describe the natural me. Help me to move ever more in this direction, quickly spotting and rejecting the ungodly advice I give myself, resisting the temptation to stand in the way of sinners, and certainly refusing to sit in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1).
Help me to be like Job, who properly and positively rebuked those who gave him ungodly advice. Help me to know how to talk with destructive people in my life (and there are a lot of them) in a way that will be edifying, speaking wisdom, uttering what is just. May you be glorified in it.]
Psalm 37:31 “The law of his God is in his heart;’
[Here is the key: when your Word is hidden in the heart of a righteous man, it flow out constantly, influencing his thoughts, motives, words and actions; then he can speak with wisdom.
 
Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for your great and wonderful work to bring such change in us through Scripture. Help me to cooperate with you in the process by consistently memorizing and meditating on your Word.
Thank you, Lord, for what you give us in your Word: your gracious wisdom, your careful instruction, your good direction. Help me to meditate on them, walk in them, to be alert to the wisdom you offer each moment. Bring to mind the Scripture, the truth, the principles I need to heed each momwnt.]
“his feet do not slip.”
[When we walk in your path, Lord, our feet step is steady, our ankles will not turn, we will not fall, for you open the way, bring the change necessary, protect us from our natural, sinful pitfalls.
I praise you, Lord, for the great and sweet privilege of walking on your way, of belonging to you, of being given such wonderful gifts, especially the greatest gift of all: being made your beloved son, dearly loved, deeply cared for, doted on and delighted in—the opposite of what I deserve.
This is the outpouring of what you are, Lord God: the great Creator, the great Lover of our souls, the great Forgiver, the great Transformer. Praise be to you for all you will do today out of your goodness and righteousness, wisdom and power. May I join you in obedience so that your Name may be lifted up before all the unseen hosts today.
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Who Are We Pleasing?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 11, 2018
“For we fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all to stand.” Ephesians 6:11
 
While talking recently with a person struggling with feelings of inadequacy, any advice I gave proved to be totally ineffective. Then a thought came to mind that turned out to be the key to opening the door to this person’s emotional prison.
 
“This feeling of inadequacy is exactly what Satan wants you to focus on. Of course we are inadequate; we are human beings and have limitations. In contrast, God wants us to focus on Him, to find our adequacy in Him, our acceptance in Him, our worth and joy in Him.
 
“Satan, however, wants us to focus on what we can’t do; he wants us to work for our worth and to seek for the elusive happiness of accomplishment. So, whose lead are you going to follow? Are you going to fall into his trap, or sidestep it with God’s truth?”
 
Asking “What would Jesus do in this situation?” helps us think biblically. Adding the question, “What would Satan want me to do?” will bring even more biblical clarity.
 
Paul refers to this in Ephesians 6 when he says, “Put on the whole armor of God so you will not fall in to the wiles of the devil.”
 
The devil is clever and does not want us thinking about his desires; he wants us to unknowingly mix our personal and cultural bias in with a bit of Scripture and do things that make us feel good–and please him.
 
It is easy to fool ourselves into thinking that our preferences as Christians are the same as God’s. For instance, in our culture we have come to confuse busyness with being spiritual, having results with being blessed, talent and training with being spiritually mature.
 
When faced with an opportunity for more ministry, we need to think about what Jesus would do, and what Satan would have us do. Satan is happy when we are striving to push ahead in our own effort, keeping very busy “for the Lord”, wearing ourselves out for others.
 
He is not happy when we spend time first in prayer and in the Word, seeking God’s direction, weighing our motives before Him, waiting for His timing–-and then working hard as He directs.
 
Prayer: “Lord, as we seek your will in situations, remind us to search Scripture, asking the question, “What would Jesus do?” and also add the question, ‘What would Satan want me to do?’ Guide us in cooperating with you in your intentions. Amen.”
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Psalm 37:27-29

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 10, 2018
Psalm 37:27 “Turn from evil and do good;”
 
[Clear and simple command. This is part of fearing God, walking in His way, and part of bringing blessing to our children. Our primary motive should be our love for you, Heavenly Father, and our desire to give you glory. Then our secondary motive is to bring what is good to our children: “their [the righteous’] children will be blessed” 37:26.]
 
“then you will dwell in the land forever.”
 
[Such obedience places us squarely in the center of your will, meaning we will dwell with you, live with you, in whatever good place you have chosen for us here, and will end up in the everlasting New Heaven and New Earth.
 
We can praise and glorify you at each juncture, knowing that you are in control, guiding, directing, protecting each moment. To live in such certainty is a wonder, Lord. We praise you for your faithful, powerful goodness–especially in the midst of difficulties, like the one I’m in now with my wife again fallen into the deep hole of despair, depression and darkness, an attack of the enemy after recent advances. But, knowing that you are good, powerful and with us, I choose to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. (This was written more than a year ago.) ]
 
Psalm 37:28 “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.”
 
[You, the Holy and Perfect One, love those whom you have justified—Ah, if only all people would come to you and have that forgiveness, cleansing, transformation and joy!
 
In you, Lord, there is no end to our joy, to our getting to know you, to our growth and the revelation of your glory. Praise you, Lord, for what you are doing, for how you are working, for what you will do.
 
Your commitment to your children is iron clad, rock solid and mountain strong, something we can rest in more and more as we get to know you. Praise be to you, Lord, for your strength of character, your utter dependability, your never changing, perfect and powerful love.]
 
“They will be protected forever,”
 
[You, Lord Jesus, live forever to intercede for those you have purchased with your blood. You live forever, so our protection will go on forever]
 
“but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off;”
 
[Sadly, those who refuse to submit to your Kingship, your Word, your Truth, your provided salvation and love, will be cut off forever–they and their children who follow them. How sad this makes your heart, yet you rejoice for each one who believes and follows you.
 
Psalm 37:29 “the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.”
 
[A repetition from verse 27, a bookend to this thought of your great and gracious giving of what is good to your children. Yes, we will inherit your land and we will live in it with you forever: no death, no depression, no end, no evil, no loss, no sadness, sickness or sin.
 
You, Lord God, are the only One to be followed, obeyed, worshiped and exalted. You are worthy, you are wonderful, you are the Only True God. I bow before you this morning, I give you glory, exaltation and praise. May you be honored in my life today as I praise you in and for all. Amen.]
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Real Security

Published by S.M. Wibberley on May 9, 2018
Praise you, Lord, that you never lose your way, never lose your focus, never lose in the end, but always will finally bring a just and positive conclusion. I praise you for your will and power to do so, because you live outside of time, are everywhere at once, and exist forever.
 
After watching the film of the Gospel of John, I thank you for reminding us of the difficulties you suffered in living as a human being and revealing yourself as God. It also reminds us of how stubborn and negative we are as humans, protective of our position and status, willing to reject eternal truth in order to keep some temporary comfort.
 
I praise you that you did not shrink back from any challenge, that you did not move too fast, and that you did not give up.
 
I praise you that you pressed on to the conclusion of your task here on earth, dying in agony in the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms, so that we, your enemies, might be set free from the clutches of sin. Praise be to you for your noble, gracious, loving acts of redemption and restoration.
 
Thank you, too, for all the protection you provide, for all the provision you supply, for all the positives you pour out every day, every minute, in every situation.
 
I think of how many, many times we’ve gone places by car and returned safely because you are the God of power and protection. We must not take that for granted, for all an accident requires is for me, or another driver, to lose concentration for a second or two.
 
Praise be to you, Lord for all that you do, orchestrating a myriad of actions and events to protect us daily. You are a wonderful God, a marvelous Shepherd, and majestic King. I give you glory and honor now for what you will do as the day unfolds.
 
Lord, in praising you ahead of time, I want to align my desires with yours, to give up my small and selfish ambitions for your great and good ones. I want to wholeheartedly let go of my desires and to wholeheartedly embrace yours, knowing that they are far better, far higher, far richer than any I want.
 
Praise you for your work in me to bring my will into line with yours, knowing that what you will work out will be part of the great plan you have for bringing sin and suffering to an end.
 
So I submit to your wisdom, to your power, to your decisions. Knowing that you are good, wise, loving and kind, I can trust you to bring into our lives what is edifying, transforming and good, even though it may not seem so to me. Therefore, I bow before you afresh, gladly surrendering to you, giving you my will and taking yours in its place. May you be honored in my life today.
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